Continuity Exercise

During the lesson I booked out equipment which consists of a camera and tripod to film my continuity exercise with my group, it consisted of 3 people myself and 2 other girls. We then found a spacious area where we could film on an 180˚angle and from there took it in turn to film, acting in each others continuity exercises.

At first I encounter some complications, I've never filmed before or used the equipment so I didn't know how to use. It took some time to learn how to put the camera on the tripod, how to use the tripod and also how to use the camera. After establishing how to use the equipment in the correct manner with help from the other girls in my group and through trial and error I was able to begin filming.

My first attempt in filming my continuity exercise ended in failure due to me only filming a shot reverse and not a shot-reverse-shot but also because I broke the 180˚rule.

“In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what not to do the next time” Anthoney J. D'Angelo

The second time I filmed when much smoother as I didn't make any major mistakes. I decided to film from the right so kept to this side throughout, to comply with the 180 degree angle rule. When filming you need know when to start and stop so we decided counted down from three and then, on one would click the record button at which point we would film. This was significantly important when filming as it allows Actor A and B to know when to start and stop.

In the first scene I filmed Actress A who walked up to the door, using the tripod to track her to the door and then pushing down on the door handle and pausing. At which point I stopped filming. I then moved to the other side of the door keeping to the right, I filmed Actress A, with the door handle still pushed down, opening the door. As Actress A walks in, with her hand still on the door, says as scripted “Hey, how are you?” at the end of which lets go of the door.

I then cut to Actress B where shot-reverse-shot would take place. Once I cut to her in a mid shot where she says “I'm good, how are you?'

I paused filming her and cut back onto Actress A in a mid shot saying in reply “I'm good thanks” at which point it fades to black.

From doing the Continuity Exercise I not only learnt how to use the equipment (camera and tripod) but also how to use Final Cut Express as I had never used it before either. From the exercise I learnt how to do/obey the 180˚rule by keeping to one particular side, but I was also able to grasp how to correctly do a shot-reverse-shot by making sure it's not at different angles but in line and that it also flows. I also came to terms with how to cut clips in Final Cut Express and how to put it all together however also attained the knowledge to learn how to put in effects such as fade to black.

Overall I feel that this task has helped me prepare to film my opening as I have learnt how to use essential programs and equipment however by doing this task it has allowed me to practice these skills and obtain experience. This in turn allowed me to gain better knowledge and understanding of said programs and equipment making me more familiar with them. This will benefit me when filming my movie opening as I will be able to use the equipment and the 180˚rule in the correct manner.