Preliminary Task: Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is basically costume and props.

Costume
As our characters are sixth formers we have decided upon fairly smart clothing as a normal sixth former at our school would be seen in. The main things we imagine Dave should wear are black trousers, a shirt and a tie. For Susan she should wear black trousers and a smart top.

Props
We didn't need many props for our Preliminary task. The only thing was a book so that Susan could appear like she was studying and also it was needed as an item to throw at Dave.

Preliminary Task: Casting

For our preliminary task we need to cast a male and female. Dave should be a jolly character with a positive look on everything. However Susan should be a slightly more shy character but has a lot on her mind and she needs to seem upset in most of the scene. Plus these people have to be available when we are filming. We have come up with a few ideas for people who will act well as these two characters.

Dave

James

Olly
Akhil

Susan

Keely

Lisa
Tanith

After discussing the positives and negatives of each actor/actress we have come to a final decision of James and Lisa. The reasoning for this is James being the most suited to the role in our opinion and Lisa being an a level drama student.

Preliminary Task: Location

In our group we discussed where we would like to film our preliminary task. We came up with a few locations and decided which would be the best.

Common Room

Our initial idea was to film in the common room as this is a expected place to see a sixth former. However we found that this location is usually busy and crowded. Also there is too much clutter and background that would get in the way of successfully filming.

Library

Our next thought was the library. However the walk too this location has extremely poor lighting. Plus we can not be definite there will be no interruptions or students in this area when we would like to film.

Canteen

Finally we came upon the idea of using the canteen. This space will be empty when we want to film meaning there will be no interruptions. Plus the lighting is great in this location. Therefore the canteen is our final location.

Preliminary Task: Storyboard

Rough Draft

Today we put our preliminary task screenplay into a rough copy of a storyboard. We used our new knowledge on camera shots and camera movements. Below is our rough drafts of this.

First 6 frames

Final 6 frames

Final Draft

Our completed storyboards

Basic Camera Movements

Tracking Shot

Backwards or forwards. Tracking is used to draw the audience in and tracking out is used to show the audience that part is over.

Crab Shot

Left or right. Follows movement of a character or object. 

Tilt Shot

Upwards or downwards on an axis. An upwards tilt suggests great heigh or power.

Zoom

An alternative to a tracking shot.

Arc Shot

Full or semi circle around a character or object. This is often used to increase intensity

Crane Shot

Follows action in a vertical direction, from above.

Panning Shot

Left too right or vice versa. Used to follow a moving character or object.

The notes I made on camera movements

Basic Camera Shots

Extreme Long Shot (ELS)

Establishes the time and location to give the audience basic information.

Long Shot (LS)
Character seen from head to toe.

Mid Shot (MS)
Character seen from waist up.

Two Shot (TS)
Two characters, shows their relationship.

Close Up (CU)
A characters head and shoulders, shows emotion through facial expression. Or an object that's significant.

Extreme Close Up (ECU)
Shows the emotion of the character. This is intense as it's unfamiliar to the audience.

Preliminary Task: Group Discussion and Screenplay

In today's lesson we sorted ourselves into groups and began to create the plan of our Preliminary task. I'm in a group with Tayla Thorley and Holeigh Perkins. We named our group DENCH Films.

We came up with the idea that a boy would approach a girl and tell an unfunny knock knock joke in the hope to cheer her up. However that backfires. 

Screenplay

Interior: Canteen : Midday

Dave walks down through the canteen, into the the sixth form canteen area and sits opposite Susan. Susan is sitting by herself seeming annoyed and upset.

Dave: What's wrong?
Susan: Nothing.
Dave: Knock, knock!
Susan: Who's there?
Dave: Dummy.
Susan: Dummy who?
Dave: Dummy a favour and go away!

Susan is unimpressed, stands up and throws a book at him. Dave is left confused.

Foundation Portfolio

Preliminary Exercise

Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.

Main Task

The titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes. All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidates, with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source. Students should work in groups (maximum of four members) which stay the same for the preliminary exercise and the main task.

Preliminary Task: Introduction

Today in our lesson we were introduced to the Preliminary task. We were informed on what occurs in this task and some technical aspects that we will need to think about, these are:

• Match on action
• Shot/reverse shot 
• 180 degree rule

Me As A Consumer of Media

In the lesson I was asked to produce a brainstorm to find out how I personally consume different types of media. Which showed what, when, where, how and why for each type of media.

Me With My Brainstorm

Also we looked at some data in the lesson about media consumption, which can be found here.