Evaluation task 7

After watching our prelims as a group, we then started comparing them to our recent thriller, which we have created. Firstly throughout watching the prelim back I was shocked that only a few months ago I had created this. But of course I took in to consideration that this was our first time, which we had created something together, and for some of us it was the first time we have ever been in control of a camera. There were main difference between our prelim, which was the quality, action and not being very clear. The four main areas in which we were asked to look at were camerawork, mise en scene, editing and sound.

Camerawork:
The first area in which we were asked to look in to was camerawork and the difference between our prelim to our thriller. I think the automatic feel towards the prelim camerawork was that it was very much done with out care and thought through. When comparing the camerawork to our prelim to our thriller, it was very much seen that the audience was getting distracted with the jerkiness of the camerawork. This then leads that the audience are not getting stuck in to the film of what could happen next. It means that it breaks the disbelieve of the world of the film and the characters. The shot in which Laura and Jane are talking, in the background we are shown the bad camerawork of the position of the camera, as it was too high. We did this shot because we wanted to get the dominate of Laura being the bigger sister being the more dominate character. If we had shot this again, we would of either done Laura being on a chair; so then the top of the set would not be seen. Or we could of done a point of view shot in were we could of seen Laura looking down at Jane. From learning our mistakes in our prelim, we then composed our thriller with some fantastic camerawork. As what I was staying in our prelim on shots, which we should, have done differently for example point of view shot. We took this in to consideration and did in our thriller. I think my favourite was when the policemen were on roof with the riffle gun, then a mirrored shot of the point of view of the policemen looking down on to the high street in Guildford. This two shots are great as one is looking up then the other is looking down. There is more thought of the composition of the shots, which make the audience feel more part of the film as well of feeling verisimilar. 

Mise en Scene:

The mise en scene was very different from our prelim to our thriller. The prelim was very basic with not much thought towards to costumes, props, lighting, make up and set. In the prelim, I feel that the audience didn’t understand what was going on. I think this would have been more successful if we had more props instead of only having a family picture, even though this picture did tell the story out. I feel that the set we used was great for what we needed it for, but if we had more props such as furniture in there to make it look more homely, I think it would make the audience feel that it more realistic that this could storyline could be at home. If I would of done our prelim again, as a group I would of like to have more thought towards the set, props, lighting, especially the props of the furniture, as I feel this would of made the set more homely and more truthful that it was happening in an sitting room. From then forward we moved to our thriller, were our mise en scene was amazing. This is from the costumes to the set. As a group we put lots of thought and effort towards all the mise en scene, because we wanted to get it right this time and make it really feel right. I think our strongest part in the mise en scene was defiantly the costumes. As a team we all put in lots of time to get these right and we certainly achieved that.  If I had an optionally to do my thriller again, out of the mise en scene I would of change more thought to the location we picked, (policemen down the alleyway) not saying that they weren’t any good. We did find this really difficult to do, as we didn’t wanted to be seen in the countryside. But overall in editing we have overcome this problem.

Editing:

The editing between our prelim and our thriller was much better overall. I think from our prelim, were still learning how to work (Final Cut Pro), but by the time of editing our thriller we were much more confident with the control, it was such a fun process as we were just experimenting. I think the work which we did with the editing for our prelim was very basic, but a very good try at editing, as some of us had never done it before. I think our achievement was to have a sequence to follow through, which told a story. But at the same time, we had edited it so it was very jumping around, which made it look very harsh. So as an audience member looking back at it. I think it was very off putting because all the shot were all over the place. I think if we had a chance to do the editing again, as a group we would of not of had so many different shots, to make it seem harsh. From the mistakes in editing our prelim, we have taken the editing to our thriller, which is much better. As a group we have all really enjoyed doing the editing the thriller, as we have seen the story grow, which has been really good to see. I think in editing our thriller my favourite shots, which we have been able; to do is the roof shots of the policemen. I think as a group we all agree that this is one of our strongest shots and editing parts. Overall in editing between the prelim and thriller we defiantly see a huge improvement with our skills in editing.

Sound: 

In our prelim, we didn’t have any sounds to our piece, which I wished we did. As if feel that would of brought the piece together, even if it was a soft sound behind the dialogue. The dialogue, which they asked us to do, was very simple, but of course it did take time to know the words and to make it follow. We felt for our thriller that we weren’t going to have an dialogue because I think that is were it could fall in the piece, as you never know how the actor is going to response to the script. So instead of having a dialogue we had a sound behind all the shots. This was the best part in editing, because after the sound when it behind the shots, you really got the feel of the atmosphere. It made our thriller 10x better. So between the prelim and the thrillers sound, it is easy to say that the prelim sound is much better.

Both our prelim task and thriller. As a group we have thoroughly enjoyed the process of both of them. It has been a fantastic experience to do.