We shot our Prelim Task in one of the classrooms in the Media block which is a simple rectangular shaped room. It worked well in terms of lighting and sound since we didn’t have any external light or noises present in the background – we had complete control over the lighting and sound and therefore no difficulties regarding these issues. The classroom was completely silent which made it convenient for the sound to record appropriately and we could use blondes (lights) to light the classroom in a way that added to the mood of the scene and the depth of the characters. Also, being in the classroom allowed us to use the furniture like the desks and chairs as props in our shoot. On the other hand, it did get slightly challenging to shoot in certain angles since the amount of space was limited which forced us to find alternative areas/angles to shoot from.
We all took chances at performing the different tasks involved when shooting this task. There was a director, camera operator, continuity supervisor (paying attention to continuity details) and a storyboard person (who kept track of what shot we were shooting and which shots we already filmed). We kept alternating with these positions which gave all of us a fair chance of experiencing the shoot.
The director’s job was to:
1) Compose the frame: Position the characters and coordinate the setting with the camera operator
2) Give directions to the crew: stand by, camera rolling, lead in, action, lead out, cut
3) Monitor the performance of the actors while the camera was rolling
The camera operator’s task was to handle the camera in the following ways:
1) Make sure the camera is bubbled (in level with the tripod)
2) Make sure the camera is white balanced
3) Make sure the camera is focussing on the subject
4) Work with the director in composing the frame (rule of thirds)
5) Responding to the directors instructions: standing by, camera rolling
The continuity supervisor’s main task was to examine continuity details so that we wouldn’t face any difficulties due to this while editing. This required paying close attention to any movement made by the actor or any movement on the set and make sure it is maintained throughout the shoot.
The storyboard person was meant to keep track of what shot we were shooting at that time and what footage was already recorded (according to the storyboard). This helped us as a group to stick to our time limit and not waste time figuring out what we had already shot and what we hadn’t.
We also made a checklist of things that we needed to keep in mind before recording the scene. It consisted of important rules and details such as bubbling the camera, 180 degree rule, focussing, zooming, etc. One of us would read out this checklist before recording so that we wouldn't forget anything that would lead us to re-shooting the scene. This was an extremely helpful method which also enabled us to avoid wasting time.
This method of dividing the tasks helped us work well as a team and allowed us to successfully shoot our task.
From all the various positions I played, I most enjoyed being the director and camera person as it involved being able to construct the frames allowing us to pitch in our creativity and think outside the box.
Lighting
For our shoot, we used a rather dark light (blondes) with hard edges creating an interesting shadowy effect. This was important to the scene as it helped enhance the intensity of the characters' roles and made it visually pleasing. I definitely think this was an effective method of lighting since it added depth not only to the characters, but also to the scene as a whole. It also gave it a sense of texture.
Filming
To avoid making mistakes like those we made in the dry run, we heavily relied on our checklist which consisted of all the elements we had to look out for. We begun by setting up the camera & tripod and the storyboard person would refer to the given storyboards and tell the rest of the crew what shot we had to shoot, followed by sharing ideas about the possible angles we could try shooting from. After deciding that, we placed the camera in the desired place and angle we had to shoot it from, making sure we didn't cross the 180 degree line. Next, we did the bubbling process in order to make sure that the camera was in level with the tripod. We then begun constructing the frame (placing the actors in position, discussing how the shot will take place, positioning the props, making sure the lighting equipment was not in the frame, etc.), keeping the rule of thirds in mind. Next, we adjusted the white balance (by pressing the WHT BAL button on the camera when it was facing a white background), focussing (zooming right into the subject, focussing on it by turning the focus ring and then zooming out) and exposure. We did face a lot of difficulties with the exposure since the room was small in size and the lights would reflect causing overexposed areas. It was challenging to find that prefect balance between exposing the right amount of light so as to avoid exposure, and maintaining the shadow/silhouette which gave the shot scene an intense feel. We finally had to compromise by leaving certain areas of the frame over exposed which hopefully can be corrected by colour grading in post production. Once everything was in order, the director would give instructions to the rest of crew using professional terminology (roll camera, lead in, action, etc.) which we all understood and responded to.
This prelim task has been a wonderful experience as it gave me a chance to learn a lot about the world of practical filmmaking with a hands-on approach. I have learned how to set up a camera (fix it on a tripod, bubble it, adjust white balance, focussing and exposure), compose a frame, edit footage, work with a team and use professional terminology while on set. Acquiring all these skills has broadened my idea of practical filmmaking, driving me to develop them as when I get the chance. I very much look forward to the next task when I get to apply these skills.