Preliminary Self Evaluation

My preliminary task had many features that can be improved on, though there are also a few good factors. I didn't put all of my effort into my preliminary task, instead i attempted to spread out my effort across my blog posts and the production of my film. This resulted in my task not having 100% of my attention, therefore not being nearly up to the standard my main task will be.

My first problem was the general approach I had to the filming process. The set I used often had lots of people in or around it, meaning I couldn't film on specific days. This meant I had to complete all filming on one day, due to continuity issues otherwise. Having to film all on one day was a huge struggle, as I had to arrange a time for all actors to be prepared, though they couldn't always do it due to being busy with other work. All of these things resulted in a very rushed filming process, I couldn't get the result I wanted and didn't end up creating a substantial narrative. In future I will make sure there is nobody in or around the filming location, and ensure all people involved are able to participate. Another problem in the filming process was lighting. After messing around with it half way through the process, it changed slightly within the clip and it couldn't be changed back. This made for a bad continuity error, and I know now not to change the set at all in the future midway through filming.

There were also some problems within the editing process but i managed to learn a lot from it. Going into it, i had no idea how to use final cut, i had lots of trouble initially in terms of editing my clips with very little experience with the programme. Towards the end of the post production process, i learned more about the software and was able to use slightly more advanced techniques. 

I need to develop my camera skills as there are multiple times throughout the video where the focus isn't used correctly. In some cases the camera loses focus too much, as opposed to being controlled creating good effects. My time management also needs to be improved on multiple fronts, including the film process, post production process and also organise time to sort out my narrative. My directing skills also need to improve, as the actors had too much freedom, and one ended up swearing a lot more than i would have liked.

I also didn't follow the brief to 100% accuracy. I didn't incorporate the 180 degree rule, and this would've been a huge problem in my main task. I have now learnt to follow the brief a lot closer, and won't make the same mistake again. I also loosely followed the general outlines, as a person does walk into a room to exchange dialogue, but doesn't sit down.

Though i have a lot to improve on, and i learnt a lot during my preliminary i did do a few things well. I have appealed to a certain audience with my film, that being people of both genders aged 16-25. After showing my prelim to lots of people from this age group I believe i made the film suitable to that audience in terms of the type of comedy, though in the future and my main task i would like to have a different type of humour displayed. I developed my editing skills in final cut quite well, as I was very new to the programme which will aid me in the future. The characters i used were also generic and stereotypical, which specifically appeal to my target audience.

Overall I learned a lot from doing my preliminary task, and I will hopefully be able to improve the quality of my main task dramatically.