Looking back at the preliminary task, what do you think you have learnt from the progression from it to the full task?



Throughout the process of creating our film opening we used a variety of methods and techniques. Some of the skills that we applied and used while making our opening were skills that we had learnt previously in our preliminary task. An example of this is the following:

• 180° rule- One of the first skills that we learnt while filming our preliminary task was the 180° rule. This guideline ensures that any two characters or elements that are in the same scene always have the same right/left relationship to each other. It also establishes where the actor’s are in the scene for the audience’s benefit. However if the camera “crosses the line” it breaks the rule and therefore can make the two characters look as if there are on the same side. In terms of our film See through My Eyes we applied this rule when we were filming a close up on Zainab while she was in the cemetery visiting the grave of her best friend.

• Performance- The performance of the two main characters were at a decent standard especially when we used close ups on Zainab’s face because by her facial expressions we could see clearly what emotion she was feeling without needing to use dialogue. An example of this is towards the end of the opening where Zainab wakes up and can hear someone, a voice calling out her name. The close up highlights the scared and frightened expression on her face. Just like in our preliminary task we used the same acting skills that kept us focused throughout the filming process.

• Sound- In terms of sound we had to make sure that ambient sound, music and voiceover were at the appropriate volume and were clear just like our preliminary task. In preliminary task one of our strengths was that the conversations and other sound techniques were loud and clear enough. To have the same outcome we made sure when adding the voiceover and music we enhanced the volume while editing to help build up the tension of the film, as it is a thriller.

Extra knowledge and skills:

• As this was a thriller we learnt about what needed to in each scene to make it a successful thriller. We did this by selecting the most suitable locations e.g. the graveyard as we needed a grave to show the audience that one of the characters was dead.
• We learnt how to use a range of different shots correctly such as shot reverse shot, cut aways, tracking shots, over the shoulder shots, extreme close ups and medium shots.
• In terms of editing we learnt how to edit the shots and fit them togther as a sequence so the audience have a clear understanding of what is happening in the film. Therefore it will make sense to them.