In their preliminary task, the students shot a short scene using a basic camcorder. For their final film, they had more freedom and used a more advanced camera. They learned how to use different camera settings, angles, and shots. They also improved their editing skills in Final Cut by learning more tools and getting better at managing their time. While they carried over techniques like match-on-action from the preliminary, they developed their skills in areas like camera operation, shot variety, and moving shots.

1. Looking back
at your
preliminary
task, what do
you feel you
have learnt in
the
progression
from it to the
final product?
EVALUATION PART 7

2.  In our Preliminary, our brief was a continuity task, and only
required a short amount of footage, where a character walked
into a room, sat down, spoke a few lines of dialogue with
another character, and then left. We needed to show we knew
how to work a camera and use a few basic skills, such as
match-on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.
WHAT BRIEF WERE YOU WORKING TO?

3.  In this brief, it was less specific, and was simply to create the
first two minutes of a full feature-length film, complete with a
title sequence, and the beginning of the plot. We had more
freedom to do what we wished in terms of effects, length of
dialogue and cinematography.

4.  In our Preliminary Task, we used a smaller and more simple
Panasonic Camcorder, compared to the larger and more
complicated Sony HD1000 we used for the shooting of our film.
Since the Sony HD1000 camera was a large step upwards from the
Camcorder we used originally, we learnt how to use a larger camera
with a wider range of settings and features, and how to overcome
it’s large and harder to control size. In the end, we achieved and
learnt a lot about how to use different camera angles.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU HAVE
LEARNT SINCE THE PRELIMINARY?

5.  The most important tool we learnt
in Final Cut from the Preliminary
is the cut tool, which is essential
for trimming the clips down, and
getting rid of all the unnecessary
parts.
 An important thing I learnt is time
management, and keeping on
track of the work. This became
evident that I needed to improve
when editing the clips from the
preliminary.

6.  When editing the preliminary task, we found it more difficult
since it was first time using the program Final Cut. During our
second time using it, we knew more about the tools and
features that would help us edit our clips.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOTTEN BETTER AT?
We have used the editing technique of match-on action
and we have improved our skills in this area to make
them flow better and retain continuity.

7. We have increased the
variety of our shots, and
have now included
everything from extreme
long shots to extreme
close-ups.
In our Preliminary, we only used stationary
shots, where the camera did not move. With
our film, we also used moving camera shots,
such as establishing shots and tracking
shots.

8.  Much of our methods we used in our film we carried over from
the preliminary task, as we found learnt a lot. However, there
are a few things we developed:
> The type of camera we used
 Using different settings on the camera, e.g. using manual
focus instead of
 Using different styles of shots
HAVE YOU USED ANY DIFFERENT
METHODS?