Coping with technology during production:
Using Cameras, filming:
I did not have access to a video camera through family and as my film was not set at school, I did not use a school camera. I then found out that we could use the school cameras outside of school, but I had already done my filming. However, I am happy with the quality of the footage, and as this was the first time that I had even attempted to film something, feel that I have achieved a lot. I used the technology that I had available to me, my digital camera and my sister's digital camera that have video capabilities.
The first thing I had to work out was how to take video clips on the cameras and experiment with the duration of the shots. During the filming I experimented with the camera, with and without zoom, composition within the frames and how to position the camera to get the best shots. The test shots that I took helped with this as I became more comfortable with using a camera.
I filmed several times; at first for the test shots and then for several hours to get the majority of the filming completed. Some of the plan changed because of actors being unable to follow through with the filming. However, I already had sufficient footage.I had more than enough, what I needed to do was sort through and get the best shots for the film. Hence the beginning of the editing.
Composition of shots:
I wanted to have a variety of shots in my film opening as in the film openings that we have studied it is evident that having a variety of angles and shot types is important in the composition of the film. I used close ups and extreme close ups for the emotional shots and to portray the idea of being out of one's comfort zone. I used medium long shots to establish the setting and the trees, nature surrounding the girl in the film portrayed through these shots helps to set the mood and tone of the film. The use of the long shot in the chase scene was effective as it was also hand held to show that the girl was being chased.
Another aspect of the technology that was new to me was the use of editing programmes on the computer. I bought a usb in order to store and transport my video files. My computer at home has two basic editing programmes- I chose to use Homevideo-maker. It can cut clips in two, crop, order on the timeline, add audio, music and transitions, which were the things that I wanted to use. After I had completed my filming I downloaded/imported my files from the cameras onto the computer. I then watched them for the first time on quicktime player so I could see the quality of the footage and whether the filming had been successful. I began to fill out a footage log so that I could know which clips to use and refer back to the log if necessary.
I cropped and cut the clips in order to get them to be the right size, and sped up some of the writing shots on the editing programme. I wanted to have clips of varying size in order to portray different moods- for example, the beginning, writing the story is sped up, but still takes a decent amount of time and the shots are smooth. In contrast, in the shots of the chase scene and some of the necklace shots, they are smaller sized clips, therefore changing quickly to create a sense of tension and urgency. This was also enhanced through the use of transitions such as quick cuts and wipes.
When I had decided on my songs, I had to import the files in the correct format, cut them and order them to match the visual and to tie throughout the film. At one or two points the music isn't totally smooth but I am really pleased to have gotten it on the film, as I was having trouble with it at first. I also heightened some of the audio- the noise of ducks, birds and the chase scene, in order to hear the person chasing and the girl's scream. I am pleased with how the higher volume fitted with the music track as well.
I decided to add titles- the title of the film and my name at the beginning, and so played around with the fonts, colour and size on the editing programme. I also changed some of the clips saturation, brightness level, contrast and hue in order to show the fantasy aspect of the park and to increase the shadow in parts with more tension.
When I was editing I was pleased with the way a number of the shots came together, but at times was frustrated because I was trying to teach myself how to use the programme, and when the technology wasn't easy to understand I had to stop and then come back to it. There were problems with trying to import audio files in the correct format, and exporting the video, but I kept trying and eventually managed to save the file into one of my folders and then burn it onto the disk from Windows Media Player. Needless to say when I got it on the disk I was really pleased!
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
4. Evaluation:
I felt that the positive aspects of the production were when I decided on my ideas and through talking to people and thinking about the restrictions in terms of time, money, capabilities and talent, I was able to come up with a refined concept and design. When we were filming we had a lot of fun- it was the first time I had ever used video on my camera and so this was both challenging and exciting. I enjoyed directing and seeing the vision I had in my head come to life through film.
My concept changed over the first few weeks of pre production tasks, along with having some of the plans change due to actors not being able to continue with the process. There were various setbacks or obstacles to overcome, such as the changing of actors, the weather- especially when it snowed, but this ended up being good as just after this the weather the sky was dark and this was what I wanted. Most of the good filming was done in the lower light, earlier on in the day and helped with the darker mood. In my contingency plan, the idea was that if the weather was not quite what I wanted for shooting I would reschedule the filming, or do paperwork in the time I couldn't film. It was difficult having to rely on someone else, as sometimes the actor was busy and it felt as if she couldn't make time to follow through with the project, but I got the footage I needed and I was pleased with how she took my direction and had comments about the concept and how she wanted to play the role. In the end I felt that this was good, as it meant I had to work with what I had got- which was plenty of good coverage of the shots, and made me choose to change the concept slightly. I think this helped to make it more understandable and a more manageable task.
Things that could have been done better would be starting with a more simple idea, as each part of the process took a considerable amount of time, and it is important to make sure the filming is done in plenty of time and the editing also. Some of this I couldn't help- with the weather conditions and the talent/ acting difficulties- changing actors, not having her there when I needed her- these things were out of my control. Some of this frustrated me as I needed to rely on someone else. A strategy to improve this would be perhaps to use a different actor next time, and to make sure that I get my planning done in the first few weeks so that I could focus more on filming and allow more time for any issues that may arise. I felt that I did handle these obstacles however, and have produced a product that I am proud of; in terms of actually creating an opening to watch and following through with my concept.
I have had fun in doing this production- it has certainly taught me a lot, and I have learnt new things by myself; through the use of editing programmes, importing audio and visual files, learning how to put music in and to get the file from a project into a film file and onto a disk, for example. I feel that I have worked well within the boundaries of money, time, capabilities and technology to make this opening.
My concept changed over the first few weeks of pre production tasks, along with having some of the plans change due to actors not being able to continue with the process. There were various setbacks or obstacles to overcome, such as the changing of actors, the weather- especially when it snowed, but this ended up being good as just after this the weather the sky was dark and this was what I wanted. Most of the good filming was done in the lower light, earlier on in the day and helped with the darker mood. In my contingency plan, the idea was that if the weather was not quite what I wanted for shooting I would reschedule the filming, or do paperwork in the time I couldn't film. It was difficult having to rely on someone else, as sometimes the actor was busy and it felt as if she couldn't make time to follow through with the project, but I got the footage I needed and I was pleased with how she took my direction and had comments about the concept and how she wanted to play the role. In the end I felt that this was good, as it meant I had to work with what I had got- which was plenty of good coverage of the shots, and made me choose to change the concept slightly. I think this helped to make it more understandable and a more manageable task.
Things that could have been done better would be starting with a more simple idea, as each part of the process took a considerable amount of time, and it is important to make sure the filming is done in plenty of time and the editing also. Some of this I couldn't help- with the weather conditions and the talent/ acting difficulties- changing actors, not having her there when I needed her- these things were out of my control. Some of this frustrated me as I needed to rely on someone else. A strategy to improve this would be perhaps to use a different actor next time, and to make sure that I get my planning done in the first few weeks so that I could focus more on filming and allow more time for any issues that may arise. I felt that I did handle these obstacles however, and have produced a product that I am proud of; in terms of actually creating an opening to watch and following through with my concept.
I have had fun in doing this production- it has certainly taught me a lot, and I have learnt new things by myself; through the use of editing programmes, importing audio and visual files, learning how to put music in and to get the file from a project into a film file and onto a disk, for example. I feel that I have worked well within the boundaries of money, time, capabilities and technology to make this opening.
3. Post Production
My mother wanted to watch the film opening so when I had done a rough edit, I showed her. She said that she enjoyed it, that it seemed like how I had told her it was going to be and she didn't think it was too shaky. So, she thought that the idea and story worked well but that the ending needed work. I showed her again after I had added the transitions, change of hue,brightness,speed,contrast, changed the audio and completed the music; and she said that the ending was better when the girl just walked off instead of running, and that the order of the clips to match the story was better than before. I did feel like I needed to rethink some of the order and so was pleased to hear her say that, as I wanted to make it as understandable as possible.
Production: Footage Log
Footage log:
1719- test shot, jess walk, lighting
1720- test, jess walk to tree, touch, composition of shot okay, not perfect
1721- angle not right, lighting good, right idea, touch tree, wonder
1722- good composition,exposure, lighting, acting,
1726- doesn't move, right framing, good shadow
1730-too shaky and too far away, but good first attempt at the following, hand held cam effect
1723-1724- 1st take tree- actor doesn't scream/run
1733-trees,branches shaky
1734-panorama,pan, good, actor not ready
1749- 15.11- beginning good, over the shoulder shot, light bad- shining off water, angle wrong,
1750- 2.24-rocks,shake,exposure streaky
1751-9.14- too bright, start shot good, rocks,water
1752-shadow of me in it, rocks to bench, graffiti,
1753-exposure too bright, see slide in background, shadow of camera,not natural-actor said
1754-shake at beg, exposure better,
1755- actor better, light better, still bad streak
1756- exposure good at beginning, action better, actor natural, scrub at “shit” graffiti.
1757-shake at end, too dramatic, trying diff things out
1759- end better, up off bench,
1760-4.06-steps backward,
1761-3.06- too static, doesn't move,
1763-2.15- less slide, closer,
1764-4.11-actor feet,running,handheld cam up to face. Split into 3, took best 2-beg,end.
1765-running, close to camera, middle good, exposure, shadow on ground good
1766- too much background, red slide,
1768-8.06- actor scarf in tree- smiles, too long
1769-close up-frightened, framed by trees,better.
1770-trees,pan down to actor, framed.
1771-6.04-close up actor,tree, shadow good, light at back, depth of field good
1772-shot pan down from trees to actor, shaky,shadow heavy,good,
1774- Best, angle right,scarf and actor,
1775- shoe and scarf,
3678-rich red of ground good,shadow.
good- necklace,near pond,throws into water- light on hand good contrast w shadow,
3683-close up hands,rose, good movement,
3677-13.06- shadow, exposure,contrast good.walk to rose.
3679-10.09-walk,find rose.
3680- 7.21-my shoe in shot, picks up rose,
3685-15.01-walk, smell rose, smile- good exposure,shadow
8. Test Shots:
Joanna and I did test shots at parts of the location to test for lighting and shadow, and to try out using the camera, getting used to the movements and controlling the shakiness of having it hand- held. This was also good as it helped me to realise what I wanted in the shots and to practice directing and finding out what worked and what didn't.
7. Locations, Permission
1. Park location:
Street Address: Park off Greers Road, near Jelly Park
Location description at address: Park setting with willow trees, spindly and intricate branches, bushes, thick trees, pathways, a pond, two bridges and steps down to the water, benches.
Date/ Time required: 10am- 12, Saturday the 20th of August
Owner: Council- is a public place, allowed to take photographs, film here.
2. My room- Have permission to film in the house.
Safety Considerations: Risks, strategies to minimise risk:
Being careful at the park- especially on the steps and near the water, through the trees and on the bridges just to make sure that we don't slip or end up injuring ourselves.
6. Art Department
Props/set:
- small desk
- chair
- necklace
- dried rose- rose petals
- gold floral notebook
- pen
- floral top- My mother's own clothing
- scarf- I will supply
- dark and feminine coloured clothing- top,jeans, cardi, boots for Jess- She will supply all of these.
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