Digging Deeper Day - Continuity Task (Introducing Jimmy) // Preliminary Task

 

On the same day we got given a second task in our groups which we had to do to test our film making ability. The brief was to film and edit a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character. Some dialogue then had to be exchanged between the two characters.

 

I worked with the same group (Wilhelmina, Sam, Indya and I) and before we started filming we planned where we were going to film, who was going to be filmed, who was filming and what shots were being taken of what person. We decided to film in a classroom not being used in school and Indya and Wilhelmina volunteered to be filmed. Sam and I decided to film and we all wrote out a plan together before filming which roughly showed the shots we may use and some of the dialogue.

 

The plan was written as follows;

• Long shot - Indya at the door
• Close up - handle being turned
• Medium long shot - Indya going into the room
• Long shot - Indya walking into the room
• Medium close up - Wilhelmina in the seat
• Medium long shot/medium shot - Indya getting into the chair
• Medium close up - Wilhelmina: What's your name?
• Medium close up - Indya: My name is...
• Close up - Indya: ..Jimmy!
• Extra close up - Wilhelmina takes a deep intake of breath

 

From looking back at this plan I can see how we didn't completely follow it as when we went to film we had to change some of the planned shot as they looked better on the flip camera as different shots. As well as this the order of the shots slightly changed and more dialogue was added. However, I think this improved our video as when we were filming we took our initiative and just did what we thought looked most visually pleasing.

 

After editing it I think it worked as our clips seem to all go together and look smooth (no characters jump around between each shot). As well as this we followed the 180 degree rule which is good and makes our film better as it doesn't confuse the placing of the characters.

 

To improve the video we would possibly use a camera dolly for some of the shots and obviously if a higher quality camera was available then we would use that.