Evaluation of continuity sequence

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene or "what is in the scene" of our production is shown best in the close up shot of the handing over of the package because of how the shot is setup and how the room is lit. In this case, all of this was used to build a certain amount of tension.

                                       Lighting

Lighting is a key role in a successful production, poor lighting equals poor production. Lighting adds mood, feeling and tension to a film and is a very tricky thing to get right.

The lighting in our production was dull and low key, This is because in the editing process we added a black and white filter. We did this because we shot the video over two days, unfortunately one day was overcast and the other was very bright and sunny meaning that in order to make it look like it was shot in a matter of minutes we had to add this filter. 

High or low camera angles 

We used high and low camera angles to give the film a sense of depth. These could also be used to exaggerate someones height.

Low Angle

High Angle

Different shot distances 

In the video there are many examples of different shot differences. This was used to make the film look more interesting rather than having one long boring shot.

Long Shot

Close Up

Camera movement

Camera movement is used to add motion to a shot. It can be used to add a dramatic effect. E.g in a chase sequence, camera movement would be used to make the chase look more epic. We used camera movement in the part of the film where the package was taken to the locker to make it look like the camera was actually the package being held.

Movement Shot

Fade/Dissolve 

Fade/Dissolve is used commonly in many films or video productions. It is a transition that smoothly fades one scene into another, fades in from black or fades out to black. It is often a much better choice than a basic cut transition because a cut straight into a film often looks too basic and low quality. 

In our production we used one fade in from black, right at the begging to fade into the establishing shot. We did this because it added edge to the film.

Continuity System

 In our production, we used a number of continuity systems. One of these includes Eye-line match. We used this in the scene where Neve was looking out towards the courtyard.

An eye-line match shot is basically one shot of the actor looking at something and then another shot the actors POV of what he/she is looking at. 

Example of Eye-line match

We also used a match on action shot which is basically two shots which show action that carries through a transition. We used this shot in the scene where Neve opened and then closed the door.

Example of match on action

One last example of the continuity system in our production is a Shot reverse shot. This is basically a shot to establish the positioning of characters. For example character A will have the camera over his shoulder facing character B in one shot, And then it would be the reverse in the second shot. We achieved this by first having the camera facing Neve with my back facing it. And then in the next shot the camera was facing me but with Neve slowly looking back.

Example of shot reverse shot

Summary

Over all I think that our short film was quite successful. Although there were a few continuity & acting mistakes most of the film flows smoothly and makes sense. I think that adding small things in the editing process like the black bars, music and black and white filter, really added a dramatic edge to the film. 

I enjoyed the Editing the most in this task because it allowed us to incorporate our own ideas into how the film should look and what the soundtrack should be like. It also allowed us to cut out the mistakes made in the filming process.