Editing our shoot

Today we learnt how to use 'Final Pro Cut' software. It enabled us to edit and re-arrange the shots we had filmed when creating our scene.

All the clips we shot were placed in what is called the 'Rush Bin'. Here we could access all the original takes we first shot.

As a group we watched all the clips and then selected the best shots. We would use these later when putting together our scene. We placed the wanted shots into what is called the 'Log Bin'.

We experimented with the camera shots and angles, and how they could represent our actors in the scene. For example, we felt that we wanted the audience to empathise with our female actor and have our male actor portrayed as menacing.

We conveyed this message subconsciously to our audience by having;

• Longer close-ups on the girl to encourage an intimacy between her and the audience.
• By using a high angle shot looking down onto the girl to suggest she has lower status than him - showing her weaker side.

We had not just used longer camera shots on the girl to signify her importance, but we had also thought about the use of lighting and how it could represent the characters in the scene.

To display the boy's threatening attitude, we allowed lots of contrast of both shadow and light on his face to create a mysterious and foreboding atmosphere. Both a mixture of low key lighting and high key lighting was used on his face.

However, to demonstrate the girl's innocence, we used some strong high key lighting which helped enhance her vulnerability. This also portrayed a 'god-like' nature.We become subconsciously aware that the girl must be the protagonist.


Here are some examples of both low key lighting and high key lighting.



Low key lighting





High key lighting

Storyboarding

Storyboarding is an essential part of film making. It provides the film makers with basic shot ideas and gives the cameraman an idea of what the producers and directors want. 

A storyboard additionally gives information as to how long each shot lasts, and this will be very important for the editor to know considering he/she will want to create editing through meaning.

Shooting a preliminary task

Now that I understood how to use and set-up the video cameras, I could take on a practical task of shooting a basic scene. I was given a storyboard and had to film the same shots that the board portrayed.

The scene involved two actors.

• Person A walks into the room.
• We are then introduced to person B who has been waiting in the room for A.
• There is some dialogue between the two.
• Person A then exits and leaves person B in room.

How did we shoot the scene?

My group and I shot the scene in a studio and thought about the use of lighting, props and positioning of camera angles.

We set-up the studio with a desk, which person B sits behind. Person A later leans over the table and speaks dialogue to B - then exits. We also had some realistic props such as a standing lamp in the background and some filing cabinets to demonstrate an office-like room.

My group and I also made sure that we didn't break the 180 degree rule. We made this mistake before when performing a practice run and this made it confusing to watch. I concluded that breaking the 180 degree rule would work better for possibly a thriller or horror scene.
My group and I began with one wide screen shoot all the way through.

We then;

• Shot over the shoulder of person A.
• Shot over the shoulder of person B.
• Shot person A all the way through.
• Shot person B all the way through.

We couldn't find anyone willing to take part in our preliminary task at first, so instead two of us from the group got involved by both acting and directing. We filmed each of the following above at least more than three times to create our desired shots. Additionally we found that the lighting needed to be fixed as the image looked too dark.

After this we added a few of our own touches such as a big close-up (BCU) on our actors' faces and close-ups (CU's) on significant props which were used in the scene. For example, we did a close-up on a mobile phone. We also used some point-of-view (POV) shots in one character's perspective.

By taking part in this exercise, we learnt that it is best to plan what we are going to do more efficiently before filming as we wasted a lot of time deciding where to place the camera to get some good shots. This task provided good experiance for us all and helped my knowledge develop during the session.

Here is the video of our prelim task.

Analysing a scene from Cloverfield

Today I analysed a scene from Cloverfield and discussed the elements in that scene which would place it under the genre of a thriller/horror. However, I think that Cloverfield comes more under the genre of a science fiction thriller due to the fact that there is evidence of an alien species throughout the film.




Here is the scene which I analysed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-GKHzRcbAM

Please refer to the video clip before reading the information below.


How do we know the film is set to modern day?

• The costumes are contemporary and special effects are used to create the image of an alien species. The scene is also set in an underground tube station - another hint into present day. Also we notice the fact that the shot is being filmed by a camcorder in the first place which is new, modern technology.

How is the scene made to look realistic and believable?

• A cameracorder is used which helps to encourage the audience to believe that the scene is real.
• The cameracorder sways and shakes as though an actual person is filming it which makes it realistic.
• The cameracorder has been given certain 'functions' on it such as 'night vision' etc.

What techniques are used to create a thrilling atmosphere?

• Majority of the clip is filmed in dark surroundings.
• The camera sways and shakes - creates a realistic vision and helps enhance the panic when the characters run from the alien species.
• Lots of shadow is used.
• Camera breaks the 180 degree rule so that we feel un-easy and un-settled. 
• Camera goes in and out of focus at points so that we can't see much.
• We view some of the action from the ground upwards to enhance the fact that the humans here have very little power. It also makes the audience feel as though they are in the same position.
• The scene is filmed in one long shot. There are no breaks to cut the tension.