Production Report

As a final production, the shoot went well and according to schedule. Although, before we reached the final stage we encountered a few problems mainly due to our chosen location. The location we chose was very narrow, therefore when we came to experimenting with over-the-shoulder shots and different angles it was hard to position the camera in the confined space. Trying to make do with the space we had, we shot the footage to what we thought would be right for our chosen piece; however when we came to overlooking our footage we came to the realisation that what we shot would not fit the criteria for the preliminary task because over-the-shoulder and reverse shots were not adament. In order to fit the criteria of the preliminary task, we decided as a group to re shoot the footage.

To overcome the problems we discovered within the first shoot, we changed the positioning of the table and the chair we would be using in the production so that we could fit the tripod behind them, therefore gaining a visual shot reverse shot. To prevent from issues of continuity, we assured that we filmed all the footage we would need from one angle before moving the camera to a different position. Doing this may have helped us acheive the same angles, but the lighting was drastically different from one angle to the next. Where from one angle it was really dark, it was light from the other angle which when watching back was evident. As a group we decided that this issue was not too major and that we could overcome it within the editing stages.

Upon watching the final footage we shot, as a group we were pleased. We abided to the rules of continuity, aside the slight lighting issue. We experimented with a range of shot sizes, and although the reality of the production, the acting and the location might not seem of a reality, we are pleased with the technical outcome of the piece and feel that our teamwork is a reflection of that.

Shot List & Storyboard

Shot List

This shot list is a table that we completed as a group, providing details of each shot prior to filming. It gives us the location of the shot, the scene and shot numbers and most importantly the details of the shot size and character movements in that particular shot. In order to complete a storyboard of our production, this shot list made it clear what each shot in the storyboard would need to look like. Also when filming, the shot list was a good reference guide to assure that each shot was filmed the way we aimed it. Similarly, the storyboard below gave us a visual outlook of what each shot will look like prior to filming.

Storyboard





Additional Pre-production Documentation

Location Recce

Risk Assessment

If there was a fire there are 3 exits out of the room, one is the main entrance, the second into a second room and there is a third door leading into the 3rd room.

There is a table in the room and somebody may bump into them causing themselves injury, to avoid this, all of the crew need to be warned about the hazard and act sensibly at all times.

The chairs could be tripped over if they are not tucked away properly; all chairs need to be moved out of the way once they have been used.

Power supplies could be a risk if they are left on and touched. All power supplies need to be noted and all the back stage crew and actors need to have a wear of where they are.

We need a risk assessment so that we can see what risks there are during the filming and how we can avoid any injuries.

Mise-en-Scene

Lighting:
In the TC block corridor there is a main door which will provide manmade natural sunlight, this will brighten the room enough to make it look cell like.

Props:
There will be one table acting as a bed for the patient with a duvet over the top, we will also need a black curtain to cover over the door that comes into shot.

Costume:
LIAM- White lab coat backwards in order to look like a straight jacket.

JACK- White lab coat, with black trousers.

With these costumes it fits the theme of the characters and more authentic.

Hair and Make-Up:
LIAM - Hair will be messy, face will look tired.

JACK - hair will be formal, maybe glasses to emphasize character.

LIAMS hair will be messy to make the audience see that he is a troubled person. We have made JACK  wear a lab coat to show his doctor characteristics.

Set Design:
The room is spacious and sets a good atmosphere for a cell. It has 2 door windows at the ront of the room with a dark carpet. There is one light on the roof which will provide needed light.

Character Movement:
The start of the filming shows JACK walking down the path then entering the wooden door. He walks into the room and sits on the chair. LIAM is sitting on the bed already, and remains there throughout the duration of the filming. Towards the end of the dialogue JACK stands up and walks towards LIAM in order to offer him some tablets- where it is rejected when LIAM punches them out of his hand. JACK then goes to pick up tablets off of the floor and walks out of the room in a fast pace.

Shooting Schedule
We decided as a group that our production wouldn't take long to film. With this thought in mind, we decided the following shooting schedule. We made sure that the time slot we chose was available for the cast and members of our group, and similarly have arranged around the times that the classrooms adjacent to the location we are using are empty, to avoid any surrounding noise. We will arrange a following time slot if we do not finish filming what we aim to shoot on Tuesday.

Tuesday 19th October
(During media lesson)
Period 4: Film shots 1-8
Period 5: Film shots 9-17

Jump Cuts, Over-the-Shoulder Shots, Cutaways and Point of View Shots

A jump cut is a cut in film editing in which two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only very slightly. Shots taken in this position are caused to 'jump' and create an effect of discontinuity.



Example of an over the shoulder shot.



An over the shoulder shot is a shot of someone taken over the shoulder of another person. The back of the shoulder and head of this person is used to frame the image of whatever the camera is pointing toward.

A cutaway is a shot of something related to but outside the main action of a scene. It's a shot that cuts away from the main action to a separate the main focus. It could be used between shots to add interest.



Example of a POV shot.

 

A point of view shot shows a view from the subject's perspective.

This following website was the main source in finding out this information. http://www.mediacollege.com/

Script Writing

When choosing a subject for our script to be based upon, we thought the most effective way of engaging two people with the preliminary task brief was in the setting of a psychiatric cell. When initially taking this idea into consideration, we brainstormed a few ideas and decided that our dialogue should create an element of fear. LIAM's character is going to act very distorted and dangerous, creating a build up which is taken out on JACK at the end of the sequence. All members of the group had an input to the final outcome of the piece.

When producing the script, we made sure that there were key moments within the dialogue that would allow us to try out different types of shot. For example, when JACK enters the room the focus should be upon him, therefore a close up here will be necessary. Another example would be the extreme close up of when the two characters are contemplating a hand shake; we added key moments like this to experiment with all the shots we have previously looked into.

There could be potential continuity issues, such as the positioning of when LIAM sits on the bed and the movement of JACKs steps when he enters the room. To avoid these issues, I will make sure that any possible issues of continuity will be noted throughout the shooting process.

Continuity

Continuity aims to present a scene so that the editing is seen as "invisible" and the viewer is never distracted by awkward jumps between shots or by any confusion about the lay-out of the scene. For example when the camera position changes, the movement that was present in the previous shot must be the same when continuing in a new shot. I found this website which helped me find a definition of Continuity.

The 180 degree rule is a rule in preventing continuity issues when filming. It states that the camera must stay on only one side of the actions and objects in a scene. The camera can only shoot from the position they are in and move only 180 degrees from that position; there is an invisible line that can never be crossed. I used the same website as previously mentioned to help define the 180 degree rule.

The shot/reverse shot sequence is normally used in filming a conversational scene between two characters when filming. The camera frames each speaker in medium close up as they recite a line of dialogue, commonly using the over the shoulder technique and alternating between shot and reverse shot of both characters. Detailed information about the shot/reverse shot sequence can be found on this website.

Match on action is another method in preventing any continuity issues when filming. It is a cut when editing that connects two different views of the same action at the same moment in the movement. By carrying on a motion in two shots, it continues interrupted to the viewer. I found information on this on this website.

Storyboard Drawing, Shot Sizes and Framing

In this post I have inserted a storyboard of the several shot sizes that can be used and which will be used throughout the preliminary task. To prove that I can differenciate between the several shot sizes I have also inserted my own photos that I took on a digital stills camera showing examples of each shot size.



Extreme close up (ECU)





Close up



 



Medium close up



Medium shot



3/4 shot







Medium long shot



Long shot



 







Shot



Reverse shot





 



 





The Rule of Thirds



This is one useful website that explains in breif detail the Rule of Thirds.

Preliminary Task Introduction

Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. this task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.