AS Media Studies – Preliminary Exercise Evaluation

Preliminary Task

In this preliminary task we had to use continuity editing which retains a realistic chronology and shows that time is moving forwards. This type of editing can use flashbacks or flash forwards as long as the narrative, which can be liner or non linear, can be seen to be progressing is a realistic way.

This was our preliminary task for AS Media Studies. We had to be able to use continuity editing for this  task. Our story line was based on a package exchange between two people. We are not introduced to any of the characters in the video so they are strangers to the audience, this leaves a bit of mystery. 

We managed to demonstrate elements of continuity elements in this task and stuck to the 180 degree rule.

Different types of filming techniques were used in this task such as:

• Match on action-we see a character start an action in one shot and continue it in the next 
• Shot reverse shot-this is used to show conversations 
• Eye line match-the character is seen looking at something off screen and then we cut to a shot of what they are looking at 
• 180 degree rule-where two characters  or other elements in the same scene should have the same left/right relationship to each other. 

The audio in this task was hard to include as the microphone had to be hidden whist filming and the source of sound had to be very close to the microphone. The dialogue scene had to be done a few times as we had to keep switching the mic as each person was talking which was hard to do as when we forgot to put the microphone on the person talking, the sound was not picked up as clearly as it would have been.

The most accurate shots would be the match on action and the eye line match as they worked well with the video when editing. They also did not have to be re-done as many times as the other shots. 

Improvements could be with the way we had to cut the film as some of the footage was not as clearly done as others so more cross dissolves had to be added in. Watching the video you can see the abrupt cuts. Also the dialogue could be improved as some words did not come out as clearly as we hoped.