Evaluation of Prelim Task

Our final prelim video: The Transaction

1. I worked with Odelia, Jess and Robbie. We decided that Odelia and jess would alternate primarily on the camera and sound while Robbie and I were to act, with us both doing our close-ups of each other for the experience of using a camera.

2. We spent time planning our sequence by writing a storyboard which included camera positioning and frame types. We also wrote down a script and shooting list. This was planned so that we knew the amount of filming we would do with each camera position to avoid time wasting in the editing suite. We wanted to make sure that our continuity worked well, so our storyboard was assessed to make sure that the frames would run smoothly from one to the next.

Storyboard:

Script and Shooting Schedule 

Theories:

Barthes – Narrative Codes; Enigma – you aren’t sure what is happening at first, but the acting suggests a dodgy deal is going to be made, action,

Levi-Strauss – Binary opposites; buyer vs. seller, boy vs. girl,

Continuity – narrative flow – we made sure that the events flowed in an order that made sense. Our shots were edited so that they flowed successfully from one to another.

Match-on-action

180* rule

Shot-reverse-shot

3. We used a camera with a microphone attached to record high quality sound. There were headphones attached to the camera and microphone so the person wearing them could identify the sound that was actually being picked up by the microphone. There were 3 settings on the microphone: shotgun, ambience and wide which helped vary the sound picked up. We used a clapperboard to illustrate the shots about to be performed which was useful when editing. We also had a clipboard with our script, shooting list and storyboard on.

4. When planning, factors we had to take into account were:

·         The space we had available to shoot in

·         The time we would have to film and edit

·         The actors available

When shooting, factors we had to take into account were:

·         the background noise

·         the different room that we had to use instead of our planned room

·         a computer was in the frame so we had to move it

When editing, factors we had to take into account were:

·         the continuity techniques

5. Our sequence was more successful than we thought it would be. The continuity in some of our shots was perfect, but the other frame changes still worked well. People found the video funny, so our plot was successfully relayed to the audience.  

In hindsight, we would have made sure that there was no background noise before we chose our place. The noise was slight in our video, but still took attention away from the action. We also broke the 180* rule a few times, so if we had the chance to redo, that would have been corrected. Another problem that we found out post-filming was that there was a colour difference in the close ups to the rest of the video. We were able to change the colour slightly but the colouring was still off slightly. Another continuity error was my legs, and how they were positioned. The first time you see them, my right leg is over my left, and then the second time my left is over my right. Fortunately, this time the error was very minor, but given the chance that would have been rectified.

6. From this task I have learnt that the location of shooting needs to be planned in advance to suit the scene that you wish to create. I have also learnt how to use the editing software, an experience I had not had previously. Some of the equipment used was also new to me so it was useful to find out how to use them so I can implement that into the rest of the course. I also got a chance to understand the care that an actor has to take when mimicking their actions to make sure that no mistakes are made. This will all be significant in completing the rest of my foundation coursework because I now understand how the software works and wont have to waste time having it all explained to me when I am faced with a more stressful and time consuming task. I now also know to be aware of the positioning of actors and props when filming to avoid continuity errors.