Continuity Editing Evaluation

180 Degree Rule

To start of, I used the 180 degree rule for two reasons, because it was required and because it creates a realistic effect and avoids distortion of eyesight when viewing the video.

An example of this is shown below the following paragraph.

Here, as we can see the 180 degree rule is clearly demonstrated. As you can see, both characters keep on the same side as the first shot, even when the camera is recording from two different sides of the room which creates a natural viewpoint for the human eye.

Rule Of Thirds

We also ensured there was use of the rule of thirds contained in the video production.

The rule of thirds is applied by aligning the two characters in the following shot in particular, so that there view of eyesight is in line with one another. When this rules is being used, the view comes more natural to the audience as the compositional elements are placed along these lines.

An example of this is demonstrated below.

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Normal shot

Rules of thirds applied

Match On Action

This shot supplied my video with a great form of continuity. The match on action shows someone in the same moments of action as the previous shot, only from a different angle. It creates a sense of flow and changes the tension of the camera shot. I used this shot to emphasize the victory of 'Zephyrus's' victory in my video.

Low angle of the victor celebrating

Then a mid shot of the same thing happening, this time allowing space for the  lose of the battle to be seen standing up and approaching him.

Production Challenges

The main problem during this phase of the production was thinking of an effective/creative plot. After nearly three hours in total with partner in creativity, Robert, we managed to come up with an idea so simple yet it somehow met with all the required criteria of the brief. During the process we went through at least 20 different ideas varying from affairs to psychologist interviews with mad men. Who would of known that a thumb war fits in so well with such a concise criteria.

If I were to do the production again I would make sure we recorded all of the footage at least three times. Instead we recorded each shot twice at most. Other than that the technical aspects such as using the camera went well. The practical aspects such as recording all of the footage on time went even better and luckily the creative aspects such as thinking as a plot ended up going perfect as our plot was the result of an effective idea.

Post Production Challenges

Post Production went quite well considering it had been a long time since I used I-Movie, but my previous experience enabled me to quickly learn the basics needed to edit the video. However there was one problem that resulted in an defect in the work. We lost a certain part of the footage - the moment where I (the losing character) says: 'Are you ready,?' - Recorded in a two shot. Instead, we had to improvise in what was the last lesson of the  Post Production. We instead recorded a close up of the same dialogue and character but as a close up. This way we avoided getting any background footage in the shot that was not in the original.

The improvised Close-up

If there were anything I was going to improve for the video I would have added in an initial song or soundtrack to set the themes of the video. Although the starting sounds are quite bland they do make the following sounds more effective in their role of exciting the audience. However I believe if there were to be a starting song this would set the ideas of the video up for the audience.

Strengths and weaknesses of my workCreative

I believe the strengths of my work is the humor it is given from the sound effects. For example, when my character says the wrong thing in the heat of the moment at 0:53 seconds (shown below).

The weakness of the creative side of this project was that it took more time than expected to actually come up with a creative idea. It seems we got sucked into the world of creativity and amazing plots. So stuck into the though of good ideas we forgot that there did not actually have to be a lot too it which is what made us resolve this problem and finally begin the project properly with a good idea.

Plan and Research
During this phase the strengths certainly relied upon the research into the continuity editing. I looked out for TV programs that made use of certain shots such as match on action and the 180 degree rule. For example, Eastenders makes common use of the 180 degree rule which gave me a better knowledge of what it is and how to use it most effectively.

The weakness of this side of the project was that the only real plan was the storyboard. I think we should of spent more time looking into how to plan out a video that only needed to be 1 to 2 minutes long. Believe it or not I think more time to actually think about it was required instead of rushing straight into making the idea.

Digital technology 

The digital technology we used such as the HD camera worked to our advantage. The camera was great quality which ended in a result of a crisper looking film to post. In my opinion the better the quality the better we perceive the video to be even though this is not always true as someone can have an amazing peice of work and the poorest quality camera.

A high quality image screenshot

A disadvantage of the digital technology was that somehow we lost part of the footage on the memory stick and had to re-record certain shots whilst we had the time. However we then realized some of the shots had certain background footage in them that was significantly different to the original footage we had.

Post Production

During the post production I think that the editing went well. With a couple of tips from the helper for I-Movie, I quickly picked up the techniques to edit a video effectively. I managed to finish the editing and sound effects before the deadline which was a great relief considering this meant the video was complete.

I think I should of added some sort of extra music/sound effects into the video that would of participated in the effect of entertaining the viewer. For example in my partners video he used the song, 'Power,' by Kanye West which really built tension in the beginning of the video.

Overall Improvements
In conclusion to this evaluation, I would recommend that if I or any other person had the opportunity to start the project again I would say to put more research into the idea of a one minute move and continuity editing.

I think that the research side of things was pretty weak considering the first lesson on this project was spent coming up with an idea to the film. It seemed as though we jumped into it quite quickly.

I think that some practice of continuity editing would of been vital in terms of adding to our experience of this type of editing and recording. This would of added to the quality of my work.

In conclusion I think the work resulted in a good and interesting video that made good use of continuity editing. I've had good feedback from it on Facebook and hope you enjoy it just as much.