Index

1) Film poster analysis
2) Mise-en-scene blog tasks
3) Star persona: video feedback and learner response
4) Lighting blog tasks
5) Sound blog tasks
6) Sound: parallel and contrapuntal video feedback and learner response

7) Cinematography blog tasks
8) Cinematography video task and learner response
9) Editing video task and learner response
11) Editing blog task - 750 word analysis

Editing Video LR

1) Type up your feedback/comments from your teacher.

www:

-framing, face hidden, enigma

-match on action 

-POV/hand held over the shoulder

-Humour

-Cinematography, steady pan, canted camera

-inventive use of props

ebi:

-add music

2) Type up your feedback from fellow students.

www:

-good cutting 

-editing skills and camera movements

-humorous and good match on action

-really creative 

-Variety of shots

-AMAZING

-great selection of shots 

-hilarious plot

-good cinematography 

-good use of frame

-Humour

-different effect 

-blood

ebi:

-more blood

-Add more editing (what does that mean?) 

-Add music

-more of a narrative

-add soundtrack 

-It's too good 

-Add music

-make the room with the dog brighter

-better, more clear dialogue 

-make narrative more clear

3) Now reflect on your video. Did you meet the brief and successfully include the three key editing aspects we have learned?

I met the brief as I have filmed and edited "a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue." as well as match on action and the 180 rule. 

4) What were the strengths and weaknesses of your final film? Write a detailed analysis picking out specific shots, edits and any other aspect of film language you think is relevant.

I think the overall visual editing is as smooth as I could get it. However, the conversation sounds clunky and unprofessional to me, I hope to get better at sound editing.
5) Learner response: what aspect of editing did you find most difficult? What have you learned from this process that will help you when you start the actual coursework later this year?

Definitely absolutely sound. I hate how hard I find it.

Video Analysis

This clip is from an early episode of British Sitcom "Peep Show", originally aired on Channel 4, now available to stream on Netflix.

The beginning of this clip is shown from POV outside a door, encouraging us to relate to Mark Corrigan (main character) as well as his trouble with walking past youths. This is a very common problem that relates to a lot of people. The sudden interruption of the door introduces a second character through fast pace, seamless editing between the door opening and Mark on the floor, showing both shot/ reverse shot of Toni. Most notably, the package he holds up is also in the shot of him looking up, creating continuity. We also get her POV. As a point, the entire series is filmed in POV. There are cuts between the larger picture of what the character sees and slightly more zoomed in shots, possibly symbolizing the character is focusing or is experiencing some sort of notable emotion. The zoom can also mean something pivotal to the episode is occurring. Such a zoom is used when Mark invites Toni over.

An additional quirk of the programme is being able to hear the inner thoughts of a character, meaning the monologue is usually played over a clip of what they're thinking about or doing. Gradually as the conversation is going worse, the camera cuts closer from a medium closeup into a closeup to communicate the embarrassment of what Mark is saying (making the face of the character more prominent, giving it more precedence in the sequence) When he's doing well with Toni (making fun of Jeremy's tapes) We are rewarded with long-medium shots from POV as they laugh together. At this moment the audience get relief from the second hand embarrassment. However, this is short lived as the introduction of yet another character (Jeremy), the creator of the tapes, builds up the tension once more. The very short intro he has while his own self-important thoughts play in the background lead up very quickly to closeups of Toni and Mark enjoying themselves, mirroring the earlier closeups and causing more cringe at how horrible it would be to be Jeremy in that moment. Following this, there is a lot of camera movement, causing distortion and panic, adding to the comedy of the scene as the realistic reactions are what make the show.

There is a quick establishing shot to communicate passage of time and closeup of a sauce Mark is cooking. The sauce also is zoomed in at some points while he thinks about what he did to Jez. There's a lot of jerky, quick camera movement from Mark to show desperation to appeal to Jez throughout this sequence yet Jez's perspective is slower and more controlled, showing how calmly he's ignoring Mark.The cut to a closeup of Jeremy's cool face chewing adds more tension. The 180 degree line is used during the last conversation. It feels claustrophobic as the shot is largely the characters in frame. On the whole, the clip's use of camera angles, zooms, and cuts, are very stylistic to the show. It offers a unique glimpse into the minds of the characters.

The pace of the editing is quite regular to begin with (only 23 cuts in the first minute) to keep movement and visual interest while not going too quick and perhaps losing some of the slow burns a few lines have. The sequence also has a kind of cyclical structure to it with there being a conversation at the table that got Mark into trouble and there being a conversation at the end where Mark has to deal with the consequences. The real charm of Peep Show is absurdist situations rooted in reality.

Cinematography blog tasks

1) Write an analysis of the cinematography in the opening sequence. Highlight your use of media language and try to cover camera shots, angles and movement using the terminology we have learned in lessons.



There is lots of Camera movement throughout the sequence, signifying the busy and constantly moving state of New York where the movie is set. There are a lot of medium shots of the main character too, encouraging us to identify with her. The pans of the buildings also give the audience setting, connoting glassy, effective and rich surroundings.There is constant moving, even when indoors, meaning the area she's entered is fast pace and work filled. The only point where they pause from movement is a shot reverse shot of them talking, drawing a line between the mindset of the two characters.

3) Find and analyse three film or TV stills. Embed the images in your blog and analyse the camera shot/angle and what they communicate to the audience.  




The Grand Budapest Hotel

The medium shot encourages us to relate to the characters, whilst the dead-on camera angle is very stylistic of Wes Anderson. The shot is very centred. Additionally, the blue/pink colour scheme of the characters and the combination of the blue ribbons and pink parcels possibly means they complete each other.





Death Becomes Her

This is also a medium close up with a dead-on angle. This could possibly symbolise the horror of what's just happened, giving the audience a good clear look at how ruined she is by the pond and stomach hole, giving an unsettling and eerie atmosphere.



The Shining

This combines an over the shoulder shot and a long shot with uncanny symmetry. The corridors are elongated by this, sort of distorting the actual distance between the twins and Danny.

Editing video

1) Discuss what your preliminary exercise will involve – make notes on location, sequence of events, who will act etc.

Belle, Jenny

at school in classroom

phone call, walk to door, in class, sit, talk, kill

2) Write a short script for the preliminary exercise. Remember, scripts outline movement and shots as well as dialogue. The BBC Writer's Room is a brilliant resource for tips and examples of TV scriptwriting. Here's a genuine TV script example from Luther to check you are formatting your script correctly.

                                                             Belle (on phone)

Hello

yes

Give a dog a bone.

(Int. classroom)

                                                                               Belle

Trust me, this is a real bad guy.

                                                                              Jenny 

What do you want me to do about it?

                                                                             Belle

KILL HIM.

                                                                             Jenny

Say no more.

3) Write a shot list of every possible shot (and a few extra) you will need for this preliminary exercise. An example shot list is here.

medium close up of phone call

long shot of walking

close up on handle

medium long shot of door opening

close up of jenny turning

over the shoulder of walking to Jenny

close up on slam 

over the shoulder talking

medium of Jenny shooting

Long shot of dog body