Evaluation Question 7

1. id
By A
th
Smi
an
Evaluation Q
uestion 7:
What do yo
u feel you h
ave
learnt in the
progression
from
it to your fin
al productio
n?

2. What I have learnt
From my prelim work up until my final product I feel
that I have learnt many new skills and developed
current skills to make the best possibly product. Some
of the skills I have developed and improved on are:
- Using Final Cut Express - editing
- Using Photoshop CS6
- Using Garageband – creating my own soundtrack
- Directing and organising a film product

3. Preliminary Work
For the prelim task, it was to create a small continuous
video of someone walking up to a table and talk to
someone. I learnt many new techniques such as the,
Shot Reverse Shot, 180 degree shot, panning and over
the shoulder shots . Using these techniques inspired me
to use them in my own product.
Shots from my Preliminary task – Short film

4. Preliminary Work
I feel that the prelim had helped me a lot as it made me
aware of my time management skills, making sure I had
captured all of the footage for a deadline. It has also
helped with my planning skills by creating a
storyboard, this made it easier for when it came to
filming as I knew what I needed to achieve and how I
would do it.

5. Planning
Before I could create my product, I needed to do a lot of
research. I researched into different types of film
genres as this would determine how my opening
sequence would be produced and the final outcome.
When researching into the genres I also looked up how
different social groups are represented. In the end I had
chosen to do a Hybrid film incorporating the Thriller
and Action genre. Once I had chosen my genre, I looked
into a target audience and found out what they like
about these sorts of films. This helped me a lot for the
production process.

6. Construction
I think that my skills had improved dramatically from
the prelim task to the final product. In my product I
included a much wider variation of shots such as; close
up, panning, over the shoulder, closed framing, opening
framing etc.

7. Construction and Comparison
My preliminary task was a very simple and short task to
allow me to experiment with different camera
techniques. Whereas my final piece took a lot longer
and the duration of it lasts longer.
In my prelim task I focused on
continuity, for example – walking
through the door. In my final product I
managed to achieve the same thing. I
believe that the prelim task had helped
a lot as it helped me to understand
good camera positioning and how I
should have directed the actor so it
looks like a smooth motion.

8. Construction - Editing
I think it is evident that I have improved in my editing
comparing my Preliminary task to my Final Product. I
think that I am much more competent with the editing
as it is very easy to use the Final Cut software, with the
use of two preview screens and the ability to cut
footage down to suit. For example, in my final piece I
have incorporated a lot of quick cutting (antagonist
getting in the car), I feel that I probably wouldn’t have
been able to do this at the beginning of the Unit if it
wasn’t for the Preliminary task – helping me to
understand how clips should be edited to look like a
consistent motion.

9. Construction - Filming
When filming I learnt a lot of new techniques such as:
- How much lighting there should be
- Whether to use a tripod (steady shot) or just use a shoulder
rig/by hand
- Suitable camera angles for the scene (eg. Over the shoulder,
close up etc.)
When filming my preliminary short film I used a
tripod so the camera was steady for the match
on action shots. So in my own product I also
used a tripod. However, I didn’t have two
characters to have a conversation so I couldn’t
use the match on action technique but by using it
in my prelim task, it had helped me understand
the use of a tripod a lot more so I used it for my
final piece.

10. Construction – Lighting & Sound
Due to the preliminary task before a short task I didn’t
have a lot of time to consider lighting and sound within
the film. However, in my final piece I had a lot of time to
consider all of this. I managed to find out what the
conventions are within the selected genre so this made
it easier for me to decide what the lighting and sound
would be like.
- Dark unnatural lighting
- Dark colour scheme
- Tense orchestral music

11. Conclusion
Overall, I feel that I have learnt a lot through out this
project and I will no doubt carry these skills on into A2
media but also for the future (University and future
jobs), I am very pleased with how my product turned
out.
My Final Product – SEIZED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_NY7g060tM#t=32