Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the product:
Looking back on the preliminary task there is a huge difference between it and our thriller. There is quite clearly a huge contrast in the camera work, mise en scene, editing and sound. By looking back on these preliminary tasks and comparing them to the work we have now done with our thrillers you can see how as individuals and groups we have progressed hugely. Our preliminary task was about someone being pressured into vandalising someones house while our thriller is about a zombie attack due to a complication in a trial drug.
Firstly, the camera work is something that I personally feel shows a huge progression. The preliminary task shows very basic camera work such as; basic wide shots, close-up shots, over-the-shoulder shots. Although on the day we did experiment with a pan shot. This was about as advanced as we got. Although we only used very basic camera work this was very important to from a foundation in learning how to operate the camera. The camera work that we incorporated into our thriller was much more advanced than this. As a result of this it made the thriller more effective. Of course we incorporated basic shots like wide shots, close-ups, and over the shoulder shots but we also experimented with camera work that consisted of us shaking the camera and moving it around when following the main camera. This was done in the bathroom scene and we used in order to express the panic and shakiness of the main character. It was also used to create more of an effect and to cause the audience to feel less at ease. We used a lot of camera work in our thriller that would create panic and unease for the audience in order to make it more effective. We also incorporated whip shots, tracking shots and pan shots. We also experimented with shots slowly zooming into the main characters as well as following her actions. It is very clear that our camera work in our thriller is much more advanced as we had time to prepare and had also learnt a lot in the time between these tasks. We also had to think more about the shots we wanted to use for our thriller as it key that we create tension and anxiety through the piece. 
The screen grabs show a range of camera work. From the prelim you can see how there is a variety of over-the-shoulder and close-up. The screen grab from my thriller shows a part where we are following the main character and the camera is tracking round.
The mise en scene was used to create meaning in both tasks. In our preliminary task we were in the studio where there was a set built of the inside area of a house. This made it prefect for the context of our theme. In order to help create the mise en scene our actors also had hoodies and flat caps on. Although we did think about the mise en scene for our prelim it was much more basic then the mise en scene of our thriller. Again much more preparation and though went into our thriller. We had all the characters dress accordingly to what they were doing; this being smart and in an interview environment. We also had a pill bottle with pills in, this enabled communicating our concept to be very clear. We had a cold dark looking bathroom which helped create and build tension. We also had an interview room creating then environment we wanted. For the nose bleed and the cough up of the blood we had fake blood. All of these aspects added together helped create a successful environment and helped communicate our concept.
The editing in our prelim is much more basic then the editing in our thriller. When it came to editing our prelim it was our first time using Final Cut Pro. Therefore the editing techniques were very basic and are very jumpy. The editing of the different shots does not flow and is quite clearly cuts from one shot to the other. Although the editing on our prelim was not that effective and was very basic it was a very useful way into introducing us to Final Cut Pro and made it much easier for us when it came to editing our thriller. The editing process for our thriller has been much more time consuming and a much longer process. We have incorporated many different things and trialled many different techniques as well. As a group we have thought carefully about the editing and how it should be done in order to make it as effective as possible. We have created jumpy cuts following the main characters movement at the beginning to help express to panic and stress and also to cause the audience to be less at ease. We then slowed down the pace of the cut and made it more flowing after she had taken the drugs to help communicate that she is feeling calmer. The final part of the sequence has been a key part of the editing and allot of though and effort has gone into it in order to make it as effective as possible. The camera work and editing are key aspects that have lived along side each other that have been far more advanced in my thriller compared to the preliminary task.
The screen grab shows how we have edited to cut from the girl passing the spray paint to the handover in our prelim task.
In our preliminary task the only sounds used at the natural sounds around and dialog. This I feel does not make it very effective. Although without this dialogue the point would not have been put across and people would not understand what it was about. The sound in our thriller is much more effective and has much more of a variety. We have used both dialogue and sound effects. We have heightened some sounds such as the running water of the tap, shouting and breathing. This has all added tension into our thriller. We have also added in some sound effects in order to make it more effective. We have used sounds such as scratching, drum sounds, eating sounds to make the ending more gory. These sounds that we have added have made such a difference to our sequence and has instantly heightened the tension and effect to the effect on the piece. Screams and shouts have also been added as the once recorded on the day were not realistic enough. All of these aspects have added to our thriller and made it hugely more effective than our prelim.
The difference in the organisation and preparation that went into the two tasks is substantial. While barely any preparation went into the preliminary task since it was purely as an introduction to using the camera and Final Cut Pro. On the other hand, weeks and months of preparation went into organising our thriller. We produced folders, story boards, cast lists, scripts, location research, 2nd and 3rd drafts, shooting schedules and many other things. Many changes went on throughout this process. This was very important in order for it all to go as planned and as smoothly as possible on the day and also to make sure you get a decent product at the end of it. The shooting schedule was a very important part of the day and the organisation of the group and the cast as well. There was a huge amount of organisation and preparation that went into our thriller but things still changed on the day. One part that we did not organise very well was the fact that we left the large part of the sequence until the end of the day and this was the area we needed to concentrate on the most. As we left it till the end of the day it cause this part of the sequence to be rushed as we were shooting in the conservatory and were running out of light. This was part of bad organisation and not thinking about this part of the day very well. We have managed to work around this in the editing.
As a group I feel we have worked very well together and have split the responsibilities reasonably well. We have all be fairly organised through this and have each put in a lot of effort. Our groups for the prelim and thriller have been different but I feel that both groups for each task worked well together and everyone got on well.
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