Evaluation Activity 7

Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Looking back at my preliminary task compared to my final film I think that I have learnt a variety of different skills to help with my editing and camera angles in order to make the footage more interesting to watch. In my preliminary task, I used a small amount of camera angles and my editing was a bit jumpy in places, making it not flow very well. In addition, when I filmed my preliminary task I only filmed each clip once, so if I later found out that there was a mistake when I was editing it together, than I didn’t have a back-up clip to use instead. However, in my final film I ensured that each clip was edited so that it flowed smoothly, as I learnt how to be more precise when cutting the clips. I also made sure that each scene was filmed a couple of times just incase I missed something by not starting or stoping on time or if anything went wrong in the scene.

In my preliminary task we had to follow the 180 degree rule. This rule in film making is a basic guideline regarding the on-screen spatial relationship between two characters or an 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 framed right of the second character, who is then always framed left of the first character. If the camera passes over the axis, it is called crossing the line. 

180 Degree Rule

A match on action shot is when something happens in the scene then when it is cut the same piece of action must be going on. This is an example of continuity editing and is important in helping the audience understand what is happening.

Short reverse shot is a filming technique where one character is shown looking at another character and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.

I have used a long shot of Kelsey walking over to the table to have a chat with Gemma and Harry. I also used an over the shoulder shot of the conversation and lastly I used a close up shot of Gemma when she was speaking.

In my final film, I have used a variety of different camera angles and my editing is a lot smoother and flows better than the clips in my preliminary task. I have used camera angles such as close-ups, medium shots and long shots. 

1. This is an over the shoulder shot of Megan leaving the house and saying goodbye to her mum.

2. This is the second over the shoulder shot that I used in my film of the female character watching the little boy run ahead of her.

3 & 4. By jumping from the murderers feet, shown as a close up shot (4) to the girl looking behind her continuously (3), adds a dramatic feel to the film and lets the audience know that she’s being followed. However, it still leaves a slight mystery to the murderer as only his feet are shown using a close-up camera angle.

5. This is the motion blur effect that I edited in using Final Cut Pro, by having it blurred and slowed down slightly it builds up the suspense, as she begins to run away.

6. I used an over the head shot of the dead body to set the scene and to add an interesting view to the audience. I achieved this shot by using a tricopter with a camera attached to the front.

7. This close up shot of Jack’s feet as he runs across the beach reminds the audience of the murderers' feet chasing the young girl.

8. This last close up shot of Jasmine's face shows the audience the expression on her face and lets us know that she is shocked as she has just seen a dead girl on the beach.