the package

Over the past 2 weeks four of us filmed and edited a short, 2 minute film called 'The Package'. We were given a basic storyline for the film which was for it to be about a package to be delivered around our school somehow and for the ending to be the revealing of what is contained in the package. The main aim of this task was for us to familiarise ourselves with the cameras and editing software.

STORYBOARDING:

We began by thinking up a basic story and what would happen at the end of our film, and then each us were set to storyboard in more detail what exactly would happen in each part of the film in terms of camera angle, shots and movement. The aim of this was so that when we actually filming the process would be quicker and easier, it would also mean we could purposefully include certain shots such as match-on-action, shot-reverse-shot, and establishing shots.

FILMING:

We filmed with HD1080p cameras using a tripod. The cameras were simple DV cameras that recorded onto SD memory cards. At one point during the 360º shot around the character's head at 0:22 we initially tried using a dolly, however very quickly we discovered that it was much harder to manoeuvre than expected and it was also fairly unstable even on quite even ground. We then filmed the shot handheld and found that the style that it gave the shot was very suitable to the intensity that we were aiming to achieve.

EDITING:

We edited using Final Cut Pro X. Before starting we had watched a few tutorials on www.izzyvideo.com which showed us the basics, however we found after watching these we could easily pick up how to work the rest and soon we had composed a rough cut. From there all we had to do was to create a more smooth and slick video that coincided with the music that we chose. We then added credits at the beginning and end.

Overall I was very pleased with the end product and felt that I had complete the purpose of the task which was to familiarise myself with the equipment that we were using. I felt that the continuity didn't work out as well as I'd hoped in all of the shots such as the shot at 0:34, however as a first task I was extremely happy with it.