Thursday, 2 April 2015

Video Entry #15 - Shooting Reading Notes

Continuity

- "To experience a film as one complete story, continuity is essential. Dis-continuity, when shots, actions, sound or acting do not match, disturb the created reality of the programme. The viewer will realise that he/she is watching and posits him/her self outside the story. The most important stage for continuity is the shooting script, in which the film is broken down into sequences of shots."

- "If a director uses the master scene technique, a complete scene will be shot in one go from one camera angle. The same scene will be repeated from different camera angles, which will be used as inserts. Generally speaking, one starts with a wide shot and a variety of medium and closer shots will be shot afterwards. This way of working has many advantages, because always having a lot of material available makes editing easier. But continuity in the acting, props, light, etc. are essential."

- "So to make a decoupage of your scene and shoot only what you need might be safer when you follow the next technique: Triple - Take Technique. The simplest way to guarantee continuity in an action is to repeat it again in the new shot. This implies that you always shoot three different actions: the last one,the new one, and the coming one. You can get very experienced in this technique and especially in long scenes it has significant advantages"

Getting the right shot

- "A shot is a simple word that describes everything about the way the filmmaker has set up their camera and what it will be recording."

- "The framing of your shot will depend on a lot of things, but the first thing you must ask is what part of the story the shot is trying to tell. Close ups are good to show emotions on people and things because you can see their faces. Long shots are best to set up where your characters are and how many of them there are. If you are filming somebody walking into a room and it is most important you show how they look or react then you would use a close-up. If it was most important to see who else was in the room or what kind of room it was then you would use a long shot."

- "Action is everything that happens in front of the camera and how the camera is moved best to film that action. Even if you are only filming a door being opened in close-up, somebody has to be shown how you want that door to be opened: fast or slow, with a squeak or without. In most films actors are used to provide most of the action."

- "If everyone knows what they are doing and you have the framing and movement of the camera just right and the action that is going to take place just right, then you need to be able to tell the cast and crew when you want it all to happen. You have probably seen or heard about the director shouting LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, well it is a little bit similar in our case."

- "When the actors are ready, the director will say…SOUND READY. The person doing the sound and holding the microphone will say that they are. The director will then say…ROLL CAMERA. The camera-person will then press record on the camera and when they are happy and ready they say that they are. The director will then call ACTION. Whatever is happening in front of the camera, somebody shutting a door, or a person walking into a room happens then."

Shooting on location

- "LIGHTING
• Keep lighting to a minimum.
• Avoid shadows on faces or dramatic shadows at the back.
• Avoid very high contrast.
• Make sure that the main subject draws the audiences attention in the shot."

- "ORGANISATION
• Keep in touch with your crew, discuss what you are doing and do not forget the sound technician.
Communication is central, not only in relation to the task but also to the interpersonal relations. People need food and drink, chats, jokes and appreciation. Without their co-operation you will not succeed."

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