preliminary evaluation

As this was our first time filming and editing it is clear that improvement is needed, but we did include the three main objectives which were the 180° rule, match on action and SRS (shot reverse shot).

The 180° rule -

The 180° rule is a rule which two characters should have the same left and right relationship to each other. this rule is very important in video and film production. When a camera crosses the 'axis' connecting to two subjects it is called 'crossing the line' and the new shot is called the reverse angle but crossing the line is usually something that should be avoided. 

Match on action -

Match on action is the cut between two shots that show no time has passed between them. It is when you cut during an action to another camera angle but showing the action from the same point in time that you left it from the previous shot. it is important to have a continuous flow of a scene.

The clip below which we edited shows match on actions. it could be improved, for example zooming into the hand on the door to clearly show that match on action was used but as this was our first attempt we know how to improve it for next time.
 

Shot reverse shot (SRS) -

Shot reverse shot is a continuity editing technique which is mainly used in conversations or characters looking at each other or objects. A shot showing a character supposedly looking at someone or an objects is usually followed by a reverse angle shot of the character looking at it, or of the character looking back at them. Shot reverse shot ties in with the 180° rule to retain the continuity by not distorting the audiences sense of location of the characters in the shot.

The clip below shows match on action, due to it being our first attempt it needs slight improvement.

During the pre-production stage of our short film we had to come up with quick ideas as we had limited time. First of all we decided who was doing what part, I decided that  i would play one character and Anelka played the other. Eoin and Aleksandra both worked together to film making sure angles were right. We worked well as a team coming up with the idea of what we would film in the short amount of space we had. We then decided on the location, genre and narrative of the short film. we came to a quick and easy agreement by putting forward each of our ideas and putting them together. As our short film was based on someone buying drugs of another person it was pretty easy when deciding on the location, and as we had to remain on school premises due to the short time we had we chose to film on the stairs which was fairly easy. We kept the dialogue fairly straight forward and simple which fitted in with the limited time we had. We didn't have much planning time so we didn't have enough time to make a story board to make a quick sketch of what we would do, this would of helped our group have a better and clear understanding of what we would be doing before we started filming.

 
 
                               

                            Example of a story board.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
During the production filming the short film we worked very well as team to use our time wisely but to also include the three main principles which were match on action, 180° rule and short reverse shot which I think we did well but improvements could be made next time but as it was our first time for all of us using the DLSR camera. We all knew our parts and what we needed to do so there was no time wasted or confusion. we set up the DLSR camera up and played around at filming a few shots first before we filmed the shots we needed to then edit later. A few problems came up but none which were a major problem. There was some ambient sound from other pupils and teachers walking around near to where we were filming so we filmed a few shots more than once to make sure the noise was not heard.
 
In the last process of post production we had to edit the shots taken to make the short film flow. we used a editing program called 'Final Cut Pro X' which was all of our first times using. we took apart raw footage which was needed and split into two groups of two and created separate short films which allowed us to all have a turn at using the program. Within the editing myself and Aleksandra who I worked with learnt how to add in sounds, transitions and how to enhance certain shots which will help us a lot when editing the real Thriller opening. We all started of with the same raw footage but the end result of the short film would be different by using different editing skills.
 
This preliminary task helped not only me but also my group a lot and gave us a better understanding of how to use the DLSR camera and editing program 'Final Cut Pro X' which will help us when creating a thriller opening. As a whole I think our attempt at using working as a team, filming, editing and using the three main principles went well but areas need to be improved which we are aware of that will not occur in our thriller opening.