AS Media Studies: October 2016

Monday, 31 October 2016

Research : Conventions In Horror Films.

Monday, 10 October 2016

Describe:
As a group of 4, we had to produce a continuity task that included editing and filming a character opening a door, walking across a room and then sitting down in a seat opposite another character. The characters then exchanged a few lines of dialogue. The preliminary task had to show shot-reverse shot, match on action and the 180 degree rule.
Explain:
Before we started filing, we had to complete several other activities to ensure that we were very sure on what we were doing and prepared for filming. The tasks involved first ideas, which was when we mind mapped our possible ideas(as a group) that our preliminary task could be about. After that we then had to choose one idea and write it up on our blog. After that we then had to write about the casting, who it involved, why they were a good choice and what part they were playing in our preliminary task. next we then created 12 storyboard panels from our initial ideas, this was to show what each scene would involve and what type of camera shot would be used. Then we planned a filming schedule, which involved the daily number of shot, the storyboard shot number, the type of shot, the shot description and the time allowance for the shot. After that we wrote up the location planning, which involved the location the shot would be filmed, what type of shot it would be using and why we chose the location. our final piece of pre-production planning involved planning the shot line which included the date and time it would be filmed, how many shots would be filmed on each date, where it would be, who would be there and the props need to make it happen.
This process really helped to prepare for our filming because it meant we were well prepared, we knew exactly what to do and we had a specific schedule in which we would do it in.
Describe:
Our filming process went very well. Although there was a few weaknesses. This was because some people in my group lacked communication and teamwork skills. My group filmed the preliminary task clips over the space of two lessons on a Friday. However my preliminary task lacks continuity in some places but this was because there were some filming errors in the production as the characters didn't know their lines well enough, this will be improved when I complete my main task.
Explain:
In the post-production for my preliminary task the editing went quite well. However their were a few struggles that I experienced during this task. This was because I was unsure on how to include continuity as the filming during the production was not planned enough therefore the characters were unsure on their lines. Despite this slight error I was still able to make do with what I had and I completed the editing and it does include continuity in some places.
Evaluate:
My preliminary task somewhat meets the expectations of the set brief. This is because it includes shot-reverse shot, a character opening a door, walking across a room and then two characters exchanging a few lines of dialogue. However my preliminary lacks continuity in a quite a few places and the 180 degree rule or match on action is not included. Now I have completed this task I know the areas I can develop on with my group. I feel I need to work with different people as not everyone in my group got along and this made the task difficult to complete. I also feel that I could develop on my videoing skills and too add more shots whilst filming as it shows my knowledge of different types of camera shots and angles.

Planning: Shot Line

Date	Time	Shots to film	Where?	Who?	Props
- Friday (4^thlesson) -Friday (6^thlesson)	- 11:55 to 12:35 -2:10 to 3:00	- 6 Shots - 6 Shots -	Show 1-2 and 3 are outside the classroom. The rest of the shots we are filming inside the dark room.	Timothy (Jamie) Alice (Immy)	-Paper(documents) -Shoes -Clothes -Table and chairs - Minilla envelope
				Timothy (Jamie)
				Alice (Immy)

Planning: Location Planning

Establishing Shot

Location : Kettering Police Station

Shot 1 of our Storyboard is an establishing shot showing the exterior of the Police Station.

We felt showing the outside of a real Police Station would be better than trying to create a fake location as it is more of a suitable setting for the first scene.

The location is easily accessible and will be clear to the audience on what our context for the short film is.

Tracking sideways

Location : Outside a Room (Kettering Buccleuch Academy)

Shot 2 of our Storyboard is a Tracking Sideways shot (movement) showing the interior of Kettering Buccleuch Academy (outside the room).

We felt showing the Lawyer walking inside the building rather than outside was better as it gives the shot more of an intense atmosphere (walking towards the door).

The location is easily accessible and the room itself is very dark which will help the audience understand how intense the context of the shot is.

Close Up

Location : Room door (Kettering Buccleuch Academy)

Shot 3 of our Storyboard is a Close Up shot showing the interior of Kettering Buccleuch Academy (the door).

We thought showing the Close Up of the Lawyer's hand opening the door would help the audience understand where the Lawyer is heading to and helping them understand how the scene location is changing.

The location is easily accessible and simple to film.

Shots : Extreme Closeup, Mid Shot, Over the shoulder, Point of view, Reverse shot, Two person shot, Closeup.

Angles : Low Angle, High angle.

Movement : Panning, Tracking in, Tracking out.

Shots : 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12.

Location : Dark room

For the rest of the shots the location will be the dark room, where the conversation will happen. We have chosen the location to be a dark room as we want it to look like a police interview where they have a single table with two chairs and a couple of spotlights. This helps the conversation feel more intense which draws the audience in. The location is easily accessible and simple to film.

Planning: Film Schedule

Daily no. of shots	Storyboard shot No.	Shot:	Shot description:	Time allowance:
1	2	mid shot	Tracking sideways of feet walking	10 mins
2	3	Close up	Zooming into the hand	10 mins
3	4	Extreme close up	Close up of the eyes	10 mins
4	5	mid shot	High angle of their conversation	10 mins
5	6	Over the shoulder	Start of the conversation	10 mins
6	7	Over the shoulder	Reverse shot	10 mins
7	8	Point of view	Close up of the hand cuffs	10 mins
8	9	Over the shoulder	Revere shot	10 mins
9	10	Two person shot	Shot of them sitting at the table	10 mins
10	11	Close up	Of the persons face	10 mins
11	12	Tracking out	Shot of them going out	10 mins
12	1	establishing	Outside of the police station	10 minute

Preliminary Task: Creating A Story Board From Initial Ideas

We were asked to create 12 storybook panels which visualised our ideas from our initial ideas. We had to include the camera shots, camera movements, camera angles and the location of our project. Here is our 12 storyboard panel:

Casting:

Timothy is a 27 year old lawyer, who is defending on Alice's behalf to try and reduce her jail time. He isn't too experienced as he has only just recently graduated 4 years ago from law school, however he is known to have won many cases. He enjoys being a lawyer as he believes all people deserve a second chance because everyone makes mistakes.

The part of Timothy will be played by Josh Mirabueno. Jamie is a good choice for the role of Timothy because he is a good actor and is very confident.

Alice is a 23 year old who is pregnant and expecting her first child. She enjoys seeing people seeing people suffer and spends her spare time stalking the next victim on her list.

The part of Alice will be played by Imogen Orr. Imogen is a great choice for this role because she would be confident in front of the camera and would be able to transform into the role of Alice.

Preliminary Task: First Ideas

We were given the task to mind map different ideas for our preliminary task. We had to come up with multiple ideas. We then chose our best idea as a group so everybody could agree on it.

My group has chosen the scenario of a police visit to a pregnant women in prison who is psychopath so she has no regrets or emotions about the murders she is being convicted of. She is thought to be a serial killer who tortured and killed an entire family. Her lawyer visits her to talk about her court hearing, how many years she may be lined up for in prison and the possible outcomes of the hearing but she doesn't regret her actions at all.

Basic Media Terminology:

1: Basic Camera Shots include:

establishing shot.
mid shot.
close up shot.
long distance shot.
extreme close up shot.
point of view shot.
two shot.

2: Basic Camera Angles include:

over the shoulder.
high angle.
low angle.
reverse angle.

3: Basic Camera Movements include:

panning.
tracking in.
tracking out.
tilt.
arc.
crane.
tracking sideways (crab)

4: The 180 degree rule is a cinematography guideline that states that two characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another. When the camera passes over the invisible axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line and the shot becomes what is called a reverse angle.

Long Shot.

Close Up Shot.

Establishing Shot.