REMEMBER THAT FILM MAKING IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS, INVOLVING VERY CAREFUL PLANNING AND THOROUGH WORK FOR EVEN MEDIOCRE OUTCOMES. READ THE HANDOUT YOU WILL BE GIVEN TODAY TO ENSURE THAT YOU REMEMBER BASIC PROCEDURES AND DON'T MAKE SILLY MISTAKES. (HANDOUT ALSO ON MOODLE UNDER CREATIVE TASK SECTION).
Your work last year with
Andy on the Preliminary Task, Filming Option at AS (where applicable), and your
Transition Documentary task, should have prepared you for good film making
practice, but just in case, here are some vital reminders of what you must do,
and must not do to succeed!
If you have a DSLR, or a video camera of your own, it is permitted
for you to use this in the filming of your product, as long as you have
spoken to Sophie before filming to discuss the possible need to convert. However,
you are unable to use your own editing program and you have to conduct all
editing on the film and media editing suite.
Standard Filming advice and reminders:
- No lesson time will be allocated for this stage, as you should not be filming on the college premises without very good reason.
- Always plan and film to edit! Mostly this means planning for, and filming for continuity editing (revise the techniques for this if you have forgotten them). This planning should also be evident in your storyboard. If you are filming and editing for discontinuity, this MUST be justifiable in the context of your story and character/s. You must expect to discuss this in your Reflective Analysis.
- Record several versions of each shot and also from different perspectives and different shot distances in order to give yourselves choices when it comes to editing. The most successful films have the most unused footage!
- FRAMING: Keeping characters in a consistent position during movement: avoid poor framing of subjects and consider composition.
- Reset WHITE BALANCE for every new shot direction, and even slight changes of position (light values change constantly!):
- Always reshoot if you are unhappy with footage (but be mindful of using up battery power viewing footage – it’s best to allow plenty of time to allow for the need to reshoot).
- Expect to need more time to film – reshoots are very often vital!Reminder: avoid silly mistakes with the camera!
- Always use the same camera – get to know it.
- Record footage on the camera setting (not the playback setting)
- Always set the white balance before shooting in new locations/if turned off camera, if pointing camera in different direction.
- Always use a tripod (apart from those few POV shots) – you will be heavily penalized for lazy camerawork, and hand-held camerawork must have clear justification in the context of your film.
- Make sure the batteries in the bag are charged – the screen will tell you.
- Film a lot of takes of each shot and sequence to give you options in the editing suite
- Don’t forget to create your sandwich for each shot
- Don’t break the 180 degree rule
