P4 production material & techniques for an audio/visual unit

Setting up equipment:

Meaning and purpose: By knowing exactly what equipment we are using and how we set it up enabled us to capture the most effective shots because we had planned out where different equipment would be within each shot. We also knew exactly what camera and lenses we were using for different shots so that we had a wide variety and could choose from the best one.

Lighting - For the lighting in our filming we did not use any specific lighting equipment, rather we used ordinary lights from in a room to give a realistic feeling to our film. As we were using photobooth for some of the time when filming, the ordinary lights helped us achieve this realistic look to our film.

Canon 7D DSLR Camera:

We chose this camera because I feel I am more comfortable with the Canon camera as it gives Good image quality, and good HD video. I am also very familiar with how the Canon camera work making it more easier to use when shooting my music video.The DSLR is good for filming because you are able to use a range of lens which provides you with the ability to achieve a cinematic look to your films. This camera also allows you to take high definition videos and has a wide variety of settings to ensure we get the exact footage we need.

Lenses:
Canon 18-55mm zoom f/3.5-5.6 mf/af (wide angle):

This was a useful lens to use because it gave us a good wide angle so that we were able to film a range of distances with a wide picture and we were able to capture a large environment when filming in a room or scenery.

Canon EF 85mm fixed f/1.8 USM medium telephoto mf/af:

We chose this type of lens because firstly it is good for racking photos but more importantly it is good for focus pulls which was sometimes fairly important in our short film where we focused on a particular object while the background was out of focus. 

Velbon DV6000 tripod + Carry bag :

We used the Velbon DV6000 tripod as it suited the way we were filming best. It has a quick release platform, and a geared centre column with lockable braced 3 section legs for maximum stability. It was also suitable to use for different types of angles and speeds of rotation when filming. 

We used the carry bag, when taking the tripod to different locations to film so that it did not get damaged and was more easily to carry around. 

Canon Camera bag:

The importance of using a camera bag, is that when we move to different locations when filming it ensures that the camera will not get damaged and will also be easier to carry around. 

To ensure we had all our correct equipment before setting up we checked our booking sheet which gives details of all the filming equipment we are using to make sure we have everything we need.

For the table below, I am showing the clips that were filmed using the 7D Canon Camera which gave us high quality shots:

For the table below, I am showing the clips that were filmed using the Macbook air laptop webcam to help build tension throughout the film:

Use of Pre-production material:

Meaning and purpose:
By having pre-production material such as the storyboard, script etc we are able to successfully follow a plan so that we know exactly what we are doing for our film. We knew exactly where we wanted to film, how we wanted to film, what equipment to use, actors and actresses involved etc.

Following the storyboard:

Here is video footage of use following our storyboard of Anna scrolling down on facebook newsfeed. For this we used the quick time player screen recording for a realistic effect on the film.

Here is video footage of a shot of the camera staring directly into the webcam where we have accurately followed the storyboard. Here we used to 7D canon camera slightly to the side and a medium close-up of the webcam in the laptop for a clear and high quality shot. The lighting was fairly dark to portray a sense of tension. The green light initially is turned off, and we film it suddenly turning off to show that the webcam stalker has managed to get in control of the laptop.

Here is screen recording video footage of Anna receiving a message from her sister 'Nina' with a link that says scary. The only difference is, rather than using facebook messenger we used imessage to send the link. This again is filmed on quick time player screen recording.

Here is video footage of a medium close-up from photobooth camera focusing on Anna showing that we are following the storyboard.  By using the webcam camera, it gives a realistic effect as well as using ordinary lighting and no studio lighting. The way in which this shot is being filmed by the webcam also shows the audience something suspicious is going on and that someone may be watching her from her laptop. 

Here is video footage of a time-lapse of Anna opening her curtains in her room from the photobooth camera as shown in our storyboard. Again, using the webcam is creating a realistic effect and tension is building because she is constantly being watched through her laptop. Ordinary lighting is being used for a realistic look.  

Here is video footage of a time-lapse shot from webcam of Anna dancing around in her room as shown in the storyboard. The time lapse from the webcam is showing the audience the constant watching through the laptop and helps build tension. 

Here is video footage of Anna looking confused with a parcel in her hands on photobooth as shown in the storyboard. This is again filmed by the webcam, where she is talking to Simone on the phone. The webcam stalker can hear and see everything she is saying which the audience are beginning to find out.  Ordinary lighting is used again for a realistic effect. 

Here is video footage of a long shot of Anna on the sofa looking at her computer as shown in the storyboard. We are using the 7D canon camera here for high quality footage and ordinary lighting which makes the shot look fairly dark which helps build tension and suspicion where the audience are expecting something bad to happen soon.

Here is video footage of an over the shoulder shot of the hacker standing up and walking away as shown in the storyboard. The webcam footage and dark lighting is raising tension and suspicion and the audience definitely know that something bad is about to happen. 

In our pre-production material we also had a script so the actors new exactly what to say. We managed to follow the script, not necessarily completely accurately as at the time of filming we added some sentences in to improve the film. 

Another pre-production material was the production schedule:

This ensured we knew exactly what day we were filming and the footage we would shoot on each day. We were able to follow this schedule and film exactly what we needed on each of these days. 

Script:

Here are parts of the script matched with screenshots of the script being put into action in the film footage:

Shot List:

Below are parts of the shot lists with screenshots of the film footage where we have followed this list:

Following Safe working practices:

Meaning and purpose: We knew exactly what the risks and hazards were and were able to control them so that nothing potentially hazardous would actually happen. 

Here is the risk assessment for our film to ensure we follow safe working practices:


By having a risk assessment on the day of filming this ensures we know exactly what the risks are of filming and what the hazards are.

I then created a risk and hazard solution table:



By having this, we have solutions to ensure there are no risks and hazards when filming making it a safer environment.

1) Hot Environment: This in the end was not a high risk where it could get too hot or people could get burnt as we were not using specific lighting equipment rather we were in a room with normal lighting so it did not get too hot. But by having this as a risk we could find solutions to it if we were to use any lighting equipment last minute. 

2) Lifting Equipment: With our equipment, none of it was particularly heavy but rather fragile including the camera and tripod which could easily break if we were not careful. On the day of filming we were very careful when moving this equipment around and always had carry bags for equipment such as the camera and tripod so that it did not get damaged. 

3) Electric Shock: As said already we did not use many electrical equipment so the risk of electric shocks was largely reduced but by having identified this risk, if we were to in the last minute use any lighting etc we would know exactly how to handle it and reduce any risks of electric shocks. 

4) Cables: There was a risk of tripping over cables so to ensure this did not happen we were very careful of where we were walking and also due to not having many lighting equipment etc we did not need to use any tape to put over loose cables. 

5) Lack of food and water: There was a high chance of us becoming dehydrated or hungry but we never brought food or water into the room in which we were filming to ensure we did not damage any equipment. We had regular breaks where we could have some food and water outside of the room before going back to filming to minimise this risk. 

A specified Risk assessment for filming on the day:

To follow safe working practices specifically related to the location in which we were filming I created a specified risk assessment. The risks involved in filming on the day included:

- Filming on the balcony: We could drop the camera and damage it so by preventing this we used a suitable and secure tripod and filmed at a safe distance behind the balcony.

- Carrying the laptop into the bathroom: We could have dropped the laptop and it could have fallen onto someones feet and hurt them, the laptop could also be damaged. We prevented this by concentrating on where we were walking so we did not trip over anything and carrying the laptop securely. 

- Filming all day in the bedroom: We could become dehydrated, get a headache or get too hot. By preventing this we opened windows when we took regular drink breaks outside of the room we were filming in so that none of the equipment was damaged. 

Following Production Processes:

Meaning and purpose: By having all the production processes before filming, we knew exactly what to do and what equipment we were using. This helped our filming plan run more smoothly and get everything done in the set time we had. 

With the canon 7D DSLR camera we used the manual settings which let us change the aperture and ISO rather than it being automatic. By being able to adjust the settings we were able to capture the exact shot we wanted and also take multiple shots to see which one looked the best for our film. By using the velbon DV600 tripod, the shots taken on the canon 7D camera were always stable so that the camera did not move around and the shots were accurate and still. For different shots we used different settings on the camera which is the beauty of having the canon camera set on manual rather than automatic. For example when we wanted to focus on a main subject like the laptop we would make the aperture slightly lower to give it a shallow depth of field, allowing more light in so that the background was slightly blurred and the main subject was in focus and the main attention. 

For most of the filming we used the macbook air webcam which gave it a realistic affect due to the film being based upon webcam stalkings.

The main reason for this is to show the audience that the person on this laptop is being watched by someone from another computer. Throughout the short film tension is building up as the audience begin to realise that the person is being watched. There are many short clips and time-lapses of the person just in her room and she has no idea she is being watched, but the audience are beginning to clock on something is not right. This is why the webcam camera is effective. 

For lighting we used ordinary lights that were in the room to also give it a realistic look. There was no point in using studio lights as this would make the film look unrealistic. If the lighting was slightly dark we could change the manual settings on the camera. We would adjust the ISO and aperture in order to make the filming outcome a little lighter. 

For the lens we switched the AF to MF so we could manually control the settings of the camera and therefore the focus on the camera. 

We used a variety of lens including the Canon 18-55mm zoom f/3.5-5.6 mf/af (wide angle) and the

Canon EF 85mm fixed f/1.8 USM medium telephoto mf/af. By using different lenses we can shoot a range of different shots in order to get the best possible outcome for our film. For the canon 18-55mm zoom lens it gave us a good wide angle so that we were able to film a range of distances with a wide picture, this was particularly useful for when we filmed the outside environment at the start. For the canon EF 85mm it was good for racking photos but more importantly it was good for focus pulls for example when we focused on the laptop which was the main subject at that particular time in our short film.

Filming Diary:

For all clips shot on the 7D canon camera we used both the 18-55mm lenses and the 85mm lenses which enabled us to choose from both which one gave a better result.