Week 1 & 2 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log, I will explain shot types and angles as well as framing and composition then analyse my practical work for its limitations and benefits. I will show the strengths and weaknesses of my practical exercise and at the end of the log, summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
The purpose of shot types and framing is to tell a story as it unfolds in front of the viewers eyes. The combination of different shot types and angles makes the film more entertaining. The different shot types and angles that we covered are in the following: establishing shot, wide shot, medium long shot, medium shot, medium close up, close up and extreme close up. Yet, the basic shots are close up, medium and long shot. The different angles we covered were a high angle shot, low angle shot and a Dutch angle. These angles help provide more context to the story being told. For example, a high angle shot is filmed above the subject to portray the subject as small, weak and vulnerable. This can be paired with a low angle shot of another subject which shows that subject as powerful and larger. The different framing and composition types we studied are in the following: rule of thirds, leading lines, symmetry, pattern and repetition, contrast, depth and natural framing. These add originality to the film and also again, helps with the storytelling.
The practical task for both weeks to show we know the purpose and how to shoot all of these new techniques was to go around the college and take pictures to practice which will eventually end up in my write-up of the task at the end of the week. We also learnt about how to Harvard reference which will stop future research and work being called out or disqualified for plagiarism.
To learn more about these new techniques, we compared out photos we took with film examples. For example, I compared my photo practicing symmetry with a scene from the Wes Anderson film, "The Grand Budapest Hotel". Wes Anderson is known for using symmetry in his shots to make his films unique and quirky. To practice Harvard Referencing, we done an exercise on Microsoft Word to correctly reference different types of information such as books, websites, screenshots and pictures.
These 2 weeks, I have learned the importance of using different shot types, angles and framing as it is a tool to help tell the story and give context to the character's actions and dialogue. I also studied how filmmakers can use these techniques to create their own unique style - such as Wes Anderson and his quirky style and direct directing.
Overall, I am satisfied with what I have achieved these past 2 weeks. I felt happy and comfortable working on these techniques however I need to make sure my camera is in focus when I take a shot. To help me stop taking unfocused shots, I asked for help and now I know when my shots are focused before I take them. The skills I learned this week were how to take effective camera shots which will transfer over in the future when I shoot bigger projects such as a television episode or film.
Week 1: Dutch Angle
Week 2: Leading Lines
Week 3 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log, I will explain the 180 degree rule, over the shoulder shots, shot reverse shots and matching in action then analyse my practical work for its limitations and benefits. I will show the strengths and weaknesses of my practical exercise and at the end of the log, summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
The purpose of the 180 degree rule is to make sure that the viewer doesn't get confused where the characters are facing in a scene. The rule is that the cameras must only be on one side of the line that the characters are on. The cameras behind that line must always be at least 30 degrees apart owing to the fact that when it jumps to a different camera's shot, it doesn't look like a jump cut that was accidentally edited in, and rather a shot that is meant to be there. The purpose of an over the shoulder shot is to use perspective to show where character's are to one another and to create intimacy between to character's on a conversational level. One of the cameras is in a position just behind a character however, facing another character. Most of the time, you can see the back of the character's head, hence why it is called an over the shoulder shot. This shot then can follow into a shot reverse shot. The purpose of the editing technique, shot reverse shot, is to tell the viewer which character is speaking or to show an important expression in a shot. To complete a shot reverse shot, you need to use shot, then change to another shot, then return back to the same shot. For example, you can have an over the shoulder shot of a character, then another over the shoulder shot of another character, then the first shot of the first character again. Like the previous techniques, matching on action is a filmmaking and editing technique where it cuts from one shot to another and matches the initial shot’s action. For example, a person can start sitting down in the first shot, then when it cuts to the second shot, he sits down, completing the action and allowing it to flow through shots. It is easy to do this technique incorrectly.
The practical task this week was to complete a storyboard and then get into a group and film a scene including these new techniques. For the storyboard we were given a sheet including room for 8 shots. The scene I created for my storyboard was as simple as 2 people meeting in a library, greeting each other and then saying goodbye. My first shot was an establishing shot of the setting, which is the library, to introduce the scene. My second shot is a long shot, introducing the first character. This also includes a natural frame (which I studied last week) as the character is standing in a doorway. My third shot is a medium, over the shoulder shot. This shot shows the other character in my scene sitting at a table and the other character starting to sit down opposite them. My fourth shot is a wide shot, introducing the 180 degree rule as it shows to characters sitting opposite each other. This also shows symmetry which I learnt last week and includes matching in action from the previous scene as it shows the first character completing the action of sitting down on the chair. My fifth shot is a medium, over the shoulder shot. It introduces the dialogue for the scene. My sixth shot is another medium, over the shoulder shot except of the other character as the character responds. In my seventh shot, a shot reverse shot occurs as it switches back to the first character for another over the shoulder shot. The final shot is a wide shot showing both the characters as the dialogue ends. Then we came together as a group to film, we used everyone's storyboards together to come up with our final idea for our scene. We had a camera follow the first character, played by Luke, to sit down at the table and show matching in action as he sits down. Harry, who plays the second character then starts the dialogue. Multiple over the shoulder shots are used as well as shot reverse shot. The scene ends with Harry getting up from the table and walking away.
To learn more about these techniques we looked at examples of these new techniques. For example, for an over the shoulder shot I looked at a scene between Batman and the Joker.
This week I have learnt how to use these new techniques in different scenes correctly so that the scene has fluidity and how they are used commonly in films.
. I was happy and comfortable working on these new techniques however I think I need to practice matching in action more as it can be difficult to line up the shots perfectly so it doesn't pull the viewer out of the story. The skills I have learned this week were how to include new filming techniques to add originality to future films I work on and they will transfer over in the future for bigger projects such as television episodes or films.
Over the shoulder shot
Shot reverse shot
Storyboard
Week 4 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log, I will explain camera settings to do with exposure such as shutter speed, aperture and ISO then analyse my practical work for its limitations and benefits. I will show the strengths and weaknesses of my practical exercise and at the end of the log, summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
The purpose of having camera settings is to give each photo it's own unique style and look. For an image to be captured on a sensor; it must be exposed to light. Light can be measured and controlled by its brightness. Exposure in a camera is about different combinations of shutter and f-stop (aperture) settings. The shutter speed is how long the sensor is exposed to light when the shutter is open and on a Canon camera, the shutter priority setting is "TV". The shutter blocks all light from exposing the sensor until you press the button. The choice of the shutter speed is dependent upon the amount of light available and the photographers ability to hold a camera. Slow shutter speed photos can be used for low-light photos on a tripod. Fast shutter speed photos can be used for racing or quick sports such as football to catch the fast motion without blur. However, using a fast shutter speed, the image will come out much darker whereas a slow shutter speed will make a much brighter image, hence the reason it is good for low-light photography. Having a slow shutter speed can also create light drawings. Light drawings are when a light is moved in a shot as the photo is being taken with the slow shutter speed, making it look like the light is a drawing. The aperture is sometimes compared to the human eye as it works in a similar way. The aperture can be controlled to let in light so if the camera is set to have a small aperture, there will be less light due to a smaller hole, leading to a darker image. When there is a large aperture, the camera will let in more light, so therefore it will lead to a brighter image. The aperture priority mode is "AV" on a Canon camera. However, the aperture also affects the depth of field in a photo. A small aperture has a big depth of field, which means the background is more in focus. This goes for the same as a large aperture just the other way round, larger the aperture, the shallower the depth of field. Finally, we learnt about ISO, which is the final fundamental setting which affects exposure. ISO has a major impact in whether your photos are lighter or darker. The higher the ISO, the brighter the photo is and the lower the ISO, the darker your photo is. However, if you use a higher ISO, it makes the photo have more noise (or makes it look grainier) unlike a lower ISO which applies less noise or less grain.
The practical task for this week was to practice using these settings. We had to take at least 6 images presenting the different settings which are listed in the following: a photo which shows motion blur, shows an object with no motion blur, a photo with a shallow depth of field and a deep depth of field and a photo showing a low ISO and a high ISO.
To learn more about these new settings, we looked at an exposure triangle which shows the different effects of using different settings on the photo. We also looked at a website called Canon Explains Exposure (http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/play). This a useful website tool we used before our practical task to see the different effects of settings on a photo.
This week I have learnt the different settings on a camera which affects the exposure and how to use them effectively to produce a high quality photograph. I was happy and comfortable working on these new techniques however I think I need to practice capturing motion blur with a slow shutter speed as the one I took doesn't really show the subject yet the motion blur is still distinct. The skills I have learned this week were to include these new settings and they will transfer over in the future for bigger projects such as television episodes or films.
Light Drawing - Slow Shutter Speed
Large Aperture Example
Week 5 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain white balance and colour temperature then analyse my practical work for its limitations and benefits. I will show the strengths and weaknesses of my practical exercise and at the end of the log, summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
Colour temperature is a scale which measures how "warm" (yellow) or "cool" (blue) the light from a particular source is. The scale is measured in kelvins and the lower the number means more “yellow” or “warmer” the light is and the higher the number means more “blue” or “cooler” the light is. For example, a candlelight will emit around 1000k, and a blue sky will emit around 10000K. White balance is the process of creating a balanced colour cast and removing the unrealistic colour casts from an image. White balance settings on a Canon camera include, auto, tungsten, fluorescent, daylight, cloudy, flash and shade. These settings help balance out the image to make sure it doesn’t look too yellow or too blue.
The practical task for this week was to work in groups and get 3 different sets of photos in different locations which consist of, inside lighting, inside and outside lighting and outside lighting. Each set had to have the same photo with a different white balance setting. We also looked at Canva to make a quote on why we chose film.
I was happy and comfortable learning these techniques however, I think I could have chose a better location for inside lighting so it properly shows the effect of the different settings.
This week I have learnt the different settings on a camera which affects the white balance and how to use them effectively to produce a high quality photograph. I was happy and comfortable working on these new techniques. The skills I have learned this week were to include these new settings and they will transfer over in the future for bigger projects such as television episodes or films.
Inside Lighting Photos
Inside and Outside Lighting Photos
Week 6 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain the lighting technique "3-point lighting" then analyse my practical work for its limitations and benefits. I will show the strengths and weaknesses of my practical exercise and at the end of the log, summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
3-point lighting is the most basic professional lighting set-up. It combines essential light sources and directions and allows experimentation and expansion. There are 3 lights in a 3-point lighting set-up. There is a key light, fill light and back light. The key light is the main source of light. It produces hard quality as the light source reaches the subject from the camera’s viewpoint. The key light provides texture or modelling of the subject when placed 30 degrees away from the camera-subject axis. The fill light is the secondary light, placed on the opposite side to the key light. This can be compared to indirect sunlight or reflected light. The fill light is the opposite to the key light as it creates a softer quality and fills the shadows created by the key light. The minimal use of fill lights creates “low-key lighting” which is popular in “dark genres” such as Film Noir. Finally, the back light is placed behind the subject. This light only has one purpose and that is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject’s outlines. This helps separate the subject from the background which creates a three-dimensional look.
The practical task was to analyse to types of photos from films which use different types of lighting, I chose hard-quality lighting and soft-quality lighting, and practice taking shots with different lighting settings. We took the photos in groups in the TV studio. To help us understand more about 3-point lighting, we looked at diagrams on how to set them up. Also this week, we made an infographic on different areas and sections of Film & TV production.
In this practical task, I used my knowledge on how to set-up the 3-point lighting technique to efficiently. We then took photos with only one of the lights on. We then took photos with 2 of the lights on. Then we combined all the lights for a final picture. This is because this shows how each light affects the subject in the image. For example, the key light still allows a great deal of light, however, creates a very dark shadow, giving the image a hard-quality look, however when added with a fill light, the lights also have blue and green gels on them, the shadows become softer.
Overall, I understand how lighting is important and how It affects the story of an image or film. I think I need to work on making sure the white balance settings are right and keeping organised in a practical so it’s easier to include the photos accurately in my write-up. I could apply this knowledge in the future to upcoming projects to create high-quality images or films with good lighting which helps give context to the mood or tone of the storyline.
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Week 7 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain the different types of microphones and polar patterns then analyse my practical work for its limitations and benefits. I will show the strengths and weaknesses of my practical exercise and at the end of the log, summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
Dynamic microphones are ideal for general use. These types of microphones are suited for handling high volume levels such as certain musical instruments or amplifiers. The microphone works like a speaker, however in reverse. To create sound, the diaphragm is moved by sound pressure. Therefore, it doesn’t need electrical energy put into the coil as you receive energy out of it. Condenser microphones has an audio signal stronger than a dynamic microphones. That means it is more suited to capturing subtle nuances rather than high volumes as it will cause distortion to the sound. Unlike dynamic microphones, condenser microphones require batteries. That is because the microphones require phantom powering for it to work. Polar patterns refer to the directionality of a microphone. There are multiple pick-up patterns in microphones which all have their best uses for different times, for example, to include background noise or to record sound on the end of a boom pole. Some examples are omnidirectional, cardioid, super/hyper-cardioid, bidirectional or figure-8, shotgun, sub-cardioid. The main 3 are omnidirectional, cardioid and figure-8. Omnidirectional is a polar pick-up pattern which picks up sound in all directions. It is sensitive to sound in all directions meaning it will pick up noise from in front, noise from the side and background noise at similar levels. They are useful I situations where you would like the audience or viewer to hear sounds from multiple directions at a time. It is also good for recording in stereo or a moving subject or if you want to record sounds in a room. The polar pattern diagram is just one circle covering the whole diagram. Cardioid is a unidirectional pick-up pattern in a “heart-shaped” pattern. It is most sensitive at the front, so the best sound comes from there however it also picks up some noise from the side. The back of the microphone is not sensitive to sound so background noise will be hard to pick up. It is best used for live performances such as concerts or karaoke or capturing sound of instruments. Figure-8, or otherwise known as bidirectional, microphones pick up sound from two directions. Its pattern created the idea for the name as it is in the shape of a number 8. This microphone is perfect from recording sound from two people sitting opposite each other or recording two or more instruments. The sound is heavily rejected from the sides and like the omnidirectional microphone, it is good for stereo recording.
The first practical task was to go out to two different locations, one inside and one outside. Then to record with both the sound recorder and our mobile phone. Also, while recording, we had to do a sound map on all the different sounds we could hear at that time. The second practical task was to go around the college and record sounds which represent different themes that we were given. The themes were nature, education, technology, rhythm and creativity. The second practical task was to go around the college and record sounds which represent different themes that we were given. The themes were nature, education, technology, rhythm and creativity.
I was comfortable and happy recording these sounds in different locations and to represent the different themes however next time I will be more knowledgeable on gain and be able to get it right every time.
Overall, I understand how different types of microphones have their different uses and how sound can represent themes. I also understand how different microphones can affect the quality, direction and proximity of the sound being recorded. I could apply this knowledge in the future to upcoming projects such as films or television shows to make sure they have amazing quality audio for the dialogue or sound effects.
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Outside Photos
Key light
All lights
Week 8 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain the different terms that we researched which would help me understand editing settings more then analyse my practical work for its limitations and benefits. I will show the strengths and weaknesses of my practical exercise and at the end of the log, summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my filming and editing.
Resolution is how much detail or information is shown within an image. The “p” at the end of the resolution measurement stands for progressive scan, and the actual measurement stands for how many lines of vertical resolution. The most common resolution standards are standard definition - which is 480p - high definition – which is 720p – full high definition – which is 1080p, and ultra-high definition – which is 4k. Out of all of them, the most common is 1080p HD however, 4k is becoming more popular. The higher the number of pixels, the clearer and higher quality the image. Frame rate is the measurement that shows how many frames appear within a second. Hence, why it is also called frames per second or FPS for short. In film, TV and other video content, the standard frame rate is 24 FPS. This allows the content to be logical compared to the human eye and create motion blur, which makes moving objects look out of focus due to moving quick
However other video formats have different standard frame rates. NSTC, which is an abbreviation for National Television Standards Committee, displays a 29.97 FPS. This format is usually used in United States, Japan, and other countries. NSTC made the significant black & white and colour television system originally. PAL, which is an abbreviation for Phase Alternate Line displays a 25 FPS. This is mainly used in European countries. SECAM, which is an abbreviation for Sequential Colour and Memory, displays a 25 FPS however the way SECAM processes colour information means it’s not compatible with the PAL video format standard. This is used in countries such as USSR, China, Pakistan, France and more. An aspect ratio is a measurement to indicate the width and height of a screen or image. This is shown as two numbers with a colon between them. The first number represents the images or screen’s width, and the second number represents the height of the image or screen. For example, 4:3 means that the images or screen’s width 1.33 times the size of its height. Some more common aspect ratios have constantly been used throughout the history of film and television. There are two different types of videos scans: interlaced and progressive. Progressive video sources are identified with the letter “p” at the end of the number of pixels. Progressive scan video content projects both even and odd scan lines at the same time on the TV. Interlaced video sources can be identified with the letter “I” at the end of the number of pixels. Rather than at the same time as the progressive scan signals can do, the interlaced video displays even and odd scan lines as separate fields.
The practical task this week was to edit our footage that we recorded during the 180-degree rule task. For this we used Avid and learned some shortcuts such as pressing "I" creates a mark in and "O" creates and mark out. This was helpful as it made the editing process more efficient.
Overall, I believe my edit went well as I was able to edit successfully and complete the task efficiently. However, when filming I need to make sure the actors do the same action the same in the previous shot to complete matching on action so it’s easier to edit the matching on action. I also need to work on remembering the keyboard shortcuts so in the future I can be efficient in my work and make my life easier. In this exercise I was able to learn how to use Avid in a basic way and I can apply that in the future to upcoming projects to do with editing which might require me to use Avid.
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Week 9 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will analyse my practical work for its limitations and benefits. I will show the strengths and weaknesses of my practical exercise and at the end of the log, summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my filming and editing.
The practical task this week was to film a scene of a simple greeting with multiple shot types such as a medium shot, long shot, extreme close-up, and others. Then we take the footage into avid to edit it to create a continuity edit.
In comparison with the video last week, I improved on learning the key binds for avid so I’m more efficient when editing. An improvement is that when editing, it doesn’t jar as much when completing matching on action and we had more time to shoot all the shots because of the better location we picked. Yet similarly, there was one shot which didn’t match with the following shot which makes the edit jump and break the continuity flow of the edit.
Overall, I believe the editing process went well in this task. The first cut from Lee scaring Hallum flows nicely and matches the time and action from each frame and the hug towards the end. I have also learnt the key binds better from last week which was a target I set for myself. However, in the middle of the edit, it jars because the action doesn’t flow. Where Hallum goes to shake Lee’s hand, his left arm is up and in the way of their hands together. This doesn’t line up with the next shot as Hallum’s arm is by his side. We also have lighting continuity issues throughout the scene where other shots are lighter than others. Next time I will make sure the actors carry on the actions as they did in the previous shot and make sure the lighting is continuous throughout. I can use this in the future for upcoming projects such as films or television shows which might require me to use Avid to create a continuous flow of actions for a scene which creates matching on action and lighting.
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Week 10 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain what I have completed this week and analyse any practical work which I have completed for its limitations and benefits. At the end of the log, I will summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
This week we started generating ideas and starting documentation for our first project which is a 1 minute short film. The theme of the short film has to be something with "What If?". We had to create a mind map of our ideas for future reference. I also took photos of the gaming event which was held in Canterbury College.
In comparison with the last time I took photos for an event, it went well. I had more confidence to just go in and take photos rather than being hesitant.
Overall, I believe I was successful in my work this week as I took relevant and high-quality photos for the event and started the documentation for my short film and already generating ideas. I believe in the future I should be a little more confident when going in to take photos and I shouldn't be afraid to ask people to do certain things to get a shot. This experience has helped me develop my skills and I can use this for future projects such as upcoming events.
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180-Degree Task Edit
Continuity Edit
Mind Map
Week 11 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain what I have completed this week and analyse any practical work which I have completed for its limitations and benefits. At the end of the log, I will summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
This week we developed our ideas for our 1-minute short film further by gathering our 3 best ideas and identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. My three ideas all have the same theme of "What if doors could open by themselves?" yet they all have different endings. For example, my first idea is a horror comedy where it turns out it was just my dog, my second idea is where I keep blocking the door, but it keeps opening, and my third idea is where the door keeps opening but in the last shot, something comes from behind me. We also researched a documentary - which is called "All in the best possible taste" made by the artist, Grayson Perry. Perry’s project is about researching the different classes within Britain and dividing them to differentiate between them and the qualities they withstand. The classes he researches are the working class (which he travels to Sunderland for his research), middle class (which he travels to Tunbridge Wells for his research), and the upper class (which he travels to the Cotswolds for his research). The goal is to create 2 tapestries for each class to demonstrate the important characteristics that each class has such as the way they present themselves to the way they decorate their home.
Overall, I believe I was successful in my work this week as I managed to generate 3 ideas that all have different strengths and weaknesses. I also managed to complete my research on the documentary which will go on my website in the "Research Skills" page. These skills which I have developed this week will help me in the future when it comes to researching or generating ideas for upcoming projects.
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Week 12 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain what I have completed this week and analyse any practical work which I have completed for its limitations and benefits. At the end of the log, I will summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
This week we continued to develop our ideas for our 1-minute short film further by creating a questionnaire to ask our target audience, friends and family the best idea out of the three that we created in week 11. For my questionnaire, I made it so the questionnaire will consist of 3 descriptions of each idea and the person answering the questionnaire will have to choose the idea which intrigues them the most. They will then be told the strengths and weaknesses of the synopsis they have chosen and will be asked if they would like to change their vote or keep it. The results of the choices will be recorded and put into a bar graph. After recording my results from other people, it was clear that my third idea, to go for a complete horror short film, won. However, I am going to continue forward with the horror comedy genre due to the challenging factors that the horror genre can cause me. For example, I need another actor to complete my film which I will be unable to get due to filming alone. We then had to complete a piece of work called "Media Research". We had to write the scenario, production requirements, skills requirements and the areas of research. I would need to carry out research on how to present a horror with comedy twists. I will need to research what music will be more effective to help portray the atmosphere and what lighting will lead me to be successful when shooting my short film. I would like to explore framing and composition when recording this short film as well as sound such as added sound effects and music. To complete this research, I will look at other films with a similar genre to my idea and take inspiration from there work and create my own style with it.
Overall, I believe I was successful in my work this week as I managed to develop my 3 ideas and choose the best 1 suited for me. These skills which I have developed this week will help me in the future when it comes to researching or generating ideas for upcoming projects.
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Week 13 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain what I have completed this week and analyse any practical work which I have completed for its limitations and benefits. At the end of the log, I will summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
This week we continued to develop our ideas for our 1-minute short film further to prepare for approval to film. I worked on my storyboard which contained 20 different shots. Storyboards are important when it comes to pre-producing films as you are able to visualise each shot which needs to be taken as well as being able to write down the type of shot and what compositional ideas are wanted to be used. I completed all my other pre-production documents such as my recce sheet, health and safety, treatment, synopsis, personnel sheet, mood board, project timetable and contingency plan. All of these documents are vital in the pre-production process as it plans if something were to go wrong, what would happen and what should happen on filming days to keep it orderly and organised.
Overall, I believe I was successful in my work this week as I managed to complete all my pre-production documents ready for filming after the winter break. These skills which I have developed this week will help me in the future when it comes to researching or generating ideas for upcoming projects.
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Week 14 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain what I have completed this week and analyse any practical work which I have completed for its limitations and benefits. At the end of the log, I will summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
This week was set to be our filming week. I filmed the shots I needed for my short film at home following the pre-production documents I created before the winter break. I began filming as soon as it got dark as my film was set during the night time and I wanted as much time as possible in case anything were to go wrong. I began filming all the shots that were in my bedroom that were at the beginning of the film. I then moved to record the shots I needed in the hallway, bathroom and living room. I was unable to get the shots outside of my house and in the garage as planned due to the darkness, I would be unable to get the shot without it having inconsistent lighting. I struggled with keeping the consistent lighting and also organising my shots however, I believe it would be much easier to organise if I wasn't on my own planning and filming. I also believe I could have been more careful when it comes to focusing my shots as I think at least one of the shots are out of focus.
Overall, I believe I was successful in my filming this week as I managed to complete filming for my short film and I recognise what I could have improved and what I will take note of for next time. These skills which I have developed this week will help me in the future when it comes to researching or generating ideas for upcoming projects.
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Week 15 Reflective Log:
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In this reflective log I will explain what I have completed this week and analyse any practical work which I have completed for its limitations and benefits. At the end of the log, I will summarise what I have learned and what I need to improve to ensure accuracy in my shots.
After filming the shots I needed in Week 14, I used Week 15 to edit (using Avid) my shots together and add the effects I needed. I started the process by creating two bins for my footage and my final edit. I aligned the footage in order on the timeline, cut to the time I wanted it and making sure I successfully complete matching on action throughout every shot. I then used that as a draft edit so I could collect the sound effects I needed. The reason I needed to export the video at that current state was so I could collect the sound efficiently and in time with the footage. After recording the sound clips I needed with a zoom recorder. I started to then add effects such as slow-motion, the title at the beginning of the film and the end credits. After I was happy with the final product, I then went on to complete my evaluation.
My evaluation consisted of describing my project and the process used to get to the final product such as the techniques and skills, gaining feedback from 5 people of your target audience and a self-evaluation discussing the strengths, weaknesses, barriers and the improvements for next time. Finally, a conclusion to discuss the project overall, how I found it and what improvements to make sufre to remember next time.
Overall, I believe the editing made me realise that I have created the film I envisioned as well as the overall quality of the short film. This project has made me develop my camerawork, editing, directing and overall filmmaking skills a lot due to being able to work independently however I think next time I will ask for help more as well as work with a group of people to gather second opinions during the filming process as well as the chance to get extra help. Something I would make sure to improve next time is checking that the camera is focused for each shot.
