A Level Preliminary Task Evaluation 'Rain On Your Parade'

Research & Planning

For our preliminary task, we had to come up with a simple story idea and turn it into a short film. To fit the brief, we had to include match on action, dialogue and multiple camera angles.

In our group we came up with the idea of a ‘fashion fiasco’ which would involve a short fashion show in which the ‘models’ had a cat fight. We also planned to film one of the models walking to the ‘dressing room’ to get ready to ensure we met the requirements of the different camera angles.

Here is our original storyboard with our original idea:  

                                                                        

As a group, we decided that it would be best to film the main show in the school hall to use the stage and the curtains to really get the scene of a show. To gain access for this we needed permission from staff to ensure that no one else was using the hall or the stage at the time. We also decided to use some empty frames from the Drama department to give the illusion of the ‘models’ looking in the mirror whilst getting ready. To use these props, we also needed permission from department staff. We did not need to plan for any other props or locations as we had access to all other props, such as chairs, a broom and clothes for the ‘models’.

Filming

Our opening scene, we used an establishing shot of the stage with a ‘cleaner’ sweeping the stage to set the scene. Throughout filming we used a tripod where necessary to ensure a smooth shot was achieved. Comparing the ‘real thing’ with my mood board, I believe that they are both very similar as this was an easy shot to shot and take. Still in the establishing shot, the ‘model’ walks on stage and up to the ‘cleaner’.

Following on from this scene, we added a point of view shot and combined it with some match on action. Firstly, we switched to the ‘model’ walking towards the cleaner with the point of view shot, as if she had continued walking from the previous shot, therefore including match on action using two angles.
 

 

From here the next scene was the ‘model’ walking to the dressing room to meet the other ‘model’. For this scene we started off with a long shot of the ‘model’ walking down the stairs to some doors. The camera then took a pan tracking shot of her walking to the door.

 
 

We then added in some more match on action of her walking through the other door into a corridor. This was filmed with five different shots with a mixture of medium and extreme close up shots. As the ‘model’ walks through the corridor from the door, we included some more pan tilt tracking shots as she walked away from the camera. 

                  

 

 

 

From our story board, we planned to shoot straight to the ‘models’ getting ready, however, since we filmed the ‘model’ going into the ‘dressing room’ we thought that we should add in some dialogue of the two ‘models’ making small talk. The drawings on our mood board for this scene and the next scene are displayed the other way as we decided to change the scenes after creating our storyboard when we began filming. The camera angle for this part was a medium two shot.
 

The next shot is of the two ‘models’ getting ready. For this shot we used empty frames to represent mirrors. The ‘models’ then looked through the frames at the camera to give the impression that they were looking at themselves in the mirror. They also exchanged some simple and short dialogue. The camera angles used in this shot were a medium and trolley shot.  Compared to the storyboard, I believe that this shot worked very well.

     






The next scene on the storyboard, we decided to cut out and instead include a new shot of one of the ‘models’ walking onto the stage, with a point of view shot and to walk out on stage to the ‘judge’.

 

We then included some match on action and an over the shoulder shot from the ‘judge’ of the model appearing in front of him.

 

 

         

The camera angle then switched back to a point of view from the ‘model’ where the other ‘model’ calls out her name, so the point of view panned round to the ‘model’ at a long shot. As the ‘model’ ran towards the other, the shot became an extreme close up, as she pushes her over. We then added in some more match on action of a long two shot of the ‘model’ just pushing over the other. The camera angle then again switched to an over the shoulder shot from behind the ‘judge’ and a long two shot of the ‘models’.

 

To conclude the short film, the ‘judge’ stands (with still the same camera angle) and then we included some more match on action of a long shot of him walking to close the curtain. We added a pan tracking shot and then a close up of his hands closing the curtains.
 

   

 
 


In the final shot, we included some match on action of an establishing shot of the stage with the curtains being closed. This was how we originally planned to conclude our task from our storyboard.            

   

Post Production

Once we had uploaded all of our footage to the Mac, we began to put all of our videos in order that they needed to appear in. We then had to blade some of the parts of the video clips that we didn’t need. This ensured that our shots were continuous, especially for the match on action shots, where they needed to be cut tightly to give a ‘real time’ effect.

Here is what the final ‘reel’ of footage looks like, including extra sound which we added in:

 

To edit the sound, we firstly detached any audio that was irrelevant to our shots by clicking on the ‘Clip’ tab at the top and then found ‘Detach Audio’. This then moved the audio below the video clips and then we simply deleted it. This then muted the shot. We did this for a lot of our shots as there was a lot of background noise that we didn’t want.

      

 

For the first third of the video, we included the song ‘Latch’ by Disclosure and Sam Smith to give the video an upbeat feel. We included this by choosing the video from YouTube and then converting it to an MP4 file. Next we inserted the sound underneath the video clips to where we wanted it to be. We then faded the sound, as you can see on the image where the line slopes downwards, as the dialogue began here. This is non-dietetic sound. Overall I believe that the sound worked well with the film genre, as I it a very light and upbeat sound. I also believe that the fade is perfectly timed as there is not too much of a pause between when the sound stops and the dialogue begins.

To make the film seem more ‘film-like’ we included an opening and closing title. We made both of these on Final Cut Pro X, using their templates. I believe that the opening title fits well with the genre of the film and conforms the common conventions of this genre of film, with flashing lights and ‘funky’ text.

 

The ending title just says ‘The End’ and is in simple white text so that you can see it above the ending shot of the curtains being closed.

 

During the film, we included a text page explaining what was happening, so that the audience can understand the film better. For this we used bright pink text which faded in and out, with a black background.

 
 

  




 

Audience Feedback & Self Evaluation

When our preliminary task was shown to the class, they gave us mixed feedback to highlight creative and ‘well-done’ parts and to indicate areas in which our filming needed to improve. Firstly, to improve our task, some people said that we needed to make the shots smoother so that the filming looks more professional. This can be improved by using a looser tripod so that the pan and tilt angles are filmed smoother, without the camera ‘juddering’. It was also highlighted that we needed to film in areas with better lighting so that you can see the actors and setting clearer. To improve this, I would double check the shots after we film them just to make sure that everything is perfect. I would also turn on lights or add in special filming lights to brighten the scene. Someone also mentioned that we needed to include more dietetic and non-dietetic sounds to make the film more exciting and realistic. Again this can easily be improved by converting sound effects into MP4 files and inserting them into our shots.

The audience believed that our creative and ‘well-done’ parts were the ending shot of the curtains and the closing title. They thought that it looked very effective and professionally done. They also highlighted that they liked the wide range of camera angles used. This also made the filming look very natural and professional.

Overall in my opinion, I agree with the feedback that my peers gave my group and when we film in the future, we will take on board what has been said and improve our previous mistakes. I would also say that we needed to make some of our match on action shots tighter so that they look more natural and professional. This can be improved by blading the clips more carefully.  

Here is the final film: