Preliminary Task 1
The purpose of this task was to begin to apply our micro element knowledge to a practical project. We worked in small groups of three and were given the prompt of “You haven’t left the house in months. If you don’t leave today, you never will”. With this prompt we had to create a concept for a 30 second scene of a film and complete a pitch for the film. In this task we brainstormed ideas, made a mood board, created a storyboard and then made and presented our pitch. Through this task I learnt that storyboarding ideas and collaboration can require communication and skill. Our audience feedback was our plot was great but can work on illistraution so in future I need to improve my drawing skills. In the next prelim task where we create a concept and film it, I want to focus on improving communication in a big group.
+pictures
Preliminary Task 2:
For this task we are creating a one-minute film in groups of 3. Our prompt includes the following criteria: must include dialogue of “He’s gone”, must include a prop of significance, and there must be some kind of unanswered question. After brainstorming ideas based on this prompt my group and I decided on the concept of a short thriller that shows enigma. We then divided up our pre-production tasks and I worked with Celina and Joel on creating a mood board/storyboard for our piece.
+ story board
+ pictures
Preliminary Task 2: Editing and Final Cut
For my personal edit of our footage, I decided to use Adobe Premiere Pro because it was accessible from school and allowed me to experiment with a range of editing tools and techniques. I am pleased with how I was able to structure the sequence so that it flowed smoothly and maintained a clear sense of progression. In particular, I think the pacing of my edit worked well in building tension and keeping the audience engaged.
Something that was challenging was deciding how to cut the clips effectively to match the intended mood. I found it difficult at times to balance continuity with creativity, especially when trying to make transitions feel natural while still conveying meaning. This made me realise that editing is not just about putting clips together, but about carefully selecting and arranging shots to control how the audience interprets the scene.
From this task, I have learnt the importance of pacing, timing, and continuity in editing, as well as how different cuts can significantly impact meaning. I will apply this to my next piece of coursework by planning my edits more deliberately and thinking more critically about how each transition contributes to the overall narrative and audience response.
My group and I all shared our personal edits and decided on [insert name]’s one to showcase to the class. We liked this cut the best because it had the clearest narrative structure and used editing techniques most effectively to create tension and communicate the intended message.
+adobe screenshots
Insert both your final personal cut and the groups pick in this blog post. Clearly label which is which.
Research 3- Film Opening Conventions
Although there are many different ways in which to start a film, film openings often include a set of typical conventions for specific purposes such as:
| Production Logo and Film Title | The production logo is shown to give brand representation. A film name and the way it is presented is chosen to appeal to the audience and also totell us who made it. |
| Establishing the genre | It is important to establish the genre of the film right at the start so that the audience immediately understands what to expect. This is done through elements such as music, setting, lighting, and camera work, which create clear genre conventions (e.g. dark lighting for horror, fast cuts for action). |
| Character Introduction | The opening often introduces key characters so the audience can quickly understand who they are, their role, and their personality. This can be shown through costume, dialogue, actions, and interactions, helping to build early audience connection or tension. |
| Topic/Theme | The opening may hint at the main themes or ideas of the film, giving the audience a sense of the deeper message. This can be suggested through symbolism, dialogue, or the situation presented, encouraging the audience to think about underlying issues as the story develops. |
Some common ways of starting a film include:
Adding on-screen text to give background
Starting with action to grab attention straight away
Showing the setting to give context
Using narration to explain the story
Beginning with a flashback
Introducing the main character early
Creating a mystery to hook the audience
Using a montage to show key ideas quickly
Opening with dialogue between characters
Using sound or music to set the mood