Introduction to the preliminary task

Preliminary Task

Our first task in media is a continuity task, involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting or standing opposite another character. Both characters will exchange a couple of lines of dialogue then will walk back out of the room again. This task should demonstrate Match on action, shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. 

Match on action refers to a filming techniques where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shots action.  The two shots may have been filmed hours apart from each other, however the cutting on action will give the impression of continuous time, when watching the edited film.

The 180 degree rule is a basic guideline that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left or right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called the crossing line and will disorientate the viewer.

Shot Reverse Shot is a film technique where one character is filmed looking at another character, then that same character is shown looking back at the first character.

We will aim to use these three filming techniques to make our preliminary task interesting and effective.

How utopia has achieved its comic book look? - www.wired.co.uk

The online article www.wired.co.uk talks about how utopia achieved its comic book look in post prduction. Post production is the work done on a film after the filming has taken place. In utopia they get their comic book look from colour correcting in post production. In the article the director of Utopia Marc Munden wanted the show to have a technicolour palette of 1950's hollywood. Munden also talks about how the three-strip technicolor they use in filming, is then comprised of the opposite colours yellow, cyan and magentas, instead of the usual greens, blues and reds, to get this effect. To do this they use grading software Nucoda Film Master instead of a brush or pen, carefully colour-correcting each shot in post production. 

Looking at the post production that goes into Utopia it has made me think and consider what i will do in the post production of our short film, the continuity task. whether, after filming we need to colour correct something if it's maybe too dark or too bright, or cut some parts out of particular scene if they aren't effective or we have made a mistake. 

The final duel

The final duel

 

 

The final duel is our first try at filming a short production to practise with planning filming and locations.

 

 

 

 



Framing a shot: Practise with skills

Framing a shot: Pracise with skills

Tilt Shot/ Establishing Shot - For our first task in media we had to try out various different camera Shots, to familiarize ourselves with the types of shots and when to use them for the best effect. This first shot (Establishing Shot) is used to set the scene, and give the audience an idea of where something is going to take place, and an idea about what is going to happen, depending on where the shot was taken. The tilt shot adds a dramatic atmosphere to the opening scene. 

Our next shot task was to get one particular object and photograph it from

three different angles. I got a picture from above, a picture from below and one from the opposite side. Again this is done so that the audience gets an idea of where everything is and how they are positioned compared to different objects or characters. By doing this the audience gets a good sense of the surroundings in the scene.

 Over the shoulder shot - We did the over the shoulder shot to practise with showing conversations happening and the emotions the characters feel towards each other.

Low angled shot - We practised with a low angled shot to try and show dominance effectively between two characters, and how to make one character look more important or scary compared to the other.








                                                     

Extreme close up - We practiced with extreme close ups. On this shot we tried capturing a mean stare, showing the exact emotion by just using the eyes, which can be very effective when filming.

Hello and welcome to my Blogsite!

I am taking AS media studies, however i have not studied media before. I am very interested in how films and TV are made, and the thought and effort which goes into it. Whenever i watch a good film i try to find videos for the making of them and behind the scenes clips. Saying this i don't actually know the logistics of filmmaking, which is why i am really looking forward to studying media.

One part of media studies which i am especially looking forward to is the filming, i think the different shots which are taken and the locations, really make films and TV so alive and gripping, but also they help us to understand the characters and the different situations they may be in.

The first task we have been assigned (A continuity task) sounds great as we get to explore different shots and editing. But also practise continuity for future filming.

I hope that you enjoy my media blog, and the lead up to the final film.