Preliminary Filming Task - Continuity Filming

This task involves our coursework groups making short sequences of film in which we demonstrate our ability to shoot a variety of different shots. These three shots are just about used in every film.

Match on Action
This occurs when an action that begins in one shot is continued or completed in the next - for example someone walking through a door on the outside and then the shot continuing on inside where the character enters the room.

Shot/Reverse Shot
This begins with a shot of a character looking at something and then this is followed by a reverse shot of what the person was looking at. For example a girl looking at a poster and then a shot of the poster from her point of view.

180 Degree Shot/Rule

This is used to help the audience understand a conversation (usually) between two characters. If there is a breach of the rule however, the audience can end up confused and the shot will not make sense. In order to work the camera must always stay on one side of the characters, as if it switches sides the characters will more than likely end up facing the wrong way when talking to each other. The camera must stick to one half of this invisible line even if it shoots around the back of the character who is being talked to.

Initial Ideas

Our initial idea was to have a thriller based preliminary continuity sequence. In this there would be two characters involved, one with a briefcase and the other a taxi driver. In this sequence the business like character would hail a taxi down to stop for him. A shot/reverse shot would be used to show the character looking at the door handle of the taxi and then a reverse shot of him opening the door from his point of view. Once in the taxi he would produce a knife and demand the taxi to drive him to his destination of choice. During this a 180 degree shot would have taken place showing the character with the knife and the taxi driver who agrees to drive. Once the taxi driver stops he pulls out a gun and forces the man with the knife out of the taxi with a match on action shot leaving him out on the street.

Unfortunately we could not afford the taxi to take us around for half an hour, so our plan changed to a simpler idea which included a shop keeper and a person buying an item from them.

Our new idea included myself walking through a shop door into a shop (using a match on action shot) which then continued to me looking at a fridge and getting a drink out of it (by using a shot/reverse shot). This would then lead to me buying the drink and conversing with shopkeeper using a 180 degree shot. I will then walk back out of the shot with another match on action shot.

Story Boards

Final Edited Sequence

Analysis On Sequence

Our Preliminary Continuity sequence shows a boy (me) walk into a café and order a drink. A conversation is shown between the café assistant and the boy. The scenario allows for many different angles and techniques to be used, and it’s setting is perfect for the scenario making the sequence believable. The location was easily attainable and luckily the assistant was cooperative!


Use of technology to achieve finished product

In order to film the sequence we used; school video camera, videotape, a computer and the editing program Adobe Premiere Elements on the CNS computers. Once this aspect of the task was completed the sequence was exported out of the editing software and uploaded onto YouTube and onto my media blog.
The editing software allowed us to cut out any parts of the sequence we filmed that we did not want and fuse together any parts that we did. With it we could add a title page and add any effects that would make the transitions between cuts smooth.

Use of camera techniques/shots

Our sequence shows the match on action, shot/reverse shot and 180 degree rule individually. These are all used for different effect on the audience.
As the sequence begins the male character walks through the door using a match on action shot. This allows the audience to understand the difference of location and lighting. The shot/reverse shot of getting a drink out of the fridge shows the audience the action through the character’s eyes. It gives point of view and allows the action to flow on in the sequence. The 180degree rule is used when the characters converse, this once again carries the sequence through smoothly and allows the audience to connect with the characters.

Use of effects

The use of effects in the sequence is limited. This is partly due to the fact it does not need any and with them it would not work or would appear further amateur. We did however use effects in the end of the sequence, where the camera fades out to black as the boy walks out of the café and down the street. We decided not to put any non-diegetic sound effects into it as it would have hindered the realistic feel of the sequence.

Conclusion/Success

Although the brief indicates that we should have completed the task with the two characters sitting down, I believe the other objectives were completed satisfactorily.

Our sequence demonstrates the ability to use the three shots stated, though in future we will repeat the same shot more than once in order to achieve perfection. As time was against us during the shoot we could not do this. I believe that the 180degree shot could be improved as it appears clumsy. The steadiness of the camera will in future be improved with the use of a tripod and by using this; the choreography of the characters can be worked on too.
My personal use of the technology has vastly improved in consequence of the task. My camera skills were not furthered, however my editing skills were and these will come in to play when editing my Thriller sequence in the near future.
In conclusion, although it is a mediocre piece of film it demonstrated the objectives that needed to be completed and furthered the skills of technology used.