AS Prelim Evaluation

"Geek vs.Chic"
Planning: 1 hour
Practical: 1 hour to shoot, 1 hour to edit

1) Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you?
GROUP 1C: Amber Mota, Shayam Utting &Godgift Emesi
During the planning stage: We all coordinated what the synopsis of our sequence would be, our characters and costume, then divided up the rest of the planning work. For example, Amber constructed the layout of our set and wrote our script to coincide with our drawn up synopsis while I drew our storyboard and Shayam wrote out our shot list.
During the shooting: Amber- Camera woman/ Director
                              Shayam & Gift- Actors
During the editing: Shayam and I were partners for the editing stage and we divided the work up equally such as how I would be using the mouse while Shayam would tell me what shots to cut together and vice versa.

2)How did you plan your sequence? What processes did you use? What theories did you try to take into account?

We planned our sequence by drawing up a storyboard that coincided with the synopsis of our prelim. As a group during our planning stage we deliberated the positioning of the camera and framing of our shots while we improvised acted what we wanted the characters to do. From this Shayam was able to write up a rough shot list straightaway, which later I used to draw up a storyboard using exactly what we had discussed and improvised acted. From the completion of the storyboard, Amber was able to write a script.
When drawing the storyboard, we included the 180 degree rule, 30 degree rule (to not have any jump cuts) master shots, match on action shots and use of shot order (e.g. LS to MS to CU) because we were trying to take into account the continuity theory, so that we could create a seamless narrative. When thinking about the narrative of our sequence, to be able to draw our storyboard, we had to take into account "Narrative genre& audience theory". As you can see on our shot list sheet which Shayam made, our genre was a Drama Comedy and so our characters became stereotypical teenage cliches, a geek and a popular girl. For example the audience would be able to identify one of the girls as a geek through the iconography of her wearing glasses and carrying many textbooks in her arms. Our narrative followed a certain order using 'Todarovs equilibrium' theory- in which they meet, a disruption is created through their argument and balance is restored when they head their separate ways with the popular girl storming out of the classroom.                                                                                                                                                                                            
3)What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it? 

 

The technology we used during our shootings stage was a Canon Legria HFD30 (to film our sequence), a microphone (to boost sound), headphones (for the person working the camera to focus on only the sound in each take), a tripod (to adjust camera height and angles and make pans easier to do) and a clapperboard (to organise the set and make it easier when editing so we know what shots and takes we are using). During the editing stage however we used Adobe Premier software to edit our sequence.

4)What factors did you take into account when planning, shooting and editing?

When planning:

• The amount of time we have to shoot and how long we can spend on each shot
• What kind of camera we were using, so we would know the quality of shots we're going to get
• The set: how we're going to adjust the objects that were available to us in the room we were allocated to shoot in to create our set how we want it (e.g spacial awareness of characters in relation to objects in frame and positioning of camera)
• How many actors are available to us
• Scheduling of shots on the day of shooting

When shooting:

• Placement of camera (e.g sticking to the 180 degree rule and 30 degree rule)
• Constantly making sure the acting is exactly the same in every take
• How much time we have to shoot
• That everyone is quiet on set
• Retaking shots (but varying angles/pans/framing etc.) so we have a lot to work with when editing
• Sticking to the basic principles of our storyboard
• Lighting

When editing:

• Invisible editing
• Matching up cuts
• No jump cuts 
• Eyeline matching
• Shot reverse shot
• Use of cuts and dissolves to construct rhythm and pace
• Cross cutting does not confuse audience of time in sequence

5)How successful was your sequence ? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight, what would you improve/do differently?

In adherence to the brief:
Like the brief asked us to, we filmed a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down on a chair opposite a character, with whom she exchanges dialogue with. We also were able to demonstrate match on action (where the geek opens the door and the 'chic' girl puts her phone down), shot/reverse shot (during both characters exchange of dialogue) and the 180 degree rule. Although for the 180 degree rule, on the first day of shooting we forgot to adhere to, but remembered on the 2nd day of shooting and re-did our shots.
I think our sequence was successful in terms of the brief but also in the of matching up cuts but to the point where they aren't jump cuts. The acting was good as well because you can clearly hear what the actors are saying and they don't seem to break out of character (e.g laughing in the middle of delivering a line). We used a wide rang of shots and angles making our sequence diverse in techniques (for example, low angles, high angles and pans etc.)
However there are some continuity errors in our sequence with which if we hadn't rushed it would not have come up. This happened because we were shooting on two different days so it was hard to remember how the lighting was one day and keep it the same the next day. Also on one day we were wearing different costumes and the next day and forgotten to wear the exact same clothing meaning that we had to retake shots that were fine only because we were not wearing the same clothes. Our acting and maintenance of props, although similar in every take, was not exactly the same so some takes of the same shot would have the geek sitting down with books open and a different take of the same shot would have the geek sitting down but with books closed and her glasses aren't on. Also on the first day of shooting we didn't use a clapperboard but on the next day of shooting we did which confused us when editing because we didn't know which shot was which. In hindsight if we're shooting on different days we would keep our costumes on set overnight so we don't forget to bring them the next day. Also we would look over what we had filmed in the previous shoot so we can remember what elements to keep the same in the current shoot (e.g props/framing/ lighting).

6) What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework?
I've learnt that:

• Repetition in acting is key for continuity editing to be done properly
• Precise planning, such as making a shoot schedule, makes things easier on the day of shooting so things aren't rushed and done properly (because we hadn't made one for our prelim shoot so were rushed when shooting and didn't think about the composition of our thoughts properly)
• Dividing work across a group is key in making sure everything is done and no one is bombarded with a huge of work to do
• Use a clapperboard because it organises a set in terms of making sure everyone is quiet and helps with editing because you know what shot/take you are editing
• It's okay to deviate from your storyboard as long as you follow the basic concepts such as story line that you've planned
• Since this exercise has helped me spot any continuity errors easier, I will now be able to keep continuity rules in mind easier both during shooting and editing.
• To group up shots into set ups/takes so that it is easier too shoot and ends up minimising the amount of time wasted and costume changes etc.