Conversation Critiques

In our most recent lesson, the rest of the class and I had to split into two groups and produce a one minute single camera production that involved a conversation. From the script we were handed we had to draft out a storyboard and shot list and shoot the film accordingly. In my group, I was both the director and the camera-man. I also helped to draft out the storyboard and decide on what shots to use in the shot list.

Our Group:

After we finished our production, which we were given an hour to complete, we decided on what was good and bad in our productions. There was only two flaws in my film; one was that I missed a shot when the "prisoner" character was talking, and the other was that I crossed the line - the all important 180 degree rule in productions. This was at the start of the film when I filmed an establishing shot of the room in which the prisoner was being questioned, but then I switched to the other side of her in the shot after the POV. However, I did do this for a reason; and this was so I could film both the prisoner and the questioner who was coming through the door at the same time. I was told that had I filmed this from a higher perspective, a CCTV camera for example, then the switch in sides would have been applicable. The positive feedback I gained however, overshadowed the criticism I received. This was that the match cuts were well executed and added professionalism to the production, I kept to the 180 degree rule in the second half of the film, the blocking and movement of the performers was good, and the cuts between shots were also done well.

Overall I am very pleased with my effort. Considering this is the first piece of filming I directed and did the camera-work for myself, I think the constructive criticism I received and positive feedback I gained meant I did do a good job of it, especially as we had only an hour to storyboard, do the shot list for, and shoot the film.

Other group's film:

The other group too, made some mistakes. Like my group, they broke the 180 degree rule at one point which is a very important rule in media productions. Although it was subtle, it was still enough to stop the flow of the film. Another mistake the other group made, was the fades between the shots. The fades didn't match the short film and so this editing technique need not have been in there. The last mistake of the film was when they broke another important rule in media production; the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a compositional rule in visual arts that states the image should be divided into nine parts and the most important compositional elements should be places along these intersections. However, there were also elements of this production that made it look more professional where the mistakes didn't give it justice. The fact that this film used many shots made it look more professional than had there not been a variety in the shots used. Apart from the 180 degree rule, the camerawork was good, as was the blocking, or movement and positioning of performers.