Editing video

We got given the task to make a small clip using some of the camera shots and editing skills we had learnt in class; it had to be two people walking in to each other.  it was successful as we used multiple cuts and editing skills eg cross cutting, cutting on action etc, to get our final peice, but it was unsuccessful though as we filmed in portrait when we meant to film it in landscape as films are presented in 16:9 ratio.
https://flipagram.com/f/wVXA2xAsGy

Editing and transition.

In class we learnt about different editing types, and different transitions that  are used to give a certain affect that the audience can pick up on to allow them, for example, understand what the character is thinking.

Editing is a crucial part of film language as it structures the narrative and links scenes and events together. It follows a logical, time order to allow  the audience to understand what is going on, but can be distorted in order to hint at flashbacks.

Editing skills that can be used are: cut, cutting on action, cut away, jump cut, cross cutting, matched cut, action or composition, verbal matched cut, cutting rate, cutting rhythm, buffer. 

All  edits are used for a reason, eg, abrupt ending would be used to emphasis shock, or disturbance of a character.
We also learnt about different transitions- fade in / out dissolve, smash cut- abrubt, iris- lens is closing down, wipe, invisible cut- can't tell there has been a cut, whip pan- moving out of scene and in to another, L cut-dialogue gets quieter or louder and carries on in to the next scene, J cut- audio playing before you see the scene, and combinations.

Camera shots

Superman returns

At the beginning of the scene the camera shows superman's face and then shows what he is looking at (reverse angle shot) to show that he can see what is going on in side the house but the people inside don't know he is there.

Once in side the house there is a establishing shot, to allow the audience to understand that the family are in the kitchen/living room, and that the son will not be able to hear the future conversation as he is busy playing the piano.

During the couples conversation, at the beginning the camera uses a medium long shot to show that the husband is wanting to ask his wife something, but is quite uncomfortable about the situation. This is shown through the shots changing quickly between both characters and the dragged out dialogue before he says his point.

When he asks about the specific article "I spent the night with superman" the shot starts to zoom in to focus on her reactions to emphasis that the question is awkward and that she is unsure of the answer.

When the husband asks if she loved Superman, the shot becomes a big close up to show that she is unsure as to what to answer due to her husband being jealous. This allows the audience to know that she did love Superman, even though she tells her husband she does not.

When she says she didn't love him, it shows a long shot of the couple talking about it, then a close up of superman to show his emotions of shock and sadness due to her answer, even though it is clear to the audience that she did love him, due to the camera shots used during the scene.

Mise-en-scene: primeval

We learnt about how Costume, Lighting, Actors, Movement, Props, and Setting have a big impact on film and how it changes the experiences and impressions the audience have. 

It can craft the audience to think of characters or a situation in a certain way, perhaps before anything actually happens.

 

The men and women in primeval are read very easily due to their costumes; for example 3 men walk towards the camera, one wearing a suit, another in camel colored trouser, tshirt and unbuttoned shirt, and another in more colorful flamboyant clothing. This instantly tells the audience that the first man is more of a nerd, intellectual, and not comfortable being around danger. Whereas the second man is dressed in more of an 'Indiana Jones' manner, suggesting that he is prepared for danger and is quite brave. The last man is dressed to appear to be the clumsy, dumb one who tries to keep up with the group.

The main women is shown to be pretty, but strong and her own women. she is dressed in green khaki trousers and is in good shape, suggesting she is quite active and is prepared for when danger is there.
whereas the other woman is dressed in a dainty dress, and is not prepared for danger as she is in heels, therefore she is shown as the damsel in distress

Lesson 1: Film language

We watched american gangster, after watching it we had to analyse it talking about the characters that had appeared, the location it was set in, the relationships between the characters, and we had to interpret the context, genre and what the story line may be.

It was surprising how much you could get about the film just from the opening scene; for example, there were 4 characters in the scene, one white foreign man sitting down, being covered in petrol by another man, who comes across as unimportant, as the camera does not focus on his face. The camera then  focuses on 2 men, the one closer to the camera is dressed in casual clothing but is clearly important, due to the relationship with the man in the background (the boss) he then lights the man sitting down of fire and shoots him. While this is happening the man standing in the background, is shown to have a lot of power and wealth as his clothes are smart and he is not getting involved with the dirty work of killing this man.

Throughout the scene you also become aware of the location of the scene, as it opens with american police sirens and the street is steamy, suggesting that this is based New York.
The lighting and music suggests that this film is not going to be lighthearted and is more of a thriller/drama.

Although this scene is a minute long, it is setting the scene for the rest of the film, with small hints about relationships, the location, and their jobs.

Lesson 1: Film language

We watched american gangster, after watching it we had to analyse it talking about the characters that had appeared, the location it was set in, the relationships between the characters, and we had to interpret the context, genre and what the story line may be.

It was surprising how much you could get about the film just from the opening scene; for example, there were 4 characters in the scene, one white foreign man sitting down, being covered in petrol by another man, who comes across as unimportant, as the camera does not focus on his face. The camera then  focuses on 2 men, the one closer to the camera is dressed in casual clothing but is clearly important, due to the relationship with the man in the background (the boss) he then lights the man sitting down of fire and shoots him. While this is happening the man standing in the background, is shown to have a lot of power and wealth as his clothes are smart and he is not getting involved with the dirty work of killing this man.

Throughout the scene you also become aware of the location of the scene, as it opens with american police sirens and the street is steamy, suggesting that this is based New York.
The lighting and music suggests that this film is not going to be lighthearted and is more of a thriller/drama.

Although this scene is a minute long, it is setting the scene for the rest of the film, with small hints about relationships, the location, and their jobs.

My first media post, useful websites:

www.bfi.org.uk  

www.artofthetitle.com

www.bbfc.co.uk

vimeo

www.theguardian.com