Continuity Task Evaluation

Continuity Task Evaluation

1. Explain the story of your video 

In our short video encapsulating an accident, we wanted the narrative to be realistic and relatable during the six shots. Therefore we decided to have two people bumping into each other and causing an explosion of papers. Firstly, we started off with an establishing shot, consisting of the first character speeding down a flight of stairs hurrying to get to class. Meanwhile, the other two characters are casually strolling across the corridor, engrossed in their conversation. Then both characters approach the edge of a corner, resulting in the collapse of one of the characters, accompanied by a small outburst of flying papers.

2. How did you attempt to create 'narrative flow' (continuity)?

We tried to create continuity the whole way through the video. Our first attempt was trying to set the scene by showing that all of the characters were in the same building, however moving at different paces as the shots switched, this is a technique called cross-cutting.We ensured that both characters that bumped into each other were on opposite sides of the corner so it looked realistic when the accident occurred. Furthermore, we tried to ensure that after the characters bumped into each other; the first character would fall to the floor, whilst dropping her papers in the air. We created continuity by making the first character stay in her same position before shooting the last shot, where she was accompanied by a single piece of paper falling.

Moreover, we tried to create continuity when doing the pan of the feet in the third shot by making both characters speak, however due to the school environment, the classrooms were all very quiet, this was juxtaposed to the last shot when the classes had just finished, therefore, there was a noisier atmosphere. Therefore, some may interpret that the third shot seemed muted; however this is the reality of filming in a school.

3.Did you achieve full continuity? If not, why not?
As a result, we did not achieve full continuity, furthermore, when analysing the video in depth, we noticed that the pan of the feet walking in the third shot was out of sync compared to the previous shot. However, we were really impressed with the wide frame of the panorama as this adds to the different variety of shots which we captured, thus grasping the audience. It also adds to the suspense as the audience anticipate what is going to happen next.

In addition, we did not reach full continuity as one of the characters raised her arm as the other character collided into her. This exacerbates how the character was preparing for the accident covertly. Furthermore, in the last shot, as the first character rose from the ground, the single shot of the paper was very slow to fall on the ground. Some may argue that the paper had already fallen on the ground; therefore, the video is not continuous.

4. In hindsight, what would you do differently to improve the narrative flow of your video and tell your story more effectively?  
In hindsight, I would ensure that we are filming the video during the lesson, not in between lessons, in order to avoid a variation of noise. Furthermore, I would suggest that on the panorama of the feet, that we could have followed them a bit more; this would grip the audience even more. Moreover, Sam cut some of the panorama out, therefore, next time we should have increased the pace of our shot. Also, on the second shot, I would ensure that we had a tighter shot on the door as it was very wide. Finally, on the last shot, the formation was too similar to the previous shot due to a lack of variation as we neglected the 30-degree angle rule. Overall, it was a challenging and exciting task and I look forward to improving my mistakes throughout the course of the year.

Reflection on shot!

Reflection on shot

A dominant reading may interpret that the still is from a typical horror TV series due to the eerie blue background, which gives a hint of darkness to the shot. By placing a blue filter in front of the camera, (which we obtained from the portable light) we thought that this would make the still look more sinister as cold and tenebrous backgrounds are important genre conventions in horror TV dramas.

In addition, the framing of the shot is very wide; this was for the audience to absorb the setting of the shot, as it is located on very steep stairs. This saturates the audience with fear as we tried to make the characters in the shot look isolated. Furthermore, we shot the still from a low angle to add mystery and to encapsulate the antagonist’s legs, which therefore made the shot look more threatening.

Regarding the mise-en-scene further, we did not include any props in the still, as we did not have many that suited the gothic theme. However, we wanted the audience to denote the protagonist lying on the stairs and ask themselves, ‘What happened to her?’ Moreover, the protagonist is lying on the floor in a very awkward position, as she is upside down on the stairs, therefore, the audience may connote that she has been pushed or that she is dead.

We wanted our narrative moment to be the climax of a typical horror TV drama. In addition, we wanted the audience to denote that the character is lying on the stairs unconsciously as her eyes are closed. Furthermore, the lighting of the shot is pre-eminently dark, which is very conventional of a gothic drama. We did this by trying to pick a location which was enclosed and we did not add any additional lighting.

This makes the shot look more suspenseful as it engrosses the audience, forcing them to search for further clues about what happened to the protagonist. However, one may argue that it is lighter on the left-hand side of the still, this makes the shot look scarier as it makes the lighting look uneven, however this was due to a window on the left-hand side. 

Overall, I think that this shot is very successful, I like the secluded setting as it is not obvious that it is in a school, therefore, the audience may infer that the still is in a basement. However, in hindsight, I think that we could have improved the still by adding more props, such as a knife or a hammer. This may have made the still look tenser and thus added to our conventional horror genre.

Trailer analysis - Annabelle Creation

Trailer analysis – Annabelle Creation

Genre signifiers

• ·       The setting of the trailer is based in a secluded house; furthermore, it is located in the countryside. Therefore, there are not many places for the protagonists to escape the isolated area.
• ·       Furthermore, to the iconography, there are many dark and cold colours surrounding the trailer, such as black and red, which connote blood and danger.
• ·       The lighting in the trailer is expressive and non-naturalistic. In addition, the low-key lighting helps to create dark shadows and out-of-shape figures hovering in the background- this is one of David Sandberg’s favourite techniques as he used the same skill in the famous horror film, 'Lights Out'.
• ·       Moreover, iconic props, such as the use of the wheelchair help to create a vulnerable protagonist. In addition, the use of the religious objects, masks and dolls help to create a more sinister narrative.
• ·       In the trailer, the use of a nursery rhyme in the background also emits an eerie atmosphere. Furthermore, ambient diegetic sounds like footsteps are utilised often to grip the audience and to emit suspense.
•         Point of view shots combined with extreme close ups are used to encapsulate the protagonists views and emotions. This was used in the trailer when the antagonists mum holds a religious cross as we could see that she was petrified.

Audience Appeal

• ·       The extreme close up of the antagonist’s hand enraptured the audience's attention as this exploited a demon-like claw appearing from a ten-year olds body.
• ·       The trailer started with the process of making the doll, for example, inserting the eyeballs and stamping the doll box. This instantly grabs the attention of the audience as it is a unique and sinister way to start a horror movie.
• ·        Furthermore, the use of the loud screams and the clamorous bangs makes the audience scared.
• ·       Also, the different variety of shots makes the audience feel more interested and more included in the trailer as they feel like they are in the protagonist's position, especially the low angle shots as the audience is able to see the threat in the background.
• ·        The use of the whispering and softly toned dialogue makes the audience listen closely to the trailer; however this is also accompanied by piercing sounds, thus making the audience feel uncomfortable.
• ·       Furthermore, Sandberg framed shots in such a daunting way that it left the audience to search for the slightest shadows in the background to come out and jump at you – this engrosses the audience, making them want to see the film.

Character and representation

• ·       From the trailer, the film is mainly based around Janice as the shots are mainly focused on her.
• ·       It shows that the characters are orphans and that they are going to be living in a secluded orphanage owned by the Mullins’
• ·       It also shows that there is a forbidden room in the house where the children must not enter
• ·       Furthermore, it shows the history of how the doll became to conjure an evil spirit
• ·       It also shows a conversation between Linda (Janice's best friend) and Mr Mullins about their daughter – Bee who has been dead for a very long time
• ·       It shows snippets of Janice trying to escape the doll as she is telling the sister that an ‘evil presence’ is consuming her.

Branding  

• ·       ‘New line cinema production’ was shown at the end of the trailer on the bottom left hand corner with the credits
• ·       Furthermore ‘Warner Bros. Pictures’ was also shown at the end of the trailer on the bottom right hand corner with the credits.
• ·       Watertower music was also shown at the end of the trailer in the middle with the credits.
• ·       There was also a hashtag – #Annabellecreation which we could follow on twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.