Initial Planning of Coursework Artefact

I have just started planning my coursework artefact intensively for the past week or so, which has to be a 2 minute opening to a feature film.

I quite liked the idea of being able to choose the genre ourselves. Although the task of getting the genre across to the audience in those crucial 120 seconds is not as easy at it first seemed.

To help myself and the rest of my class with this issue; we sat and watched the beginning 2 minutes of a number of blockbuster films. We made notes on Mise en Scene, camera work, editing and sound. It soon became clear that these films used countless methods including: a particular colour pallette to set the mood, different camera techniques, credits that also fitted the genre and certain music to accompany the mood of the film. I knew that these were things I would have to take on board with my artefact.

The storyboarding process proved to be quite difficult for me. I storyboarded some sketches for a Rom-Com opening. However when I thought further into it, I did not think it would be much of a challenge, so I decided to scrap that idea. From there on I found it hard to think of what else I could do. So to help me, I listened to a few pieces of original copyright-free music, already having a vague idea of the genre and mood I wanted to portray in my head (sad romance, tragedy) to help put a vision in my mind of what I could do. And it worked! I managed to storyboard the entire thing over two lessons.

There will most certainly be various things I will need to consider when I begin filming. The main one being getting to my location (beach) in time for the sunset; as this is rather significant for my establishing shot. However I will go into more detail about things such as this in my evaluation.

I have a couple of other things I need to complete before I can film, to complete the planning process: a shooting script, and a second-by-second timeline to describe what I am doing in finer detail.

Some time at the end of this week I will visit the location to take stills for a finalised and detailed storyboard, and begin filming next week if possible.

Evaluation

My group and I have been watching our first artefact numerous amounts of times to help us evaluate what we have done.

Although we are pleased with it (taking into consideration that it is our first real attempt at filming and editing), we feel that there are a few things we would change if we were to do it again.

For instance, there is a certain part of the artefact where we have cut between shots; and due to the camera being repositioned, the lighting looks noticably different - going from well lit to rather dark. I think this effects the continuity a considerable amount. In the same shot, it becomes apparent that the camera was knocked whilst panning from Alex across to Rachel. This makes it look somewhat amateur.

Additionally, in the end shot, I chose to film Rachel and Alex using a long-shot, which was then proceeded by me zooming in on the money in the middle of the table while Rachel takes her winnings. In hindsight, I can see that it looks rather unproffesional, and given another opportunity, I would not have zoomed, instead I would have began the shot with a close-up on the winnings.

Having said all this, I think these mistakes were a positive thing. Not only has it given us something to evaluate; but it has also shown us where we need to improve with our next artefact, and given us ideas of what to incorporate and what not to incorporate.