Preliminary Task Evaluation

What was the task about:


In AS Media Studies my first task was to carry out the preliminary task. This involved me filming the 3 camera angles (match on action, shot reverse shot, and 180 degree rule) in a given scenario.

When conducting my preliminary task I learnt a range of skills and at the end of the task reviewed them.


What I learnt from this task:

The first thing I learnt in my preliminary task was creating a storyboard which had sketches of the different camera angles which I was going to portray. Before completing the task I had never created a storyboard therefore I found this challenging. After doing this I researched the three camera rules to ensure I knew how they worked. This was the easy part and once this was done, our group practised on the cameras using these skills. We also watched clips on YouTube to help our understanding with showing the camera skills.

After the task:

The main thing I learnt from this task was how to import a video and then convert into final cut. I then learnt to edit the film using the cutting tool to keep and place the parts where I wanted them, resulting in a short movie sequence.

After completing my preliminary task, I sat down with a professional cameraman who came in and observed my video. The feedback I received was helpful as it cleared a few errors in my work.

I also learnt various different factors that need to be taken into account when filming.

One factor being, it’s essential to draw up your storyboard correctly in the beginning to save time on deciding what to do later. Also it would be ideal to have script for each character as a lot of time was wasted and re filmed due to actors forgetting their lines.

Another factor when filming ensures actors are not speaking over each other because when editing on final cut it becomes hard to portray the shot reverse shot.

After completing my preliminary task, I sat down with a professional cameraman who came in and observed my video. The feedback I received was helpful as it cleared a few errors in my work.

Another thing I learnt about was filming precisely within the framework of the camera. This is a very important part when filming as the camera doesn’t need unnecessary items in the background. Therefore the position of the characters must be precise in order to show them in the frame without having unwanted headroom. Whilst this is being done the eye line match for the pair having a conversation needs to be in proportion to the camera as this helps to accurately film.

Overall I was very pleased and enjoyed filming my preliminary task. If I was to repeat this next time I would take in consideration all the feedback I received.

Preliminary Task Video

This is my preliminary task video in which i show the following shots:

 

-  Match on action

 -  Shot reverse shot

    -  The 180 degree rule

 

 

Preliminary Task Storyboard

Here is my storyboard of my preliminary task. This shows a plan of how im constucting my filming.

Preliminary Task Definitions

Preliminary Task Definitions

 

The 180 Degree Rule

In film making, the 180-degree rule is a basic guideline regarding the on-screen spatial relationship between a character and another character or object within a scene. An imaginary line called the axis connects the characters and by keeping the camera on one side of this axis for every shot in the scene, the first character will always be frame right of the second character, who is then always frame left of the first. If the camera passes over the axis, it is called jumping the line or crossing the line.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/180-degree_rule

Match On Action
A match on action, a technique used in film editing, is a cut that connects two different views of the same action at the same moment in the movement. By carefully matching the movement across the two shots, filmmakers make it seem that the motion continues uninterrupted. For a real match on action, the action should begin in the first shot and end in the second shot.
From http://everything2.com/title/match+on+action

Shot Reverse Shot

A shot that views the action from the opposite side of the previous shot, as during a conversation between two actors, giving the effect of looking from one actor to the other.

From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reverse+shot