7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

ENVY- our final thriller opening

Preliminary task

I have created two contact sheets to show the difference and contrast in shots we have chosen and detail we've thought about in our thriller opening in comparison to the preliminary task.

In the preliminary task, as we were only getting to grips with the basic continuity techniques, the shots were very basic with not many adventurous ideas with the use of camera work and editing. However since then I have improved and found myself to have a good eye for creating a well composed shot, and I like to experiment with different colours and lights within the shot. I feel this has also helped me to develop my skills, as experimenting and improvising brings about and inspires further ideas and the motivation to create a good opening with the similar shots you've taken. The continuity techniques we used were the 180 degree rule, match on action and shot/ reverse shot. The prelim. task not only taught me the definitions however I was able to practically learn and practice them.

For example, using the contact sheets to compare, the first shot in our opening sequence is to fully establish to the audience where they're looking at and where this character is. On the other hand the audience is quite limited looking at the first shot in the preliminary task as it doesn't show the outside of the building or a wider shot with more information. This shows I have developed my understanding as someone filming, of how the audience will see this and the first impressions they'll put upon the film from it.

The shot variety expanded greatly the more we began to film and bring our ideas together for example, close ups, using the reflections of mirrors and water to create interesting shots, panning whilst moving to create tension, tracking behind the victim to feel the emotion of the character, different orientations and angles for point of view shots but also we repeated one shot to reiterate the effect and position of that character of how she's still peering over her victim.

Furthermore, linking to editing we decided to use slow paced shots at the beginning with slow cuts, but also we decided to use slow motion on one shot of the stream running to reveal the deterioration of the character as she maybe dizzy and deluded. The basics of the continuity techniques in the prelim. task are still continued however very much developed in terms of now using transitions, fades and titles. Fades out and in is are used repetitively in our sequence as it represents the victim shutting and opening her eyes. This proves we have developed our thoughts in what shots and edits could mean to the audience.