Evalution 7 - Looking Back At Your Preliminary Task, What Do You Feel You Have Learnt In The Progression From It To The Full Product?

Camera - using a range of camera shots

In our preliminary task we didn’t use a range of camera shots and this therefore lead to lack of diversity along with leaving the audience uninterested. In our film opening we have used a range of camera shots such as mid-shots, long-shots and close ups to either help the audience gain a better understanding of the setting, to exaggerate an emotion or to involve the audience more on the action. For example when Faye is outside school after the previous weekend of drama here is a close up of her taking a deep breathe this therefore emphasises her emotion of worry to the audience and makes them feel more involved in the film. Therefore I have learnt that using a range of camera shots does make the film more appealing. 

Using different camera angles for different effects

In our preliminary the camera angles we used didn’t have any relevance to connoting something to the audience. In our film opening we used a range of camera angles to connote something to the audience. For example, when the three ‘mean girls’ were on the stairs we used a low angle to show the hierarchy of The Triple L's (the mean girls). We did this because we were hoping the audience would gain an understanding of the mean girls’ high status to everyone else in the film. I have learnt that using a range of different camera angles make the film more attractive due to the fact there are different angles throughout changing the audiences perspective. 

Framing

In our preliminary task we were not as conscious about what was in and out of shot. Therefore this lead to some irrelevant things being in shot and some things that could benefit the shot not in shot. We were very conscious about the framing in our film opening, we made sure that everything in the frame was relevant and contributed somehow to the mood or what was going on in the scene. For example in the party scene we used a mid-shot in order to get our props, such as the alcohol bottles in shot in order to connote our genre and therefore attracting our target audience. I have learnt that being conscious of what is in and out of the frame is important due to the fact it can have an impact on the audience. 

Using camera movement

In our preliminary task we didn't use any form of camera movement therefore this lowered the quality of our video. But in our film opening we did, we used tracking from a side angle. We did this twice, once to film the group of people walking up to the house and secondly when Christian is walking up to Faye outside the school. We used this form of tracking because it involves  the audience more due to the fact they are moving with the person/people.  Therefore we were hoping the audience would feel more engaged and due to this enjoy the film. Therefore I have learnt that using camera movement makes a better film because it adds some interaction into the film making the audience feel as if they are there.

Mise en scene

In our preliminary task we didn't use mise en scene as well or as effectively as we could of. This is due to the fact our setting was unrealistic, we had no props or costumes. In our film opening we did use mise en scene effectively. Our costumes were realistic, for example at the party Charlie was wearing a shirt which is more formal attire (clothing you are likely to see at a party) and at school everyone was dressed casually. We also used different lightings effectively to connote a certain mood. For example, during the party scene there was dark lighting therefore creating a party atmosphere leading to our film opening looking more realistic.  We also used different props to connote our genre and attract our audience. For example, when Faye wakes up she is woken by a phone alarm, this is a more modern form of alarm therefore appealing to our younger audience. Our different settings such as the school setting helps to connote our genre due to the fact the majority of teenagers attend school. By using all these different forms of mise en scene we were hoping to be relatable to our audience therefore attracting them to our film. I have learnt that miss en scene plays an important role in making a good film because it helps to convey the genre and also costumes and props can come across relatable to the audience.

Use of titles

In our preliminary we didn't use any titles therefore our video wasn't as aesthetically pleasing. But in our film opening we used several titles. All the various text and titles throughout our film opening are in bright colours, mainly pink and purple. This is because stereotypically girls like and are attracted to these colours, therefore by doing we were hoping this would interest our audience more. When our film title 'OMG' is introduced it is in bold, serif writing and in the font Goudy Stout. This style of writing is large on the screen and therefore stands out, it is also pink. By having our title looking like this we were hoping the audience would be more attracted to our film and remember its name. I have learnt that titles are important due to the fact if they styled in a certain way they can be seen as interesting and will attract the audiences attention.

Editing

In our preliminary task we did use a lot of shot reverse shot and match on action. We thought the great use of these forms of editing were unnecessary due to the fact in some places the took they attention away from the dialogue.  In our film opening we used match on action once when the film cuts straight to the action of Lucy opening the door to her party guests. This form of editing keeps up the fast pace of the party scene and by doing this we were hoping to keep the audience engaged. In our film opening we also used several transitions. One of the transitions we used was clock wipe we used this to go forwards in time to move from the party scene at the weekend to the first day back of school in the week. By using this transition we were hoping to keep the audience aware and updated of what is going on in the film . I have learnt that editing is also important because it adds some excitement and change to each scene changing therefore attracting the audience because teenagers generally like excitement.