Wednesday 20 October 2010

Prelim Post Production Blog

   To acces the footage on Final Cut Pro how have to check the raw film footage from the Final Cut Server. When you have done this the raw video will be accesible for Final Cut Pro.
      After shooting the prelim task we had to edit the footage and make it as continous as possible. To do this we had to cut the different shots accuratly and put them together to make it seem as seemless and continous as possible. Match on Action is a technique where you would have two shoots both showing the same thing, you would then cut these together as accurate as possible. This helps creates an effective shoot. When editing we choosed our favourite shots and put them in a new list.
   We then loosly followed the storyboard but added in a few extra shots (i.e. extreme close-ups and establishing shot).
    Cross-cutting is a technique which conveys an undeniable spatial discontinuity. It can be achieved by cutting back and forth between shots of spatially unrelated places. In these cases, the viewer will understand clearly that the places are supposed to be separate and parallel. So in that sense, the viewer may not become particularly disoriented, but under the principle of spatial continuity editing, crosscutting is considered a technique of spatial discontinuity.


   






Temporal discontinuity can be expressed by the deliberate use of ellipses. Cutting techniques useful in showing the nature of the specific ellipses are the dissolve and the fade. Other editing styles can show a reversal of time or even an abandonment of it altogether. These are the flashback and the montage techniques, respectively.


  
Match on action technique can preserve temporal continuity where there is a uniform, unrepeated physical motion or change within a passage. A match on action is when some action occurring before the temporally questionable cut is picked up where the cut left it by the shot immediately following. For example, a shot of someone tossing a ball can be edited to show two different views, while maintaining temporal continuity by being sure that the second shot shows the arm of the subject in the same stage of its motion as it was left when cutting from the first shot.

Wednesday 13 October 2010

Prelim Story Board

Prelim Task Evaluation

Location
We filmed the pelim in the one of the media classrooms. Their was a door which we used for the beginning and the end of the scene which was helpful. It was inside which was convienient as the weather could have been a problem.
   When we shoot the scene we all switched positions every shot so we all got to have a go at doing everything. I enjoyed using the camera the most as it was the most interesting out of the jobs to do.

Lighting

   When filming we wanted a natural light so we used the lights in the classroom and then added two lights (Blondes) which added a brighter wash and therefor created a more realistic feel to the scene. This was effective as it looked better and there were less shadows on the actors faces as there were many when the Blondes were turned off.

Filming

    When we filmed this scene we set up the camera carefully and always checked if we had bubbled it!
Before the shots we would check the frame to see if both actors would be in a certain position in the frame. We did this by asking the actors to walk to and from their markers. We always kept an eye on that none of the equipment was in the frame, but fortunatly this wasnt a major issue. We thought carefully about the angles of the shots, for example we filmed a shot looking up at one of our actors (A) which created an effect which made the actor (A) seem important (hero shot). When we filmed over actors (A)'s shoulder at actor (B) we made the tripod higher and then tilted the camera down so that actor (B) looked weak and making actor (B) look more important.
    We followed the story board but added in a few different shot types to add some variation to the scene making it more intresting. To start the scene of we had an establishing shot which showed the audience where we were this shot showed an actor walk into the room where the scene takes place. We then did a cut to the inside of the room doing a wide-shoot which clearly shows the actors. We then did a few over shoulder shots which helped showed the relationship between them. Inbetween these we added a few close up shots to show the emotions of the characters. We did a panning shot which showed an actor and then keys which showed her feeling about the keys.
    We were careful about the 180 degree rule and always made sure we never crossed it! We did this by having a checklist of what to check before we filmed each shot. Before shoting each shot the director would call stand-by the camera man would then reply 'standing-by', The director would then call 'roll camera' the camera man would reply 'rolling camera', then finally the director after leaving a few seconds after rolling camera would shout 'action'. At the end of the scene the director would leave a few seconds after the action has happened and then would shout 'cut'.

What I Have Learnt

   Through this experience I have learnt how to shot a scene focusing on many elements i.e lighting, directing, angles, shot types e.t.c. It was a fun experience and I feel that we as a group worked well. I have learnt how to use lighting to create different moods and were to place them and have learnt how to use the camera effectivly.
  




Wednesday 6 October 2010

Filming Shots

Introduction To Video Camera

1) Camera operation and functions -
  white-balancing - you have to press down the whb button and then press A/B to select your white balances.
 aperture settings -this is the wheel closest to you and can change the colours which would allow you to create a dark or a bright atmosphere.
 focussing - This is the wheel furthest away from you and will allow you to focus on your desired object/person.
       
       Tripod - To set up the tripod you have to unlock the legs and lift it to your desired hieght, let lock the legs so it is stable. To set the camera up you have to unscrew the handle on the tripod head and press down the button, you then push the camera on and tighten the handle. To set the pan handle up all you have to do is screw it on.
       Bubbling - To Bubble you have to reach under the tripod and losen the screw which will allow you to move the tripod head and get it flat or to a tilted angle to create a chaotic atmosphere. 
2) Using the camera - There are many simple camera shots which creates certain shotsbasic filming skills.
The rule of thirds is a popular technique and can help create interesting compositions. When filming you always have to think about the 180 degree rule. If you brake this rule it can throw the audience and ruin the shot. To follow the 180 degree rule you cant cross the point were it passes 180 degree.
3) Try to think of the mistakes you made in the practice shoot and talk about how they were made and what can be done to correct them.
4) Use of Industry terminology whilst filming and explain its purpose:
STAND BY / STANDING BY - readys everyone into position for the take. The AD calls STAND BY and the response tells them that everyone is prepped
TURN OVER / TURNING OVER (Roll film/Rolling etc) The director tells the camera operator to start filming - a few seconds of film is then run as the camera gets up to speed - this is often referred to as LEAD IN. Once done the Camera operator will respond TURNING OVER or ROLLING (etc) to indicate being up to speed
ACTION! - Cue for the actors to perform the take, and the crew to do their jobs. It is good practice for the Director to let the film run on a further few seconds after the take is completed before cutting - this is referred to as LEAD OUT
CUT! - Cue for the camera to stop running film. Industry practice expects that the camera operator does not CUT before being told
5) Finally a brief sentence or two on how you found the move from still to video camera. What has changed? What is similar? How did you enjoy the experience?