Evaluation - Technologies Used

Blogger:

I had never used Bllogger before taking this course, I had never even heard of it to be honest. But I have found that this website is very useful of keeping track of your work and receiving homework, I prefer receiving homework this way as opposed to the more conventional way in class.

Youtube:

I have used youtube before in the past loads of times. But then again everyone has youtube and there isn't anything new to me since being on this course. But I have found this website to be very useful with this work, uploading our videos to this site helped us in receiving feedback and able to view our work from wherever we are.

Final Cut Express:

Final Cut is very new to me, I have used a film editing software before but Final Cut is a bit more powerful. I have learnt loads of techniques and transitions to make my movies look better. At first I was worried about editing and cutting but as soon as I got used to it I became very comfortable with it. It's very easy and versatile.

Adobe After Effects:

I started using this program a few days before we learnt it in class. I only learnt the basics and a few effects, then in class our teacher had taught us a few more effects and techniques. Then at home I was learning some more advanced stuff and this helped me in making my movie sequence.

Equipment:

I have used all of this equipment before, some of what we was using is slightly more advanced compared to other cameras and video cameras that I have used. Since being on this course I have expanded my knowledge and camera techniques.

Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of film openings):

I think that in my opening sequence I have used the convetional way as to which superhero movies start out. Alot of superhero action movies start of with a past of the hero, showing how he got to how he is or what he is. Makes you feel more for the character adds emotion to the movie and is a what to trap you in the movie right from the very beginning.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?:

My opening sequence represents the "family" social group. A group that is intent on securing eachothers safety and looking after eachother. The dad is traditional in his love for his family and insists they escape out of the house first. Putting his own life at possible risk to save theirs.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?:

A big hollywood company looking to create an action packed superhero movie full of special effects.

Who would be the audience for your media product?:

The target audience for my movie would be males from the ages of 14 - 40. generally the sort of person who goes to a cinema to watch a superhero action movie would be males, because at times this genre can be cheesy and only males can not see the cheesyness of this genre.

How did you attract/address your audience?:

The emotions that are captured in the opening sequence are a mixture. We have love , compassion, fear, distraught, confusion and worry. These are a good mix of emotions to keep the audience entertained and attracted to the movie. Also after having seen how the hero got to how he is, peoplen would be interested to stay in the movie to see how his life turns out.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?:

My skills in Final Cut Express have improved and in a way I feel like I have outgrown this software and would like to move onto another program such as Vegas in my spare time. I have learnt alot about the program Adobe After Effects, I had learnt some stuff prior to this project and having done this helped me with my project and also allowed me to be able to help anyone else in class needing assistance. There is still much I could learn with this program.

Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product? :

I have learnt that it is really easy to make stupid little errors in filming, such little minor detail and timing can easily crush your movie and make it look really surreal. After having done my continuity exercise I had learnt some of the mistakes that I had made and I didn't do the same mistakes in my main project. Such mistakes as props not being there in the next shot or timing with a hand opening the door.
I'm really glad that we had done a continuity exercise this really helped me get to grips with filming.

Evaluation - Social Groups And Characters

There are not any particular spcial groups in my opening sequence that are divulged as of yet. The main Character is meant to be a superhero but in his own way. He is like a vigilante just like the Batman and a criminal in a way just like the punisher is. He seeks to fight crime and evil in a way that is not upholded by the law, he is the law.

I found it hard trying to find some other characters that resemble my main character.
Seth Green from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I chose him because he has some similaritys to my character by looks and somewhat his attitude, he is laid back and seems to let the world float by.

I also chose The Punisher for psychology traits, The Punisher is a vigilante, a criminal but above all a hero, and this is what my character is.

Evaluation - Continuity and Final Product

Doing the continuity task helped me greatly in cutting footage to make it look right and believeable.
It also taught me to do shots more than once, this gives you more footage to be able to play around with and get the result you are looking for. With the continuity task we didn't do repeat shots we just hoped it looked good and left it as that, this gave me some problems when it came to editing because we didn't have more fottage to play around with we ended up having to cut it as best as we could but it still turned out ok.

With my project I had take 3 -4 takes of each shot so when it came to final cut I could do what I want, and having all this extra footage is really handy and useful just incase you decide you don't like the idea you just tried.

Evaluation - Action Plan

This plan is to help me understand what to improve for my next prject, a set of targets if you like.

These were the questions we were given for the action plan:

1. Indentify three practical/technical skills you feel you would like to work on developing. How could you organise this for your next project?

2. Choose three people in the class that you did not assist or receive assistance from in this project. How could you go about identifying ways in which you could be of assistance to them on their next project?

This task links with the invoice audit which I have posted further down.

My Answers:

Question 1:

One of the skills I would like to improve on is my camerwork I would like to use some more shot types and pans, instead of normal shots. This would add some more variation to my work.

I would also like to improve my lighting work and how to get the right lighting for what I need, this will make post production easier.

The third skill I would like to improve is my ability to keep within time constraints, I've been putting myself under a lot of pressure because I kept falling behind with some tasks causing unneccessary stress making things harder for me.

To be able to organise this for my next project I could maybe go out with a camera and practice some techniques to get the right lighting and good camera shots. I should also draw up a plan for when and how I am going to do stuff instead of doing it on the spot this will greatly improve my time keeping.

Question 2:

Kirk
Mike
Alex

I could give assistance to these thre people by either helping them with camera work or sound or even be an actor in their next project. I could also be a great help with after effects and helping them with post production.

Evaluation - Audience Feedback

Yesterday we had some professionals ( Jake & Jim ) come into our class to give us feedback on our film opening sequences. Jake was the one who gave me feedback here is what he said:

I like the idea you have I think it works well for the genre you are trying to focus on and the audience to. At the start it worked really well the quick shots and the suspense from going to titles back to the footage, but then when it came to the part where he is hurt it lasts too long, it needs to be tighter around that area. It kills the tension and suspense that has been built up throughout the sequence.

I also liked at the start when it was black and the alarm was going off it made me wonder what was going on also adding to suspense this worked really well.

The production logo made me laugh.

Evaluation - 9 Frames Analysis - Art Of The Title

First Frame - Transitions:

In my opening sequence I didn't use too many transitions I was looking for a quick sharp feel to my shots to make then switch to another rapidly. I did use one transition at the start, the screen is black and then the alarm starts going off then slowly the first shot fades in, which creates a more dramatic effect.

Second Frame - Lighting:

First of I had decided to produce some lighting in the rooms with some lamps because I originally had the rooms pitch black. But then someone had given me the idea of doing the whole thing in night mode which gave it more of an eerie and scary feel. This worked pretty well but did disrupt some of the special effects I wanted to use.

Third Frame - Visual Effects:

I had used a number of visual effects in my opening sequence such as fire and smoke I had also created some cgi but because of the night mode effect it looks like a paper bag. In this shot I had created some smoke using after effects I used the particular tool to create my own custom particles and animate them

Fourth Frame - Setting:

The setting of my movie is in the present, I wanted to keep it to this as that's how I imagined the characters and their scenery.

Fifth Frame - Framing:

In all my shots the characters heads are all placed in the screen frame well, in the fifth frame the main characters head is not in the shot. Although this is quite distracting to the audience and makes them wonder where it is, I did it like that on purpose to add more drama to it.

Sixth Frame - Costumes:

For the costumes I had gotten all the actors in pj's this creates a more authentic look and sets the scene. The costumes were not hard to come by and on the days I needed to shoot the actors brought their costumes with them.

Seventh Frame - Camera Movement:

For this shot we zoomed in as much as we could that kept a good amount of detail and quality in the shot. I liked this as it made the audience pay attention to him and nothing else. I didn't have a wide variation of shots but I still think my movie is effective.

Eighth Frame - Narrative:

This shot is of him in pain after being hit with some debris though not seeing this, I should have included it.

Ninth Frame - Typography:

I used a text that resembled the theme and setting of my movie this made it more eye catching and attractive. I felt that if I used boring text then some of the audience would lose interest in the movie. Keeping the titles interesting will keep them interested.