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:
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