Filming

We are now into the filming stages of our film opening. Below is a piece of footage I was personally responsible for filming. It has not been edited at this stage, so the diegetic sound, cutting and lighting is still to be changed and improved.

I think this shot is an example of good use of the camera. I like the idea of the shot starting quite close up and then coming up over the girls shoulder and finishing as a mid-shot behind her. I think it has been quite well filmed as you get the idea of someone watching the girls every movement. The over shoulder the shot gives the impression of invading privacy. This then links with typical conventions of a thriller film. The audience gets the idea something bad is going to happen to this girl as you can see that something is watching her. The slow backwards steps create the impression of distance and a slow approach, which sets a very suspenseful atmosphere. This is quite a unique camera angle, which I think will help to keep the audiences interest in the film and allows them to be unsure of what is happening. The phone in the shot creates an enigma code, as the audience is a bit unsure of why a simple text message is being focused on.

If I were to film this shot again, I think I could improve slightly on how steady the camera is, as the camera moves in the shot it was hard to get it to stay steady, meaning at some points of the shot the camera moves a bit more than I would have liked. However after getting the lighting edited and the rest of the shots fitted around it, I think this may be improved and will help to add to the idea of being watched. I hope the audience will feel like the camera is being held by the person watching her.

The diegetic sound in this clip will be edited out and a suspenseful backing track will be put on the top of it, which will clean up the shot and help it to appear like a thriller film. I will also darken the lighting, to low-key, during the editing process, this will make it appear like the event was happening at night, which will help link into typical conventions of a thriller genre and the audience will be put more on edge.

Overall i am quite pleased with this shot as I think it is unique and creates the desired impression of someone being watched. This then reinforces the thriller genre and makes the audience aware that something bad is going to happen.