the definition of future is a period of time after the moment of speaking or writing. in this case you talk about it as though it is still to come. the word Future makes me think about unpredictability and how anything can happen. it also makes me think about my future and where i see myself in 5 years. i think future connotes the unknown which a lot of people tend to find scary or frightening. people don’t like the uncertainty of not being able to plan ahead and anticipate things. Uncertainty effects a lot of people due to the way they perceive the future and the type of mindset they have on the way forward. Positivity towards the future makes a massive difference towards productivity and how you react to situations that unfold in front of you.
Research
this video is a good example of portrayals of a dystopian future. this genre is widely explored and goes into depth about the dangers of progression in technology and how the future is so unpredictable. films like this keep the demographic enticed and entertained by exploring possible technological breakthroughs and the harm that they could one day deal to society. this particular theme scares the audience due to the fact that this could happen. i think audiences also like futuristic products as its new and unseen and the future is unwritten so creators have a lot more freedom to create their vision in an unobstructed way. i think short films like this are produced as a way to shock the audience but also to prepare them for any possibility as none of us know how society and the world is going to change in 10 years time. films like this also desensitise the audience so if the possibility of this ever becomes closer to real they react in a less conscious way. publishing this video on YouTube also helps to reach the target audience of younger people 16+ as the majority of people of that age tend to watch more media online. the producers clearly analysed their target audience to see what the best publishing platform would be for their product. at first this video can be misleading as the colours and camera angles portray a false sense of happiness and safety.
this animated video also plays on the theme of future by using dystopian elements to create a dark portrayal of what life could be like. this particular video makes me think that in this timeline our lives only serve one purpose as it shows that humans are no longer in control. i think this particular video is clever as they also play on how the media influences people in the scenes where the family are sat around the TV. by utilising animation the producers are able to create scenes which in most cases would be impossible to film on a tight budget. i think this is clever as they have utilised their skills to produce the highest quality video possible. i think the use of grey scale colours at first creates a sense of familiarity with the past as it looks almost retro, however as the short film progresses it begins to look dimmer and more depressing as the viewers come to terms with the plotline. the music that the producers use also further portrays the link to the past as they make use of classical music throughout. the way they edit the scenes together is also particularly clever, as a viewer you quickly come to understand that the people in the animation are almost stuck on repeat following the rules every day and following the same schedule. the repetition also further portrays the dystopian genre.
this documentary is quite different in comparison to the other videos i have previously analysed. in comparison, the codes and conventions of this documentary compared to the short film i analysed are quite different. this production relies heavily on text instead of purely audio, it also makes use of a lot more B roll with a commentary and snippets of speeches held over the environment and the future to come. this video doesnt focus too much on how we are changing the world but more about how the world is constantly changing around us. i think the producers make use of high definition visuals and bright colours to keep the target demographic enticed and to make them keep watching, this production is different from the others as it does hold some factual information and does educate the audience, however the information isnt completely factual as it is just a prediction. the themes for this particular product focuses on the bigger picture of the future of the Universe not just our planet, this is different as they highlight a lot of little known knowledge such as about how a star dies and how that would effect its surroundings.
this clip is a trailer for the film The platform, this film is a bit different from the previous as it utilises a different streaming platform for its audience. Netflix is one of the best platforms to add to due to the fact of its immediacy and wide usage. this video also follows different codes and conventions to fit the purpose of the video. The trailer uses a lot of quick cuts between multiple scenes to create a short storyline which is aimed to entice the target demographic to watch more. This is also quite typical of this particular genre. the trailer uses a lot of greyscale colours to set the scene for the dystopian future. i particularly like where they used a red light as it made the scene darker and more intense. I quite like this trailer as the plotline is very interesting and leaves viewers wanting to watch more. i also think this theme would be quite scary for the audience as the “hunger games society” is a very controversial idea with people conspiring that there is a possibility it could happen. they use a lot of non diagetic sound to create effect and
i think this picture is a good example of Futuristic photography. i think this fits the theme as it utilises a modern urban environment and bright hues to create a well lit metropolis. there isn’t really a main focus to this image which makes it quite a good photo to look in depth to. the photographer has played around with shutter speed to keep the shutter open for a lot longer to create the light blurs you can see above the train track. The perspective of the camera breaks the image into different levels. i particularly like this photo as the lighting is clever and it shows a future that is familiar. i think the photographer decided to take this photograph later on at night to make it look less crowded and populated almost like everything is self sufficient and autonomous, this adds to the futuristic aesthetic. i particularly like the way the photograph has been composed and i think i could possibly use aspects in my future ideas.
i quite like this photo as i think it also shows an almost dystopian future where everybody serves the same purpose almost like everyone has been replaced. the photographer utilises a wide angle lens to make sure the viewer gets the full perspective of the scale of the space. the photo is also very monotone and plain, i think this adds to the effect as it relates to the autonomous society where everything is the same. i think the blur on most of the people adds to the effect as only one person really stands out which is the man at the bottom, i think Christian Stoll has done this as a way to show that he is different from the rest of the people around him. the escalators in the photo look almost endless as you cant see over the horizon. The photo was taken for the company Microsoft, the photographer has done photos for multiple big companies such as IBM, BMW and General Electric. i think the photographer has gone to take this photo at an offpeak time so there is less people to help create the aesthetic. i think it will connect to my future work as it helps give an example of what you could expect to see, for example a lot of futuristic photos show huge man made feats that look quite unique and different.
this photo was created by the photographer Francesco Romoli, his idea behind it was that he believes that at some point in the future we will become part human, part machine. i think it is particularly clever how the artist has utilised 19th century portrait photography and edited the photos to look almost surreal and dark. in the image we see children stood holding hands for the photo, however they have been manipulated in editing to become part human with one girl having metal legs and the boy losing his head for a robotic one. i think the photographer uses technology from a different century as a way to create contrast in the photograph without using any colour, it clearly stands out. i think he has done a particularly good job in the editing phase as the photo looks oddly surreal and quite realistic for what it is. the photo was taken to represent the wild fantasies that he imagines in his mind and how his version of the future looks like. i think i can learn from this photographers work as it makes me think that my idea of the future should be how i envision it in my head and not influenced by anyone elses versions.
ideas
My first Idea was to create a promotional video for my workplace as it links in to the key word of future as after i finish my course i will be working full time there. my aim is to film an advertisement showing off the trampoline park and all of the activities it has to offer. i quite like this idea as it is quite a unique idea and i feel there is a lot of different things that i could film in that environment such as flips and tricks, the attractions, the cafe and the company mascot.
My second Idea was to create a Horror Trailer based around the current social isolation situation that is currently happening. i would like to divulge into how isolation can effect mental health and how a situation like this could be potentially terrifying for someone with underlying conditions. i think this idea could be quite effective as it is something that really could happen in the future depending on how long the social distancing measures stay in place for.
i chose to use this picture because i think its quite colorful yet everything else is pretty dark but it connotes to me that there is always colour in life.
What did you look like when you was younger?
i chose this photo as i think it represents me and how my personality was as a child, i was quite shy but always smiling and laughing.
what is your personality like?
i think this photo shows I’m quite a relaxed person and that i just go with the flow and look for the better sides of the bad things.
what would you be doing if you wasn’t in college?
if i wasn’t in college i was going to join the royal navy or probably not doing much good for myself so i thought the blue color represents the road that i could have gone down.
who inspires you?
task 2
Basic Brief
create a 1-2 minute long introduction to my “Home” documentary.
include:
B Roll
Voiceovers
interviews
narrative
audience
Or, create a poster that relevantly advertises a documentary film.
i chose to try and create a poster that represents a home to people who didn’t have anywhere else to go. the building in the poster is an abandoned orphanage, this particular orphanage is a host to folk tales in the area and many people illegally go and explore the inside of the derelict building. i thought i would follow the themes of the folk tales and create the poster with darker and more scary characteristics. to make this poster typical to the genre, i sourced an external Font to further develop the poster. if i was to re-do this project and have a little more time i would have tried to get some permits for the building and film some footage or some photos from the inside.
task 3
for this particular task i chose to try and represent things that we as a species take advantage of, i think we do not realize just how much of an impact these certain things have on our everyday lives.
for this photo i thought i would emphasize how we take time for granted and how we don’t spend the limited amount of time we have being productive, we typically waste a lot of it.
for this photo i tried to highlight our reliance on technology and how we take for granted the ways it has changed how we live.
for this picture i wanted to show how we take nature for granted and how slowly but surely we are changing our planet in an irreversible and negative way.
clean drinking water is yet another thing that we, as a first world country, take advantage of.
for my final picture i decided to take a picture of coffee. coffee is yet another natural resource that we have abused and kept using excessively when coffee beans are becoming more and more expensive and less are growing.
task 4
for this task i was asked to create a series of abstract photos. i attempted to make a few photos that are quite confusing and not in enough detail to realize exactly what is the subject of the photo.
this photo was a corner of a damp wall where there was a lot of dirt and cobwebs, i tried to capture the image in a way that changes the perspectives and in this photo i personally think it looks like a set of stairs.
for this photo i took a picture of a wheel on a large bin from really close in an attempt to hide exactly what it is.
for this photo i tried to use the mirror as an angle to distort the views of inside the car, however i don’t think this photo work.
task 5
For this task i chose to take abstract photos of things that make a home feel homely, to me this mainly means little details around that have an almost warming effect and are an integral part to a family home. this includes exposed wood, candles and scents, atmospheric lights and many other little details.
in post production i chose to alter the level of exposure to darken the dark areas but also to decrease the glow coming from the source of light to clear the image up a little bit.
for this photo i wanted to alter the perspective of how we view things around us, i also wanted to catch the grain of the wood.
for this photo i decided to alter the photo by adding duplicates of the image in different opacities to add a layered effect that creates a dream like haze.
for this image i decided to also show perspective but i also chose to slightly posterize this image to change how the shading in the grey was effected by the source of light.
i also decided to alter this photo by using a similar effect of layering images over the top of the original. i also chose to use different pictures of the flame so they aren’t exactly the same, however it did not give the effect i was hoping for due to the difference in flames being almost indistinguishable.
Conclusion
overall, not all my tasks came out in the way that i wanted to, however over the past few weeks of doing them i have learnt a lot about abstract and other types of photography that i wasn’t completely familiar with. some of my photos look better than others so I’m not disappointed with any of my work as it was just a learning curve. I also had to make do with the equipment available to me using a less powerful camera so i think my work has come out at a high standard considering the hiccup i faced. this project was also different due to the fact that there was multiple weekly tasks which was a lot different to the bigger projects i am used to taking on, the time restraints were a challenge however it was a good task to expand my portfolio.
Ansel Adams brings together amazing landscape photography with a greyscale twist that accurately portrays shadows and shows contrast between the light and dark. Ansel was also a photographer from the mid 20th century so i think the amount of detail that his images contain is quite good considering the lack of modern technology. his pictures look particularly crisp and sharp. the photo shows a rocky landscape and mount Williamson in Nevada. the photo also follows the line of the horizon to separate two distinctively different areas of the photo. Ansel Adams is an advocate for preserving the environment so i believe he took pictures like this to highlight the beauty of nature. i personally like this photograph due to how sharp and focused the image looks considering it comes from the 1940s onwards.
Final Product
evaluation
overall, i think this particular photo follows the correct styles and is influenced by Ansel Adams’ landscapes. if i was to do this project again i would experiment with a different location to try and more accurately recreate Adams’ mountain views. i faced a few problems such as the location i chose to take photos of was quite out of the way and a lot of the areas around this location where slippery and quite hard to stand still. i think my research helped my final outcome as it is clearly influenced by Adams’ previous work. over the past few photography tasks, i believe i have steadily improved with my camera skills and i believe my shots are being put together in a more professional manner.
this short film was well produced in a way that they can tackle a very important topic whilst also entertaining and educating the target demographic of teenagers and young adults. this film is to educate the audience about the dangers that come with knife crime and carrying a knife. the producers of this short film decided to produce this kind of product and to publish it on this platform as it is an easy way to entice the target audience. Short films are an easy way to capture this particular audiences attention. This demographic uses this platform significantly more than similar platforms such as Television, YouTube is a leading platform for this audience. this short film was well made as they thought about the plot and assured it all was chronological and near perfect. they had a good storyline and script. the producers also made use of their resources and brought in some fairly famous young adults to star in the program. these actors are essential roles in other films made for this demographic, this is particularly clever due to the fact that these actors could also help entice the audience. the producers also have clearly analyzed trends for their demographic to be sure to make this show seem relatable and more realistic.
Photography
this photography is done by Benjamin Green, a photographer who decided to take photographs of preston in the first 21st century guild. this was a memorable thing to photograph as these photographs will be looked at quite a lot over the next hundred years or so as it goes into the next centuries guild. these photographs served a purpose as they will be useful for a long time n will constantly be looked at. i think Benjamin Green was clever with how he went about choosing what to take photos of because he chose a topic that will be reflected on by the people of preston for many years to come. I particularly like the “modern classic” feel these photos have, they look like photos that can stand the test of time. i also believe that the way he composes his photos is different than the usual, he doesn’t just keep the subject in the middle of the photo, he captures many points of interest in one photo. i personally like his photography because it seems real, these photos aren’t framed and faked, its of real people in real life who all have their own lives to deal with and they just get on. i believe i can learn a lot from Benjamin Greens photos, i have learnt about how to portray things in a way that they are familiar and reminiscent whilst also showing modern times, he shows change in the location very well and in a way you can compare very easily.
artwork
i chose to analyze this artwork as i believe it has a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. i personally perceive it as it shows that nobody truly is free. i believe it shows that no matter how free you perceive to be and the protection you have, your never truly free. i believe this photo will have an eye opening effect on the audience who views this as it shows the people of society that so much is hidden from them. i personally like this artists work because it is so controversial and unusual. i also think this artwork is unusual because there isn’t just one thing the artist expects you to analyze, there are many meanings hidden in this artwork, each individual unique change has its own meaning and interpretation. i believe i can learn from this work and use it to influence my own work as a way to include many possible conclusions in which the audience can interpret.
Documentary Research
i chose to analyze this documentary as i feel it is created in a way that creates suspense and keeps the demographic viewing more and more of the programme. they use suspense as a focus point and interviews as a cool down so there is constantly a feeling that something is bound to happen. i feel like this particular documentary will have an influence on my work as it shows how to keep the audience entertained by talking about real stories but also by putting the documentary in an order where suspense is constantly rising. personally i think whoever directed this documentary has done a good job purely with how they use suspense to their advantage but also with the way the idea is approached.
i chose to analyze this documentary as i feel it is filmed in a similar way to one of my ideas for what i could do for my project in future. i think this approaches the topic in a very negative way and in a way that it doesn’t show how the area could be helped and other things that can be put in place to improve society and the environment in the area. the documentary is made up of interviews b roll of the area and a presenter doing a voice over. the program is filmed in a rough estate called the boot estate of Liverpool, it was at the time of filming, known as one of the roughest places to live throughout Europe. personally i quite like this documentary due to the fact that it is very informative and educational however i believe it is a bit biased as it is mostly all negative. it doesn’t show much towards the average people who live there who are trying to get by and not be associated with their rough area.
i chose to analyse this particular documentary as it was filmed in my local area and is similar to an idea that i am piecing together. i believe this particular documentary follows the correct codes and conventions of an ‘old school’ documentary and features multiple places of interest. this documentary was filmed in the early 1980s, the original target audience would have been people aged 18+ as it tours a local pub/hotel. the documentary is mainly about alcohol and other adult themes so it would not be recommended for younger viewers. Nowadays i can imagine that the target audience has changed dramatically since its conception. viewers who watch this show so many years down the line are likely to have been local residents at the time so the target age group would be 35+ on average. the cinematography in this production is something i could use in my project. B roll and commentary is a typical set up for documentaries and i believe using this combination could help my work keep to the genres structure. this video served a purpose, its purpose is to ‘immortalise’ the original decor and environment of the pub.
i chose to analyze this particular documentary as it approaches the subject in a more lighthearted way. the video is published by VICE which is a world renowned content creating company that publishes independent films and documentaries. Oobah Butler presents this documentary in an entertaining and educational way in which he accurately entices the target demographic to watch and keep watching the documentary. comedic documentaries are particularly clever due to how they keep the audience entertained and also educating them at the same time. this particular documentary would be aimed at 13+ due to how they don’t represent any moderate adult themes. this particular video is not exactly a mockumentary as it is factual and features real life laws and information. whereas a mockumentary such as The Office approaches the plot in a fictional way that hosts a documentaries codes and conventions in a staged environment. the editor also uses B roll effectively to keep the viewer watching. they use B roll in an attempt to highlight the next location that is due to be visited. the audio editing is also particularly clever due to the fact that they change to multiple different camera angles and the audio is always in sync with Oobah’s mouth. VICE have effectively created a product for their target audience.
this particular documentary is aimed towards people 16+. the production of this documentary is slightly different than how an average viewer would perceive. people would believe that prisoners would be simply portrayed as prisoners whereas this particular documentary approaches these men and shows that they are human too. it shows how they have reformed and how they have been re-introduced to society as functioning members. i think this is important as it helps portray their raw emotion to the audience and helps create a connection between the viewer and the ex-convict. it also helps the audience to understand why these men chose to do what they did. the creators also show old footage of the prison years before the riot to show how tough of a prison it was. The creators of this documentary were very creative and unique in the way that they show both perspectives of the riots from prisoners who were involved to staff members and guards. the creators are keen to highlight the underlying problems in an attempt to explain why the riots happened, it also explains how efforts were made to prevent the riot and how it didnt go to plan.
Rationale
throughout this year i have developed many skills. at the start of the year i had very little experience of editing videos and little experience at directing, camera work or anything related to film. when i started college i had a btec media qualification however the work was nowhere near as practical or hands on compared to this years, i used my knowledge of the theoretical work from last year and developed an understanding of the physical aspect over the course of this year. i believe now that i have built up an understanding my work has become gradually better and better. over the course of this year i have learnt how to edit video and photographs, how to work a DSLR camera, settings of a camera, more theory work and how to conduct my work professionally. i believe now i can make the final project reflect my ability.
First idea
my first idea initially was to create a documentary based all around Lovat Road, a particular road that caught media attention 30 years ago. the show was initially one of the first reality TV shows ever made. broadcasting started on the 25th of May 1989. the streets of Lovat Road have changed immensely so i would like to dedicate my project to those same people who have lived in or around that area along with local business owners to collate their fondest memories of their street. from cobbled roads to a suburb with students in mind, the street has changed a lot. throughout this project i would like to highlight the changes in the area, then host multiple interviews with citizens of the area.
Second Idea
my second idea initially was to create a documentary about the increase in knife crime throughout the UK. for this i could talk about the cuts to the police force, recent activity in a local area, interview someone who has been a victim in the past to knife crime and i could talk about the ways knife crime could be combated. in this documentary i would also highlight the role the government plays in the rise of knife crime, i believe this idea would be quite controversial and could possibly offend some people.
Final Idea
i chose to go with my initial first idea as i feel that this idea is more lighthearted and a realistic idea to accomplish in the time frame and i also believe my personal connections will be able to influence how well this project works as i can set up the interviews fairly easily. i know many people who would happily shed a light on their previous and present experiences around Lovat Road. i also believe i will be able to finish this work off in a standard that will be professional and high quality.
Pitch
Risk assessment
Prospective risks
Who’s effected?
Control measures
Risk rating 0-10
Defensive measures
responsibilities
Theft of equipment
Producer (me)
Preston’s college
Travel with other people and film supervised and in open places.
6
Ensure equipment is properly booked.
Bring all equipment back on time and in good condition.
Water damage
Producer (me)
Preston’s college
Film inside a location or wait for the right weather
4
Ensure filming only occurs in the right conditions.
Ensure equipment is in good condition.
Accidental damage e.g- dropping
Producer (me)
Preston’s college
Always use equipment in the right way.
2
Report the damage to a member of staff.
Ensure equipment is in good condition and returned.
Altercations with other people
Producer (me)
Film when I know it is safe and in locations with minimal risk.
4
Ensure not to get into altercations and keep clear of members of the public.
Don’t get in to trouble with other people and stay peaceful.
Tripping over
Producer (me)
Watch out for un levelled floor slabs and be careful.
2
Be careful.
Ensure risks are all assessed beforehand.
Getting run over
Producer (me)
Look both ways when crossing
2
Roads are quiet, pay attention and use caution.
Ensure I film in safe locations.
Production schedule
FMP Week
M
T
W
TH
F
1
Rationale and research
Rationale and research
Rationale and research
Rationale and research
Rationale and research
2
Research
Research
Research
Research
Research
3
Ideas gen.
Pitch
Ideas gen.
Pitch
Ideas gen.
Pitch
Ideas gen.
Pitch
Ideas gen.
Pitch
4
Pre-Production
Pre-Production
Pre-Production
Pre-Production
Pre-Production
5
Pre-Production/production
Pre-Production/production
Pre-Production/production
Pre-Production/production
Pre-Production/production
Easter Break – 2 weeks
6
Production
Production
Production
Production
Production
7
Reshoots
Reshoots
Reshoots
Reshoots
Reshoots
8
Reshoots
Reshoots
Reshoots
Reshoots
Reshoots
9
Post-Production
Post-Production
Post-Production
Post-Production
Post-Production
10
Post-Production
Post-Production
Post-Production
Post-Production
Post-Production
Half term – 1 Week
11
Evaluation
Evaluation
Evaluation
Evaluation
Evaluation
Equipment list
for this production i am going to need a variety of equipment. for example i am going to need:
1.DSLR Camera
2. Shotgun Microphone
3.Lapel Microphone
4. Boom microphone pole
5. tripod
6. 2x SD Cards
7.Digital audio recorder
using a variety of equipment will greatly improve the quality of my work due to the fact that i can use the correct equipment for the correct situation. personally i believe this will make my work look more professional and of a higher standard.
Location rec.
walk through of the road – Lovat road will be used for this to walk from Garstang road through towards the other end. surveying will be done to assess the whole area and to make a plan of what will be filmed.
Local Store – this area will be host two of the multiple interviews that will be taking place. the camera will be set up on a tripod in front of the shops main counter. this will make it look natural as it is set up in a way that will look just like a normal conversation
Spar Kent street – corners between Kent street and Lovat road. will be set up similar to the Local store.
House on Arkwright road – set up in front of couch to interview two people at once, will interview them about their memories of the road.
house 2 on Arkwright road – set up in front of arm chair to host an interview with one person. this is a relaxed area so i am trying to capture that feeling.
here are a few images to highlight local areas that will be shown in the documentary. these locations are local hotspots and areas with lots of history.
edit log
this was halfway through the editing process, i experimented with colour correction on certain scenes but later decided to switch to most of the show being black and white, excluding the interview scenes. I did this for a few different reasons, i felt it portrayed the area better and in a way thats true to how it used to be, to keep to the documentary conventions and also out of personal preference. i tried using text in the correct areas to follow the correct codes and conventions of this particular genre. i did this as it was a common feature in the documentaries i researched and also that it adds a sense of realism to my work.at this particular time in the editing sequence, the sound levels were completely off and too loud during the commentary sometimes it was hard to hear clearly so i decided to use markers to indicate when and where the volume should change. this just makes it easier on the ears for the viewer.
this audio file is from when i was practicing the script and testing the audio levels. testing the audio gave me an accurate representation of where i should position the digital audio recorder and where the ideal filming location would be. testing the audio ensures that i can get the audio levels at a comfortable position. i chose to record the audio in a sound proof room as it dampened the sound and was almost completely silent. i discovered that the recording booth that i was in helped make the audio levels a bit ‘ ‘crisper’ and easier to clearly understand.
I also decided to experiment with a different commentator however i decided against using an alternate commentator due to the fact that it would take up too much time to schedule all the audio recordings, also the alternate commentator had limited time so it would be more constricted and i might not be able to finish before the deadline.
Contingency Plan
Cause
Contingency
Cons
Bad weather
Check weather before filming, have a back up date
Blurry footage
Filming in public
Noise pollution
Possible audio technical problems
Falling down stairs
Tie up your shoe laces
Possible injury
Broken equipment
Find replacement
Can not film footage
Battery dies
Bring a back up battery
No footage
Bad lighting
Start filming earlier
Makes footage look unprofessional
Late deadline
Ensure you filmed as much as possible in the time allotted and try and work with that you have got
Possibly fail the unit
Storyboards
Production graphics
Script
Lovat rd revisited:
(Commentator)
Lovat road, home of one of the first ever Reality TV programmes, titled simply “Lovat Rd” it originally aired on BBC One on the 25th May 1989. Lovat Road is located in the district of Deepdale, one of many local areas of Preston, Deepdale itself has seen more screen time than anywhere else in Preston, from the EFL Championship to Sky news highlights, Deepdale never seems to skip out on the news. Now we are going to visit a resident who has lived here for multiple happy years to hear some of her fondest memories of this area and its people.
(First interview)
How long have you lived in the area?
(reply)
Whats your favourite memory?
(reply)
Whats your earliest memory of this area?
(reply)
What do you think could be improved in the area?
(reply)
Whats the craziest thing you have ever seen?
(reply)
Have you ever watched the original Lovat road tv programme?
(reply)
(COMMENTATOR)
Lovat road was originally developed for cotton mill and local factory workers. Nowadays the area has changed in some pretty significant ways, due to its proximity to the local city centre, it has become hotspot for student accommodation, however, many local residents still reside in the area. Shops which the community once held dear have been and gone but locals continue to call this once famous place home. Lets go and speak to the shopkeeper at the “LOCAL SHOP”.
(cut to shopkeeper interview)
How long have you lived in the area?
(reply)
Whats your favourite memory?
(reply)
Whats your earliest memory of this area?
(reply)
What do you think could be improved in the area?
(reply)
Whats the craziest thing you have ever seen?
(reply)
Have you ever watched the original Lovat road tv programme?
(reply)
How long have you ran the shop?
(reply)
what struggles have you had running this business in the recent years?
(reply)
(cuts to separate interview with B roll intermission)
how long have you lived in the area?
(reply)
Whats your favourite memory?
(reply)
whats your earliest memory of this area?
(reply)
what do you think could be improved in the area?
(reply)
Whats the craziest thing you have ever seen?
(reply)
Have you ever watched the original Lovat road tv programme?
(reply)
(Multiple stem questions will come from the replies on all interviews)
(Commentator)
30 Years on, the area just as vibrant and cultural as ever. although the area has changed dramatically, the community sticks together. and with that, this show comes to an end. Heres to the next 30 years!
Final product
Summary
Overall, i believe my Documentary style project follows the correct codes and conventions that it would need to follow to look professional and in place. However, i have also come across a few problems whilst i was filming such as problems with an SD card meaning i had to find other means of filming at the time. i also had problems with the editing software early on into editing, this was due to the fact that i had never used “Premiere pro CC”, because the software was new to me, i didn’t know how to efficiently use the program or how to take advantage of what the program has to offer. personally, i think my research heavily influenced my final product, the research on the documentary video particularly helped due to the fact that it showed how to educate the audience whilst retaining its serious tone, it also showed what my final product should be similar too. Later on in the editing phase i faced problems to do with the editing software slowing and crashing, fortunately, due to my time management, i had a fair amount of time to get all the work completed so the problem caused no long term issues. if i was to do this project again from the start i would change my idea to a sort of walking tour with a presenter. i would change my idea to this because i believe it would be more entertaining for the target demographic. also, i feel like my project would categorize towards passive viewing which is not always the best way to try and educate the target audience. I would also aim to include more interviews and more camera angles of particular areas. I also faced some difficulty sourcing the old archived footage of the area, initially i planned to use old footage to show the scale of just how much the area has changed. due to difficulties sourcing the footage i had to make do without a major focus point within my production. this production was the first time i have ever made a non-fiction film, due to this i believe if i was to do this project again i would not have picked this particular idea, although it follows the correct conventions i believe i could have done better if i produced a fiction piece that i have more experience in. Time management for this production was mediocre, i believe i could have done better and that i should have started filming at an earlier date to prepare and edit my production for a longer period of time, however i am still pleased with my final product. this production was also my first solo visual production, personally i prefer working in a group due to the fact that multiple peoples skills are being collated into the product. in this project i feel that i have gained a better understanding of the DSLR cameras and some of the features i could use to efficiently film the production. i also developed an understanding about solo projects and how in future i should tackle them. i think personally, this project has helped me learn how to handle myself in a project. i also felt it was important to get the best sound quality possible for my commentary so i made sure i made use of the best equipment. i used a digital audio recorder to record my voice however, next time i would like to ensure i do multiple takes with the mic in different locations to find the best sounding location.
Better Call Saul is a series created by the creators of breaking bad, it is a satyrical representation of Saul, the witty lawyer originally devised in the series Breaking Bad. the series is set a few years before the fan favourite storyline of Heisenberg (Walter White) and Jesse Pinkman, Walters ex student. “Better call Saul” follows Sauls personal life and career years before we initially meet him. The show explores how his life changes in such a short time frame. at the start of the show we see that Saul Goodman is working a dead beat job behind the counter of a Cinnabun store. Anyone who has watched the shows predecessor will know that this is a very confusing start to the show because Saul appears to have a stable and well paying job in being a lawyer, although he takes some dodgy cases. we then see Saul watching an old VHS tape of his advertisement with a heavy heart. The scene ends and cuts to a flashback to 2002. we see Saul trying to seize a case which involves the embezzlement of 1.6million dollars, but unfortunately he doesn’t get chance to take the case. saul goes to Hamlin, Hamlin and McGill, a company that his older brother is a founder of. at the time his brother is off sick from work for an apparent electromagnetic hypersensitivity. later we see saul staging a fraudulent claim with 2 kids he previously saw trying to scam him, he decides to take advantage of their acting ability and puts them to use. they plan everything out and the time comes
although Saul is a bit of a ‘swindler’ i do feel sympathy for him due to the fact of how much his life has changed and the emotions he shows looking back on it. nobody should feel unsafe when they are getting on with an average life and Saul got really unlucky in how quickly his life changed. he got involved with dangerous people in a way that he could not have predicted, although he tried to commit insurance fraud by staging a car accident, he did not deserve the trouble that came with all of his actions. However, i do believe every action has a reaction so it is his own fault for his career falling apart.
the producers of the show are very clever in the way that they use camera angles. in this scene shown above they use a mid shot to show both characters in the shot, this helps represent their body language, chuck is portrayed as fairly relaxed and like he knows what he is doing whereas Saul is portrayed to be on the edge of going mad and very frustrated and tired. this shot is also used to show how the argument goes back and forth between the brothers.
towards the beginning of the show they also use an establishing shot of a nice expensive car. the car then drives away to show the real focus of attention which is Saul in his old car which looks neglected and as though it is falling to pieces. this shot is clever as it makes the audience believe we are jumping into the storyline of a rich crooked lawyer when in actual fact we are about to see the rise and fall of Jimmy McGill as a lawyer and the troubles that came with his career.
in conclusion, i enjoyed this episode as i feel many aspects were professional and entertaining to the target audience, i feel like this show was well made and that it was clever how they did certain scenes. i particularly liked the back and forth action from the future and the past.
Primary research is used by researchers to collate data directly, rather than depending on data collected from previously done research. Technically, they “own” the data. Primary research is solely carried out to fix a certain problem, which requires a lot of analysis.
there are many advantages to using primary research. for example, the research is up to date and relevant to your target audience around the time your research was completed. this improves accuracy because for example 16 year olds could give different answers than 16 year olds nowadays.
there are also disadvantages to primary research such as it can cost a lot more money than for example secondary research costs. this is due to the fact that it is time consuming and you source your focus group yourself.
an example of primary research would be location recces, i have personally used this kind of research as a way to piece together the filming locations and to scout out the environment
secondary research
Secondary research is the data collected by someone else other than the actual researcher. This can be gathered from records, books, statistics agencies, etc. Research done using this is widely available.
there are many advantages to secondary research. for example, time and cost that is needed to collect secondary data is less than what you need to collect primary data. Data is available freely or at far lesser cost through secondary sources.
there are also disadvantages to secondary research. such as, the data could be really inaccurate due to the fact that you are relying on someone else to find information for you, there is a possibility the information could be false.
there are many examples of using secondary research such as reading a book that someone else has written. If you actively seek out the information without conducting the research personally then you are using secondary research.
thematic analysis/research
Thematic analysis is one of the most common forms of analysis. It emphasizes recording patterns within data. Themes are patterns across data which could be important.
thematic analysis provides a highly flexible approach that can be modified for the needs of many studies, this is a big advantage as it could help multiple people and can be utilized to work for other things.
a survey on video games bought by users aged 15-20 would be an example of thematic research.
Short film screening
i have conducted my own primary research by screening one of my previous short films to an audience of 16-20 year olds. I did this in order to gain a more personalized outcome. i screened my “Stalker” short film and received feedback from the audience, i then took that feedback into account to improve on my future work.
Contextual research
contextual research is useful, however it has many downfalls such as, the research has a chance to be inaccurate. photos, sketches and films and other media forms are a type of contextual research, for contextual research, you actively have to gather information from the research subject.
Analysis
The type of research you decide to use heavily relies on many different circumstances such as your budget, timeframe and idea. for some projects primary research isn’t necessarily needed due to the amount of research already published and available. However, if you want your research to be reliable and perfect for use with your project then you should commit to primary research. although primary research is more time consuming and costly, it is worth doing if you have the time to sacrifice for the reliability of your research. Secondary research is worth using in a situation that you dont have the time to commit to researching and when you dont have the funds, choosing the right type of research is all about the situation but primary research is strongly advised where possible.
for this task i am asked to analyse how social media sites can engage an audience and promote a media product. i will have to analyse the following social media platforms:
Instagram
Twitter
FaceBook
Youtube
i will have to answer the following questions for each platform:
how is the platform effective in engaging thew audience?
how is the platform effective in promoting a product?
give an example of a media company/product that has successfully promoted a product on the social media platform?
what are the advantages/disadvantages of the social media platform?
Instagram is a social media platform that is particularly effective at engaging the audience and also engaging with the audience. Instagram works closely with social media influencers to build different fan bases and to strike a connection with them. this broadens as many influencers build followers who spiderweb to other influencers. this also helps marketing a product due to a broader audience. Instagram also hosts profiles of high profile brands or shops such as the BSTNstore or TheSoleSupplier which sell limited release stock of clothing and shoes. Instagram also uses hashtags to put peoples posts together so the target demographic can search for a word or phrase and find multiple influencers and average users alike. Instagram also hosts sponsored advertisements from big brands such as Experian. One of the main disadvantages to instagram is the fact that you have to upload a photo or video on every post, also there is nothing that sets sponsored ads from normal posts apart from a small text underneath the title. however instagram is a relatively good platform due to the fact of how easy it is to reach a wide audience.
these advertisements from @benandjerrys and @levis are successful due to them reaching a wide audience. they manage this due to their ads being sponsored and paid for to reach a wider range.
Twitter
Twitter also takes advantage of social media influencers to engage the audience. the influencers also help market product by spreading awareness. the platform is effective in promoting products because various influencers will talk about the subject or object on their feed. the platform is also effective due to the fact that the audience gain feedback and are actively consuming the product, in this case replying to the thread.
adidas has successfully marketed products on Twitter, they did this by interacting with their followers on their causes for concerns and any questions they have. they would also slide a little advertisement to one of their products. i believe twitter is a good way to advertise products in a sense as the audience will be consuming it more actively than they would on most other social media platforms. however i also think advertising on has some disadvantages due to the fact that there are many inactive twitter accounts and twitter will not give your brand the exposure that a platform such as Snapchat could. another disadvantage is that twitters feed is already overly saturated with advertisements and promotions.
Facebook
Facebook is an effective platform to engage an audience due to the fact Facebook has millions of active users and the feed of ads is incorporated in between posts and sometimes in the middle of videos. Facebook is also effective at promoting products due to the fact that Facebook hosts a share button which can be taken advantage of if the product is promoted correctly, if the hosts of the advertisement make it relatable to the target audience theres a chance it will be shared and be seen by a whole list of new people. huge names such as BetFred and WilliamHill have successfully had ad campaigns on Facebook, their preferred method is an ad interruption mid way into a viral video shared on Facebook. Facebook pages are also a successful way of advertising on this platform.
there are many benefits to advertising on Facebook such as it provides small businesses with efficient results even though they have a small budget. there are also some disadvantages though, such as some users scroll past the ads and you are not guaranteed any engagements/results.
YouTube
youtube is a platform that is particularly effective at engaging the audience due to the fact that there is so much freedom on the media that as the consumer you consume. there are millions of videos to choose from so the viewer is always watching something they find engaging. youtube is also particularly effective at advertising due to the fact that it remembers particular topics you have googled recently to cater advertisements to you, this increases effectiveness as the consumer is more likely to click on the advertisements. Burger king have successfully ran an ad campaign on YouTube. there are many advantages to advertising on this platform such as, statistically the consumers trust youtube ads more than the other platforms. there are also disadvantages such as the fact that there is so many other ads to compete with.
for this production i am tasked with writing a written report about the many methods of gathering audio in both moving image and audio production. i am also to discuss the importance of sound in modern filmmaking and audio production and how it creates meaning for the audience including detailed illustrative examples and analysis of existing work.
diagetic and non diagetic sound
Diegetic sound is a noise which is heard and appears to be coming from a source on screen. They are noises which have not been edited in,for example speech between characters or footsteps. Non-diegetic sound is a noise which does not have a source on-screen, they have been added in. this could include sound effects or foley sounds or theme tunes. producers usually add non diagetic sound as a way to add effect, drama or tension to their production.
censoring
this video shows the power of censoring words in visual productions, it can change a whole aspect of a specific clip. however, censoring provides a purpose. censoring profanity can help bring down the age rating on a video. this is important because a lower age rating can broaden the target audience and can increase the amount of views the media production receives. censoring also helps stick to the standards and laws set in place to protect people under the age of 18 to assure they don’t see content too explicit. laws in the UK monitor what goes onto television and at what times they do, for example, you are more likely to hear profanity on TV after 9pm.
dubs
this program is an example of a foreign production being repurposed for an audience that speaks a totally different language. they will source english speaking actors to voice over the original clips to make it understandable and grammatically correct to a different demographic. Money heist is originally a spanish TV series purposed for spanish and spanish speaking countries around the world, it was published on the streaming platform netflix. the producers then sourced english actors to voice over the final product. the “dubbed” TV program me could then either be re published or used as an option on the original video to switch to the dubbed version. doing this helps this program expand their audience which could potentially increase overall profits.
camera microphone
when you start filming a video without plugging in your external microphone, there is a possibility your camera will still capture audio depending on if your model of camera has a built in microphone.
there are many advantages to using the built in microphone.these include, ease of access, the user can record sound relatively easily without having to pay extra money just to record audio. the microphone will also be at a condensed size making it easier to transport and relatively light compared to other microphones. these microphones also pick up a range of high frequencies easily.
there are also many disadvantages to using the built in microphone such as the quality of the recording is nowhere near the quality that say, a boom mic would capture. there is also a limit the the maximum level of signal the microphone can pick up. these microphones are also more complex and are adversely effected by temperature and humidity.
as we can see in this clip, the microphone isn’t perfect, there are many downfalls to using this kind of microphone. the audio picked up, without editing, is not at a loud enough and clear enough level that it is viable for a professional production. the microphone is muffled and unclear.
shotgun microphone
the rode microphone is a high quality directional microphone that is made to work with a variety of DSLR cameras that have microphone input and can provide power to the mic. this microphone has a frequency of 100Hertz.
there are many advantages to using this type of microphone such as, the microphone has a higher quality than the built in the built in microphones. they pick up a wide range of frequencies and are more resilient than the built in mic.
there are also numerous disadvantages to using this type of microphone. these include; the camera still doesnt have the best quality of recording and the microphones are quite big so sometimes can get in the way of the shot if not set up properly.
this microphone picks up the sound better than the built in microphone did. it picked up the sound easier, it was louder and there was clarity in the recording, however it also picked up the background noise which made it harder to hear what was going on. once again this wasn’t the ideal recording device to use due to the fact that there was so much noise picked up. this happens due to the fact that the microphone is a lot larger and significantly more powerful than the built in microphone. you can also use an attachment for the microphone when filming in slightly windy conditions. this is called a “dead cat” it is given this name as it is a fluffy glove-like attachment that slides over the microphones foam.
digital recorder
a digital microphone recorder records the audio in a digital format and digitally modulated. there are numerous types from wireless handheld ones to digital studio microphones.
digital recorders are the best microphones for quality, there are no moving parts and are generally high quality and well built. the portable recorders are fairly easy to use due to a simple User Interface.
there are disadvantages to using this kind of microphone however such as the fact that you may have to use a seperate SD card to store the audio files on which isnt always accessible.
in this short audio clip we can hear that the audio is picked up clearly and with a bit of editing and evening the audio levels out, the sound will be higher quality than any other type of recording which i have discussed.
boom mic
a boom mic is a type of external mic held by an audio technician. this mic heavily relies on microphone placement to gain the best quality without the microphone being in shot. these types of mics are usually used in high cost productions.
there are many advantages to using these types of mics such as it can cut down the production time if used correctly. the quality of the microphone recording is far superior to most other microphones.
there are also disadvantages to using boom mics such as, they can ruin full clips if the boom mic is seen in just one frame of the clip. unusable clips take up extra storage which can increase production time.
sound booth recordings
sound booth recordings can provide a dampened and crisp sound. this type of recording is usually used for voice-overs of animation or for songs and soundtracks. booth recordings are also sometimes used on music videos.
typically for this kind of recording, you are going to need to film separately which can be more time consuming unless the video production set in the booth.
there are also benefits to recording in a booth due to the fact that everything is linked up to the computer and recorded. there is a lot of equipment in the surroundings which could possibly benefit the recording.
foley sounds
foley sounds are when you make sound effects using every day objects and the environment around you. it is a way to improvise and make appropriate sound effects such as a horses gallop. it is named foley sounds after the effects artist jack foley.
Lapel mic
lapel mics are used in many aspects of media. they are heavily used in news reporting and interviews due to their simplicity and their ability to record multiple people closely to gain a sustained volume of voice.
lapel mics may not deliver the best quality of recording but they are reliable and appropriate for what they are used for. they sometimes stop working but high budget companies usually take spares in case of malfunction or breakage. they are relatively low cost and small making them easy to conceal.
i had problems getting the lapel mic to work, however i do know they are significantly better than the built in mic and provide a sound that is far better in quality. these mics provide a louder and clearer sound due to how close the microphone is to the speaker.
music
music is heavily used in media production to add tone and to keep the audience entertained during downtime or during B roll. music can help set a theme for the whole production and can help portray emotion in upsetting scenes. an upbeat song can set an excited mood. the target demographic are also effected by the music as music can change peoples emotions completely. if the audience are feeling the same emotion as the actors which can help keep them on track of the story and make it relatable.
summary
in conclusion, through this investigation i have found out that Digital Audio recordings are the most professional way of recording audio as the benefits far out-beat the disadvantages of the device. the audio is far superior to any other device we tried recording with, the audio was clearer but also had a louder volume and picked up the frequencies better. as a film maker there are many problems we face on a daily. as part of the job description it is essential to ensure the best sound quality is captured at all times, for example this could mean we take extra steps to ensure the mic doesnt pick up the wind too much or ensure the quality is of its best. to resolve these problems i would ensure i am using the write device for the right moments, for example i would use a lapel mic in an interview situation, and then a shotgun microphone or digital microphone recorder for a staged performance such as a short film. if i was to use the shotgun microphones i would also ensure i use the “dead-cat” when filming outside to reduce the noise the wind creates. throughout this project i have learnt how to resolve common problems that occur when filming with different kinds of microphones, i have also learnt the situations to which microphone should be used for and when. The most important information i have learnt from this project is ultimately which microphone is better overall and to conclude the digital audio recorder is considered superior. this will help develop my work as i can take this information into account and ensure to use it in my future projects, this will improve the quality of my work whilst also building a professional ethic.
i was tasked with working with a member of staff named Dave Foy. in our brief we had to portray our subjects in a specific way, i chose to represent my subject in a way that shows their typical day to day tasks that he has to complete at work.
the following is a short interview i held with Dave to gain an understanding on how he himself would like to be portrayed.
overall i believe the photos captured his day to day work life pretty well, dave is a Health and Safety manager so in his line of work he has to check on various pieces of machinery and gauges. he also has to speak to students and staff to check that they are not breaching the health and safety laws.
This photo was taken by Alec Soth. There are many ways of interpreting this photo, however, i see it as though he is a mechanic for aeroplanes or possibly a pilot, i believe he has a hobby to do with planes and that this photo takes a professional approach to show how his hobbies led him down his life path. i also think this photo hints towards his loneliness and isolation due to his location seeming like it is in the middle of nowhere, this makes me think he focuses on his work and hobbies and nothing else.
ideas generation
for my idea i would like my photo to be in the same sort of style as Alec Soth as i like his cartoonish style which carry an undertone and a message. i would like my photos to link to the subjects life such as their profession and/or hobbies. i would like my photos to have a flow to them and to capture the person as they are, to do this i will make sure they are comfortable around me and give them no warning as to when i take the picture so they don’t have time to react.
LBrownMedia 