Preliminary Task: Creating a Storyboard from Initial Ideas

From our initial ideas we have firstly created a mind map based around the concept we wanted to continue working with, so that all of our possible suggestions and ideas would clarify and we could continue working knowing exactly what we wanted to do.

Our finished (and very messy) mindmap

From that mind map, we have created a 17 shot composition about a secret agent (Agent A) walking into a room, meeting another agent (Agent B) who then reports that a mission has failed. We have considered a variety of different shots, angles and movements in order to create a short, yet intense and interesting clip. 

This task was set as a 12 shot challenge (as it can be seen on the mind map) - essentially, our aim was to create a short film consisting of 12 shots. On each storyboard panel (that was the form in which our 12 shots had to be explained) we had to include: shot number, whether it was exterior or interior, location, type of shot, camera movement and angle, the cast required and any other necessary notes we thought may matter (such as dialogue). Additionally, we had to include a rough drawing of what we thought the shot would look like. Although we exceeded the number of shots by quite a lot, we felt this was necessary to tell the story we created and still show good level of technical skills. 

Below are the pictures of our 17 storyboard panels: 

Shot #1

Shot #2

Shot #3

Shot #4

Shot #5

Shot #6

Shot #7

Shot #8

Shot #9

Shot #10

Shot #11

Shot #12

Shot #13

Shot #14

Shot #15

Shot #16

Shot #17

Basic Media Shots and Angles

Camera shots: 

Long shot

Establishing shot

Mid shot

Close up

Extreme close up

Two shot

Point of view shot

Camera angles:

High angle

Low angle

Over the shoulder

Preliminary Task: First Ideas

Us creating the mind map. 

Our group was asked to mind up our ideas for a short scene in which a character enters a room, sits opposite another character and interests with them, exchanging a few lines of dialogue. We listed all of our individual ideas in different sections of the mind map and then, as a group, chose the one we will use for our task.

The finished mind map (featuring Immy's thumb).

On the left, there is a picture of the  mind map of ideas we created. Our  final idea is an interaction between two secret agents in which one informs the other one that an important mission has failed/ an agent was killed. We will use a great range of camera shots and angles to create the feeling of tension and uneasiness in our piece. 

Foundation Portfolio: What Is It?

50% of your grade will be earned through your Foundation Portfolio. This consists of a preliminary task and a main task, the details of which can be found below.

The Preliminary Task is designed to illustrate the processes of pre-production, production and post-production that will be required, albeit in more detail, when you come to undertake the Main Task. The Preliminary Task is not marked but MUST be completed and submitted alongside the Main Task to the examiner. If it is not completed, marks are deducted from your Main Task.

The Main Task is marked out of 100. These marks are broken down as follows:

20 marks - Research into similar media products and planning of your own media product.
60 marks - Construction of your own media product including filiming and editing.
20 marks - Evaluation of your own media product.

All of your work must be posted to your blog as this will be accessed by the examiner in May of 2016.

For each of the criteria above, marks are available in 4 levels with level 4 being the highest.

The progress thermometer below shows the key words for each level of the mark scheme.

This is what you have to do:

Preliminary Exercise

Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.

Main Task

The titles and opening of a new teen horror film, to last a maximum of two minutes.

All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source. Both preliminary and main tasks must be completed as a group. Maximum four members to a group.

Basic Media Terminology

Camera Shots:

- long shot - shows the character head-to-toe;

- extra long short (also known as an establishing shot) - usually presents the setting/location to the audience;

- mid shot (medium shot) - shows the character from the waist up;

- close up - can be at a face, but also at an action (such as picking something up);

- extreme close up - usually at character's eyes;

- shot/reverse shot - used in a conversation between two characters;

- two shot - shows two characters in the same frame (usually from waist up);

- point of view shot - shows the scene from the character's point of view (hence the name).

Camera Movements:

- tracking (both in and out);

- tracking sideways (also known as crab) - often used to follow movement of a character/object;

- zoom in (can simulate a tracking shot, if done properly);

- arc - camera moves either in a full or a semi-circle;

- crane; 

- tilt - movement of the camera upwards or downwards on an axis;

- panning - the camera is moved left or right on a tripod.

Camera Angles:

- high angle;

- low angle;

- over the shoulder (conversations).

180° rule

The 180° rule is a cinematography guideline that states that two characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another . When the camera passes over the invisible axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line and the shot becomes what is called a reverse angle.

OCR - Guide to the 180 Rule

OCR - Guide to Basic Camera Angles