18th December:
Today’s lesson we were analysing 5 different thriller clips, we watched a very suspenseful psychological thriller called The Shining. We watched The Shining to give us an idea of what makes a good thriller, and the answer is a lot of suspenseful moments. The shining creates suspense through a variety of methods. The main way in which suspense is created is through the soundtrack and background noise as it is very effective making the audience feel the anxiety. Then we are introduced to the long corridors of the hotel and we do not hear anything but the screeching of the little boy’s bike. Also the low angle shot of the boy created suspense because we were at his angle at a worm’s eye angle following the boy on the bike. We are on journey with the boy as he is the taking the lead of taking us around the hotel. Suspense is also created when repeatedly we are shown the emphasis on the door number. We then see a jump cut as the camera shots to the twins who create more anxiety and suspense. We jump from fright because we were not expecting to see anyone through the door. We then imagine the little boy feeling this and we see him get on his bike as fast as he can and see him pedalling off.
Thursday 18 December 2008
Practice Filming Session
A few lessons back we were put into our groups of four to create our thriller. The storyboard had to relate to a newspaper and was given to us to make a practice thriller. We were given the minimum of 12 shots in which we had to create this sense of mystery and suspense including an over the shoulder shot, point of view shot and an extreme close up. We firstly put together ideas and gradually broadened on the ones we thought will work really well. Making sure we had all our 12 shots we then were given an introduction into how to use the Final Cut Pro software to edit and finalise our thrillers. In this introduction we were shown how to insert clips, soundtracks, text and effects. We also were taught how to cut between clips using input and output and pasting relevant clips together.
In our second lesson we watched a presentation which was made by Mickey the technician were we were guided on how to use the camera, how so switch it on, putting in the tape, putting in the battery and turning the camera off. After watching the presentation we tried it ourselves and were assessed by a member of staff. We were also shown how to use the tripod which we were taught how to place the camera on the tripod securely and safely. After the presentation and testing we were ready to go and record to make our practise thriller opening.
Pebbles was recording and we were quite happy with the camera work of our practical because even though most of out shots looked out of focus and shaky we came up with an idea and made the shots look like it was images caught on CCTV. The majority of our shots were successful and they were the high angle shots that were captured from the 3rd floor of college which gave the effect of Miles caught on CCTV. We found hard one particular panning shot which was when Miles was running down Goswell road, the speed of Miles and the camera interfered as we were not able to get the speed of the camera right so his head got cut off mainly so we had to repeat capturing the shot more than three times to capture it perfect. Our time was up and we had to take back out equipment and edit the next lesson.
Our next lesson came and we couldn’t wait to see our footage. We were watching our footage and saw we had some great clips that we could include to create suspense. We used Final Cut Pro again to edit so we placed all our chosen footage on the time line and previewed it. We saw that most clips worked really well which we were happy with. We inserted some fades so out clips were not obvious that it was an edit. Also we inserted an effect that made our footage look like it was from an actual CCTV camera. We used a technique like this because unfortunately Pebbles my accident recorded over some of out footage but we solved the problem and so we watched it back and it looked realistic with one shot running into another.
We used the college surroundings and the street to record our practice thriller. We recorded outside in the freezing cold and for a while thought we were going to freeze to death. We used a collection of space as we were experimenting and filming in different angles and placed to make our practise thriller interesting to watch.
We tried to create an element of suspense through the effects of our CCTV camera footage as it looked like someone was spying on Miles. And also when we see Topaz coming out the building, dropping the newspaper in suspense and disguise but then the paper is seen by Miles which comes to collect to read. More suspense was created where we see Mile’s hand picking up the newspaper and then the camera panning around his head to catch the reaction on his face. We also have a chance to see what’s written inside the paper. We then have more suspense as Miles is running down the road with the newspaper in his hand constantly looking back to see if anyone is behind him. This creates suspense because our audience doesn’t know why Miles is running but is sure that they would like to find out.
We forgot to check if the tripod was visible when we were recording as it was reflecting into our footage and the final thing we forgot was to start filming from were we left off from so we do not record over what we had recorded already.
I think we used some conventions from real films as CCTV footage is shown in some crime thrillers, e.g. police cameras, shop cameras etc. Also where Miles was running as in most thrillers you have similar excitement and action. We have used Miles as our leading role and all thrillers have a hero or a superman.
We received a lot of positive feedback from our teachers as they thought the camera work and editing was great. I learnt a lot from the practise filming session as we never had any vast problems. However created a lot of ideas and excitement that came to mind about our actual thriller opening, I cannot wait. =)
In our second lesson we watched a presentation which was made by Mickey the technician were we were guided on how to use the camera, how so switch it on, putting in the tape, putting in the battery and turning the camera off. After watching the presentation we tried it ourselves and were assessed by a member of staff. We were also shown how to use the tripod which we were taught how to place the camera on the tripod securely and safely. After the presentation and testing we were ready to go and record to make our practise thriller opening.
Pebbles was recording and we were quite happy with the camera work of our practical because even though most of out shots looked out of focus and shaky we came up with an idea and made the shots look like it was images caught on CCTV. The majority of our shots were successful and they were the high angle shots that were captured from the 3rd floor of college which gave the effect of Miles caught on CCTV. We found hard one particular panning shot which was when Miles was running down Goswell road, the speed of Miles and the camera interfered as we were not able to get the speed of the camera right so his head got cut off mainly so we had to repeat capturing the shot more than three times to capture it perfect. Our time was up and we had to take back out equipment and edit the next lesson.
Our next lesson came and we couldn’t wait to see our footage. We were watching our footage and saw we had some great clips that we could include to create suspense. We used Final Cut Pro again to edit so we placed all our chosen footage on the time line and previewed it. We saw that most clips worked really well which we were happy with. We inserted some fades so out clips were not obvious that it was an edit. Also we inserted an effect that made our footage look like it was from an actual CCTV camera. We used a technique like this because unfortunately Pebbles my accident recorded over some of out footage but we solved the problem and so we watched it back and it looked realistic with one shot running into another.
We used the college surroundings and the street to record our practice thriller. We recorded outside in the freezing cold and for a while thought we were going to freeze to death. We used a collection of space as we were experimenting and filming in different angles and placed to make our practise thriller interesting to watch.
We tried to create an element of suspense through the effects of our CCTV camera footage as it looked like someone was spying on Miles. And also when we see Topaz coming out the building, dropping the newspaper in suspense and disguise but then the paper is seen by Miles which comes to collect to read. More suspense was created where we see Mile’s hand picking up the newspaper and then the camera panning around his head to catch the reaction on his face. We also have a chance to see what’s written inside the paper. We then have more suspense as Miles is running down the road with the newspaper in his hand constantly looking back to see if anyone is behind him. This creates suspense because our audience doesn’t know why Miles is running but is sure that they would like to find out.
We forgot to check if the tripod was visible when we were recording as it was reflecting into our footage and the final thing we forgot was to start filming from were we left off from so we do not record over what we had recorded already.
I think we used some conventions from real films as CCTV footage is shown in some crime thrillers, e.g. police cameras, shop cameras etc. Also where Miles was running as in most thrillers you have similar excitement and action. We have used Miles as our leading role and all thrillers have a hero or a superman.
We received a lot of positive feedback from our teachers as they thought the camera work and editing was great. I learnt a lot from the practise filming session as we never had any vast problems. However created a lot of ideas and excitement that came to mind about our actual thriller opening, I cannot wait. =)
Monday 15 December 2008
Practice Filming.. (Newspaper Task)
In our groups we practiced simple manoeuvres with the cameras such as removing the tape from the camera and replacing it. After practicing we went with our pre-planned story boards of the task we were given and set up our stand to begin filming our first frame. The task was to film someone reading a newspaper in a thrilling way. Although reading a newspaper isn’t a thrilling activity we used camera angles and movement to try and achieve this. We knew that our settings would be outside in the street and inside the college on the staircase. We began by filming a member of our group at a high angle from inside the college, this created the feeling of him being watched which made him vulnerable. We thought that it created the feeling of the unknowing in a highly realistic way. We filmed the same thing again at a different position; I think it makes the clip more interesting. One problem I think we came across was not scheduling our time effectively because we began to run out of time and couldn’t re-shoot a frame we thought it could be done better. One Successful moment that I liked was when a member of my group had to run down the street at full speed and almost fell over because it made it realistic. When doing our next task as a group, i think as an improovment, we should work on using our time more effectivly and sharing the duties of filming, directing and starring more so that we can all gain experience in all areas.
Practice filming session 15/12/08
For our filming practical we were asked to film someone reading a newspaper in a thrilling way making sure that we included an over the shoulder shot, point of view shot and an extreme close up. The first thing we done was to make up a storyboard so that we knew exactly what we were going to do before we started to film so that we didn't have to waste valuable filming time on planning and also to make sure that we included all of the shots required. We then watched a presentation given by Mickey the technician on how to use the camera and then went out to start our task.
I was quite happy with the camera work of our practical because even though the majority of the time it looked quite shaky and sometimes out of focus we used it to our advantage and made it so it looked like images caught on CCTV. The shots which were the most successful were those that were done at a high angle from the third floor of the college because it added to the effect of Miles being on CCTV because CCTV cameras normally give images from a high angle due to being mounted on walls and buildings. A shot that I found particularly hard to do were the panning shots of Miles running down Goswell road because I didn't seem to be able to get the speed of the camera right so most of the time he was dipping in and out of the shot instead of being in it all of the time.
The editing of the shots was straight forward and made easier from having the "bait" tutorial which got us familiar with all of the editing software. Although, at times it was a bit confusing due to there being so many takes of the same thing. I think that our continuity editing was quite successful the majority of the time and the short film seemed to make sense. There was also a point in the editing where we could add in this thing that made it look like the footage was coming from CCTV camera, we put this in because during filming I recorded over some of our footage by accident but when we watched it back it actually looked really good with one shot running into the end of another shot.
The mise en scene in our short film even though it was just college surroundings and the street was quite interesting because we didn't just stay in the same place, we could jump between the two which hopefully is interesting to watch.
My group did try to create an element of suspense through using the efects of CCTV footage so it looked like someone was watching or spying on Miles and also when Topaz drops the newspaper there's a camera tilt towards the floor and the camera lingers on the newspaper which would hopefully make the audience wonder what is in the paper. More suspense I think is then created through the camera panning around Miles as he is reading the paper so that we get a chance to see what is written in the paper and his reaction to it. The shot where Miles is running also creates suspense because the audience hopefully wants to know who or what he is running from.
One thing that we (when I say "we" I really mean "I") forgot to do was to start filming from where we left off so as not to record over what we already had and also when we was filming from the third floor window we forgot to think about whether we would be able to see the reflection of the camera and tripod in the shot, which we could but it wasn't to bad.
I don't think that we used any conventions from real thriller films except for perhaps at the end where Miles is running because at the end of most thriller films you kind of have that feeling of panic and how the protagonist has to quickly work out what's going to happen next so that they can prevent it.
The feedback from our teacher was really good and she thought the camera work and editing was great. I think that the practice filming session went really well and I am looking forward to starting the thriller opening.
I was quite happy with the camera work of our practical because even though the majority of the time it looked quite shaky and sometimes out of focus we used it to our advantage and made it so it looked like images caught on CCTV. The shots which were the most successful were those that were done at a high angle from the third floor of the college because it added to the effect of Miles being on CCTV because CCTV cameras normally give images from a high angle due to being mounted on walls and buildings. A shot that I found particularly hard to do were the panning shots of Miles running down Goswell road because I didn't seem to be able to get the speed of the camera right so most of the time he was dipping in and out of the shot instead of being in it all of the time.
The editing of the shots was straight forward and made easier from having the "bait" tutorial which got us familiar with all of the editing software. Although, at times it was a bit confusing due to there being so many takes of the same thing. I think that our continuity editing was quite successful the majority of the time and the short film seemed to make sense. There was also a point in the editing where we could add in this thing that made it look like the footage was coming from CCTV camera, we put this in because during filming I recorded over some of our footage by accident but when we watched it back it actually looked really good with one shot running into the end of another shot.
The mise en scene in our short film even though it was just college surroundings and the street was quite interesting because we didn't just stay in the same place, we could jump between the two which hopefully is interesting to watch.
My group did try to create an element of suspense through using the efects of CCTV footage so it looked like someone was watching or spying on Miles and also when Topaz drops the newspaper there's a camera tilt towards the floor and the camera lingers on the newspaper which would hopefully make the audience wonder what is in the paper. More suspense I think is then created through the camera panning around Miles as he is reading the paper so that we get a chance to see what is written in the paper and his reaction to it. The shot where Miles is running also creates suspense because the audience hopefully wants to know who or what he is running from.
One thing that we (when I say "we" I really mean "I") forgot to do was to start filming from where we left off so as not to record over what we already had and also when we was filming from the third floor window we forgot to think about whether we would be able to see the reflection of the camera and tripod in the shot, which we could but it wasn't to bad.
I don't think that we used any conventions from real thriller films except for perhaps at the end where Miles is running because at the end of most thriller films you kind of have that feeling of panic and how the protagonist has to quickly work out what's going to happen next so that they can prevent it.
The feedback from our teacher was really good and she thought the camera work and editing was great. I think that the practice filming session went really well and I am looking forward to starting the thriller opening.
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