Continuity Task

Original Brief:
"Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180- degree rule."

Script:

Ben opens the door, the shot is from behind.
Walks through towards the camera, and over to a desk where DR. Achmed is sitting. He sits down.

Over Dr. Achmed’s shoulder shot, viewing Ben as he starts to talk.

BEN: I need your help. It’s my fish.

DR. ACHMED: What’s wrong with it?

BEN: Well I’ve had him for 5 years now, and I’ve grown really attached to him, but he’s ill. I think he is going to die.

Over Ben’s shoulder shot, viewing Dr. Achmed as he suggests a remedy.

DR. ACHMED: I think I can help you with this. We’re making a type of plastic surgery for fish, which allows them to have a fake plastic fin put on.

It returns back to an over the shoulder shot, viewing Ben, as he ponders the idea of a plastic fin.

BEN: A fake plastic fin? It will probably be able to swim a bit easier, and it will probably be able to eat a lot more.

DR. ACHMED: But it may get bullied by the bigger fish.

Returns to over Ben’s shoulder again as Dr. Achmed doesn’t take Ben seriously.

DR. ACHMED: The only problem is, when this fish gets this plastic fin…

Dr. Achmed starts laughing.

BEN: Are you laughing at me? At my fish? Because he’ll get a plastic fin? He might die! He was my best friend for five f**king years!

Ben angrily stands up and shoves papers off Dr. Achmed’s desk.The camera follows Ben as he starts to walk out, and as he leaves the room, Dr Achmed Speaks:

DR. ACHMED: I’m sorry!

Ben slams the door shut, after turning round and yelling:

BEN: F**k you!

STORYBOARD:







Shot 1: Shot just outside of the room, where Ben comes into shot. He opens the door and enters the room.
Shot 2: Shot from inside the room, pans around as Ben walks around towards and past the camera, to the desk where Dr. Achmed is sitting.
Shot 3: Over the shoulder shot where we see Ben beginning to explain his problems to Dr. Achmed.
Shot 4: Shot reverse shot- to Dr. Achmed- over the shoulder shot.
Shot 5: When Dr. Achmed doesn't take Ben seriously, the camera zooms every so slightly towards Ben's back and then stays still whilst watching Ben storm angrily out of room.




Below is the YouTube video for our continuity task:


The camera techniques which we used in our film mainly included: shot types- mid shots and long shots amongst over the shoulder shots and match on action. We also had to use the 180- degree rule which makes the audience understand what is going on a lot more simpler. The varied shots would have made it more interesting for the audience in the sense, of seeing the shots through different shots and angles. The over the shoulder shots help the audience see who is talking. The way the camera moves with the characters movement is also very smooth, thanks to the sturdy tripod. This smoothness prevents shakiness and unsteadiness, making the shots clean. The 180-degree rule would have made it easier for the audience in the sense of preventing them from getting confused. The yellow line on the storyboards (above) show how the imaginary 180-degree rule line crosses the room, showing the camera positions too. The line would carry on from inside the room to near the door to the bottom right corner. This therefore allowed the shot to be taken firstly outside then continued from inside the room.
The use of new technologies in my group's construction consisted of: digital cameras; non-linear editing software- Adobe Premiere; YouTube and our blogs. As I had not used a digital camera and the editing software before, it was a challenge. However, I was quick to learn the basic use and then developed more skills after continuing the develop the final outcome.
I think the strengths that are shown through our film are that we held the camera steadily creating a shot that was clean and smooth. The variety of shots we used help us gain knowledge in how we can create different atmospheres and emotions. For example, by slowly zooming into Ben's back whilst he realized Dr. Achmed was laughing at him, makes the audience think that Ben was going to get up and leave... which does happen.
I think our final product met the brief successfully as we involved all the points that the brief named. To be more specific, we had the character open a door, cross the room, sit in a chair opposite another character and have a conversation. Further more, we did use match on action- at the beginning when Ben enters the room, we switch to a shot actually in the room still showing him walking to the desk. Secondly, we used shot/reverse shot quite a number of times to show the conversation the characters were having. Then lastly, we used the 180-degree rule in order to prevent the audience from getting confused and keeping the film shots fluent. Therefore, I am very pleased with the outcome we produced.