Preliminary Task

The finished product:

Synopsis: Two friends meeting for a chat and then leaving to go shopping.

After completing this task I feel that I could have done a lot better if I had more time, such as choosing a better location and preparing the actors with their script for a longer time before hand.
However because this was a prelim task I feel that I have learnt ways to make my main task better.

Storyboarding my Preliminary Task

This is my Storyboard I have created in preparation for my preliminary task, I will try to use this as a guide as much as possible so that I include the required elements.

Preliminary Task Planning

Prelim task

Emma is sitting in the common room texting on her phone, looking at her phone obviously waiting to meet someone. Her friend Beth enters the room, they both embrace and then sit down next to each other. The friends have not seen each other in a week so are catching up and talking about a party they are going to go to, they leave together .

Very wide shot Emma is sitting in the common room by a table, texting on her phone, shot of the phone and a sent text saying ‘where are you?’.

Wide shot Beth walks up the stairs and goes towards the door, close up of the door opening.

Wide shot from inside of the room facing the door with Beth walking in the room. Camera zooms out as Beth enters the room

Two shot of both girls, Emma stands up to embrace Beth, they then sit at a slight angle facing each other.

Mid shot on Emma

Emma: I haven’t seen you in ages, it’s been so long!

Mid shot on Beth

Beth: I miss you so much, I can’t believe we go to different schools now.

Emma: Yeah it feels really weird not seeing you every day.

Mid shot on Beth

Beth: How is everyone else? Still as crazy as usual I’m guessing *laughs*

Over the shoulder shot facing Emma

Emma: *laughs* Yeah, you could say that, oh that reminds me, are you going to Lucy’s party on Saturday?

Mid shot on Beth

Beth: Oh yeah it sounds like it’s going to be fun, I can’t wait to catch up with everyone, but I really need to get a new dress, I have nothing to wear.

Mid shot on Emma

Emma: What? You have more dresses than any girl I know, but I really need new shoes, do you want to go shopping  now?

Mid shot on Beth

Beth: Yeah, sounds good to me

Two shot Both girls get up from their seats

Wide shot panning across showing the girls walk to the door, they open the door and walk out

The last shot is of the closed door

Audience Theory

This is my research on Audience theory:

Practice task

This video was filmed and edited to help me get familiar with my equipment and editing software.

Analysis of an opening title sequence - Submarine (2010)

The genre of the film is Social drama, the main character Oliver is introduced and various locations, this makes the audience intrigued to see what the significance of these locations are, the opening sequence does not reveal much of the story line but does set the tone of being an intellectual film .

I think the target audience for the film is older teens and young adults, because of the main characters age, the location of the boys bedroom shows that the film will be situated around the boy and his life. We know Oliver is a main character because he is the center of the images, the joyless mood that the opening sequence created suggests this is not a typical teen movie it is more intellectual.

The solemn mood is created from Oliver's internal monologue and images of a boy looking out to sea these combined make us think that Oliver is contemplating life and has experienced things to make him feel differently about life, again intriguing the audience. The low key lighting in each scene also adds to this effect of something seeming wrong and saddening, the lighting hints that the scene is at dawn making Oliver seem more alone and distant to his surroundings. The lighting also reflects the calming mood of the surroundings, the world seems at peace, again making Oliver seem insignificant.

Oliver seems to not be like a stereotypical teenager, we get the sense that the boy is a deep thinker from his speech. Because of the morning light seen in the window, we assume that the boy has been sitting by the window for most of the night, the audience wonder why is he sat there all night and also the importance of what he is saying, what made him think of this.


The blue colour of the background the titles for the company of production are written on, remind the audience of an old video tape, along with the vintage tint to the footage, this sets the time that the film is set in. The titles are kept very minimal, with just the company logos that are recognizable to the audience. The name of the film is in a plain white very bold thick font, reminding the audience of 80’s album covers. I think that the title is split up as sub mar ine to represent the inconsistency and changing thoughts of the teenage boy. The background of a calm sea and peaceful sunset also convey the mood of peacefulness for the film.

Mise-en-scene gives clues to the audience about the main character and the location or time. Props such as the typewriter helps us understand that story is set before computers were around (probably the 80s) and that Oliver is a creative teenager. Oliver's room is decorated with many pictures on the walls, many books and telescope and a skeleton, this gives the impression that Oliver is not a tomboy but someone who likes to study and learn about various things.

The non diagetic sound of seagulls in the first shot hints that Oliver lives near the sea, this is shown in the next scene when Oliver is standing by the sea. The non diagetic music used is quite an indie song, the relaxed nature of the music complies with the relaxed nature of the film. The overlay of Oliver’s internal monologue sets the tone for the film as intellectual and gives clues to the audience as to what Oliver is like as a teenage boy.

The opening sequence includes mostly of slow pans or still shots of the location to show the beauty and peacefulness of the location. The long shots establish location of Britain and the panning shot of Oliver’s bedroom helps to find clues to Oliver’s personality.

The cutting between the shots of location is along with the music gives a smooth effortless feel to the movie.

Camera and editing software practice

Camera and Editing software 

I practiced camera movements and techniques to get a feel of how to use the camera and editing software. At first I found it quite difficult to get used to the different settings and making sure I could capture the camera shots correctly, but after practicing I managed to get the hang of using the equipment.

I feel that learning how to use the equipment now will enable me to have a better end product.

Camera Shots, angles and movements

Camera Shots -

Establishing shot - The view is so far from the subject that he isn't even visible. Often used to set the scene

Long Shot - The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible, usually shows the character from head to toe.Mid Shot- Shows some part of the subject in more detail, usually from the waist up.Close-Up - A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.Extreme Close-Up- The camera is zoomed right in and shows extreme detail.

High angle shot- The camera is located above the eyeline looking down on the subject

Tracking shots- When the camera follows someone as they are walking or running, the camera runs on a track

zoom- Using the camera to go from a long shot to a close up shot or the opposite

Panning shots- When the camera moves from side to side from a fixed point

Arc- When the camera moves around the subject in a circular motion

Ariel Shot (Birds eye view)- The camera shows action from above, usually establishing location

Two shot- A shot of two people showing the relationship they have with each other

Over the shoulder-Used when characters are having a conversation to make the conversation feel more realistic

Low angle shots- The camera is located below the eyeline looking up on the subject

Point of view shot- The action takes place from the view of a character

Mise en Scene

Definition:
Mise-en-scene means what is visible in the frame the position and how it is arranged. The visual information in front of a camera. Mise-en-scene communicates information to the audience to tell the story.

There are five elemenst of Mise-en-scene:
1.Setting & Props-

2.Costume, Hair & Makeup-

3.Facial expressions/ Body language-

4.Positioning-

5.Lighting-