Evaluation of continuity sequence

For this project we had to make a short film with no more than 20 shots and include an exchange of a package. After some discussion, we decided to try and make a serious film with a goofy ending, just to throw the audience a bit. Plus, all our other ideas were a little sinister.

The mise-en-scene is the composition and contents of a scene which helps to give the viewer information about what is going on. We chose the graveyard as our location as this would help give a more menacing, isolated feel to the mise-en-scene. I feel this works with our narrative as we wanted this slightly off feeling to do with the characters.

Light can be used to help add mood or suggest ideas within a movie. We didn't have too much control over lighting as we were outside however, we did chose to shoot amongst the trees as they casted shadows over our subjects. Helping to further enhance this sinister feel. Thinking back now, I wish I had paid a bit more attention to the lighting to add a darker tone to our subjects. Positioning them so the light paints the rough outlines of the leaves on their faces.

High angles can be used to make the subjects feel small, helpless, submissive or weak; whereas, low angles can make the subject appear taller, significant, powerful, dominant or strong. We used both high and low angles. Either for narrative perspectives or to create additional interest via the frame. In the image below, we chose this set up as it gave a unique perspective which is not seen often. Furthermore, the path acts as a focal point leading you towards the tree in which our character walks to. So, although the framing was good and gave interest to the composition, we did not really use it to help add a sense of importance or vulnerability to our shots.

Wide angle shots help show the location of a subject and allow to capture action on a broader scale. A wide angle shot was used when our two characters walked towards each other. This helps the scene as it displays a sense of  the distance which our subjects travelled as well as allowing the pacing of the movie to flow into a shot reverse shot sequence.

Pans can be used to follow action or movement. In this case, when our character was waiting for the package to be delivered he was looking left to right around. We used this opportunity to use a whip pan in conjunction to his head moving to imitate his eyes; thus becoming an eyeline match.

Fades can be used to help show the passing of time and dissolves can be used to indicate somebody dreaming or thinking. We introduced a slight fade when our character was viewing his watch to represent the passing of time.

The 180 degree rule helps to maintain the audience's mapping of where the characters are. This is achieved by having an axis of action (180) on one side of the subject. For example, character A appears on the left of the screen whilst character B remains on the right. If you cross this axis you may confuse your audience as it appears as if the characters have jumper positions. We used a shot revers shot sequence when our characters were exchanging the package. I feel like we successfully

kept to the rule and pulled off the sequence with no issues. 

 Establishing shots are used to help show the viewer where the scene or next scene will be taking place. We used on establishing shot at the beginning of the video to show the location of our subjects. I didn't feel like anymore were necessary as our characters didn't move from the graveyard and therefore everything that was needed to be explained was with the beginning shot.

Matches on action are used to show the action between to shots to help keep continuity. We used a couple of these. When our character was looking at his watch, unzipping the bag and looking around. I feel like we managed to pull these shot off rather well and edited them in nicely to our video.

An eyeline match is used to show the character's' perspective. In our sequence we used a few of these. One when searching for the guy with the package and another when glancing at the watch. Again, I think we pulled these off quite well. 

POV shot are similar to an eyeline match as they are used from a characters perspective. Besides from all of the ones which I have previously mentioned in our movie, we did try to do a POV shot from the bag's perspective when our character is playing with the doll. I personally don't think we executed this one as well as some of our other shots, or, at least make it more clear that it was the bag's 'eyeline'. Perhaps this could have been improved if we would have bordered the frame with the zip's opening inside the bag. However, this could again be mistaken for 'another' doll inside. So, maybe we should have used a perspective from  the doll and then cut to the shot of our character playing with it.

I felt that we did a good job for our first effort and that things went relatively smoothly and I was happy with our end product. I do however feel like there we things which could have improved on or made more of an impact with. For example, I felt like our ending was a little weak. I wanted it to be funny however, it was merely amusing. This could be by the way in which we revealed our mysterious doll or maybe it just never was going to be that funny. I though our composition was well thought out and the way in which our scenes rolled into one and another. I also think that we should add more close ups for that added bit of extra detail and to make them more significant. Lastly, we could have used a few more matches on action to help, again, add detail. These things would have given the film more strength I feel but nonetheless, I am happy with what I have achieved.