Post Production Task

The rushes tape was uploaded onto the computer; we accessed an edit proxy (digital copy) of the raw footage. We put the film into final cut pro, we logged the shot into the log bin, the reason for logging the shots was the get the best shots to put it into a sequence.

When actually filming the sequence, we had to make sure there was continuity, ie. That the actors did the same thing each time it was filmed. This is the same when editing the film. The editor needs to make sure that what he produces makes sense to the audience. This is essential for the sequence to be understandable, ie. When someone walks in a door, and a different shot is used after to see where they are coming from, they must be filmed from the same angle in order to make it look smooth and fluent. Editing draws attention to the characters that are being filmed, therefore if a character is filmed more often, and in interested shots, like a close up, they immediately become more relevant to the sequence. So if the editor wants to make someone seems more important, they must edit it in such a way that makes this obvious. Editing moves the story forward at the speed to which the editor/director wants it to. This is following a specific film language, that all audience can relate to and understand, if there was no continuity, the sequence would be a mess and incomprehensible.

By referring to our storyboard, we decided what order the shots were going to be in. We firstly used an establishing shot, and then by using the shots which we had previously chosen, put it on top of the first sequence. We then shortened it according to what we needed, and also made sure the sound of the two sequences did not overlap. We selected shots that made character A look powerful, and character B look weak. We did this by using the shots which made character B look smaller. We used continuity, ie. When character A opened the door, we then edited to a close up of her hand on the door handle closing the door. We had to make sure it looked fluent and went well together. We organized the shots according to the storyboard, this made the storyline have clarity, but we also added extra specific shots that we did, like a close up of the door handle. This gave the sequence more of a meaning and an atmosphere. By going to a close up when Character B is being shouted at, it makes the audience involved in his emotion because they can more easily experience how he is feeling because it is so much closer because we can see his facial expression.

When editing, the essential thing to think of is that is makes sense to the audience. But also, we want to make it seem very interesting even though it is only short and doesn’t have a proper story line. We edited according to the story board, which told us which shots we used where, but also we used continuity to link two shots together, ie. When the door opens, we cut to a shot of a close up of the hand opening the door. We made sure there was a match of action, that the cut to the new frame fluently linked together, and therefore was relevant.

Preliminary Task Evaluation

Our preliminary task was to film a sequence of a man and a woman having some sort of arguement, where one character is trying to convince the other to do something. We did ours in the studio, where one single room and a hanging light was the set. Firstly we prepared our actors, by going through lines and directing them where we wanted them to stand. After rehearsing a few times, we then began to film. We used shots from the storyboard we were given, so firstly we did a wide establishing shot and then moved into a medium shot.

Every time we changed the camera shot we filmed the entire sequence with that angle. Each different shot we did we adjusted the camera to make sure that the camera was balanced, by bubbling the tripod, and also making sure the lighting was correct, and that there was enough head space and looking space in each frame. We also made sure the camera was in focus, by zooming into the character's nose or something, focusing, then zooming out. This enables us to focus the character which was being faced on, and the back shoulder of the other character was slightly blurry. We also asigned someone different each frame to be looking at continuity, for example, making sure that because the character held her hands close to her stomach, that in every other filming she did that again. In the filming, I felt I had rather important role, however we did share the tasks. Although each different shot someone different would say the correct terminology, and actually press the record button, all of us had an input into where the camera was going to be set up and also adjusting everything on the camera.

After doing the first shots to establish the set, we then moved closer in by doing an over the shoulder the shot and also close up of their faces. We filmed over the shoulder from each character, and also a close up on each of their faces. After doing the shots that were given to us in the storyboard, we did some more creative and specific shots, like a close up the character who enters, closing the door. That way when we edit we can switch to that shot to show the audience exactly what is going on. We also did a high angle shot looking down on the character which is being shouted at, that way they looked weak and vulnerable. In contrast, the character who was doing the shouting, we filmed from a low angle making them look powerful and in control. This re-enforced the storyline by giving the characters a personality to fit their role. We tried not to cross the 180 degree line when entering more into the set, and I am certain that we succeeded this.

We also used the correct terminology when film the frame, by firstly saying "Stand by" with the reply of "standing by", and then saying "camera rolling" and finishing by saying "action" to command the actors to start. The lighting was rather straight forward in this sequence, because we used a hanging light throughout the entire sequence, however at one point, where the arguement was at its most heated, we turned the back light behind the set off, this created a slightly tense dark mood, re-enforcing the storyline. Our lighting was mostly hard light due to the hanging light being low down, this created a darker mood.

I felt I improved greatly in film making by doing this practical exercise. I now understand it a lot better now, because I was able to do it physically and therefore know how it is done. I know what the correct terminology is, and to direct the actors to how I want them to be. I also know the steps to preparing the camera, like setting gain and focusing. I know to leave 5 seconds before saying "action" and actually "cutting" the the film, to ensure everything is fitted in and nothing is cut out.

Here is the peliminary task: