Looking back at your prelim task, what have you learnt in the

progression from that to the final product?

By Beth O’Lenahan

Preliminary Task• I found the preliminary task very useful as it was a good introduction to filming as it made me use

different techniques and new equipment I never had used before.

• I think I quickly got used to filming techniques such as match-on-action, shot/ reverse shot, and the 180 degree rule.

• I also found it easy after a while of practice with the equipment I used e.g the video camera, tripod and boom.

• I found it harder to get used to making the short clip have continuity as this required a lot more thought and planning into it.

• As I had never used Final Cut Pro before, it took me a while to get used to this software. I particularly found cutting and moving around clips quite hard, but with practice, I quickly learnt how to use it confidently.

• Taking into account that this was my first attempt in filming with professional techniques, equipment and software, I am happy with the outcome.

• If I were to make it better however, I would make the match on action less jumpy so it flows more smoothy. I would also use more interesting camera shots and angles, such as extreme close up, high angle shot and tight frame.

• POV shot, running down corridor to express fear.

• I held the camera as a ran so that it would shake more to give a more realistic effect.

• Long shot, showing the room I run into. To establish setting.

• Over the shoulder shots, showing different sides of the conversation.

• Match on action. Getting out of chairs and walking to door with two different camera shots, one from the front, one from the back. I think this worked really well as it has continuity, but as the clips a quite short, it seems a bit jumpy.

• Close up of character opening door. Puts emphasis on the door being opened and rises suspense.

• Match on action- different camera placement than the close up of the character opening the door and has continuity as it looks like there was no cut between the clips, as if there were two cameras in the room filming the same thing but in different places.

• Tracking shot, camera follows characters as they walk out of the room. Would have been better if a trolly was used to make the movement smooth. The shaky movement of the camera gives the impression that it is a POV shot and so someone is following them.

• Panning shot from stairs, 180 degrees left, to the corridor where a man steps out from behind the corner.

• Zooms in quickly to a close up of his face which gives the audience more information on the character and what he is like, in this example, he looks creepy, as he is playing a role of a man that was following a girl.

Final Piece

• My final piece demonstrates how much I have progressed in the standard of filming compared to the preliminary task as I show a wider range of techniques and original ideas, due to the fact that I put a lot of thought into the details (mise en scene, cinematography, editing and sound) and took time over the editing to make it look more professional, unlike in the preliminary task.

• Over the shoulder shot, showing argument between a couple. The audience only sees it from one side of the argument though, making them sympathise more with the person on their side, which links to the biography genre.

• I added in a lot of video effects such a ‘glow’ to make it look like a dream rather than reality. I also added in audio effects like ‘reverb’ to make it seem more dream like and to emphasise what she is saying and that she is shouting it.

• Slow motion close up of vase of flowers falling. This shows that I have more interesting ideas which show more skills in editing on Final Cut Pro and in filming as I had to set the camera to the right settings and position to capture the shot well. I had to take into account where the vase is falling and if any shards of glass might hit the camera etc. At first I did not know how to make a clip slow motion, but I found out by myself and got used to it quickly. I also added in the filter ‘black and white’ to make it seem more serious.

• POV in bed, picking up phone to turn alarm off. The angle is canted to make it more realistic the the camera filming is actually the characters eyes (this is the angle you see if you are lying on your side).

• High angle close up shot of picture. Almost a POV shot but slightly to the side a bit, so more like an over the shoulder shot. Makes the audience feel like they are intruding on this characters life.

• POV shot of character opening door (like in the prelim task, but a different, more interesting shot type).

• Medium close up, tracking shot. Like the audience is following him. I don't reveal his face still, as I want him to be an enigma and only show his face at the very end as this tells the audience that he is shy but also makes them curious about it. I put in a lot more thought into what effect each camera shot might make to the audience than the preliminary task.

• Very long shot/ establishing shot and rule of thirds shot (person on the side of the frame instead of the centre to make the shot look more interesting). Shows the audience a setting: a park. I put more emphasis on the setting rather than the main character as he is at the edge of the shot, with his back to the camera, walking away.

• Wide shot, shows how lonely the character is, sitting by himself on a bench in an empty park, looking sad.

• Extreme close up/ POV of character on his phone texting. Allows the audience the read what he is typing and emphasises it, as it is significant in the story.

• POV shot of character walking on a yellow line, looking down at his feet. Tells the audience that he isn’t confident as he is looking down at his feet instead of straight ahead. Him walking on a line symbolises how he always sticks to the rules and conforms, instead of sometimes rebelling.

• Wide shot, showing a train coming into the platform. Symbolises how within the film, an opportunity will arise for the character and he will take that opportunity like boarding a train. The long platform also symbolises his journey in the film.

• POV shot of character pressing the button to open the door of the train.

• POV of main character looking at a girl on a train he realises he is looking at her so smiles, but he awkwardly and quickly looks down at his feet. Tells the audience that he is feeling lonely, but is shy and awkward.

• Wide shot/POV of character looking out of the train window. Tells the audience he likes to look at views and is a day dreamer. The train going forward symbolises how he is travelling on a journey in life.

• POV shot of girl on train who is a character in the film, but the main character does not know her at this point in the film. Actors name comes up next to the character.

• POV shot of character walking across a bridge. Shows a couple in front of him, which portrays to the audience that the film is also romance as well as biography. This shot also informs the audience that the film is set in London.

• POV shot of character running his hand along the railings, informs the audience that he is quite childlike sometimes and maybe bored of his life as he has nothing better to do and is in no rush for anything.

• POV shot of him walking down the street (South Bank), revealing another character in the film that the main character does not know yet. The camera was quite shaky in this clip as it is hand held, so I stabilised it during the editing process which improved it a lot.

• Interesting long/ POV shot as it is through an SLR camera, as if the main character is taking a photo of the girl, who is also a character in the film that the main character does not know yet. This also tells the audience the the main character is into photography.

• Interesting medium shot of the reflection of the main character. Making it a reflection makes the clip more interesting than just having a normal medium shot. The name of the actor who plays the main character fades in and is then pushed away when he walks away. I finally reveal his face, making the audience satisfied and making them feel like they know him personally.

• Extreme long shot of the main characters silhouette walking down a tunnel. Camera stays still, would have been better if a tripod was used for this scene, however it is not very noticeable that a tripod is not used. Title of film appears as if on the floor, due to the angle and height of the text.

• Overall, I have learnt that to make a professional looking film, you have to take into account every single detail about the filming, editing, the effect on the audience and targeting your audience. You should consider mise en scene, sound, cinematography and editing as they are very important in making a film. Sticking to the codes and conventions of the specific genres helps the audience understand the film and connect with it. I also learnt that certain techniques have to be done right so that they are effective and look professional, such as the 180 degree rule- filming over the shoulder shots, always on the same side of the two people.