1. For my Preliminary task, I did a shot list to clearly show what shots (camera angles) our group were going to do and where it was going to be done and who was going to be in the shot. This meant that me, my group and others could easily follow and understand what it is our group is trying to do. I also constructed a storyboard so I can visually show what shot I am going to do by doing drawings of different objects and subjects. This then helps myself and others to further understand the plot of our Preliminary Task.
In order to improve my camera skills, I practised camera angles using a subject and analysed what effect or impact it has, such as high angle can suggest vulnerability due to the perspective being higher than the subject. I also analysed a film in order to understand what camera angles are used - that are not still - in order to create the desired effect. This meant that when I was filming the conversation, I was able to consider shot reverse shot, 180 degree rule and continuity. Our group was careful as to not wear different clothes when filming to suggest that the story all happened at the same time - though it was filmed over numerous days - so as to not confuse our audience. If there was a day when small details were accidentally changed or forgotten, such as shoes, then we considered how to alter our shots in order to cover the difference so that it is unnoticeable and would not cause confusion but as a result, did not effect the filming.
2. The 180 degree rule - This rule means you are shooting on one side to show continuity and to not change the side in which the subject is on. For example, if a person was on the right side of another person, this must stay the same and you must not cross the line in which is past the 180 degree mark.
The 180 degree rule must be considered when filming my Preliminary Task, as otherwise it will cause confusion for the audience. This diagram shows that the person in the blue shirt, is on one side and must stay on that side in order to appear as if he is in the same position. You have to consider an imaginary axis and not cross it so it appears that the person is on the same side and has not switched. This is important as otherwise it will confuse the audience and make the plot less easy to follow and then they won't be able to 'visually connect with the unseen movement' as their viewpoint has changed. For example, if you were watching a football match and someone was running with the ball, then you are following that character and can understand the direction in which they are running. If the cameras switched to the opposite side then it would cause confusion as the audience would see the player running in the opposite direction, though it is heading for the same goal.
3. Our group ensured that we varied our camera angles in order to make it more interesting and show different emotions so as to have a different effect. For example, we used close up shots because this shows emotion clearly in which tells the story to the audience. The audience need to understand the emotion because it is a part of the plot as it suggests the tone of the storyline such as happy, angry or sad. In our case it was anger and frustration and we felt a close up shot told this.
We also used tracking shots in order to follow the subject, so the audience can follow the plot. We used one of these shots towards the end of the filming and because we had to follow the character, it meant that the camera was shaky and not smooth. However when looking at it, we felt that this had a good effect as the character is meant to be walking away angrily and the shaking of the camera, we felt, represented this as it expressed it more clearly and would tell the emotion to the audience.
For the conversation, we used a range of camera angles in order to give a different perspective. For example, we used shot reverse shot, extreme close up, over the shoulder, and close up. This variation meant that it makes the plot more interesting and helps the audience understand the story better as different view points are given. Our group ensured that we considered the 180 degree rule and when we first filmed the conversation, we did some filming and then came to the realisation that we had crossed the 'imaginary axis' and therefore broke this rule. We then fixed it by re-filming certain parts and then the problem was overcome.
4. I have not edited before and therefore doing this Preliminary Task helped me greatly. Though I am still unsure about certain things in the editing programme, I am now able to shorten clips and set a point so it can start and stop at a certain time. I was also able to drag the clips and sound that I needed so each clip connected, and when played, it was a continuous clip. Our group decided that including video effects and transitions would help our story - especially 'dissolve' so when alternating between two different clips at two different places, the video flowed more and it wasn't a sharp definition between each individual clip. We also experimented with colour, particularly black and white as this can be effective, and we felt it suited the emotion we are trying to express to our audience. Along with it, we used slow motion, particularly at the end of our video, because it would emphasise the frustration and anger of our character and make it much more dramatic. This is something I will consider when thinking ahead for my Thriller Task as it indicates emotion so the audience can understand clearly and the use of mono-colour fits with the conventions of a noir thriller. However, I am still not overly confident with the editing programme as I have not experimented with every tool, due to it being irrelevant and unnecessary to our Preliminary Task. Something I would like to experiment with is audio effects, as although we included a clip of music in our video, we did not use certain effects that may help dramatise the plot such as the music fading in and out.
