Question Seven

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full task?

• In the preliminary task, the main focus was to achieve the 180 degree rule, a match on action and shot reverse shot. These are useful techniques to have learnt, however more skills than these need to be known to produce a successful opening sequence. I didn't use the 180 degree rule or shot reverse shot in my opening sequence but I did use a match on action. This was used in my first scene when the girl is walking down the street. I filmed other match on action shots, for example of the car driving past, but I did not use this footage as it wasn't needed. I filmed a lot of my footage in the car, which I thought was a risk as it may be too shaky, however I learnt that successful shots can be taken in a car using a handheld camera.

• I worked with someone else in the preliminary task as I thought this would be easier as we could bounce ideas off each other, however I found this actually restricted my ideas. I decided to work on my own for my main task as I liked the idea of being more independent. I was worried I might struggle with developing my ideas, however all the audience feedback I received was helpful in the respect that it helped me develop ideas, without restricting any of them.

• I had to consider titles in the main task, which we didn't have to do in the preliminary task. I have learn that every detail is important when creating titles, from the size, the colour, the font, and the framing. If every detail is considered, more successful and professional looking titles will be created. For example, I originally positioned my titles on the very edge of the frame and when I got audience feedback I was told that it was conventional to place titles approximately 2cm in from the edge of the frame. One of the final changes I made to my product was the font of the end title. I did this because my original font didn't suit the thriller genre.

• Although there was sound in my final product of my preliminary task, I had to think a lot more about the type of sound I was going to use in my main task as this is what can make a film effective.

• In the preliminary task we did not consider miss-en-scene such as props, costume, lighting and location as we just used what was convenient for us. These factors make a huge difference when creating an opening sequence as they help grab the audiences attention. I took time in planning mise-en-scene for my opening and what connotation would be shown through these.

• I have also progressed in the amount of posts on my blog. I still need to develop my time management skills so blog posts are consistently posted which would add more continuity to my blog.