Plan for Camera; Angles,Transitions and Movement in the Preliminary Task

Frame 1= Close Up - Fade - Tilt
Frame 2= Close Up - Fade - Tilt
Frame 3= Close Up - Fade
Frame 4= Close Up - Cut
Frame 5= Close Up - Cut
Frame 6= Medium Close Up - Cut
Frame 7= Close Up - Cut - Pan
Frame 8= Long Shot - Cut - Pan
Frame 9= Close Up - Cut - Pan
Frame 10= Reverse Close Up - Cut - Fixed Camera
Frame 11= Over the Shoulder Shot - Cut - Tracking
Frame 12= Close Up - Cut
Frame 13= Reverse Shot - Cut
Frame 14= Point of View Shot - Cut - Pan
Frame 15= Wide Shot - Cut - Fixed Camera
Frame 16= Over the Shoulder reverse Shot - Cut
Frame 17= Over the Shoulder - Cut - Match on Action - Fixed Camera
Frame 18= Long Shot - Cut - Match on Action - Fixed Camera
Frame 19= Close Up - Cut - Fixed Camera
Frame 20= Over the Shoulder - Cut - Fixed Camera
Frame 21= Close Up - Cut - Fixed Camera
Frame 22= High Angle Over the Shoulder Shot - Cut - Fixed Camera
Frame 23= Close Up - Cut - Fixed Camera
Frame 24= Two Shot - Cut - 180 degree rule - Pan

Some of the transitions, camera angles, and camera movement might change throught the filming and editing phases of the film's production.

The three compulsory techniques

For our preliminary task we were given three techniques that we had to carry out and these were;

Shot/reverse shot: This is when a character is shown looking at another character and then the other character is shown looking back

Example of a Shot/reverse shot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLkUHZ1qips

180 degree rule: a camera should be placed somewhere inside a 180 degree line and can travel up and down this line but should never cross except of effect. The technique gets used in movies, car chase scenes, interviews, and in sport (e.g. Football)

Example of a 180 degree rule in film:

180 degree rule in film

Example of a 180 degree rule in sport: 

180 degree in Football Sunderland Vs Blackburn

Match on Action: a cut in film editing between either two different objects, two different spaces, or two different compositions in which an object in the two shots graphically match, often helping to establish a strong continuity of action

The putting together of our Preliminary Filming Task

By the time we got to the stage of the process where we could begin to edit together our opening film sequence. This is because there was a load of technical problems like the footage going missing off of the cameras or the editing software wouldn't allow us to do anything. Despite the problems all is working and we actually were able to film and edit our preliminary task so that we could show it to our target audience and see whether or not it appealed to them and thankfully it did.

Stage 1 -

The first stage in the actual creation of our video was the story boarding and the sorting of locations. This proved to be quite simple as we all had good ideas that were quite easy to carry out, however Marnie's idea of a Deal film was an idea that caught the eye of us all. In the story board we had a lot of very detailed pictures that clearly showed the camera angles and the the movement of the characters and cameras.

Stage 2 - 

In the first stage of filming our video clip we decided as a group to do a close up of me sorting out my shoes and the bottom of my trousers. This is because it automatically gets the audience asking questions about who this person is. Coincidentally this turned out to be one of the easier scenes to film and edit due to the fact that it was just a seven second clip of my feet and any excess noise was able to be edited out as we were muting all of the clips so that we could have some un-copyrighted dramatic music over the top.

Stage 3 -

                                      

                                      

The second clip on the video was in need of a bit more technical skill by Sarah who was filming as it involved a medium shot tracking up my body to show me from my feet to shoulders getting ready for the deal and this still managed to get the audience asking questions about who I was and what I was doing. Then in the next clip we finally showed my face and revealed to the audience who I was and then zoomed in on my face and that uses the technique of a zoom from a medium close up to a close up. However in the next scene we used another close up on my hat to really show the end of me getting ready.

Stage 4 -

This is where we use the technique of Match on Action and shot reverse shot when I walk through the door. This helps to add consistency and fluency to the video clip for the benefit of our audience. We decided to use medium shots for this part of the clip so that the audience would focus on my midsection and see me open the doors and not get distracted.

Stage 5 - 

In this stage we use the 180 degree rule from a point of view shot in which I say "Nice choice of location".

We feel that this allows he audience to grasp the scene

AS Media Studies Preliminary Task Overview

Our preliminary task was to film a short film that had to involve two specific shots that included someone walking up to and opening the door and then walking across a room and initiating a conversation with someone. the film also had to show a use and knowledge of camera angles and transitions, but especially the 180 degree rule and match on action.

180 degree rule: the camera pans round in a semi circle from one character to the other, never crossing the 180 degree line

Match on Action: Two or more shots of one action from different camera angles

Shot/Reverse Shot

I would say that the task was relatively straight forward and was fun to do and it will help alot with our actual task. I also found  it quite fun to be the character in this short film as I felt a bit like James Bond 007. I think that me having them thoughts going through my head has definitely made choosing the genre of the film much easier as we already had some idea of what we wanted to do with it and what kind of transitions and music that we would add. I would say the plot was an action adventure/thriller and would mostly appeal to men as men are more interested in the type of film than women

The idea was originally Armarnie's of Sarah's as we all put in an idea and that was the one we chose for the films plot. The film is about a deal that takes place between to people and we see the main character (me) as what I'll call an agent and what happens is that we see me getting ready for the deal and then walking to the location and making the deal. Then I guess the rest of the film would carry on.

I felt that the team I was in worked really well as we were all able to easily figure out what the other person was brainstorming. We all got along really well and this was important as we could trust each others decisions and wouldn't waste time arguing.

The only real problem I had with the production of our film was the equipment and that couldn't be helped, because it's just some technical difficulties like the computer not working or the original footage going missing. So when something like that happens all you need to do is get on with it and do other tasks while your waiting like looking at different conventions used in film openings or looking at the different types of genre and audiences. Ultimately this will help in the long run and save time later on.

All together for a first go I thought the task went really well and we all gave 100% and that's all we can ask for, but then again I have more media studies lessons coming up starting with one tomorrow. Fingers crossed it goes well.

I hope that's a good first attempt at a post on my blog. 

I'll be speaking again soon.

Graham Trotter

AS Media Studies

Thetford Academy Sixth Form

ttamediastudies.blogspot.com