Camera and lighting

In todays lesson we were in the CLC. Mr Holloway introduced us to the lighting and camera kit that they have. We were taught how to set them up and that by setting up the lighting stands at a low angle gave it more stability. We then had to set up a scene using a table and 2 models. 


He showed us how to light the models by using the lights and how you can move the camera to give different shots. Each of which gave a different effect. After break, Amanda and myself chose to be models. During which Mr Holloway told the class that by setting up the camera and lighting in different places and using different shades of light. The shot could have a different effect. It could give out a different meaning. He also taught us about the Rule of Thirds. It is about how the shot can be divided into 3 sections and it is useful to have a good shot by using the rule. He said that by placing the actors eyes onto the top third, your shot becomes better when it comes to editing. 


I found today to be very useful as I understand how you can can get different times of the day, different meanings and different shots all by moving the camera and adjusting the level of light on a scene. I think that this may prove useful to me for my preliminary exercise as I can use the camera and lighting more to my advantage when it comes to filming. 


I think that spending to day lessons in the CLC have helped to understand how Media is used more and what effect, feeling and meaning you can get from it. Finally I think that now with what I have learnt today I can use it to help me analyse films, T.V. Dramas and more. 

Script Opening

Wide shot of Alex sitting at a table surrounded by books. One of which is she is reading. Running footsteps can heard. Alex looks at the door as the footsetps get louder.


The shot then changes to an over-the-shoulder shot of the door and Alex's table. Charlie bursts through the door, out of breath.

Charlie:(standing in the doorway, breathing heavily) Alex....I've...been...looking everywhere....for...you. I have something to tell you.

Over-the-shoulder shot facing Alex.

Alex:(looks up from her book and frowns) Oh yeah?

Charlie walks up to the table and smiles. Alex,still frowning gestures for Charlie to carry on.

Charlie: Alex, it's about-

Alex shoves her chair back and stands up.

Alex:(agressively) What about it?

Charlie:(slowly shakes head) Alex...I'm sorry.

Alex:(drops the book) No....it can't be.

Wide shot of Charlie and Alex. Alex drops to the ground, buries her head in her hands and breaks out into convulsive sobs. Charlie attempts to touch her but Alex pushes Charlie away. Charlie attemtps again and Alex sinks into her arms. The shot then moves back into a Medium Long Shot.

Planning our short film

The group I was in was working on a scene. After we had posted our videos, we were set questions that we had to answer related to our planning. Here are my answers: 


What did you find most difficult in planning?
The thing I found the most difficult in planning was creating a short film that was related to the task we were set. It was then trying to think of ways that we could accomplish the task without breaking the 'rules' that I posted in one of my previous blogs.  Once we had come up with our film, it was then trying to think of ways we could make the film have different shots and angles. As well as being able to make the film stick to the genre we had chosen for it.


What was the most successful part of your planning?
The most successful part of the planning was the fact that we had come up with an idea of how we going to shoot the film. The shot size we were going to use and how we could improve it. I think that even though we had kept that same shot size, the film had accomplished what we wanted it to.


What was the effect of the restrictions of having no dialogue to tell the story?
The effect of having no dialogue meant that it made it harder for the group i was in to come up with a story that we could shoot. I think that it made it more stressful as it meant that it took us longer to think about the shot sizes and the story we were going to tell. However I think that it made it easier because we didn't have to worry about writing a script, which meant we would have had to worry about what the actors would have to say. I also think that it made the film a lot better in a way. This is because it made the film more effective in trying to tell the story.


What did you learn from editing the film?
I learnt how to edit a film. I realised how you can use editing to make a film more effective in getting the story across.

Analysing a Serial Drama

My homework for the this week was to analyse a Serial Drama. I was to take notes on the Lighting, Mise-En-Scene and the sound of the programme. The Serial Drama I chose to watch is Eastenders. Most of the episode was set outside so much of the lighting wasn't really required. As I watched the show, I noticed that the lighting was used in the scenes inside a hpouse to make the actors stand out or to make the scenes more realistic.


There was a lot of  Mise-En-Scene useds on the show. Some of which were things like the costumes, the actors speech, the extras etc. I found that the extras were used to make the scene more lively and to help the set the scene more. The costumes that were used helped to set the scenes. Also they could also give you an idea as to what the charcter was about. Not many props were used.


Finally, in most of the scenes sound wasn't used. The sound used to grab your attention, or to make you focus on a prop for example, a ringtone from a mobile. There was traffic used in some of the outdoor scenes to help set the scene. The speech of the characters helped to tell that the scene was set in the East End. At the end of  the show, the theme tune breaks into the scene. This is done to create suspence. I've realiesd that by analysing serial Dramas, I have a better view of how Media is used in today's world.

6 Shot Scene

This is the video that the group I was in made, in today's lesson. It had to be no longer than 6 shots that were no longer than 10 seconds. The movie was filmed in silent as it was a 'rule' that we were not allowed to break. The video has been uploaded to Youtube. This is the link to the video itself. We were given the name of the film;The Game. We then had to create a film based on the name. It was allowed to be anything we wanted. Then we had to plan our scenes, each shot, the angle of the shot.


We were given a few 'rules' which were not allowed to break. These were:

• Each shot could be no longer than 10 seconds
• The film was not allowed to contain any dialogue (including voice-overs)
• It had to have a demonstrable narrative
• Two or more actors had to be used
• The film could only have nor more than 6 shots
• Each shot had to have a different angle

My view on Media

My view on Media is that it is always around us. There is not a day that passes where you don't see something that falls under the subject of Media. I think tht it is used to entertain, to inform and to persuade. Media is something that has adapted over the years especially within the last decade or so. So much has been produced because on the increase in technology. I took Media because I want to understand it. I want to be able to figure out why we use it, how we use it and how it came about.


I can surely say that with the next ten years to come, Media will adapt itself again and again. it is something that we all know. There are so many questions that I have about Media that I would love to find the answer to. I think Media is something that is always adapting to whatever it can adapt itself to.