BY CAMILLE RICHARDS

#7 Looking back at your preliminary task (The continuity editing task), what do you

feel you have learnt in the progression from it to your full product?

Reflecting on progress

Looking back to when I had started planning and filming my preliminary task and where I am now, I can see a dramatic improvement in many aspects, primarily down to learning from the mistakes made in my preliminary task.

Editing

For example, when I edited my preliminary task, there was one film shot which when I had filmed the lighting changed due changing focus points from light to dark as the two main characters were moving.

LINK SHOWING EXAMPLE OF THIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ckuFhNzy1o&feature=youtu.be

Editing

The lighting change in my preliminary task, could have been solved using color correction or other methods within final cut pro. I have learnt from this mistake and as a result made sure that when filming for my opening sequence that I made sure that the lighting was not changing within the shot, but also that if it did happen that I changed it in final cut pro.

Editing in ‘on three’

From filming my preliminary task, I developed my editing skills profoundly which allowed me more of a degree of creative flexibility in terms of editing. For example in the last scene of my opening scenes where I use jump cuts from the protagonist to unsettling statues around her to heighten the atmosphere, occasionally syncing loud suspenseful music to the beginning of each shot to add impact.

LINK SHOWING EXAMPLE OF THIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31oEqGjBolI&feature=youtu.be

Camerawork

I learnt how to use a wide range of different film shots from my preliminary task which I then used and developed when filming and obtaining shots for my opening sequence. Such as the necessity shots being: establishing shots, wide shots, long shots, medium shots, close up shots, establishing shots, low angle/high angle shots. then some of the more creative shots: Dutch tilt, dolly zoom, deep focus, panning shots, worms eye view, and birds eye view.

My camera work has dramatically improved throughout the year especially from my preliminary task. As this was my first year filming with an SLR, I was soon to realize that a lot of the fucking of the camera has to be done manually, thus many of my shots on the preliminary task where slightly blurry.

camerawork

Thus, when I filmed my opening sequence I paid close attention to each shot on the camera as it was filming to make sure that it was in sharp focus. Focused shots replicate real media products significantly more, therefore it was of great importance to me that none of the shots were out of focus.

Here is an example of one of my focused shots from my opening sequence.

Shot reverse shot

I have also learnt shot reverse shot from my preliminary task, and the importance of it especially during conversation. Although, because my opening sequence did not contain any dialogue shot reverse shot was rarely used.

An example of how Shot reverse Shot is used.

Match on action

I also learned the importance of match on action from my preliminary task. A match on action adds variety and dinamism to a scene, since it conveys two movements: the one that actually takes place on screen, and an implied one by the viewer, since her/his position is shifted.

Match on action example in ‘On Three’

There are many examples of match on action in my opening sequence.

Match on action examples

These different variations of shots help keep the viewer interested and engaged.

180 degree rule

These three shots were used at the end scene in the graveyard, here suing as many shots as I could was valuable as I was using jump cuts from different shots to quicken the pace as done in many thriller films.

Utilizing my surroundings

Another technique I have learnt from the process is to utilize my surroundings creatively to try and get as many interesting shots as I can. For example, I wanted to get a panning establishing shot at the beginning of ‘On Three’ which was in line with the Houses top window. Thus, decided to stand and lift the car elevator and film from the top.

In any surrounding space your in, there are many opportunity's to creatively think of ways to obtain shots, it is these shots which are interesting for viewers and suggests levels of maturity and creativity.

Examples

Here is an example taken from myOpening shots to my opening sequence,The panning shot was taken from the Car lift.

Although I decided not to use this shot, I had the option of using it as it portrayed an interesting high angle made possible by the car lift.

LINK SHOWING EXAMPLE OF THIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi1NjxGQAk8&feature=youtu.be

LINK SHOWING EXAMPLE OF THIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCHeg2HIXl8&feature=youtu.be

Importance of organization

When I filmed my preliminary task my organization and planning for the day was not substantial enough.

When filming my preliminary my tripod broke which meant I was not able to use the dolly track correctly, my battery ran out of battery and my SD card was full. This proved to be a real inconvenience on the day and we wasted a lot of time at the expense of it.

Therefore when I went to film my opening sequence I had bought a tripod and had organized all of my equipment and had bought an extra battery. Thus, I had no problem with equipment. However my organization and planning lacked with organizing the props, such as the photographs which needed printing. However, overall throughout this year I have learnt the true importance of organization and planning for the day.

Simplicity with ideas

I have also learnt that in order for me to have the time to develop an idea, I must not continue to change it, instead commit to it and advance it.

This was particularly the case with ‘On Three’ where the finalization of my idea took many redrafts and I ultimately changed the ending which resulted in me having t to re-film again.