Evaluation of preliminary task

Evaluation of Preliminary task

During the preliminary task, I learnt how to edit videos on the software Premier pro. I also learnt how to incorporate sound over the top of a clip and add transitions like fade to black. I have also learnt how to stick to the 180 degree rule and where to position lighting to change the mood of the scene.

For the planning of the task, as a group we thought about the main conversation and what would be in it. We brainstormed our ideas on a mind map and also explored different costumes settings and characters. We planned a storyboard for the types of shots and how angles would be used to create a certain atmosphere. Our final idea was a confrontation of two girls who appeared to be witches. By doing this we were able to play around with the idea that they could move things without touching them. To film our shot reverse shot, we filmed the whole scene from one angle and then again at a different angle, both angles near the characters so similar to an over the shoulder shot. Then in the editing process, we cut from one to another to create the shot reverse shot. To create a tracking shot, we tried using a tripod but the shot we wanted to create was a mid shot of shoes walking to the room. So we used a handheld camera to get the right angle and then curved the tracking shot round. This did cause slight shakiness but visualised the tension being built.

We used this close up shot to hide the rest of the setting to make it more mysterious, it also adds suspense because the door knob turns slowly and makes the viewer agitated. The low key lighting increases suspension and non diegetic lighting makes it unsettling because you do not know what is creating the light, (it could be a fire, normal lamp, or magic.)

 The canted angle shot of Lauren’s face gives a disconcerting feel to the scene. It disorientates the viewer because of the jagged angle. She is leaving a black scene in the background and coming into a new well lit room. This could imply that she is leaving her darkness/morose past behind but it could also suggest that she is a dangerous person because the dark lighting and her black clothing could represent her personality. 

This low down mid shot makes Lauren seem extremely tall and intimidating, like a giant is walking past. It creates an uneasy atmosphere because from the past shot you can tell Lauren is angry. Even the way she walks firmly and upright hints at her attitude. The pan allows the editing to become slower and create more suspense when knowing where Lauren will end up. 

To make our video more interesting we used the idea of magic. By the door knob turning by itself and the chair moving on its, own it creates a supernatural feeling to the scene and makes it seem alien to us as a viewer but exciting at the same time. Our story was on the confrontation of two witches and how one had violated the treaty of where they should live. Although this is a fantasy story line, it appeals to young girls who are into the fantasy of things that are make-believe. Although the scene is hostile, it makes it obvious that they are angry with each other.

In a way, it does not represent social groups in any way. Although the witches are being played by teenagers, it only represents female teenagers in a negative way to show that we get into quarrels and arguments with each other regularly. To create a dark, tense scene we used low key lighting with certain lights illuminating their faces to make it more prominent. The close up and mid shots accentuate their emotions and feelings.

In the clip, the 180 degree rule is shown. The 180 degree rule is an imaginary line when filming a conversation of two people facing each other. It stops the camera from going past that line and making the scene become confusing from two different sides of the conversation. Instead, it allows the camera to use multiple angles to have an establishing shot of the conversation or over the shoulder shots to create a shot reverse shot.

I have gained a lot of knowledge when it comes to editing. I now know how to drag and drop clips I want to use onto the cutting board. I know how to use just the sound or just the video from that clip and I know how to cut or extend the clip to make it fit into the scene. I know how to make an ‘L’ cut to allow the scene to move smoother from one shot to another and I know how to add transitions to again make the whole scene flow better. I feel like I would need to improve when it comes to editing the sound to make it sound different and I would also like to know how to add music into the scene and how to fade it in and out when dialogue happens.

When it comes to the technology, our group seemed to have some problems. The battery of the camcorder we were using wouldn't more than 5 mins so it took a long time to figure out that we could still record with it charging. Also because of the simplicity of the camcorders we were provided with, we did not know when it was recording or not so some of the scenes we thought we shot were in fact all the out-takes and behind the scenes of us changing to the next shot. We overcame that by using different shots to create the same effect, for example, instead of using the over the shoulder shots which didn't record, we used mid shots from roughly 45 degrees. Next time we record, we will make sure everything is recording at the right time and we will double check everything did record and in the right format.

In conclusion, I feel like our strengths were the creativity of making the magic happens. Although it took time it paid off and looked good. My favourite shot is the door knob because it is creative and allows the suspense and excitement of the location to increase because the rest of the scene is black and mysterious. The weakness are that the variety of shots was not as vast as we wanted it to be, but when it comes to our real thriller opening we will be more careful about the storing of recordings and we will then have the variety we wanted with the preliminary material. Also as a weakness, although we were going for the style of low key lighting, there was not enough natural light to make the scene not grainy. Next time, we will film in the day time and make the scene darker to feel more low key. To make the shoot more purposeful and efficient, we will make a shooting plan to show which shots we are doing in which order and what costumes and props and equipment we will need for that setting and scene.