2. • Before filming we made a short scene for a
preliminary task, in which we tried to test out
different camera angles and editing. This was
approximately 30 seconds long,
demonstrating how to use shot reverse shot,
180 degrees shot and match on action. These
are commonly used in different films and
certainly the thriller genre that we are
focusing on. Along with these shots there are
certain rules that follow them.
3. Shot-Reverse-Shot
• The preliminary task was a good way in learning these
rules and understanding how they work. In testing them
out and trying them for ourselves it made us more
confident to include the shots within our real film
opening. As shown in the photo on the left, this is the
editing technique called shot-reverse-shot. This is when
the camera moves from looking over one characters
shoulder and then to the other characters shoulder. This
therefore means that the audience can see the characters
facial reactions to any spoken dialogue. Although this is a
very popular angle, we decided not to use it within our
final film, as we did not have any dialogue and our main
characters did not physically meet within the opening.
4. Match on Action
• Within our preliminary task we also tried a technique called Match-
on-action; this is where the editor cuts from one shot to another
view that matches the first shot's action. We showed this within our
task by showing a girl walk up to a door and then cut the scene,
before showing the girl then inside the room. This therefore speeds
up the scene and allows the audience to know she has entered the
door without the need to show what has happened. This was then
applied to our final film, shown when Joseph Damien is sat inside
his car and is holding the knife for the murder. We show him shift to
open the car door, cut the scene, then show his feet from a low
angel shot getting out of the car. This is good as it speeds up the
scene leading to the murder, creating the fast-paced tension we
want and also allows the audience to know he got out of the car,
without the need to actually physically see it happen.
5. 180 degree Rule
• Another shot type we tested in our task was the 180 degree rule, which is
a basic guideline regarding the on-screen spatial relationship between a
character and another character or object within a scene. We watched a
short clip of each being demonstrated within a film and learnt the ways to
safely film each. For example with the 180 degrees shot the camera man
would have to stay one side of a‘line’ and not cross it or it would be
breaking the shot. However if the camera shows the line being broken the
effect doesn’t drop and the viewer does not get confused. By watching the
videos and learning how an effective shot is used we could thereby start
putting our knowledge into action and start filming. In filming the 180
degrees shot I and a fellow media student sat on a bench at either side
facing each other while our other partner used the camera along an
imaginary line so we would always be in the same position on the screen
while having a conversation and the audience would not be confused.
After we demonstrated the camera moving from along the line and then
breaking the line which appeared to mix up the positions of the two
people and confuse the audience. We did this so that we therefore knew
how to film the shot in the right way so we could use it properly within
our story we would produce.
6. 180 degree rule:
• In our final film we decided to use this shot in our opening
as although we again did not have dialogue for the shot to
be used in. We did use the 180 degree rule in the scene
where joseph is now inside his car and driving out of the
car park to start his killing spree.
• I feel that I now know how to use it effectively in any
future events and can progress in my knowledge of
different camera angles.
7. Techniques
• Techniques that we used in our final film that we didn’t in the
preliminary were over laps of different scenes. For example within
our film we changed the opacity of the scene and over lapped
another on top of it. With the use of this technique allowed us to
show the victim and the killer at the same time, helping us to
effectively create a time lapse of two events. Of course in our
preliminary task we did not cover how to do this and learned how to
by discovering for ourselves how to use final cut express effectively.
8. Final Cut Express
• The preliminary task was the first real time that
we practiced editing on final cut express, from
this we learnt how to cut and add text to the
scenes. This therefore was then helpful in our
final piece especially for creating tension and our
titles. Furthermore towards the progression of
our final product we also had some challenges.
These included some of our shots being too dark
for the audience to see the main features of
events. We then learnt how to change the
lighting and brightness on each scene so that we
could effectively use the scene and not re-shoot
and waste editing time.
9. Example of Progression
• In the preliminary task we did not have music,
nor experiment at that stage in time with
adding music to scenes. I was also unaware of
how to use different sounds effectively,
especially in a thriller film where music is a key
convention for adding suspense and tension.
However in the stages of editing the final
product we effectively learnt as a group how
to use Garage Band and different sound
effects to apply them to our thriller.
10. Basic techniques
Some basic shots such as a close up or a long shot was also new to us, so the
preliminary task was a good way in practising how to shot and where to use the
shots effectively. Although we were unaware at the time, but even these simple
shots are difficult to shot, especially in learning different camera settings and how to
hold and move the camera. In learning this we then applied this to our own film,
which now includes lots of close ups, mostly of Joseph’s face. For example a close up
shot is commonly used to show a characters emotion and show their facial features.
