Technology Standard

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!