Evaluation Post 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

The main brief was a lot more intensive and complex than the prelim brief. However because of the prelim, I believe I was a lot more prepared as it was a 'taster' of what was to come, the most important thing I took away from the prelim was how I should approach the main task therefore improving the quality of my work.

The prelim taught us many things, in terms of editing:

1) Always name shots - saves time as you are not spending time looking around.

2) Have all your shots cut down and in the timeline before starting anything complex e.g. special effects

3) Place shots on alternate tracks so that everything is easier to move and so that you avoid moving the wrong shot.

If we were to compare the prelim and the main project I would say that the prelim's objective was to create a short continuity sequence, using match on action, shot/reverse/shot and the 180° rule. Have a character open a door, walk across a room and sits down with another character and have them exchange dialogue. 

Whereas the main projects objective was to produce a 2-minute opening sequence for a fiction film, with titles throughout. Include, a copyright-free soundtrack and sound effects. Include continuity shots and display clear genre conventions through character, theme, mise-en-scene, sound, camera, editing and style

Pre-Production:

Below is an example of our storyboard from the prelim and from the main project - the difference in detail is very clear

main project

Pre lim

Production:

The basic principles were the same across both tasks, for example we followed the same continuity rules. However, the production for each was very different as we were able to experiment a lot more, for example we experimented with shaky handheld shots in the main task whereas we weren't able to in the prelim.

Similarity Example: Both use match on action accurately

Post Production:

Similarities include the fact that we used the same software for editing in both projects. However we didn't use Live Type, as we didn't add titles. Also, the main task allowed us to take advantage of the different editing tools in Adobe Premiere than in the prelim. For example, the grading effect which completely changed the mood and feel of the sequence. In the main task we had more freedom to experiment with things such as special effects. Below is an example of a scene with special effects; this was something that we couldn't use in the prelim.