The document discusses what was learned from completing a preliminary planning and filming task. Key lessons included: 1) Effective planning requires organizing shots, locations, and equipment needs to make vague ideas more concrete and achievable. 2) Experience using various filming and editing equipment builds comfort and knowledge of how to capture the best footage and create polished end products. 3) Editing teaches the importance of continuity both in filming and editing, and how to manipulate footage into a polished, professionally-paced final video. 4) Strong planning is needed to effectively link ideas to concrete work in practice, especially regarding shot organization, locations, and maintaining a coherent narrative.

1. Preliminary Task
Evaluation

2. What have I learnt about planning?
 The opening part of the planning experience was of course coming up with ideas for the project.
We were offered a choice between producing a 30 second advert combating movie-piracy or a 2
minute anti-smoking film. As a group we opted for the anti-smoking film, feeling that it would
provide a wider-range of choice due to having a longer running time. It also allowed us to use more
complex ideas. This was a relatively straight forward decision and didn’t provide much of a
challenge. The next stage of the ideas process was coming up with a full script. This threatened to
provide a challenge as there were various ideas flung around the group however we decided to
merge aspects of these ideas to produce our final ideas and script.
 Next came the actual planning of the filming of our idea. The first, and easiest, part of this process
was the before mentioned script. The next stage was producing a story-board and organising
shots. Whilst we were coming up with ideas our extensive exposure and experience of motion-
picture and television meant we had a clear understanding of what shots looked good and would
work, however the storyboard provided the challenge of organising these shots, giving them an
order, and making them workable on paper. The organisation of our shots was by far the most
difficult part of the whole preliminary task and has taught us how to plan in a more organised
fashion, to know exactly what we want and make vague ideas more concrete and workable. Being
more organised with our ideas was really our main stumbling block throughout the planning
process.
 The most important lesson learnt from the above challenges was that for our main task we should
take more care into having a clear idea for our locations and our requirements for filming. We
should have a more realistic and achievable mise-en-scene in mind as our resources are not
unlimited.

3. What have I learnt about using equipment?
 During the preliminary task myself and the group had to work with loads of
different equipment for both editing and filming. These included cameras,
microphones, tripods, final cut and boom poles. During the preliminary the
group has learnt to become comfortable with the equipment and learnt how
to get the best results from them. An example of this would be learning to
use the movement of the tripod to create more complex and visually effective
camera shots.
 The use of equipment in the preliminary was vital as it allows us to enter any
future tasks with a deeper knowledge of our tools and therefore will be able
to use them effectively.
 During the preliminary task I also learnt the weaknesses and strengths of
cameras and microphones and where they are most effective. For example,
in future should I want a scene heavy in dialect I would prefer an indoor
shoot as the wind interferes with sound whilst outdoors. Without this piece of
knowledge I may have had to present a main task that lacked
professionalism as the quality of my sound would damage the overall
film/video.

4. What have I learnt about Editing?
 During editing I learnt how to fully manipulate video to work
the way I want it, i.e. cutting clips up to create a fast paced
scene, also combining music to add to the whatever feeling I
am trying to create. This will be effective during editing for
future tasks.
 Also, the editing experience showed me the issues that arise
when trying to put together a scene filmed from various
angles. The issues I saw will help me achieve more continuity
during editing next time by improving my filming and focusing
on tiny details that could have a significant impact of my
project. Overall, editing showed me how important continuity
was and familiarised me with the challenges of turning
something of filmed on camera into a professional and
effective piece of media. This experience will be helpful during
the stages prior to editing for future tasks.
 Editing also helped me learn to use an Apple Mac, a computer
I was not very experienced with, more effectively and learn to
get the most out of its capabilities.

5. What have I learnt about linking theory to
practice?
 The short piece on planning in the previous slide went
over the difficulties I had with linking ideas and theory to
practice and into concrete pieces of work. What I’ve
learnt about this link is to be more careful when planning
and to think over as many details as possible, especially
with regards to location and mise-en-scene. I also learnt
that it is important to carefully plan shots alongside with
the script as a well though of narrative but a lack of
organisation in terms of camera shots and angles leads
to a slow and inefficient filming procedure. This damages
the quality of finished film you have to work with and
therefore the editing process is also effected. All in all
when it comes to linking theory to practice I feel that
more planning and detailed thought is required for future
tasks.