what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from the preliminary task to now?

I have learnt a lot from the continuity task/preliminary task compared to now.
The continuity exercise and the Life on Mars exercise posed as tasks to carry out to gain technical accuracy through specific shots and order of shots. However, during this project, I have now also learnt that meaning must be created through the micro elements of camera angle and movement, sound, editing and mise en scene. for example meaning and representation in created through pace of editing or the type of shot whether its low angle or high. 

From the Life on Mars exercise, I learnt about timing shots so they fit perfectly with the original version and match the sound. Also I developed my knowledge of editing the shots at the correct timing so that they flow on well from one another, but also so they match the music and sound effects.

The continuity exercise allowed me to learn about the 180° rule when I am filming anything so that the shots look right and make sense. Also editing was a key concept in this exercise as well, because I had to ensure that each shot was in the correct order and that the length of each shot was right to create one single, flowing piece of action. Here, tools such as the cutting tool were important to cut out parts of shots that were too long or that didn't fit with the short conversation.

Finally, in the film opening, I learnt the importance of the micro elements to engage the audience and to introduce the characters and the genre, all in a small space of time. I had to think about lighting and setting to convey meaning, camera angles and shots to represent the characters in a specific way and the clothing to make the opening seem as realistic and believable as possible. Also, I had to choose audio that not only suited the forms and conventions of other thriller films, but that also matched my shots to create atmosphere. Finally, I had to alter the pace of editing in several areas in my opening to create different feelings at different points, for example, fast paced editing during the dark flash forward shots to only give a hint at what will happen, and slow paced editing whilst showing the homeless girl, to evoke sympathy for her.