Preliminary Task - The Swap

Preliminary Task - Video

Preliminary Task - The Review

Overall, I am pretty happy with how the task progressed, I think for our first production it seems pretty good, and has been edited to a decent standard.

However, I believe the filming was good but could have been better,because of the camera shaking in the beginning. I think the actors acted very well along the lines of how they were supposed to but they could have spoken slightly louder. The acting was very good according to me, but if i was to redo this task then i would make sure that the actors were to speak up a bit so the dialogue could be heard clearly. As I've stated before the camera movement was a little dodgy and not still, so if i was to redo it i would use a tripod.

There are many good points that came out with our film, including the background music where i feel was fitted in well with the film and it also helped to express and show the feelings in the surroundings.

All in all,for a first production I think my Preliminary Task was at a good standard of acting editing and camera work, but there are a couple of improve ments i think i could have made if this task was to be done again.

Changing Groups

Because of the absence of my original group member. I had to join another group or carry on with the project we had started on my own. My partner decided to leave the school. In the end i decided to join another group who had yet to come up with an idea for the film. The group consists of Furhaad Ahmed, Ranjit Singh and Husaam Husain.We initually decided to continue with my idea of a horror/comedy film but after talking with the group we changed the plot to a crime/horror film.

Camera Shots

I have looked into various types of camera shots that are used in everyday media and stated ways in which they are used.

Extreme close-up: A picture at such a close range that it emphasises the smallest amount of details, magnifying beyond what the human eye would be able to see in reality. E.g. the sweat trickling down a characters face.

Close Up. This shot will usually show the characters face as well as his shoulders, it’s also effective at showing facial emotions.

Medium Shot: This type of shot shows a character usually from the waist up and can be effective in dialogue or action scenes.

Two Shot: When two characters are present in the shot.

Long Shot: In this shot we can usually see the whole of the characters frame as well as the background.

Extreme Long Shot: This is similar to the long shot but from further away, can be effective to show the setting.

Panning Shot:  This is like the long shot but it shifts in a given direction, again useful to show setting.

Arc: The shot involves the camera rotating around the character as the character remains idol.

Tilt: Similar to the panning shot but the cameras direction of movement must be vertical.

Point of View Shot: A shot portrayed to the viewer through the eyes of the character in question.

Track: When the camera is mounted on tracks so it can move, used in scenes such as car chases.

Zoom in: The picture changes from a long shot into more of a close up showing full range of movement.

Zoom out: The picture changes from a close up into a more of a long shot showing full range of movement.

Crane: When the camera is mounted onto a crane, giving the viewer a shot of the setting at an almost god like angle. Useful for a third person view.

Aerial: Similar to the crane shot, usually taken from a helicopter. The advantages are that it can go anywhere and keep up with anything, as well as move in and out of a scene.  Useful in order to establish setting and movement.

Provisional idea

My first idea for a film opening was inspired heavily by Michael Jacksons Thriller video (Link below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_MuUcxHATo
To make our film more appealing to our target audiance (teenagers aged 17+) we decided to include elements from the film `Adulthood`

The starting was a young couple on their first date driving to go camping. The location we chose was `warnford meadow`
As they are driving the girl mentions her previous lover, which the boy doesnt respond well to. He gets into a jelous rage and runs out of the car clutching his head, the girl is shocked and immediatly goes to look for him to no avial.
As she is hopelessly searching for him through the trees and bushes she comes across another boy who decides to take advantage of her vunerability, he approaches her after hearing her story he tries to convince her to forget about her boyfriend and leave with him.
Shortly as he goes in to hug her a creature emerges from the tree taking a swipe at the boy resulting in him being knocked unconscious.
The girl is terrified and tries to run away but the creature catches up with her, its at this point the beast begins to reveal to her that he is infact her boyfriend and the scene ends

Research and Planning

After careful thought and planning i decided to choose the horror/comedy genre for my film opening. In order for me to be successful i need to research films in this genre to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie.

I started off with research into horror films; A Nightmare On Elm Street was the first movie i looked into.

This film is a remake of the original which hit the box office in 1984, it resulted in seven sequels, a cross over (Freddy vs. Jason) and the remake which i will look into further, i have provided a link for the opening of the film below.

A Nightmare On Elm Street Opening

The opening of this film is very stereotypical of a film in this genre. The film logo New Line Cinema appears, along with it a quick burst of sound reminiscent of a girls scream. Film company's tailor their logo in accordance with the genre of film to subconsciously set the theme for the viewer.

After the company logos the background music edges smoother, to a consistent softer tone. I believe a piano is used here. The music is very simple if heard alone it would make one believe it’s a soundtrack for a children's show. However as each frame cuts into the next, it gives off a ripping sound. This fits into the story line of the film in which a group of teenagers are mercilessly stalked and killed by the protagonist who wields a glove with five knives attached to it. This combined with the uneasy visuals of children playing sets a dark satanic tone.

The viewer is well aware by now that this is a horror film.

The opening features broken glass over a portrait of a young girl, this represents pain and destruction. Another technique used is the wording the camera tends to pan into. The words 'stop' and 'bad' come up, implying to the viewer these children are being subjected to abuse. Its also important to note that the camera angles are used in a manner which limits exposure to the faces of the children playing, it focuses on their shadows and toys reinforcing the idea that something is very wrong here. The film makers did not want the children to be the focus in this scene, but wanted to illustrate the fact that they seem happy to the outside world but they are in fact very forlorn.

 

The most powerful technique used here is the diegetic sound. In every medium shot of the children playing the viewer hears gleeful laughter, cheers and screams, its important to note that these sounds are replaced by a small heart beat and a dark screen with a close up of a disturbing image. Once again indirectly suggesting something is going on with these children behind closed doors, I do not believe the scene would be as effective without this in place.