Yesterday, the class completed our preliminary task. This included shooting a very basic scene that has been reproduced by the school for some years for this task. The sheet contains a fairly detailed storyboard documenting the simple dialogue and required shots. These shots included a wide shot, close ups (head and shoulders) on each of the two characters to feature in the scene as well as over the shoulder shots for each. The dialogue was specifically ambiguous therefore allowing us to construct our own meaning and intention for what was being said.
Firstly we were separated into groups. I was with a group including Phoebe, Kate and Arabella. This was good news as they were the people I had worked with when doing the other filming tasks. Although we don't have much filming experience thus far, familiarity and comfort with other members of the group would certainly prove helpful as Matt has told us that making films is "10% doing stuff, and 90% communication." Firstly we set about creating meaning in our scene. Myself and Phoebe volunteered to act in the scene. We decided that it might be quite comical if we made the argument a over-dramatic argument about how Phoebe couldn't reach the on button for the projector. Similar to last week the story for the sequence is not really relevant as at this stage its all about gaining practical experience but the group was all happy with the idea. We then as a group analysed the storyboard and made a rough plan of the order of shots that we would do. At this point we realised that we could do two completely different shots without even moving the camera. The significance at this level is minimal but at a grander stage the ability to do this on a real shoot will save the crew having to move all the equipment an extra time therefore saving time and consequently money.
We then started to shoot. The first shot we went for was a wide. We shot the entire scene in the wide first. This is common as if something appears to be wrong in another shot when editing you can always revert back to the wide and it will still make sense, it will just be slightly less exciting. Before shooting we of course made all the necessary checks such as white balance and focus. We also started to use the filming terminology as instructed and just like we were told it did feel more natural this time. Also we gained more of an appreciation of how using the terminology would minimise people making mistakes as it means that everybody is in tune with everyone else. Communication increase cohesion.
After shooting the wide we then cancelled them off the sheets and went for the close-ups. As said earlier we could actually shoot these without moving the camera. All it took was a simple zoom using the lens and it immediately appears as though the camera is far closer. Close ups will always ben important for making films as it gives the audience a chance to be impacted by the facial expressions of the actors. They will often be used at times of emotional climax in scenes for intensity but will very rarely be used for a long period of time so that they don't sacrifice their effect. Myself and Phoebe took over filming when doing each others close ups to give us a chance to operate the camera when we weren't seen in shot.
Finally, we took on the over the shoulder shots. This involved moving the camera and in some cases laying down markers for the actors to walk into to prevent them ruining the shot. These were done impressively quickly. Over the shoulder shots give the audience a chance to see the characters perspective without having to go into a POV and consequently loosing some of the surroundings. As the group finished with quite some time to spare we decided we would stray slightly from the story board and add a shot at the end of Phoebe's hand desperately and comically trying to reach the projector button.
Overall, I was very happy with how the group worked. Of course I am yet to see the footage but we worked very quickly, hopefully without loosing any quality. Obviously there were times of distraction and laughter in the group but at the end of the day these practical experiences are supposed to be educational but also fun.
*The storyboard we were given for the task.
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