Preliminary task main points

1. What preparation did you undertake ahead of the preliminary task?
Storyboards were created to guide us through the preliminary task by our team, agreeing on different angles and shots (I will upload the story boards in the next post).
2. Where did you shoot it?
We shot it in the Windsor boys’ school, in an empty English room.
3. Why did you choose this location?We choose this location because it looked the most official area and more alike to a doctors office than the other rooms. The location provided the shots of the stairs as well; we took these shots in particular to use the high angle to make the patent look vulnerable.
4. What equipment have you used?
We used very little equipment besides the HD camera, three chairs and two desks. for mis-en-scene we used our school wear as it looks official. The set was a hallway, the stairs and the room.
5. What went well?
The teamwork was great everything ran smoothly and there were no disruptions.
6. What difficulties did you face?
The preliminary task film is actually the 2nd version; unfortunately another student from a school media group uploaded a file to the HD camera, which resulted in all the film failing to upload to a computer. Time was a factor as well after the first problem we were pushed for time and the set, which we first used, was occupied however we overcome the problems and produced the work on time.
7. What is your overall impression of your preliminary task outcome?
My team and I are happy with the outcome of the preliminary task, we were very pleased with the editing adding the fade and dissolve we feel made it more professional. We met all the specification points so we are happy with the task.
8. How would you improve it?
I would like to add more dialog and perhaps make a better more hospital style soundtrack.
9. What lessons have you learnt that you will keep in mind as you continue working on the main task?
Editing plays a major role, even shots that didn’t go well can be salvaged and parts can be used to continue the film. With that in mind if you as a team think that the shot is poor then never delete it always wait to see if it can be amended and produce better work.

The Preliminary task explained

In this short sequence we choose to have a plot involving a doctor and patent character the doctor welcome the patent into his office where he then explains the patents test results which have life changing consequences. The patent who is a main character along with the doctor, is followed by the camera to the office the scene on the stairs and as he rounds the corner on the top floor is sound bridged by a non-diegetic soundtrack which was created by our assigned folly artist and team. we hope this was the closest to prefect hospital theme to match the current location on screen. After rounding the corner the patent opens the door to the office, we cut to a match on action shot showing the door being opened to keep within the rules of continuity editing and thus make the scene run more fluidly. The patent then shakes the hand of the doctor and sits down to listen to his results, at which we used the dissolve tool in final cut to show time passing. the patent then asks the doctor about the results shown through a shot reverse shot conversation however there is no conclusion as a cut takes the audience outside in the hall. leaving the audience questioning what the results are and if anything is wrong with the patent. The short film ends with a pan away from the action and a fade to black gradually.

I hope the film meets all the requirements for the task at hand and that the plot can be understood by all viewers.

feel free to comment

Josh

The Preliminary task

Push film cover

Push introduction analysis

Push is a 2009 film directed by Paul McGuigan, following the genre of thriller action sci-fi. The plot is based in and around Hong Kong, where the "mover" Nick Gant is contacted by the "watcher" Cassie Holmes to seek out the "pusher" Kira Hollies. She has just escaped from the Division, a governmental agency that chases the people with abilities so that they may make super weapons. the names such as "movers" etc. describes the type of power they have, "movers" for example can move objects with their mind.

Push starts with the brand logos of summit entertainment and icon productions these have their own animations and sound affects to accompany the logo to grab the attention of the audience. After the producers the films subtitles set the film 10 years in the past allowing the audience to understand the past of the characters and start to develop the plot by leaving narrative questions. An establishing shot shows the setting, which seems to be a inside a flat building in a hallway where a cleaner is working. the camera then tracks down the hall way perhaps on a dolly rail. A man and his son fill the hallway as they round the corner in haste making the audience wonder why they are rushing. A cut from the scene then turn into a close up of the sons face suggesting his importance and showing the look of fear reinforcing the worry for the character in the audience. A close up of his watch, which has been edited by the folly artist, makes the ticking louder representing the lack of time and suggesting the danger that the characters are in. They enter a room shown through a match on action then through a shot reverse shot the father tells the boy that on day a girl will give him a flower and that he should help her at all cost which he stresses the importance of what he is saying. the boy accepts his father plea. this makes the audience ask why does the girl need help and how the young boy will be connected. The dad then tells the boy that he is gifted. later he is a "mover" this tells the audience that he has a clear destiny that the film will show. After that the father "forces pushes" the venting allowing the boy to escape the unseen mob following. This rises a lot of narrative enigmas like are there more of the gifted, powerful people etc. when this happens the dads then talks about the "division" and "watchers" both of which are unknown to the audience so they would inquire about them to find out what roles they have in the film, they are clearly shown as a military organisation. A black character is introduced with a bodyguard of S.W.A.T no name or information is given about the character however he is clearly important but the audience is positioned to not like the character and instead take up the father and sons side against the "division". The body guards smash through the door and are then blasted back through by a wave of energy allowing the audience to witness the kind of gifts the boy has and also to show off good affects that the film offers. Then more credits roll in while a girl talks about the world of gifted people who don't ask to be gifted at all this is followed by an eerie soundtrack. the gifted people are shown to be living in terror which needs to be resolved. the background for the credit are parts of testing physic warfare suggesting were the film leads and that the film has serious moral issues enticed within it. A war is explain that is happening between the division and the gifted people, which is in favor of the division but now the tide of the war will change making the audience question how.