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Preliminary Exercise Analysis

1) Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you?
I worked in a group of 3 with Francis, Anna and myself. I think we worked rather well and managed our task fairly and in order. We all pitched in our ideas, and when finally deciding on the main idea we all contributed in making the idea better. We made the script all together making it simple but also adding humour to it. We all put our ideas of shot most needed in the shot list; however Anna was the one who finalised the shot list as she was the main director, as me and Francis where set as the two actors. In spite of this we each took turns at filming and directing the shots when we got a chance. For instance, if I wasn’t in the shot, I would film the shot with only Francis in it, vice-versa for Francis; this is so we all got a try in the different skills, sharing the jobs equally.
  
2) How did you plan your sequence? What process did you use? What theories did you try to take account?
Firstly we had a walk through of our scene, helping us to see if our setting is suitable and see if we can shot from these positions and finalise the shot list and storyboard we had written. We also had a schedule, making sure we stuck to it, so that we get every shot done by the end of our availability time. We took in account the theories of continuity and narrative flow, so we used a variety of shots and made sure we shot enough of the scene in each shot. This was also so when it comes to editing we would have a variety to edit, making each editing different. When filming we stuck to the order, however if there was something not working we quickly corrected as we was against time.
Here is proof of our planning:
Anna Francis Natasha Shot List


Anna Francis Natasha Script


3) What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it?

·        Camera (Canon Legria HV40) – we used the zoom in to give a variety of close up and distance shots. We filmed it all on just one camera, also playback features.

·        Tripod – we used this for different heights in shots to get high and low angles. Also to get a smooth pan horizontally and vertically.

·        Shot gun mic- we used this instead of a boom mic as it wasn’t practical as in some shots it was only one person filming. However we used this to pick up clear sounds.

·        Editing suites – I used Adobe Premier Pro CS3 for non-linear digital editing. Firstly I captured all my footage. I used the tools such as razor to cross-cut scenes, erase to cut sections not needed, lock to use different soundtrack on different scenes, this was all to make the shots achieve continuity.

4) What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?

·        When planning; we had to include different variety of shots to make the scene interesting, coming up with a simple but good idea, making sure we followed our main theories (narrative and continuity flow), the space availability and lighting at the certain time we was allowed to film, scheduling so we got everything done on time and in the right order considering if the space was available and actors. Making sure we was all assigned to different task and shared fairly equal.

·        When shooting we had to; make sure the framing was right if that meant doing it couple of time, make sure the actors got their lines right and the right actions, we had to consider the schedule keeping on time, we needed to leave run on time to edit.

·        When editing; I had to remember the theories (continuity and narrative flow), using different continuity editing techniques e.g. match-on action, cross-cutting. Also applying this to the audio.

5) How successful was your sequence? What worked well, and with hindsight, what would you improve/do differently?
I think that my sequence was very successful as it kept to the main idea of the task, which is to create a continuity clip, which I think I did successfully as I kept to the rules of continuity theory. I used match-on-action when I looked in the middle and it cuts to look at Francis. I kept the 30 degree and 180 degree rule so that the audience is not confused of where they are and can follow the scene well. Mostly important I used shot-reverse-shot as this was a scene of two people talking. I had cross- cutting which I played with to also bring humour. I finally used a dissolve at the end to show it had finished.
However, it wasn’t perfect, I would have liked to put more shots, but it went on for to long. There was a shot where in one shot I have a magazine then the next time you see me I don’t, their was few errors like this in some of our footage so I couldn’t use all the shots I wanted to. With hindsight it was difficult to get the audio right as some was shot from far and some from near having different volumes, this was due to the fact our headphones wasn’t working. Next time we could make sure they do work before filming time. Some shots we had was cut a bit earlier not leaving enough time for run on time to edit. However I managed to get the continuity flow well.


6) What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework?
From completing this task, I have learnt so much, as this was my first time for everything. I learnt how the process of making a clip was set out. Mainly I learnt how to make sure a clip flowed well, as the shots had continuity and a narrative flow. I have also learnt from the few mistakes we made, such as the audio, paying more attention to it to make editing much easier. Also making sure there is not a lot of continuity error such as props being there in one shot while not in another. This bring us back to that if we make sure we get the filming right and enough footage it makes editing much easier. I will definitely be using all these skills for the rest of my foundation coursework. As continuity flow is used everywhere, also the few basic skills that I have learnt such as planning, shooting (using a camera in different ways) and editing using the Adobe Premier Pro CS3 for non-linear digital editing. These are all important skills that I was lacking from the start of media AS