Prelim task evaluation

1. Who did you work with and how did you manage the tasks between you? Explain how you organized your time and schedules. What issues came up with time management? What problems did you come up against? How did you deal with these? What were your strengths and weaknesses in this area? What would you do differently next time?


In my prelim task we were put in pairs as our class were very limited with people. My partner was Shazleen Khan.The prelim task that we were issued where to film a short one minute film long. Our task was to film a person coming into a room, having some dialogue to them then sitting down. We then had to discuss our ideas in this pair about what would be the most effective topic to film for just one minute. We also had to agree what issues we were both happy and satisfied.
Our original idea where to do a participant finding out about a pregnancy but this idea was too vague and copyright all through the school. We decided to take a more school-based approach which was to have a pupil cheat on a test of some thought as we found that we could relate and familiarize to as this is more of a common topic. After we decided on our plan we decided to plan out our shooting schedule, storyboard, script, camera angles etc. We allocated our certain jobs with the storyboard, script, etc to be done on our deadline.We completed this fairly quickly as we had a chance to do this over the weekend in which we took ful advantage of , as our group was then updated on the monday. I think that we kept are time management really good as all work was completed before the deadline. Our chosen location was the the music class in the media block, however we then later found out that on the day of the shoot the media production room was also available which were more suited for the task. Our location recce before we changed to the media production room was the music room and we found out that every day there needed to be a member of staff to be able to open the door for the both of us which wasn't to our convenient. We also decided to ourselves that his would waste so much time as we decided to use the media production room. However there are also problems with the media production room by that there is a lot of noise and children passing by to disturb our shots. We solved this by we took our shots in order of importance but we had to make each shot consistent  for example if we were meant to doing a medium long shot of the person walking in we did this either before the children came or after as we could then focus on the other shots and also not waste time.
On friday also we decided what each of us were going to do, we both did the storyboard and shazleen did the script. The location was issued by Shazleen, prior to this also our cast planned by shazleen as most of my friends weren't available in the school due to after school activities. Shazleen's friends where available on the day in which we decided to use her friends. After we had our chosen camera angles for each shot, the location Reece, storyboard, script and cast we were then eligible to start shooting.

2. How did we plan our sequence ? What process did you use?

To plan our script we took all our items in chronological order starting from the treatment summering what will happen in our short film ( no longer than 3-4 lines), next to our script giving the words that the characters in the play will say etc, then finally with the storyboard explaining what will happen in each scene and what types of camera shots we will use ( close up, longshots, cutterways etc.) We concluded that this method worked well for both of us as it entitled our work to be in intact condition and in order. It also helped us as we could then go back and add more to our script etc without publishing it whereas if everything was in random order it would be more confusing for us to work from. We completed all of our items in 2 days ready for monday as Miss Nair could see what Shazleen and I had completed over that period, in which then led us to an induction to the equipment in which we were going to use for filming.

3. What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it? What did you learn about using the cameras? Here you can also refer to the discussions we have had in class recently about digital cameras

After we had finished the pre-production of the prelim task we then had to push on and start filming, therefore we need to know some information on the types of equipment/technology that we need to use and how in what ways they are effective when filming. Mr Cohen gave an induction to the whole class introducing to us the equipment which were the tripod and the camera and then briefly touching on the program 'adobe premiere pro' on how to editing the film after when it is completed. I learnt how to set up the camera on the tripod in which way it slots in and how it is placed, how a spirit level makes our shots straight, how to insert a battery and a recording tape, how lighting of the location will alter on the final film lighting on the camera, how to set up a tripod and many more. The most important thing we learnt is how to treat the equipment foreshadowing that we were responsible for using it at all times in which it had to be with us for heath and safety reasons and also theft in the school as this type of equipment is very expensive. After this he then told us how to record effectively for example we learnt that you can record all the takes in different orders in the availability of the location and also its advisable to film all of the takes so you have a wider range to pick from when it comes to the editing process where you can cut the best shots and cut the worst ones.

4) What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?
The factors in which we had to take into account when planning, shooting and editing where location and time management. By when planning location and shooting the both of us had to check the availability if the area whether or not the room was free for all of our shots, our cast if they were available or not which was an issue in the end as they could not attend on the last day of filming we had to compromise and use the people in our own class. Addition to this we also had to take into account the types of film techniques such as 'match on action' where the continuity of our shots had to match on to the next, we immediately got the hang of it as it was just basic common sense and also rule of thirds used separating the most important parts of the shot and also catching a glimpse of the scenes surroundings. When planning we both had to picture what scenes would be best suitable in our heads and improve our improvisation when it actually came to the storyboard process, in which shazleen and I also found very useful. Following on to our editing process how well it would flow into the next scenes for example as we had several different takes and some long and short scenes as then coming to editing we need the continuity be consistent.

5) How successful was your sequence? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight, what would you improve/do differently?

Our sequence was successful because first of all we both worked well together, we got on with the task at hand with no problems. We completed all deadlines for location and we listening well in class, completed the storyboard on time etc. We had a range of ideas that we had so we sat down and listened to them and didn't finish until the best idea was approved by the both of us. The topic that we had chosen made our sequence good as we had more common grounds with it as test papers and cheating is what we can mostly all relate to. In our pair we went over all he different shots until we were both satisfied with and then cleaned it up with the editing software also made it good by adding different effects. There were many issues that we came across with in with we solved them together and came up with a solution for these which also helped us with the sequence. The shots we used were of a variety ranging from cutterway, longshots etc which made it more interested for the audience. In future hindsight we would spend our time wisely as on the last day we found ourselves rushing and wasting time because our cast didn't show up, so for next time we should arrange our cast members more efficiently.



6) What have you learnt from completing the task? Discuss time management skills, group work skills, organizational skills and technical skills of production.


From completing the task I have learnt that filming a short scene is very challenging, there are many different elements in which you have to do pre-production and many different techniques in which you have to use to suit the audience. Furthermore I also familiarized myself in how to use a camera( different shots,angles etc.) and why and the different places of film that they are used. The significance of using them also as for example if the spirit level on the tripod is not in the circle then the shots would appear titled on the final version. In addition the significance of the 180 degree shot as it could hinder the continuity of the rest of the shots The health and safety procedures of using a camera and a tripod also featured in this task etc. Following on I have bettered my knowledge by using teamwork and how to organise myself efficiently and plan more quickly and effectively. Also editing I have now familiarized myself a little bit more as i found it a bit confusing at first but now I have caught the hang of it and then I will be editing in the main task.



7) Post production - What did you learn about the editing process? How did you make decisions while editing? How did you plan your time to complete the editing task? What were your strengths and weaknesses in this area? What would you do differently next time? 


When it came to post production I learnt that editing is the most important thing of production as it will depend on whether the film for example shooting. This entitled us to cut the parts that we didn't need or even lengthen or even shorten shots. We also learnt a range of different effects that we could add to our sequence to make it more appealing to the audience. Editing the prelim task was every time consuming as we had many different types of shots that we wanted to use, but we had to pick the best one to make sure that the continuity was right for the shot also. To edit we took it in turns to add our own bits in the film in which helped us more to communicate with each other and it made us feel that it wasn't just one person's film it was the both of ours in which he constantly had to approve by the both of us. The time in which we had was is that we did everything in lesson which is what we had done for most of the prelim task. Next time would maybe ask for feedback on effects and the overall sequence and see what could be done to be imporoved etc.