Reflection Task 01

During the shooting of our video exploration of camera angles and shots went off without a hitch, particularly if we take into account that this was merely a practice run. We managed to grab the intended shots, like a close-up and a long shot, insert shot in a very clear manner for everybody to see and also to the technical standard that was required. We also discovered that the basic editing process was quite quick, thereby enabling us to efficiently place the selected shots in sequence and concentrate on the visual storytelling aspect of the short clip. The handling of the camera was in fact very manageable, and we were able to produce a fairly steady handheld shot in the parts where movement was necessary.

But we did face a few challenges in the production of this task. The first and foremost was the challenge of lighting control, where it became very hard to keep the same lighting throughout all the shots, particularly when the shots were taken in different places or at different times of the day; as a result, some shots ended up being a little darker or having some unwanted shadows. Another challenge was in the aspect of audio, as background noise was frequently interrupting the environment, which made it difficult to keep the sound clean and clear. To sum it up, trying to perform some of the more intricate camera movements, like a steady tracking shot, turned out to be difficult and required several takes to get it right without the footage looking too shaky or unprofessional.

There were a number of new and important things that we learned through our experience with this task which will be of great assistance to the major task. First, we now realize that a detailed pre-production plan which covers such aspects as lighting and location scouting is essential to ensure consistency before filming even starts. Secondly, we found out that concentrating on shot stability and using basic gear like a tripod, or practicing simple breathing techniques for handheld work, has a tremendous impact.

Editing Process and Final Product

 Editing Process

We finished the editing of our preliminary task video using the CapCut software. The great thing about CapCut is that it gives us very precise control over the details of the footage. The most useful function that I used mostly was the frame keys or keyframes. Frame keys are like to digital markers that you set up on a timeline and tell the software exactly how a certain setting should cause or be at that point in time. For instance, in a single video clip, I used one frame key to make the sound volume high and another frame key a few seconds later to make it low. The sound will then gradually decrease or increase (or ramp up/down) between those points instead of just abruptly changing making it feel discontinuous. This is  how I used this frame key feature to reduce the sound towards the end of the clip, resulting in a nice fade-out. Nevertheless, frame keys are very versatile and can be applied for multiple effects like soft changing the brightness, position, or size of the picture over time. This technique was helpful for the final look and sound of our short technical video.

Final Product

Filming Day

• Character: Midha (Looks sad and tired).

• Used props: A small old wooden box, a photo strip (picture) of the girl and her friend, table, and chair.

Camera Shots And Angles

This exercise allowed us to appreciate the very delicate interplay of camera shots, lighting, sound, and mise-en-scène in conveying a story visually — even in the absence of extensive dialogue.

Simple Scene Plan:

• The emotional transition: Sad → Missing the Past → Happy/Hopeful

• Location: School Classroom (After School)

• Establishing Shot: This includes a wide shot of Midha sitting alone at a desk in the dark room which indicates loneliness. 

• Up-Close Shots:

• Close-up: Midha's hand slowly opens the box which gives a feeling of antisipation.

• Very Close-up: Midha's face—a tear begins to fall of her cheek to emphasize her feelings of sorrow.

• Insert Short: includes a single shot of the box at the table behind Midha.

• Camera Movement:

  • Slow Zoom-In: The camera slowly moves closer to Midha's face.

  • Pan: The camera slowly moves all the way around Midha as they think.

• End Shot: The camera follows Midha to the window. It ends looking over Midha's shoulder at the bright light shining in to represent hope.

Mis-en-scene

• Lighting:

  • Main Light: Soft, dim light, making dark shadows around Midha.

  • Change: When the photo is seen, a warm, gold light shines on it, making it look like a dream. Like when there is an insert shot of the box, we used natural sunlight to make it look different from the rest of the scene as it is a sign of happiness for her.

• Clothes: School Uniform.

• Sounds:

• A loud clock ticking slowly in the distance.

• Part 1 (Sad): Sound of paper rustling. Quiet, sad piano notes begin.

• Part 2 (Missing the Past): The music gets bigger and fuller.

• Part 3 (Hopeful): The music changes to sound happy and bright. The clock ticking stops, and you only hear Midha's quiet breathing.

Introduction To Preliminary Tasks

Introduction

Our teacher asked us to complete this preliminary exercise as a way to prepare for our main skill test. We are doing this to practice and develop the skills that we will need to carry out the final assessment and to get familiar with related production work. This practice will help us understand the process, test our abilities, and ensure we are well-prepared for the final production. The preliminary task includes 1 major task and 2 minor tasks. The major task includes creating a small video in which we were told to explore and demonstrate different camera angles and shots. The first minor task is a practice exercise which focuses on designing a digipack or a postcard for the video we are creating. Finally, the second minor task is a practice task which focuses on creating mock social media pages to promote the same project.

Scene planning

My group and me created a small emotional sequence that runs through the feelings of sorrow, reminiscence, and faith. The protagonist Midha goes through a silent process of thinking in a classroom. We utilized minimal props such as a little wooden box and a snapshot from the photo booth to reveal her innermost recollections and feelings. We tried to include scenes of anticipation by using insert and push in camera movements. The video is brief and does not really exhibit any kind of a storyline but it explores many different camera movements which was our main task behind attempting this.

Our Roles

Tanvi - Camera Operator Composition and Aesthetics: I select angles, perspectives, and shot sizes (e.g., close-up, wide shot) to set the mood and focus. 

Movement and Dynamics: I execute camera movements (e.g., tracking shots, pans, tilts) that enhance the emotion and flow of the scene.

Neha - Editor: She will cut and splice all footage to make sure every visual element only elevates the overall visuals of the short film.

Mood and Pace: She will control the overall pace and emotional impact of the video by making choices about shot duration and transitions.

Midha- Actor, Non-Verbal Communication: Using a full range of facial expressions, gestures, and body language to reflect the mood of the short film, even without dialogue.

Character Interpretation: She will portray the specific role or character needed to improve the short film's narrative

Skill Audit

 It’s really important to have a clear understanding of your strong points and your weak points before any large project starts! The Skill Audit gave me some clues about where I should direct my energy for the early tasks.

The below table shows that I will have to really put in effort to ensure that there is proper lighting across all my shots and to get the hang of those difficult keyframes in the editing software.

Introduction To The Blog

 Welcome to My Advanced Portfolio

This is my blog for Cambridge International A level Media Studies (9607). My name is Tanvi and in this blog I'll be documenting the production journey of my A-Level Media Studies short film package along with my group.

Originally, our project involved selecting one of the four different packages (Short Film, Music Video, Documentary, or Film) but I selected the Short Film Package this way because of the technical skills aspect. It is going to take a lot of my time and effort because of the mastery I want to achieve in those areas. The other packages are more about storyline and sound, but the short film allows me to really concentrate on the visual production skills that I would need for the Major Task (the video).

Our team is working together to create a complete music promotion package. We will try to combine our individual technical and creative strengths that we have been learning. Each member has taken on a specific role that is important for the final result. These roles include editing, acting, camera operation, and production design. By blending these different skills, we plan to produce a professional and interesting short film that truly reflects majorly the suspense genre. This A-Level Media Studies project is not just about improving technical skills but will also focuses on learning how to translate the emotional and thematic ideas of our chosen track into an impactful visual media piece.

This entire activity—the video, the postcard, and these posts—is a way of practicing all the skills needed for the final submission.