Evaluation Task 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Coursework: Editing 3

Overall, we had to drafts of our titles. The first attempt was done very quickly and we didn't really like how it looked. At first we placed our titles in the middle of the screen. The length of each title was different as we used a rule that in the time when title is on the screen you should be able to read it out quickly three times. We have put our own names in the titles and the names of our actors. We called our production company PACCBET, the meaning of which is a bit tricky: it means sunrise if you read it on Russian. The name of the movie was chosen as  White Noise. We thought that it is catchy, links with music and creates a mystery.

However we then decided to change the titles and the product itself. The last part, when the DJ receives an email was decided to cut out as it didn't work. So the actual opening ended on moving shot fading in black. The titles were also changed. The names of the actors were moved to the left bottom corner and others to the right one. Also, we added more names which we made up to fulfill it
The name of the movie we put at the end of the opening title sequence. For the effectiveness of the title, we combined with the music, so when the name appears, it goes along with the music beat.

Coursework: Editing 2

When we have came to edit suit again, we watched our title sequence once again. We decided to put together start and ending so it will be clearer what we have. Those scenes were easy to edit as there was a clear order and content which we had to show.

Then, we put our music track as it is important how picture will look with the music. When we did it, it was clear that some shots we needed to change so the music intro would finish at the same time as the clip intro would finish.
Also, we understood that moving shots can't be edited with stable as in many times 180 degree rule is broken and overall it looks strange. So we decided just to keep the moving ones and leave stills in the beginning.
When we were editing, we met our main problem: all shots are very shaky. We were afraid that because of these problem whole product will look unprofessional and cheap, but the only thing we could do was to pretend that it was planned like that. It can be seen that teenagers are drunk, high and unstable, so the shot is also unstable.
When the main editing was finished, we started to make the titles. It was hard to choose the font, size and how we want our titles to be. We haven't finished them now, as we think some changes still have to be done.
Overall, the product we are making will be completely different from what we were expecting, but I still like it.

Coursework: Editing

Last week we started to edit our opening title sequence.

Firstly, we started to look through the footage, looking for the rushes we want to use. This process was very interesting for me as I really wanted to see what we did on the shoot day. There were a lot of different shots to choose from as we made a number of them for each action. However, straightaway, we understood two things: we forgot to film the main character on his own and that to edit our product will be harder then others as we have no order and no storyline.

When we finished, we had about 30 minutes of footage and it was a lot. Then, we started to divide rushes in different categories like stable shots, moving, "artistic" shots, sounds and etc. This was done  to make the editing process easier.

At first we wanted to combine all the moving shots which go from black to black to make an interesting picture as the people and room would change every time when shot goes to black. When we have done this, it looked pretty good, but short and we didn't know how to combine this with other shots.

On the next time we got in the editing suit we decided that we have to move on even if we didn't know what order it will be. So we started to combine together stable and moving shots for the same scene as we think later on, we will see how it will be better.

So, for this stage, we need to finish combining all scenes, after choose the layout, music and titles.

Research into the actual order of titles

There is a special way in which titles are put in the opening title sequence. The special order is followed, so in is easier for viewer to get them and understand. I have do some research in this order and almost everywhere it is the same:

Coursework: Shooting day-action

On that day we were left without our teacher Adam, Matt was helping us.
When we have finished all the preparations, we started to think about shots themselves. On this stage we made some big decisions as we changed the way we wanted to film. Now, there were less constant shots, no panning, we decided to take more close-ups then wanted and the work which we were doing later on was much better then we planned.
It was quite hard to keep everyone doing what we needed, however everyone made their best and it was nice to work with those people.
For every shot we were firstly moving the camera across the room, starting and ending the shot byblack object. Then we were placing the camera on the tripod, regulating the height, bubbling it and then making different shots of each character or move.
We started our filming with shots of Josh (the DJ) working when his friends are hanging around the room. After that we were changing the cast, costumes and background quickly to make as much as we could. We worked well as a group so that day we filmed a lot of shots.

Straight after a little break we made everyone except Josh free. We needed to make more close ups of him and also take some shots of all boards on which he was working on. We have also made some close ups of different surfaces in the room.
Also we filmed the beginning and the end: how he setting everything up for work and how he receives an email at the end. We decided to film the actual email afterwards.
The last thing before cleaning up was the sound. We needed to record the sound of opening and closing door, mouse, keyboard and switches.

In my opinion it was one of the most interesting day in media studies as we did our own thing. Basically, probably all practical work is entertaining and its a pity that we had just one day like this. I really enjoyed that working process and hope that we can make something really impressive in the end.

Coursework: Shooting day-preparation

Tuesday the 17th of January was our shooting day.

The final preparations started probably a week ago, when we have made our final decisions. one day before, on Monday we have visited the studio again, we decided that we have to move some furniture out as it was useless for us and put the one we need in. So we have placed 3 armchairs and the table instead of piano and one cupboard. Also, we left an old TV as it looked cool. 

There was an issue with the posters, so instead of actual posters in the Monday evening I was printing out and drawing this stuff.

To make the studio look more alive and naturalistic we decided to bring in different rubbish like cans, bottles, paper etc.

In the morning of the actual shooting day after small induction and planning we went back to the studio. We were not sure about the posters with which we end up, but we still decided to leave it. Then we started to mess up the room. The messiest place was on the table. We have put there cans, train tickets, energy drinks, fizzy drinks, cigarettes, lighters, cups, different colored medicines, vinyls and other stuff which looked cool.

I also really liked the light that we were using, it created the right atmosphere. We had 4 of them: 2 white, 1 blue and one red. 

We also decided to move everything around as we change shots to create the feeling of different time.