Video evaluation:

The task that I was asked to complete included me and my group creating a short film that
included 8 different types of shots and had a clear genre to it, i.e. action, comedy, thriller etc. We
as a group decided to go with the genre of action because we believed that we would be able to
use different shot types to create tension within the clips that we film, an example of some shots
that we have used include an over the shoulder shot which shows dominance within one of the
two characters, It makes one of the characters seem vulnerable because of the shot looking down
on them and making them seem smaller than the other. A second example of a shot is a low angle
shot that has been used within the video which changes character dominance and allows the
audience to understand that the vulnerable character is becoming the more powerful one
because of the shots that now begin to look up at him and therefore show strength towards the
other.

As a group, we thought that the over the shoulder shot was the most effective shot because it
shows how the characters are against each other and that one of them is more dominant than the
other. We thought that this was an important shot to have because our videos genre is action
so we were able to create tension through using this over the shoulder tracking shot.

After editing our video and re-watching it, we realised that we had filmed the first three shots
from different sides. Two of them were shot from the left and the other one was from the
right. This is something that we had to correct and change the side that we shot from to ensure
that the background of the shot is familiar to the audience and therefore doesn’t confuse them.

When editing our video, we were able to include a fade, which added suspense to our video and
made it more mysterious. Following this, we cut down some of the clips that we had to ensure
that the videos linked together correctly and were not out of sync.

The purpose of us creating this short film was to gain an understanding of different camera shots
that we can use to create meaning for the audience, therefore having an effect on how the
audience feel when watching the film because of the way that different characters are portrayed
from the shots that are used. We also created this short film to enable us to learn how to edit at a
better quality and understand how we can make a video better by using editing techniques,
which can add an effect on the audience and make them become more engaged in the video.
When filming this video, I learnt that every time we film a shot it has to be done from the same
side if it is within the same setting and scene.

The music that we used in the short film that we have created was ‘believer’ by Imagine Dragons,
which fits in with the genre of action for our video because it adds tension to the video and
makes it suspenseful. This therefore makes the audience more interested in the video as they
want to find out what happens next. By using this music, we are hinting to the audience that the
video is quite tense and therefore makes the audience feel drawn into the video themselves. The
lyrics that are in the video also have a huge effect on the audience as it shows them how the
character is feeling in the video. For example the lyrics ‘first things first, imma say all the words
inside my head’ tells the audience that the character is infuriated and therefore having a build up
of anger. Throughout the music there is also a harsh beat to the music which tells the audience
that there is a build up which eventually results in the victim of the bully getting their revenge on
the bully.

Editing
Once we had finished our filming, we downloaded all of the clips onto a computer where we
were then able to begin editing on PremierPro which allowed us to make our video the best
quality that it could be. This was the first time I had edited a video properly using a computer. I
learnt a large range of editing techniques and was therefore able to improve the quality of the
video. When we were editing our short film we added a few clips that started with a fade which
allowed us to show the passing of time and also to increase the tension in the film for the
audience. We also cut down the majority of our clips as this allowed us to switch to the next shots
and scenes at a quicker pace which ensured that the audience were not bored of the video as
there was always something happening in the video. When we were editing the short video that
we recorded, we noticed that within the first scene, we shot from two different sides which is
seen to be wrong within the filming industry. The reasoning for this is because as an audience
member, you would not expect to see the filming area with all of the filming equipment which
therefore may confuse the audience members. Secondly, there has been a use of missed balanced
shots which has meant that our shots do not add up correctly and there is a large time difference
in one of the scenes where the victim of the bully is walking down the corridor. These mistakes
have enabled us to see where we have gone wrong without filming which therefore means that
we will be less likely to make these mistakes again.

From filming this short video, I learnt that the genre of a film is primarily shown through the
music that is used and also the shots that are used within it. This is because characters can be
portrayed in different ways from the camerawork that is used by making characters seem more
dominant or weak compared to others in the film. The music that is used within videos allows the
editor to make the film have a different effect on the audience therefore making them feel either
relaxed if the music is slow and calming or tense if the music is fast and loud with a deep tone. I
have also learnt that when recording a video, I need to record on the same side. This is to avoid
confusing the audience and also to avoid showing the audience the recording area. As a group we
included a fade into the video which allowed us to show the passing of time within the video. This
is an example of an editing technique that has been used in the music video which has helped us
have an effect on the audience which interests them in watching the video.

When I film my own video I will ensure that all of my camera shots are shot from the same side
in each scene to prevent me from showing the audience the filming area and the other areas that
are around the character. This also stops me from confusing the audience by showing them the
setting behind the first camera shot. I will also use similar music when I film if the video is the
genre of action because the music that we used fitted really well into the footage that we shot.
However, if I create a video with a different genre to it then I will use different music for this as it
would have the incorrect effect on the audience therefore giving them the wrong understanding
of the short film meaning that they may interpret it wrongly.
One of the main changes that I will make when recording my short video will include me using a
Gimbal. This is used as a stabiliser and will allow me to move quicker when shooting a tracking
shot which will therefore allow me to record at a quicker pace.