Preliminary Task

Preliminary Task

We were given a preliminary task with the brief that said 'A character opens a door, crosses a room and sits down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanged a couple of lines of dialogue'.

In groups we discussed the brief and came up with idea of having an interview between a police officer and a young girl that killed someone. To add to the plot the young girl was suffering from noises in her head, therefore this lead her to killing. With this idea we then started to draw up a story board that is shown below.

Story Board

Once the idea had been pitched and the story board had be completed we then started casting roles. After we casted roles it was time to move on to the next stage this was writing the script and creating the shot list. The passage below is a copy of the script that was used:

Script

Scene 1

(Door slams Lauren walks in)

Sophie - Who's there? (Feeling anxious and paranoid)

(No answer)

Lauren - (goes to shake hand) Hello my name is Inspector Amber Watkins, please take a seat.

Sophie - (ignores friendly gesture and looks away) no speech

(Lauren sits down and waits for Sophie to respond to orders) (Not bothered facial expression)

... Pause of silence

(Lauren sorts out papers and puts recording on table)

(Sophie continues to fidget and breathing heavily)

Sophie - I did nothing wrong, they did it.

(Lauren looking emotion less)

(Lauren starts recording)

Lauren - At 16:37 Nicole parsons was found dead in the back garden of Madison bloom, what is your take on this?

Sophie - (mumbling to herself) I didn't do it, i did nothing wrong.

Lauren - where were between hours of 4 and 5 o clock Saturday evening?

Sophie - I was with them

Lauren - (looking angry and concerned) who is ... them?

Sophie - (walks into spotlight) Their my friends ... erm ... (hesitates) My friends ... (screams) Don't you believe me? (Slams hands on table)

Lauren - Calm down (reaches for Sophie’s hand)

(Sophie moves hands, and walks backwards)

Scene 2

(Sapir grabs Sophie’s shoulders)

Sapir - Hello there (sly face)

Desiree - so how yah been Madi?  Killed anyone lately?  (Grins repeatedly) (Sly face)

Sapir - Yea Madi, Killed anyone lately? (Touching her hair)

Sophie - (faces windows) I didn't kill anyone ... You did it ... Why don't you guys just own up? (Controlling voice)

Desiree - So what if we killed her? No one will find out! (Flicks Sophie’s hair) (walking around her)

Sapir - Technically (emphasis on the 'Y') you killed her, because you hand the knife. We didn’t tell you what to do.

(Sophie should be silent, but looking angry)

Desiree - whooooa is someone getting angry? (Laughs and pokes her)

Sapir - Is someone going to throw a tantrum? (Laughs and pokes her)

(Sapir and Desiree push Sophie around)

Sophie - (screams) stop it, stop it ... I didn’t do anything, it wasn’t my fault ...

Scene 3

(Lauren scared and very worried)

(Lauren looks at Sophie whilst she is getting knocked about)

Lauren - Who are you talking to?

Sophie - (Realised she is alone) I was talking to my friends.

Lauren - Where are your friends?

Sophie - They are right here.

(Sapir and Desiree make a mess)

(Sophie wide eyed and scared)

Lauren - Stay here I'll be back

(Lauren sprints away)

(Sapir appears and drags Sophie head to the table)

(Sophie bends down)

Sapir - This is for your own good

(Sapir’s passes Desiree the hair) (Desiree wraps round hand)

Desiree - This is what’s best for you...

(Slams head on table)

(Sophie collapses on floor)

As it was an interview we decided to set our movie in the drama studio. Reasons for the drama studio are its very spacious giving us the right amount of room to set up in and preform in. It also contains its own personal lighting board; this made everything 10 times better as unlike natural light we could control the colour and the brightness.

Drama Studio: Location of Filming

Once we had filmed all the shots we needed we then went on to edit the raw footage using ‘Final Cut Pro (FCP)’ on the apple macs. At first our director edited the whole movie and then presented it to us, we were then given some extra information from our teacher when applying it our movie at the time it did meet the demands. Lauren and I both took it upon ourselves to re-edit the footage that was given up. After days of editing we had finally completed the task and meant the requirements.

Old Movie 

Unfortunately, as a group we decided that the first movie was very complicated and we redid everything. Once we had completed our new movie it was much more understandable and easier follow.

 New Movie 

As the new director I got all the shots that were needed and many more. The aim for this second piece was to keep it simple and very natural, being so we then decided to have a topic and have the characters elaborate on the topic given. Some people may think this would have never worked but our cast members were very good at remembering everything they said for extra shots. The editing this time round was done by Lauren who did a great job bringing every thing together.

Mind - Map of Ideas

The group discussing ideas

Our new shot list

Our new story board

Filming in Process

Match on Action

Match on Action

Definition:

Match on action is a very simple but essential technique, where the perspective of the camera changes during a scene and the scene continues to flow.

As a class we came up with the definition of match on action below after we did a practical that included 2 people throwing and catching a ball. In the practical we had to have at least 4 different types of shots from different angles and then cut them together using the iMovie on the iPads.

 

Class Definition:
Match on Action is the sequencing of events in chronological order to maintain continuity so the narrative can be followed. This is done by matching the footer of one scene to the header of the next.

We then watched them back as a class and discovered all the match on action mistakes each group made.
As a class we then made a list/spider diagram of rules that should be followed when creating a film to ensure there are no match on action mistakes.

Shot, Reverse Shot

Shot, Reverse Shot

At first when I was introduced to the name 'Shot Reverse Shot' a few things came to mind.

Here are two of the things that I thought about when 'Shot Reverse Shot' was mentioned:

·         firstly I thought that 'shot verse shot' could a shot that could be used either way round, I came up with this idea because of the key word 'Verse' instantly made me think it can be turned/used differently.

·         I then thought that it could a number of different shots right after each other for example over shoulder to mid shot to close up. I think this may have sparked when I was watching the opening scene of pulp fiction.

Once everyone had done feedback in the class we then had the opportunity to create a definition for Shot, Reverse Shot. A student in the class then came up with an amazing definition. We decided not to use the dictionary/exam board definition as it was confusing and went with a definition we could understand and later refer to.

Definition

- 'The process of switching the camera from facing one person to facing another on the opposite side, which is behind the camera. Usually used for dialogue.'

Shot, Verse Shot Task

In class we were given a task to complete. We were given a script, shot list, story board and plain paper. We then got into groups and had to act out the script but recreate the opening scene of 'Pulp Fiction' bearing in mind we had not seen the Opening just the images below. Now as the confused people we were we did not know how to come across this challenge but we thought that if we just read from the script and followed the instructions nothing really could wrong. As you will see later the video that we created, being that we thought it would be best to go into the common room to film because there was a setting that matched the image we decided to pursue the idea which was not such a good idea if I think back. Everyone was talking and playing music in the background which actually good be very good as it would be like that in a real cafe but to us as a group it just didn't professional and we were not very pleased with the out come. 

Now below you will see the opening scene of 'Pulp Fiction' this is what our video should have looked like but it did not live up to those standards.

The opening scene of 'Pulp Fiction below:

Our re-make of the opening of 'Pulp Fiction'

Reflection

I personally believe that after I had done this video with my group I got a new understanding of term 'Shot, Reverse Shot' and I can now use my knowledge of this in my work later down when I am filming a conversation scene between two people.

Mise en Scene

Mise en Scene

-          Settings & props

-          Costume

-          Lighting

-          Colour

-          Positioning

Image 1 – Dinner Scene 


Dinner Scene

In the image I added a white and black filter not only to age the image but to create a romantic and intimate environment. The table in the image has been dressed up to resemble a high class restaurant this can be shown in the placement of cutlery and positioning of the plates. We also added a table cloth, a wine bottle and two stem glasses being that there is two of every useable item on the table this symbolizes that this may be a meal between two individuals. In the image the candle behind the bottle is yellow but in the image after the filter it is then white. Now being that the candle is yellow in the original image it symbolises unity a word that is normally associated with more than 2 people or even a team could also be a connotation for a relationship.

In the image there has been a range of different lighted areas. The light was purposely aimed to enlighten the area of the table as it was the main focus of the image. As I said before I have put a filter on the image so it would become black and white now that I have done this the colours seem to go better as they were previously colours that would not be in a high class surrounding.

In the image the table has been positioned in a way where there is enough space for everything to be placed. The table is also positioned in a way that you would expect to see a table set out, as the individuals will be facing each other making it an easy way to communicate with one and other.



Murder Scene

Image 2 – Murder Scene

From a personal point of view when we were told to create a murder scene the group automatically thought of weapons. After a little talking with one another we decided not to make it so obvious that there was a ‘killing’ about to happen. In this case we decided to use the type writer which is a key item in who the character could be for example a writer. We also added different books to show that the character would have been educated but also having the wine bottle and stem glass shows that the person may have been stressed and decided to drink away the pain. Once again we used the candle and as I have put a filter on the image the candle is now white where as it was yellow; another symbol for creativity. As I said previously the character would be a writer which in some people’s eyes are very creative individuals.

In the image if you look closely there is a gun under the opened book on the right hand side which is the obvious weapon used in a killing scene but when looking at this image and thinking to myself how could this be perceived as a murderous scene I instantly thought about suicide and background story of how this scene will make sense to the viewer.

In the image the lighting was mainly focused on the other end of the table this was because in a murderous scene there is not meant to be a lot of light as the typical atmosphere is dark and mysterious.

Technology

Technology

The use of technology is very key in media studies as we use it every day.

The Oxford dictionary defines technology as the ‘machinery and devices developed from scientific knowledge’. I personally believe that technology is not just the machinery that we use but the different software’s that we have access to. Technology cannot be simplified as there are many things that come to mind when technology Is involved and as time goes on we won’t remember how technology used to be because of how it will evolve.   

In our preliminary task we used many software’s to complete the task and I honestly think that if we didn’t have access to these we won’t have been able to produce a functional movie clip.

What was used:

·         Camera Shots

We put camera shots down as the use of technology because a camera is an electrical device that we would normally associate with technology and something that is used to create/capture moving images in a sequence.

·         Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro was something that I had never used before so firstly I needed help. This was software used to edit the raw footage that we had filmed.

·         ‘Apple Software’

As I am naturally used to dealing with ‘HP’ or ‘DELL’ laptops I was not very familiar with the different buttons to use. But after a little help from my peers I was able to use the apple software productively.

·         Lighting

Lighting was needed a lot in our preliminary task because we chose to film in the drama studio which is a very dark room. I decided to put lighting down as technology because once again it is an electrical appliance that is technology based.

·         YouTube

YouTube is a website that the general public can use to upload videos to. These videos can be accessed all around the world making it a convenient source.

·         Blogger

Blogger is a website used to blog your initial thought and ideas, this is then exposed to the public who have the choice to either view/read your posts, comment on your blog or follow you.

What I learned:

Bird's Eye View Shot

Over the Shoulder Shot

·         Camera Shots – With the camera I first of all re-taught myself the basic use of the camera. I also learned how to position the camera at different angles to create different shots. For example if I was to position the camera behind a character between the neck and shoulder that would be called an over the shoulder shot where as if I was to position the camera over the top of all characters that would be a bird’s eye view shot which we didn’t use very much. 

·         Final Cut Pro – Final cut pro was something very new to me so I took advantage of my time and expanded my knowledge of the software.

What I learned:

·         How to change raw footage into apple pro res

·         How to cut footage using the cutting tool

·         How to reverse a clip

·         How to add credits and render them if they do not match the sequence.

·         How to make a movie flow

·         How to create continuity

·         How to get match on action

·         How to link a footer to a header

Advantages of Technology

When using technology I thought there was a lot of advantages here are a few:

·         Finishing projects quicker than you would normally do by hand/saves time.

·         Better quality when it comes to filming.

·         Using advanced software’s meaning you will get the best possible outcome.

·         Decrease in paper use which is positive as it is good for the environment.