PRELIM Exercise

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For this exercise we had only 1 hour to storyboard, plan and film a 10 shot short clip which included a shot-reverse-shot, used the 180 degree rule, had continuity editing and had a match-on-action shot. We had to create narrative enigma and anchor what is happening in the sequence. We completed the whole exercise using two cameras. These shots were handheld: guy coming in through door, establishing shot, shot of feet and over the shoulder towards door, whereas the rest of the shots were done using a tripod.

My definitions of...

Continuity editing: A sequence of clips edited in a smooth consistent way, without any jumps in time or space.

180 degree rule: Setting up the cameras so that 180 degrees of the area is being filmed, I would draw an imaginary line and set up cameras behind it making sure that the lenses don't cross that line

Shot reverse shot: Also known as shot/countershot is a film technique used to show characters in a conversation (or something of the sorts) with another character, however apart from a two-shot only one character is shown at a time giving it the feel of shot - countershot -shot -countershot.

Match-on-action: Its when a shot cuts to another shot within the previous shot. For example with the door, at first half the door was filmed, then the next shot cut to the door handle being opened, which was in the previous shot of the door.

What we learnt:

We need to plan shoots with call sheets, story-boards and a very clear idea about what is happening. This would save us so much time and trouble when filming. We also need to take repeat shots if they aren't up to standard, and even then, take more just to be sure. We need to familiarise ourselves with more technology like a gimble and dolly to get a way easier variety of shots included. We need to practice our manual focus as this was a difficult task during the filming of the prelim. We didn't have any costumes or props other than the clothes we wore to school that day. We improvised with the hoods to fit the character better, this needs working on in the future as we begin to realise the importance of mise-en-scene. One of our scenes had to be refilmed at another date as after fighting with the editing program for a good time we decided it would be easier just to refilm the one scene we were missing. This taught us we needed to make sure that everything is backed up.

Our planning: