Practice Film

Practice Film
        In this practice film we had to use different camera techniques such as tracking, match on action and we were invited to create a sequence with a creative plot line. The name of our piece was "Criss-Cross" and our plot line was based on a group of villainous assassins communing to kill each other. In our film we demonstrate a variety of different camera techniques such as match on action (x3), a shot reverse shot and an eye -line match.

Here is an example of an eyeliner match.

Here is an example of a match on action.

My contributions were acting, filming and editing, we made sure that everyone had a chance to all in our group so that we could all experience all of the techniques. During filming I enjoyed the use of the camera on the tripod and managed to film a couple of clips such as the section that we have in slow motion where Ollie is hit by the stick from Will, I also managed to film the section where Will throws the stick at Ollie. In the editing I was responsible for putting the shots in chronological order and cropping them as necessary. I also implemented the title at the start and installed the freeze frames (although the idea of the last freeze frames were Will's idea).

Preliminary Analysis

Continuity Editing

180 Degree Rule
This keeps the camera on one side of the action and is usually used to view 2 characters during conversation as it keeps the focus on the characters and allows the expansion of the frame into the unseen space off-screen. It is commonly described as a rule because the camera is not allowed to cross the axis of action otherwise it may give the impression that the actors positions have been reversed.

Match On Action
Here we see a piece of action and then we see where that action came from. It's a cut from one shot to another where the second shot matches the first's action. This is used to keep the flow of scene going as it links the shots together and gives the impression of continuous time.

Shot Reverse Shot
This is used most commonly during conversations as it shows a shot of one character looking towards another character but then cuts to a shot of the other character looking back at the first. This can be used to show the audience what a character is looking at or (as I said) to show a conversation. 
In the images below it also shows the 180 degree rule which isn't broken until Guy Pearce (Aldrich Killian, the red lava-man) is hit by a pole.

The Birds Commentry

                    As Melanie form the window we see the teacher talk calmly to the children and then a cut to a medium shot of the birds gathering on the climbing apparatus builds the tension and makes the audience get a sense of eeriness and unsettles them and wait in anticipation to see the outcome of the encounter. As we see that there are many birds there, we wonder if the school children will be able escape. The camera remains on the birds for some time until heavy footsteps are heard, causing the birds to fly away quickly towards the school children.

                    It cuts to the children and then cuts to their legs showing us how quickly they are running and how afraid they are. These close ups also show the birds and their ferocity. It shifts between close ups on some of the children's faces showing fear, terror and pain as they are relentlessly attacked by the birds. It cuts to the Melanie as well showing her panic and then it switches to some point of view shots (1:09-1:14) which makes the audience feel included in the shot as if they were running with the children, this allows them to empathise with the children and Melanie as they flee in panic away from the birds which are attacking them. Then one of the children falls to the found and screams for her friend, she is then helped up by her friend as well as Melanie.

                  Finally they get into the near by car to take refuge, during this scene there are multiple close and medium shots. it starts with a medium shot as they all get into the car, this allows us to see all of the people getting in and what state they are in, you see cuts and blood trickleing down their faces which expresses the severity of the situation and allows us to empathise with the characters. It then changes to a close up of the handle as Melanie quickly winds it up, this allows the audience to see the fear of the character and the panic that they express through the desire to quickly shut the window and hide from the birds. Then the next shot is a close up of the ignition key hole with no keys and then it changes to a close up of Melanie's face filled with fear. She then smacks the horn a few times, a few seconds later the birds fly away and the it cuts to a  close up on the woman's face showing hoe relieved she is that they've gone as she rests her head on the steering wheel. There is no music at any pint in the clip, we only hear the screaming of the children as they run away and the noises the birds make. plus when the shot of climbing apparatus with the birds is shown, there is only silence which also builds up the tension to when the footsteps are heard. (diegetic sound)

                Links to Thriller Genre:
                  - Long Tension build up, especially when they are escaping from the birds just as other thrillers do such as Spellbound and Psycho.
                  - Non-diegetic soundtrack keeps the realism it, just as some thrillers do such as Spellbound
                  - Chase scene, they are chased by birds this is typical to thriller films such as Vertigo.