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

2. Research:
• For my preliminary task I did not have to do any research into it, I
just went straight to the filming process. Whereas when making my
film opening the majority of the process involved research. For
example: Existing films, conventions, researching genres, audiences,
classifications, institutions & film companies ect. From doing this
research I feel that I had more understanding. Also because I looked
into existing films such as, Women in black, I believe I was
influenced by this film and others, which then helped me
understand the conventions that would be in my genre of film
(horror). Also it made me develop my ideas and create a film of my
full potential. Therefore since my preliminary task, the amount of
research I have done into horror has improved my final product
because I have a full understanding of the genre and knew what to
include and what not to include.

3. Planning:
• The planning for my preliminary task was very limited, the only things I had to plan
was a conversation and getting an action match shot of someone walking through
a door. This was very different for my opening as the planning played a key role in
the film process. This is due to the huge amount of planning that I had to do. For
example:
- Location
- Music
- Actors/Actresses
- Sound effects
- Costumes
- Make-up
- Equipment
Therefore the small amount of planning I did for my preliminary task proves why
some things didn’t turn out right. Whereas for my final product I did so much
detailed research into many different things, which meant I knew exactly what I
wanted to include in the film and how I would do so, also I knew what the film
would look like before I had even filmed.

4. Equipment:
• For my preliminary task I used a hand help, college camera.
Whereas for my film opening I used my own Nikon D3200 camera
with the use of a tripod to keep the camera steady & still so the
shots were a lot more clear than the ones in my preliminary task.
Also my final product compared to my preliminary task looks a lot
more professional because of the improvements to the equipment I
used. In my final product I used my own camera, therefore I had
more experience with using it, which improved my final product
massively. In my preliminary task the conversation/dialogue was
very quite and unclear, this was very different in my final product
because I used the H1 Zoom & The Boom microphones to get a
clear sound. Therefore due to the improvements of equipment
from my preliminary task to my final product I have been able to
make a much better quality film opening.

5. Filming:
• Before my preliminary task I did minimal practice of filming,
all I did was practice the different shots but never made a
lengthy film like my prelim task. On the other hand for my
final product I practiced so many times for all the different
shots I wanted to include. For example:
- The dolly shot
- Dream sequence
Due to the amount of practice I did for my opening, when it
came to filming the actual opening I knew exactly what I
was doing and felt confident and comfortable with what I
was doing, therefore on the day of filming it was more likely
to turn out how I wanted it to.

6. Editing:
• After I did my preliminary task I did a lot of practicing for
the editing process of my final product. I used a number of
different software’s, such as: live type, premiere pro ect. I
used previous shot type films that I had made to practice
editing techniques. I also made random titles to edit them
on live type, so that when it came to editing my final
product I had lots of experience, therefore I would know
what to do. This was very different for my preliminary task
as I only used Imovie to edit my film, therefore I couldn’t
make my own titles or use many editing techniques.
Therefore since my preliminary task I have learnt a number
of new editing skills that I could include in my final product.

7. Overall:
• Overall I have learnt a number of new skills and
techniques for the research, planning, filming and
editing processes since my preliminary task. I have
learnt how to use new technologies, hardware,
software and online. I have also developed my skills of
camera shots due to the amount of times I have
practiced them, whereas for my preliminary task I
didn’t have much practice.