1. What planning did you do for your filming task, and how did this planning aid in the filming?


To begin with, we planned the storyline for our filming task deciding what dilemma/characters etc we were going to include. We came to a decision that we would have an evil twin dilemma whereby a man walks in to a room and finds his evil twin in shock. Furthermore, we planned out a storyboard where we included all the different shots we were going to use in our film. This would help us further when we started to film, however we would be able to change it where we thought would be best. In addition, we planned out a shooting map, where we included the position of cameras/characters etc. David produced this on Ed excel and finally made it in to a paint document so we were able to upload it on to our blogs. This planning helped us further in the filming task as it helped us to have a guide to our storyline so we were able to produce costume/cast. Also, the shooting map helped us to position the cameras and cast to where we wanted so we were able to get the best shot possible. Before filming a quick script was produced so that our cast knew roughly what to say, but could improvise also. On the other hand, it may have worked to our benefit more if we produced an accurate script. However, the planning that we created worked perfectly and the outcome was our film.

2. What camera and editing techniques and codes did you use in your film and how do they influence the audience’s understanding of the film? (e.g. camera angles and shot types etc; Match on action, Shot/ reverse shot , 180 degree rule )

The opening shot to our preliminary task shows tracking shot of a pair of feet walking towards the camera as it moves backwards. This lets the audience know a character is soon to be introduced and they are on their way somewhere. We then cut to mid low angle shot of a door handle opening and the character walking in, yet to show his face mainly focusing on his legs. This creates an ambiguity to the character and leaves the audience wondering who he is and where he is going, leaving them on edge.

The scene is then established with a mid/long shot of a room introducing both characters as they meet. This lets the audience know that this is the scene where the film will be set. Next we used the 180 degree rule to show facial expressions and conversation, focusing mainly from the front of their faces. Doing this we cut to a close up of the ‘normal’ mans facial expression, looking suspicious. This connotes more ambiguity towards the other character and the audience may feel suspicious about him also. We then cut to a close up of the other mans facial expression, looking shocked and scared. This creates more suspicion and mystery towards the character and what is going on, leaving the audience to want to know what is going on. However, the audience have a clue to what is going on as the other character looks suspiciously similar to the first character, but with glasses. Furthermore, the camera then cuts back to an establishing shot of the room and two characters – where the first character sits down. We then cut to a text reading ‘moments later’ with French over-voice reading it out. This is an aspect of typical silent film, without the over-voice, which is where we found this inspiration. This creates continuity to the film so it will not confuse the audience. In addition, the camera soon cuts to two characters talking using a mid shot and the 180 degree rule. The conversation between the two engages the audience because they are curious as to what is going on, it may also have a comic value to it. We cut to a mid shot of the ‘evil twin’ on the computer talking back, continuing to use the 180 degree rule. The camera cuts back to mid shot of the first character, showing a typical aspect of filmed conversation as not to confuse the audience but to engage them. We do this until their conversation is over – until we finally finish with the first character finding out the ambiguity of the character as he takes off his glasses using a mid shot, to find that it’s his evil twin. The camera cuts to a close up of the evil twin’s face shocked as he does so and the suspicion is released as the audience finds out what has happened. The shocked face of the first character is brought in to the camera using a close up, where empathy is found in the audience as they are also shocked. The camera then cuts to another text reading fin, another aspect of silent film, and lets the audience know that the film is finished, leaving them to wonder what happened next.




3. How did you use new technologies in your construction, planning and evaluation
(e.g. digital cameras; non-linear editing software; YouTube and blog) and what skills do you have at using this technology? (Strengths and weaknesses. e.g. steady/ shaky camera; variety of shot types; smooth/ clumsy transitions; independence when using technologies…)

The digital camera we used helped us to film the story as we were able to use the camera how we pleased and alter the shots to how we wanted. We tracked the opening shot by putting the camera on a wheelie chair, in replacement for a dolly. It worked perfectly and was very smooth. Furthermore, we were able to use many close ups etc due to the alterations you are able to make with the camera. However, we were unable to use a huge variety of shot types due to our limitation on props to do so. For example, we were unable to use point of view or crane shots as we did not have the equipment to do this. Furthermore, the editing software that we used helped us greatly as we were able to edit the film so that there was a double of the character or his ‘evil twin’. We cropped the two clips together which made our film to be not confusing for the audience. Furthermore, it helped our transitions as we were able to cut from and to different shots and make a good continuity to the film. On the other hand, the lighting on the different shots did not match up perfectly.

YouTube helped us to upload the video so we were able to embed it on to our blogs, which helped to advertise the video and for people to see it. This will work to our benefit as we will get good/bad feedback and be able to improve on our weaknesses so that our films are better in the future.

G321 Preliminary Task Video

Shooting Map