Foundation Portfolio Evaluation - Mae, Candice, Charlotte and Imo

         The main problems we faced when completing our foundation portfolio:

• Coming up with a unique idea that was different to other films we had seen. - We did not want to be stereotypical.
• Finding actors to be in the thriller opening - we had problems with getting our actors to take it seriously, so it was time consuming having to redo shots.
• Finding settings that were suitable for our idea - we had to work our settings around our actors and it was difficult to find places we were allowed to film.
• Filming difficult shots - we were quite ambitious with some of the shots we wanted to produce and didn't think it through fully. For example - an over the shoulder shot of our antagonists dragging the protagonist along the floor, we could not get the right angle.

We had to use a simpler shot from the side of them dragging the body

• Using filming equipment - we found it difficult using the dolly as it was difficult to find a smooth surface and get steady shot while tracking. For example - a shot we had of the girls walking towards the camera into the shop as the camera tracked backwards.

 

• Filming in a public place - when we filmed in Brighton shopping centre it was time consuming as people kept walking in front of the camera and we had to make sure we got the shot we wanted.

This shot was difficult to get without people walking in the way

• Free time - finding a time when all of our group was free to do work was difficult so we had to divide things up. Also finding days when all of our actors were free and getting them to travel to the location we were going to film in was a problem.
• Mise en Scene - It was difficult getting all of the necessary props, costume, makeup, lighting as we had to make sure our antagonists (who were female) did not look female. 

  

  We had our antagonists in boiler suits, and our protagonist had fake blood on her head to show she was injured.

  
  
  Targets for our advanced portfolio and what will be different this year:
• Having a more realistic idea - in our thriller we underestimated how difficult some of the shots would be to film. We will aim to use fairly easy but still creative shots that will give us the best possible result. 
• Organisation- we will keep on top of tasks, make sure we meet all the deadlines again like last year. We will also make sure we will organise our actors better and keep them inform. We have already decided that it is best to not have groups of friends to act as they tend to not take the role as seriously and get easily distracted. We will distribute different roles between our group better, so each member of the team have a key role to play depending on the task in hand, and therefore the task will flow easier and there will be less tension between the group at key moments. 
• Our blog skills will be improved by- keep updating the blog during our journey, more video's and images etc whilst we are filming and creating other parts of our portfolio. Less bullet points more films.