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

My preliminary task was the first media piece I have produced so, I had to learn all the skills in order to plan, film and edit this short clip. I had a camera that was able to accommodate a microphone so I used it to enhance my piece and pick up the voices clearer. However, I filmed outside as my idea was about the beginning of a tennis match and on the day it was very windy therefore, as a result this affected the clarity of the voices and the sounds of the tennis ball. This had major effect on my final edit because the sound of the wind was very prominent. In comparison, I chose an idea that I could accommodate the microphone that was inside so, even if the weather was not suitable it wouldn’t matter. After making this mistake of not taking into account the weather I thought about my storyline for my 2 minute film beginning so that I could use technology to enhance my piece.

Another factor that I had to improve on was the focus of the camera because in my preliminary task I had the camera on auto focus and then the microphone picked up the noise that the camera made to focus which ruined the sound of the piece so, I took that into account and on my 2 minute film beginning I manually focussed the camera but, it could have been more clear therefore if I could redo some shots I would ensure the focus was as clear as possible. However, I corrected my error from my preliminary task to my 2 minuet film beginning.

As well as that, I think I have been able to make my cuts more smooth as, my preliminary task is a bit jumpy but, I still need to work on my editing skills as some cuts in my 2 minute film beginning are a bit rough still. Also, in my prelim task I didn’t include a title or any credits which I then corrected in my 2 minute film beginning had to think about the text font to make sure it related to the genre of my film. As well as that with these credits I added effects such as ‘dip into black’, ‘exponential fade’ and ‘constant gain’. This helped improve my task because it added to the genre still and my end credits went with the background sound I chose which made it more dramatic and enhanced my genre suspense-thriller.

In my preliminary task I didn’t plan the media piece in as much depth as the 2 minute film so, this affected the different types of shots I used except from including the criteria which was; 180 degree rule, match on action and shot reverse shot. In the 2 minute film beginning I thought about each shot and how this would link to the film genre and key shots. For example:

Tracking shot to show he has arrived home and going to find someone.

Over the shoulder shot to show all character involved in this piece.

Close-up to show the audience that the knife is a key prop and something may happen.

Low angle shot to show false sense of power before he is murdered.

Tracking shot to show the panic of the wife. Also the cuts into black are in sync with the music so, it builds more tension.

The shot of the bottom of the open door leaves things open for the audience and leaves the audience guessing and wondering what will happen next which adds to the genre of thriller-suspense.

In my preliminary task I didn’t take into account as much detail in which shots I decided to shoot but, I did pick some key shots such as:

An establishing shot of the scene to make suer the audience undertsnad the loaction of this piece.

This extreme close-up enhances that it’s a serious game that will be very competitive.

This close –up tells the audience who is starting the game and that the game is serious as it shows the concentration of the players.

This shot shows all the characters in shot and lets the audience be able to see the whole court and where the ball lands and gets returned to.

I would still like to improve on my editing skills and learn what more effects do so I can input them into my media pieces to enhance them and make them better.