Preliminary Production Evaluation

For our preliminary exercise, one of the main strong points was the fact we fit the brief really well. We achieved all the things required which was that someone opened the a door, there was a match on action shot, there were over the shoulder shots and there were also interesting other shots that we included. The script was simple and it was easy to follow, however the layout of our script was not exactly professional. The storyboard was very rushed but again it got the different shots across and it was really simple to follow the storyboard. We could of made the storyboard more detailed , however, for the real thing they must be more detailed and more in depth in order to create an better production.In addition to this, the shot-list was again very simple.Therefore, next time we would definitely have to make a detailed plan in order to create a more in depth and better planned production. 

The dialogue in our production was very clear and presented a clear narrative. The timing of the music was cut really well and the choice of music was parallel to the narrative. The focus was also very good and the use of angles and different shots was really good, in terms of continuity editing too. Overall, the production met the brief really well. 

The weaknesses however were; there was a humming sound in the background when the two characters were talking and when Aliza got up and left the room there was just silence, which made the production feel sort of incomplete and peculiar. However, the use of the  the over the shoulder shots were not framed well at all, there was a lot of unnecessary space and the shot was more a behind the person shot as most of the back of the character was seen rather than just the shoulder. Also, the focus on the character, who was the most important, wasn't great as she was not the main centre of attention. The use of the hair flick, when she walks into the room, portrays her as a sassy character, the audience, therefore, are able to infer this immediately due to her character. The other girl, Ria, seems like more of the innocent character, the one who knows she can't get her own way. Her body language sort of speaks for itself, whilst Aliza sits quite confidently, with her back straight against the chair, Ria sits almost huddled up and cross legged, like she is intimidated. 

To conclude, the preliminary production met the brief and was very simple and easy to understand. However, there were mistakes, for example, having bad framing for over the shoulder shots, which will help us to have experience in the real production for our coursework.

Film Language Test Learner Response

WWW: Some excellent points made, particularly on camerawork.

EBI: Make sure you fully explain each point, paragraphing clearly will help with this. You mix up camerawork and editing in places, be careful of this in the future.

LR: Re-write Q1


 What does the mise-en-scene suggest about the characters and events in the film?

Firstly, the Keaton is made up to look like e has been beaten up, which implies to the audience that  this is a vulnerable character. The costumes used are very classic as the villain is dressed in a long black coat and hat, which is classic noir costume.

The props used in this scene all represent and support the theme of thriller/crime genre. For example, the villain has a gun, there are shots of dead bodies.

The lighting used is low-key lighting, which is typical for this genre as it suggests criminality of some characters.

The slow movement of acting creates suspense and the deliberate actions by the villain suggests his power over Keaton. Keaton does not move, which suggest that he is powerless as he is trapped.

Preliminary Exercise - Planning

Location: School D Block
Sequence of events:

• Girl walking up the stairs 
• Girl opening door 
• Girl going through the door 
• Girl going into classroom
• Girl sitting down opposite another girl 
• Other girl starts talking 
• Conversation between two girls 
• Girl stands up and walks away 

Actresses: TBC 

Script: 

Girl walks up the stairs and opens the door. She enters the classroom 

and sits opposite her friend

Girl 1: I was expecting to see you here

Girl 2: Were you now? 

Girl 1: I need to talk to you

Girl 2: Go on I'm listening (fiddling with nails)

Girl 1: I saw you the other day with Sandra. So I never knew you liked that girl, when did you become friends ey?

Girl 2: I swear it's not like that. It's not what it seems

Girl 1: K (rolls eyes and gets up and walks away)

Shot List: 

• Close up of feet walking up the stairs 
• Medium shot of her walking 
• Medium shot of her back 
• Medium shot opening the door 
• Close up of her hand as she opens the door (match on action)
• Long shot of her walking through the door 
• Medium shot of her back 
• POV shot of her looking at her friend in the classroom 
• Medium shot of her about to sit down 
• Close up of her hand pulling out the chair 
• Medium shot of the two 
• Over the shoulder shot over girl 2
• OTS over girl 1 
• Medium shot of them both exchanging 2 lines of dialogue 
• OTS of girl 2 
• OTS of girl 1
• Low angle shot of girl getting up and walking away  

Storyboard

Editing task

This clip is from the film The Birds (1963), which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The pace of the editing at the beginning is quite slow, showing a long shot of the female protagonist running out of a diner. The use of diegetic sound at the beginning is also effective as we hear the loud sound of the birds shrieking, however, when she enters the phone box, the sound becomes less potent. This suggests to the audience that the phone box is protecting her from the danger of outside. This only lasts for a few seconds as the sound of the birds slowly gets louder. The use the repeated eyeline match forces the audiences' attention on the chaos outside. The fast pace of the straight cuts back and forth, from her and the car on fire, builds tension. Also, the use of constant juxtaposition makes the audience feel like they are in her position. There is then a high angle shot on the female protagonist, also known as a tilt, which shows her as a helpless, vulnerable, submissive character. 

It then jumps to another juxtaposition shot, the eyeline match is her looking at a car, which is driving towards her at high speed. It then cuts to a medium close up of her flinching and turning away from the camera. There is then a straight cut focusing on the man in the car, who is being attacked by the violent birds. There is then a jump cut back to our female protagonist, this is a close up and only half of her face is shown as she is hiding behind the telephone stand. This gives the impression that she is terrified and is in great danger. The mans face in the car is not clearly shown, which suggests that Hitchcock didn't want the audience to get too attached to this character as he isn't really significant. After the man drives off, there is another straight cut to the main character, however, all these straight cuts to the female protagonist are no longer than one second shots, this is extremely fast pace, which creates suspension. There is then a long shot of the car skidding, and fire in the background, which again suggests danger. She then attempts to get out of the phone box, with the camera titling up at her. We are then presented with the sound of sirens, which again symbolises some need of help. The jump cut of a close up of her hand, focuses the viewers to see her push the phone box door shut again. There is then another example of juxtaposition, where an eyeline match of her looking and the fire engine pulling up at the gas station. The constant use of this, puts the viewer in her shoes and really get a sense of what she is experiencing. The use of the third tilt (downward) emphasises her subversiveness. We can also infer that because it is a medium close up (different from the other tilt shots) of her, suggests that she is in a state of panic as it looks like she is in a tighter and more confined space. There is another eyeline match, which in cinematography is called a point-of-view shot. There is then a straight cut to a horse and carriage, which like the car earlier on in the scene, speeds towards her. There is then a brief jump cut to a close up of her face/eye. There is then a couple more straight cuts of her, which is then followed by a sharp jump cut to another tilt shot. We then see another jump cut to a mans bloody face, this forces the viewer to look at him as it is unexpected and sudden. The use of the eyeline match, suggests she sees an opportunity to escape. Which is then followed by her opening the door, but with her back facing the camera. As a viewer we want to see what her facial expression is when she is doing this, so this is quite frustrating as an audience member. There is then another sudden jump cut of the bird smashing into the glass, which has taken her aback. 
Finally, there is then a long shot of the outside of the phone box, where a man comes to her rescue and helps her out of the phone box. There is a frenetic pace for the entreaty of this scene. I think Hitchcock did this to build up tension and make the audience feel uneasy. In addition, there was not any dialogue used in this scene, this may be because Hitchcock wanted to emphasise all the attention on the sound of the birds, which again makes the audience feel uncomfortable as the sound is very unsettling.

Cinematography

Saving Private Ryan

We are first presented with a medium shot of the American flag blowing in the wind. Panning is then used, which pans up from the back of his feet to the back of his head. This creates suspense, as we are not shown his face instantly. This can be also described as a point-of-view shot as we are then shown a medium shot of his family looking at him from behind. There is then a medium close up of what we presume is his son or son in law taking a photograph. A medium close up is then shown of his wife with the rest of the family being in a medium shot. From this we can infer that she may be more significant then the rest of the family. An establishing shot is then used to show the location. This is also a panning shot as it moves from where the family were walking to a close up of him at the front. We then finally get to see a medium close up of the male protagonist. There is then another shot of the American flag, but this time it is a medium shot, and one of the French flag. The camera then goes back to a medium shot of the male protagonist, which clearly shows the expression on his face. He is looking ahead of him, but the audience has not yet been showed what he is looking at. A long shot of him and his family walking is shown, slowly showing the head stones of soldiers that fought in the war. A crane shot is used to show the hundreds of head stones of the soldiers that died during the war. We are then presented with multiple long shots of the head stones. Lastly, we are shown a medium shot of him and his family, which then starts to zoom in, leaving us with a big close up of his eyes.

Sound Task

This clip is from Jurassic World. This scene uses diegetic sound such as the rustling sound that comes from when the two boys are running through the grass. Also, the dinosaur roaring and stomping on the ground is another example of diegetic sound as the characters can hear it. Furthermore, there is things like dialogue, the waterfall, and the sound of the two boys jumping into the water, which are other examples of diegetic sound. However, the soundtrack/music is an example of non-diegetic sound. I would say that the soundtrack/music is contrapuntal as it is classical music that is being played. This enhances the level of terror as it is not what you would normally expect to be played in an action/running scene.

Sound Presentation