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Preliminary Task

On this page I cover the entire preliminary task, from panning to the final piece. Initially for this task, I started off by planning out my sequence with the rest of my group, covering how we will insert the required criteria into the preliminary task. The preliminary task criteria stated that we have to 'film a sequence in which a character walks through a door, sits opposite another character and exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue.'

 

After I had gathered a group together, we decided to have a meeting with each other, to plan out how we will use the required shots, while implementing our own story into the short sequence. This plan included character actions, and a basic outline of the shots that we would be using. We also wrote the script, and listed the props that we would need based on what was depicted in our storyboard. Here is the plan as a presentation, below:

We then completed a storyboard together, which takes you through from the opening shot, all the way to the end of the sequence. The storyboard shows all of the shots that we will be using for our sequence. With the storyboard, I then used 'Sony Vegas 12' to create an animated version of the storyboards, which I used with the rest of my group to see whether our original storyboard would make sense when actually filmed, and put together.

Next, one of my group members, Amid, went around and took pictures of suitable locations, which was close to what was required from the storyboard. This meant that we could actually film our sequence straight away, without having to look around different places to find useable locations, when we could actually be filming. However, when it came to filming some locations were being used for lessons, so we had to film elsewhere.

With these pictures, referencing the locations that we could be using for our preliminary task, I used the iPad app 'Storyboards' to add characters and props into the photos to imagine how it would look in reality. This helped to organise the positioning of characters, making sure they can be filmed following rules, such as the 180 degree rule.

After this, our group was ready to film, and so we went to the decided locations, and using the storyboard, we filmed each required shot, together with the needed dialogue. Simultaneously, one of the members in my group, Trenay, was composing the music which would be used in the sequence. He did this using Garage Band, and exported his work as mp3 files, so that we can import those files when editing. I filmed the separate shots using my iPad, I then sent the footage to all the other members in my group, as they would be editing their own version of the sequence, as I was to do as well. I imported the footage, and edited it together, using Sony Vegas 12. This software uses timeline editing, which enabled me to insert the soundtrack files which Trenay composed, into the sequence, as well as text and credits. I then rendered the video and uploaded it to Vimeo. The finalised preliminary sequence is embedded below:

Tools Used

  • Computers/internet - To watch examples of good and bad practice of the preliminary task.

 

  • OneNote – To note down key information, plan out the story, and have a basic script that should be used, however the characters were allowed to improvise certain dialogue and actions.

 

  • Storyboard sheets - To sketch initial ideas, some items or actions of the characters may have been unclear, so in future annotate what each character is doing in each shot.

 

  • Apps (storyboards) - To experiment with orientation and pre-visualize some of the key shots. These are the images with an animated character static in them.

 

  • Walkthrough using iPad - To take pictures of some filming locations before we started filming.

 

  • iPad – To film all of the shots required for the preliminary task. In future, use a better quality camera, with better ‘lux’ for improved quality in dark atmospheres.

 

  • Garage band- To created separate dark and tense music tracks that were used in the final video.

 

  • Sony Vegas 12 – To edit the final piece together, as well as the comparison video, and storyboard walkthrough.

 

  • Microsoft PowerPoint/Slide Share – To create a more visually appealing version of the plan of props, the scene and dialogue, which was previously written in OneNote.

 

  • Wix – To write about my preliminary task, and reflect on what went well, and what could have been improved.

Reflection

From looking at the completed preliminary task, I really like the fact that the 180 degree rule was properly followed, even with the use of different shots, this meant that the audience would never be confused in terms of characters swapping positions. I also really like the dark atmosphere used during the conversation between the dealers. This effect was also achieved through the deep bass music playing during that scene. I enjoyed creating the preliminary task, editing was not too difficult as the storyboards were drawn quite clearly, accounting for almost all of the shots used. It was useful having Paige, one of my group members, as the director, going through each storyboard letting me know where to place the camera, and by her standing behind the camera, I was able to remember to maintain the 180 degree rule.

 

One thing which was quite annoying was finding suitable locations for the shots, as this required a lot of trial and error, until suitable places were found. I think I have definitely improved, in terms of trying to achieve these types of shots, as well as following a set storyboard, instead of improvising camera angles. From this preliminary task I can proudly say that I understand continuity editing. I say this because, when watching the completed video, there is no point where the scenes jump from one another, instead it flows like a story, and that is what I and the rest of my group tried to achieve. I am also confident with the 180 degree rule, as it was not broken in the preliminary task video. I am okay with the match on action shot of the door, however I think I need to improve with the shot which follows the match on action, where the character in shot walks through the door, as I was not able to clearly represent this in the final video. I am most proud of the long shot, which cuts to an overhead shot, when the dealers are swapping bags. I am most proud of this shot because the 180 degree rule is not broken, and the flow of the bag movements fit those of the two different shots, which means that the audience can follow the trade without questioning the positioning of the two bags.

 

I managed to pass the preliminary task. I think that the 180 degree rule was fully established, however the shot following the match on action, was not met properly as the door handle was different. Although quite minor in terms of the sequence, it would be quite obvious to the audience, as the previous shot was a match on action clearly displaying the door handle, meaning they are more than likely to follow their focus on the handle into the next shot. This shot had to be left in, as it showed the protagonist entering the trade room, which also had to be the room used, due to a very limited availability of locations which would match the storyboard, and anticipated mood for the scene.

 

I think that the framing in my preliminary task was quite decent, however it could be improved to have more headroom for a character in a shot-reverse-shot. Also some medium shots used, didn't fully show the characters heads, and this can also be improved, by spacing the camera at the right distances, if not using the zoom function (which the iPad does not have). If I was not using an iPad to film all of the shots, I think that we could have achieved more of a dark atmosphere, through the use of shallow focus for characters, and slightly better exposure to show their emotions, and actions.

 

I think that my group could improve by making sure we finalise our locations first, meaning that we visit our locations beforehand, and make sure that all of our shots depicted in our storyboard can be achieved, with a physical walkthrough of the entire storyboard. We can also improve by scripting all of the character's actions and dialogue, strictly not allowing improvisation so that the cut shots are consistent, unless if the scene requires the characters to improvise. Additionally, I think that I can improve with the rest of my group, by adding shallow focus to key shots, such as the shot reverse shots, to emphasise the dark atmosphere. Although this was not possible with the iPad, for the final task it would be better if I can use a camera with a manual focus feature.

 

Below, is a video I created which compares the final preliminary task video, with the storyboard, as well as the location photos, with and without animated statics of the characters. This was used to help evaluate my preliminary task video, and how well the storyboard was followed.

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