Monday 5 September 2022

First year induction task: suspense sequence



For your induction week in A-level media studies, you will plan, film and edit a sequence of footage that will encode themes of suspense and anticipation.

As this is likely to be the first film you've ever made, working with people you've never met before, it is very likely this short film will fall short of your own expectations. Let's be frank: it's not going to be very good at all. That's the point. At A-level, you learn from your mistakes. And you will make a LOT of mistakes over the next two years!

So relax, try your hardest, be prepared to fail, and (this is important), have fun.

Brief - this is what you need to do

To plan, film and edit a 20-30 second sequence that  builds atmosphere and creates suspense.

The sequence MUST:

  • Include sound effects that  you 
  • have recorded yourself including subjective sounds
  • Rely mainly on camerawork and editing techniques to create meaning
  • Include at least 3 empty shots, 2 low angle shots, 2 high angle shots, 3 extreme close ups.

The Sequence MUST NOT:

  • Rely on acting (facial expression, dramatic movements etc.) to create meaning
  • Include ANY Dialogue
  • Include ANY music

Your choice of scenario

Finding a strange object

Someone ascending a flight of stairs

Someone waiting for something (what they are waiting for is not made clear)

Schedule - you will have three lessons to complete this task

1 – planning. In this session you will consider location, will plan a storyboard and choose and elaborate on your basic scenario

2 – filming. The entirety of lesson 2 will be devoted to filming your suspense sequence.

3 – editing. The whole of lesson 3 will be spent editing.

Tips - things to consider...

Editing - how time is manipulated by the producer by varying shot duration?

Consider how you can use shot duration to affect how the audience responds to the sequence

Mise-en-scene - literally 'put in scene'

Props setting, lighting, costume, colour... literally everything in the frame. What can you include to affect the response of the audience?

Cinematography - everything the producer does with the camera


Shot types, camera angles, camera movement: what can you do top make an interesting, compelling suspense sequence and not just a bunch of shots stuck together?

Positioning - where the audience are 'placed' by the producer. 


Where do you want the audience to be? Close or far away? Why? Who are we supposed to be rooting for? How are you going to make this happen?

VERY IMPORTANT STUFF


  • When shooting, do NOT get in anyone's way. Do NOT film someone without their permission. Do NOT be loud. Basically, do NOT do anything that could annoy someone and put the course in to disrepute!
  • When shooting, make sure that each shot is clean and in focus. Set the camera to MF and use the focus rings to make the image sharp
  • Do NOT use the camera itself to review footage. Wait until you see it on the computer screen to make your mind up
  • Shoot lots of takes for each shot. It rarely goes well first time!
  • Always use the tripod. Handheld generally looks amateurish
  • All footage is recorded to the SD card in the camera. This footage must be transferred from the SD card to your own area to edit. IF YOU HAND THE CAMERA BACK WITHOUT UPLOADING (DUMPING) YOUR FOOTAGE, YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR FOOTAGE, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO GET IT BACK
  • Premiere is great, but like any other programme, it can crash. Make sure you save AT LEAST every five minutes