Evaluation: Question 7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? - Mrs. Quinlan

Evaluation: Question 7

What was the preliminary task and what were its main aims?

A preliminary task is an experimental task consists of a thirty second sequence of various shots using a variety of technology such as a camera and tripod. The main aim of this task was to learn how to film, edit and acknowledge each individuals weaknesses and strengths to learn who would do what.
While filming my preliminary task, I understood what particular skills and qualities everyone had to earn a specific role in our production. I learnt how to operate a camera from basic things such as turning it on and inserting the SD card in to complex for example, focusing. I also got to familiarise myself with the camera which lead onto practicing how to take specific shots, angles and sizes with success.
Whilst editing, it was my first time using the professional programme, Final Cut Pro X. As I started to familiarise myself with the software, I learnt how to crop and cut my video using the simple tool 'blade'.
As a group, we were able to understand what roles were suitable for each individual. Finally, after being allocated to particular roles, this included Dillan as the director and in charge of soundtrack, me taking the role as the producer, story boarder and editor and Pervin taking responsibility for the Mise En Scene. The preliminary task enabled us to understand what particular role suited what individual best. In conclusion, the preliminary task was extremely important to our production process as t gave us a clear insight of how filming and editing was.

Preliminary Task:

As a result, I feel that I've massively improved in my filming and editing skills and I feel much more comfortable after this preliminary task.

Filming

I'm able to consult the director and instruct him how to capture the right angles, shots and sizes. I'm also able to achieve a more conventional thriller vibe just by the way the shots are taken, in addition, reflecting the characters persona effectively. 

For example: These shots that were taken of the antagonist was from a low angle further portraying him as an individual with substantial power and dominant towards everyone. This evokes the audience emotions by making them fear the character.

Filming

I'm also very familiar on how to use a tripod correctly and effectively. A tripod benefits the shot by creating a still image to make it look professional. The tripod also allows me to change the height immediately allowing the camera to capture various shots and sizes, for example, this shot was accompanied with the help of a tripod to achieve a more professional, still shot without any movement.

Editing

I'm much more confident on using Final Cut Pro, I've learnt how to edit my thriller confidently making it look professional. In this scene with the antagonist walking off into the public originally was very shaky due to the cameraman walking alongside with the character. Using the editing software, I learnt how to stabilise the shaky video and make it still and professional looking.

Editing

I'm much better at selecting different filters appropriately making it look very effective to the audience.  It makes this particular scene more frightful causing the audience to respond tensed. Using these filters helped me create low-key lighting despite it was filmed outside in broad day light. This filter also made it look like it was cold and dull using pathetic fallacy to portray the characters personality.




During my preliminary, we decided to shoot a panning shot however it was our first time so it was very shaky and it made it look unprofessional. In our final product, it was much better as we were able to film with confidence and shoot it still.



When we filmed our preliminary, we didn't understand the meaning of certain shots completely which meant we had filmed unnecessary close-up shots which didn't really convey any messages. However in our final product, we had a much clearer understanding of what type of shots were suitable for a particular scene. This close-up shot created more suspense for the audience as they anticipated who the antagonist was. It was also filmed in an appropriate angle facing the antagonist so the audience were able to see it clearer rather than shot from a slanted angle which was unnecessary making it look unprofessional.



In this other shot from our preliminary task, we also used this low-angle shot incorrectly as this particular character which was meant to be portrayed as the vulnerable one. The low-angle shot makes an individual look more dominant which was not what we wanted to convey through this certain character. In our final product, we were able to understand what particular shots were suitable and made our antagonist look powerful from this low-angle shot.

Personal Reflection:

Did I make a successful thriller and why?

I believe that I made a successful thriller for my target audience because my group and I were able to improve on our filming and editing skills to make it look much more effective to the audience despite having no other media experience outside this course. From our preliminary task, you can see how much we've improved on, based on the variety of shots, angles and lighting, it looks much mire effective and appropriate for what we're trying to convey.

What did I enjoy most?

I enjoyed filming our final production most as I was able to use my skills on filming and make everything look effective. As the role of producer, I was able to point people in what direction I thought was best and moreover, I believe that it came out really well. I found it very fun to see how my thriller storyboard came out on camera and loved how much editing made it look even better. Although editing was quite challenging at first due to the lack of experience I had with the professional software, I still enjoyed cutting and putting the clips together so that everything was subtle. 

What could be improved?

If I could improve something about my thriller, it would be the soundtrack that played throughout the opening. Although I do like the soundtrack and the target audience feedback did mention how fun and exciting the soundtrack was, I still believe that some parts of the soundtrack didn't fit well to certain visuals. Another thing I believe that would've been better was the makeup used on the multiple victims showed on the screen. I think that it would've been much more effective if you could see blood to show that they were in fact dead. This would have also improved the audiences reaction and make them feel more scared and tensed.

What are the main things I have learned over the whole process?

I've learnt throughout my whole experience of filming a production was that filming is a crucial stage and that I need ensure I get the right shots or it would be very challenging afterwards when I'm trying to edit. I need a lot more footage that I originally intended on using as sometimes when it comes to the editing stage, some things might not work how I want it to. I have also learnt that finalising the storyboard is vital as it does help with what we do on set, it also helps people not get confused on what will happen next. Furthermore, it helped me and the director a lot as we knew what to film next straight after.