1) The preliminary task helped improve the final product by allowing mistakes to be identified and addressed, such as poor lighting and camera placement. 2) Planning improved significantly from preliminary to final, with Vanity having detailed storyboards and shot lists that aided the organized filming. 3) Editing skills grew from preliminary to final, learning how to use effects like speeding up/slowing down clips to create a better overall product in Vanity.

1. Q7: Looking back at your preliminary task (the
continuity editing task), what do you feel you have
learnt in the progression from it to full product?

2. Introduction: Benefits of having a draft and how
the preliminary task was useful when filming
To have a draft first meant we could improve the real
product when filming, editing and using sound effects.
Our first draft of Vanity wasn’t very good due to the
poor lighting in which the camera couldn’t pick up
anything in the shots. Props and the film camera got in
the shots therefore we had to improve these things
when it came to the final piece. Furthermore, we used
these drawbacks to our benefit and used a different
camera in a different location with better lighting.

3. Preliminary Task compared to our final piece
Preliminary Task
Shooting:
When it came to shooting it was more a matter of
thinking of the shots when it came to filming. The
planning was very vague and even though we had
some shot types, we didn’t plan it very well or
follow the sheet at all times. Therefore when it
came to filming we spent quite a lot of time trying
to get the right kind of shot and angle. As we filmed
different parts of the task, we developed our
planning and became easier to film because we had
those detailed plans. The last shots of the task were
done very quickly as a result of having the detailed
plan and were actually better than the first couple
of shots.
Sound:
The sound used in the preliminary task was mainly
diegetic because there was a lot of dialogue in it. I
found it easier just to say the script instead of
miming it and using sound over the top as I haven’t
had much experience in the editing software
therefore the outcome would be better.
Editing:
The editing software (iMovie) was a new software
to me. The preliminary task was the first editing I
did on the software although iMovie was a simple
software so I understood it quick so when it came to
editing for Vanity I was perfectly fine
Vanity:
Shooting:
When we planned to film Vanity we looked into the
story very well and researched well into the paranormal
sub-genre. We used an A3 sheet of paper and drew the
different scene’s along with the shot and angle type.
This overall gave us a clear understanding when it came
to filming as we followed the sheet and called out the
shot number and take after every shot which is very
professional because it kept us organised.
Sound:
Different from the preliminary task, we used a lot of
non-diegetic sound and minimal diegetic dialogue. This
was because we wanted to create a sense of isolation
when Denise (main character) is exploring the attic,
backed up by creepy music. Back when the preliminary
task was filmed, there was a lot of dialogue involved
therefore minimal non-diegetic music was required,
whereas our opening is a horror so we needed to do
the opposite. When it came to sound editing, I became
more used to iMovie therefore I had a better
understanding of how to do it. I learnt how to split,
speed up, speed down, distort a sound clip which
became useful when editing Vanity because I didn’t
know this when I was editing the preliminary task
Editing:
After I edited the preliminary task, I became more
comfortable with the software. I used online tutorials
on YouTube to show me how to do certain things which
aided my editing skills.

4. Planning of shot types:
Preliminary Task Vanity planning:
Our story board for the preliminary task compared to Vanity was very vague. We didn’t follow it very
well because we didn’t plan it well. We didn’t include the shot type and angle which made it difficult
when actually going to shoot our clip. Whereas with the planning of Vanity we made a detailed shot
list alongside a story board with the shots, angles, pictures and shot number included which made us
very organised when it came to shooting. Furthermore, the end result of Vanity came out a lot better
than our preliminary task because of this reason.

5. Planning of Vanity:
The research and planning we undertook into
Vanity was very detailed, we researched into
location shots, casting and wardrobe decisions,
created a logline, audience feedback and more
allowed us to have a better understanding and
knowledge of what our film was really going to be
about when it came to shooting. On the other hand,
the preliminary task planning was very vague and
not much thought and time had gone into it…

6. Preliminary Task shots:
No non-diegetic music included in this
section therefore due to the silence
you can hear the camera running
Poor planning resulted in the film shots
being very poor and unprofessional, this is
an example of a close-up or even an
extreme close-up which isn't very good
because the camera isn't positioned very
well.
We tried to include a variety of camera shots and angles which were built up upon at the time
which overall made them quite poor. Although some aspects made the task look quite
professional shown in this is case where the 360 degree rule has been used effectively.

7. Editing and fonts:
During the production of the Vanity opening I acquired a variety of skills by learning from my mistakes. Post
preliminary I got to grips with the editing software, iMovie which was actually a very simplistic software
once I got to grips with it. For example I used my skills to edit the speed, transition, colour and style of font
when it entered the screen. As the software was very limited, I used my initiative when it came to the editing
of Vanity to slow down the appearance of text on the screen as iMovie didn’t have an option to do this I
had to save the entry of text as a clip and then slow down the actual clip resulting in the transition of text
slowing down and giving it a greater effect.
The use of iMovie had very restricted fonts and transitions although we found one which suited our
opening very well. As I didn’t use any text in the preliminary task I thought I should and try to use a unique
source such as dafont. In the end I didn’t use fonts from dafont because it was very confusing to do it and I
found a font which was suitable for our opening already on the system.
The editing of the preliminary task was very focused on the element of joining all of the clips together so
they are smooth and run together well, whereas in Vanity I did this but also explored into other aspects
such as video filters such as ‘Dreamy’ to show a flashback and the speed up and slow down of clips to
create an effect such as the blood flashing on the screen in reverse and flashes.