G321 Preliminary Task Evaluation

Name: Sian Knapp

In a group with: Joe Gordon, Will Jackson and Bobbie Brader

Write about the preliminary task. What were you asked to do? How did you

find each stage of the process?

We were asked to make a short film opening using different camera and editing

techniques. There were 5 scene altogether, using different shots. One person was

recorded walking down a corridor, reaching and taking the door handle, walking

through the door into a room and sitting down. This also included a small

conversation in the room (where one other person was waiting). Some cuts were

hard to edit together such as sitting down to an over the shoulder angle. You had

to remember exactly what place you cut it for sufficient continuity.

Write the 3 techniques/rules you learned about during the preliminary

task:

The 180 degree rule was something new I learned. Going over a certain camera

line after the first shot in the room was made would cause confusion and make it

look like both people in the conversation were looking in the same direction. On

top of that, I learned about how sounds and props can affect the continuity. If in

one scene the door made a noise, but then made a totally different one in the

next, it would seem suspicious. Also, there was a clock that needed taking down

because it would have shown a massive difference in time between one shot and

the next. Getting all of someone in the frame I learned was very important,

because if part of their head was cut off for example, it wouldn’t look very

professional.

List three things that went well during the filming/editing process:

1. The tracking/panning shot that followed Joe down the corridor was

smooth and at an even rate.

2. The conversation worked well, connecting efficiently through editing too.

3. The editing as a whole followed worked well as I managed to connect the

cuts so that it was not obvious that different takes were made.

List three things you think could have been improved in these stages:

1. I could have added more effects such as dissolve to make for a more

aesthetically pleasing watch.

2. A different setting in which there is less props/clutter around would

improve the clip as it would draw more attention to the actual action.

3. At the end I should have cut to black before Bobbie looked into the

camera.

Has the preliminary task given you any ideas for you 2-minute film

opening? If so, what? If not – think, then say

The ways in which to edit a film opening have given my ideas, however the content of it has not. Although it was a great way to challenge and show continuity, the actual action was that interesting. I will take the techniques into account for the future. I’d consider using shot reverse shot for a 2 – minute film because it’s a tradition and effective shot to use when people are having a conversation. Close ups (such as the handle) are also good.