Preliminary Task Evaluation

Describe the set brief for the Preliminary Task. What was it that you were asked to created? 

Use the correct media specific vocabulary and show that you understand the meaning of these terms.

For the Preliminary Task we had to create the process of pre, pro and post production for a scene between  two people exchanging two lines of dialogue each, as well as including camera and editing techniques of match-on-action, the 180 degree rule and point of view.

Explain everything that you did leading up to the point when you started filming (pre-production). Discuss how this process helped to prepare you for filming.

We needed to know each of these techniques, in order for us to be able to film a realistic scenario. In groups we filmed examples of each shot, angle and camera movement that we needed, to give us the idea of how to actually film the scenes.

The first step when leading up to the filming was to, as a group, devised a short scenario to film. We made a storyboard that listed each person, place, shot/angle/movement and prop that would be used within that frame. This allowed us to see what would be needed to done and if there were any changes that could be made, for example, if a section in the storyboard didn't make sense, then it could be referred to and changed, so it can make sense.

Describe the filming process itself (production) how did this go?
When it came to the filming process we looked at our storyboard and began to put it into motion. On a whole, I thought that the filming process was successful. We achieve what we aimed to, apart from being able to get the 'match on action' right, as of something as simple as sleeves down in one shot and in the next sleeves were rolled up.

Other than that, the filming process itself went quiet well. Majority of the scenes went the way we had planned them to, there were a few scenes in it that could have been done better, particularly with the last few scenes where the main event happens, the spillage, but despite this it was fun to film and plan for.


Explain the editing stages to your preliminary task (post production) this should include how you applied new skills you have learn. 

With the skills that I learned on how to edit raw footage on Adobe Premiere Pro, I edited the footage to piece together the best piece of film.


The first stage to editing the footage, was to get it downloaded onto the computer, connecting the USB to the computer the footage was attainable. Then it was a case of setting up the software that we were using; Adobe Premiere Pro. Thereafter, the footage was loaded onto the software in folders so that it could be edited. The storyboard that we created earlier on in the process was used to reflect on the order that the scenes go in.






Each piece of footage was dragged into a box to be analysed, if it was the right part for the finished product then it would be placed on the timeline, where each piece was connected to make up the film.






Once the clips where edited to the right length, the next step was to focus on the audio; which parts had audio that were needed, which sections didn't need audio and what music was going to be used.


Choosing the music for this task required a lot of thought, as it had to reflect what sort of approach and theme was intended to be shown in the film. Each member of the team created a different interpretation, which was displayed through the use of the music, as well as the way it was edited.


I chose to use music that would make the character, Ellie, seem as though she is up to no good. I edited the footage so that key moments, for example, when Ellie enters the room and sits down, there is a close up of the cup of coffee she is holding and a shot of Ellie's face with a smile, are easily addressed, so that the impression of mischievous intentions is suggested.




With the correct musical accompaniment, last to do was the editing of merging scenes so that a flow between each was achieved. Using cross fading, fade to black and other techniques so each clip transcended as best as was possible.

Evaluate your finished Preliminary Task. How well does it meet the expectations of your set brief? Which parts of it do you think are particularly strong? Where are the weaknesses? What can you identify as being an area for development when it comes to producing your main task?

Personally, I feel that it met the expectations of the set brief. Though, of course there were a few aspect that weren't perfect, for example we didn't get match on action. As mentioned before, there was a scene where the actress playing Ellie her sleeves were up when in all other clips they had been down. This disallowed for match on action.






I would say that the editing and planning for the production was our strongest parts particularly in the Preliminary Task. These were the strongest because we took time to really get them to the best we could, it was thought out methodically, from the initial idea to putting it into action.






The editing was another strong parts as, even though we were al doing our own versions, we each had an input into each others, which was good for revealing parts that might have been missed and needed re-editing, revealing mistakes, giving advise on how to edit shots in order for the right impression to be shown, such as the way I edited mine was to show a sinister, mischievous spin onto the way that Ellie was shown throughout the film.






The filming process itself was, in actually fact, a fairly successful part of the Preliminary Task, majority of the scenes went the way we had planned them to, there were a few scenes in it that could have been done better, particularly with the main scene of the film where the spillage takes place.


I think that the filming would need development. Though, it was mostly good and fun to do, it needed to be scheduled better, when we were going to film and properly consider the small details, so that shot for shot it followed, so that it doesn't lead to what happened there aren't any silly little mistakes where someone's sleeves are down in one shot and in the next are up. If we plan the time that we have to film and when, it will mean that we can also efficiently use the time and also check that if there are any little mistakes then that shot can be redone.




Subsequently, it would mean that more time needs to be spent on preproduction to allow to plan the filming schedule and how the time should be spent. Truly going into detail about how long will be spent filming specific parts,  the estimated amount of shots that should at least be taken and what scene it is for. If this is put into motion, then the Main will run a lot smoother than the Preliminary Task.




Had we properly planned the time that we where going to film, then the little mistakes wouldn't have happened and the story would have looked a little better. But for a fist attempt at this, I feel that it was a rather satisfactory attempt.