Media Preliminary Task Evaluation

In our prelim task, we were given a guide to help us and to follow so we could make the perfect cheesey action scene. However, our group decided to make our own piece. We decided to build tension with lots of cuts and shots that varied throughout. We wanted to include some typical action shots, such as the shot of Harvey's feet on the floor, the match on action, and the eyeline match. Ben, who was our director, went on to include some shots which I thought really benefitted the film, such as the pan ups and the cuts between the two. I think this is typical for most action films, and although it makes them a little cheesey, it was definitely effective in making the scene as tense as it could possibly be, as well as making it unique from everyone else's.
Once we were given our task, Ben got straight to making our storyboard. As he's an avid filmmaker, it didn't take him very long before he was finished. We liked what he had planned and decided to go straight out and film the piece. I think that we all trusted Ben to not do something too adventurous or out there, and as we are all quite good friends, I knew that Ben wouldn't get us to do anything that we didn't really want to do.
I found the filmmaking process pretty easy, which I think is mainly due to Ben's directing and Harvey and mine's willingness to perfom, despite however alien it may have been. I think that I would have preferred to direct, since I've had very little experience in it before, but I think that in the time it would have taken me to learn all the ins and outs of using the equipment, we would have ran out of time, so on the whole, I'm glad that Ben directed because we met the deadline of our film.
During the editing process, Harvey and I had little to do, aside from finding suitable music and sound effects. I tried to use After Effects to make some titles, but found it very difficult to get used to the software in such a small space of time. However, I plan to do some practice in my own time to get better for when we make our film. I did watch Ben sort out the greenscreen and special effects, and it looked quite difficult, I didn't really understand the tutorial Ben was trying to deliver to me, but I'm sure I'll learn.
In the process of filming, I did find out about some new camera shots and techniques used in film, which I think are vital parts of most genres, particularly thriller, action, and horror.

• 180 Degree Rule: the 180 degree rule is when two people are having a conversation, the camera must remain on the side that it has started on on the 180 degree line. This is so the audience does not get confused. The only way the camera can break the 180 degree rule is if the movement to the other side is shown on screen.
• Match on Action: the match on action is where in a normal shot, the camera will cut to a close up of the shot, before cutting back to the normal shot. This is used if things are picked up or items are exchanged, and puts an emphasis on the object or item being interacted with.
• Eyeline Match: an eyeline match is when a character on screen is looking at something off screen, and the camera cuts to whatever it is the character is looking at.