Evaluating prelim task 1

As a group we evaluated the videos that had been shot to outline our strengths and weaknesses, the input of peers was helpful as it widened the evaluation voicing more than one view.

Strengths

• Good use of acting within the script, dramatic and good characterization
• Good use of costume
• Explicit use of sound
• Good setting to tell the story
• Good use of over the shoulder shots to enhance personal feelings

Recommendations

• Vary the use of shot types - stimulates
• Use a tripod to ignore hand held movement
• Use more editing to increase the overall feel of the shooting

Above is my peer evaluation of the prelim task. I found that the main problem was the variation of shot types were limited. The only aspect of shot type and camera movement which was used successfully and impacted on the filming was the zooming in and out. There was no shot reverse shot which could of been added to recognize and invite viewers into the meeting itself. Although there was an over the shoulder shot which allowed some insight into personal feelings. No panning was used, alongside tilt and framing, which left the use of editing at a low. There was little variation in the shot lengths which despite the planning of script and content being successful the shot and camera movement did not adhere to this.

I personally felt that my group spent too much time planning the script, costume and setting which was not the riding factor of this task, the task was to learn our weaknesses of filming which is the base of this coursework. Despite having more time in the real task, I will make sure I use my time wisely.

I feel that the prelim task was not valid, as the main weakness was the camera shot types and the little editing that was consumed yet when we had to cut down the clip, we cut out the majority of the scene, and one section which was cut out was where we filmed shot reverse shot. I would like to redo the prelim task as overall I do not think it was a reliable representation of our understanding of how to film.

Posting prelim task 1

Prelim task 1 brief

In order to gain experience and understanding of how to use the video camera, I conducted an initial filming task. I worked on a time scale of 25 minutes of filming with all editing being done in-camera which lead to careful thinking about the choice and ordering of shots. The theme of the prelim task, camera shooting was a meeting of our choice. The shots had to reflect a beginning, middle and end so that a story was unravelled.

As a group we decided on our meeting being based around mental health as we felt this was an issue which could be noticed and expressed with clear characterization through shot types and camera movement in the short time we had. The meeting consisted of the psychologist and the patient. The planning of this is as follows...

Introduction

I am an A2 student, recently finished AS media and now embarking on the A2 course. The A2 course consists of a film marketing campaign, for a specific genre which for my study is horror. This blog will be used as a diary to document evidence, research and planning marketing technology. 

This differs from the AS course which I have just completed in the following ways:

• This course is group based which arises new challenges.
• It is not primarily on print based media but involves film, which also opens up new challenges.
• There is also a wider brief for this course which opens up new opportunities for a selection of ideas.