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?

In our preliminary task we look at using simple, common filming techniques in a short film. These were; 180 degree rule, match on action and shot/reverse shot. We look at combining these three techniques in our film using a standard camera, tripod and Adobe Premiere. We created a short 30 second film using the three techniques and any other shots and edits we felt we could use for the film. This task helped us get an idea of how to setup and use different shot types for different effects in a film and also introduced us to editing styles like the shot/reverse shot and how to put the different shots film together in a film. We were able to take what we had learnt from this task and apply it to our horror film when we began. For example we used match on action when the door is broken down and when the main character escapes from the two men. There was no diologue scene in the opening so we did not get the chance to use 180 degree rule or shot/reveres shot.

When filming our horror opening we now using a Panasonic HDC-SD60 camera and Final Cut Pro on an iMac to make our film. We were still able to use what we learned from the preliminary task but we had a wider range of techniques we could use due our new equipment. The quality of our film had greatly improved allowing us to use more close up and detailed shots making them more eye caching and appealing for the audience. The new editing program allowed us to use more editing techniques we couldn’t use before like colour correct and anti-shake.

              

The left shot is from our preliminary task. It is a simple mid shot used for the shot/reverse shot. The film used many simple, still shots and only one effect; fade out. The right is a close up of a carrot being cut. This shot uses a variety of edits; a red filter, darkened lighting (using colour correct) and the shot has been speeded up with the speed adjuster. These all give a strange effect. We also used non-dietetic sound music in our horror film which we did not use for the preliminary task and learned how to edit the shots to the music for effect.

From the preliminary task we learnt the basic of film making and were able to takes these skills and expand them when making our horror opening.