Setting out with a camera, tripod and microphone, the preliminary exercise was to gain experience with the cameras and to see what works and what doesn’t. This was really a test, a learning curve, and in the end, a bit of a wake-up-call about what makes a bad video, a good video, and the elements of an excellent video. First, we produced some light pre-production - storyboards and a short script were composed to give us a rough idea of what to do and the order of which we would do it in once we had all of the kit in hand.The task was to film a short sequence with around 6 shots of a person entering a room, sitting down and having a short conversation. Continuity was the biggest aspect to keep in mind when shooting this short scene. Techniques such as the 180° line rule, eye lines and shot reverse shots were all things that would contribute to good continuity throughout, as well as making sure we had the right shots and asking ourselves if they would match up when it comes to editing. The rule of thirds, shot types and sizes were also things to consider for a well made product.
Once we were happy that our shots were useable, we headed back to the editing suite. This was the first time we’d edited in Final Cut Pro so the whole process took a bit longer than usual while we learned what to do and why we were doing it. Editing taught us valuable and vital techniques and certainly made me realise how important a good edit is in a final piece.
