Lighting

Lighting can be the difference between a professional, interesting shot and a dull and rookie one. Different lighting can set specific moods, playing to the audiences sub conscious. For example, in a horror film, there is more likely to be a range of darker shades and low key lighting, in contrast a comedy is likely to use high key lighting with bright colours and a warm temperature. Below are a few examples of lighting techniques in film:

Bokeh - Blurring background light sources and focusing on a subject matter in the foreground.

Soft light - Soft pools of light on a part of an actors face.

Light tint - Different tints can be used over a light to give the scene a different look. Matrix uses a green tint in many shots to show futurism. 

Contrast - The use of silhouetting  and high contrast enhances the mood of a shot, making the actors either stand out or difficult to make out depending on what contrasts to what background.

Balancing colour temperatures - using lights of different colour in the same shot can reiterate the location, mood and atmosphere. This is put to best effect in Terminator 2 at the end scene in the steel mill. Orange and blue are used in the same shot to show molten metal and moonlight.

High key - Using brighter lighting so that the characters are easily visible, mostly used in comedies.

Low key - Using darker lighting and colours to set a mysterious and uncertain atmosphere in the shot. Mostly used in horror films.

Hot edges - This technique requires using a soft light on the front of the character (Fill light) and a stronger light on the rear (Backlight) to give the character a hot edge around their body.

Top lighting - When a light source from above shines down on the subject matter, illuminating it from above.

Audience Feedback / Mid Project Review

As our film starts to take shape, it is important for us to obtain audience feedback. We did this by finding people similar to our Audience profile and showing them what footage we have so far and asking for their feedback. We asked for some things they liked as well as improvements they thought we should make. All feedback I am sharing is confidential.

Positives:
- The sound effects when the pigs are shown, this was said to create an enigma as well as dramatic effect. This scene caused our audience to cuss profanities in shock, this shows how powerful our film is in provoking a response.
- Leading lines were used to good effect, drawing the viewers eyes onto the focus of each shot.
- The high angle shots used create effect, making the female actress seem vulnerable, as if she's being watched.

Negatives:
- A lot of the feedback was in relation to our titles and lack of them. The effects in which the title come on screen also needs work.
- While we haven't completed our film, two of the audience commented on the camera sound being heard in the film. This reduces believability and needs taking out of our final piece.
- Because of the timing of our filming, many of the clips seem grainy and out of focus. This gives the film an unprofessional look. However the only solution to the problem is refilming what have done so far at a more suitable time of day when there is a lot more natural light.
- Our actors and their characters lack any introduction or shots establishing who they are/what they're like. To change this, shots and props will be used highlighting key areas of their personalities.

Camera Angles

Camera angles have a huge impact on a film's composition. Having a plethora of different camera angles in a film can make it far more interesting to the audience. When thinking of what camera angles are needed in a film, it's important to think of the three following factors; length of shot (time), Angle/framing and if there is movement in the frame. For example, the opening sequence of a film or scene may include an extreme long shot to set the scene, informing the audience of where the scene is taking place. On the other hand, if a character is exerting expressions an extreme close up may be used to show the audience the expressions in more clarity and detail. Below are a number of camera angles and a description with each of where the shot might be used and what for.

Extreme Close Up (ECU)
Used to show emotion such as tension, elation or happiness
facial expression gives the audience a clear picture of
how the protagonist feels.

Worms Eye
A camera angle from the perspective of a worm
on the floor. This angle gives the impression the
focus of the shot is larger than in reality
This can be used to portray a characters significance. 

Big close up (BCU)
Used to show where character is looking/Thinking
By showing facial expression and emotion.
Some background can be seen which is used to
show setting ect.

Long Shot (LS)
Long shots include the entire character or more than one.
These shots allow the audience to see more than other shots,
giving them a larger picture of the action.

Birds Eye
This angle is from the perspective of a bird, otherwise known
as an aerial shot. This angle emphasizes a spectacle by giving the
audience a clear view over the action.

Close up (CU)
This shot, and other variations of it are used to show emotion as well as
a closer/clearer view of the drama unfolding.
Close up's are often used for important characters as they
can change the audiences opinion or trigger their emotions
by allowing a closer view.

Medium shot (MS)
This shot is similar to close up shots however the torso and upper arms are visible. This allows the audience to see what the main protagonist is doing. This shot also allows the viewer to see any alteration to a characters body, e.g. cuts and bruises.

It is important that I research these camera angles and shots as I will be using them in my preliminary and main task. I now understand the basis of which shot/angle to use and why, allowing me to create more professional films. Combining these camera angles and shots with my compositional research should provide me with aesthetic shots for my own film.

Match On Action

Match on action is the term referred to the editing technique of cutting one shot and matching the same action in the second shot. An example of this would be opening a door and using shots from both sides of the door to show the action. Another example of match on action would be a shot of a car bonnet being opened then a following shot of the cars engine. Although the two shots would have been filmed hours apart from one another, the technique gives the film the impression of continuation in real time. To the left is my own depiction of match on action. It is important I learn this film technique as it is in the criteria for my main and preliminary tasks. It is also an important skill to learn as in film it is used everywhere, in almost every action.

Preliminary Task - Final

Above is mine and Amy Chapman's finished preliminary task. I think it wasn't the best film we could've produced, we could've done with a lot more research and planning to be able to film it all smoothly instead of taking shots that now appear rushed. The shots are blurry as a result of my own poor camera work where i had accidentally used manual focus instead of automatic without realising. I also think the audio levels are poor, in some shots you can barely hear what the characters are saying. We did take out a microphone to help record audio however we didn't record any as we forgot to put batteries in it. We did write up a storyboard with details of shots to be used and we did stick to it, however some shots on the storyboard were not possible to capture. For example we originally wanted a birds eye view of the table the characters were sat on however it was physically impossible to film this shot without a drone of sorts. Another point i think let us down was the acting, using friends to act proved difficult as their attention was elsewhere. It was difficult to get them to portray emotion also, Alex Flinders was very wooden and stiff, we had to film the torture sequence 3 or 4 times as he wouldn't scream in pain.

The point of this exercise was to identify any weaknesses and doubt we had about filming. I will take all of these factors into account for my next task in order to make it much better. The key point for my next task i believe is careful planning so we know exactly what to do when we come to film it. After doing some further editing, our finished task is below.

The 180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule (directors line) is the relationship between the two characters on screen and the camera angle. The picture (left) shows the imaginary line between the two characters called the axis. The camera must be on one side of this line and can be anywhere within the 180 degree angle of this axis. Crossing this line with the camera is called 'jumping the line' and can be done, but only if the camera is still rolling while the line is crossed. If the line is crossed while the shot changes the audience can be easily confused as to where the characters are in relation to their background as their positions change on screen.

The 180 degree rule is used then to show the audience what is happening behind the characters during a section of dialogue without confusing them with complicated shot angle changes.

Director follow the 180 degree rule often and it appears in films, It allows for a style of editing called continuity editing and when done correctly makes films more understandable. The 180 degree rule has also been used to show split personalities in films such as 'The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers'. In This Peter Jackson film, Gollum has a conversation with himself in a cave. The 180 degree rule is used to show his bi-polar personality; good Gollum is seen to be looking left while bad Gollum is always seen looking right. This gives the impression there are two Gollum's having a conversation with each other. The effect is continued mid seen as the camera sweeps from left to right and Gollum is seen shifting his head from right to left.

The 180 degree rule can also be broken to good effect. In Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror, 'The Shining' the rule is broken to create mystery and disorientation in the audience. The two characters on scene are having a conversation when the camera flips to other other side of them, 180 degrees away. This creates confusion in the audience, adding to the tension and suspense of the film. Making it more psychologically entertaining. To the left is a video of this scene, please skip it to 6 mins as the only available clip is far too long.

In an effort to get to grips with the 180 degree rule, I have filmed a short movie demonstrating that i can use it to good effect. In the film above I have used the rule to shoot a conversation, halfway through the conversation the camera switches sides to show that the 180 degree rule can in fact be broken to good effect. This can disorientate the audience as they are viewing a completely different angle of the conversation. I would break the 180 degree rule in psychological thrillers and horrors to confuse the audience.

I have conducted this research into the 180 degree rule as I will be using it in my preliminary and main tasks. It is important i understand the rule correctly so i can use it to good effect.

Shot Reverse Shot

Shot, reverse shot is a camera shot type. It consists of usually a conversation/meeting between two people who are opposite each other. There is commonly a camera over the shoulder of the first person facing the second person face on. There is the same camera set up for the second person, over their shoulder facing the first person. Another camera is often set up facing the two characters face on. The shot gives the audience a sense of action as there is a constant change of shot with every characters turn of dialogue. 

This shot has become a staple of modern and classic film editing, almost every film uses the shot at some point. Early films that didn't use the shot for conversations were boring and often unwatchable. Below is an image of a scene from 'The Dark Knight Rises' in which Batman is conversing with The Joker; The camera is over The Jokers shoulder and so the image contains both characters face to face.

Below is my own short film demonstrating shot reverse shot. As it's only a demonstration it is very scruffy and floored. The film is only to demonstrate that i can shoot scenes using shot reverse shot. I found that whilst shooting the scene we had to pause the conversation after each characters line so that we could go around to the other characters side and shoot the clip of their speech. This was frustrating however there is no way around it. I have also learned how to join individual clips together to create a film.

 

I will be using match on action in my preliminary and main tasks so it is important that i comprehend the idea. My own version of match on action is poor quality and seems rushed however i have learned the basic technique and am comfortable using it in later films.