Test shoot : Reflection

By completing this test shoot we were able to review and get a vision of how our opening sequence may go and a brief idea. As this was a test shoot it was very different to how our real thing will go, as we had to improvise props, use a location that is very different to our actual location and we had different characters/actors. And this test shoot was filmed on our phones and edited using iMovie it means that the quality was not the best and it looks quite messy and all over the place, but for our real shoot it will not be like that and will be completed using a professional camera and a real editing software.

The feedback from this test shoot we discovered we need to make it more interesting and drag the idea more, and by doing this we will extend the amount of time in which the FBI agent will walk around the house to discover the intruder. Instead of her just walking down the hallway and turning to corner to find the intruder. This will intensify the tension which is created and lead on the viewer/audience more. 

For our real shoot we will make the detective walk up the stairs and explore the area before she finds the intruder.

For this test shoot we were unable to film all the different shots, as it was all over the place and we were not really focusing on the shots, we were focusing more on the idea and what was happening. Therefore in some clips it does not match up with what has previously been shown or the actions don't match up with one another, for example:

Neave started off the clip by holding the 'gun' (innocent smoothie) with two hands and then the next clip she is holding it with one hand and her positioning of holding the gun is different in both clips.

We had forgotten to take a wide shot of the whole clip first, and this was a big mistake we made because the wide shot is the master shot and everything follows on from that once that is taken, and without this it makes filming much more difficult as you are unsure what you should film next and it makes it messy and unorganised, and editing, it makes editing the final sequence much more difficult without a master shot. From this experience we now know we need to make sure we film our whole production in wide shot before we continue with any other shots. 

Our idea is just under 2 minutes (1:43) but we are not overly worried about this because in this test shoot, we missed out multiple different sections and different shots which we had in mind that we would get for our real shoot. And the location has an impact on this as the house we will be filming our real shoot in is a large house with grand stairs and long hallways, whereas this is just one room with a table which we had to improvise as a hallway. So overall with all the missing sections and shots this should come up to just above 2 minuets.

The pace of this sequence could be improved as at some points it seemed as if she was just walking in a straight line for a long amount of time and nothing was happening and there was just a build-up, which could be a good thing but the way it was portrayed and shown was not a good thing and made it boring and dragged it on and made the sequence slow. For the real shoot this could be improved as we would portray her walking up the stairs, turning corners, looking behind or looking ahead and this will all add to the tension being created and make it more interesting for the viewer / audience. 

When this is filmed properly and with time and caution and the right props, location and characters, this idea will make an engaging opening sequence and will look very good, once it is all put together. For this test shoot you can see the potential it has but as it was rushed, unorganised and not a lot of thought was put into it, you are able to tell from the final edited piece. From this we now are aware of what we need to do on the day of this shoot and also the editing that will need to be done. We need to be organised, take our time, plan well (which we have done), speak to our actors who will be playing the roles and make sure we have all the knowledge we learnt from the camera and editing workshops in our mind, which will only benefit us.

Test shoot : Edited

This is mine, Neave and Bashy's production group test shoot, edited (by Neave).

Test shoot : Plan

We are going to be filming in the common room which is our test shoot location and as this is an open space we have needed to adapt to this setting as our real shoot will be done in a closed environment with hallways and different rooms. We have a brief idea of how we are going to layout this scene, for example: we are using the queuing space as the 'entrance' of the house which will lead us to the body which then leads us to the water station. We are going to use the tables and chairs as a substitute to the corridors and rooms to create the idea of a closed environment. 

In the real sequence we will be using a fake gun, but in this test shoot this prop is not accessible to us therefore we will be using an innocent smoothie as a replacement. Also in the real sequence we will be using a prop fake knife but as we also do not have access to this, we will be using a white board marker as an alternative.

As this is a test shoot and during lesson time, we are very limited to cast members so therefore we have to improvise and use our crew members. Due to one of our crew members being absent, we are going to be using an individual who is free during this time period. Neave is going to replace Matilde, FBI agent, I am going to be the camera operator and the dead body and Calum is going to play Mike, the intruder/murderer.

This test shoot was a small outline of what we will be filming for our real shoot. The FBI agent walks into the house and looks around to see a victim lying on the ground who is wounded, this victim then says that the intruder/murderer is in the house. The FBI agent then proceeds to walk around the house and as she is walking through the hallways, she turns a corner and sees the intruder/murderer. This individual comes charging towards the FBI agent and as he does this the FBI agent then proceeds to shoot him dead (twice). Once the individual is dead then the FBI agent turns away and leaves the building. 

Contributor Release Forms

Matilde Mesouita De Melo - FBI agent/detective. 

 Mike Niland - Serial killer/intruder.

Shooting Schedule

My production groups shooting schedule. We decided to begin our day with a detailed plan so that we don't fall behind and loose time. On the day we will adjust these times but we have them lay out as a plan and base.

Dialogue Workshop

Shooting dialogue sequence

In this editing workshop we filmed and edited our own sequences. I was placed in a group with Fred and Neave and we made a short dialogue scene that we then had to edit. 

We filmed a short dialogue scene where there was a serial killer being interviewed by a member of the police department. This serial killer was being interviewed as where she was during the evening her parents were killed and who she was with. The serial killer walks into the 'station' with her hands tied behind her back and then she is led to a chair where the interview takes place. 

The skills/techniques we have learnt throughout previous workshops allowed us to create a more appealing scene to watch and made it look much more professional. When shooting this dialogue scene we used the 180-degree rule, rule of thirds, lighting and different areas of composition. The use of the camera workshop we did, benefitted us shooting our sequence because it enabled us to become more familiar with working with a camera and a tripod. 

The problems we came across when shooting this dialogue scene, were because we had to re shoot the same clip multiple times in different shots it meant we had to do the same actions and repeat the same lines numerous times, and most of these times our actions and the way we repeated lines were different and some were better than others and some were not as good as others. Another problem we came across was deciding who was going to act and who was going to film, but this enabled us to work with one another and adapt. 

Shooting this dialogue sequence informed me on how to prepare for my opening title sequence and gave me a sense of how it may be when shooting our sequence and allowed me to become more confident with working with a camera. From shooting this dialogue sequence, I think it would be a good idea if we provide our actors with a detailed plan on what will happen and talk to our actors and tell them exactly what they will need to do and what will happen on the day.

The feedback we received from this dialogue sequence was:

- The use of the actual microphone being a prop was not ideal as it meant when the 'interviewer' was speaking to the killer it was more difficult to hear her as the microphone was constantly pointed towards to killer. 

- Always film in wide shot first and get everything in frame and then the whole clip again in mid shot and then in close up. This allows you to plan out what shots you will film next.

- Good use of the 180-degree rule and good use of props.

Editing dialogue sequence

When editing this sequence we were working with audio and sound so therefore when editing the clip we had to take the audio into consideration. To edit the sound on a clip you need to select a clip and drag it onto the timeline. You are then left with two audio tracks and a video track, right click on the clip and select unlink - this means you can separate the sound and the video - then you can delete one of those tracks, so you are left with one video track and one audio track. To keep both these tracks in sync you need to re select both clips and right click and link them back together. 

When it comes to changing the volume in a clip you need to, double click on the audio, and then click on effect controls and go to audio and turn animation on the level off. And then you can decrease or increase the volume. 

To cut audio or a section of some audio off you use the razor tool and zoom in (+) to the audio - to get a clearer view - and then press c for cut and v for the arrow which allows you to move it around. 

The process of editing this sequence was not as hard as I originally thought it would be but it was not easy. Finding the clips I wanted to use was very difficult and hard to identify so I had to keep going back on myself to find the clips I wanted to edit. From this, I know when it comes to editing our actual sequences, I will make sure the clips we want to edit are in an organised folder together, which will save a lot of time and make it easier for us. From completing this workshop I feel much more confident in editing and have a clearer vision on how I will edit our final sequence.

Editing Workshop 1

The software that is used at school (Hurtwood House) for editing is called premier pro. Premier Pro is a timeline-based video editing software application. 

In the top left-hand corner of the screen is the first video screen, this is constantly changing to other control panels or whatever is needed. Below this is the timeline and this is where the actual editing takes place and where you stick different clips together. Under each clip you drag out and want to edit you will see a V and an A under these clips. The V stands for video, and the A stands for audio, and these are always seen under a clip. 

The technical terms which are used throughout editing and this editing software are rushes, bins, and logging. Rushes are an unedited (raw) video file. The reason these are called rushes is because on film sets at the end of the day the film clips needs to be rushed off to be edited over night by the editors for the next day, so the editor and director can see it finished the next day and see what needs to be improved - this is why they are called rushes. You have to keep rushes original and raw.

The technical term 'bins' are just another term for folders. Bins are there to help organise different clips and scenes into one 'bin'.

When creating a new bin you have to click on the icon which says, 'new bin'.

Logging is used to log shots - where you go through footage you have filmed and select the clips you like best and then you put these into a bin all together. 

To trim a clip you have to first select the clip you want to trim then a red arrow will appear, and this is called the trim handles, this can move left to right or right to left to trim different clips. 

How to edit?

Once you have selected the clips you want to edit you can then begin the editing process. You begin with the wide shot and you want to make sure you edit this clip so that it starts right before the action takes place, to do this your press the (I) button which is used to identify when you want it to start and then the (O) button to identify where you want it to stop/out. You would then select where the action takes place and get a close up or mid shot of the action and then import that on and stick it on top of the clip, this creates a more interesting and exciting clip to watch. 

My example of editing a clip:

Camera Workshop 2

Call outs are used to know what's going and stay alerted on the film set. There are 6 different call outs:

- Stand by : Standing by

- Roll camera : Camera rolling

- Action : Cut

Stand by alerts the actor to get ready and be in position and standing by is the actor saying they are ready and prepared. Roll camera is called when the camera is ready to start recording so then the cameraman would reply with 'camera rolling', meaning the operator has pressed the record button. Action is then called when the action takes place in the scene and then cut is called when the camera operator cuts the camera.

When shooting a scene/sequence there is an order to follow, you always shoot in a wide angle first, to get everything in frame and set the location/scenery and also because it is the master shot and it gets everything first in case anything happens while filming and ruins the other shots, then you get a mid-shot, which is a more detailed shot than a close up and can follow the subject easily, then a close up, which is a specific close up in an object/person, then once you have completed those main key shots you then move onto the special shots - like movement. 

You film all these shots even if you have not planned to because 

while editing you may want to add something in or change your original idea. Once you have finished what you want to record you must wait to cut the camera and keep the camera rolling at least 3/4 seconds after the scene and you should also do this before saying action as well, these seconds can make a massive difference in a sequence as you can always find something extra which makes the clip look good which has been added in those final 3/4 seconds. 

Why you do not look at footage on set - it wastes time and when on a set time is valuable and expensive so you must use time very carefully and not waste any shooting opportunities, and the actor may change the way they are acting and adjust their mannerisms if they already have an image in their head of what they look like through the camera and they may not be happy with that and want to change it. 

You must stick to continuity when filming and shooting different shots because otherwise it makes a clip look odd and does not make sense or add up. For example if in the wide shot the individual picks up a burger and eats a burger, but then in the mid shot the individual picks up a hotdog and eats the hotdog, but then when the close up shot takes place and the individual picks up a burger again and eats the burger, this does not add up or make sense and just results in the final shot looking silly and looks messy. So you must stick to continuity to prevent this. 

Marks are used on a film set to show the actors where to go or where to stop. These can be identified with pieces of tape on the floor. These also relate to continuity and keeping a shot consistent when filming different shots from different angles and different places. 

When filming on a film set the 180-degree rule is used. The 180-degree rule is a technique film makers use to know where everyone is and know where the action is happening in the scenes. This is also known as crossing the line.

The rule of thirds is a camera composition which takes a large role in filming and filmmaking and it is very important. The rule of thirds is a type of composition in which the image is sectioned evenly into thirds, both horizontally and vertically and the subject / focus in the image is placed at the intersection of the lines crossing over one another.

Camera Workshop 1

The main camera which is used at school in the school studio is called a Black Magic 4K Mini Ursa camera, I will be focusing on this camera throughout shooting my sequence and completing more workshops.

'Yours's and Mine' rule

The yours's and mine rule is a rule used when handling camera or another sort of equipment. It is used to make clear when someone is taking the equipment into their hands or they are passing it on to another person. For example you are giving the camera to someone you say 'yours's' and they would repeat (once they have the camera in their hands) 'mine'. It is a safety precaution and a rule which is very important to prevent any accidents or damage to equipment.

Tripod

When opening up a tripod and lengthening it you should always start from the bottom as it will always be much easier than starting from the top.

Once the tripod is set up then get the panhandle which goes onto the tripod on the right hand side. The centre is identified by a little yellow circle and then the panhandle goes to the right side of that. The panhandle allows the camera to move up, down and across.

Locking a tripod in place is completed by two locks, these locks are called the tilt lock and pan lock which are both identified on the sides of the tripod. 

To level a tripod and make sure it is not tilted and in the centre you have to make sure the air bubble which is placed in the middle of the yellow circle is in the centre, you adjust this by turning the bolt, which is placed under the tripod, to the right. You do this to make sure the tripod is level and even on all sides, otherwise the camera/tripod will be slanted and create an uneven/slanted shot. 

Camera

When placing the camera on the tripod you place the bottom of the camera which is called the tripod shoe, in line with the top of the tripod. 

Top of the tripod.

Tripod shoe (bottom of the camera).

You then press the button which is placed on the side and slide the tripod shoe in line with the top of the tripod and make sure it is locked in with the bolt and is unable to move - make sure the metal is clear and nothing is in the way so the camera can easily just slide in.

The camera is naturally nose heavy, so you have to hold the camera sturdy and make sure it does not bash the top of the camera lens when placing the camera in and taking it off. 

When removing the camera from the tripod you undo the bolt and press the button which is placed on the opposite side of the bolt and slide the camera back towards you.

The battery is called the V lock. The battery fits halfway onto the camera back. To take it off you have to hold onto the battery and press the battery release button which is on the side of the battery. 

When focusing the camera for a shot you have to zoom all the way into an individual's eye or a focal point then adjust the focus wheel - which is the smaller wheel behind the wider one which is the zoom wheel - to make sure everything is in focus, then with the zoom wheel zoom out to your shot and then everything in frame will be in focus. You should do this before every shot or clip to make sure it is sharp and in focus.

Adjusting the amount of light which you allow into your camera lens is called the exposure and aperture. When adjusting the amount of light for a shot you have to turn the blue latch which is placed underneath the camera lens. You do this to make sure your shot is not under exposed or over exposed.

White balance - the white balance on a camera is used to identify the different colours which lights have on them. Lightbulbs have an orangey light, and the sun has a blueish light. Cameras cannot identify this difference, therefore we have have to adjust it manually on the camera on the screen, which is placed at the top right hand corner where it says WB with a number, then it provides you with different settings for the light (different pre sets). You need to change the white balance when shooting or before shooting to make sure your shot has the right lighting and that the lighting suits the location.

Changing Location

We are changing out location to Ewhurst house, instead of the Lodge house. We decided this because it was much easier to organise and as our teacher is one of the house masters at Ewhurst house.

Final shot list

Our final production groups shot list: