Account of Shooting Preliminary Task & Introduction to using Final Cut Pro

ACCOUNT OF SHOOTING PRELIMINARY TASK



We filmed in the old editing room. This worked incredibley well for our location because of the entrance door, and the 180 degree rule was easily obeyed due to the parellel wall perpendicular to the camera. Although we initially were sceptical about the location due to the lack of reality of the room in relation to the script, and also the initial lighting of the room was generally quite ambiguous to the connection of the script. Filming was a task in which we all took a share in being a part of. The three of us all equally took turns in the production of our sequence and in doing so, we all took away quite alot from the production. In the production pattern - Bella, Laura and I all actively particpated in the shooting of the sequences and the direction of the camera angles and movements.

We had hard lighting affects in our location to focus the attention on the characters and to emphasise the camera angles and shots. Our lighting allowed us to experiment with shots, and sharp angles that defined the roles of the characters. The two characters were headlined with two main spot lights.

Camera Settings-
-Focus- Ensuring we had a clear shot.
-DBS set to 0 to ensure the correct lighting.
-Shutter speed.
-Aperature of 2.8

Tripod-
-We had to bubble the camera and ensure that the tripod was not casting shadows within the frame.

Lighting -
-We had to ensure that the lighting was the same in every shot, so that when edited the sequence was not broken by awkward changes in light settings.

Camera Angles-
1. Our first creative shot was of Actor A's mouth, This displayed a scence of authority with in the roll of the two actors and also portayed a domineering part in the success of the role suggestion.
2. Shooting A at a low angle and B at a high angle, forces the audience to make the contrast between the powerful A and the inncoence of B.

Planning-
In the planning of our production we made sure that we shot all of the same angles through the same shot to avoid camera hassle and issues with tripod set up, and also to sustain the exact same camera shot in every similar angle.

Team Work-
To ensure that everyone was working in accordance with each other, we utalized the phrases of 'STANDBY, ROLLING AND ACTION' to keep everyone on thier toes and keep everyone involved in the production.

In conclution one can summate that the preliminary work taught us that the direction in a production is one of the most imperative keys to success. It also gave us a snippet into reality, and into how a production is actually formed and assembled. It opened my eyes to the realities of a film production and the genuine hard work and focus it takes to sustain a quality sequence.

INTRODUCTION TO USING FINAL CUT PRO

Final Cut Pro is a non-linear, professional, editing software application developed by Apple Inc. Therefore, The software logs and captures video onto a hard drive, where it can be edited and processed. The work must be checked in and out at your liesure, to ensure the protection and conservation of the editing process you are engaging in.

Within Final Cut Pro you create a Log Bin, which allows you to select the shots in the sequence that were unecessary for your final compilation of the sequence. Once all shots were chosen we then continued to process them through and allocate them slots on the timeline. The timeline allows the sequence to be fluid, and also sustains the appropriate music underneath the camera shot sequence.

Practical Camera Production.

e established small groups, with the task of shooting a short sequence of shots representing a simple action field. The generalized task was to engage in a 20 second, simple second action sequence. Once all appropriate camera necessities were pursued through means of the tripod, camera set up and a simple established idea to pursue through production we could move on.

Employing the use of a PD170, our group entertained the successful and careful use of the equipment. We set out to shoot the simple sequence of someone entering the refectory, picking up an apple, biting the apple, and exiting the frame with the apple in possession. I was utilized as the person engaging in the camera frame, and my partners were shooting the sequence. Although not involved heavily in the camera use, I took just as much from the experience educationally as those I was involved in the production with.

To begin, we bubbled the camera to establish a camera frame that was not skewed or of titled nature. We then added the supplement of colour bars to regulate the light within the production. We then moved into the refectory to begin production. We started with the use of a wide angle, which provided a clear show of the full background and subject. We then moved into a mid shot which further developed the focus of the subject, and finally we moved into a close up to supplement our production and obtain a final focused development of the subject and the action in which it pursued. With the main shots covered and pursued successfully, we decided to develop our knowledge and experiment with the concept of an over the shoulder shot, which although we executed unsuccessfully was an experience which I learnt from. These mistakes furthered our experience to ensure that in further production one does not disobey the 180 degree rule. The 180 degree rule sets the means that if a conversation is being executed between two people then the proximics of the camera were not to exceed the 180 degree margin between the two subjects of the conversation – This idea is to maintain a stable and straight forward sense of direction in the sequence. For example if one is shooting a football game from a specified side of the 180 degree boundary, and then the side is changed it appears as though the player is now running back on themselves.

Once everyone had completely finalized their sequences we reconvened in the Edit room and observed the work of our peers. There were some apparent successes and some epic failures. The failure of one group was due to the elaborate development of a plot, as apposed to the creativity in the development of camera shots. In contrast another group revelled in success with the whole basis of their production being the creativity of the camera shots and developing the movement of these shots, as apposed the development of an obsequious plot that leaves little to desire in regard to camera action and shots.

In conclusion, from this lesson I obtained the motion to develop camera shots and find the creativity in them, in opposition to the establishment of an idea that revolves around the movement in the frame instead of the movement of the frame.