Part 8 - Looking back at your Preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

           

Digital Technology

I think the strengths of my preliminary task, is that we got used to using the digital camera very quickly, so we could get the rights shots we needed. As it was the first time using these cameras, we had to learn quickly how to use them and what buttons do what. Also, with using iMovie, it was the first time using the new one, so we also had to learn how to use this, but i think we done this very well as we learnt how to use precision editor to get tight cuts which made the continuity editing a lot smoother. However what was less successful, is that sometimes it was hard to get the right shots we wanted with the digital camera as the lighting and sound was very sensitive so some shot had to be redone, And also iMovie i didn't know how to use everything. But when it came to the real task, i improved on using iMovie as i became more experienced and skilled with the software so i was able to make the editing much better in the final production. Also i was more used to using the cameras so getting the right shots didn't take as long.

Creativity

I think that my preliminary task was very creative, because we wanted to portray a serious theme, which is the character going after to kill someone, but then make a twist and add comedy into it. I think this was successful because it was different to everyone else's piece of work. However what was less successful about the creativity, is that we could have used better people to play the roles of the characters to increase the verisimilitude, also we used simple and plain shots which isn't very creative. In the real task i think i improved on this because we came up with an idea that was very different and unique than most other BSR films. We also used a wide variety of new shot types that we had learnt in the pre production stage like the 'looking through' shot and graphic match. This made our work much more creative and interesting to watch

Post - Production

With post production in the preliminary task, we had to follow three rules that had to be in the film. These were the 180 degree rule, rule of thirds and match on action. I done this very well as i followed all of these rules and made sure that while editing the match on action looked perfect. I also think that it was successful in terms of continuity. The editing flows very smoothly and it all makes sense which is good as it was the first piece of work we done. However what was less successful was that whilst in post production, some shots were missing in the piece as in some scenes there was interference that we didn't see before, so i had to think of ways to cut that part out without it affecting the storyline. This was improved on in the real task, because before we left the filming location, we checked each shot a couple of times to make sure it was correct, so no shots were missing and had to be re filmed once we put it all together. Also when editing i became more experienced in the software so i could make the continuity flow even better.

Research and Planning

I think we was successful in research and planning as we done a storyboard. We drew up the storyboard to exactly how we wanted the storyline to go, (lighting, location, dialogue, camera angle etc) and showed very clearly what was going to happen in each scene, so when we were filming it, no thinking had to be done as it was all on the storyboard and we just had to follow it. Also, we done research into the three rules that we had to follow so we fully understood what needed to be done. However what was less successful in terms of research and planning, is that we casted ourselves as the characters in the film, and made some shots that required both of us to be in, so we had to press play, then get into position and film the shots. We didn't think everything through clearly enough. We improved on this on the real task as we though every shot through clearly. Also we done months of research on BSR films before actually planning it so we knew how to conform to the conventions of the genre so it relates to that type of film and the same target audience.