CONTENTS

Initial Idea 1
Initial Idea 2
Initial Idea 3
Initial Idea 4
Initial Idea 5
Initial Ideas Presentation & Audience Feedback
Inspirational Text
Main Task Deconstruction 1
Main Task Deconstruction 2
Main Task Deconstruction 3
Ancillary Task Deconstruction 1
Ancillary Task Deconstruction 2
Ancillary Task Deconstruction 3
Ancillary Task Deconstruction 1
Ancillary Task Deconstruction 2
Ancillary Task Deconstruction 3
Idea Pitch
Institutional Research
Audience Research
Moving Image Planning
Update 1
Genre
Update 2
Music Permission
Update 3
Equipment Check List
Update 4
Camera Shots & Angles
Update 5
Update 6
Update 7
Update 8
Update 9
Update 10
Update 11
Update 12
Update 13
Update 14
Update 15
Update 16
Flat Plan for Review
Flat Plan for Poster
Update 17 / Animation Attempt 1
Update 18
Shot list
Ancillary Task 1 - Poster
Ancillary Task 2 - Review
Main Task

Evaluation Question 1
Evaluation Question 2
Evaluation Question 3
Evaluation Question 4

EVALUATION QUESTION 4

Here is a mindmap I have created using a website called bubble.us https://bubbl.us/?h=296df9/538cfd/27MxZf3iwSlwg&r=1944930734

Basically, my research, planning and evaluation skills have improved majorly since AS. Last year, I used basic editing software such as Photoshop and also Paint to create flat plans, whereas this year I used more sophisticated editing software such as Final Cut Pro and Premier Pro, as well as inDesign and Photoshop for my ancillary tasks. It gave me a wider knowledge of media software and allowed my work to look more professional. I also used blogger last year, as well as survey monkey to gather audience feedback, but I did much less audience research and this year I conducted more: independent research, camera shots and angles research, equipment checklists, genre research and logo design. Although I also did updates last year, they were much more basic and irregular in comparison to this year's more consistent production diaries. Similarly  last year my flat plans were created on the basic software Paint, whereas this year I used inDesign. I also downloaded a creative cloud trial this year so that I could work at home and use all of the editing software I needed as oppose to strictly college work last year. 

EVALUATION QUESTION 3

What have you learned from your audience feedback?


I used Prezi to create a mind map of this answer which can be viewed below

EVALUATION QUESTION 2

I created this on powerpoint and used scribd to upload it, due to difficulties with slideshare.

Question 2

EVALUATION QUESTION 1

If you click here, you can hear a director's commentary - http://vocaroo.com/i/s0J0wNF8SiOf

Transcript:

The experimental film genre is a genre I have been interested in for a while. I took this opportunity to research further into this category of film and thus gaining knowledge of the particular field. YouTube is a major platform for amateur experimental film artists; my knowledge of the codes and conventions came primarily from YouTube videos and my own knowledge. A technique such as blurring the camera slightly and having elements of the production out of focus is a common feature in this style of film. I used this in my own film continuously, as I like the creative flair it adds to the film. Furthermore, I have been drawn to experimental films due to their artistry and creativity. Moments where I have used the out of focus technique are during my close up of the fireplace, during my establishing shot of Bowness Lake and noticeably during the fireworks scene. I thought it worked well during the fireworks scene as it turns the light to big, blurred circles, which I think appears creative. Colour also played a large role in my video. I used symbolism and connotations throughout the two seasons to create atmosphere through colour. For example, during my footage of winter, there is white snow, orange candlelight and black elements such as the night sky. However, in my footage of summer, there are blue skies, green trees and much brighter colours than during the winter clips. My animations also follow this colour theme – the winter animation is made with a dark blue and a Christmas red, and my summer animation uses pink/red writing and a green flower with a yellow sun. I chose to make animations for my intervals as I would associate them with being creative and artistic. I thought it looked much more appealing than just written text – also, it was experimental for me to produce. Throughout audience feedback sheets, I had asked my audience whether they thought they looked unprofessional and/or childish, and most people said they liked it as a personal touch and thought it made the film more experimental, more appealing and more emotional – they stated it provoked sentimentality due to the personal element the animations create. Animations are also seen in other experimental films, a further reason why I decided to make them. I made a conscious decision to challenge myself throughout this idea of colour and symbolism. Throughout the film, one of my main aims was to have the film going from not only winter to summer, but dark to light, as the seasons change. Both of my ancillary tasks use images from my film. When on location, I took a photograph of the setting and this is how I displayed continuity through all of my final outcomes. The poster and review link to my film due to the images and they use codes and conventions such as in the review, page numbers, pull quotes and a masthead, and in the poster, phrases like “a film by” and “coming summer 2015” appear.   

MAIN TASK

ANCILLARY TASK 1: POSTER

ANCILLARY TASK 2: REVIEW

SHOT LIST

Various camera shots I have used in my film:

1) Close up.

2) Tilt (upwards).

3) Wide shot.

4) Establishing Shot.

5) Close up.

6) Zoom (inwards). 

7) Two shot / Mid shot. (Showing interaction yet not in the same frame).

8) Tilt (downwards). 

UPDATE 18

I am currently making my review based on the flat plan I made. 

I set up the image size to a double page spread, as if the review was in a magazine, and added my photo of the bonfire. I will use white text to place the review on the right side of the page, where there is more darkness so it will stand out.

With writing, my review looks like this. I have made sure not to go past the '30' mark shown by the ruler along the top as this would be the middle of the magazine page. I have saved the image as a TIFF file so I can view it in an image previewing program. This is because when I am working on it in Photoshop the text is slightly pixelated, however when it is saved as an image file the text is fine - I need to be able to view it both ways. I will add a masthead and a pull quote as well as simple conventions like page numbers.

ANIMATION ATTEMPT 1 / UPDATE 17

In the last few days I have finished making my film with the addition of animations. I created a practice animation a few weeks ago, but didnt use it as it was extremely yellow due to unfortunate white balance. I created three new ones - one for winter, one for summer, and one for the logo. The season animations will go before the clips for that season, to introduce it, and the logo will go at the end. All are hand drawn, and it does look slightly like a children's drawing, but I like that that adds to the creativity aspect, and I think it works with the experimental genre and makes it more interesting to look at rather than just having it easily typed. 

This is the first animation attempt, here. As you can see, it has a yellow/orange cast and was far too slow.

POSTER FLAT PLAN

This is a very brief idea of the layout of my film poster - the white text boxes symbolise where the title of my film will go. The words will be spread out against the background image (black) which will be relevant to the film, possibly a photograph taken from one of the locations. The blue text boxes will be conventions of a film poster such as the release date and possibly the producers name, or "a film by". These will be in a smaller font than the film title as they are added information.

FLAT PLAN FOR REVIEW

I am going to change my film poster slightly to make it look more like a film poster. I will do this by adding a slogan and 'a film by...' to make it more obvious, because at the moment you can't really tell it's a film poster.

I have finished writing my review, it is purposely overly enthusiastic and positive as if written by a fan as I wanted to focus more on positives than negatives.

I will create my review in the following days, this is the flat plan and how it will be played out:

I have created the flat plan on Indesign and will either create the final image on there or on Photoshop, I may choose Photoshop as I am more familiar with it. The photo I will use as the whole background will be an image I took while creating the film, for continuity. I think I will use the bonfire scene as it is mostly a black background, and I can write the review around the bonfire light. 

UPDATE 16

I edited the background image to make it brighter so the colours were more vivid and I added the title text. I chose font Helvetica for the filler words 'the' and 'of' and used 2 different handwriting fonts for the main words. I like that they are calligraphy and the others aren't, I think it looks more professional and the main words stand out more. Similarly, I added black drop shadows and outlines to certain words in different thicknesses (depending on the importance of the word) to emphasise it. For instance, the word 'life' is more important than the word 'of' so it is made to stand out more. This is reinforced by the font size variations. I will continue to edit it to add the date and my name etc.

UPDATE 15

Today I am starting the other ancillary task which is the poster. I am using Photoshop on my laptop to make this. 

I am using a background image showing scanned flowers to create a pressed effect as my film is based around nature and I think it reinforces the experimental genre due to the simplistic reason that it is scanned and not a typical still life image. 
I am not 100% decided on a title for my film just yet, I like the title "The aesthetics of life" however may not use this as it is quite lengthy. Similarly, I'm not 100% sure on where to place the title on my poster, however will make sure it does not cover the main flower at the top as I like the composition of that.

UPDATE 14

This is the flat plan for my ancillary task poster:

I created it on Photoshop and my idea is to keep it very simplistic and eye catching. The background will be various colours and the writing bold and stood out but not over the top. I don't want clutter, however think it would be effective if the title was broken down into two parts if it is lengthy, and the most important words bigger than filler words like 'the' and 'of'. At the bottom I want the date/year that the short film is available for viewing and also my name as the film producer. 

UPDATE 13

This week I finished editing both Summer and Winter clips in the order I want them on the editing sequence and to the chosen song. I have left spaces for the animations, (which arent yet finished), so I know how long they have to be and how they will fit in the sequence and to the music. Today I am continuing my review (draft) and beginning to structure the text of it.

PRODUCTION DIARY 12

FILM CHANGES.
I have decided to alter my film slightly so instead of doing all four seasons I am just going to show the contrast between Winter and Summer. These are the seasons I have the better footage for and the most footage for and it means I don't have the problem of running out of seconds in the video and I can still create my animations, just now only for the two seasons. I think this will allow me to be more creative as the clips can run on longer and I can add more effects etc, it will also solve problems I currently have and show a more contrasting theme which links well to the experimental genre. The song may also fit better now with only 2 seasons, as Winter is the more depressing season which I would edit in at the beginning where the song is slow and then when the song gets more intense I would edit Summer so that it shows the contrast even through the audio. 

PRODUCTION DIARY 11

Today I am getting to grips with using Indesign, to create my review for my ancillary task 1. I want to get used to it today so that I can download the free trial to my own laptop and that way I can do work outside of class. Similarly, I am reading experimental film reviews to gain an understanding of writing them as they are different from other films. My other ancillary task is a poster, which I will create on photoshop. 

PRODUCTION DIARY 10

Today I experienced a few problems with my film. I accidentally edited all of the Summer footage over the part of the song where it speeds up and I made successful cuts and it worked well, however that is the area where Spring needs to go, so I will have to swap them around which will take up more time. 

Tonight I am going to scan my logo (a small pink bow) and I will animate it tomorrow, making it move slightly so the audience know that its the logo. Similarly, this weekend I will create my 'Summer' 'Spring' 'Autumn' and 'Winter' animations, although I haven't decided whether to draw them or create them using Photoshop. I would prefer to hand draw them, as I can create  a stop frame animation with my camera which would reinforce the experimental film genre. I would have to make sure however that lighting is the correct exposure in each frame. When creating it, I will add further connotations of that season, for example when I write the word Winter I may draw a small snowman and some snowflakes. 

PRODUCTION DIARY 9

Today I decided which Summer footage to use. I am using footage from a holiday to the Lake District and also a day out at the fairground, as this includes summer skies and fairground rides which many people would associate with Summer. I will begin filming flowers next Friday in the studio, so that I have professional lights etc, hopefully this will be successful and connote ideas of Spring well. In addition, I would like to film some animals e.g rabbits and birds, as this would link to the season of Spring. I have added the chosen song over my editing sequence so that I know exactly where certain cuts need to be made and I know how long my film has to be. 

PRODUCTION DIARY 8

Today I filmed some extra footage which could be used for either Autumn or Winter. I would like to use this footage, however I think it could cross between either season. I had woken up and saw that my window was covered in frost and condensation and I quickly set up my tripod in time to hopefully capture some water dripping or possibly trees moving through the clear gaps. I think it worked successfully for not being a planned event, here is a photograph from when I was finished filming it:

I intend on speeding the footage up, as there is only 1-2 minutes of footage and if I speed it up you will be able to see the movement more distinctly.