Please click here to see the video

For this task, we set out to produce a 1 minute in length video showcasing different aspects of camera movement and utilise industry standard production techniques, including but not limited to things like Close-ups, pans, wide shots and in particular shot framing and the rule of thirds.

The sequences unit was the first time using the camera kit at YSJ and it was great learning how to shoot a sequence and tie it together in post-production. During this shoot, I was crewed with one other person and together we took it in turns to do our parts accordingly, each helping each other out in regards to understanding how to use the camera and its functionality. We both had unique ideas and approaches to what we wanted to film, so when it actually came down to shooting we were able to swap and share ideas and experiment which was great for the final product and I feel it really brought in a lot of personality and uniqueness to it for just a 1 minute experiment. When it came to post-production, I was able to use my own experience with premiere pro to make a good product as well as help my partner in their own work as they were not used to the program. 

In regards to health and safety, we were shooting just outside of campus grounds so we were pretty in control and not too worried, however, we were both very cautious of the roadside and the constant traffic around us, as well as shooting on a busy footpath where there were a lot of cyclists coming through in and out of shooting that could have accidentally hit our tripod setup. We made sure to move out of the way of the public when filming to avoid these issues and only setup shots that could be done without interfering. 

Looking back at the production and how I could have improved, I felt I was far too close in to the subject, at the time I felt it was a good artsy idea and I do still like it – however, I should have shot an establishing shots and more wides to get the audience orientated correctly to the subject, as it’s a bit confusing. Post production was the best learning process for me in the unit, as I got taught how to string the footage together so it flowed more naturally, especially with audio which was another big learning curve that I’d been trying to improve on.

That being said – some dialogue would have done the shoot good, just to practice audio levels a little more. Understanding an using the cameras was also a bit of a challenge, as I’m very used to using manual focus on a completely different camera, so getting to grips and learning on the fly with the different kit was also really good and I think the autofocus helped me get a bit more creative and manoeuvrable. I do feel like this task set me up quite well for learning the kit, however, I wish at the time I was able to do it with a bigger crew but two was enough in the end.