Planning

Location:
• Brit Schools Court Yard
• Brit School Shed
• Photography Dark Room
Equipment and resources list:
• Booking Form
• Sony HVR-A1E
• Tripod
• Tapes 
Props: 
SLR Camera + Film

Evaluation

In this unit we were given a brief, to make a two – three minute opening of a thriller film. We looked at different clips in lessons to understand what to do and what not to do, and had a couple lessons understanding thriller conventions. We then got put into groups, I was in a pair with Shiarone. We had to come up with a film idea, make a storyboard for our film and draw up pictures and scan them into our blogs. It wasn’t easy trying to come up with an idea, we would think of something than change our minds, most of the time it was me not liking it or finding errors.

We had a couple lessons in the schools edit suit, learning to use the software, and how de-interlace and export using quicktime, quicktime conversion and compressor. We also looked at ‘soundtrack’ and how to export music files from the software into our films.

We did the first filming for our thriller opening near to the filming deadline, where we were given a 'Sony V1E' high definition camera, tripod and boom mics. On the shoot we didn’t have a plan or storyboard of what we were going to shoot, so we wasted time finding locations, and figuring out a storyline. We started to film, but I did not understand the storyline and was not liking the shoot so I called it a day.

The following week was the deadline for filming, so we all had to capture our footage into 'Final cut pro' we ended up with 30 seconds worth of footage when edited which was not good. And was given the opportunity to have an extra day of filming, so we spent the lesson planning and found our first storyboard, and stuck to that storyline.

Our final idea was about a guy who was a student photographer and was taking pictures for his portfolio when he came across a ghost figure of himself in the final photos, the film was shot on the Sony HVR-A1E and our location for the shoot was around Brit school using the court (where the old building is) and the shed, which looks like an abandoned building. For our thriller my partner Shiarone was the actor and my role was camera man and director, as well as Shiarone sharing his visual skills. The shoot went well, but we wanted to film more in a different location but the location was not available and because of how long we had with the camera.


Editing the film was the best part of this project because not only did we get to used 'Final Cut Pro' i learnt how to use 'Soundtrack' as well. We both contributed to the final edit, using effects such as colour corrector, which allowed us to change the colour of our film and de-satuate it which gave it more of a dull look, which worked really well, also cropping tools and flashing tools. We used photoshop to make a SLR overlay for different pieces of footage, and used text and keyframes for our titles. We also used 'Soundtrack' which my partner knew allot about for our background music and looked out for audio peaks to avoid distortion.


Before exporting out final edit we were taught the three different ways of exporting (Self-Contained, Quicktime conversion and Compressor) and de-interlasing. As well as exporting our sequence into soundtrack so we can sync the non-diegetic sound with our sequence and then export it back into final cut pro.


Feedback from classmates was good, they said it looked professional, they liked the continuity, they thought the music worked well, but didn't understand the people that there were people in the open credits but was not shown in the opening, which i understood, but as its an opening we don't really need to show all the characters.
If I could do this project again, I would spend more time planning and plan an shooting schedule so we have more than enough footage, because we didn't plan properly and rushed it, so it did not show everything we wanted it to.


Overall i think our thriller opening looks very good and received good comments from our piers, I think we could of made it better if we spent that little time longer planning and filming instead of complaining, but i am happy with the final edit, and what i contributed to this project. And we worked well together on the editing but not the planning.

Film Synopsis

'The Photographer' is about a boy who out taking photos, for his college work. He then develops his photos in a dark room and finds a ghost in some of his photos, he starts to be haunted by this ghost which ends up to be his unborn twin.

exporting a video

self contained - biggest file but the quickest way to export a video (You can only view the video on a Mac with Final Cut installed).

quick time conversion - this will allow you to convert your video to several different files.

compressor - this will convert your video into anything, from a mobile device to DVD to even a BluRay DVD

when your video is finish:
- mark the in and our points of your video
-check for audio peaks
-check the lighting of your video
-apply deinterlace but only if your sure you have finished your video then select the clip in browser - file - export - quick time conversion or compressor

Thriller Conventions

Thrillers usually tend to consist of :

• Black and white titles
• Not much dialogue
• Low key lighting
• Quick Cuts
• Plain font titles
• Static to focus on detail
• Suspense
•  Loads of Fades/fades to black

Digital Technology/Television

Digital is the more newer technology of today. It is used in TV, internet, computers, portable devices and more.
It allows us to compress files which means that media files can now be used on portable devices such as iPods and even mobile phones. Digital TV allows us to receive much more than the 5 terrestrial channels on our TV, it allows us to receive more than one because it is transmitted on one bandwidth which uses a multiplex, so the picture and sound quality is much better, also with digital TV we can can pause, rewind and record live TV. Digital technology has allowed broadband which has lead to internet TV, which allows us to watch TV online.

More To Be Added

Internet Television

Internet Television

Camera Test

1. What are 2 effects of increasing video gain? (Answer: it allows more light, but makes the image quality more grainy)
2. What should the shutter speed usually be set to? (Answer: 50)
3. When should you increase shutter speed and what is the side effect? (Answer: you should increase the shutter speed if you want to convert the video into slow motion in post production, and the side effect is it makes the picture quality much better, but need more light)
4. What is the purpose of doing a white balance? (Answer: it allows you to get the correct colour on your video)
5. What is the effect of increasing the audio gain? (Answer: makes the sound louder when recording, but may distort it)
6. Describe the stages of focusing a camera. ( 1. click the focus button, 2. zoom into your subjects hair or eyes, 3.  manually focus or press auto focus, 4. press)
7. Why would you use the ND filter? (Answer: if where your shooting outside, in bright conditions)
8. If You are shooting in a dark location, would the exposure be better at F1 or F8? (Answer: F1)

Aspect Ratio

Aspect Ratio

What is aspect ratio?

-          Aspect ratio is the different screen sizes on TV and Projectors, there is 4:3 (standard screen) and there is 16:9 (wide screen).

Images from - http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/graphics/infolib/homelib/widescreen.jpg

-          We have different aspect ratios, but 16:9 (widescreen) came around in the last decade, despite films being filmed in 16:9 (widescreen) for about 50 years now.

Pan and Scan

-          Pan and Scan is the format used to change a 16:9 (Widescreen) to 4:3 (standard screen) so people with 4:3 TVs can watch films shot in 16:9. Directors and film makers say that when 16:9 is converted to 4:3 you lose the full effect of the film.

 

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/aspect-ratio/images/panscan-02.jpg

-          By panning and scanning you’re not getting the full movie, and miss parts of the movie, with may leave you confused.

 Pillar boxing and Letterboxing

-          Pillar boxing is when you have a video which is filmed or broadcasted in 4:3 (standard screen) to 16:9 (widescreen) TV. This means you get to black, grey bars either side of the 4:3 video on your TV.  Images from -  http://img.skitch.com/20081125-gnfshpthn96y4ysqrtywwt1yfd.jpg

 TV Motion & Pixels

-          Motion – In the UK there are 25 frames per second with makes a moving picture (video).

-          Pixels – are tiny squares that form together to make an image. The more pixels the better quality image on photographs or video.

-          TV – Is made up of hundreds of horizontal scan lines, which make up every single frame.

UK Broadcast Systems

There are several broadcast television systems in the UK

Satellite

There are five major components involved in satellite TV.

Programming source – are the channels that provide programming for broadcast.

Broadcast centre – is the central hub of the system. At the broadcast centre, the TV provider receives signals from various programming sources and beams a broadcast signal to satellites.

Satellites – receive the signals from the broadcast station and rebroadcast them back to Earth.

Household Satellite dish  – picks up the signal from the satellite and passes it on to the receiver in the viewer's house.

The satellite receiver – processes the signal and passes it on to a standard TV.

In the UK today, there are two main satellite broadcast companies Sky (Monthly Subscription) and Freesat (Freesat is a satellite service created by the BBC & ITV, it allows you to view Free to air satellite TV channels a bit like 'Freeview' accept you receive much more channels. It requires a Freesat box and a One-off instalment payment)

Image - http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/satellite-tv-4.jpg

Cable

Cable television is a system of providing television to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through fixed optical fibres or coaxial cables. Not everyone can receive cable TV, because the cable has to be already run in your street, if its not in your street you cannot get it. The major UK cable providers where NTL and Telewest, before merging together and re branding as Virgin Media, so virgin is the only company you can go with. The advantages of cable is great picture quality, interactive TV, TV on demand and HD television, the disadvantages are that you get less channels compared to Sky, and that its not on every street.

Image - http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2007/11/07/VirginMedia460.jpg

Terrestrial

Terrestrial television is the original form of TV broadcasting, it involves using radio waves to send signals to and from antennas or aerials. It was the only way to broadcast TV until the late 1900s, but it is not the best way to broadcast (today). The disadvantages with terrestrial is that you lose signal, interference with bad weather so picture quality distorts. Terrestrial TV uses bandwidth, which limits the signal transmitted causing less channels to be broadcast.

Image - http://blogs.voices.com/voxdaily/radio-tower-225.jpg

Digital

Digital broadcasting transmit several channels together on one bandwidth is replacing all analogue broadcasting by 2012 in the UK. This form of broadcasting comes with a lot of advantages for audiences, as it gives you a variety of free to air channels, interactive TV and has better picture quality (and High-Definition), its disadvantages is that not everywhere in the country can pick up signal, but most places can, it limits you to 40 channels. Freeview is the main free digital TV broadcasting company, as audience have to purchase a digital set top box (around £15) and an aerial.

Image - http://www.ksat.co.uk/assets/images/freeview-logo.gif

Internet Protocol Television

IPTV is one of the most recent forms of broadcasting. There are many TV companies that use internet for on demand shows and catch up, as well as websites like YouTube which broadcast shows from anyone most TV stations around the world. We can watch internet tv, thanks to broadband, and the shows are either streamed and buffered or downloaded. The advantages of internet TV is that you can catch up on shows, watch shows when you want, and watch shows from around the world. Another benefit is that internet TV is free to watch if you have access to the internet. Internet TV is free because most of the TV companies have advertisement on their website, before and during the shows you are watching just like you were watching it on TV. Disadvantages of internet TV is that you cannot skip adverts, you usually can’t watch shows from other countries due to legal rights, and shows have a time period with which they will be put on and taken off the internet. The major internet TV providers are 4OD, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and YouTube shows.

Image - http://www.blackberrycool.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/bbc-iplayer.jpg