- What was the purpose of the preliminary task?
- What did you learn from the preliminary task?
- What skills did you learn from the preliminary task that helped you with your thriller film?
The purpose of a preliminary task was to create a 30 second to 1 minute clip of a conversation using different camera angles. The type of cinematography we had to use was a mid shot, long shot, panning and over the shoulder shot.
We had to do this preliminary task in order to get used to the camera equipment and to create a clip that would include different shots. We also had to do this task so that we could understand how each of the different shots can be filmed. From the preliminary task I learnt how to handle the different camera equipment. I understood how to actually use the camera, for instance how to watch the videos back and how to use the camera in order to film. I also learnt how to use the other types of equipment such as the tripod. When filming the preliminary task, we had to use the tripod, and I learnt how to set it up and adjust the legs of it so that we could change the angles when filming. By learning how to use the equipment, it meant that I could help film different types of angles and shots just by adjusting the leg length on the tripod. Through filming, I also learnt how to film each individual shot and what it consists of. For example, I understood how to film mid shot and long shot. However I had to keep re-filming the over the shoulder shot because it didn't look professional and I kept getting the back of the other person in the whole shot rather than half the shot. I was able to also learn how to film tracking movements such as panning which I had never done before. The preliminary task helped me to understand how to use each of the equipment and how to actually record a conversation with different cinematography techniques.
During filming I found some things very difficult to do. For instance, I found filming tracking shots very hard. Panning was a really hard shot to film as the camera would go out of focus a lot and this would make the video look unprofessional. When holding the camera, it would also move a lot when I had to film the panning shot, and so when the video was played back this caused problems because the video would look very shaky and hand held. However it was hard to film with the tripod when filming the panning shot as it would make it harder for the camera to move smoothly and so the when watching the video back, I could see little shaky movements when the tripod was turning. The panning shot was therefore very difficult to film as the camera and the tripod would constantly be shaky and this led to the video looking unprofessional.
Another thing that I found difficult was filming the over the shoulder shot and this is because when filming the shot, the other person who wasn't talking, was shown in the whole shot rather than just a little bit. The person who was talking could only be seen in a small part of the shot and this meant that the audience focused on the back of the person rather than the person talking. This made the shot look very unprofessional as the camera wouldn't focus on the person speaking, but instead would focus on the back of the person. The over the shoulder shot was also really hard to film, as it was difficult to get the angle right to make sure that the other person could get seen. I had to adjust the tripod to make sure that it was tall enough to go over the persons shoulder, just so the other person could be seen. This made filming very difficult as I didn't know how to use the tripod properly and the over the shoulder shot ended up looking very messy and the audience focused more on the back rather than the front of the person.
The last thing that I found difficult was that I found adjusting the tripod and using the tripod really hard and this is because I didn't know how to use the tripod and so it made it hard for me to use it when filming. I found adjusting the legs hard as whenever it tried to get the tripod at the right height of something, the tripod would either be too long or too short. It was also hard to adjust the tripod to get particular shots such as a low angle and this is because I didn't know how to change the length of it. I started to hand hold the camera however this made the footage look very shaky and unsteady and this would make the film look very unprofessional. The tripod was also very heavy and so hard to move around especially when filming tracking shots such as panning. The tripod was very complicated and hard to use and this made the actual filming even harder to do because I didn't know how to use the tripod, and I didn't know how to adjust it.
The preliminary task helped when creating and producing my thriller as I know exactly how to use the equipment and so I wouldn't waste time setting up the equipment and learning how to use it. I also know how to use the tripod and this helps when creating my thriller production because it means that I can use the tripod without any problems and I can adjust the tripod to get certain angles and movements when filming. This makes my filming look more professional and also means that I can do any tracking movement or shot that I want and this will engage my audience more when producing my thriller sequence as they will feel more intrigued into the sequence if different camera angles and movements are used. This preliminary task has also helped to create my production as I understand how certain shots can have an effect on the audience, for instance I can use a close up to show the different facial expressions of the characters and I can also use different angles such as high angle and low angle to portray the status of different characters within the sequence and portray their traits that they have as their characters within the sequence. I have applied this knowledge from the preliminary task as I used certain shots to make one character seem more powerful than the other and I also used panning to show movement within the clip. This then will be applied to my actual sequence as I understand that different camera angles and movements can create different emotions for the audience. Finally this preliminary task has helped when creating my production as I understand that I need to use a tripod when filming as otherwise the film will look very shaky and unsteady and this will make the sequence unprofessional and this could decrease the amount of viewers that watch my thriller production. My preliminary task has allowed me to widen my knowledge on the types of equipment involved and how it Is used to create my production. I know how to use a tripod correctly in order to keep the camera steady and to create effects in certain shots used. It has also widened my knowledge on what shots create particular emotions within the audience and what shot can create a dramatic or sinister effect.
Your analysis of this question demonstrates a proficient understanding of what the purpose of the preliminary task was and how it helped you to create your main product. You have included a variety of difficulties that you faced and have explained them well, it you also need to include ways in which you faced these issues, by explaining what you did.
ReplyDelete