Preliminary Continuity Task

The preliminary continuity task consisted of including reverse shot, match on action and the 180 degree rule.

180 degree rule
The 180 degree rule is quite simple. It is when two people are having the conversation and the line of sight has been set, you can't go across this imaginary line otherwise you can disorientate the viewer. The only time you can come across, or out of, the 180 degree rule is when you clearly show the camera moving sides.

The 180 degree rule is constantly upheld throughout our filming once the 2 characters have sat down. We decided against moving across the 180 degree line due to our script being so small, and losing dramatic affect.

Match on Action
This is when you switch between 2 perspectives of the character, for instance you may see the character open a door from camera one and then switch to camera 2 to see the character coming through the door, by using this the viewer is moving in the same direction as the character and allows the editor to show the shot from different perspectives

We used Match on Action during the first 10 seconds of our filming due to it being mainly convenient.

Reverse Shot
Shot/reverse shot (or shot/countershot) is a film technique used when two characters are looking at each other in one scene. The first character is shown looking at another character. Once the first person has looked towards the other character we can then show character 2 looking back in direction of the first character. The viewer then assumes that the characters are looking at each other.

We used this during the timeframe of 15seconds to 20seconds clearly showing character 1 looking at character 2.

Initial Ideas
Our initial ideas were quite simple, it involved having Emily and Lauren having a conversation and we'd wrap around the camera angles. We decided to do this because of how convenient it was, it meant we could do it at school and get it all done in a single blow. Plus after listening to some advice to make a script it was extremely easy!

Script:

Characters:
Emily- Lauren’s mother (Character 2)
Lauren- Daughter of Emily, adopted by someone else, Emily’s her real mother. (Character 1)

Emily: Hello
Lauren: Hey
Emily: [nervous] I got you a drink…
Lauren: Oh thanks, what did you want to talk to me about?
Emily: [nervous, faltering] Well, this isn’t easy for me…
Lauren: I don’t have long, I’m meeting mum in about 20minutes.
Emily: [exasperated] she’s not your mother! I am!

Analysis on Sequence
The sequence itself involved character 1 walking through a door into the main canteen with a match on action shot. Then we used a shot-reverse shot on the two characters looking at each other mid-way through the conversation. Finally we used the 180 degree rule throughout the entire conversation. Overall the sequence was fairly affective in how easy it was to setup and how quickly we were able to do it after a few test runs.

Technology
We used a varying amount of tools throughout this task, including a Video Camera, Tripod, Adobe Premier Elements and of course a tape. Once we had completed filming the task we transferred the video over via a Firewire Cable onto a school computers harddrive and successfully used Premier Elements to editted the video into a more suitable and enjoyable format.

Editing Software
We used the schools provided editing software Adobe Premier Elements and used it to make sure our sequence was clean and well cut without any unwanted parts. It enabled us to make the transitions between shots far more smooth with such things as Fading to Black as well as to add a title sequence to provide the examiners with the needed information to grade us. Plus it allowed us to add an outtake section for a bit of fun with some good quick switching between amusing shots.

Finally once all of the editing had been done we exported the movie in standard computer format (.avi) and uploaded the contents to youtube to allow the world to view it, as you can see from the beginning of this post.

Conclusion
Although we didn't cover everything within the brief I felt that we covered the important parts such as the shot types. Our sequence itself demonstrates the ability to use the 3 shots, however it does this only once for each, rather than having numerous shots of the 3 varying type. Also in future I feel we need to use the tripod for more of the shot, due to the shaking being quite obvious in some places which didn't show up on the small resolution of the camera but did during editing.

Throughout this task our camera skills barely improved however we came to grips with Adobe Premier Elements, and by doing this we will be able to implement these skills greatly into out Thriller production. Overall we completed the task and it has improved our skills as well as understanding of different shot types which we will be able to use in future.

[To be added : Storyboards]