Single Camera Production Evalutation

Turning a Script into a Video Project

We chose Sav's script because we knew it would be the best to work with. When we first decided on the script we decided we wanted to do a re-write of the script to add more drama and enthasise to the actual happening. We aslo wanted to change it because we wanted to adapt it to what we could actually do. We took class feedback from our team and the other groups to re-write nad Josh re-wrote it. After we re-wrote the script we then had the struggle to make it the short film. I feel as a team we worked really well and although there are some small problems i would like to change i feel we created a good piece.

Shooting Manually on  DSLR cameras

When we first started this project we learnt how to use the cameras manually and it really helped. I feel as the cinematographer, that after a lot of struggles with the camera and grain we produced great shots. After figuring out where I want going wrong with the camera, I managed to gather some great shots and though there are some I'd change, I feel we did quite well.

Coverage

The very first shoot we di was a hard shoot as we didn't really realise how much coverage of footage we'd need. After the first few shoots we realised we'd need a master shot of the whole scene then some medium close ups of the same scene and so on and so forth. The advantage we had with having plenty of coverage was that if we messed up one shot or it didn't look right we still had plenty of other footage to cover it.

Own sequence and management

My scene to manage was scene five, the final scene where Matt enters the Erins house to find out what shes done to David. I feel shooting and editing this scene came out really well apart from re had to re think the idea and re-shoot it due to the first ending being a bit un-rehearsed and seeming false. Over all after re-filming and editing it, it came out really well.

Finished Product

Mise-en-Scene

The Mise-En-Scene at some point in my opinion were a little under exposed when she reaches for the gun and when we were outside in the back garden was a little over exposed due to the sun being so bright. Though at times they may have been a little under/over exposed on the finished project they look quite effective and add to the mood.

Camera

I feel the use of the tracking shots and the focus pull were quite good apart from a couple of the tracking shots being a bit shaky which can be sorted. Also again the exposure could have been a bit better but apart from that the camera worked well.

Editing

The editing was all really smooth apart from one part where Anthony (Matt) is going to sit down and then is sat down which is a bit jumpy and also the office scene is quite jumpy a lot of the time due to cutting between the conversation. Apart from that the editing is done well.

Sound

All of the sound works well apart from the levels are really quite messy though the soundtracks work well, the dialoge was all over the place. I feel we could improve that and make it flow better.

Conclusion

Overall I feel we worked well as a team got plenty of coverage and apartfrom re-shooting a couple of scenes and single shots we managed to get a good piece. We worked really well on time management and that was definatly something that went well in this piece. Our editing was also our top point as to what went really well along with the camera at points. The issue we had and what didnt go so well is the fact that sometimes we were either were alittle out of focus or the exposure was too high or too low. I have learnt from this project that even if something doesnt go right with the camera first time then you can go back and try again until it does go right or change the idea a little so that it does work. If I was to re-do this project I would make sure that I captured everything and kept filming instead of stopping and starting again.
Feeback
From the class we all sat down and watched our piece. A lot of people mentioned the sound levels being inconsistent and some of the quality on parts of the sound was not good enough. They said we had really good editing and it flowed but some tracking shorts were unstable and wobbly.  One thing I noticed that all of my peers fed back was that they really like the soundtracks. Overall The dialogue and shots that were wobbly everyone picked up on and also soundtracks,titles and editing was picked up on aswell.