Practice Film and Feedback

In the build up to planning our main trailer for our coursework, me and my group were asked to complete a practice film to help establish an understanding of what we needed to do for the real thing. Though this was a short film and not a trailer, the main aim of the ask was to prepare us for the real thing, taking into account camera angles, mise en scene, codes and conventions and editing. Once it was finished, we then had to present our film to the rest of our class, where we could then take on audience feedback and look for things to add when making the real trailer.

With regards to the audience feedback, we asked this via a small questionnaire asking questions relating to all aspects of the short film. These were;

1. How did you find are use of camera angles?

2. Was the location good for the plot?

3. Did the music fit the flow of the film?

4. Was it edited well?

5. Was there anything you think we could of done to improve it?

We were told not to focus entirely on a storyline and plot, but much rather the camera angles and use of location, two aspects that any film needs to gain positive feedback and something that when it comes to our trailer needs to be heavily focused on.

Above shows our short film.

What it's about

The film is based on a boy who gets attacked on the way home from school. After to starting to walk with a friend from school, the two break off to go separate ways home only to find one is being followed and eventually attacked. It focuses on the boy walking down a footpath which leads to a country road, where he is eventually attacked and dragged away.

1. Camera Angles

We tried to focus on a number of camera angles, trying to understand the best way to film them and what in affect works best. We didn't pick random angles, but focused on all aspects of the overall film, trying to incorporate sound and editing as these aspects. The first minute of the film concentrates on the beat of chosen song, with the camera angle of the boy being changed when the beat hits. Incorporating this helps the film flow and helps build the film up to an ending.

Below shows 4 of the camera angles used within the first minute.

Camera Angle Feedback

The question from the questionnaire asked the audience whether they found the use of our camera angles effective. We asked a few people on their thoughts of this. The majority people said that they thought are angles were positive and they incorporated a good inter-link with our music and allowed the film to flow. Two of them said that they liked the way the camera angles changed when the beat of the music hit, something that happened throughout the first minute every 5-6 seconds.

Trying to incorporate this flow with the music is something that we hope to do with the trailer, hopefully giving it suspense and tension throughout.

2. Location

We based our short film within an alleyway next to our school. What made the alleyway effective was its width, which allowed us to film the main character without getting the cameraman in the way, not making the area feel cramped. What also helped was the use of overlapping trees on the video. This helped the mood and added tension to the audience, which also helped on the on top of the build up music.  

 Example of an alley

Location Feedback

The question from the questionnaire asked the audience whether the location was a good fit for the plot. From what we found, the location was positively thought of with the majority again thinking the location was a good fit that complemented the music and flow. However, two people thought that the film should have branched out of the alley way helping make it more exciting.

We took this onboard and will take the importance of changing location in the main trailer.

3. Music

For this film we decided to pick the music after we had filmed, editing every scene to the music. We chose the music as the ‘Jaws’ theme song where it builds up to the sharks attack. We took this thought into our film where the boy walks and the tension build up to where he is finally attacked.

Like previously mentioned, we incorporated the beat of the song as a way of tension, where the camera angle changes when hits a certain beat. This adds a good flow and both act as tension builders to the eventual attack.

Music Feedback

From our questionnaire, the question asked them whether the music helped fit the flow of the film. This was also positively thought of with the majority saying the location and change of camera angles working really well and complementing the overall finish.

4. Editing

Like I mentioned within the music section, I used all aspects within the editing stage. The main way I edited was with the music and camera angles, where I matched the beat to changing camera angle. I did this with the camera going black when the beat hit, then instantly changing.

I also edited the very final conscious scene of the boy, where he looks left and right in the road and gets hit by the stalker. I slowed this down building the tension with the use of the music, with the film finally finishing after this.

Example of editing software

Editing Feedback

Within our questionnaire we asked whether it was edited well. We explained the process with the camera angles and the music and again we found a positive response. They all said it worked well, other than one person who explained how the editing was too obvious and should be designed in a well hidden way. Making editing too obvious makes the film work look sloppy and looks like it lacks any effort and thought.

5. Was there anything that you think could have been improved?

Due to this being a practice film, improvement is an important feature to be taken account for when we make the main trailer. We asked this in our questionnaire and have received a positive response of think that could have helped improve out video. These are as follows;

·         More Scenes Outside The Alley. Some said the alley was boring to have constantly throughout the film and wanted to see us do something more outside. This shows us that branching out of locations is important to stop tedious factors stepping in and something we will take into account when filming our trailer.

·         Cutting Down The Walking Scenes. The first minute is surrounded by the boy walking down the alley way, with the camera angle changing based on the beat of the music. For many, this was very uninteresting and wanted something to happen. They didn’t see the point and would of much rather see us move straight into action as soon as we can. Taking this into account, we now know dwelling on the same type of shot is tedious for the audience and this shouldn’t happen with our trailer.

·         Diagetic Sound. Many thought that the lack of diagetic sound was poor as it showed no connection between the audience and main character. Instead Non-diagetic was shown with the music, and this played throughout blocking out nay external voices and noises. For our trailer however we know the importance of communication and will incorporate diagetic sound into it.

How will the practice film will help our trailer?

The whole point of making this short film was helping us build our understanding for when we make our trailer. We focused on filming, editing and acting, trying to establish a balance that was both believable and appealing.

Taking into account for what the audience said, it clear that changing aspects and keeping the audience on their toes is important, as well as sticking to a storyline that intrigues them too.

Taking on what we’ve learnt from the feedback and the features we have gained knowledge of with our filming and acting, we hope to make our trailer innovative and unique hopefully captivating the audience and resulting with good feedback at the end.