Shooting the Prelim

Shooting the Prelim

Yesterday the 20^th of September we filmed a prelim. We began by getting a storyboard which was already made up and given to us. We were split into groups and were told to each do something different but with the same scripts. We thought of setting a scene where the audience would be able to tell what we were and who we were.

In the prelim we had to make it obvious of who we were trying to make the actors look like or what era they were trying to be from.

We had to choose what theme we wanted to do and what outfits would be best suited with what we were filming. We used something very obvious, cowboy hats, as this is a very big signifier, which created meaning. We used a table, which was meant to be a bar, and we had a drink and shot glasses, which showed they were drinking and set the scene of a bar or pub.  The stereotype was obvious as the drink was on the table with people around which looked like a drinking bar and the cowboy hats to show who was drinking at the bar.

Throughout the whole prelim we did 6 shots but only moved the camera 3 times. We did different shots so that the audience could see the whole scene. We did 2 over the shoulder, one of each person, 3 close ups and 1 wide shot. We did over the shoulder so then you get the effect of the other person talking which helps create a dynamic between the character and what they are seeing. The close up was done so you could see facial expression and also close moves; it reveals the characters personality and is intimate and powerful.  We also did an extreme close up of the bottle and the shot glasses and one of the actors pouring it into the glasses which emphasised what they were drinking.

The technician, Matt, helped us how to do a basic set up of the scene and the best way to film it and then we took over. Each person in the group was given a role so everyone was involved. I was the director, which I loved because I was in charge of everything that was going on, and telling the other people in the group what to do. We had the director which was me, a camera man, two actors and one continuity. The continuity was in charge of making sure that the drink was always the right amount and that the scene was always right. This was probably the most stressful part because keeping the drink the same level was very hard.