Preliminary Task - Dolly and Boom Mic

When filming our piece, we could record the sound using a built in mic from the camera, or we can use either a directional microphone or high definition audio recorder.

This is a directional microphone. The discretional mic is good when you want to keep the main sound the loudest so the background noise doesn't drown it out. They are useful when recording dialogue. Also, since it can be mounted on an arm, you can bring the microphone closer to the source of the sound, therefore get a recording that records your dialogue clearer than anything else. Also, it doesn't need to be very close to the sound so you are able to keep the sound equipment clearly out of shot. However, if you are planning to capture sound over a wide of area, a directional mic is not ideal as you will need multiple to capture all of the sound. 

When recording moving shots, the video will appear shaky and unstable. To counter this, we can film our video using a dolly. 

A dolly essentially a stand to put a tripod on, or a tripod style camera mount with wheels. Using a dolly means you can keep the shot steady when you are required to follow one of the actors with the camera. 

Although a Dolly is useful, it will only be useful on fairly smooth surfaces. You can use it on all terrain if you have a track for it to roll along as this will give it a smooth surface regardless.

By Reece Hack

Preliminary Task

Roles:
Director - Myself (Reece Hack)
Cinematography, plot and storyboard - Alex Jones
Location scout - All
Actor 1 - Emily Wicker
Actor 2 - Gabby Edwards
Editor -  Jack Nicholls

Idea one

A bloodied man enters a mostly empty room, which has just a table in it. On the table is a briefcase and another man, who is in a suit and neat. The bloodied man sits down and the other man is talking about his back history with authorities and offers him an assignment. Only then does the man speak.

 Idea Two

Somebody is seen nervous waiting for an interview. When they are beckoned in they sit down and are visibly shaken. Some dialogue is exchanged but soon enough they begins to dissociate and panic.

We have chosen to use idea one for our preliminary task, as we felt it was the most effective interpretation of the task we were given. 

Idea One Plot

Fade In:

Room scene

Camera is at foot level and follows a man in a suit as he walks down a corridor, he stops at a door and another man opens it, the camera is on the far side of the room as the suited man walks in. In the room is a table with a chair on either end. In the chair closest to the door sits another man in scraggy clothes, head down hands on lap, the suited man walks in and puts a folder on the table before pulling out the chair, the camera changes to face the empty chair, the man sits down, his face has several gashes and his right eye is closed,

Suited Man

Tea?

(Camera faces the other man who doesn’t answer, camera back to suited man)

suited man

I’ll take that as a no

(Suited man takes a tissue from his inside jacket pocket and wipes away some of the blood)

suited man

You put up one hell of a fight, I have to say

(Other man doesn’t reply)

suited man

Let’s have a little look-see shall we?

(Suited man opens the folder)

suited man

FBI, CIA, M.I’s 5 and 6, the Australian Secret Service, you’ve got quite the resume.

(Camera back on the other man but he still doesn’t answer. Suited Man leans forward)

suited man

You’ve been off our radar for two years, so why come back now?

(Camera goes onto other man)

Other man

Because London is in danger...

Fade Out:

The End