1) The group encountered some minor issues with recording, such as forgetting the 180 degree rule, but quickly adjusted. They also struggled with over-the-shoulder shots due to limited camera space. 2) When editing, the group had difficulty rendering the video and uploading it to their blogs, taking multiple attempts and cutting out the end of the audio on one clip. 3) Overall, the group worked well collaboratively, deciding roles efficiently and learning how to use the equipment and editing software quickly. They completed the entire preliminary task within two lessons.

1. Preliminary Task Review
By Harry Lewis

2. How many mistakes did you make?
• When recording our preliminary task we encountered little
problems with the recording, easily doing our match on
action shots. While in the heat of all of this though we
forgot about the 180 degree rule. However, we realised this
mistake quickly and made sure we adjusted our filming to
correctly do the 180 degree rule.
• We found some difficulty with setting up the over the
shoulder camera shots finding it hard to set up the camera
to record over Gabs’ shoulder to record me. This was due to
us not leaving enough room for the camera and tripod.
• When editing our preliminary task we found difficulty to
render the video and upload to our blogs. It took us
multiple attempts to render successfully yet still our audio
cuts out at the very end of the clip.

3. How did you manage the group dynamics
and collaborative natural film making?
As a group we were all able to work really well together, being quick, efficient
and effective. It didn’t take us long at all to decide Jess would do the
camerawork while me and Gabs stared in the prelim (we did this with no
hassle). When we started to record we got everything done very quickly and
hardly needed to retake shots. We all looked at the footage to make sure we
were happy with it and the angles. After this we went on to edit our work
with Adobe Premiere, this as well as a group we picked up on very quickly and
we all took turns editing and agreed with the turn out. I showed Gabs and
Jess effectively how to use the software as in the past I have edited with it
and they got the hang of it really quickly. We finished the whole of our
preliminary task in two lessons which we felt was a good task to have
undertaken and we believe we took it on well.

4. How did you manage the equipment?
We managed the equipment well and effectively, Jess used the camera and
tripod for the main shooting but me and Gabs had a go with the equipment
before hand and checked we were happy with the recordings. We were all
able to use the equipment and new exactly what to do due to being taught in
a previous practical lesson although when starting to record we had a very
slight problem with inserting the tape into the camera. To record the first
scene we used the breaks on the dolly and used the handle to pan me
entering the door at the start – this was done easily without any trouble. We
then had no issues putting the equipment away.

5. How did you manage the deadline?
Originally we were given no deadline but we
completed the task very quickly and effectively
anyway as it took us 2 lessons. I feel as a group
we managed our time very well.

6. Were there any health and safety
logistical problems?
During our recording we had no problems with
health and safety and took all the correct
measures such as putting the camera on the
tripod successfully and putting all the stand
lights up correctly.

7. How did you organise your human
resources?
• As we are all in the same class it was no issue for
us to film and we all got along and decided very
easily on who would act (Gabs and I) while Jess
recorded.
• Due to this task being straight forward and us not
being asked to plan our props and costumes were
limited, we wore what we wore to school and our
only props were table and chairs. I don’t feel that
this affected our performance in any way though.

8. How did your storyboarding and
shooting script work in practice?
• Our storyboard was very basic and as we had
planned out each shot before hand this was easy.
The only change to our storyboard was that we
originally planned the 180 degree rule on the
other side of the room.
• Our script was a very basic conversation,
however we found it challenging sometimes to
remember what we had to say next as we were
recording the conversation in two halves.

9. How successful were you with
managing time?
• As a group I feel I can say we managed time
very effectively as we managed to finish the
whole recording and editing in 2 lessons.
• We were lucky to not encounter any problems
affecting our time management such as faulty
equipment.

10. How did digital technology enable us
to develop creatively?
• We used the software Adobe Premiere 2.0
and as I had used this software before I could
teach my group. I found it made us very
creative compared to a standard software as it
allows many transition and title effects as well
as simple cutting tools. Although all of these
features weren’t necessary for this task we
added in a title at the start with a transition
effect as a little practice.

11. What sort of realism have you
created?
• The realism that we intended to create was a
standard conversation between two friends at
school talking to each other. However, if I were
to record this again I would make the
conversation less formal and try change the
location as sitting at the table seemed to me
to be to formal for a school kid conversation.