Prelim Task

This is our final piece after editing. It was really fun filming and editing this. We used extras to add to the atmosphere of a prison visitor's room.

Editing

This was a new experience for me, but an excellent one. It was really fun learning how to edit and seeing our work come together. It took a while to get the hang of it, but we got it in the end. The hardest part of editing was trying to mark in and out the precise frame that you want. We finished our piece, but needs a few more tweeks for perfection!

Prelim Task (Filming)

This was our second time using the camera but this time felt a little more confident eventhough it was me directing and filming the whole film this time. Our brief was to film someone entering a room, walking across, interacting with another person, and then leaving. The overview of our piece was a mum visiting her son in prison,but ending up in the prisoner storming out. We shot this in the school canteen because we felt it resembled a prison visitor's room. However we had a few problems filming it there as it was very loud in the background and people were constantly walking around. To add to the scenery, we included about 10 extras. Our first shot was of the mum looking nervous and agitated, so we made her play with her hands. Then we had a tracking shot of the son entering the room and then sitting down, using a two shot. We continued with the two shot when the two actors were talking, but also used over the shoulder shots and reverse shots,remembering the 180 degrees rule. We also filmed a flashback which showed why he was in prison, using POV and over the shoulder which was successful but needs editing because we wanted to make it black and white.The exit was a long shot, still having both people in shot.

I would improve a few things if we had more time.I felt we planned it out very well. I would try and find a more controlled environment to film. Spend more times on the shots to perfect them.

Now can't wait to edit and see the end product.

1st time using camera

Thiswas afirst using a camera like that but very enjoyable. I learnt how to operate it safely, and with my group, had to film a short piece of someones journey in school, remembering to include many of the shots we had learnt. The first piece of filming we did was of me walking up the stairs, using a close up shot on my shoes. Then we used a two shot of me interacting with someone in the corridor. Our third was one i directed and filmed, and I used a close up of somones hand pressing the button for the lift then a long shot of her getting in the lift. Ending with an establishing shot rising fromthe feet to the face and them leaving the lift.
Doing this wasmoredifficult then I had thought because when youhave a shot in mind, it is sometimes hard to create for real. If I could do this again I would plan the whole thing in more detail. Controlthe situation around a bit better, and speed up.

Se7en

Seven (also marketed as Se7en) is a 1995 American crime film directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. The story follows a retiring detective (Morgan Freeman) and his replacement (Brad Pitt), jointly investigating a series of ritualistic murders inspired by the seven deadly sins*.

Again, this was another good opening three minutes to a film and caught my attention. The titles,which come a little later in the film are very uncomforting and a little disturbing. The scene plays an important part in the film as it contributes to the plot. The font used reflects someone's writing, with the titles constantly flickering,creating unease among the audience. We see pictures of crimescenes and dead people which freak the audience. We hear lots of screaming sounds as we see these pictures which adds to the effect. POV is used alot to bring the audience places they don't want to be.

*source-wikipedia.org

Momento

Memento is a 2000 psychological thriller written and directed by Christopher Nolan, adapted from his brother Jonathan's short story "Memento Mori". It stars Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, a former insurance fraud investigator searching for the man he believes raped and killed his wife during a burglary. Leonard has anterograde amnesia, which he developed as a result of the severe head trauma during the attack on his wife*.

I haven't seen many thriller films, but this one instantly grabbed my attention. The opening titles were a blue font which represented cold emotion, and they also faded away which could mean a loss in the film. The titles also kept in time with the poloroid picture that was on screen.

The shots used gave a sense that we were there. POV was used when looking at the picture and then an establishing shot of the murder scene. The firat three minutes were also interesting because you realise that is being played in reverse, which makes you want to watch more.

*source-wikipedia.org

Looking at past students

We got the chance to view some thriller clips of past students, which some were very good. One in paticular I felt had alot of elements that a thriller would have, 'End Of The Line'. Alot of the shots used were quick which made the viewer feel lost and confused. The backing track also gives the audience a nervous feeling. The shot of the clock and the actors eyes also builds tension. It was interesting looking at these videos because it shows that you don't have to have the most experience to create a short thriller that does its job.

Shots

In our first lesson, our task was to match an image to the correct shot name, these shots included:

Extreme Close Up
Close Up
Big Close Up
Medium Close Up
Long Shot
Medium Long Shot
Two Shot
Over The Shoulder Shot
POV

ANGLES

Low Angle
High Angle
Worms Eye
Birds Eye
Canted
Eye Level

The canted angle was new to me. It is a shot where the camera has tilted to make the shot or scene look on an angle. This comes into effect when you want to make the audience feel disorientated and confused. It is also used when someone falls to the floor or when someone is drunk.



MOVEMENTS

Pan
Crab
Tracking
Zooming
Tilt
Ped
Handheld and steady cam

Many of these were new to me as well, pan, crab and ped.