Eavluation for "A Bad Habit"

We had to make a short 90 second movie for our BTEC media. We had to include the following rules. Every shot had to be taken with a tripod, it could on consist of one zoom and either a pan or tilt. It ad to use a: eye line match to point of view, match on action and an extreme close up. We couldn’t break 180% rule. And there wasn’t supposed to be any dialogue but we did add one word.

We were given 10 minutes to create an idea for the short movie and we had to storyboard it. Jonjo came up with the idea and I helped him pursue it. My idea which we didn’t make was also based around drugs so I didn’t mind giving up mine. We drew the shots out and wrote next to them how long they would be. We also added shots like match on actions and eye line match to point of view. In our storyboard we made sure it consisted of all the requirements.

When we had finished all the filming we then uploaded our work then stated editing and cutting clips down. The editing went well, and we didn’t encounter many problems. We created a soundtrack with the help of our teacher, using Garage Band because we couldn’t think of a song to pick. Of I have learnt a lot more about final cut pro (video editing software) than I did know whilst doing the project before. We decided to make it black and white so that it would create a dark and dingy appeal. We burnt a copy of our project on I DVD on the Apple Mac, which went well.

All of the shooting went great, but we did have Ross (a member of our group) leave, which did cause us a lot of problems. For example, I had to cover a scene for him and not show my identity.

It wasn't a problem for us to use the colleges canteen, so the location wasn't a problem. The storyboard was alterd traumatically whilst we where producing it. We rearranged the whole ending, because originally the man was going to pay for his cup of tea at the counter and then snort his line off of it. We got rid of this because we didn't like it. Everyone got equal access to facilities, like editing and camera work.

Our shots outdoors were good, but some had to be re-shot because Ross (the first character to appear in a bad habit) dropped out of college, we had to go back to the place and have Sean redo one of the shots for Ross did, like (the hand over scene). In the dark room I feel that it could have been done a little better, but we didn’t have Ross so I had to cover in for him, but we got round this quite well. It starts off with the boss sitting in a room on his phone (this gives the impression that dealing is going on) He seem quite a demanding guy, and when he hangs up the call, it shows a close up of the door opening. We don't see who it is, but we gather that is Ross (first man who appeared). And then back to the boss (Jonjo) with a mid shot, he directs the man to him. It is then followed by a close up of my shoes when I walk past. And then a medium close up of hands exchanging with what we think is drugs with money. This is then followed on by a match on action of Jonjo putting the "drugs" in his pocket then is fades out and that is the end of "the dark room" scenes. After this we are then shown a fade in of "the boss" walk into the kitchen of his restaurant and is shortly followed by a match on action of him still walking to a side. We are then shown an establishing shot of a man who seems to be waiting on something. And then back to "the boss" pulling again what we think is drugs. And back to the waiting man with a normal shot he then takes a sip of tea. Whilst, the boss finally places the "drugs" in the side and then it gradually zooms in to a close up, and we establish that is Sugar. And then were back to the waiting man who finishes his sip and he dislikes it "the waiting man" then looks over and puts his hand up, from this is a eye line match to over shoulder shot and we see the boss come over with the sugar, (what "the waiting man" was waiting for) and the boss then hands over the sugar and "waiting man" then puts some in his tea the screen then fades out, time has past and it then fades back in and we establish the man has finished his tea and the waiter then puts the bill next to him. "waiting man" then reaches for his pocket and places his credit card on the table. And then this time a close up of him reaching for his pocket pulling out what is cocaine and he pours it out then a close up of many different shots to hide that he isn't actually snorting anything. This follows on to a high angle medium shot of him with a grimacing face reaction, you see him rubbing his nose and whilst he is in pain he knocks over the mug. A close up is shown and he the says "sugar" with a voice over. Credits then scroll.

Our zoom we added was important because it made it clear that what were looking at really is sugar, we now know that no drugs have been referred, the zoom ends in an extreme close up. We added a few match on actions into this short movie because it helps the audience to realise the action is continuous and it looks effective. We also used a eye line match to point of view when 'the first man' who is seen, looks over his shoulder and realises the guy who is bringing the sugar, then from his point of view he walks over to 'the first man'. We did this so that we could involve the audience more, this puts you in the eyes of the character more and helps you identify with them.

Completed and uploaded on 8th January 2009