Unit 16 - A3 - Film evaluation

30 - 45 Film evaluation

For our short 45 second edited sequence, I believe that we displayed and successfully used the following techniques, 180' degree rule, match on action, shot reverse-shot. I believe we successfully used these techniques in our  short film. However I believe the technique that we could of worked on would be our graphic match. It looked a bit unprofessional and it is something we need need to improve on in the future.

I believe that we used the 180' degree rule very effectively throughout this short film. During the conversation we made sure that we didn't break the rule. We made sure that both characters stayed on the same side of the invisible line which the camera wasn't allowed to go over. The audience would have been disorientated as the camera was focused on each of the character when they was speaking. Therefore I believe that we done quite a good job with our 180' degree rule as we kept it consistent throughout and we didn't break it.

I believe that the match on action in our short film was also good. During our film, both the characters walk through doors and it flows really well as you can't tell whether there has been a cut. This was done successfully as during the editing stage we was very precise in putting the shots together to make sure that it flows. The continuity was also good throughout the film. I personally believe that we could of used a different amount of shots as we used the same tracking shot for both characters. It may have been more interesting for the audience to see two different types of shots for two clearly different characters.

I believe the shot reverse shot was done very successfully during this film. Throughout this film we constantly kept switching between the characters when one of them was speaking. We used the over the shoulder shot throughout to film to see the face of the other character when one of them is speaking. This was used to see whether the characters were listening to each other throughout the film. I believe that we displayed this technique more effectively than any technique.

However in this short film we didn't use parallel editing. This is an editing technique where you show two events that are happening at the same time. During the editing stage we didn't consider this. We could have done this as in the beginning both characters are working through doors at the same time, we could have used parallel editing to show this. I believe that this something we should consider in future projects. This could potentially affect our grade for the unit as we didn't use one of the techniques that are required.

Finally, I believe that the graphic match in our film wasn't done very well. I believe that we filmed it at a very weird angle and the two objects which we needed to frame weren't fitted very well. This made the graphic match quite poor and of a low standard. I believe that we could have made sure that the objects were framed better and this could of potentially helped to make our graphic match look better.

Unit 16 - A3 - 30-45 Film

Unit 16 - A2 - Storyboard

Unit 16 - A2 - Final Cut Pro Guide

Final Cut Pro Starter Guide

Step 1: Firstly you log on to an iMac or Macbook and load up Final cut pro. Then you get your camera and the plug the charger and USB lead into it.

Step 2:  Go to 'File' which you will see at the top left of your screen and then click on 'New Project'.

Step 3: At this stage, create a new project and name it after the unit that has been specified.

Step 4:Go into the section which allows you to view your footage and then click on your chosen footage.

Step 5: Begin to go through all the footage and drag down the footage which you would like to use.

Step 6: Once you have dragged all your footage down to the timeline, you are ready to edit. There are features within the software which you are more then free to use. You are ready to edit once you have done all of these steps.

Unit 16 - A1- Purposes

Purposes:

Storytelling: 

Storytelling is when directors use certain and special techniques to try and convey a story. This is done so that the audience know the plot of the whole film and who the main characters in a film are. There are many examples of films where directors have used these techniques to try show a story or tell the audience who the main character is. An example of this would be in the film 'Godfather'. In the opening scene, you can see that he is talking to one of characters that has come and asked for his help. Through his introduction into the film and his particular choice of words, you can see that he is already the main character in the film. This is effective as the audience know who they are following in the film and this will help them to enjoy the film more.

An example of a special technique used in this film would be the medium close up of the Godfather in the opening scene when he is sitting on his chair speaking to the person who is seeking his help. This is very effective as it allows the audience to see his expressions ad how he is feeling. This then helps the audience to understand the character a bit more and it helps to develop an opinion. Also in this scene, as he gets up you see a lot of mis - en - scene. This helps the audience to connote things from the character such as the kind of person he is. For example you can see that he is wearing an expensive suit whilst smoking a cigar. This can give the audience the impression that he is a wealthy man with a very laid back approach.

Another thing which they did in this scene is that ensured that there was no random cuts and the scene would flow. This is effective because it makes the scene more enjoyable for viewers as they are able to focus on a scene without random cuts. In this scene, the shots are quite long and this is effective because it helps the audience to get to know the characters and it also sets the mood of the film.

Engaging the viewer: 

Films can engage the viewer in many ways. It is essential that the audience are drawn to the film at all times and that they feel like there aren't scenes which they should miss. There are a number of techniques that the director can use to ensure that the audience are focused at all times with what is happening in the film. An example of this would be in Fast and Furious 7 where they used a point of view shot during the scene where the bus was hanging from the cliff. This shot is very effective because the audience can see what is happening through Paul Walker's eyes. This is effective is they are clearly able to see what could happen to him if he doesn't survive and this engages them because they want to see if he survives. In Fast and Furious 7, there are also a huge number of jump cuts. This is used so that the audience so that the director could speed up time in action. This is effective because everything is done quick which will engage the viewer because they won't want to miss anything important happening in the video.

Relationship to genre: 

This is a technique where the editing is done in relation to the genre. For instance in Romantic films you will have a slow style of editing. However in genres such as horrors, there would be much quicker style of editing to suit the genre. An example of a film where there has been quick editing would be Bugsy Malone. In this film, there is a fight in the final scenes. During this scenes you can that a huge number of cuts during this scene to see everyone's face during the film. This has been edited quickly to ensure the audience stay engaged. It would be boring if the audience had to watch the fight unravel just from one still shot. There's a chance that you won't see the action. However this scene has quickly been edited to suit the genre. In the pre production stage, they have added gun shot sounds to give the audience a sense of realism. If they were to see guns being fired but not hear gun shots, they may get bored and turn off the film. 

Creating motivation: 

This is a technique where shots are put in a particular order to enhance the audiences experience and to create motivation for them through the film. This can be done through various things. One way in which they create motivation is through the sound. Motivation can be created through diegetic and non - diegetic sounds. For example in the Rocky they used a diegetic sound in music to create the mood and motivation. In the scene where Rocky is training, they plan some motivational music in the background. When the beat drops, you can see Rocky is doing intensive training. This is very effective as the audience can see how motivated he is and this can motivate them to carry on watching because they want to see Rocky succeed. Montages are usually created in the post production stage. This is because in montages there are often shots in different locations and it is difficult for production companies to film and edit everything together at the same time. Therefore they do it in the post production to make sure that they piece everything together and add the correct music to suit the scenes.

Creating pace: 

The length of each cut in a scene in a film can affect the tone and the flow of the film. For example it wouldn't look good if you have a two second shot and than a 15 second shot after. However sometimes this is done to suit the genre. An example of a film where there are quick cuts would be the Transporter. The Transporter is an action film. The length of the cuts are fairly short because they want to ensure that the audience see everything when they are watching the film. The cuts can make a film seem a lot faster which will keep the audience engaged. This suits the genre, because it is a fasted paced trilogy. There are a lot of fighting a chase scenes and by having short cuts, the audience are able to see the action from various angles and shots. This is very effective because it can get the audience excited. For example, in the film The Transporter, there are many chase scenes where the camera quickly switches between both cars to see both characters during the stage. 

Unit 16 - A1 - Development

Development

In-Camera editing: 

In-camera editing is a technique where the director shoots sequences in a strict and specific order instead of editing shots in a film into sequence after shooting. In-camera editing is done usually when you have no access to any editing software. It ensures that the scenes are shot in chronological order and all the scenes are tied into one another. One of the benefits of in-camera-editing is that it helps editors to save time as the editing has already been done during the filming. Another benefit of in-camera editing is that it saves money as you don't have to pay people to edit during post production as it is already done during the filming. 

An example of a film which used in-camera editing would be the film made by the Lumiere brother which was called the 'Exiting factory'. In this film, they shot it in the exact sequence that it was going to be shown to the viewers.

Following the action:

This is a technique where when there is big action in a scene such as a car chase, the camera will move with the action. An example of following the action would be in the James Bond film 'Skyfall'. In this film there is a scene in which the protagonist and antagonist are fighting each other on top of a train. The effect of this scene on the audience is that it allows them to see the expressions which the characters might be giving off. It is also more exciting for the audience as they can see the bullets being shot from the villain. When there is following the action in a scene it makes a scene flow, whereas if there was no flow to it, it wouldn't look as good. Another effect that this has on the audience is that it keeps them on edge and excited because they are expecting James to catch him but there is a sense of doubt.

Shot Variation: 

Shot variation is when you use a variety of different shots when filming. This includes shots such as the (LS) Long shot.  This shot tends to show the full image of the subject. Different shot types have a huge contribution to a scene. Different shot types the audience to see the situation and surroundings that the characters are in. Another effect that different shot types has is that it can create tension and suspense.

An example of a film in which there is shot variation would be the film 'The Proposal' in which the director has used close ups of both characters when they are talking to each other. This enables the audience to see the emotions that the characters are feeling. Shot variation allows the scene to be more interesting and dynamic. Shot variation is quite important in action films as it allows the audience to keep focus on all angles of the action instead of relying on one point of view which can bore the audience. This is also known as a shot-reverse-shot. This shot allows the audience to see the emotions of the characters from both perspectives.


















Manipulation:

The art of using manipulation of diegetic time and space is the editing technique used to portray time unconventionally. This is done by using things such as flashbacks. Manipulation of diegetic time and space allows the audience to also see different character perspectives and how they are feeling in the current situation that they are in. Flashbacks are used so that the audience can see images from the past. One way in which the director can show a scene as a flashback is by changing the colour. This can be done by changing the previous scene which is filled with colour to the current scene which is black and white. Another example of a flashback technique is a fade. This is a technique which occurs when the image in a scene begins to disappear and the flashback begins.

An example of a film in which a fade is used would be the film 'Scooby Doo'. In this film Velma has a scene in which there is a fade when she is about to have her flashback. The effect that this has on the audience is that it allows them to understand the difference between the present and the past. This is effective because it will make the audiences feel like they know the film better now and everything adds up in their minds.

Multiple Camera Narratives:

This is an editing technique in which multiple people are witnessing the same scene but the director decides to show the scene from each persons perspective. The effect that this technique has on the audience is that allows them to see each people's views on the current situation. Also by looking at the emotions and expressions which these characters, it can help the audience understand the type of people which these characters are. 

An example of a film which involves multiple camera narratives would be the film 'Avengers assemble'. This is because this film has more then one hero. However all these heroes have the same goal. This means the audience would be able to see how every character views the situation even though they have the same ambition. 

Unit 16 - A1- Editing Techniques

Editing Techniques

In the editing world, there are many edits which we don't notice during the post production of a film. We as viewers have the privilege off seeing the final piece of films. This means that we don't tend to know much about the edits that take place in order to make the film look good. There are mainly 12 types of editing techniques that occur in the post production in films. I will discuss what each editing technique means and the effect that it has on a particular film.

Match on Action: This is an editing technique for continuity editing in which one shots cuts to another whilst portraying the action of the previous shot in order for a scene too flow. The cuts in these scenes tend to be invisible, as we don't tend to notice them when watching films. An example of a film in which match on action is used would be the Matrix. The impact that this technique has on the audience is that it allows them too watch the film with complete fluidity and it also
 keeps them excited due to the constant action. This makes the film more intriguing for the audience and it helps to keep them engaged. 

180 Degree Rule:  This is an editing technique in which there is an invisible line which shows the relationship between two characters or a character and an object. An example of a film which shows the 180 degree rule would be star wars. In the scene where Luke Skywalker is fighting Darthvader there is a shot which shows the relationship between the two characters. The impact that this has on the audience is that it it keeps their understanding of the film intact. If the rule was broken, it would lead to confusion for the audience and they may not understand the film. Another impact is that it helps the audience understand characters more and their role in the film. 

Cutting To The Beat:  This is an editing technique in which the images cut or transition on the beats in the music. There many effects to cutting the beat. One of the effects is that it can draw attention. The audience may be focusing on something but by cutting to the beat it brings their attention to a particular moment. An example of a music video in which they cut to the beat is 'Silento - Whip/Nae Nae). In this music video at the beginning they are dancing to the music and performing moves to each beat and lyric. The impact of cutting to the beat is that it engages the audience and influences them to also do these moves.  

Shot-Reverse-shot: This is an editing technique in which the editor shows two characters looking at each other. The first character will look at the other one and likewise the editor will then show the second characters facial expression whilst looking at the first character. The effect of shot-reverse-shot on the audience is that it allows them to see the facial expressions of both characters. This means that they are able to understand the characters more and their role in the film. An example of shot-reverse-shot would be in the film 'Fast and Furious 4'. There is a scene in which Dom&Brian are fighting. In this scene they tend to Brian's expression and Dom's expression whilst they are opposite each other. The impact of these on the audience it that makes it more exciting for the audience as they can see the action coming in from both perspectives.

Montage: This is an editing technique in which editors use footage that has been filmed over a long period of time and they condense into a short clip. An example of a film in which a montage is used would be the film 'Rocky'. In this film there is a scene in which they show Rocky Balboa training in different locations, but the editors have condensed all this footage from these locations to make a big short clip of him training. A positive impact that this has on audience is that they get too see the good bits from his training sessions. The effect of the montage is that it allows editors to put together footage that link together all in one clip. 

Jump cuts:  This is an editing technique in which jerky cuts are used. A jump cut is when there is a slight transition between two shots. One of the effects of a jump cut is that it creates pace for a scene. An example of a film in which jump cuts are used would be the film 'Iron Man 2'. There is a scene in which he is in a room and there are many jump cuts used to show reactions of the people around him. 

Cutaways: This is an editing technique in which there is a scene and there is a main focus but there is a slight change in focus during the scene. An effect of a cutaway is that it can show reactions of someone else that is in the background of the scene. An example of a film in which a cutaway is used would be the film '300'. They have used cutaways in a certain scene to show the reactions of the people that are surrounding the main focus. An effect that this has on the audience is that it can build up tension for them as the reactions of people can have an effect on how people see a scene.

Parallel Editing: This is an editing technique in which editors tend to alternate two or more scenes simultaneously but the scenes are in different locations. Parallel editing was also used as a technique to provoke suspense. An effect of parallel editing is that it allows the audience to see what's occurring at the same time but in different places. An effect on the audience of parallel editing is that it is intriguing for them. This is because audiences can get bored focusing on one thing, therefore parallel editing allows their focus to change. An example of a film in which parallel editing is used would be 'The Godfather'. There is a scene in which they show two things going on at the same time but in different locations. This can build up excitement for the audience and it keeps them engaged.

Transition;Wipes: A transition is an editing technique in which they use to show the difference between two shots. An example of a transition would be a wipe. This is a transition in which one shot replaces the another by travelling from one side to the other in a special way.  An example of a film in which the wipe is used would be Star Wars. There is a scene in which the wipe is used constantly to show the difference between two shots.

Fade In/Out: Fade in/out are also types of transitions. They are used to have a dissolving effect. When a fade in/out is used the screen tends to go black for a split second. An example of a film in which fade in/out is used would be the Scooby Doo film. There is a scene in which Velma has a flashback and there is a fade used there to indicate that it is a flashback. The effect of this is that the audience know that the past in being shown and it helps their understanding. 

 

Dissolves: A dissolve is also a type of transition. This is also a technique which helps to indicate when there is a change in shot. It can help to indicate to the audience if  there is a flashback occurring. An example of a film in which a dissolve is used would be the film Before Sunset. In this film there is a scene in which a dissolve is used.

Graphic Match: This is an editing technique in which the editor cuts between objects that are not connected but have a connection in some sort of way. The effect of this technique is that it allows the audience to compare and contrast what they see. An example of graphic match is shown below.