Evaluation of My Preliminary Production Task

While creating my preliminary film clip I have learnt lots of things about filming and editing; I’ve learnt how to use the Pinnacle Studio Film Editing Software and how to use some of the effects on it. I have also learnt how to put the tape and battery into the camera, how to use the record, playback and zoom on the camera. I’ve learnt how to use the camera menu, adjust the focus and white balance etc. I now know how to set up the tripod and fix the camera to it, I know how to record different shots and then how to detach the camera and put the tripod away, I know how to charge the camera, fix it up to the computer and upload footage.
Things that went well; in the second part of the film clip, Ben and Saqib are both facing each other on screen even though they aren’t in the same space in the scene. This is good for the person watching as they can clearly tell they are having a conversation. I also edited the sound so that when we are looking at Ben we can hear Saqib through the phone; this is called a sound bridge, I also edited the sound so it sounds different when we hear Saqib through the phone than to when we are watching Saqib. I also think the transitions work well as I have used one at the beginning, one when the scene changes and a fade out transition at the end. I think these are appropriate places as they show the setting change and beginning/end. I think that the match on actions went well, for example when Saqib is typing in Ben’s number and then the second shot when he puts the phone to his ear. Also the scene when Saqib opens the door, the first shot from behind runs smoothly into the second shot from in the room, the door looks like it still being opened from the first shot, this creates continuity for the viewer.

Things that went wrong were; there wasn’t quite enough footage, for example we didn’t film both sides of the shot reverse shot, we did over Saqib’s shoulder but not over Bens, we used a 95° angle for a side view rather than opposite angles. In one of the clips you can’t quite hear what Ben is saying, this also should have been re-filmed. At the beginning Ben and Saqib are both facing to the right, they should have been facing towards each other in the separate clips as it is less confusing. However they are facing almost forward and are positioned correctly in the rest of the film clip so it’s not too noticeable.

The most productive things about working in a group were that we all got on well and made sure we finished the all the filming together. We all took it in turns to film which made it fair so we all know how to film when we make our own film trailer. It was quite hard at first to find two separate rooms so Saqib and Ben looked like they were in different rooms, when we did find separate rooms they still look quite similar. The third room does look different for when they meet however.

I have learnt how to use most of the equipment and how to film a variety of shots, this will make me able to do my AS coursework production quicker as I will know how to use everything. I will also know things such as making sure I have plenty of footage so I don’t run out. I will remember things such as making sure the characters are facing the right way and making sure I do both shots on the shot reverse shot. We also needed to check shots and make sure we had all the footage we needed and that the volume is adequate.

It ran quite smoothly and we had enough time to film and edit, there was no loss of footage and we mostly filmed the correct scenes. I was happy with my role in it as I had a turn at filming and learned how to use the camera and all the equipment.

One of the most important things I learnt was to make sure I have enough footage, I learnt this from making the mistake of not filming enough footage, overall this preliminary task was useful for finding out things such as this.