Independent Work Towards my Targets

In order to improve the lighting used when filming, I researched various different types of lighting and the effect it can have on a subject. I found that:

Lighting Below Eye Level
o   Portrays a significant contrast
o   Dramatic effect

This photograph that I took is an example of a shot which has used lighting below eye level to emphasize the physical features of the subject. It portrays a dark and villainous atmosphere.

Soft Lighting
o   Commonly created by reflected light
o   Usually used to depict tone
o   Using one light source
o   Smooth, gradual transition from dark to light tones

This photograph that I took is an example of a shot which has used soft lighting to lightly depict tone. It portrays a soft and positive atmosphere.

Hard Lighting

o  Commonly used to depict contrast

o  Portrays a dramatic tone

o  Harsh, abrupt transition from dark to light tone

o  Commonly created by a naked bulb

o  Casts dark, distinctive shadows

This photograph that I took is an example of a shot which has used hard lighting to emphasize the physical features of the subject. It can portray a dark atmosphere.

The concept of the Three Point Lighting technique consists of the key light which is considered to be the main source of light. It is usually the strongest and has the most influence on the overall quality of the lighting. It also consists of a fill light which is the secondary source of light and is usually placed on the opposite side of the key light. It is used to soften the shadows created by the key. The fill light is commonly softer than the key light. And the final element of the three point lighting is the background light which is placed behind the subject. Rather than providing direct lighting like the key and fill, its purpose is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject's outlines. This helps separate the subject from the background and provide a three-dimensional look.

I intend to achieve the remaining targets, consisting of improving the quality of my blog, communicating with other group members more frequently and effectively, using the video camera more effectively and being more creative with the initial idea for our film through practice during the main task.

Targets

Based on my evaluation of the Pre-production, Production and Post-Production stage, I can easily conclude that I need to:

- Improve the quality of my blog by using ICT more effectively which will create a more visually appealing and organised blog. I could do this by assessing the quality of my work before posting it by clicking the ‘Preview’ option. I could also ask other members of the group or friends to provide constructive criticism of my work before I post it.

- Communicate with other group members more frequently and effectively by making a conscious effort to include everyone. This should improve the quality of our working because everyone should understand what their task is, as well as other people’s tasks.

- Use the video camera more effectively by frequently practicing how to operate such a device and asking the more experienced members of the group for their advice as to how a certain shot could be improved. This should enhance the quality of the footage of our filming and as a result, make the final product more effective.

- Be more creative with the initial idea for our film by using a mind map of ideas instead of settling for the first idea. I could do this by making a conscious effort to think outside the box and be original. This could make our film different from others and become more interesting.

- Focus on the use of lighting by assessing the quality of lighting on the set before filming which should improve the quality of the product and our opinion of the footage.

Evaluation of Skills Developed

In producing the preliminary task, I think that my personal skills were developed which was particularly evident during the pre-production stage as I felt tested in how I managed myself and completed each section of the blog. I think I managed this side of the pre-production stage fairly successfully as each task was completed before the deadline. However, our group was generally fragmented during this stage and this gradually slowed this process down. I think this is an area that I could personally improve upon by involving other members of the group and sharing the workload more evenly.

I think my personal skills were further developed during the production stage because I was encouraged to consider aspects of filming which I hadn't thought about before. For example, when moving the curtain during filming, the lighting and shadows will be affected in the footage and could influence the continuity. This should benefit the production in the main task.

In reference to technical skills, I think this was most evident during the production and post-production stage because I had the chance to improve my skills by operating various technical equipment such as, a video recording camera or a video editing software. Personally, I found using the camera quite challenging as I couldn’t move the camera smoothly and judge the position that it needed to be in accurately. However, I enjoyed using the editing software because I was was taught how to use it effectively by another experienced member of the group.

I found that I also enhanced my technical skills during the pre-production stage as I learnt how to use a blog and convert files into a format that would work on the blog.

I think that I have developed my creative skills in the pre-production stage by helping the group to commit to an idea based on the brief that we received. However, I think I could improve on these skills by generating a more original idea, and thinking outside of the box. I think I also need to improve the quality of my presentation on the blog, as there doesn’t seem to be a consistent style in which the information is displayed.

I found that my creative skills were further developed during the post-production stage because as a group we had to adjust the length of various clips and we also decided to insert a quick dissolve at the beginning and at the end of the film to correspond to the style of the X Factor. However, the editing wasn’t very adventurous which is an aspect of this project which could be used to improve the main task. 

Preliminary Task Film: Audition

After reviewing this project, it’s evident that we could have used more footage depicting the conversation between KELLY and ELLY so that we could have included more of the shot-reverse-shot technique. This particularly applies to the shot of ELLY’s back whilst she is speaking for a significant period of time, as this doesn’t conform to the common X Factor interview style.

During this conversation, there is also a selection of shots which depict both of the characters to the side of the shot as opposed to the centre which is something to consider during the main task. It would have also been beneficial to include an applause at the beginning or the X Factor theme tune to re-create the atmosphere of a real audition. However, considering this is our first filming project, I’m relatively impressed.

Post-Production

The editing process took a total of 5 hours, approximately, and consisted of the group verbally contributing to a decision on which clips needed cropping so that it corresponded with the shot list, whilst one member used the video editing software to do this. I found the editing process easier than I expected, partially because this element of media is one in which I’m most interested in.

However, the responsibility for physically editing the footage was designated to one member of the group, despite the fact that other members were keen to take part. This role should have been fairly shared between the group. Although, we used this as an aspect of the post-production stage which we could improve on during the stage in which the audio is adjusted.

The editing process created various decisions that the group had to make based on the result we desired from the footage. One of these choices was based on the opening scene in which the group decided to quickly fade the first shot in from a black background. This idea was based on our knowledge of X Factor auditions, and the common way in which producers edit their scenes.

We also had to decide when each shot should finish and the next one begins. This was particularly challenging in the scene where ELLY walks down the stairs and joins KELLY because the timing had to be perfect otherwise this continuity error would become very obvious.

During the stage where the audio had to be adjusted, all members of the group actively edited the audio and understood the process. This consisted of marking areas where the sound needed to be increased and decreased, then moving the marker up or down accordingly. This idea was also used to mix the audio of the two different shots, by marking four areas towards the end of both of the clips them lowering the marker on each.

Prior to the process of editing, the team had devised a table which would be used to log the rushes. This was exceedingly useful in reference to editing because the preferred shot was highlighted and the time in which it started and finished was stated. This made it easier to locate the ideal footage and how long the shot was exactly.  

 
After reviewing the edited version, I can easily conclude that the product was relatively impressive considering this is our first filming project. Personally, I think we could have used more footage depicting the conversation between KELLY and ELLY so that we could have included more of the shot-reverse-shot technique. This particularly applies to the shot of ELLY’s back whilst she is speaking for a significant period of time, as this doesn’t conform to the common X Factor interview style.

 

There doesn’t appear to be any issues with the product in reference to continuity, but we didn’t abide by what was stated in the shot list which caused problems during the editing process as there were shots missing that would have made the product more successful.