GOAL: To plan, film and edit a 20-30 second sequence that establishes atmosphere and positions the audience in a suspenseful situation
Scenario choices
• Someone entering a lift
• Someone ascending a flight of stairs
• Someone waiting for something (what they are waiting for is not made clear)
Limitations
Your completed sequence must...
• Contain NO dialogue
• Include sound effects that you have recorded yourself and NO music.
• Not rely on performance (facial expression, dramatic movements etc.) to create meaning
• Rely mainly on cinematography and editing techniques to create meaning
• Include at least 3 empty shots, 2 low angle shots, 2 high angle shots, and 3 extreme close ups.
Editing
You will discover that varying shot duration will impact the effect on the audience significantly. You may wish to edit your sequence like this:
How does shot duration affect how a spectator responds to a sequence?
Cinematography
As you design your sequence, ask yourself the following questions:
How does distance impact on audience positioning?
How can you use the required shots in an interesting way?
Check out this post on cinematography for some examples of how to use shot types and camera angles