AS Skills Development

What can you do with a digital video camera?

I am able to take footage with a video camera which i can edit or manipulate later on in the process using programs such as final cut express. This also allows me to shot any extra footage needed for the production/task and allows the recording of sound if we need it. The camera is one of the main equipment as without one a film,music video,advert etc couldn't be made although the sound could be edited thus the camera is mainly used for visuals.

What sound recording techniques do you have?

I am able to record sound via different devices such as a microphone etc. This helps any production by creating the atmosphere for example i did a horror film trailer and the voices we used was of the victim who was scared and the main villain to show the contrast between them and empathize what genre the production is. So i feel that i am able to edit voice tones and the speed of them.

What skills did you develop using final cut?

The skills that i developed using final cut express include the following:

• Learning to crop clips to fit with the timeline/beat of the music or scenes thus making the clip more effective
• Being able to add the basics such as video clips, music, using the effects that are already on the software etc
• Being able to edit footage so that it can created various effects such as slow motion or changing the colour to black and white
• To use transitions when necessary so that the project blends together and moves well
• To creative titles/credits
• To use the shortcut keys which allows me to make the production quicker and easier hopefully making it more effective.

Did you use a digital camera?

I used a digital camera in order to catch some of the locations on to place within the blog this allowed our group to familiarize ourselves with the locations, to see them first hand and see if they fitted with what we wanted. Thus it helped us to almost analyse the photos and pick the best ones available.

What skills do you have?

During the production i learnt how to develop my creative skills of editing in order to make more effective trailers and to use transitions effectively with effects when needed. I have also enhanced my photographic skills with my video skills allowing me to collect lots of footage for my productions.

What were the good and bad things about the software at AS?

The good things about the software at AS were it was an effective and a quick way to edit video clips that that so we could add a variety of effects to fit any needs. It was also good to have a new programme that held a lot of memory to apply the effects easier and the transitions more effective. However the bad points were that it took a little way to understand how to use the programmes.

How creative were you at As Level?

I feel that are group was creative with the blood and gore by getting a friend who had done a make up cause to do our make up for the production to make it effective. We however weren't very creative with the locations as we used the college and shot around Reepham so i think that if we had shoot elsewhere then in would of been more like a horror film. For example in a forest setting. That said i do feel that because it was around the college it was easier to produce more footage as we didn't have to go anyway far way. We used light well as it was fairly dark in some scenes to give the creepy effect and make it more horrific to fit with the setting. We didn't use a lot of props but for an opening of a film we didn't really need a lot. The characters we used fit the genre well however as we had all the stereotypical characters.

What techniques need you use?

The techniques that we used were a few research questionnaires (primary research) which we left one in the library for people to answer and then we got people to do another face to face so that we could have a range and knew that we would get some answers from at least one. We then selected a video clip comparison where we verbally asked a few people which they liked better and the reason why. I also watched a series of horror genre films to come up with the conventions of a horror film to help the production come along.

What would you improve?

I would probably change the location were we shot as well as edit part of the footage more effectively as when it was put together initially it looked fine buy once the trailer was shown it looked out of place, this was the slow motion change of character or ego from Natalie to Toni. Although it looked OK we wanted it to look amazing so i feel that this clip would be better changed into a different aspect. I would also improve on the actors by getting more reliable ones as we had a slight bit of trouble getting them all together for personal reasons.

How did you use the Internet?

We used the Internet by posting all the information on the blogs that that the production could be marked as well as showing the opening on you tube which people could watch and comment on. We also used it to look up on films and analyse them as well as watch various openings on you tube which we felt fitted with our storyline in some aspect to get the techniques out of them too.

How did you organise your editing?

We each took turn editing the footage and if we werent editing then we would offer ideas and suggestions to the person who was. This allowed each member of the team to take part in the editing and get their own scenes in that they felt were effective, thus allowing us to feel pride towards our production.

What techniques did you use?

The main technique that we wanted to use was used in a noir film, the effect was basically in black and white white certain colours that would be in red, this would allow us to focus on the horror forms and conventions. However this fell through as one of our members had gotten the wrong code so unfortunately it wouldn't work and at the time we couldn't find the proper code to use. We did however use black and white effects for flash backs where the mother was talking and apart from that we didn't use too many effects. We did however use a few in order to make the video opening flow.

What about post production?

I feel that post production didn't go as well as planned as the group had no back up plan and our storyboard wasn't fully developed so it wasn't as effective as i wanted it to be. I do feel that with a bit more planning our production would of been better yet i feel that it did fairly well anyway. The location choice wasn't very well chosen but as i mentioned before it was easier to film at a close location due to lift troubles.

Is it impossible to create an entirely original media text?

I feel that it is impossible as films need to follow the conventions of their selected genre for the audience/consumers to connect with and identify with the genre of the film. Thus i feel that it is almost impossible to create say a horror film without any blood or gore or some one dying. That said a film known as five across the eyes which i have seen before had none of the characters die (except the villain) yet was still classed as a horror and was still effective. Yet this included the conventions of people screaming, blood and getting hurt. So i feel that people can create media texts without all of the aspects yet will find it difficult for people to relater to it without known conventions.

What conventions did you follow?

The conventions that we followed were as follows:

• the blood on the victims
• female characters who are seen as the main gender of horror films
• loud screams
• black clothing for the villain
• a murder of a character
• suspense music