Preliminary Continuity Task Film and Analysis

In our continuity film we used the 180 degree rule, Match On Action,Over the shoulder shots and Shot reverse shot. These were all effective within our film because we followed the brief for the task exactly. The 180 degree rule made the film look more professional and didn't confuse the audience. The match on action was useful in showing the door opening, it was effective. Several over the shoulder shots were used in the conversation to give the audience a bit of the character's perspective.  We also used the shot reverse shot for Solay's reaction to Jack rummaging through his bag, this created a dramatic moment and was also useful and effective.
We worked well as a team even though one of our members was ill often. With me as the camera man, Solay and Jack were the actors and Sorrel had input on where the shots should be taken and an overview. We worked well as a team and listened to each other, had fun and made the film.


Equipment wise, we used a camera,tripod,dolly and then editing software on a computer.


We encountered the problem of crossing the 180 degree line several times so we re-shot the film. Another minor problem was because we shot on different days, Solay and Jack were wearing different clothes. This problem couldn't be dealt with as such, we tried to make it as least obvious as possible.


We used a close up of the door handle and Solay's hand at the beginning, using match on action the next show was on the other side of the door as he opened it ( long shot). Next there was a close up of Solay's face which captured his emotions and shock in what was happening. It then cut to Jack rummaging through Solay's bag which set the narrative. The next shot(Another close up) was the last piece of the shot reverse shot which brings shock to the audience. It then pans across as Solay sits down and has the conversation with Jack about his bag. This then has several over the shoulder shots that give the audience a perspective of the character. Then the last two shots are POV shots from both of the characters as Jack jumps up in anger. This gives the audience an idea of the fear that Solay is feeling.
All in all it was successful in meeting the brief.

Floor Plan for Preliminary Task

 

Storyboard for Conversation (Preliminary task)

First there is a close up of the character's hand opening the door. This is going to be a match on action shot, it will show the door being opened and then cut to him opening and walking out from the otherside.

It then cuts to a shot of the character walking out of the room that the camera was previously in. This is a medium/long shot, it establishes the character and what he is doing. The character walks out of the toilet and then moves further foward into the room.

 This shot is the start of a shot/reverse/shot. The shot reverse shot starts off with a close up of Solay's face looking confused and looks as if he is thinking.

This is a medium shot of what Solay is looking at, it is Josh searching and rummaging through his bag looking evil.                                                         This is another shot of Solay's reaction to Josh, it is the final piece to the shot/reverse/shot. The shot is a medium shot to catch the reaction as well as the surroundings.                                  

Solay then walks over to the table and sits opposite him, this shot is a long shot just capturing them both in the shot staring at eachother. At this point the 180 degree rule is established and from now on we could not cross the line.

This is a POV shot of Solay from Josh's view. This gives the audience a view of what Josh is seeing. This is also an eyeline match because we saw josh looking at something and now we are seeing what he was seeing.

It then cuts to a Low angle shot of Josh getting angry at Solay. 

The final shot is a high angle shot of Solay over Josh's shoulder.

Eyeline Match

An eyeline match is a film editing technique. It is based on the premise that the audience will want to see what the character on-screen is seeing. The eyeline match begins with a character looking at something off-screen, there will then be a cut to the object or person at which he is looking. For example, a man is looking off-screen to his left, and then the film cuts to a television that he is watching.

Shot/Reverse/Shot

A shot/reverse/shot is a film technique which is used to someone's reaction to another person or item. For example, the first shot it looking at the woman, then the second shot is looking at the man and the third shot shows the woman's reaction/emotion. This technique is often used when something unexpected happens or the character sees something that they aren't meant to see.

Match On Action

Matching on action is where the camera cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action.  By having a subject begin an action in one shot and carry it through to completion in the next, the editor creates a visual bridge which distracts the viewer from noticing the cut or noticing any slight continuity error between the two shots.


A variant of cutting on action is a cut in which the subject exits the frame in the first shot and then enters the frame in the subsequent shot. The entrance in the second shot must match the screen direction and motive rhythm of the exit in the first shot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutting_on_action

180° Rule

The 180° rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary line connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle.

In the example of a dialogue, if Owen (orange shirt in the diagram) is on the left and Bob (blue shirt) is on the right, then Owen should be facing right at all times, even when Bob is off the edge of the frame, and Bob should always be facing left. Shifting to the other side of the characters on a cut, so that Bob is now on the left side and Owen is on the right, will disorient the viewer, and break the flow of the scene.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/180_degree_rule