Preliminary Task - Miss Miller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxOglratieY&spfreload=10

My group entails myself, Kerry Boyne and Jessica McCullagh. In our group we had to complete a preliminary task to become familiar with the equipment we will be using when filming our opening sequence. We learned how to record a sequence on a camera, how to use a tripod to make the camera shots appear steadier and how to edit our clips into one sequence.Completing this task also allowed us to experiment with different methods of cinematography that we could use in our opening sequence. Our preliminary task featured panning, high angle shots, close-ups, reaction shots and over the shoulder shots etc. As a group we discussed the different camera angles shots and movements, the effectiveness of each and how we could use them in our opening sequence.
We had to film a short dialect between members of our group. We decided to focus our sequence on a conversation between two group members while the third filmed it. The video had to be short so ours lasted for approximately 39 seconds. After filming, we had to quickly edit the sequence together and watch it back in order to see how successful the filming had been. I was absent for the lesson the video was created so while Jessica filmed the sequence, Kerry acted alongside another class member, Rashika. The group filmed a myriad of shots to experiment how to use the camera and test what cinematography worked best.
We then had to edit the footage on Final Cut Pro, an editing software that allowed us to create one continuous sequence from our several short clips. The most successful clips that we wanted to use for the final sequence were selected and then placed in chronological order on a timeline. They were then cut, trimmed and merged together until they flowed continuously. To do this successful the clips had to be re-watched and re-edited slightly again and again until the desired result was achieved. Asking other class members to watch our sequence allowed us to gain other opinions and improve our work further.
The different camera techniques we included while filming involved panning which implied motion. A shot reverse shot portrayed the conversation between the two subjects, the over the shoulder shot helps the audience to establish the position of each character, a close-up tightly framed the hand playing a tune on the piano at large detail and the long shot includes the full shot so while the main focus is on the characters, there is still background detail. Equipment included the camera and a tripod.
 I think my group filmed the video particularly well as the overall sequence is quite clean cut and choppy without being jerky. The filming was also successful because different shots were used so there are multiple different effects created for the audience. The sequence was edited successfully because it flowed well.This result was achieved by using Final Cut Pro editing software.When filming, my group struggled with recording the over the shoulder shot as there was limited space for the camera to fit behind the subject.This meant the angle was not correct. Also the walls were bright red meaning the background was slightly distracting. So if we were to complete the preliminary task again, I would make sure we did not film the sequence in a distracting setting and I would make sure there is enough space for the characters to act and camera to create different angles. I would also film the sequence in a place where it is unlikely to have people in the background and if the camera became unfocused like it did when filming the preliminary task I would hold a blank piece of paper in front of the camera to refocus it.
Completing this task has taught me that there are several aspects of a scene a need to consider that I did not initially think of. For example, having enough space to film and finding a non-distracting background. Watching the footage back, I understand the mistakes we have made so we now know what to do differently when creating our thriller opening sequence. This task has helped me in preparation for my opening sequence because as it allowed us to practice filming and editing a sequence. It also made us aware of some aspects we were not aware that we had to consider as well as allowing us to make mistakes and then understand why we did so we know how to avoid making them again for our opening sequence.