Account of shooting peliminary task:

For our preliminary task we were put in a group of four and given a storyboard. We had to film a dialogue between two people using the same shots as the storyboard and adding more shots that were from different angles or positions. Our objective was to be introduced to video cameras and learn how to use them in the right way for example; construction of shots, composition, framing, focus and learning to deal with continuity which consisted of making sure that in every shot the actors looked the same were wearing the same clothes, the background had not changed etc. It was also to practice and then comprehend the concept of constructing a narrative sequence using continuity editing. Ultimately our objective was to produce footage that could be digitised and cut on a timeline using non-linear editing.

We used a storyboard as it helped us begin with a structure; they were not complex shots but simple ones as we were rather in experienced at the time. We used mid shots (MS) as to show the expressions of the actors from waist up. We also used some close-ups for example when one of the actors fake cried we wanted to generate close character audience proximity to draw the audience in, into feeling sympathetic for this character. We also used long and wide shots so that we could include the two actors in the shot to see both of there body gestures. We captured one high angle shot, we stood on a table to try and make one of the characters seam intimidating and superior, making the other actor look inferior contrasting the other character. It was a high angle over the shoulder shot. We didn’t end up using this shot as it did not work well with the other shots because it was out of proportion to the others. We also used low angle shots and eye level shots. We didn’t use any following pan shots or surveying pan shots. We did use zooming in at one point, which we didn’t put in the timeline though. Although we didn’t use very complicated shots we used a variety of shots to provide filmic variety. The storyboard also helped us structure the timing, the shot types, a range of shots, camera and subject positioning, chronology of the sequence, to help us never break the 180 degrees rule so not to confuse the audience, the lighting and finally the editing transitions.

When using the camera we did not increase gain as the lighting was adequate. We had class room, artificial lighting shinning down on the actors from above. We also didn’t want any shots to be grainy. It is important to set the white balance right for the internal setting which we did as we were inside. We used the focus so that we could direct the audiences attention clearly and direct there eyes to the main subject. We also used the out of focus to create depth of field which appeared well constructed.

We recorded the conversation with a directional microphone attached to the side of the camera. It was pointed directly at the source of sound all the time as it was connected to the camera and so pointed in the same direction as the camera. We did not take the microphone of and hand held it at all. The camera was not put in a position that was too high or to low so we had to set the levels so that they were right on the camera.

Our strengths and weaknesses varied as we ended up only having three people in the group. Two of us had to act in it and so only one of us could be the camera man however we all helped, checked for continuity and all of us put our opinions across and compromised as a group. One of our strengths was that we had a strong hard working compatible group. We also added in extra shots such as shooting from a very high angle by standing on a table, and attempting a shot from the floor looking up. We also used props such as eye drops to make one of the actors seam as though they were crying, to make the scene look more realistic and to make it look like it had depth to it.

We had difficulties with the room we were shooting in as one of the sides of the room was a window with darkness the other side of it so it created a reflection. We had to make sure that in each shot we didn’t get the camera’s reflection init. This did corrupt one of the shots we wanted to do unfortunately. We could only face the reflecting background when we were doing close-ups so that the actor took up the entire frame.