Preliminary Evaluation

For this task our aim was to create a short film of around 30 seconds to demonstrate the skills we have learnt this far into the course. We accomplished this by using our knowledge of various camera shots and editing techniques to film, edit and produce a video which included the 180° rule, shot reverse shot, match on action and continuity editing. Other criteria set, for the storyline, was to have two actors entering a room, sitting down and having a conversation. As a group we developed upon this idea into two men entering a room, not in succession, and one assassinates the other. In order to film steady shots for this video, we used an adjustable tripod allowing us to use different types of shot whilst maintaining still.

The first shot we chose to use is a medium close-up of the “victim’s” feet as he walks down the corridor. This shot helps to create initial suspension right at the beginning of the scene, as we cannot see their face.

Here is the following mid-shot of the victim. We chose to use a high-angle shot in order to emphasise this actor as the victim and not the killer. By looking down on the character it portrays to the audience that he has less power and is more vulnerable. To accentuate and establish either characters persona even more, we reversed this for the killer and had the camera looking up on him.

This close-up of the victim’s hand, later on in the scene, builds and creates a tense atmosphere by implying that something may happen when he enters the room. It is also the first part to one of the techniques set in the criteria for this video; match on action. When the handle turns and the door opens, we show a mid-shot of the victim entering, which provides evidence for this technique.

I feel that the editing carried out by our group was of overall a very good standard. We enforced all techniques presented to us in the criteria such as the match-on-action, which was filmed and edited successfully and also the shot reverse shot, when the assassin pulls his gun on the victim. However this being said we did unfortunately break the 180° rule by crossing the line when filming the shot reverse shot. I believe that the continuity editing was done well but not to perfection as there could have been a few milliseconds in each shot perhaps trimmed in either direction. Conversely though, we incorporated the use of several fade transitions, both black and white, to build suspension and a sense of action and, in addition, to conclude different cuts. 

 For the title sequence we chose to use a set of standard iMovie text-based animations to conclude the video and credit each individual. In my opinion I feel this could have much been improved by filming a unique set of credits using different techniques. We chose to use the colour red for half of the text to emphasise the blood that would be expected after the shot finishes. Overall I believe the video was relatively successful but there are mistakes to learn from when filming the successor.