Preliminary filming task

This week we started our proper preliminary filming task. In the task we had to show match on action, 180 degree rule and shot reverse shot in a conversation.

 We started by drawing up a storyboard of what the video would contain. We didn't fully stick to the storyboard as during the filming we either took out a shot or we thought of a better one to use, but it gave us an idea of what the narrative would be and it gave us a rough idea of what to film. we also created a script of what the actors would say.

 After this we went out to start filming, over the 2 lessons we used for filming, we overcame a few complications along the way. One complication was 1 of our actors who is nearly ever shot, forgot to bring the same close again. This makes the final edit look a bit unprofessional. Furthermore, another problem we had was when i was filming a shot it didn't record so we had to go back out and film it. We filmed around 35 shots, however we only used around 15-20. We shot most shots twice due to error, this means we spent twice as long on filming than we should of.

Whilst filming we also recorded the sound at the same time of a separate sound recording device. This is so the sound is a lot clearer. We had a 2 problems with this. One problem was we recorded things we didn't need. This meant when i came to editing it we were searching through reams of  unuseful recordings. The other problem we had the mic gain was on high enough: this meant that when we recorded shots from a distance; such as the establishing shot, you couldn't hear the recording.

 The next thing we did was upload and save all the shots and recordings we did to my memory stick and to Adobe Premier CS6. This meant we could now start editing the sound and shots. Our task was to edit them so it was smooth and flowing. we managed to get the shots cut and edited so it flowed nice and smooth, but the hard bit was to get all the sound matched up to the video. This meant all the footsteps and lip movement had to matched up. What made this harder was the fact that we recorded things that we didn't need, for example we had a 4 minute voice recording of us walking to where we were filming and us discussing what we were going to do. It took a while to get it right but once we finished it look quite good.

Researching Film Openings

Film Openings

James Bond- Quantum of solace.




 Fantastic film with a fantastic opening.

 The film is an action film with a full fronted action start. There are many camera angles and shots in the first 5 minutes. The first shot we see is an establishing shot; this shows the audience where it is set and gives them an awareness of the surrondings.

 The next main shot we see is the first shot of Bond we see: it is an extreme close up of his eye from the right hand side. This camera angle allows us to see the characters emotions. This particular shot shows that there is no fear in his eyes and this situation is normal to him.

 Another shot in the scene would be a long angle shot from Bond's car wheel. This is a low angle shot to show there inferior status. Also the colour black of the enemies car is a key symbolism in this scene. The black represents evil and death. They eventually die in this seen.

  Another shot from the scene is a POV or  a Long shot, it could be either. I think it is a POV shot from the point of view of the trailing enemy car. This shows the view from their angle to give the audience a sense what they see and is also can make the audience feel like they are there.


 In addition,another key shot is a high angle shot. This shows the characters superiority to everyone/ thing else.

 All of the shots in this opening scene are also traking and panning shots. A traking shot is where the camera moves and follows the person/ object. This is often moved on a track or a crane. Whereas, a panning shot is where the camera follows the person/ object from a FIXED position. This means the camera is twisted from side-side.

 The rule of 2 Thirds applies in this opening. The rule of 2 thirds is the if you put a grid on a shot the things the audience need to look at are only in 2/3rds of the shot, never exactly in the middle or just 1/3rd. This applies to it because in most scence the action the audience should view is in 2/3rds of the screen.

 

Futhermore, the 180 degree rule also applies to the opening scence. The 180 degree rule is where the camera only ever stays on one side of the action. The best example of this is a football game. The cameras only ever film from one side of the pitch; if they filmed from both it would confusing as everything would be facing the opposite way.

 

Editing Preliminary Filming Task

 In this lesson we imported and started to edit the shots we took the other day. We are using Adobe Premiere CS6 software to edit all our shots.

 We stated by importing the filming we did the previous lesson into the software. After this we cut the shots down to the perfect edit of what we needed. I did his by selecting the start point and pressing the "i" key (input). This selects were the shot starts from. Then I selected the output by pressing the "o" key. After this we dragged the edited shot into the bottom right section which plays the whole thing through. we did this for all the shots, making sure it flowed perfectly completely matching up so there is no pauses inbetween cuts.

 After we had it flowing through perfectly we and smoothly we deleted all the sound and started to used a hand held voice recorder to record sound with. We were using Foley sound techniques; this is were all the sound is re-recorded and played over the top of the images. This is used so the sound is all clear and there is no unwanted background noise. They don't neccessarly use sounds you would think they use. For example the laser shooting part in "Wallie" isnt actually a laser, someone was recorded tapping a fully stretched spring. We recorded sounds like walking, opening a closing doors, sitting down and slaming hands.


We used a zoom voice recorder for this.










We started to add in the sound to go with the visual aspects, we didnt get it fully finished. I think we should record the dialogue to go with it because there is a lot of unwanted background noise with it and not with the other sound so it sounds wrong and misplaced.

 Once the video is fully complete I will upload it to here.

Preliminary Filming Task

 We started to learn the basics of using a camera and tripod at the start of the lesson. This was following the previous lesson on camera angles and filming shots. We were taught how to start filming on the camera with the camera and how to set up the tripod and use it. We were using Canon DSLR's to film.

 We split into groups of 4. I n my group there were 2 actors and 2 people controlling the cameras and directing. The key aspects involved in the filming task were; a match on action frame and the 180 degree rule.

 Our scene was a boy walking down a corridor, through a door (this were the match on action was), sitting on a windowsill and having a conversation with a girl who walked in and also sat on the windowsill. They have a short conversation (this involves the 180 degree rule) and then it ends. It all lasts for around 25 seconds.

Welcome to my blog

Welcome to my blog,

I'm Toby Rodgers, I'm currently studying As Media; i chose this subject because i really enjoyed it at gcse and i thought that it would go really well with my other A-Levels. These are english laguage and literature, History and PE.

I have a strange and wide range in music taste, its strange. I like modern stuff, from people like skrillex and Avicii: but then like old music like Johnny Cash! I really like modern music because it is great for dancing to and things like that, but I also like old music because of the lyrics and slow catchy beat.

I dont watch too much tv, but I watched a TV series the other month called "Hannibal" on Sky Atlantic. It was fantastic, it's a phycological mystery about a detective studying murders but whilst this is happening his mental doctor Hannibal Lector is murdering people as a copy cat. This sends the detcive insane and makes hime believe that he is the murderer resulting in him going to prison.

 

 

I am a big film fan really! I like all types of films really from comedy to war films. my favoyrite comedy film is either "Hot fuzz" or "Step Brothers". But my favourite film of all time is probably "Forrest Gump". I first watched it about 3 years ago and I must of watched it around 12 times now! 

 

I don't really read a lot but i am currently reading "The Catcher in the Rye" for my English A-Level, then we have to read "huckleberry Finn", these both seam like great books! the last book I read was this summer, I read "The Great Gatsby", this was a fantastic book!

 When I use the internet I generally are checking social networking sites such as facebook, Twitter and instagram. I would describe myself as a poor social networker as i hardly ever post I just see what everyone else is doing. this means I have hardly any followers!