Evaluation Four- What I Have Learnt About Technologies From The Process Of Constructing My Product

1. Photoshop

Applying the new skills and techniques i have learnt on Photoshop this year, i have managed to create many different things throughout my project, including this collage and the TV guide front cover, where i experimented with the blurr techniques, cropping tools and slice tools etc. This is the first time I have ever used Photoshop properly so I feel I have learnt a lot, especially how to use the basic functions of it.

2. Final Cut Pro

Using my developing skills on Final Cut Pro i managed to edit our trailer, i learnt how to cut music and footage effectively adding transitions and fades. I also experimented with different shortcut keys making editing a faster and easier process.

3. Vimeo

This is the video sharing site we uploaded our trailer to in order to make it easier to show and upload to our blogs. It was easy to upload in HD giving us the opportunity to show our trailer in the best quality possible.

4. Google

Google search engine came of extreme help to me, i was able to easily access relevant research and pictures

5. Blogger

I used blogger to upload my weekly schedule, uploading pictures and evaluations of my work.

6. iWeb

iWeb was the software we created our website on, completed on the apple macs. From the group all being new to this software we learnt off of eachother, experimenting with different ideas, colours, fonts and pictures.

7. iMovie HD

We chose to edit on iMovie HD when editing our interview and outtakes, we wanted to take the opportunity in learning two different editing softwares, however this one was very different to Final Cut Pro, there are less effects available and is harder to understand.

8. London Grid For Learning- Audio

Here is where we found our soundtrack from, available to download copyright free. We also used this website last year for our Thriller coursework.

9. YouTube

Here is where we uploaded our trailer in order to add annotations this was also a part of our evaluation task.

10. Apple Mac

Due to iMovie and iWeb software only being downloaded onto the Macs we used them more often. We where able to create and publish our project to the best we could with access to the Macs.

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The camera was simple to use and easily held and balanced, with the wide angle lense we was able to get more of the shot in and in better quality. The Tripod ensured a steady balance and also allowed us to experiment more with the techniques available on the camera i.e. zooming.

We connected the camera to the TV in order for the whole group including the actor to see what was being filmed and for everybody to have the opportunity to comment and give positive/negative feedback.

We connected extension leads to the microphones in order to get as close to the action as possible, eliminating any natural sound coming from the crew and camera. we also used one of the microphones pointing towards an open window, this helped to create a more realistic silence also helping to set the mood with singing birds and distant sounding cars.

Evaluation One- In what ways does your media project use, develop and challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

1. Title - IV: independent Variable

The title of our soap is shown in the first box, it was created on Final Cut Pro, It is the font "Neon" It is also 3D and spins on its axis

We decided on the title I.V simply because of its definition, it is short for "Independent Variable", defined as a thing or object that is changed or manipulated over time. We believe that this best relates to our soap because through the duration of the soap characters continue to develop as a result of experiences and things happening around them.

Our chosen font gives the soap a sense of drama and also helps it remain "cool" with the almost bubble writing effect.

The continuing line which extends in sync with the music plays with the idea that the soap follows a continuous storyline, and also symbolises the idea the soap will be broadcast longer

2. Costume/props - Bedroom

I chose a picture representing the main focus of our trailer, the bedroom scene. It is the most referred to throughout the trailer and best symbolises our characters and soap. It shows a teenage girls bedroom, with close attention payed to the mis en scene with posters on the wall and books and pictures helping to create a realistic feel, leaving audience members the ability to relate.

3. Props- Olbas Oil

I chose the Olbas Oil picture because it was a technique we used in order to make the main character in the trailer cry. It was good fun and an interesting experience, it also really help set the mood, leaving it a lot more realistic.

4. Camera Work

I chose this picture because it shows our group at work, dealing with the sound and the lighting behind, it also shows our effective use of digital technology using the zoom technique and focusing in and out.

5. Editing- iMovie HD

Despite using Final Cut Pro on our trailer i chose to put up the picture of us using iMovie, it successfully shows us editing the focus groups to put onto the website, we experimented with fade in and out and dissolves, we also added black pages in between cuts showing the questions that where asked.

6. Storyline- Dead body

i chose this picture because it is the most powerful shot in our trailer, it pieces the storyline together and the build up to it is flashed throughout the trailer starting from the first shot shown. I believe it broadens our target audience because of the broad and confusing storyline.

7. Genre - Drama Soap

Our soaps story-lines are different as the show progresses so identifying one particular genre is difficult. However, for my picture i have highlighted the main story in the soap, the girl group ganging up together against one girl who is left to the side. With the black and white version it creates suspense and mystery playing up upon the genre of this particular storyline.

8. characters (how they are introduced) - Girl Group

The picture best represent the stereotype of a traditional girl group, close, attractive and stern. It portrays them as being hard to talk to and harder to be a part of, they look like the type to get what they want and are never let down.

9. Soundtrack- London Grid For Learning (lgfl) Audio

I uploaded a picture of the lgfl website logo, this was one of the websites where we could download tracks without breaking copyright laws, we found a suitable track and altered it in order to fit in sync with the surroundings and movements in our trailer.

IV Trailer

We uploaded the video to Elena's brothers Vimeo account, Vimeo is an easy video sharing site giving us the opportunity to upload videos wherever and whenever .

IV Trailer from Louis Christodoulou on Vimeo.

My individual analysis of everything i have done so far

Trailer

Overall i believe that we have learnt many things along the way during the experience we have had in making the trailer.
From day one filming where we where extremely unorganised, even though we had created plans they was no where near as detailed as they should have been, looking back to the filming day one akll of the footage we shot hasnt been used, that really shows the unprofessional approach we began with. However, we learnt from out mistakes and began planning properly, we word processed everything leaving it easily edited and corrected. We added fades and dissolves where we wanted which helped benefit during editing, we also planned more than one shot for most of the filming in order to give us a wider variation when editing.

Despite our trailer not being an exact follow from the plan, it still created a basic structure for us to follow giving us room to expand on ideas and our knowledge of the camera work/skills.

Website

From just learning how to use iWeb this year im very proud of my success within helping to create a website for our soap, with all of our combined creativity we was able to create a unique web page which best represents our soap and targets its specified audience. With the bright colours and big shapes and writing we have targetted it at an age range of 16-25.

We showed the trailer to a number of teenagers and recorded their feedback, this is also uplaoded onto the website for other teenagers to see what others think about it.

Front Cover

I recently learnt how to use photoshop , i used youtube to get onto step by step guides on how to use photoshop. i also bought a Photoshop starters manual aswell, and so i began structuring and designing my Television magazine front cover. i researched other magazinge guides and i decided to stick to the more sophisticated and modern front cover, despite our audinece being youths i still felt that with students they like to handle things they would never usually buy.

The Planning For Group Filming Day One- Three

For every filming day Me and Natalie M organised a plan in order to make our filming days run smoothly.

Day 2- Filming Schedule Sheet

FADE IN

1. Wide shot

- Thegla sitting on the bed, crying, everything in shot.

-Hair down, make up running

-Props: tissues on bed scrunched up, notes on bed, artificial lighting.
2. Close up

-Front shot of Theglas face, crying red eyes, looks down at notes
3.

(i) Point of view shot

- looking down at notes, Theglas hands and legs in shot.

(ii) Over the Shoulder shot

-Side of Theglas head in shot, her head begins focused, notes can be seen but out of focus, she picks up note “WE”, note focuses, head unfocused.

FADE/DISSOLVE

4. Low shot (floor)

- Feet walking past the camera, shadows help to add to the dreary effect
5. Wide shot


- (i) letter box, post dropping

- (ii) Post drops, Thegla walks into shot picks up post

- Props: Newspaper, note: “WE”, basic letters, leaflets (-focus on newspaper to allow audience to understand note later on)

FADE/DISSOLVE

6. over the shoulder shot

- (i) See Thegla putting the note “WE” away from the other notes

-(ii) same shot, Thegla in focus, picks up the note “KNOW” , she fades out of focus, the note focuses .
Props: tissues on bed scrunched up, notes on bed, artificial lighting.

FADE/DISSOLVE

7. Side shot, panning around Thegla from right hand side to over the shoulder-

-Thegla sitting at the table- sorting out her books, getting a pen out of her pencil case.

-when camera stops over the shoulder she opens her folder, turns pages, sees post it note with “KNOW” written on it, goes to pick it up- assuring the audience she has seen the note.

-Props- Folder, pencil case, phone, pens, highlighters etc

FADE/DISSOLVE

8.
(i) Reaction shot-Close up, shocked, loud breathing closes eyes, tear falling.

(ii) Pans around from front shot to over the shoulder- Theglas head in focus puts down note “KNOW” next to note “WE” which is separated from the others, notes out of focus.

(iii) Thegla picks up note “WHAT”, as note is brought closer to her, it focuses- shows her hand shaking.

Props: tissues on bed scrunched up, notes on bed, artificial lighting.

FADE/DISSOLVE

9. Wide shot-

- shot from the hallway, (sound of keys) Thegla opens the door walks into the house carrying shopping bags, walks directly past the camera.

10. side shot-


- Thegla walks into shot, stands with the camera on her side, tips open one of the bags onto the table, and she picks up the clothing- now on the table, as she unfolds clothing, note falls out drops onto the floor- doesn’t take much notice of it.

Props: keys, shopping bags, clothing, note

FADE/DISSOLVE

11.

(i) Reaction shot-Close up, shocked, loud breathing closes eyes, tears falling.

(ii) Wide shot - Thegla picks up note “DID”, as note is brought closer to her, it focuses- shows her hand shaking.

Props: tissues on bed scrunched up, notes on bed, artificial lighting.

FADE/DISSOLVE

12. DID - outdoor scene walks in note is in pocket


13.

(i) Reaction shot-Close up, shocked, loud breathing closes eyes, tears falling.

(ii) Pans around from front shot to over the shoulder- Theglas head in focus puts down note
“DID” with the other notes.

(iii) Point of view shot - Thegla looking at notes in order of “WE KNOW WHAT DID”.

(iiii) Reaction shot – Thegla looking confused but still worried, tears and make up running down
her face.look of recognition appears.

FADE/DISSOLVE

14.
(i) Wide shot Thegla sitting watching tv, phone beeps

(ii) Over the shoulder shot – Thegla opens text from unknown sender

(iii) Point of view shot – text on the screen showing just the word “YOU”

(iiii) Reaction shot – looking worried but not taking too much notice of note. Puts phone down

Props: tv, phone

FADE/DISSOLVE

(v) Wide shot - Thegla gets up off bed and gets her phone

(vi) Point of view shot, phone in focus, hand shaking – text seen earlier with the word “YOU.”

(vii) Thegla places phone in place between notes “WHAT” and “DID”.

(viii) Reaction shot – Thegla looking terrified, panic in her eyes

15. Point of view shot- all notes including phone.


Props: tissues on bed scrunched up, notes on bed and phone, artificial lighting.

BLACK OUT/FADE IN

15. Close-up of dead body, camera zooms out showing a wide shot of dead body lying in the street.

FADE IN

17. I.V appears on screen

FADE OUT

by Elena Christodoulou

Group Filming Day Three- Photos

Theres a picture of me and Natalie M dealing with the lighting issue, there is also a picture where Natalie M is laying on the ground, we believed that this position particularly was to staged and unrealistic so we opted for the more rundown end of the alley, which really added to the realism.

Finding The Music

There was an OCR sheet that had a number of links for music websites, many of them had to be bought and prices ranged from $30-$50.

I found a track i liked from "West One Productions" however after emailing them if it would be possible to use there track i decided to take the safer option and just carry on searching for copyright free music.

I remebered that from last years music problem we found the London Grid For Learning (lgfl) website where track downloads are free and downloadable via the school, however they where still low priced so i decided to just purchase it from home and get on with the editing straight away.