question 6

1. Q6: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING
THIS PRODUCT?
In the beginning before I had begun to create my product, I had no skills in this line of work whatsoever.
However, during the construction of my product I learnt how to use different programs and technologies
and I now have an advanced knowledge and can use/do the following-
Use a camcorder properly-
Before my opening and title sequence I had not used a camcorder that much before, other than a few other clips such
as my continuity task. When using the camcorder I decided not use the tripod or as I wanted to be able to track some of
the characters at different times. In doing this I believe that the footage that I recorded had a more dynamic feel. As well
as this, I did all the filming my self and didn’t have help with the camcorder from any of the people who were with me.
This shows that I am now confident using the camcorder. When filming the scenes, I had to be aware of the different
camera angles that could use. For example, shot reverse shot with a mid camera angle would be used to show the
conversations and dialog of two characters. Where as wide shot could be used to show someone walking out of a shot.
To be more creative I used a low angle in the scene in which Henrie picked up the bloody knife, as this lead to an
emphasis on the knife. Overall, using a camcorder has been very helpful in not only helping me develop my skills, but to
also help me develop my film. If I were to have used a phone to record my footage with, then the outcome of the video
would have been very different. This is because many phones will record on a lower resolution for both film and sound
quality. If I were to have recorded on my phone, I may have also had difficulty in moving the files from the phone to the
computer. With the camcorder it is easy as it comes with all the attachments and features that I’d need to be able to
make a professional looking product and to also transfer the footage over with ease as camcorders have a cable that
allows me to move files over.

2. How to create graphics on Fireworks-
By using Fireworks I was able to create my company logo name and the title for my film. My work has benefited from using Fireworks
for many different reasons. I decided to choose Fireworks over Photoshop because Fireworks tends to be directed more at graphics
when Photoshop is typically related to editing photographs. As well as this, Fireworks gave me more text styles that would better suit
a horror/ psychological thriller film, where as Photoshop did not. Fireworks also allowed me to edit my work further by adding features
such as more complicated shapes that I could further change. I had also saved time as Fireworks allowed me to easily copy and
paste shapes where as with Photoshop this would have been a lengthy process. Fireworks has allowed me to create professional
work and I believe has been a better option than Photoshop as it is much easier. For example, in my opinion Photoshop at times can
be over complicated, however with Fireworks every different feature is easy to find and use. Overall I am glad that I have used
Fireworks as it means I have been able to create successful final products. Both the production company and logo my film name were
both created in Fireworks using the following methods. I have also mentioned other steps that I had taken and other effects that I had
used. To being with, I had to open up a new blank document that was set to a size of about 800x400. I then reviewed the drawings
that I had done and looked at the concept titles for my film. In the end I called my film Leavers Day and I stuck with the idea of this and
then used different tools in Firefox to create the logo and title. When using Fireworks I used tools such as the insert text option and
from this I changed the design using the many different features that were present. For example, I had used drop shadow and a grain
effect around the borders of the lettering for my first title which was in black and white. Another feature that I found was that some of
the text options like “Windings 2,” provided me with some decorative text patters. Therefore I used individual letters for extra features
around the text of the purple Leavers Day title. The final film title had used many different effects so that I could achieve the blood
splattered effect. Similarly, I used a drop shadow and set it to dark red so that it looked like dried blood. I also made the outsides of
the text grainy as this represented further blood splattering, yet in a bold red this time. For my production company logo I also used
the insert text option along with other similar edits, however I used rectangle shapes so that I could I could create a background of a
film reel for the text to be placed onto of. I wanted to include this detail as it is relevant to the film industry and also it makes my
company logo stand out. Once I had the final design for all of my creations, I merged all the different sections together and saved my
image as a photo.

3. How to make a video and edit on Serif MoviePlus-
Serif MoviePlus has been a very important tool that I have had to use for the editing of my film. Without it, I would not
have a final product that would have been edited to the same standard. The program is simple to use and contains
many features that have allowed my film to appear professional. For example, the program contained a feature that
allowed me to cut down the length of the video clip so that I could remove any unwanted footage. Another feature that
I used was panning that was used in the scene when Brooke walks away after having going in her locker. I used
panning to add extra visual effects to my video so it looked more dramatic and so that one feature was focused on
more than any others present. Serif MoviePlus also allowed me to play my footage in slow motion. An example of this
can be seen when the hammer is shown hanging out of the bag. I had used the slow motion effect to further
exaggerate the significance of the hammer and the fact that it would be an important prop later on in the opening
sequence. The fact that I have not had difficulty in editing my film shows that I have been able to develop my skills
quite well. Serif MoviePlus also has many other features that have allowed me to edit my film successfully. For
example, it gives the option to add extra sound tracks over the top of the previously recorded footage with the add
MP3 tool. This means that I can add non-digetic sound to the film for effect and background ambience. As well as this
I can also add other dialogue and non-diegetic tracks on top of the footage such as shouting and screaming. In one
case I recorded Brooke shouting Henrie’s name and then placed the sound on top of the footage so that it was clearer
and louder using the same tool that I had stated before. Serif MoviePlus also gave me the option to insert titles using
the insert text option. This was an important tool that I used multiple times in the duration of the film as it lets the
viewer know the creators of the film and other important texts such as the names of the actors. Over Serif MoviePlus
has enabled me to create a final professional looking product with ease.

4. How to create my own Weebly page-
I needed to create my Weebly page in order to display all the work that I
have done. Whilst on Weebly, I have learnt to upload documents, videos
and text and pictures. Weebly has allowed me to present my work in a
professional setting that makes it easy for the viewer to find what they are
looking for. This is because my Weebly page has a tool bar that labels all
the different pages and the work that can be found on them. This is also
helpful for me as it I can find the documents that I need with ease. Weebly is
also a free website which means that I have not had to pay any money to
place my work online. As this is the case, Weebly has been a huge success
in the creation of my skills and work.

5. How to upload videos onto Youtube-
I used YouTube to add my Leavers Day video to the internet so that I could embed the
film onto my Weebly website. To do this I had to select my finished video and put upload
the file onto YouTube. I also had to make the file public so that it would be able to be
viewed on my Weebly. As well as this I also used Youtube to upload footage clips from
my film so that I could get the MP3 file. I needed the MP3 files for some individual clips
as I needed to individually edit the sound effects and not the video. For example, to get
the sound effect for when the hammer hit both Alfie and Henrie’s head, I recorded hitting
a melon with a hammer to get the desired sound effect. I then uploaded the clip to
YouTube and copied the hyperlink into a website that takes the audio file from a video.
Once doing this I then downloaded the file and then put it onto my video. I could not find
how to separate the audio file from the video on Serif MoviePlus, therefore YouTube
was very helpful in allowing me to do this.

6. How to create a Slideshare-
Slide share was used so that I could present the PowerPoints that I had done on my
actors, props, costumes and locations. The information that can be seen on my Weebly
page initaitlly was created on a PowerPoint document. To send this work to my Weebly, I
needed to use slide share in order present my work in the formation of a PowerPoint. To
do this I went on to the slide share website and uploaded my presentations that I had
created. Once I did this, I then went on my Weebly page and used the embed code to
present the work from Slideshare onto my Weebly. Slideshare has been an important
tool which has enabled me to present my work to a professional standard. Without it, I do
not think that I would have been able to present my PowerPoints in the way that I have
done. If Slideshare did not exist then I most likely would have had to present my
presentation in the form of individual pictures of each page, rather than a document in
which each slide has been carefully planned out.

7. Steps for making opening sequence-
For the creation of my opening sequence, I first recorded the footage that I needed using
a camcorder that I borrowed from school. Once I had this footage I then uploaded it onto
Serif MoviePlus which is the program that I used to edit my footage into my title and
opening sequence. Once I had uploaded all the footage, I then reviewed all of my clips
and deleted any that I did not need. For example, I had to delete duplicates of footage
and any bloopers that I had. When I had all the footage that I needed, I then placed it
onto the section that pieces all the clips together. After cropping the length of some of the
clips and adding effects such as cross fade and filters, I had my final product. Once I had
completed it all I then saved my film and turned it into a watchable clip.

8. Creating titles-
To create my titles for the opening of my film I also used Serif MoviePlus. I had the option
to input a new slide for the text so I did that and placed the box onto a different section
that was for text only. I used white text as it was a contrast to most of the background that
was shown and I also chose type writer hand text as it is bold and easy to read. For all
the titles that were shown, they were presented for 3-5 seconds so that there was
enough time for them to be read. Some of the titles are in different places in comparison
to other and I did this so that they did not blend with the background. If they were to
blend then my opening titles would not be readable and this would not be good as the
audience would not be able to read the names of the actors and other features.