AS Media Studies Preliminary Task Evaluation - Lorna Wilson

AS Media Studies Preliminary Task Evaluation
For the preliminary task we had to create a one minute film which demonstrates Match on Action, Shot/ Reverse Shot and The 180 degree rule. My group and I based our film on a hostage situation. The first things we discussed were:
• Locations
We decided on using the Learning Centre for the establishing shot and a secluded room and hallway in the old building to hold the hostage.
• Props
Duct Tape and a phone
• Actors/characters
Two actors who played a Hostage and the Kidnapper.
• Plot
Kidnapper creates and prints a ransom note then proceeds to the room where the hostage is kept and makes her read it out down the phone.
• Camera techniques
Cross cutting between the two locations.

I was assigned the task of storyboard artist, and after discussion with my group I went on to draw on the storyboard and choose relevant camera work. Equipment we used to produce our film was a Video camera and Tripod.

We took a couple takes of each shot to enable a good choice in footage when editing. For many of the shot’s we tried filming at different angles and shot sizes. This was especially important when filming the match on action as it took quite s few attempts in creating a plausible scene.
After shooting our film and watching our footage back we realised there were a few mistakes in the match on action and 180 degree rule. Also in one on the shots the digital signal had dropped out leaving a partially blocked image. In order to sort this we planned to film a close up of the phone to replace it but unfortunately didn’t get round to it, so in order to keep the continuity we had to keep it in. With our match on action scene, the continuity wasn’t completely accurate; because of the order in which we filmed the ransom note wasn’t present in filming the actor coming out the door, when he was holding the note when entering through the door. We also had trouble with the 180 degree rule when shooting the shot/reverse shot as we went over the line in the conversation scene. We tried to solve this problem by using different shots and then cutting down as well as changing there orders, however this didn’t completely work.

Through this task I have learnt a lot about the process of making a film, and taking it from an idea to the screen. I've been able to practise camera skills and learn how to edit videos on I-movie, as well as how to add sound and effects. For the main practical task I'd improve the work by filming the sequence in order as to keep the continuity throughout. I'd also make sure there's time left after filming and viewing the footage to re-shoot in case of any mistakes.

The Hostage

Editing evaluation.

During the editing we came across a few problems with the film length, we tried cutting down each clip to get it to a minute long but we had quite a lot of dialogue so it was harder to do. In one of the shots the digital signal dropped out leaving a blocked image, we planned to resolve this problem by doing a close up shot of our actor dialling on the phone. However, we couldn't do this as our actor was unavailable. We have choosen a particular sound track to match the atmosphere of the characters, especially the male one as it emphasises his bad intentions. In the establishing shot we used the "typing" title style because the main part of the plot was our kidnapper typing the ransom note on the computer. For the credits we used the scrolling effect because this is the most common method for a lot of films, we also wanted to keep it simple.

Location, cast and props.

We decided to use the learning centre as the establishing shot for the kidnapper, we isolated him in a corner to show suspicion. We used cross cutting to bring together the two characters, starting with Craig, then a variety of shots of Mel struggeling. We also used part of the old building as our main location to create a daunting atmosphere. We made the room chaotic to create the look of an abandoned space. We chose a male actor for our kidnapper to make it seem more imtimidating and a female for the hostage to show vulnerablity. For our plot we didn't need many props, we only used an old phone, a chair and tape to create a simple hostage scene.

Dialogue

Shots 10 &11: Hostage: *moving around, trying to break free*
Kidnapper: (panics) "Quit moving, Just do exactly as I say, and nobody need's
to get hurt."
Shot 13: Hostage: "What are you doing? What's that? What are you planning?" (scared)

Kidnapper: " Read this."

Shot 14: Hostage: "But..."
Kidnapper: "Do it." (angry)
Shot 15: Hostage: (reading from paper held by Kidnapper) "My name is Melissa Goodwin, I'm 17 years old. The date is the 14th of September 2009. I'm currently being held hostage at an unknown location. My kidnapper is holding a £500,000 ransom on me. The money is being demanded for 48 hours time. If the deadline is not met. I'll be dead."

During filming we used this script as an outline and the actors improvised, making the situation look more natural. Parts of the ransom note were also changed,to provide more information. The only problem the occurred was that the dialogue took up a lot of the sequence, and as a result made us go over the time limit of one minute.

Task Plan.

For our prelimanary task we are going to be filming a hostage situation. We have decided to use to of our friends Craig Henden and Mel Goodwin for our actors. Mel will play the hostage, tied up in a small abandoned looking room, while Craig is setting up for the phone call to the police. For our establishing shot we will use the learning centre, a computer tucked away into the corner, we'll use an over the shoulder shot (eye level shot) at the kidnapper typing at one of the computers. Next we will pan up the computer screen at the mesasge (high angle shot), then cut to the person tied up in a different location, cut back to kidnapper grabbing paper from printer (eye level shot) and use a dolly (wheeley chair) to film him walking towards the door. When he comes out of the door we'll use match on action with him coming out of a different door, then he enters the room of the hostage (cross cut, long shot). Then we are going to use the camera to be the character of the hostage looking up at the kidnapper, then an over the shoulder shot to see hostage (close up). One of our props is going to be a phone, so we are going to do a shot reverse shot of the two characters as they are talking, then Mel on the phone on the phone, (reading out the message printed from computer.)