Ideas for the Preliminary Filming Task...

Last lesson our group discussed some ideas for our Preliminary Task - basically its a continuity filming and editing task in which a character has to open a door, cross the room and sit down in a chair opposite another character before engaging in a small dialogue. The film should include match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. We had quite a few specific ideas, however as usual our creativity got the better of us and we conjured up rather imaginative storylines!

In the end we chose the idea that would suit the school environment we will be filming in - as we'll have time and location restrictions. So our storyline thus far; a prospective trainee teacher turns up at school for a job interview (queue extreme close ups of nervous fiddling and a graphic match of her face and the clock which ticks intimidatingly - all of these should portray her agitated and eratic behaviour as she waits in the waiting room), then she enters the interview (via match on action: the 1st shot will have her hand on a door handle, the 2nd shot will have her walking through the door) only to be met with a stern and strict  interviewer (the interviewer is portrayed as being superior and powerful through a high angle over the shoulder shot where the latter takes up most of the frame and the interviewee appears small, weak and inferior) they then engage in a short conversation (containing shot/reverse shot).

They are only brief ideas but hopefully they will soon develop into an organised narrative with all of the listed techniques we need to include.We have made a storyboard which will help us to critically analyse our thoughts and plan out locations, dialogue and shots, before we start the major process of filming.

Initial Filming Task - Reflection...

These are just a few very important tips I learnt from my initial filming task - we got into groups and made a promotional video for our school. It was my first time filming and editing so there was a lot to absorb, luckily my group members showed me a lot of useful tricks in the film making process; from the best camera shots and angles, to navigating the editing software, Final Cut.

Our videa was a success partly because of team work, and partly because we managed to get a solid amount of footage, and a good variety of shots combined with smooth editing and a strong soundtrack. I learnt a lot and now feel much more confident with the technical side of the film making process - as I prefer the creative side.

Initial filming Task - Reflection

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