''The Drop'' - Filming Techniques

Different Filming techniques that we used in our film:
Mise-en-scene: Mise-en-scene is when you use props, or you dress up   in your film, to fit the type of character that you're playing. It's also when you choose a specific location to film. Many films use this technique because without props, the film wont have as much affect. For example you probably wont see an action film without a prop such as a gun, or a bad guy in a suit.We used this technique because one of the actors were dressed up in a suit, also there were guns and bags used as props. We also chose a certain location to film because we knew that this area would be a good scene to film a running scene. This area also has great lighting so the running scene would be much easier to scene. The reason that we chose to use props and dress up in the film was because it helped us to build effect. For example without guns, our film wouldn't have mad as much sense, nor would it have been more entertaining for the viewer. The dressing up also had the same effect.

Lighting: Lighting can be used to emphasis a scene, and make it more visible to see. It's important when filming to use the right lighting so the scene is easy to see for the audience. Lighting is normally changed in different scenes to fit with the area that they're filming in. When we filmed our short film, we had to try put the camera in different places as the sun kept making the scenes hard to see. Therefore we had to film from different spots and then find the one that looked the best. Most of the scenes that we finally decided to keep were filmed in the shade, as filming in the shade didn't make the scenes to bright, which meant that it was easy to see.

High or low camera angles: Higher camera angles are camera angles from high up, for example on the top of a building or large object. Low camera angles are camera angles that are taken from lower down, for example the camera will be on the floor and the person or object being filmed will look much higher than the camera is. We used high camera angles at the start when our camera man filmed from on the top of a stair case. We did this because it gives the viewer of the film a clearer view of whats going on. We also took some lower camera shots towards the end on the actors with the guns. We did this because it emphasis  importance  of the players, and helps to build tension as you don't know who is going to shoot who.

Different shot types: There are many different types of shots that you can take with a camera. Different shot types help build effect in a film, and can also help it emphasis the action that's going on. When doing our film ,we used many different shot types to help us build effect. For example, one effect that we used was a close up shot. This is where the camera is close up to either an object, or one of the actors. This helps the audience of the film feel tension, or help see in detail, what the camera is showing. Another shot type that was used in our short film was a long shot. We used a long shot at the start of our film so the audience or viewer of our short film could see everyone in the scene. This was helpful because it allowed you to see what all of the actors were doing, which made the scene much easier to understand. We also used a long shot in the chase scene we did to give full effect, and to see what the chaser and person being chased were doing at the same time. Thirdly in our short film, we mostly used medium shots. We did this so it built more tension, and so that the viewer/audience were able to focus on what the camera wanted them to focus on. For example, when the two actors in this film pointed the guns at each other, a medium shot allowed us to see both of the actors at once, but from a close up point. If we used a long shot in this scene, the viewer might of been distracted by something else in the scene, and may have not payed full attention to the two actors that have the guns pointed to each other.

Any camera movement: There are many different types of camera movements that can be used. Using different camera movements when filming can not only emphasis a point, but can also help the viewer feel like they're actually there, and help them understand what's going on in the film. When filming our short film, we used different camera movements to build up this time of effect. Some of the camera movements that we used includes a pan shot. We used a pan shot a lot during the film as that helped us to show what was going on in the film. This camera movement also helped us to follow what's happening in the film. For example, we used this shot type towards the ends of our film when the two actors had the guns pointed to each-other. This helped us create tension ,and allowed the viewer to see what's happening from different angles. We also used this camera movement in the chase scene. We used this in the chase scene because its easier to show what's happening, and makes the chase easier to follow. Another camera movement shot we used was tilt shot. We used this camera movement on the actors with guns because this helped us to show how important these actors are in the specific scene. It also helped us to show the actors minor details.

Fades of dissolves: Fades and dissolves are mainly used to move to different scenes in an effective way. When people fade, they usually show the beginning of the next scene behind the scene that they're fading so that the scenes link together more easily, and look much better. Dissolves are less common but are used to the the same thing, However instead of the scene just becoming less video, dissolves has an effect to change to the next scene. For example, the scene might fly of the screen. This is used a lot in Star Wars. When filming our short film, we didn't use fades or dissolves, because our film was fast pace so using this technique wouldn't have helped the scenes we did link together.

180 degree rule: When filming a scene, for example two people talking in a restaurant. It's important to use the 180 degree rule. This means that you only film a scene within 180 degrees. For example, if two people are talking in a restaurant, you have to make sure you film from one side of them talking. If you don't do this , the actors will look like they've changed places and this could be confusing for the viewers. This can also help a scene look more neat. When filming, we used the 180 degree rule all the way through. Especially when the two actors at the end came face to face with the guns.

Establishing shots: Establishing shot is the first shot of the new scene. It's important that this shot shows either where the location of something is, or one of the actors. Before creating our film, we planned out where the beginning shot of each scene would take place. This helped our film to flow more smoothly, and also helped it to make more sense.

Match cuts on action: Match cuts on action is where you see two parts of a scene, which are the same from more than one view. For example, filming someone walking in the same place from different angles. We used match cuts in our first scene when one actor was walking to drop of the ''package'' to another actor. We thought this would help the audience see and understand what's happening if they couldn't see from the long shot that the film starts with.

Eye-line match cuts: An example of Eye-line match cuts is where someone is being filmed looking at something, however we can't see the object until the next cut. When we did our short film, we didn't use it technique, as it didn't fit in with what we were filming.