The document discusses various filmmaking practices related to continuity, lighting, storyboarding, shot testing, shot composition, and job roles. It provides examples and definitions for continuity, lighting tests, storyboards/narratives, shot testing, and shot composition. It then ranks different filmmaking practices in order of importance for the job of a film director and provides a rationale. Finally, it discusses various job titles and definitions related to film production.

1. Film Practices and Photography
By Harry T. Docwra

2. Continuity
In terms of filmmaking, continuity is ensuring all of the details in a film or TV show scene are consistent
between shots. Continuity errors often happen in films and TV shows and it is the responsibility of the
production crew (mainly the director) to ensure the continuity of a scene lines up.
Continuity varies from the acting, the actors appearances, the details in the back and foreground, clothing,
lighting and set design.
Continuity is important when it comes to film as it helps the flow of a scene in-between shots
These are some examples of continuity errors in films and tv shows:

3. Lighting Tests
This is where you test the lights to see if they are the right colour, or to find the right position
for the lights to be in for shooting. Its also where you find out how the actors and the
background set looks against the lighting.
Lighting is important as it lights up the set and the type of lighting can tell us what we are
supposed to feel during a scene.

4. Story board/narrative
Storyboard
• A storyboard is the outline of a movie, where every scene/shot is drawn on a piece of paper before the scene is
shot. This is so the crew/director know how the scene is meant to look and how to shoot it.
Narrative
• A film narrative tells the story of a film that tells a fictional or fictionalized story or event. It tells the events of the
film any style of narrative the writer wishes.

5. Shot Testing
A test shot or a series of test shots are photographs or videos taken before the
principal photography has begun. This is to determine the correct angle,
exposure, lighting levels and DOF (Depth of field) that is required for the shot
you are about to shoot.

6. Shot Composition
Shot composition is the way all the elements of a scene are arranged in the
camera frame and the arrangement of visual elements to produce an intended
message to the audience. This will be a great way to keep your audience
engaged for longer.

7. Job Role
As a job in the future I would like to be a film director. This is how important each of these uses are in
the the role of it.
1. Storyboarding/narrative
2. Continuity
3. Shot testing
4. Shot composition
5. Lighting Tests

8. Importance Rationale
I have ranked these in this particular order because;
1. It is important to figure out a way to tell a story before anything.
2. It is also important to ensure the continuity of a scene is intact because otherwise the scene will look
lazily filmed.
3. Experimenting with shots is important so you know how exactly the shot is going to look and how to
film it and whether or not you like the shot.
4. Arranging the shot into the way you want it can help improve any symbolism behind it.
5. With lighting tests you can arrange how you are going to light your scene and how it will reflect the
mood of it.

9. Task 4; Job titles and definitions
Producer
• A producer is responsible for the financial and managerial aspects of the film.
Director
• The director of the film leads the films entire creative process, directs the actors in the film, oversees all of the films creative departments assembles the
production crew and cast and creates a vision for the film.
Casting director
• The casting director assists the director in hiring actors for the movie.
Screenwriter
• A screenwriter writes the script for the film, from their own original idea or adapting an already existing text.
Production designer
• The production designer handles all the visual elements of the film(set design, props, etc) and runs through them with the director.

10. Task 4; Job titles and definitions
Production coordinator
• The production coordinator works with the line producer and production manager and is responsible for executing plans such as; renting locations,
equipment, catering and bringing the actors to the set.
Art director
• The art director execute the visual style of animation. They start by looking through the script with the director to understand the vision for the product
then create their designs and determine the mood, tone and colour palettes.
Costume designer
• The costume designer works with the director and is responsible for the clothes the actors/characters wear in the film.
Cinematographer
• -or “director of photography” is responsible for all the camerawork in and commands the camera crew.
Lighting director
• The lighting director executes the colour, texture and mood of the film or tv show. They use multiple lighting effects to direct our attention to the action
and enhance or reduce the brightness of a scene.

11. Task 4; Job titles and definitions
Editor
• The film editor is given all the footage from the production and is in charge of putting all of the videos into a
coherent sequence.
Music Supervisor
• The music supervisor checks the rights to any pre-existing recordings/songs in the film.
Hair/makeup
• The makeup artist takes care of the makeup of all the actors in the film, and works with the key hairstylist.
• The hair stylist oversees the characters hairstyle designs and styling the actors hair on set.
Distributor
• The distributor gets films and tv shows onto tv or into the cinema. Distribution executives look at film markets
where they look at and acquire films from production companies.

12. Task 4; Job titles and definitions-Shared
Responsibilities
• The producer and director work together to gather up the films cast and work on its creative details.
Although the director is in charge of the films creative vision the producer will sometimes offer
creative input.
• The screenwriter of the film also has a part to play in the films creativity, they will work with the
director to decide what kind of decisions will be made in the films plot.
• The director and the cinematographer will work together in order to structure the shot and work out
the camera movements.

13. Task 5; Legal definitions
Libel
• A libel is a false statement or written communication that is damaging to someone's reputation.
Justification
• A justification is the act of showing something is right or reasonable.
Discrimination law
• Discrimination is treating someone unfairly because of their background, identity or because of their own certain characteristics.
Defamation Law
• Defamation is the publication of false statement that has caused or could possibly cause harm to a persons reputation.
Slander
• Slander is making false and potentially damaging reputation.

14. Task 5; Legal definitions
Contempt
• Contempt is offending or disobeying the rules of court and its officers.(E.g. Filming in court)
Copyright
• Copyright is the exclusive and legal right to release, record, perform any sort of media material,
Children and young persons
• You are unable to hire children or anyone under the age of 18 without the consent of their parents/guardians.
Procedural codes
• The procedural law is the rules of court which ensures what happens in civil, criminal or administrative proceedings.
Regulations
• Regulation are official rules that have the certain authority to control within the areas of responsibility.
Product placement
• Also referred to as embedded marketing, product placement a form of marketing practice that that manufacturers gain exposures for their products by
paying for them to be featured in films and tv shows.

15. Task 5; Legal definitions
Moral issues
• Moral issues are actions that have the ability to harm or assist others. The moral issue can be part of something good or bad.
Treatment of sensitive topics
• Treatment of sensitive topics is the method of ensuring that the themes that are discussed don’t offend or upset anyone who has
been effected
Diversity and inclusion
• D&I means accepting all individuals as who they are and what they believe and accepting differences between other people and
yourself.
Privacy and intrusion
• The right of a certain individual to have their personal life protected against any form of intrusion from unwanted persons or
publications.

16. Task 5; Legal definitions
Industry codes of practice
• These abide to subjects such as copyright, health and safety, location permission and Regulatory bodies
Objectivity
• In terms of contracts, the intentions of certain parties are judged their words and “objective” meaning.
Accuracy
• In terms of law, accuracy means a term of agreement a served and recognised values.
Confidentiality
• Confidentiality is sacred information that is kept between the lawyer and his client
Union
• A union is a society of people all with common interests or intentions.
Acknowledgements/credits
• Acknowledging the work someone has put in to a product and crediting their name.

17. Task 7; Sweets research
In my film, the main character is trying to grab a sweet from the boy next to him. I wont be using
any specific brand of sweets, however I will be getting a pick n’ mix bag from the shop and fill it
with random sweets.
Pick n’ Mix
The idea of Pick n’ Mix was originated from Frank Winfield Woolworth in 1886 in the U.S.A and
was used to advertise sweets. The brand soon became popular in the United Kingdom in 1909, with
its first UK store opened in Liverpool. Woolworth imported sweets from New York to fill up the
shop and by 1930 had become the most dominant confectionary shop in the U.K. As well as sweets
the shops also sold ice cream, which was special because during this time period, most shoppers (or
most of the country for that matter) didn’t have any access to refrigeration in their homes.

18. Task 7; Genre Research
My film is a short comedy with a valuable lesson behind it about trying again if you don’t succeed the first time, which I
think is a good serious story that can be well worked into a comedy film.
The first short comedy film (or comedy film at all for that matter) was a french film called L’Arroseur Arrosé, which
translates to “The Sprinkler Sprinkled”, released in 1895 and created by brothers Louis Lumière and Augusta Lumière.
It is very short and only has one gag in it; a gardener is using a hose and then a boy comes along and stands on the
hose, stopping it from working. The gardener looks down to hose and then the boy takes his foot of and causing the
gardener to spray himself in the face. So, the film uses slapstick comedy, which was very common with new comedy
films that were coming out around that time.

19. Task 7; Genre Research
• To understand my audience and what they like more when they are watching a comedy I created a
survey that they can answer. These are the responses;

20. Task 7; Genre Research-Survey Reflection
1. From the first question of my survey I can see that their favourite comedy films were, “A Night in Casablanca”, “Grown Ups” and “Popstar-Never Stop
Stopping”. The first film mentioned here is an old film from the 1940s. Grown ups and Popstar are both films from the 21st century (2010s in fact). From
these answers I can infer that most of my audience will prefer more modern day comedy films than old ones. To appeal to this audience my film could include
similar aspects to modern comedy films, like cinematography, jokes and storylines.
2. In the second question to my audience survey I asked what their favourite type of comedy was. The answers were “Witty”, “dark” and “Witty, unexpected and
well timed”. From these answers I can infer that the majority of my audience will potentially like witty humour the most (as they are both the most frequently
mentioned in the responses). In a way to appeal to this audience I will include some form of witty-like humour in my film where possible.
3. In my third and final question on my survey, I asked my audience what they look for in good comedy story. The answers I received were “Comical situations
arising from what would usually be regarded as boring or not comical.” “Adam Sandler” and “ Satire and well placed comedy. Witty jokes and s good story”. This
tells me many different things about what my audience want to see. One of the ones I think is the most interesting is the one that just says “Adam Sandler” and
nothing else. Adam Sandler stars in a lot of slapstick humour films, so I can include some slapstick and witty humour to help appeal to this audience, as well as
satire and witty humour.

21. Task 7; Genre Research-Personal experience.
One of my favourite comedy films is The Death of Stalin (Dir. Armando
Iannucci). It is a political satire comedy that showcases funny incidents
happening around real world events. There aren’t really any punchlines to the
jokes, they are how people actually would act in these situations and bring out
the humour of said situations without constantly shouting one-liners.
If it was able to fit the brief I personally would’ve liked to recreate this humour
in my film but I don’t think I will be able to.

22. Task 8
1. Justification (of film’s content) &
Moral issues
2. Copyright
3. Procedural codes (logging and
classifying medical interventions)
4. Regulations
5. Product placement
6. Diversity and inclusion
7. Privacy and intrusion &
Confidentiality
8. Industry codes of practice
9. Acknowledgements/credits.
1. The character will be trying to steal sweets from another character for the entire length of the movie,
this is done simply for the plot and comedy aspect of the film.
2. I will use royalty free if any to avoid any copyright strikes in my film.
3. If anyone were to get hurt on set, I would have to log any preventions that could have been used on
set.
4. If anyone were to break the rules on set, or fail at their responsibility, they would be fired from set
and/or replaced.
5. The sweets I am using in the film are going to be brandless, although they will be in a Pick n’ Mix bag.
6. My cast will be all white males due to the lack of availability to diversity.
7. I will not share any phone numbers or any other personal information of my cast and crew.
8. I will copyright my film so it isn’t stolen or used by somebody else, as well as ensure the set is safe for
the actors to work in.
9. I will credit all individuals who are involved in the making of the film.

23. Task 8 - Examples
1. Someone could potentially be offended by the act of stealing in the film (possibly from personal experience).
2. Someone could make or steal a copy of my film and claim it as their own work.
3. If someone tripped over a wire, I would have to explain why that wire was there and how it could have been moved.
4. Someone could be performing reckless and irresponsible behaviour on set, causing damage to equipment. This would result in them being fired from
production and they would not be allowed on set any longer.
5. Studios are sometimes paid money by product companies to include a scene where a character uses something that exists in real life.
6. If I had access to a more diverse cast of actors I would include them in my film, but sadly my film will consist of two white males as its full cast.
7. If in the credits I revealed personal details of my fellow actor(s) an untrustworthy member (or members) of the public could try to contact him or reach
him consistently, intruding on his life.
8. If someone tried to steal the film or if someone was injured on set both incidents could be taken to court.
9. If I forgot to credit someone in the film that person could be upset and/or could decide to sue for credit.