10 frame task – Being watched

In this task we were asked to discuss, plan and storyboard a 10 frame scene in which someone is being watched. Only having an hour to do this I personally felt this was a test or an opportunity to use what we’d learnt from our prelim task and see if as a result we wouldn’t face the same problems or insecurities.
Unfortunately I don’t think as a group we achieved what we could have and still faced problems, though not necessarily the same that we faced in the prelim task. Firstly we had to make a practical decision on what we were going to plan, Iman and I had a similar idea of using the glass doors in our media classroom, and have the person spectator peering through the doors to see the other person doing something they shouldn’t be.
After a group discussion we planned the plot outline of someone stealing from a bag, and looking up to find themselves being caught red handed by the person on the other side of the door. We also had a good idea of our shot sequencing and positioning before drawing up the storyboard. However this is were I feel our planning was unsuccessful as one of our team was requested to set up the camera equipment.
When I returned from assembling the equipment Iman and Edward we still discussing the different shots we could use, but being pressed for time I released it was important for us to have stayed and drawn up the storyboard together. Although I still don’t see how we could have effectively drawn the storyboard as a group while setting up equipment in time to leave us the 20 minute period for filming, I’m sure if we were perform the task again we could have organised ourselves better. Luckily Edward took on the role of sketching up he storyboard, which he completed quickly with Iman and I guidance.
Our concept was eventually of Iman stealing a phone from a bag, and being caught by Edward, we all liked the idea of this as a piece and when imagining our actions, angles and shot types found it came a lot more naturally. I love it when I can really vision what were creating as to me it means I’m not only enjoying the task but I have a good mind and ideas for such a task. Since I’ve started Media at A level I have been quite intimidated and felt daunted by some tasks, however I’m already started to get into it and understand I have good ideas and a fair understanding at what I’m expected to do, and hopefully do it to a good standard.
With our storyboard complete using a variety of different shots such as, over the shoulder, long shot, close up, high angles and panning we were ready to go, this was when we encountered our next problem. Our Location, which was inside and outside the media block, was also being used by two other groups. Making our filming extremely difficult. Not being able to film according to our storyboard without interrupting each other was honestly an achievement. As we didn’t practically have time to film elsewhere we all managed to adapt around each others filming. Although I would not recommend this method to anyone else, or do it again I felt it was good how the different groups also worked together to achieve that. Next time however I will consult the other groups on there locations and ideas to avoid clashes.
I found continuity was a balance of good and bad. When filming we were able to follow the storyboard with ease and little difficulty. Edward, who played the role of person watching our thief, played by Iman, began with a walking, long shot toward the media block. I operated the camera during this task and shot two takes of this scene, I think the second shot was better as Edward had I better idea of what he was doing and came across more relaxed and natural. We continued like this through the rest of our filming, normally taking two takes of each shot but found both were normally fitting to our original storyboard. Our continuity suffer though as we couldn’t film a key scene in time to make the film piece flow. Were Iman kneels down to take the phone Edward was planned to be also seen walking into the frame outside the glass doors, however with another group filming outside we weren’t able to shoot this without interrupting them.
Although Miss. Bundy spoke to the class afterwards, and told us that the point of the task was to help us understand how it can’t be done to film effectively in such a space of time, and how extensive planning needs to be, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed at our failure to shot that one last scene to complete the sequence. The task truly served its purpose of making us understand the lesson behind it, and next time I’ll be considering my planning detail and awareness of other group planning and hopefully wont be faced with the same problems.