In our class we got into 3 groups and spent an hour filming a short sequence involving an elevator and a large window pane glass door.

My role today was sound, which was fine I have done sound a bit last semester so I knew all the basics, however it was good to refresh my brain on all the things you have to do in preparing to get sound working. Such as coiling the cable and keeping it out of the way of crew members. Plugging the boom and the headphones into camera and then setting it up so it actually works.

Overall I think I have learnt that preparation and having a singular director is the best for these group situations. I think often when a director and a camera op are chosen sometimes they are unsure of what they want and this indecisiveness then means other people in the group comment on what they think should happen. Likewise I think they have a lack of concern for time as its about getting “the shot” and there is a great deal of desire to get the right lighting etc. within the shot. I think today this was what really held us back, we went into the shoot with a lack of direction and to many uncertainties. I personally wasn’t involved in any of these decisions as I was on sound but had I been directing I would have perhaps thought about the shots prior and then adjusted position or angle or lighting when we got there.

The shots I were envisioning were:

a side angle long shot on a slight angle facing the subject waiting for elevator and perhaps had a small light inside so the outside wouldn’t of been as exposed. My second shot would’ve been a straight on mid shot of the elevators with the subject in front followed by the doors opening. This would have then gone to an over the shoulder in the elevator followed perhaps by a shot outside of the doors opening and the subjects moving past the camera perhaps tracking them away.

One of the girls in our group today also suggested how we haven’t really used much motion within the exercises which I think was a really good point. It would definitely add some dynamics and some interesting elements to the scene. Perhaps if thinking about what we shot today we could have tracked the subjects walking from the elevator and out the door following them moving. I also really enjoy using close up shots within things I shoot I love the detail that adds another dimension so perhaps a close up of the hand pressing the elevator button would’ve been nice. Even a point of view shot form the person in the elevator waiting for the doors to open and have the camera follow the head shot of looking at the phone and then up to the subject.

In terms of lighting there were a few difficulties, it was around midday on a sunny day that we shot this so the sun glare was quite strong. The window was also very large which meant a lot of natural light was coming in and filling the space. I don’t think there would’ve been a way to block this light out unless we were doing a close up shot. I think perhaps our other option would be to light the darkest area which would’ve been the subjects face in the foreground perhaps a small diffused light would’ve achieved this.

I put a quick edit together just so i could discuss the overall sequence.

I really love the over the shoulder shot of the subject walking out of the lift I think the depth of field adds focus to the subject in the back, I also think this subject is really well lit so our attention is immediately drawn to her.

I like the pace of the start, I think adding a few counts of nothing both outside and inside the elevator really contribute to that. The side on shot is nicely composed, exposed and light overall, the natural light works well. However I would’ve perhaps aded an extra light if I had more time to add a more direct light and give a bit more warmth to the shot. The subject in this shot also walks slightly out of frame.

The one shot I feel that is a bit off is the one from a side angle, I think because everything before and after this shot are straight on it feels slightly out of place. perhaps the way I have edited it makes it feel a bit detached. I would think that maybe a long shot to start followed but two close ups might’ve flowed smoother.

I love the movement in the last shot I think it keeps everything flowing a bit more perhaps more movement in the overall sequence wouldn’t make it feel so out of place and slightly jarring.