Planning of our short film

Our first short film

 Here is a picture of our mind map, this shows our plot ideas for our short film. We knew we had only a computer room to film in, so our film had to be about an office job or a kid at school. Our film could only have one or two characters in it, so we wanted something very simple, with no sound as we did not have any sound equipment. 





We decided to make a short film about someone at work trying not the eat a cookie, from a plate in front of her, as she needed to get her work done. We wanted a simple plot as we didn't have much time or any special effects and limited locations, costumes and props. Here is a picture of our story board we made to help us get all the shots we needed.



Our Props 



The food 

Phone, pens and pen holder







Paper and documents

Filming and editing 

When filming we found any problems with the camera we were using, we worked out how to use them it was just two stopped working altogether for an unknown reson. luckily we did get the film off the two camera so we did not have to re shoot the film. Apart from that the filming went very well. 

With editing non of us had ever used Windows movie maker, so we had to play about with it first, so we knew what we had to do. It didn't take us long to work it out and the editing process went very smoothly, apart the film did take awhile to import as the footage was in HD. 

What I leant 
I leant that in the planning process, to say what ever ideas come to you, even if they sound silly to you, say them as the other groups members might like that idea. I also lean't how to use Windows movie maker, editing software. 

Camera work

We where asked to do a shooting exercise in groups. We had to produce different types of camera moves and camera shots. I learnt how to produce these by still image and moving image. I have made a list of the moves and shots we learnt about, so I can look back on what shots/moves I would like to put in my short film. 

Camera moves:

Pan – a movement which scans a scene horizontally (left to right) often used to follow a moving object.

Tilt - a movement that scans a scene vertically (up and down)

Dolly – the camera is placed on a moving vehicle and moves alongside the action, generally following a moving figure or object.

Hand-held – the camera can be moved in and out of a scene with speed. Hand-held camera crate a gritty realism and they can make the audience feel as though they are part of a scene.

Zoom – a zoom lens contains a mechanism that changes the magnification of an image

Aerial – an exciting variation of a crane shot, usually taken from a helicopter. This is often used at the beginning of a film in order to establish setting and movement.

Camera shots:

Long shot – used to let viewers know who is involved in a scene and where they are located.

Medium long shot – a closer view of the character whilst still providing a view of the location.

Medium shot – shows facial expressions gestures and movements

Medium close up – shows details of people or objects and to eliminate all non-essential details.

Close up – facial expressions

Extreme close up – expressions, for example an eye

Two shot – two key characters are shown

High angle – looking down at the subject, can create the illusion that the subject is small, weak, threatened or lonely.

Low angle – below the subject, makes it appear stronger, more impressive or threatening.

The history of film - The Lumière Brothers

The first lesson on this course was about The Lumière brothers, who were the earliest filmmakers in history. We watch The Arrival of a Train and Demolition of a wall, both of these films were French short black-and-white silent films directed by Auguste and Louis Lumière. They consists of a single unedited view of an aspect of everyday life.

My Films

Here are some of my own films I did out side of the BFI course.