180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule, one of the most basic of principles when it comes to making a film.
This rule was followed constantly throughout our production - as shown by our film throughout, most notably when the "Runner" was moving towards his destination. Although we could've used other shots to help portray his point of view, such as POV shots - we instead kept to more traditional shots which had to follow the 180 degree rule.
Although we did take the rule seriously, we did consider the possibilities of breaking it, or, as we did, bending it.
Later in the prelim film, we did deliberately bend the rules when it came to filming the 180 degree rule - as shown we pan the camera from left to right in the viewer's eyes which, bends the 180 degree rule, but does not break it!
We wanted a shot showing all the characters and the door, which wouldn't have been possible if strictly sticking within the 180 degree rule.

This is a diagram which clearly shows what is meant by the 180 degree rule, although it can be broken, or indeed bent to either invoke feeling from the audience, or to set up for a later scene.

By Rasmus Klingstroem

Use of Shot/reverse Shot

For this excersise one of the techniques we had to demonstrate was shot/reverse shot which we used at the end of the conversation between the two charcters. In the original plan of the storyboard after the tracking shot of the runner character sitting it would cut straight into the shot/reverse shot. However because of the length of the other characters dialouge that had be scriped we decided to use a tracking shot instead which also enabled us to move the camera over the 180 degree line with one continuous shot to the other characters left side for the over the shoulder shots used. As a result of this we could make the last shot an OTS shot which kept all the characters within that scene in the audiences focus and the composition of the characters with the other character taking up most of the frame can put emphasis on the characters power above the rest.

Alea Holland

Final Prelim Short-Film

Script for Prelim

Runner enters the room


Other: I've been expecting you, Mr Anderson. You thought you could steal from me?

Runner: Where's Gonzalez?!

Associate steps in front of door


Other: He's dead!

Runner: What now?

Other: Take a seat.

Runner grabs the chair


Runner sits down


Other: You have two choices Mr Anderson. Hand me the disc and live, or keep it, i kill you and take it anyway.

Runner looks at disc for a second then throws it onto the table


Other looks at disc


Other: You may leave.

Associate steps out of the way of the door


Runner walks out.




Posted by Rasmus Klingstroem

Storyboard

 

4th January - Started Filming Dialogue

During the first lesson back in media, we went to start filming the dialogue scene, to try and get as much of it done as possible so we could go and start editing it.
Props were brought in, and we kept a mental note of what we were wearing at the time so continuity wouldn't be disturbed through the several days we might be filming. Most of the props were brought in by Alea.
Some of the props included; Suit Jacket, Baseball Bat, Sun Glasses, Mushroom with a face (from Super Mario), a hood to cover the face, and a Hoodie. There might be more I am missing from this list.

There was also a script which Rasmus made to make sure that we all understood what we needed to say and when, the script also included the positioning of characters, and the movements they should do before/during/after a certain scene/dialogue.

By Rasmus Klingstroem

5th January - Finished Filming

Finished off the rest of the filming during our combined frees and tried not to rush as much as possible so we'd get the camera work correct, 180 degree rule correct and the white balance.
All items of props were brought in with no exceptions including clothing so the continuity remains strong.

Although it was at a different time of day, it didn't look like there would be any problems from the sunlight entering the room as the New Building is blocking the sun from that room - although we did look through the footage we'd taken from the previous day to make sure that we wouldn't loose continuity.

We'd made sure to bring the additional lighting from the media equipment just in case it was needed, which, fortunately it was not.


The only problem we had was the camera remaining unfocused whenever we tried to hold the camera by hand and move it around the room for the filming. This meant that some of the shots were quite blurred and had to be redone.
Also the white balance continuously reset itself so the room looked yellow through nearly every shot, but was fixed every time we saw the problem.


 By Rasmus Klingstroem