Preliminary post production task

Our media teacher presented us a short storyboard according to it we must make a short film on the preliminary task and next week we had an introduction lesson of Final Cut Pro application and video editing in it.
So, we access the roll footage from Final Cut proxy and started to edit our film. Firstly, we cut from the original sequence the separate files of long-shot, where all sequence was filmed in long-shot position and we did exactly the same with all positions: mid-shot, close-up and extreme close-up. We did it by watching the video for several times and then cut episodes with appropriate shots by Final Cut option 'Make the sub-clip' and then sent it to special log bin in which were the frames which we used in the final sequence after.

We did it do ease out task in next mixing the different shots for final sequence and create the story because exactly different shots can help film-makers to tell a story to spectators. Also, to force the audience to identify with the rights characters and to make sure the story makes sense to the audience.
We selected the appropriate shots carefully to create really sensible story and it means that our story started, according to film laws, from the long established shot and then change shots to most suitable to find the 'best fit' to show our characters in right positions.
Our storyboard was a big hint for us because there were necessary shots for each frame already so our task was to choose the right angle for camera and other factors (eg. lighting). Because of our sequence, we put the audience to the side of girl who was a victim and we showed it by using high angles of camera and, in opposite, the boy who had a dominance position always was showed in low angles. Also we used several Cut-away shots: firstly, trembling fingers of the girl that meant she is nervous and when the boy started pushing her, we made a cut-away to his mouth when he said 'Do it!' to make an atmosphere a great domination of the boy and girl's helpless.

We combined these shots in our timeline and, of course, the main thing in editing - we always had a talking character in the frame so, when girl said that she 'can't do it', she was in the frame and when the boy replied - he was in the frame.

To avoid the trouble when we started to mix shots about the repeated sounds, we just moved the video-tracks of one particular shot for exact timeline where it must be and cut other inappropriate frames, so after necessary episode of, for example, long shot, we move to mid-shot slightly but the sound-track is only one through all sequence so we hear words and sounds of film only once.

After all, from technical side we received much more developed product because it was a complete sequence which had mush less capacity in comparison with the analogue cassette version because the digital one has almost the same quality but it takes not so many capacity sources of computer.

At the end, I'd like to place a Final Cut video tutorial and with its help, I think, everyone can make a short film as our group did.

Preliminary task Evaluation

The location for our preliminary film task was a classroom and this location was used to show the regular place where lots of grown-ups have their debates, problems and so on.
My role in this task was a participation of plan development and discussion with other members of the group what camera trick shall we use in a particular frame.
Our group used hard key lighting to show the conflict between two characters and make the negative older girl stricter. This trick was effective because with help of the light we created a contrast even on the face of the character where one part of it was on the light and the second one shadowed.
Our group set up camera correctly and 'bubbled' or check tripod level each time when the camera was moved to another place and it means that tripod bubble indicator was always in the centre of the cirlce. The camera was framed correctly each time and one of the main aspects - none of the lighting and the camera equipment won't in the frame.
We discussed a lot about the angles which were necessary to use in particular shots and, firstly, we started from long establishing shot which showed us the place where the action will perform. Secondly, all close-ups and mid-shots of the older negative sister from the low angle to show her dominance on the youngest one who in opposite was showed in all close-ups and mid-shots from the high angle which symbolise her misery. We also thought about soft light which theoretically might give an additional degree of innocence to this girl but this idea had no effect on practice, so we dropped it. Also close-ups itself were used to show emotional condition of two characters and mid-shots were used to be more familiar with character.
Our group didn't break the 180 degree rule so in all sequence actors who stayed on the right side didn't swap immediately and stay on the right side, so we didn't confuse the viewer.
All terminology (eg. 'Stand by', 'Rolling', 'Action', etc.) was well-known by our group and used it in all task so everybody knew the meaning of these words and actions which follow after.
In addition, we used a special trick of 5 seconds after word 'Rolling' and only after these seconds, we can say 'Action'. The situation repeated at the end when the action ended only after 5 seconds director can say 'Cut'. It was performed to have an additional material on the editing board if we need to cut more seconds than we expected. It's called lead-in and lead-out, in addition there were colour bars at the start of the sequence. They also were used to prevent loss of important frame at the beginning.
So from that preliminary task and especially from two days plan development before we learnt about 180 degree rule which shouldn't be broken to not confuse the spectator, we learnt basics of light work and how source of the light can influence to the character role, we repeated all basics about frames of the camera and, finally, we practiced all this tricks which we knew only in theory before.