Evaluation for Continuity Exercise

12C Group 1 Accident Clip
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzAJf-KED-k)

1. What do you think was the point to the activity?
- Learn continuity rules by breaking them and seeing the negative effects of doing so
- By recording one shot after another, it made you think properly about what shots are needed to make the sequence make sense
- To practise thinking about what is needed to make the continuity of a sequence make sense

2. In regard to your finished sequence, what worked well?
- Master shot used twice to establise scene and relation/space between the two characters
- Simplistic shots made things look very obvious, easy to understand
- Shot variety
- POV and OTS shots used to show character emotion and what they are doing
- Cut aways used to break up the action

3. What would you aim to improve about your sequence?
- First three shots (master shot, POV and OTS) need to be longer to give the audience time to see what is going on
- Needs a finishing shot to tie up the accident, for example have Joe's shocked face as well as Jacob lying on the floor
- Tidier ending needed, audience confused by the fifth shot of Joe

4. What did you learn from doing this activity?
- From my sequence, I have learnt to make sure each shot is the right length to keep the flow smooth, understandable and not boring
- Learnt from the whole classes sequences and 'mistakes' what to do and what to do, such as breaking the 180 degree rule, 30 degree rule, to ensure match on action and to establish conversation via shot reverse shot
- Learnt what is needed to make the continuity of a sequence work, and in the most efficient way, for example filming the sequence from each point of view and editing it all together

DYM HW feedback

A very good summary of points, showing excellent understanding of the key theoretical areas. It might have been useful to have added a short summary comparing the two sequences directly. A very confident first post - well done.

BLK hwk feedback

An excellent evaluation Claire, in all respects. Well written using a high standard of terminology, including technical terms. Very thorough and reflective.

Super blogging generally - a great start!

DYM Film Opening Comparison

Legally Blonde
(Directed by Robert Lukatic, Starring Reese Witherspoon)

Narrative Expectations
- Setting and building up to Elle, so you expect her to be the main character
- The stereotype of the character, situation etc. is so extreme that you expect it to be turned on its head due the the obvious comedy genre
- Expect a very female orientated plot due to the idea of her asking aout a boy at the end, and clear female themes including the pink sparkly writing of the credits
- Expect typical teen high-school theme as well due to the often done tracking through the diffferent groups of the school to set the scene, (also done in 10 Things I Hate About You and Mean Girls)
- Music suggests film will be upbeat and happy
Shot Types
- CU only on her and objects relating to her such as her brush and letter, again building up the importance of the character
- Tracking shots following the progress of the letter, so the viewer experiences its movement
- Tracking shot following the girl on her bike, so the focus is on her with the boys in the background
- Crane shot from top of the stairs, showing Hollywood style situations and showing that Elle is at the top of everything
Character Types
- Main character stereotypical teenage Homecoming queen, with the blonde hair and Paris Hilton style lap dog and everything in her life as far as High School success, finance and appearence seem to be perfect
- All other girls very 'perfect' in appearence, and Elle seems to be queen of them all, at the top of the social ranks
- Boys are just there to loko at girls, seem wild and animal, girls completely in control
- All characters features of typical high-school, all young and pretty

Seven
(Directed by David Fincher, Starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt)
Narrative Expectations
- A dark storyline, due to subdued, low-key lighting and dark music/sound effects
- Not upbeat like Legally Blonde, as oppposite to the pink sparkly colourscheme, Seven has a black, navy and beige colourscheme
- Serious, dark aspec of film also reflected in weather (rain and thunder)
- More subdued then the other film, as it fades in and is more subtle
- Slightly artistic film due to effects and style used on the opening credits section
Shot Types
- Always MS on characters, keeping them in mystery
- CU on significant actions, such as putting his glasses on the table before sleep putting him in a vunerable situation
- Warped angles on the actions when the intro goes into the opening credits, to make the reality distorted
- Sideways tracking shot following the characters while walking down the street, makes them more everyday
Character Types
- Anger in the voice of the main character. Very everyday as it opens with washing up. Imperfect in comparison to other film
- Characters also have more levels, in that the shadows used over them suggest hey have something to hide. Especially Morgan Freeman's character. Brad Pitt's character seems to be a more shallow 'sidekick', but the arty nature of the film could mean this is likely to change

Overall
- The bright, glossy almost 'perfect' nature of Legally Blonde, which makes the film up-beat and aspirational is completely opposite in Seven, as it shows the dark reality of life. These two different tones shown fit in with the genres that the films are trying to portray, comedy and thriller

BLK Shot Evaluation

1. Denotation:- Light source from top left of frame
- Back of villains legs shown in centre of frame, acting as a frame (within a frame) for the body
- Body is of young female in grey top and jeans
- Framed MLS, shot for floor level

1. Key signifiers of horror genre:
- Light on the victim, connoting innocence and their good nature. Death also signifier of genre
- Villain’s legs in darkness suggesting character has something to hide. Fact that you only see the legs creates mystery and fear as you don’t know the true identity of this killer
- Villain and victim juxtaposed with helpless and powerful in every feature, creating the extremes of good and bad.
- Shadows and darkness of shot also suggest being alone and create fear

2. How we achieved effect:
- Used a pag light as the only source, to create a beam of light over the victim to enhance their mood of innocence and to create a silhouette for the villain to show their mystery and dark side
- Shot the photo with the camera on the ground, to warp the image, make it appear abnormal and strange

3. Successful points:- Where the lighting falls is very effective as it enhances both the victims innocence, with the white light falling over her, and the villains darkness, with the silhouette. This juxtaposed the too characters creating the extreme good and bad side as intended.
- The angle of the camera works well as well as it makes the villain tower above the victim due to the low angle. Also, it being shot from the ground is effective in showing the horror genre of the photo as it makes it looked warped and abnormal
- Having the legs frame the body also focuses the attention onto it, making the deathly mood stronger

4. Possible improvements
- Where the light is coming from, the bean is too bright and obvious, causing the main features of the shot, the body and legs, less obvious. I would maintain where the light falls and the effect it creates, but remove the actual light source from the photo
- The shot would work better with a simplified background as it would enhance the audience’s attention on the characters. The messy wall on the left and the white plug socket on the right ruin this simplistic effect