Prelim evaluation

For our project me and my class were asked to produce a video of somebody going through a door and having a conversation, we were also asked to produce a magazine cover of our own choice. For this task were asked to work in pairs, I choose to work with Nick Emmerson. Me and Nick were able to manage the task well because we are close friends so we were able communicate with each other effectively which meant that we could get on and do the task well. Me and Nick also managed to get allot of the work done in our free time because mine and Nick’s free periods are at the same time which made it easier.
In order for us to produce the magazine and the video we had to plan what we were going to do, for our planning we drew on paper what our magazine cover would look like so that we could then copy that when we produced the a magazine we knew exactly what to do. For our video we planned it as a storyboard which showed all the camera angles that we were going to use for the video. The inspiration that we used to help us come up with ideas for our magazine cover was football magazines because me and Nick have an interest in football so we thought it would be a good idea to base our magazine on football we looked at a range of different magazines so that we could get some inspiration for ours, we thought that the image used in our magazine was good and relevant for a football magazine because quite a few magazines we found used a similar image so we knew that the picture would look good enough for a football magazine. The inspiration that we used to help us create our film was.
The technology that we used to help us complete our prelim task of creating a school magazine cover was:
· Photoshop
· Computer, mouse and key board
· Digital camera
We used photo shop to assist us in making the front cover of a magazine. The reason we used photo shop for the magazine is because the software allows us to manipulate photos that we have taken for example you can cut around the picture and then put it onto a blank background with out having the background which was on the original photo. Other technology that we used to help us complete our magazine cover was a normal computer which had photo shop installed on it other wise with out the computer we would not be able to use the programme. We also used a digital camera to take the pictures of a friend of ours who we got to balance a football on his head so that he looked like a footballer which is what we were aiming for.
The technology that we used to help us complete our movie of walking through the door was slightly different to the technology used for the magazine front cover. As you can see below I have listed all the technology used for the task:
· Video camera with a DV tape ,tripod and a fire wire to download the footage onto the Mac
· Mac
We used a video camera to record our footage because it was the best form of technology that we had available to complete task. We also used a video camera because we both felt that it would give us the best result and also the fact that it is designed to film footage. The reasons listed above are the only real reasons that we used the video camera and how we used the camera is pretty straight forward because as I said above we used it record footage which we then went and edited
The reason we used a Mac was so that we could use I movie which is a programme that is built in we used this software because it allows us to edit the footage that we gathered for example we added titles to the footage so that it looked like a proper film it also allowed us to combine all the footage together so that when played all the footage is all one and plays as one.
During the task set I and Nick had to take in to consideration all the factors that could occur when planning, shooting and editing because if not the we may not achieve a decent result because we would of not considered carefully, to do this I and Nick looked at what we would need to consider for shooting then when that was complete we moved on to planning and then finally editing the reason for this is because we though we would cover all the factors better if we did one at a time so that we not miss any that we needed to consider.
From our discussion we came up with that for our planning stage for the magazine we would need to make sure that we drew out on paper a rough sketch of what we thought our magazine would look like so that we knew exactly what we were going to produce so we decided that we would need to have a planning lessen and then and then have a making lesson which would be when we actually make the magazine using our plan. During our planning we needed to take into account when our friend was free so that we could take a photo of him so we needed to make sure that the day we make the magazine cover is the day he is free to have his photo taken.
The factors that we needed to consider when planning the film were that we needed to plan was the shoots that were going to use so that when it came to filming we knew exactly what we were doing rather than making the shots up as we go along. So make sure we know what shots we were doing we did a storyboard of each shot which we annotated saying what would happen in that shot and what speech if any would be said. During the planning stage we also took in consideration how long it would take to film so that we did not plan to do things at the wrong times, so we estimated that it would take us one lesson to plan and produce the story board a lesson to so the filming and a final lesson to do the editing. We also came up with another factor which was the location of where we could film because we needed to make sure that the location would be suitable for filming and also if the location was free on the day we had planned to film.
For shooting of our film to come up with several factors that would need to be considered during the filming stages of the video such as:
· Lighting
· The right camera shots
· What speech will be said
When we were shooting we had to consider the lighting because if the lighting was too dark then we would not have very good footage which means that when we play it back it would be too hard for the target audience to see what is really going on however we also realised that the lighting must not be to bright because then it is hard for the camera to focus on the characters or the object that they are trying to capture. As well as that it would be too hard for the target audience to take in the full detail because it will be too bright and too hard to see what is going on so the lighting needs to have a balance of bright and dark to give a suitable contrast.
We when shooting our short footage I and Nick knew that we had to take into account weather the right camera shots are being used at the right time in order to have the best footage possible, and we also needed to make sure that we were using the required shots such as the close up of hand on the door as the character opens the door. When shooting we had to make sure that after every shot we positioned the next shot with every thing the same so that when played through the mise en sense is not different in each shot.
When filming we needed to consider what speech would be said in each of the shots and how we would film it because we needed to have a shot reverse shot in the scene so it would be best used during a conversation. Also we needed to make sure that what speech is said makes sense and is relevant to what is going on in the scene also the sound needs loud so that when played back the audience can hear what the character is saying and also that their speech is slurred and is clear.
During the preliminary task I felt that the sequence that we followed was good because as a whole I and Nick were pleased with the out come of the magazine because it looked like a school Magazine because of the image and colours used we thought were good, and we asked one of our teachers what they thought and ways that we could improve it and we followed their advices on a few areas that were weak. The aspects of the magazine cover that we thought worked well was the colours used and the picture used, the reason we thought this was because the colours especially7 the orange is eye catching and stands out and made me want to read more. The picture was definitely worked well because it something a bit different and looks really good on the front cover because it really blended in well with all the other elements of the magazine. If I was to make the magazine again I would improve some bits and do some of the elements slightly differently. I would improve the text used because I felt that some of it was rushed because we were unable to think of really good text so we thought okay text but it could have been better and to make sure I did I would spend more time thinking of better text before I started the magazine. Apart from changing the text I wouldn’t change anything else because nothing really needed changing in my opinion. The aspects that I would do differently if I was asked to make the magazine cover again I would make sure that the plan was more detailed and explained every thing that needed to be done rather than rushing it like we did in our original which is why we struggled with our text because we had not thought thoroughly enough during our plan so we rushed it towards the end because were running out of time.
After completing the preliminary task I have learnt how to use photo shop in more depth because before the task I was not very confident with the programme but as the task progressed I have learnt how use it more than previously. I the one thing that I have learnt the most in photo shop is the cutting around the shape which the Lassue magnet which I really struggled to use before the task but I have practised and am now able to use it well. I also feel that I have learnt how to use I movie in more depth because again before the task I struggled to get to grips with it, however know I have more confidence and able to do allot more than previously such as adding different effects to the footage such as the titles at the beginning and the end. From the task I also learnt how to cut different sections a clip so that the continuality flows well form one clip to anther. During this task I have also leant that when filming you need to make sure that when filming different clips you need to make sure that on the next clip all the characters and other props are in the same place when you film the next clip so that the continuity is smooth which makes it easier to edit. So after the task I have learnt this because during the task we did not do this very well and only after we realised that it was not very good, so I have learnt that it is important factor when filming.
From what I have learnt form this task I will use these experiences to help me do better in the rest of my foundation course work because next tie mi will take what I have learnt and it apply it to the next task that I will be given so that the out come of the next task will be much improved. During the next task will make sure that when filming I plan properly and make sure that I make sure that the continuity is allot better because if I’m honest the video we produced was very poor and I would need to improve allot if I am required to do another video