Evaluation of preliminary task

By Karin Falconer-Bailey

How have you used media conventions and media language in your preliminary task?

In our preliminary task, we have mainly used a range of media conventions. As we previously learnt what and how to conduct the 180 degree rule, match on action, and shot reverse shot, we decided to incorporate these techniques into our preliminary task. We done this to show that we gained a good understanding of how to use these shots, and due to our preliminary task topic being an interrogation, we thought that it was necessary to include these types of shots.In this preliminary task, we also used media conventions such as natural lighting. We were going to use high key lighting on the suspect, however, we would have had to do the same with the police officer. Instead we chose to use natural lighting to show that the two characters are on the same level as we do not know whether the suspect has actually committed the crime. A convention that was strongly included in the preliminary task was the use of colours. Chelsea, who is the police officer in this video is shown to be wearing a lot of blue clothing. Although we did not plan for this to happen, as on the day we told the actresses we needed actors to fulfil these roles, the costumes that the characters are wearing fits in with the narrative of the task. The colour blue connotes authority, power and strength which is the role and traits of a police officer. Choukri on the other hand, is shown wearing very laid back clothing which consists of the colours green and black. Green connotes jealousy and greed. Black similarly symbolises death and danger. Which links to the police officers suspicion of this individual.

Match on action

180 degree rule and shot reverse shot

How successful was your inclusion of match on action, shot reverse shot and

maintaining the 180-degree rule?I believe that the way we incorporated the match on action, shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule was extremely successful in our preliminary task. As we decided to chose the interrogation narrative, and due to the 180 degree shot only working if two characters or objects are facing opposite each other, this meant that there would be a constant back and forth of conversation between the two individuals. As Chelsea and Choukri were having a conversation throughout the video, we included a lot of the shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. Due the 180 degree relying on the shot reverse shot to work, we infused both of these shots together and included them when the characters were talking to one another.

The way we included match on action into the video was also successful as

What have you done well in this task and what can be improved?

Looking back on our preliminary video, I believe that we had a lot of improvements in order for our video to obtain a higher level. Throughout the video, Chelsea is shown to be reading from the piece of paper which is on the desk. I believe that if Chelsea had either memorised her lines or we had held up what she had to say behind Choukri and out of the camera’s sight this eye contact with the desk would have been avoided which would have made our preliminary task more believable and serious. Also due to the topic of our preliminary task being an interrogation, the location of the task did not set the scene for our video as it was set in a school classroom. In the background whilst the two characters are talking and as Chelsea walks into the room, it is easy for a viewer to identify that the setting of this video is a classroom.

Although the are a large amount of improvements that could’ve been made to the preliminary video, there are also aspects of the task which had been successfully carried out. I personally believe that in the task we had used the shot reverse shot, 180 degree rule and match on action in a good way. Instead of thinking about where to use these shots, we could have used these shots for parts of the video that it would not work with. But, due to conducting a lot of research into these shots we knew how and where to incorporate these techniques into the task.

What skills have you developed through your preliminary task?

From this task I have learnt that about the importance of scenery. As our task was filmed in a class where German and French is taught, there were a numerous amount of posters which was unconventional of this type of genre. As the preliminary task is meant to prepare me for the main task of creating a horror opening, this has allowed me to develop my understanding of important elements which can make a big difference to videos and films.

The skills I have developed via this take has been time management skills. As within a group we created a shot list, script and storyboard, by doing this it had saved a lot of time and enabled us to spend more time filming rather than planning to film. Having developed this this skill is important and I can use this skill when I begin to create my horror opening.