Evaluation question 7

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

From the construction of our preliminary video in comparison to our thriller film I feel as though we have had a massive improvement between the two in terms of editing, equipment knowledge and mise en scene usage. In doing so we have learnt how to use the camera equipment to our full advantage and to use it to the best we can to gain the fullest effect they have to offer as well as the effects in the video software’s we used, having much more experience in using the program on our second attempt in constructing and rending a video through it. However not only did we learn about equipment and software through our preliminary video but also decided to include some of the conventions found in thriller films to give off the intense effect of a true thriller, causing the audience to be engrossed with the film and on the edge of their seat through out the screening. By exercising this in such an early stage of the production we were able to get a head start on what would work best and what we could be sure to include in order to make it as exiting and intensifying as we intended it to be. 

Firstly, the dark aspect of the preliminary video conformed to the thriller convention of dull lighting to keep am intense and sinister atmosphere which we decided worked very well by keeping the seriousness of the convention. It also gave off a sense of danger which we were sure to include in the film. By testing out this convention in a specific environment it enables us to know what type of rooms we could use to film in as well as what kind of darkness it should be at in order to carry this on in our film. 

Despite not having as much effect as we wanted we still tried to carry this on through the film in ‘Soul’ however the place we filmed wasn't dark enough in order to give the same scene of danger and seriousness that was represented in the preliminary video. We wanted this effect in the Mac room where Demi and Her assistant was to clearly indicate to the audience that this wasn't a safe place to be, giving off an intense and unsettling feeling, representing the antagonist. Despite this not turning out how we wanted we made sure to create this unsettling intense atmosphere in other ways.  

For example when we used close ups in the preliminary video to put emphasis on what the characters where saying and feeling, it also gave off a patronizing and threatening effect which caused the power struggle between the two characters to swap and perhaps keep the audience guessing on who has the upper hand here. We feel as though this effect worked by having some sentences more appealing an understandable in a specific context through the close up of the camera.

 In order to carry out this effect in ‘Soul’ we had lots of close ups while Demi was asking questions to make her appear on a higher status than Grace, while when the camera closes up on Grace she doesn’t say anything, indicating how afraid she is in this position; making the audience feel on edge towards what kind of power Demi really has over Grace. 

 We also tried to test out the convention of quick cuts in our preliminary in order to fully understand and play around with what time it was appropriate to use it in as well as what situation we could have it occur. Furthermore it was also to help us see what camera shots worked best in a series of quick 2 second clips which we then made sure to channel through to our film. By doing so and experimenting with this we figured out it was best to use a range of close ups and extreme close ups as well as one medium range shot in order to see what has happened before the quick cuts or what has happened afterwards. This was to create the quick panic and fear in the situation the quick cuts where unravelling towards, also keeping the pace of the video going and to make sure they do not loose interest. Also this was done to throw them off guard after the dialogue.

 

To carry this over into our thriller opening we definitely strived to include this effect the quick cuts brought forward onto the audience, expressing further elements of the story. By doing so it made the flash back of Grace past appear more violent and relevant to the audience by presenting it as so traumatizing and sudden that they are left in shock to ponder on what has just unfolded in front of them.  We also included the same camera shots from the Preliminary as we felt as though these specific camera angles were relevant and gave the full effect we were representing. 

Further more we didn't include any sound effect or music choice in our preliminary video where I do believe it still had the same effect with out some however would have created more of an intense atmosphere if some sort of sound track was playing in the background. We decided to act upon this in our thriller film and put two soundtracks in the film in order to have more depth into the situation as well as the sudden change of mood and tone in specific scenes.

Also we decided to use tilting in the preliminary as it gave off such a strong effect of power statue, having the camera as well as the audience looking up to a specific character. This meant that no matter what the audience would be placed at a lower status of the character the camera is positioned and they would have no choice but to look up to this character. However I do feel as though this effect was represented stronger in our Preliminary video rather than in of thriller film.

 One of the reasons why this may not have had more effect in the film than it did in the preliminary video is because when the tilting is in effect on Grace she is sitting down instead of standing up like Chloe is in the video. This doesn't make her seem more as a threat and a higher status if she is sitting down and perhaps would have worked better in a flash back or in the scene where she escapes the interrogation room. 

Further more we made sure to use a tripod for the camera more often in the thriller opening than we did for the preliminary as in some scenes the camera is incredibly shaky that you can clearly see that someone is merely holding it to record. In order to create the sense of realism and professionalism in the thriller film we made sure to use a tripod mostly for every shot to have that balanced shot unless we need a handy cam in order to create a shaky or uneasy effect for the scene. For example in the point of view shot in Graces flash back we choose not to have a tripod in order to make it seem more real as well as having the connection between the characters feelings and the audience.

In conclusion there is no question that we have greatly improved and learnt from many mistakes that we could have done without through the process of making the preliminary in comparison the film opening. Many of these factors could have been down to the thorough planning we had for the film where with the preliminary we only had a story board to go by however the codes and conventions we were still testing in the preliminary proved useful and in the end decided to include in the final outcome. Over all from this process we have learnt that it comes down to good editing software, understanding of the conventions and how to put them to good use through equipment such as  camera angles and editing as well as detailed planning to avoid plot holes and errors in the story. Also all of this can heavily depend on audience research, by understanding your target audience as well as who may watch your product you are then able to construct around their needs and wants. This was something we were able to do in comparison to the preliminary task which we could not gather audience feedback from.All these factors have been brought forward and have proved useful in the construction of our thriller film.