Prelim evaluation

Planning
I thought we were successful with our storyboard, as it was organised and showed our plan for our shots clearly, despite the drawings not being particularly detailed. Having a plan made it a lot easier to film as we knew exactly what shots we wanted, including camera angles. However, we also shot some scenes that we thought of last minute that were not originally in our sequence; these were messier and more confusing to shoot. We also had a sheet of paper with of the details on, for example the actors and the location. We further knew what equipment we were going to use, which made filming a lot easier and quicker than it would have been if we were unprepared. 
From planning I have learnt the importance of being organised for your shoot, which I think will make planning for my big production piece a lot easier; by being organised and prepared, it will make the filming days go smoother, resulting in us being more efficient both in our time management and our physical filming.

Filming
Overall, we were mainly successful with filming our piece. We followed the 180 degree rule, and managed to include several different types of shot, including very wide, wide, close up and over the shoulder shot reverse shot. We shot some extra footage to use if we needed (but we didn’t use it in the end), and although we were disturbed a few times, filming mainly went smoothly. To get the shots we used a combination of a tripod and a fig rig, from several different angles. We also used match cuts effectively, for example when one of the characters was entering the scene though the ‘waiting room’ door. 
However, the main problem we had with filming was when we got some other students in one or two shots accidently, which took away the effect of a waiting room. If we could film it again, to improve we could set up the shoot more carefully, ensuring that no one apart from the actor is in the shoot. We could also watch back the clips more carefully, looking for small details like that.
From filming, I learnt more camera skills, form actually using it and setting it up on the tripod and fig rig, to choosing the right angles for our shoots and setting the shoot up. I also learned how important continuity is, for example when I was acting; I had to sit in exactly the same chair in each shot from a different angle/different type.
I think in the filming stage, I was particularly good at setting up shots (although I mainly acted) for example the shots of Callum walking from the door in different angles.

Editing
When editing, I used premier pro for the first time, learning skills such as cutting, and inserting footage/audio. I think our editing was successful as we did not run into any issues, and successfully put together all of our cut shots into a sequence, with music and a voiceover.  We put together some over the shoulder shots to form a shot reverse shot sequence, as meeting the brief. We also edited the sound in certain places, making it louder and then quieter in others. Finally we downloaded and inserted music, and inserted a voice-over which drastically improved the quality of our piece.

Evaluation of success overall
Overall, I think we were successful in meeting the brief of our prelim and creating a short piece of film. We met all the requirements of showing someone walk through a door, sit down and have a conversation, whilst using the 180 degree rule, match cuts and shot reverse shots in our piece. I think the chosen music of ‘The Apprentice’ theme tune added another dynamic to the piece, improving the quality and fitting with all of our shots to create a tense atmosphere. However, I feel that some of our transitions between shots were slightly sloppy, or felt awkward. To improve this, we could have added some effects between our different shots, to create a smoother finish.
If I could do the whole process again, I would, as previously mentioned, add effects to our transitions between scenes. I would also smooth out the audio of the film, raising the volume in places, and lowering it in others.  I would also make the music slightly lower, and keep it playing throughout the dialogue, just at a low volume, to create a smooth, professional finish instead of it fading out and just not returning.