Technical Skills Task: Lighting, Camera & Sound

 Before developing our own single camera screenplay, we experimented with using different sound, camera and lighting equipment to get used to using them and experimenting to see what works and what doesn't before planning and producing the screenplay. 

Audio

We started off experimenting with audio. For this we used TASCAM DR-GO & zoom Han audio recorder, an XLR lead, a Boom mic and pole, a handy audio recorder, headphones,  an SD card and a clapper board. We were tasked with recording audio from a script using different equipment and comparing the quality of the sound using the different equipment to see what works best. We also decided to record the audio outside where there was lots of background noise to best compare the audio quality. We used the clapperboard during every recording to show where the audio begins which makes editing easier. To start with we used phone cameras to record the audio. We found that this picked up lots of background noise and the dialogue wasn't clear. We then used the handy audio recorder and headphones to record the same dialogue. We found that the audio was a lot clearer with this than with the phone audio although, some background noise was still picked up. We the used the boom mic, TASCAM DR-GO & zoom Han audio recorder and headphones. We held the boom mic directly above the dialogue and found this produced the best quality sound with little background noise. Therefore, we would consider using the boom mic set up to record the audio for our single camera screenplay. 

Lighting

We then experimented with lighting. For this, we were tasked with taking photos using different lighting exposures and set ups. The equipment required was three point lighting and tripods for each light, a camera for taking photos, a power pack and colour gels. Firstly, we tried low key lighting using just one of the lights and a low exposure. We liked the result of this and feel like this sort of lighting would be appropriate for more intimate and intense scenes or suspenseful scenes as shadows are created which creates a sense of mystery. We then experimented with three-point high key lighting that used all lights and a high exposure. This lighting creates a more bright and clinical effect which is good for more happy scenes or a sci-fi film as the lighting is very crisp and clear. After this, we then experimented with colour gels and using different colour combinations on different lights to get different effects. This was really fun and easy to do and the results are endless. I particularly liked the use of red gels to create a sense of danger and the red and blue together to create a sense of good vs evil or hot and cold and would definitely considering all the lighting set ups we used for our screenplay. 

Here is an example of the lowkey lighting we created using one light on a low exposure.

Here is an example of the high key lighting we created using three point lighting on a medium to high exposure.

Here is an example of the effects the red and blue coloured gels created.

Here is another example of the results from the colour gels.

             Here is the results from us using low exposure lighting and the green and blue colour gels.

                            Here is the results from using the red colour gels and a single light.

Camera

We then experimented with using cameras and various equipment. For this we used three Canon DSLR cameras, three SD cards, three fluid head tripods and a Steadicam. For these experiments we recorded a scene from the same script we used for the audio using various set ups and shots. First, we used a multi-camera set up positioning three cameras at different angles and shots filming the action. I liked the result of this as we managed to get different angles of the action and perspectives but it was difficult as we had to ensure other cameras and equipment weren't visible in the shots. Although this is a disadvantage to this, it this set up is a good way to reduce continuity errors. We then filmed the same scene in a single camera set up. We re-filmed the scene multiple times using just one camera and different angles and shot types. We used high angle shots, over the shoulder shots, close ups and medium shots. We filmed these using one DSLR, a tripod and for some shots s Steadicam. I liked using the single camera set up as it gives more control over the shot types and scenes whereas multicamera has less control and feels less intimate than single camera; With single camera, it feels like the audio is in the action which has a nicer more intimate effect so would definitely be appropriate for filming a screenplay.