So I finished The Little Life of Eve Snow and now this post is all about the evaluation.
What went well?
I found the process of filming to be a lot easier and more fun as I had more freedom to film what I want. The process of editing took less time than expected and the outcome of the piece of work seems a lot better than the last project I did.
What problems did you encounter in pre-production and how did you solve them?
There was a couple problems I found but they weren't anything major. The first was the fact I couldn't film as many shots as I hope to as it was only me and my sister filming. I was limited for some shots as I was supposed to have someone else come over and be my right hand man for the day but unfortunately they dropped out at the last minute and couldn't make it. One shot in particular that I wanted to get was for the camera to follow Alex as she entered the room and made her way to the table - I couldn't do this because it would look as if she would be talking to some furniture (not what I had in mind). However, all I had to do was follow her with the camera to a certain point before the table would get in the shot. Then I followed this shot with a medium close up of me sat at the table so it looks as if she was talking to me the entire time. There was audio problem that followed this but more on that later on down the post.
The next problem was that there was limited space in my location so other shots I wanted to get couldn't be done because the tripod wouldn't fit into some spaces. To overcome this problem I just had to limit the type of shots I could use in my project and I think it turned out alright.
What problems did you face in post production?
Ironically enough, there is a few bits of continuity errors despite the fact that was the one error we had to avoid. However, they're nothing major that would ruin the video. One in particular was the props I used. The two of us had cups of tea to drink from. However, I though the easiest way to get fake sick in my mouth was to drink it from a mug. So I changed the cups without thinking anything of it. So the cups change from one design to another. I also encountered a couple more errors just in that shot. We had already tried to film me throwing up but I didn't go to plan so we cleaned it up which lead to us having a wet table - again, at the time I thought nothing of it. Another error in the same shot is of me and the way I move in that scene. At first I lean back before it moves to a close up of me looking uncomfortable and cuts out to the next shot just as I bring my hand to my mouth. However, back to the two shot both my hands are on the table again.
Another problem was when Alex first entered the house. When filming this was quite rushed so I didn't bother using a tripod and went handheld instead. The shot itself is steady but I filmed the shot several times and edited the ones which I thought were good. During the scene where she enters it looks like the camera jumps because I was holding it at slightly different angles when she entered the house each time - but liked I said, none of these problems were major.
The only other problem worth mentioning is when Alex is speaking to me in the first shot when she enters the room and then when it changes to the medium close up of me, she's changed her tone and it sounds a bit odd. Other than that, there aren't any significant audio problems.
What have you learned since your last project?
I've goten to grips with the editing software and I find that playing with audio is a lot easier now. Editing pieces together and adding effects is a piece of cake too. Next time I know that to avoid any huge continuity errors I should film several cutaways as they work a treat in some situations. I added one in on the tap dripping as there was a problem with the way Alex was sat at the table before going into her close up. I simply added in a cutaway to mask this problem.
Until next time,
Toni
[from previous]
ReplyDelete01:05 - the music is a little loud and has an impact on the dialogue
01:07 - I think you hold this shot of Alex a little too long; it might have been more effective to cut to a different angle/ shot distance of her removing the scarf, to break up the sequence and allow the audience a little more insight into her character? You do this later, which I think is effective
A little odd that we haven't cut back to your character again, considering the editing/ use of sound earlier in the clip made this seem like quite a significant thing...
01:25 - this is a rather good shot, although there is a slight glitch with the sound at the edit, and Alex ends up a little close to the camera at one point. The 180 degree rule has been followed here
01:40 - the framing here is a little odd, with Alex's head been out of shot for so long; you could have cut to a slightly longer shot which could have included you both?
01:49 - this is a well-framed close-up, although again there is a slight audio glitch on the edit. You could use one of the other audio tracks to create an ambient soundtrack to cover this kind of moment
01:50 - you edit back to Alex a little late, and seem to slightly cut off the beginning of her line. The framing is a little odd here, again. Similarly, the next shot - Alex is again slightly out of frame
02:05 - another weird jump-cut here; you could have done with another cutaway to cover this
02:09 - you've held the two-shot for quite a long time; could do with breaking it up a little in order to vary the rhythm - this shot continues for way too long!
02:27 - quite a well-framed CU, but watch out when you're shooting against a window - you have a lot of spill from the light. Rather nasty continuity error here (consider where your hand is, compared to the 2S which bookends it)
02:37 - there's a continuity error here where you sit back in the 2S but are leaning forward in the CU
02:41 - similarly, an error with the action match where you move your head and, as you've identified, the contents of the mug. At some point, you appear to have spilled something on the table, because there's some wet patches which weren't there before
02:52 - a fair CU, but the audio editing is off
02:59 - the action match on the vomiting works well
03:00 - the audio cuts out for some reason
03:09 - good use of shot/ reverse, but you have a jump cut again. Good edit from CU to LS here
Overall, you've constructed a coherent narrative with some well-considered features; a range of movement and camera angles is evident and there are some well-staged moments. Some aspects of the continuity and the editing are effective; it is clear that you have made progress from previous work. You should make sure you look at the continuity and editing issues I've mentioned since in most cases these could have been remedied by slightly more conservative editing or making certain that you undertook multiple shots of each moment.
Your evaluation is fair and you've outlined some positives and areas for improvement, My thoughts below:
ReplyDelete00:00 - reasonable establishing shot, although a little wobbly and slightly lower than I might expect. No audio is a little weird - would expect some ambient sound...
00:06 - good ECU
00:10 - I would have started the music at the beginning of the piece - a little odd that it cuts out at the end of the shot, although I think I see the effect you were going for. I would also have done a couple of other shots of the character moving, to break up the single shot of her legs
00:16 - the framing is a little odd here - you should probably have angled the camera slightly down so that there is not so much space above your head and your hands are visible at the bottom fo the frame. Ideally, your eye-line would be about 1/4 of the way below the top of the frame
00:31/32 - good combination of MLS/ MCU here; the editing of the music/ sound works well at this point
00:36 - your tracking shot is effective here; camera is held reasonably well and you capture a fluid sense of movement. Framing becomes a little problemmatic towards the end of the shot as Alex's head dips out of frame; ideally you would have been a little further back. Might have been some scope for a CU of her face? I think you hold this for a little too long
00:47 - since you've revealed her face, it is a little odd that you cut her head off in the next shot. I would have made this an VLS and have her waling in full frame across the screen. The edit between the two shots is in itself quite good
00:49 - you break the 180 degree rule here. ALex walks out of shot from L to R and then enters the next dshot from R to L, as if she has flipped around. The framing of this shot is rather good
00:57 - your action match is rather good - the editing is very slick here however...
00:59 - ther is a clear glitch between the shot of Alex closing the door and the following shot. You should have covered this by using a cut-away (for example, her hand on the door-handle; a CU of an object in the hall. Also, check the lighting; you have a little degradation of the image because it is somewhat dark