This preliminary video was to test our skills and help us to develop our camera techniques, we had to start of with a character or characters walking in and opening a door and starting a conversation. The different techniques we added in was the corrects 180 degree rule, shot reverse shot editing.
Preliminary Task Evaluation
How the filming went? I really thought the filming ran smoothly showing the 360 degree's tracking shot giving the character time to think about the past that he has been through. Actually filming the shot reverse shot, watching it over again i would think their could be slights improvements from the height of the camera and where its been placed. We start of the video with editing shots showing flash backs (flash to white) to show the audience the terrible moments he as seen in the past and the romantic moments he had with his life partner. With the song in the back ground "my chemical romance" which i thought matches the video really well, the reason of this is the songs speaks about relationship break up and this goes really well with the song. Their are problems that i have encountered with such as the location, finding a decent location that is suitable for the audience, and i felt that this isn't the perfected location to shoot a break up. Also the equipment in the background such as chairs, bags and pictures because all this equipment in the background could be miss placed which then would be a problem because the video does not run smoothly. The strengths of the preliminary video in my opinion would be the editing, as i think that the audience would know whats going on in this characters mind with the flash backs from his relationship problems in the past. So i would really think that the editing with the non-diagectic music in the background is really effective as this shows the audience what problems this character is in. I would remember next time to use non-diagectic music in the background, with the music symbolising a break up and "i don't love you", this is what the preliminary video is all about. This song is in a slow pace showing a sad emotion, and this is what the character is feeling. What i remember to do differently next time is to choose a different location instead of doing this in school, so this would give the audience an un answered question from where the location is set. Also using different and appropriate camera shots such as close ups and extreme close up so this would look more effective.
This sound clip seems to be really disturbing from the noises that are showed, this sound is also set in a mental hospital. There is a noise with sounds like a women screaming but cannot get her words out, this would make the audience feel frightened as they do not know what this noise is. I would say this would be a really good sound clip to put in my opening sequence as this sounds really disturbing. There is also a noise which sounds like a light flickering, or electricity not connected properly which shows to be very authentic. I would think this sound clip would be very useful to use as this is very disturbing, and also gives the audience a chilling vibe down there spine.
At the start of the scene this starts of with a pan shot to emphasise the dark and ominous setting the shot is taken in, following the owl to show the location this is set in.
The use of tracking shot is used to show the character walking through the dark forest showing his confidence. This makes the character to seem very authentic. There is a loose frame shot showing the setting and the characters in the setting representing the characters do not match there surrounding of suburban England which makes the audience feel confused. The different camera techniques were used very well within this opening scene to show the audience how they can be confused and also to seem very authentic as this is a unanswered question.
Mise-en-scene:
The Mise-en-scene is used very well as his shows a foggy surroundings gives an ominous feel to the audience, which is also hard to see how the characters are looks when the camera is shot from a far distance. This opening sequence is also set at night to show that the characters are doing something very discretely. The characters has got long white hair to represent the wisdom within the character.
Editing:
The beginning the setting fades from black which shows the street name which the audience has a idea where the setting is, so this would tell the audience a unanswered question where this setting is. The characters are using special effects when the character takes the light which shows him to be very powerful. This also shows when the screen fades to white when their is a close up to the baby which shows his innocence and goodness. This shows the audience an idea on the main character and who and what he would do towards later on through the film.
Sound:
During the clip there is non diegetic music is used with a slow tempo and is high pitched which gives the audience a feel of innocence and also good doings which contrasts with a ominous setting. Dialogue was used when he says "i should have known you would been here....Professor Magonoal" this makes you think that something is going on and also gives the audience an idea on who the names of the actors are and why they are there. The accent especially Dumbledore speaks in a very soft pitch which gives the audience the impression that he called a harmless person and a mellow character, however from his actions his just shown in this clip he seems to be very powerful as well.
Camera: What i find that is really effective is the use of point of view shots as when this character is looking at the picture which they can see is all covered in blood, this is a un answered question to the audience meaning they dont know if this person in the picture is dead, or his planning to murder her. There are other camera shots which are used very well, not showing the true identity of the character, but it shows different descriptions such as the colour of the jumper which was black and red. Also an extreem close up withing the hands to emphasise that this character is very unhygienic. Also using another other point of view as this character picks up a variety of objects such as spanners, hammers etc to show that this character is working on a weapon which creates tension between the audience and this character.
This camera shot here shows the audience a brief description of this character. Showing the reflection of the knife, showing abit of the characters identity with gives the audience i decent idea on who this character is. The camera shows different pan shots of the room, to show that this room is very authentic and also the audience have a rough idea on what his life style is like.
Editing: The use of slow motion is used to show the audience what object is being dropped on the floor.
Mise-en-scene: The mise-en-scene is used very effectively so for example, you could only see little clips of the characters jumper, the colors of this was black and red, these colors could represent death and black, representing that this character is not a hero but a villain. You can also tell that this character is very lower class for the setting he is based in showing very dirty rust equipment, and also is costume as the jumper is ripped on the sleeves which shows that that characters gives a very ominous presence when on the screen.
Sound: The sound is used very effectively as this sounds gives a very frighting and depressing vibe down the audience spine, so for example what sound is used professorially is when this un answered character opens his hands very fast and that 'slash' noise is made to show that this weapon he has is very dangerous and deadly. The use off non-diegetic music is played so this will tell the audience that a dark ominous presence is on the screen.
Camera
To start off this opening sequence, their is a pan shot to show where the young women is heading off to. By pacing this could show that this character is very nervous of who is on the phone. With the pan shot moving into another character, this is introducing two characters in the screen now which can show the audience what is going on. A shot reverse shot is used to show the conversation between the two female characters with one of the female characters slightly higher, so this means thats the camera is at a low angle shot to show that she is more powerful.
An extreme close up is used to show the picture of the phone, and how this can appeal to the female audience. This shows a picture of a man with his body out, but face unknown so this shows a sexy presence between the female characters and the audience. There is also a close up to the phone ringing as this will give tension between the characters as they would leave it to ring, so this would be a unanswered question on who it is to the audience. As the tension is building between the characters a long shot is used to show the location the setting is in, showing the house and this could emphasise that if this character lives in a higher or lower class statues. As the characters change a reverse zoom is used to bring the two blonde female characters. This is very clever how they use the camera work as they introduce them on screen by using a pan shot or a reverse shot. An point of view shot is used as the character is walking down the stairs and can see that the phone is on the floor, reaching down to pick the phone up this makes the audience feel that we are in this characters shoes, with gives them a ominous feel on whats going on. The use of tracking shots are used very well to show that a character is being chased which shows that this character is maybe scared and frightened. As the 'killer' is walking down the steps the camera is at a low angle shot and also tilted to show the audience that this character is more powerful than usual, and gives the audience a negative presence that this character is not up to no good.
Mise-sen-scene: Is used very well as they will show two girls which are blonde maybe to represent that they are popular but also not as smart as anyone else. Showing close ups on their body parts, this also tells the audience that they are young aswell. The colour of there tops are the colour of blue and pink, this can tell the audience thats these colours are shown to be very feminline and sedductive, as well whith the baby blue, maybe clueless on life and whats going on around her. As the last lot of girls are shown, they both have blonde hair but shown to be different from the way they dress, speak and even look. Her outfit is shown to be a grey turtle jumper and a orange top, this shows that these teenagers are maybe smart and do a decent education outside of their home. The house they live in is shown to be a very wealthy family, with the expensive tv and also from as the killer enters, the house is seem to be very authentic with all the lights turnt off, and also being murdered in a garage. The killer is shown to be wearing all black, this would show that this character is powerful and maybe masculine, however shows to give a dark presence to the screen. This character has a mask to give the audience an un answered question on who this character is. From this characters body language, seems to be very strong and masculine, as he takes control of the situation and finds it very easy from the prank calls to actually kill them, he seems this character has done this all before.
Sound: The telephone call is shown to be a very stereotypical ringtone as this sends a chilling vibe down the audience vibe. Every time the phones rings or even the "stalker" talks, non diagetic sounds are used in the background which tells the audience that as louder the music is going in the background is how close the killer is, or even when his presence is shown in the room the non-diagetic sound is shown to be violins playing which tells the audience that something bad is going to happen. As both of the characters die at first, the audience would be able to hear a scream in the background, which means that someone has hurt themselves or they are also in alot of pain. During the clip there is non diegetic music is used with a slow tempo and is high pitched which gives the audience a feel of innocence and also good doings which contrasts with a ominous setting.
Editing: On 3 minutes 44 seconds, the screen flashes emphasise the brightness off the knife on the screen which is shown, this is also a great way to enter into another scnene as two characters are being introduce, this is a great opening for them. The same flash to white editing happens again on 5minutes 15 seconds, this can show the audience that the white shows to be heaven, or even the sparkle of the knife. There is a cross cut to show the two sisters, or even best friends having a convosation on the phone to each other, with one character upstairs and another down, this can tell the audience that without them knowing, someone down the can get hurt, but do not know as this clip is being cross cut. At the end of the opening scene there is shown a flash to white showing the title of the film. This could tell the audience that every flash to whites that are shown someone has been murdered because this can emphasise the sharpness of the knife or even this person are dreaming as this is what this colour stands for.
