Preliminary Task Video and Evaluation

        
This is our final product of our preliminary video task. This was produced by using a regular handheld camera with a tripod and a H1N1 sound recorder. This was edited afterwards using adobe premiere CC 2014. The director of our product was Kundai, our Storyboard creator was Ollie, our miss en scene organiser was Annabel and our editor and location scout was I, Nabil. We did have difficulty finishing the product since I have been away one day due to being unwell. This caused issues since nobody else stepped up to take the role of editing for the day.

I think that this was relatively well produced in terms of camera cuts and acting. The camera cuts from panning to tracking shots were easy to follow and the acting also made it easy for the viewer to understand the general media message delivered. Video editing was also included to give a colder look to the camera shot such as the interrogation room. For example, a white colour balance effect was included to bring out the cold colours of the room.

We were required to write a script each within our groups which therefore required us to pick the best one from our group. This is something we could have done better our group had an inability to pick with most of us sitting on the fence and saying they don't mind. When it comes round to doing the final task a snap decision as to what idea we are following is a must, to give us more time  to complete the task.

After addressing the script that formulate our task, we had to assign roles. This was a simple process and in many ways the speed at which we chose roles made up for the time wasted on the choice of script, with roles being based upon previous skill or talent. However, with the script taking an age to write the storyboard could not be finished slowing down the whole process. Despite the slow nature of the production the script was written to a good standard so drawing up the story board was not too hard and because of the this you could follow the script and story board simultaneously. Again if we were to redo the process speed would be the key aspect to improve, on whole this would make us more time effective allowing us to have more time for filming.

 With the script and story board being easy to follow, the filming process was relatively easy because we knew what shots we wanted how long they were going to be and where they were going to be taken from. However, with the corridor being quite narrow we had to compromise with some of the shots e.g. the shot of the feet was mean to be a tracking shot but we could not fit all of us down the corridor. As much as these compromises were not planned, I feel we dealt with them in a professional manner and resolved the issue very quickly. One problem when looking back on the footage during the editing process is that a lot of our shots were out of focus. This was no help to the time taken in the stages before as t meant we did not have the time for filming that we would have liked but for future reference the reviewing of footage is essential for an effective overall task and we would incorporate this in next time.

Editing- When it came to editing, I was ill on the first day, this created confusion within the group. This confusion could have been resolved through communication which I as the editor have failed to do. Therefore the setback from missing the lesson was due to my absence and lack of communication with others.

Preliminary Task Evaluation

To begin with we were required to write a script each within our groups which therefore required us to pick the best one from our group. This is something we could have done better our group had an inability to pick with most of us sitting on the fence and saying they don't mind. When it comes round to doing the final task a snap decision as to what idea we are following is a must, to give us more time  to complete the task.

After addressing the script that formulate our task, we had to assign roles. This was a simple process and in many ways the speed at which we chose roles made up for the time wasted on the choice of script, with roles being based upon previous skill or talent. However, with the script taking an age to write the storyboard could not be finished slowing down the whole process. Despite the slow nature of the production the script was written to a good standard so drawing up the story board was not too hard and because of the this you could follow the script and story board simultaneously. Again if we were to redo the process speed would be the key aspect to improve, on whole this would make us more time effective allowing us to have more time for filming.

 With the script and story board being easy to follow, the filming process was relatively easy because we knew what shots we wanted how long they were going to be and where they were going to be taken from. However, with the corridor being quite narrow we had to compromise with some of the shots e.g. the shot of the feet was mean to be a tracking shot but we could not fit all of us down the corridor. As much as these compromises were not planned, I feel we dealt with them in a professional manner and resolved the issue very quickly. One problem when looking back on the footage during the editing process is that a lot of our shots were out of focus. This was no help to the time taken in the stages before as t meant we did not have the time for filming that we would have liked but for future reference the reviewing of footage is essential for an effective overall task and we would incorporate this in next time.

Editing- When it came to editing, I was ill on the first day, this created confusion within the group. This confusion could have been resolved through communication which I as the editor have failed to do. Therefore the setback from missing the lesson was due to my absence and lack of communication with others.

Main Task Ideas

Heist Bank - Nabil

An unexpected combination of people plan a bank heist in their local pub. Ash is a woman that has a regular body build with sharp facial features. "One bullet" Bobby has an over fat body build and is generally seen with a beer in his hand with a cigarette. Clive is Chinese and has a very short body build affected by dwarfism and carries a banana is his pocket with a hammer tied on his belt. The pub is a generally hostile setting with the people inside giving glares and uncomfortable look. The plot is that all 3 men are in debt to a leading drug and arms dealer since they have also stolen from him. However the drug dealer let them off instead of murdering them and instead demanded them to rob a bank if they can rob from a drug and arms dealer.

The characters converse once they have settled down onto the grubby laminate wooden table. Ash brings a brief case with blueprints of the bank and entry points. When opened, Clive leans over and so does Bobby. Bobby's chair breaks due to his weight and the people around look in laughter. There is 1 person in particular that was made obvious due to his historical laughter. In Bobby's poor temper, he charges at the person hysterically laughing and bounces him off his stomach through the pubs window. The rest of the pub cheerer on and then resume to their own business.

During the bank heist, Ash, Bobby and Clive are generally caught in difficult situations such as all 3 are stuck on a rope that is attached onto the ceiling. So the trio are generally caught in unfortunate events causing tension while maintaining the comedy like style of the film.

Evaluation of plot:

I have chosen this particular idea since it has originality in its own regard since it has a range of people involved in organised crime. It also has a sense of humour due to this combination of people since the viewers wouldn't expect a female demolitions expert, a dwarf Chinese man with a banana and hammer with an overweight Englishman drinking beers and smoking cigarettes all take part together in a bank heist.  However, judging from the events from the opening sequence, it is not realistic since it would be difficult to cast a dwarf Chinese man and a large Englishman. Furthermore, it uses unsafe methods of acting, being the character bounced through the pub window.

In comparison to classmates idea 'Young boys', 'Heist Bank' is very unrealistic. So it is more likely that 'Young Boys' would be chosen to continue with the video task.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07FdVcspOfQ

The opening sequences of An American Wolf matches to the opening sequences of 'Heist Bank'

Young Boys - Ollie
Young goon Louis is heir to the Crime Kingdom, he is invited unexpectedly to the Crimelords mansion in good faith. when he arrives the boss is busy dealing with his wife and she storms out of the room. 

The boss at this point already frustrated with his wife, gives Louis a job which he unwillingly accepts. To kill the child of the detective who is shutting down his operation. 

The boss then instructs his right hand man to keep an eye on Louis as he is the heir to him and to make sure he carries out this task to show he has the metal to be a kingpin.  it cuts to a dark hospital room with Louis pointing a gun at the sleeping mother and her child. Your hear the gun the silenced gun shot and a spar of feathers as he has shot the pillow instead of the child.


0

HOSTAGE - Kundai

A high profile celebrity is being held hostage and is tied up whilst the terrorist talks on the phone to the negotiator whilst making threats to the hostage in order to convince the negotiator to increase his offer from £250,000 to £500,000. The negotiators reluctance to increase the price causes the terrorist to become paranoid and belligerent

The setting will preferably be a small room with dim lighting. props such as rope and a weapon would also be appropriate.

The developing shot will show the hostage tied up whilst the terrorist paces up and down whilst furiously conversing over the phone with the negotiator. The camera shots will switch between the hostage situation and the negotiator and his team discussing what to do and debating whether or not to ambush the robber

The role of the terrorist will have to be played with a lot of emotion and anger in order to create the suspense the movie is intended to have and they also will have to constantly pose the threat of executing the hostage.

There will also be a back and forth conversation between the hostage and the terrorist which consists of the hostage pleading for his life.

The terrorist will then receive a call from his getaway driver prompting him to come as the police look as if they're going to ambush him and and so the terrorist uses the hostage as a human shield

Attachments area

Chase - Annabel

Victim is robbed in the alley way by the mugger . The mugger then runs of with his phone, watch and wallet out of the alley way and along the street. The victim looks around and decides to chase after for his belongings.

Running in parks, town centres, roads and pavements the victim eventually catches up with the mugger as he reaches a top floor of the carpark. The victim then approaches the mugger and grabs him by the throat, shouting.

There's then a struggle, resulting in the mugger falling over the edge of the carpark. The victim takes a look over the edge and is shocked it to see the body slumped on the ground below. In a panic the victim runs off.

Feedback for peers on idea:

• Cliche 
• Be realistic (practicalities) 

Preliminary Task Storyboard

Making a Film Opening

Enigma - a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

What makes a good film opening?

The main-title sequence or the opening credits of a movie can be considered the most important piece in a film. Other than trailers and marketing elements, they are the first images the audience sees when the lights go down. These quick clips (all about two to three minutes) outline the filmmaker's intentions and set up the expectations of those watching.

Saul Bass, a graphic artist in the film industry said, "making a main-title was like making a poster, you're condensing the event into this one concept, this one metaphor·a back-story that needs to be told or a character that needs to be introduced."

Factors to consider:

What EDITING techniques have been used? Pace, rhythm, cuts & transitions etc.

What is the CINEMATOGRAPHY like? Shot sizes, movements, angles & height.

What is the MISE-EN-SCENE like? Props, locations, lighting, costume & performance

What is the SOUND like? Music (& tone) dialogue, sound effects & ambience.

What are the TITLES & GRAPHICS like? Font, typefaces, colour, layout and movement. Look at

the NARRATIVE. What are you being and not being told? Enigmas.

Introduction to CHARACTERS. What do you find out about them? Like/dislike them?

Analyse the PRODUCTION VALUES. Does it look high end or low budget.

Clues to the GENRE of the film. Styles & codes.

Does the opening GRIP YOU and hold your attention? If so how does it do this?

Does the intro REFLECT & sell the films content  & themes & ADD something to & set up the film?