1. Sonam Kerai TG9
Evaluation: Preliminary Activity
Our preliminary activity was assigned to us so that we get a basic understanding of our
knowledge of how to use some of the equipment we would need for filming our Thriller
opening sequence. As a group, we were assigned one camera and a tripod between us. This
task was assigned to us so that we get the essential rules of camera rules and also a range of
didn’t camera shots we could possibly use. We were put into groups for this particular task;
the group that we did our preliminary activity would also be the same group that we do our
final thriller piece with. As a group we also made a decision on what we would be called,
everyone in the group contributed in their ideas, we brainstormed and finalised the name, in
the end we came up with ‘Revolve Productions’.
I personally think that I worked effectively in my group, although I also believe that the other
members in my group worked just as effectively and it doesn’t go unnoticed. For the
preliminary activity I was allocated the job of being the cinematographer for the group. My
position consisted of me listening and taking in ideas of what the director wanted and how
he would have liked the scene to be shot and from what angle.
Our organisation skills were extremely good. For our preliminary activity as a group we
created a storyboard. For our preliminary activity, we used a teacher; therefore we had to
work around our teacher’s timetable, so he is available for when we were planning on
filming.
As a group our planning skills were also very good. For our preliminary we brainstormed
each of our ideas together of what we wanted our activity to be about. Everybody in the
group came up with various different ideas and in the end we all settled and agreed on one.
Before we set off to film our task as a group we all sat down and made a storyboard, in the
storyboard we took a picture of what the scene would look like and also gave a little brief
description about the camera shot used in each specific scene. Below you can see our
storyboard:

2. Sonam Kerai TG9
The writing briefly mentions what is going to happen in the scene, and also it clearly
states what type of camera shot it is.
I believe that planning played a crucial part in my groups preliminary. If we did not take the
time out to plan e.g. make storyboards, my groups preliminary would not have been as
effective as it is now. Making our storyboards helped us a lot during filming this is because
we were easily able to refer back to it if we forget what camera shot each scene consisted
of. We also made a script for the actors acting in the scene; this was done so that it would
help them with the dialogue bit of the preliminary. Before we began any sort of filming we
printed out copies of the script to give to the readers in order for them to deliver their lines
correctly, though if they were in the middle of a scene and were unable to memorise their
speech, they were able to improvise. Therefore, I believe that planning in my group went
really well.
The members in my group all have numerous strengths, my strength whilst filming the
preliminary was contributing my ideas to the group to gain more idea suggestions. At the
end of filming our preliminary, I contributed my ideas on the editing area, as well as the
other members.

3. Sonam Kerai TG9
The areas which my group need to improve on for
our thriller film is not breaking any camera rules. In
the preliminary my group broke the 180 degree
rule. The 180 degree rule is an important aspect in
the film industry; the 180 degree refers to keeping
the camera position within the area of 180 degree.
The 180 degree rule is a fundamental guideline and
states that two characters in the same scene should
always have the same left or right relationship to
each other. The 180 degree rule tells us that one
person should always be facing camera left and the
other should always be facing camera right or vice
versa. If the camera passes over the imagery axis, it
is called ‘crossing the line’. On the right hand side,
you can see an illustration of the 180 degree rule.
As we did not follow the fundamental rule of the
180 degree, I think myself and my group will do
everything to ensure that this does not happen in our Thriller film. In order for this not to
happen, we will research and look into reading up on the 180 degree rule.
As I was the cinematographer in the group, I have learnt a lot about how to use a camera to
film. I have learnt what function each button on the camera does to help me to film with
ease and less difficulty. I have also learnt how to use various different camera shots and
framing shots.