Evaluation-Question 7: Looking back atyour preliminary task,what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

What was the preliminary  task and what were its main aims

The preliminary task was designed in order for us to familiarize ourselves with the camera by filming a short sequence with a simple narrative. This task has a purpose of introducing us to filming and editing so we can get some knowledge that would of developed our production skills for our two minute thriller that we have now completed. The preliminary task also gave us a good insight into the technical side of filming such as camera handling, the way in which we hold the camera keeping it steady if need to be and camera framing, creating the right shots. The aim was for the examiner to see and measure our progress and development over the unit, from then until now how our research has helped us progress over the unit. Since the preliminary task I do feel that I have improved because I can edit quicker because the preliminary helped me to and my camera operating is much better because of the range of new shots used in my thriller.

Four areas that my technical practice has improved.

The technical practice has improved my filming because during the preliminary task there wasn’t a good range of different shots. However when I watched my thriller there’s an improvement in the different shots used which are more creative. For example when we see the teenage girl walking through the park there is a tilt shot from her feet tilting upwards to introduce her for the first time. We used this shot because her feet are the only thing creating noise so we wanted the audience to hear her feet and see it first thing at the same time so that the effect is better on the audience. 

Another example that I have improved on is my attention to detail through the use of close ups. In the opening shot of my thriller we see the doll and automatically there was a zoom into the doll as it faded to black. A zoom was used to show the audience that the doll may have an effect on the scenes to come and plays an important roll throughout my thriller.

 The iconography of the doll was used in a creative and meaningful way. In the park scene where the teenage girl sees the doll there’s a tilt shot to show that the doll has an effect on the girl. This was used to show how much meaning the doll has  

The use of sound has developed since the preliminary task. For example there’s no background sound and we have explored different types of sound.

The use of effects and transitions were used very well. Our group wanted to use the idea of a home recording to emphasise the past to ensure the audience understand the narrative. We had the camcorder edit that we could place on top of our shots to give the effect of POV home recording.

another editing technique that was  used of fade to blacks was used to allow the audience to understand time progression within the sequence.