The document discusses what the author has learned from their preliminary task to the full product. They learned about adhering to the 180 degree rule, relying less on technology and watching shots back, choosing fewer varied shots, using color contrast effectively, pacing, controlling outside sound, adding a soundtrack, giving more thought to setting and mise-en-scene, and filming enough footage. Overall, the author feels they have improved their skills and helped produce a stronger film opening for the full product compared to the preliminary task.

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

2. Overview
 I feel I have learnt
a huge amount
since the
Preliminary Task, I
was actually quite
surprised when
looking back at
our Preliminary
Task to see how
much our skills
have developed!

3. 180 Degree Rule
 Adhering to the 180 degree
rule is something I have
certainly improved on. In
the Preliminary Task we
broke the rule and as a
result had to re-shoot, this
at the time was incredibly
frustrating. However this
time round we didn’t break
the rule, perhaps breaking
it was a blessing in
disguise, it goes to show
that I developed my
understanding of the rule
during this task.

4. Technology
 Another thing I have learned is how we
can’t heavily rely on technology! In the
Preliminary Task we had a problem
where our first shoot failed due to
sound not being picked up, this was
because the microphone was not
working properly. This taught me that
you have to watch back your shots,
making sure they are all right. That way
you would realise if you had done
something wrong. This was a lesson I
learned and we applied it to the main
task, we would frequently watch back
what we had filmed, just to make sure it
was what we wanted.

5. Choosing Shots
 One thing I have also learned is that not such a huge
variety of shots is needed, sometimes in certain
genres less shots are more professional and
conventional. Looking back at my Preliminary Task, I
realised that we used quite a few shots, whether
they were Long Shots, Extreme Long shots, Close-
Ups or anything else. However we felt in our main
piece a less variance of shots was needed, this
prompted us in editing to focus on what looked best,
not editing in a way that meant our shots were all
varied. I think looking at our main task, the choice of
shots is much better.

6. Preliminary Task Shots

7. Main Task Shots

8. Colour
 The use of colour is something
else that I’ve learned a lot
about. If you look at our
Preliminary Task, no thought
whatsoever was put into colour!
However for our main task, we
used colour to create a contrast
between Aaron Allen and the
Politician. We used black and
white for Aaron Allen and
normal for the Politician. I have
learnt colour can be especially
important in thriller films, the
use of colours like black can
designate someone shady and
mysterious, we have used this
for our opening.

9. Pace
 Pace is another area that I’ve
learnt is an important part.
Our first rough cut was very
slow paced, it didn’t fit in with
the thriller genre at all. We
realised this and had to shoot
again, this time with more
shots to allow a greater pace
to the edit. Then our second
cut was deemed to slow as
well, then we got yet more
shots. The criticism was
correct however, looking back
on it making it quicker was a
key moment in our progress.

10. Outside Sound
 The use of sound is another thing that I realised is
very important. In our Preliminary Task we filmed in a
place where many people would walk through the
setting, this caused frustration, it took us twice as
long to film than it should’ve done due to the
disruption. We knew that for the main task we
needed to make sure there was no background
noise, so we chose a very secluded setting, this
meant that there wasn’t any sound that we didn’t
need.

11. Soundtrack
 Using a soundtrack also helped us to make the piece
more conventional. As our Preliminary Task was
about half a minute, there was no need for a
soundtrack, however with our piece being a film
opening and also being over 2 minutes in length, it
meant that we had to put in a soundtrack. Our
soundtrack was a stylised one, it helped us to make
the film opening sound more like a thriller. This was
through the soundtrack matching the pace of our
opening and how the soundtrack built up in
suspense, something conventional of thriller
soundtracks.

12. Setting
 The setting of the product is also something I’ve
learnt about. The significance of the setting is
something I’ve learnt through doing this task. For the
Preliminary Task our setting wasn’t given much
thought, looking back on this it is clear we seemed to
use quite a boring location (although we did have to
change). We decided to give the setting more
thought for our main task, our results were that we
would use a setting we could make look like a
government agent’s house or some room that he
would do some activities. We put a lot of work into it,
this included finding a light bulb to make the right
amount of brightness in our piece. Looking at our
main task, the setting is one of the main advantages
to it.

13. Contrast of Setting

14. Mise-En-Scene
 Perhaps the thing that I’ve learnt
the most about is how important
mise-en-scene is. Whether it is
creating records and certificates
or even just sticking a logo on a
wall, it is all important. Mise-en-
scene gives the audience clear
ideas about things like setting,
time periods and more. Looking
back at the Preliminary Task, not
much thought was put in to it,
however looking at the main task
I have learnt how important mise-
en-scene is to the product.

15. Filming Enough Footage
 Perhaps the most frustrating part of our piece was
how we didn’t film enough footage. We had to shoot
four separate occasions for our main task. This
wasn’t as many as other groups, however looking
back we should’ve got filming done quicker. This has
meant that our final edit isn’t 100% how we would
like it, a couple of shots are too long, but it is close
enough. This was one area where we didn’t work so
well as a group as there was a lot of indecision over
what to film, but we got there in the end and were
pleased with our overall result.

16.  Overall I have learnt a large
amount during the transition
from the Preliminary Task to
the main task. I feel the skills
that I have developed or
picked up in this time has
helped me to be part of a
group which has produced a
strong film opening.