Evaluation of Camera Angles and Editing. - Joel

Camera Angles

What went well
Throughout the production of our A2 piece camera angles were prominent through the planning and creation. Although we wanted to create an interesting piece of cinematography, we also wanted to follow the mark scheme and try to rack up on the oppotunies which would allow us to reach the higher levels.

With the use of the three part team, although the only set up we could have had, having three people allowed us to use the camera productivly as we could all say our views and voted on what we thought would be best for the shot which we were taking.
If any disagreements on camera placement a vote would be taken, which would usually work as the third person would be able to cast there creative eye over the placement and pick where to go.

Since we all wanted to get a high grade on the course and gain more skills and knowledge about the technology we were using. As these motives were apparent to all of us hardly any disagreements about what to do happened as we wanted to do the best we could, this would help express more creativity as we had to think about how to access the higher marks and express ourselves through the camera.


Advantages of shots
Different shots allowed us to represent the characters and show the viewers what happens within the production.
To name a few different shots which were used;
Point of View (POV) was used as a medium to show what what being seen through the a character, we used these shots within the trailer as a way to portray a slight disposition of what is happening at that moment within the trailer.
At the start of the trailer a point of view shot is used to show the photo being thrown away, this has been used because the of the seniment needed to throw away the photo, We thought that Chace would be horribly upset at doing this, although we could have shown his face and the emotion of throwin the photo away, the POV would work to the effect that we could see his slight stroke of the photo which would hold more of a feeling than his face as it would portray Chace as having not being able to let go of his past, but he must as his first love has been killed.

We used a POV to show the doctor's note, this would show the detail of the note allowing the viewer to see the note and give away some content that the viewers need to know, and the POv would allow them to see it.

Medium close ups were used alot as it allows the viewer to see alot of what is framed within the shot at a cloesness which they can make out objects and different aspects of mise-en-scene. We have used a medium close within the class room sequences as we wanted to show classmates and full school atmosphere.
We used a Medium close us to introduce the Doctor, this allowed us to show the detail of the character, clothing and scenery.
Although the medium shot is not very creative, it was the best way we could show some aspects of the trailer, it was the only way in which we could show the characters and scene.

We used a tracking shot within the class room sequence to show all of the characters which would be making an appearance in the whole film, although we only showed one of the characters from this shot, the others would have been used outside of the trailer. The tracking shot allowed us to access a different type of shot, we could have used a pan shot, but we would have only gotten one angle of the charatcers and some may have been cut out due to the angle which the camera would have been placed.
The tracking shot allowed us to use some initiative as we used a chair to display support the camera and get a soft movement, better than having someone carry the camera and have there footsteps jolt the camera which would be amateuristic and not fit the atmosphere of the class room sequence

We used a mirror shot to show the death of Perry, this type of shot was used because none of us have used it within a film which we have created. The mirror allowed us to show Gabrelle to exit from the stall and attack Dave(Perry). The Mirror shot allowed us to express some creative flare as we needed to find an effective way to showing Matt shadow over Perry and attack him, but we also wanted to see the reaction of Perry as he saw Matt come attck him, The mirror would allow this as it would reflect everything which we needed to see. If we had chosen a different way to shoot this scene then we would ahve missed out on some screen time of Gabrelle approaching Dave, if we had shot this over the shoulder of Gabrelle we still would have seen Dave's relfection but it would have been restricted to the angle, as the camera woiuld have needed to be pointing down.

We used a worm shot of Ms Gregory (Miss Perkinson), this was used so that we could get a variety of shot, although this shot is not used throughout the conventions of horror films, we wanted to experiment with camera angle as we did not know how it would look in our film, but we liked it and kept it in. It allowed us to fully spin around Miss Perkinson(Ms Gregory) giving different apects of the character, we had an over the shoulder shot, front medium close up shot and POV, this explored the ways in which we have displayed the character, so the worm shot fitted into the portrayal of teh character.

Disadvantages of shots
Through the production we ran into a few problems about the placement of the camera, but these were sorted through the use of a vote which where we came to an agreement on where to place the camera.

when shooting the Gabrelle walking though the crowd scene 1:33 - 1:37 There were countless annoyances, the lower school pupils found it very hard to stare away from the camera, or mess around when they were in the shot. This meant that we had to waste alot of time(More than we would have liked) to get a good hsot were no one would be a distraction or look at the camera.

Through the elevator scene 1:45 - 1:54 the tripod leg is in the mirror at the back of the shot, bottom left. Although I feel like I should not be writing this as it could lower the mark of the film, I think it is a good learning point for us. The leg is only in the shot about half way through but enough for it to be a nuisance.
This was a major disadvantage as it could lower the grade and make our film look very amatueristic. I thought I had to mention this because when we were reviewing the clip on the screen on the camera, the tripod leg did not show, this is because of the tiny screen, everything is much bigger when put onto a Mac or computer screen. reviewing the clips on a computer was were we failed this as we did not do it immediatly and could not re-film when we saw the leg. (As my shirt was completely ruined)

The camera that we used was of a good quality, but is slightly outdated, although this does not really affect the production majorly, the pixelation was annoying to work with and edit, as it makes the final product look rather amateuristic

Through working with different actors and actresses we found out that they sometimes look at the camera when filming, at the time we had done the class room scenes before the crowd walk, so did not notice Elle look at the camera for a split second, although this is nothing major, it can give an amateuristic effect as it can show that we did not use amazing actors.

What to do in the future
Within future projects I will have to concider the childish antics of child and the effect the camera will have on them, allow myself extra time to have to film if people are continueously looking at the camera. Possibly make a sign to tell people that filming is taking place and if they would not look at the camera, which would help the production.

Completely making sure that the tripod and anything that does not have to be in the shot is not in the shot. This would allow my to not have anything that would ruin the set and the mise-en-scene of the shot.

Finding people who have acted before would help the production as they would know what to do and not look at the camera.





Editing


What went well
Through the editing process, I was the main person who was editing the clips, althought taking into account everyones views worked well, as I did not know everything about how it should have been put together. Talking and continually asking questions through the editing process allowed us to learn and piece together the film to its best potential.


Advantages of editing and techniques
We created some amazing effects through the use of "Video FX" within the Imovie software, these effects were; "Ghost Trails" "Fade in" and "Fade out" "Flash".

The effect of "Ghost Trails" was used within the Crowd walk through scene, this was to add a trail of all of the people walking through the shot. Since MAtt was walking in a relitivly straight line, the trail did not effect him much, this allowed the focus of the shot to be of him, although the people walking past the camera did have the effect on them, it was added to draw attention to Matt who didn't have the effect on him, as much as they did.
The tool added a layer of mystery to the scene as it was very ghostly, as the name suggests. Although not completely 'Sci-Fi' the tool could have put it in that context as it was spacey. This relates to our film as Matt's character could transform his personality so suited the spooky theme.

The "Fade in" and "Fade out" were used as a transition for the clips, this allowed the shots to to merge together and create a more horror themed trailer. I used the white fade out what someone died or was attacked and a black fade out when a different scene was used or a transition was deicided by the group.
These fade's were used to help move the story and help the trailer move swiftly through the different clips.

The "Flash" tool was used when there were dead people on the screen, this gave that clip a more juttery and jwanty appearance, the flash was used to disorientate the viewer while seeing the dead people on the screen.

The film was edited with smooth continuity editing which would allow the viewers to understand the plot points and understand them. Although the trailer was done in order, some plot points, we saw were mixed up to create a deeper atmosphere, which is a common convention as plot points are moved around in trailers to create more story and points which can be used to speculate before the movies released.



Disadvantages of editing and techniques
Through the editing process a few minor disagreements took place as to where certain clips would be placed and certain sound clips used. Although this could not be overcomed.

Saving the production was sometimes a slight problem as the Mac which we worked on would occasoinally mess up and close itself, or software isssues would arise. This can also not be avoided as the software itself may mess up sometimes.

Finding the correct variables for the tools used was a slight problem as we had never used them before. This could not have been avoided as we had to learn about the tools we would use when we needed them.

What to do in the future
None of these disadvantages could be avoided as they were sytem errors or a learning curve. Although this seems easy for improvements for the future editing the production and any other productions is a very time consuming process, which would be the only major disadvantage, which again can not be rectified unless 2 or more people are editing at any one time, which would be hard to get the directors decisions on the editing and placement of the clips.

Evaluation by Joel! :D