Accident continuity sequence analysis

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4yAn8jrjwE&list=PLuboFoQeI7ki-DbwVm8PGC7IdmbKf_JOs&index=3

What techniques did you specifically use to create (narrative flow) in your accident sequence?

To create continuity we used various techniques, including the story idea. The story is a simple idea, which left the audience with something easy to follow. The audience were left with no twists or overflowing shots full a lot going on, where the audience could be left to try and figure out what’s going on.

Various shot types were used to help convey narrative flow. This included use of master shot, close ups and reaction shots. We begin with the master shot which establishes all the characters within the story, the setting, and Gavin's decision to climb the tree. This means we don’t jump into Gavin climbing the tree leaving us confused and questioning; but we are shown how he decides he is going to climb it. We used a close up of Gavin’s face to establish that he is the main character of the story.  

The reaction shots used include the shot of the two Girls’, and Gavin’s reaction when he is falling. Both reactions make the story more realistic, as we react to everything that happens in real life. The reaction of the two girls allows us to follow  what’s going on, and their worried reaction gives us an idea of what height Gavin is going to fall from.  Gavin’s reaction builds suspense for the fall itself.

We also used various angles to help emphasise certain aspects of the scene. For instance, the shot of the two girls expressing how Gavin is falling is of a high angle. This symbolises Gavin’s perspective, and emphasises how high he is in the tree and compared to their height on the ground, which emphasises the danger of his fall. We also used low angles for when Gavin is falling. When he is in the tree about to fall, the low angle emphasises the height of the tree.

The second  mid shot of Gavin climbing the tree is at an angle which comes round the side of Gavin and the tree he is climbing. This allows it to seem as though Gavin is climbing past us, and therefore shows the height in which he is climbing.  

 In hindsight, what could you do to improve the continuity (narrative flow) of the sequence?

To improve the continuity of our sequence overall we could have made the scenes flow into each other a little more, instead of jumping from angles and shots that were very different to one another. Some shots jump from a long shot to a close up which can leave the audience disorientated. We could have made the shots go from close up, to mid shot, to long shot, or the other way around.

Falling out of a tree is very difficult, and is especially hard to convey with limited shots. If it was  possible for Gavin to jump from the tree the shots could have been a lot wider instead of having to film a lot of close ups of shots that aren’t that realistic. In the falling scene, Gavin grabs back onto the tree before he falls which could confuse the audience as what the shot is meant to represent.