Evaluation Question 7:Evaluation Question 7:

What do you feel you have What do you feel you have learnt in the progression from

learnt in the progression from it to your final production?it to your final production?

By Aidan Smith

What I have learnt

From my prelim work up until my final product I feel that I have learnt many new skills and developed current skills to make the best possibly product. Some of the skills I have developed and improved on are:

- Using Final Cut Express - editing

- Using Photoshop CS6

- Using Garageband – creating my own soundtrack

- Directing and organising a film product

Preliminary WorkFor the prelim task, it was to create a small continuous video of someone walking up to a table and talk to someone. I learnt many new techniques such as the, Shot Reverse Shot, 180 degree shot, panning and over the shoulder shots . Using these techniques inspired me to use them in my own product.

Shots from my Preliminary task – Short film

Preliminary WorkI feel that the prelim had helped me a lot as it made me aware of my time management skills, making sure I had captured all of the footage for a deadline. It has also helped with my planning skills by creating a storyboard, this made it easier for when it came to filming as I knew what I needed to achieve and how I would do it.

Planning

Before I could create my product, I needed to do a lot of research. I researched into different types of film genres as this would determine how my opening sequence would be produced and the final outcome. When researching into the genres I also looked up how different social groups are represented. In the end I had chosen to do a Hybrid film incorporating the Thriller and Action genre. Once I had chosen my genre, I looked into a target audience and found out what they like about these sorts of films. This helped me a lot for the production process.

Construction

I think that my skills had improved dramatically from the prelim task to the final product. In my product I included a much wider variation of shots such as; close up, panning, over the shoulder, closed framing, opening framing etc.

Construction and Comparison My preliminary task was a very simple and short task to allow me to experiment with different camera techniques. Whereas my final piece took a lot longer and the duration of it lasts longer.

In my prelim task I focused on continuity, for example – walking through the door. In my final product I managed to achieve the same thing. I believe that the prelim task had helped a lot as it helped me to understand good camera positioning and how I should have directed the actor so it looks like a smooth motion.

Construction - EditingI think it is evident that I have improved in my editing comparing my Preliminary task to my Final Product. I think that I am much more competent with the editing as it is very easy to use the Final Cut software, with the use of two preview screens and the ability to cut footage down to suit. For example, in my final piece I have incorporated a lot of quick cutting (antagonist getting in the car), I feel that I probably wouldn’t have been able to do this at the beginning of the Unit if it wasn’t for the Preliminary task – helping me to understand how clips should be edited to look like a consistent motion.

Construction - FilmingWhen filming I learnt a lot of new techniques such as:

- How much lighting there should be

- Whether to use a tripod (steady shot) or just use a shoulder rig/by hand

- Suitable camera angles for the scene (eg. Over the shoulder, close up etc.)

When filming my preliminary short film I used a tripod so the camera was steady for the match on action shots. So in my own product I also used a tripod. However, I didn’t have two characters to have a conversation so I couldn’t use the match on action technique but by using it in my prelim task, it had helped me understand the use of a tripod a lot more so I used it for my final piece.

Construction – Lighting & Sound

Due to the preliminary task before a short task I didn’t have a lot of time to consider lighting and sound within the film. However, in my final piece I had a lot of time to consider all of this. I managed to find out what the conventions are within the selected genre so this made it easier for me to decide what the lighting and sound would be like.

- Dark unnatural lighting

- Dark colour scheme

- Tense orchestral music

Conclusion

Overall, I feel that I have learnt a lot through out this project and I will no doubt carry these skills on into A2 media but also for the future (University and future jobs), I am very pleased with how my product turned out.

My Final Product – SEIZED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_NY7g060tM#t=32