Evaluation Of Preliminary Task

Storyboard:

Shot List:

Shot no	Shot type	Location	Actor
Scene 1
1.	Point of view establishing shot	Corridor	Joel
2.	Mid-long zoom	Room 48	Lauren
Cut to shot (1)
3.	Worms eye	Corridor	Joel
Cut to shot (2)
Cut to shot (1)
4.	Obscured angle	Corridor	Joel
Cut to shot (1)
Cut to shot (2)
5.	Close up	Corridor	Joel
6.	Panning, point of view	Corridor
7.	Close up	Corridor (handle)	Joel
8.	Reaction, close up	Room 48	Lauren
Cut to shot (7)
Cut to shot (8)
Scene 2
9.	Mid-close	Room 48 (door)	Joel
Cut to shot (7)
10.	Over the shoulder	Room 48	Joel
11.	Tracking shot and panning down	Room 48	Joel
12.	Mid-close	Room 48	Joel and Lauren
13.	Shot reverse shot, over the shoulder	Room 48	Joel and Lauren
14.	Panning up	Room 48	Joel
15.	Close up of face, reaction	Room 48	Joel
16.	Close up of hand	Room 48	Joel
17.	Mid-close up tracking shot	Room 48	Joel
18.	Mid-close up	Room 48	Lauren
19.	Mid shot	corridor	Joel

The 180 Degree Rule

What planning did you do for your filming task, and how did this planning aid the filming?

The first stage of planning that we carried out (aside from the initial conception of the plot and film) was drawing up a simple storyboard of all of the shots we were planning to use.  The storyboard was used in various other stages of our production, from the completion of the shot list to the the shoot itself to the final edit.we used most of the shots on the storyboard, but not all, and some were modified or the order was changed, for example the long tracking shot shown at the start of the storyboard was swapped with the tilt shot due to a possible continuity error. In addition we changed the "scissor drop" close up to a fixed zoom and fixed position shot as we did not have the resources or the time necessary to complete the shot to its original specification. Despite these alterations and differences between the production and plan, we did not have enough time available to edit the storyboard to match the final production, so it was left unedited.

Following this, the shot List was made to aid the final stages of editing as well as help us during the shoot by showing the final use of each shot to help with the realisation of each shot. This was harder to produce than our other main piece of planning, the storyboard as we also had to think carefully about in what order the shots were going to be used and as we planned a more complicated final product the split between the 2 scenes was particularly important in relation to costume as we had to remember both to ensure that both actors were wearing the same clothes for the shoot days (we used 3 separate days) and for the costumes to be worn correctly in order to maintain continuity. although not all shots we used whilst shooting the dialogue for the scene were featured on the story-board, we placed the eventual shot's into our shot list, particularly the 180 degree rule, as use of this rule was a requirement for the task. 

What is the 180 degree rule? and how is this rule important to the filming of the task?

the 180 degree rule is the rule in Film/TV production that dictates when filming a conversation or interaction the camera should never stray across the line of exchange, but can be moved anywhere in a 180 degree area either side of this line. The Diagram below shows the rule.

This rule is used in nearly every scene involving a conversation or interaction and scenes not involving any of these things. We can see it used in this classic and weird as d**ks Scene From David Lynch's Twin Peaks.



Even in the weirdest scenes the 180 degree rule still applies and this particular scene is no exception. 3 main camera angles are used on each of the characters all on one side of the line, they often come close to it but never pass it. even as the camera begins to move and the little man dances past it, the camera still remains within the 180 degree arc, focused on the vocal point of the scene. The reason behind this rule is to stop the viewer from becoming confused as to the placing of characters within a scene in many cases to avoid breaking the fourth wall. If the 180 degree rule was broken in this scene then the characters would have swapped sides in the shot and thus the viewer would get confused. this relevant to the task as we were being evaluated on our ability to produce a short film in which continuity was taken into account and the 180 degree rule is an important part in allowing the scene to flow more naturally and without constant jarring changes.

What shot types and camera angles did you use in your filming task and to what effect?

It was felt that, as the task was not being judged on dialogue or acting, that the focus should be on more on getting some good and creative shots rather than any artsy wordplay. For that reason the chosen subject was that of conflict, based around scissors, something a normal person would plausibly own, but also something that would lend itself to the mise-en-scene of horror. The first scene of the film was heavily inspired by the Steadicam shot used by Stanley Kubrick in his adaptation of The Shining. From the steady tracking shot (minus creepy kid on big wheel) to the flash cuts, we worked to create a distinctive tone and style within the bland parameters of the task, also adding humour to the piece with an elaborate Lewton Bus . the second scene, which includes all of the dialogue, was filmed much more conventionally, due partially to time constraints and lack of range within the task. As well as using the 180 degree rule as specified in the task brief, we also used the second scene to make use of the shot/reverse shot technique also specified in the task.

In addition to this, we also used a variety of angle types and zoom levels in our task, such as a worms eye view or a variable zoom shot for a number of reasons. Firstly, to add variety to the mise en scene of the film and show that we were capable of conceiving and shooting less conventional shot types, but also to add to the horror theme running through the piece by using stereotypical horror shots. we deliberately used a contrast in lighting within the classroom to show a change in tone and emotion, with the darkness showing emptiness and fear, stereotypes again of the horror genre and the light to show normality and comfort, although there was the fact of it just being easier to film the dialogue with the lights and to give us an opportunity for the totes amazeballs light switch close up. 

What editing skills have you developed?

Although i had previous experience with editing video's on various pieces of editing software, i had actually never used Adobe Premiere (probably because it costs more than the average doctor's salary) so that was a little confusing for me. Initially I struggled to get to grips with the differences between the software's I've used and Premiere  especially sound, but soon i had learnt how to make basic cuts and use very basic effects such as fades and dissolves. I also learnt what video formats not to use on low powered computers after we wasted an entire hour that could have been spent adding digital kangaroo page-wipes on mismatched formats.

I also learnt a little on the use of certain editing techniques for effect within films. For example I realised that quick jump cuts could be used to invoke tension within a scene and add to the "Horror" mise en scene, as it is an edit typically used within the horror genre. In addition, the contrast in soundtrack during the piece compliments the change of tone and of mise en scene, and helps to make the piece feel more professional and complete, especially useful as the microphones we had at our disposal were of pretty poor quality. The use of the ominous soundtrack during the first scene, which almost entirely lacks any diagetic sound both creates a surreal, overbearing and  other-worldly tone as well as covering up the inappropriate background noise recorded during filming.Finally I learnt how editing basics such as fades and dissolves can make a piece appear much more professional, despite the relatively low effort in their use. I feel that now I would be confident enough to use Adobe Premiere to make basic cuts of my films in the future and that I ,with a little time, could easily learn more advanced editing techniques within Adobe Premiere.