2. ∗ As part of your preliminary task you want an area
where you can keep all your research together.
∗ You will need to plan and prepare your short clip
before you beginning filming.
Creating a Blog
http://cmdiplomayasmin.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/preliminary-exercise.html
5. ∗ The preliminary task for this brief requires an understanding of
continuity, which is fundamental principle of moving image
production.
∗ Watching a film or TV programme tends to be a fairly effortless
pleasure because continuity is normally secured by producers
following the conventions of the ‘classical realist text’.
∗ As long as continuity rules are followed, plot and story can unfold in
such a way that the audience can assume what happens in between
each shot or sequence.
Continuity
6. ∗ The preliminary task requires you to produce a piece of film in which a
character opens a door, walks across a room and sits down in a chair
opposite another character and exchanges two sentences of
conversation.
∗ There are three continuity principles to observe in this exercise:
1. Match on action
2. Shot reverse shot
3. 180 degree rule.
Principles of Continuity
www.Asmedialouise.wordpress.com
7. ∗ Match on action means that when something happens in
the scene then when there is a cut the same piece of
action must be going on. This is an example of continuity
editing and is very important in helping the audience
continually understand exactly what is happening
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv93covb53w
Match on Action
Production Tip:
To use this technique, cut from one shot to another view that matches the action
and pace of the first shot. This creates an impression of continuity although you may
have filmed the shots weeks apart. If a character begins an action in the first shot
and completes it in the next, a visual ‘bridge’ is created which acts to disguise the
cut from one to the other.
8. ∗ Shot reverse shot is a film technique where one character is
shown looking at another character and then the other
character is shown looking back at the first character. Since
the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the
viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.
∗ Shot reverse shot is a feature of the "classical" Hollywood
style of continuity editing
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gIdceyd1L8
Shot reverse shot
9. ∗ A technique used in filmmaking regarding two characters in a
scene.
∗ It is a part of continuity editing.
∗ It is used as to not confuse the audience.
∗ The rule is sometimes deliberately broken by the Director to
create an effect – usually to create some sort of disorientation.
180 Degree rule
10. ∗ The camera cannot “jump over” an imaginary line drawn
between two characters or objects.
∗ The camera can go anywhere on one side of the line, but not
the other.
∗ The line can only be crossed for effect.
∗ If the line must be crossed there needs to be a shot in between
to avoid confusing the audience.
180 Degree rule
11. ∗ The camera may only be placed anywhere on the green side of
the imaginary line (axis).
180 Degree rule
The man in orange will
always be on the left side
of the frame if the line isn’t
crossed.
12. ∗ It is clear to see here that when the line
isn't crossed that the red piece will always
be on the left side of the frame.
∗ Images 1, 2 and 3 are all on the same side
of the line, and couldn’t be used in
sequence with image 4 unless the Director
is using it for effect.
180 Degree rule
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdyyuqmCW14
13. ∗ In Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” the character
Gollum has a conversation with himself - his “evil side”
and his “good side”. It is used to emphasise Gollum’s duel
personality.
Filmic Example
14. ∗ The 180 degree rule is also broken in Stanley Kubrick’s
film “The Shining” in order to create disorientation
within the audience.
Filmic Example
15. ∗ You need to now use your knowledge and examples from last lesson to
explain what continuity is and why it is needed.
1. What is continuity?
2. Why is it important? What effect does it have?
3. What are the 3 techniques used in order to create smooth continuity?
4. Example – YouTube clip/screen shot images.
5. What happens if they are not used properly? – examples?
Title = Preliminary Task
17. ∗ You need to now use your knowledge and examples from last lesson to
explain what continuity is and why it is needed.
1. What is continuity?
2. Why is it important? What effect does it have?
3. What are the 3 techniques used in order to create smooth continuity?
4. Example – YouTube clip/screen shot images.
5. What happens if they are not used properly? – examples?
Title = Preliminary Task
19. ∗ Level 1 0–7 marks
∗ • Planning and research evidence will be incomplete;
∗ • There is minimal research into similar products and a potential
target audience;
∗ • There is minimal organisation of actors, locations, costumes
or props;
∗ • There is minimal work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting
or storyboarding;
∗ • There is minimal care in the presentation of the research and
planning;
∗ • Time management may be very poor.
Planning
20. ∗ Level 4 16–20 marks
∗ Planning and research evidence will be complete and detailed;
∗ There is excellent research into similar products and a
potential target audience;
∗ There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes
or props;
∗ There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting
or storyboarding;
∗ There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the
research and planning;
∗ Time management is excellent.
Planning:
22. ∗ Post ‘production meeting minutes’. If
you have a conversation with your group about your
opening sequence, that counts as planning. Who was
there? What was said? What did you decide? How did
you arrive that that decision? What were the other
options? Why were they rejected?... during your
evaluation you will need to account for your creative
decisions, so writing them down now will help you.
Planning
23. ∗ Write a treatment. That’s your idea for the
sequence written down as a shot by shot account of
what your sequence will look like.
Planning
24. ∗Script– this should be written in the correct
format – see me or follow this link for the right
approach to your script… you must write one even if
there’s no dialogue
Planning
25. ∗Storyboard– this should be at least 15 panels
and also follow correct conventions which essentially
means including clip duration, transition/editing
notes, camera direction (movement, angle etc) and a
description of the action.
Planning
26. ∗Shot list – unlike the storyboard this is a checklist of
each and every shot you will need for your sequence. If you
are shooting a conversation for example you will need the
whole thing from at least three different angles (master
shot including both characters, and over the shoulder shot
of character A, and an over the shoulder shot of character B
– then you might get creative and include a low angle or
canted angle to give you options in the edit)… all of these
will appear on the shot list so you don’t forget on the day.
Planning
27. ∗Production schedule – this should be a
detailed account of when you will shoot and edit the
sequence and who will be required on which days.
Planning
28. ∗ Production updates – whenever you
make some progress (when you produce the
storyboard or script or logo etc) update the blog –
has it been done to the required standard? How does
it help move the production forward? Have you learnt
anything useful along the way?
Planning
29. ∗Test shots – if you are ready to shoot – but don’t have
your actor/costume/location or can’t shoot the real thing for
any other reason, do some camerawork/editing practice. Use
each other or use any available person to stand in as one of
your actors and test your storyboard ideas with a few test
shots… these can then be used to test out colour correction or
special effects in Premiere Pro – these can be posted to the
blog… both I and the moderator will be very impressed with
your commitment to improving your production skills!
Planning
30. ∗Location Recce – grab a camera, go to a couple of
potential location where you want to shoot and photograph
them. You post these to your blog with a couple of notes on
how you might use the location, any problems you may
encounter. Consider the time of day you want to use it, what
the light will be like, what other people/traffic might be
around… is it on a flight-path, for example, with airplanes
going overhead every 5 minutes? (that will create sound-
mixing havoc in the edit!)
Planning
31. ∗Props/costumes list. You may well
decide to just use whatever costumes your actors
turn up in, but you’ll get a better mark for
demonstrating some prior thought to it… record your
ideas for what characters should be wearing, what
make-up you might need, what props you will need
and how you will source them… (remember – no
guns/knives/weapons in public places!!!)
Planning
32. ∗Soundtracks – start looking for appropriate
royalty-free soundtracks. Write a post on what mood
you want to create with the soundtrack, find a few
and post these to the blog. You will find a couple of
links in the left sidebar of this blog under ‘useful links’
Planning
33. ∗Lastly – A-grade coursework productions will
necessarily have comprehensive planning. While
quality of your work is the most important thing,
quantity is the very first thing I and the moderator will
consider – if you want an A-grade (in your
coursework), around 50 blog posts across the whole
project including the production and evaluation
would be considered a minimum for you to achieve
this.
Planning
