Class Feedback - Preliminary Task 'The Interrogation'

Feedback - Preliminary Task 'The Interrogation'

- Improve on the execution of some camera shots
- Use a better quality to show the final video.
- Include audio in the film next time to add tension.
- Include transitions in the video to help it flow effectively from one scene to another.
- Acting was believable i.e. each character suited the intended genre of crime/ thriller.
- Improve on editing ('jump' cuts, continuity errors etc.)
- Good use of the 'walky talky' as a prop in the interrogation scene.
- Black and white filter quite effective - no need for lighting, also more authentic looking
- Bad choice of location? - lots of background noise, for the main task try and find a place that is relatively quiet to improve the overall production of the film.
- Ideal filming location? - a dark, confined room, helped create tension through 'mise-en-scene' i.e. lighting - one source of light (center stage during the interrogation), sounds - door being pused open with a 'squeaky' sound (threatening, climax?), props - use of the 'walky talky' in the film, established the genre of crime, also made the character of the interrogator seem more realistic.

- Dialogue was clear and easy to understand - however the location had an effect on the sound in the film because there was a lot of background noise, lowered the standard of the film.



Peer assessment/ Action plan

Peer assessment/ Action plan

- We need to put more detail into describing the roles that we each did when completing the different tasks, this way each post is clear and easy for people to understand.

- To improve we need to upload our posts on time, for example we still need to upload the video for our 'Preliminary film feedback' post and also a few self-assessments need to be uploaded.

- We also need to make sure that all our posts are labelled and titled correctly so that each post can be easily refered to for future use.

- We need to make our blog more accesible for people, more importantly the examiner by changing the design of the blog as it can be difficult to read some of the posts mainly because of the writing style.

- We should be aiming for the 'excellent category' to do this we will try to achieve the highest grade by ensuring our work is of examplar standard i.e.continue to improve our work by writing in more detail.

Preliminary Task - Self-Assessment

Self - assessment (Preliminary Task ‘The Interrogation’)

Does your film use continuity editing so that the sequence of events are clear and easily understood by the viewer?

- I would say that our film contained continuity editing because our film contained a lengthy amount of conversation which meant that the sequence of events had to be clear and flow smoothly from one scene to another the conversation would seem out of place and ruin the tension created on the play through. We did this through shot reverse shot which was used to show the viewpoints of both characters (what each was supposedly looking at). Also judging from the feedback we received from peers, our film was successful because our editing enabled our audience to become more involved in the film so that they understood the events and how it played out. 

Have you followed the directions in the brief? (A character opens a door, crosses a room and sits down in a chair opposite another character. An exchange of dialogue occurs.)

- I believe that we followed the directions in the brief closely, however for the main part of the preliminary task we did change some of the dialogue when filming to fit the shot. This might have lowered the standard of the film as it took away some of the tension, meaning the audience wasn’t engaged. We managed to include all the different types of shots; shot/ reverse shot, match-on -action, over the shoulder shot etc. and observed the 180-degree rule so that we could focus on the conversation between the two individuals. Also there was some problems with transitions as we couldn’t get every scene to ‘fade out from black’ which meant that the script had to be changed.

Have you used match-on-action?

- Yes, we have used match-on-action in our preliminary task. We used this shot during the interrogation when the folder is being passed across the table, and is then picked up by the criminal in the next shot.

Can you explain what a match-on-action involves?

- This is where you cut from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action. This is also known as 'cutting on action' and can be used to create an impression of a sense of continuity - because the action is carried through, it creates a visual bridge which draws the viewer's attention away from noticing the cut and other slight continuity errors.

Have you used shot/reverse shot?

- We used the shot reverse shot several times in our preliminary because the majority of the film contained dialogue between two characters so we had to focus primarily on the conversation to create tension in the scene.

Can you explain what shot/reverse shot involves?

- A shot reverse shot is an editing technique and is mainly used in conversations between two people to show both viewpoints, and also to show characters who have taken an interest in an object. It usually ties in with the 180-degree rule to show continuity by not distorting the audience's sense of location of the characters in the shot.

Did you observe the 180-degree rule?

- We observed the 180-degree rule by staying on one side of the conversation at all times.

Can you explain the 180-degree rule?

- The 180-degree rule is where the characters in a scene are filmed from one side of the shot at a specific angle. Also both characters usually have the same left-right relationship to each other so that when they are speaking to each other in a conversation the 180-degree rule can be maintained within the shot. This allows the audience to have a better sense of location in a scene in terms of shots used.

What role did you play in the making of the preliminary task? (e.g. filming, acting, editing, equipment organisation etc.)

- My role in the making of the preliminary task was acting; I chose to play the role of the criminal who has been convicted of a crime and is in the process of being interrogated by the detective portrayed by Steven Norman. I was also responsible for editing the film (with the help of my group members) i.e. cutting, transitions, sounds etc. and for uploading the final version to the blog.

How would you assess your contribution to the group?

- In my opinion I think that I have made a significant contribution to the group as I willing to take on perhaps some of the more ‘complex’ tasks in the production of the film. I also think that me and my group worked well together as part of a team as we didn’t encounter any major problems besides editing, and were able to produce a film that I thought was smooth and effective and suited the chosen genre of crime/ thriller well.

What have you learned from the process of making your preliminary film? (e.g. skills - teamwork, acting, organisational etc.

- Personally I would say that I have learnt better time management skills because if you don't manage your time effectively, then you could end up spending too much time and effort filming and then not enough time editing which became apparent at one stage during our preliminary. Also I think that my acting skills have substantially improved as I volunteered to play the criminal in the planning stage of our film which was a difficult decision for me as I am not the most confident person, however I thought I performed to the best of my ability which helped to raise the overall standard of the film. I also learnt how important teamwork is and that it is better to work with others rather than an as individual as someone may possess a certain set of skills such as editing skills, being able to act etc. which can make it easier on the group when completing a task as each person can contribute equally for the benefit of others. Whereas as an individual it is more difficult to come up with initial ideas for what you want your film to be about also resources might be a problem, and it is more unnecessary pressure when it comes to a practical.

Preliminary Task - Self-Assessment

Preliminary Task Self - Assessment

Does your film use continuity editing so that the sequence of events are clear and easily understood by the viewer?

In our video we have used continuity editing to smooth it out and we have done this by adding various transitions this can allow the viewer to have a better understanding of the film.

Have you followed the directions in the brief? (A character opens a door, crosses a room and sits in a chair opposite another character)

There was a character that opened a door but does not sit in a chair because the two chairs in the film are already being sat on by the two main characters; the interrogator and the criminal. The third character 'Mr Small' has no dialogue but is meant to seem intimidating.

Have you used match-on-action?

Yes, one time was when the door was opened and the action of the door handle being pushed down was filmed to match the shot before.

Can you explain what a match-on-action involves?

It is when a shot takes place, which then cuts to a different shot, which shows the same action as the first shot, showing a sense of continuity.

Have you used shot/reverse shot?

Yes, when we switch from the criminal to the interrogator then back to the criminal.

Can you explain what shot/reverse shot involves?

They are used when there is dialogue between two characters and can enforce their conversation. One character is filmed speaking dialogue then the character he/she is speaking to is filmed with his/her reply and then back to the original person for their second response.

Did you observe the 180-degree rule?

We maintained the 180-degree rule and observed it as the two characters exchanged dialogue.

Can you explain the 180-degree rule?

When you film for example in a room, you are only allowed to film on one side of the room in order to be able to maintain the 180-degree rule. If you film on both sides of the room, you are going more than 180 degrees. For example if you were filming with a desk like we did for our preliminary, you would use the 180-degree rule to show both characters at opposite ends of the table.

What role did you play in the making of the preliminary task? (filming, acting, editing, equipment organisation etc.)

I acted in the film as 'Mr Small' and helped with the editing the film, I also helped to choose a suitable location for our filming.

How would you assess your contribution to the group?

What have you learned from the process of making your preliminary film?

Preliminary Task - Self-Assessment

· Does your film use continuity editing so that the sequence of events are clear and easily understood by the viewer?

I believe the continuity of our editing on the whole was well edited, as the majority of the clips followed on smoothly from the previous shot. I also believe the dialogue included helps each clip to follow one from one another smoothly, yet I feel that certain shots of the film could have flowed slightly better, as they seemed to jump from one shot to the next, causing some tension to be lost.

· Have you followed the directions in the brief? (A character opens a door, crosses a room and sits down in a chair opposite another character. An exchange of dialogue occurs.)

Yes, we followed most of the directions in the original brief, yet during the filming we changed some of the dialogue as well as camera angles as we felt these were the right choices. Therefore we have edited the brief slightly to include these changes.

· Have you used match-on-action?

We have included one scene which involved a match on action in our video. This was when I (the interrogator), passed a folder over to Alex (the criminal) in one shot, then, another shot followed of Alex receiving the folder.

· Can you explain what a match-on action involves?

A match on action involves one scene separated by two shots; however the two shots must be linked. For example, the first shot could be of someone opening a door and then the next shot shows them on the other side of the door walking through it.

· Have you used shot/reverse shot?

We have used shot reverse shot many times during the video, most notably during the conversation between me and Alex when a lot of dialogue is included.

· Can you explain what shot/reverse shot involves?

A short reverse shot is a shot showing what the character is supposedly looking at (either a point of view or over the shoulder shot) which is then followed by a reverse shot of the other character looking back at them.

· Did you observe the 180-degree rule?

I feel we did observe the 180-degree rule throughout the video as we always tried to make sure that the camera stayed on one side of the table from which we used as prop during the video.

· Can you explain the 180-degree rule?

The 180-degree rule is when the camera is positioned on one side of the film/ scene     (to the left or right of a room for example) so that the actors in a scene should have the same left-right relationship to each other.

· What role did you play in the making of the preliminary task? (e.g. filming, acting, editing, equipment organisation etc.)

I had a variety of roles within my group throughout the making of the preliminary task. My first role was playing a character within the film, the interrogator. Playing this character involved learning lines as well as acting in a way in which I felt suited the character. Whilst acting in the film, I was also responsible for being the director, which involved organising what went into each shot (like props for example) as well as describing to the other two actors what I felt there character should be played like. Lastly, I was also involved in some of the editing of the film, which involved cropping of clips and arranging them into a certain order as well as the decision to put the film into ‘black and white’.

· How would you assess your contribution to the group?

I feel my contribution was very significant to the group as I organised and planned how each shot was to be filmed, as well as writing up the script for myself as the interrogator and the other two characters within the film. I feel that perhaps I could have contributed more to the technical side such as camera work and uploading files to the blog, therefore this is something I want to correct for the main task.

· What have you learned from the process of making your preliminary film?

I have learned that teamwork is essential if you want to make a successful film, as there are so many roles and jobs needed to be done to ensure that a successful film will be produced at the end of it. Communication skills are also highly important, especially for the director as you must express your views clearly to others so they know what you are asking of them. Finally, time management is important as deadlines are frequently set for when tasks need to be completed by, therefore planning your time is very important if you want to meet these deadlines.

Preliminary Task - Self-Assessment

Preliminary Task Evaluation

     · Does your film use continuity editing so that the sequence of events are clear and easily understood by the viewer?

I would say that our film does use continuity editing because the majority of it is a conversation which means it would all have to flow to make sense to the audience. This important because if there is no continuity in your film then it would be hard for your audience to understand and if they don’t understand what’s happened then they probably won’t like your film.

·         Have you followed the directions in the brief? (A character opens a door, crosses a room and sits down in a chair opposite another character. An exchange of dialogue occurs.)

For the main part of our preliminary task I did stick to the script. However we did veer off the script in some places because we could not fade out to black.

·         Have you used match-on-action?

     Yes, we have used match-on-action in our preliminary task. We used this when a folder is passed across the table and then it is taken from the person sitting opposite.

·         Can you explain what a match-on action involves?

This is when a shot goes from one to another to portray in action. Both shots have to be perfectly timed to fit in with each other.

·         Have you used shot/reverse shot?

      We have used the shot/reverse shot several times in our preliminary due to the amount of dialogue in our short film.

·         Can you explain what shot/reverse shot involves?

This is when one shot is filmed and then it cuts to another shot and then it cuts back to the first shot again. This is normally best achieved by filming the first and last shots together so that the camera stays in the correct place.

·         Did you observe the 180-degree rule?

We observed the 180-degree rule by staying on one side of the conversation at all times.

·         Can you explain the 180-degree rule?

This is when you stay on one side of a scene all the way through so that the audience have a greater sense of location.

What role did you play in the making of the preliminary task? (e.g. filming, acting, editing, equipment organisation etc.)

       In our task I did the camera work and organised any equipment and put it in the necessary place for filming. Furthermore, I also did a bit of editing and pitched my views on how I thought we should put the clips together so that they followed the script as closely as possible.

·         How would you assess your contribution to the group?

I would say that I had quite a large role in the preliminary because without me we wouldn’t have been able to do some of the shots because there wouldn’t be enough people to do it.

·         What have you learned from the process of making your preliminary film? 

     

      I would say I learnt that it takes a lot of time to make even a short film and also that sound is very import to a film as you have to get the balance right. Also, learnt how important teamwork is because I would say that it would be much more difficult to do a film with one person whereas with a team you can all have different ideas which they can contribute to better your film. I've also learnt that time management is a key factor in film making because if you don’t manage your time effectively then you could end up too much time filming and then you wouldn't have enough time editing so in the end your film wouldn’t be quite so good as your shots could be really good but not put together well creating bad continuity.

    By Luke Payne

'The Interrogation'

Roles:
Actors - Cameron Harbard, Stephen Norman and Alex Nelson
Cameraman - Luke Payne
Editing - Alex Nelson, Luke Payne and Cameron Harbard
Director/ film producer - Stephen Norman

Pitch Feedback - Preliminary Task 'The Interrogation'

Feedback:

- How do we make the character 'Mr Small' appear physically dominant?
Include 'Low shot'
Get Cameron to possibly stand on a chair?

- Will Cameron have an intimidating character or just be physically more dominant?
Just physically?
Not much of a personality more physical presence.

- Where will the 180-degree rule be used?
Show one side of the conversation

- What time of the day will it be set?
Not too essential as long as we can create a dark atmosphere
Maybe shut the blinds?