Technology

Technology I used throughout this assignment: Premier Pro CS 4
JVC Camcorder
Regular Camera with video capabilitiees
Computer and Laptops

Throughout this project I had to try and overcome many difficulties with the technology I was using. It wasn't neccesarily because I was an incapable user, it was mainly due to difficulties that couldn't really be prevented. The chord for transfering videos to my computer was not very good in the end - possibly due to it being over 2 years old. It put lines through all of my footage that could not be removed and the Camecorder had no setting that was able to transfer the footage from the internal memory to a SD Card. 
My use of the Premier Pro programme was resonably good I believe, especially considering that prior to this I hadn't heard of it. If I had spent a longer period of time using it in post production my use of it would have probably been a lot better. 
If I were to use the same technology all over again, I think I would be a more competent user now. 

Production Log

Week 9: This week we thought mainly about what we might like to do as an opening sequence for a film. This was thinking about genres etc. We also got given the booklet / sheets specifying what we would need to do for this - how long it should be, what we need to write about.
Week 10: This week it was quite stressful because we had to decide on an idea and set it in concrete. I have chosen to do an opening sequence for a dance mockumetary film. By the end of this week we had to have completed the Concept for the film, the storyboard to go with it and the treatment. The treatment took the longest, because that involved the most writting.
Week 11: Ms Kazimi signed off / checked that we had done the 3 tasks. I also spent this week trying to source a camera that would be right for filming.
HOLIDAYS (week 1,2): I didn't do much for this assignment over the holidays. However I did source my cast 
Week 3: Decided finally on where I was going to be filming and the cast got assigned characters.
Week 4:  Filmed my opening sequence and was very happy with quality and 5/6 of the cast could make it.
Week 5: Spent the whole entire week trying to transfer files off the internal memory of the camera onto and SD card or the computer. No luck. However at the end of the week a friend found a chord that fitted, as the files were transferred however it put white lines through all of my videos. Could hardly see the videos because of this.
Week 6:Figured out that I needed to re-film, however everything was at a stand still due to availability of cast and venue.
Week 7: I had to re-film my entire film again. This meant my time for editing was not very long at all.. I had to finish everything off this week although I was luck enough to get an extension.

Task 10: Production Process Evaluation

Positive aspects of the process: The cast I had chosen to work with was very good. For example they took direction well and showed good initiative, they supplied their own costumes and they were easy to communicate with.

Steps in the process that could have been better done:

The filming process (when it was done), the camcorder.

Strategies suggested to achieve this:
Perhaps if I were to do this next time I would trial out ways in order to get the data from the camcorder to the computer in a high quality version. This is because when I filmed my movie, I did not use an SD card, but the internal memory. The problem with this was the fact that there was no way to transfer the videos from the internal memory to my computer. This was the conclusion quite late in the process and after many attempts to transfer the files.

Some evaluation of how these changes to the production process may have affected the media product: The movie could have probably been edited better because I would have had more time to focus on the 'finer' details. The quality of the film may have been higher if it were possible to borrow a camera that produced higher quality videos and transferred them at the same high quality.

Art Department

The costumes I am using for the opening sequence are sourced from each member of the cast, they used costumes that they owned and that we both agreed fitted the character best.
SOURCES
Jacqui Tieleman - tutu for leaf
Erin Wells - pink scrunchee( Candy and/or Lizzie) black skirt (Candy), black top(Candy), black leotard (leaf)
Jess Williams - white and blue top (Frostie), black leggings (Frostie)
April Mora - pink top (Lizzie), black shorts (Lizzie), black face cover (leaf)

Evaluation

I believe I achieved the main purposes I set in Tasks 1 and 3. I did have to work hard however to actually come out with the finished project as I had many set backs. 
These sets back were availability of crew, camera difficulties, voice over difficulties.
 I compromised for these however, but still achieved the desired affect for my movie.
Instead of having 6 characters in my movie, due to availability of the cast I only could have 4 characters. I had to re-film the whole entire film as the camera I was using did not transfer videos properly in the end, and the original videos were unusable. Then when I was editing I discovered with the music playing at the lowest possible volume in the background they were still too quiet... To fix this I did louder voice-overs myself as time was running out to get my crew organised to re do the voice-overs.

Task 2 Research

When I ran the concept of my film past members of my class as well as my friends, they thought that the idea of a dance mockumentary was a funny idea. I looked at filming in the school dance hall, however it was easier for the cast to get to the venue where we have ballet lessons. I discovered that it was easier for each individual member of the class to find/make their own costume rather than individually sourcing what I though would suit the character best. This method I think will work the best.
I did some research on dancing / modeling shows:
Dancing with the stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHId71iKGns&feature=related
I quite like the idea of them all in a group at the end
Dancing on ice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaWOnBL9GBA
New Zealands Next Top Model:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFP8w18afj0

Although these are all for only opening sequences it gave me good ideas on how I would edit my film
E.g using voice over whilst showing videos of individual dancers dancing.
and i got the inspiration for the ending 'models/girls posing' from the ending of New
Zealands Next Top Model (couldn't find a youtube link) and dancing with the stars.

Exam Reflection

I think the exam went okay, better than my other subjects.

I studied most for genre, however I didn't feel very prepared because I didn't have many quotes or outside resources (especially not for representations). I think if I study and research the genre/movies and research representations I would be much more prepared. I definitely haven't thought about representations enough to get high grades in the exams as of yet and my genre essay needs a lot of work. I spent probably nearer 2 hours on Genre because I was just casually writing, then i realized I only had an hour so started on representations.I didn't go back and check over my essays. My research was lacking so I didn't have much expert opinions or examples memorized.