Skills

Digital Technology

What can you do with a digital video camera?
Skills I have adapted whilst doing the A level Media Studies course using the a digital video camera include setting up the camera for use, understanding the use of all of its buttons (record, playback, fast forward etc). I have developed an in depth understanding of the process of recording off the video camera and picked up a lot of skills throughout the course that have enabled me to create high quality media productions.


What sound recording techniques do you have?
When it came to sound recording, I have learnt the most effective use of sound recording is that off the actual camera itself. The handheld cameras had a built in microphone which proved effective when recording simple productions such as preliminary tasks, interviewing candidates as part of our audience research and shooting our thriller opening sequence the previous year. The main production this year of the music video Kenny and I were able to use the big Sony HDV 1000E camera. This had its own detachable microphone which was of a higher quality enabling us to record sound clips needed in places of the music video such as the start.

What skills did you develop using Final Cut?
Final Cut and Final Cut Pro allowed me to pick up a lot of useful editing techniques. Having only previously used Imovie on apple macs, I was new to Final Cut but after last year when we received a lecture from a professional who came into my college to give us tutorials, I quickly developed a basic understanding of the program. Using the program more and more often when doing smaller tasks as well as main projects throughout the course has enable me to improve quickly and start doing more complicated editing techniques such as sectioning in which we used in parts of our music video.

Did you use a digital camera (photographic)?
I used a digital camera when taking pictures for locations in part of the pre production stage of both the music video and the thriller opening sequence. I took a variety of different shots during both visits, developing an understanding of interesting shots and also experimenting and understanding the cameras uses and tool buttons.

What skills do you have?
The main skills I have developed throughout the 2 year course that I feel have proved most useful is the ability to picture in my mind a particular camera shot and create ideas that would make interesting shots. I have picked up skills when it came to location scouting and found that having a basic knowledge of the local area proved very useful. My communication skills and contacting skills have also improved throughout the two years, but particularly in this year. My communication skills were put into practice when contacting several people in the industry about locations, advice on the music video production and when sorting out our chosen artist and communicating with him through social networks and email about arrangements.


What were the good and bad things about the software and hardware at AS? In the AS yea the main software we used were Imovie for preliminary tasks and Final Cut Express for the main thriller opening sequence production. The good aspects of Imovie is that it is very convenient for quick capturing of footage and for simple, yet effective editing. This proved useful when doing the preliminary task. One negative aspect about Imovie is that its editing options are quite limited and basics, particularly when it comes to transitions and titles. Final Cut Express had some really good uses and gave a professional feel to our finished product. The program is very good for doing complicated and professional looking editing techniques. However one bad thing about Final Cut Express is the fact that when you first use it it is quite hard to navigate around and get to grips to the uses of each tools etc. However after a few sessions you can confidently use it.





Creativity
How creative were you at AS? When we shot our Thriller Opening Sequence we tried to be as creative as possible to make our product interesting and effective. We used interesting camera shots such as the reflection of a car mirror and putting the camera in under the bonnet of the car and opening the bonnet. We also used a handheld camera when portraying the view of the "killer" in the sequence to create a shaky and frantic scene. When it came to location choice we considered several ideas but we choose to go to the most isolated location of an abandoned railway as this would be a typical spooky setting as such found in a thriller opening sequence.


Research and Planning
What techniques did you use? Using primary research such as watching films I was able to annotate and observe recurring themes and connotations that featured in thriller opening sequence. Obtaining these generic conventions I was able to think about what conventions I could incorparate into my thriller opening sequence and which aspects were most interesting. For audience research we primarely used microsoft word to compose a questionnaire to hand out people. We also used the internet for several uses such as institutional research and research into real and similar media products.

What would you improve? We had an issue where in one particular shot during the car scene you could see me filming the clip in the reflection of the car window which creates a senses of unprofessionalism. I think I would have also tried to incorporate more thriller conventions the opening sequence.

How did you use Internet? We used the internet when it came to uploading new posts of pre and post production work onto our blog. We also used websites such as youtube to upload rough edits of our music video and preliminary tasks to receive feedback from the youtube community about our videos. We used social network sites and emails to contact certain people in the music industry which proved a useful skill to have

Post-Production
How did you organize your editing?
What techniques did you use? Be specific about precise SFX, transitions, sound bridges, graphics....
What about post-production for your evaluation? What might you improve?Using conventions from real media texts
It is impossible to create an entirely original media text.
What conventions did you follow? Did you subvert any conventions?
How did you create meaning for the audience? Through film language and editing?

Human Traffic

Do you think Human Traffic encourages or glorifies drug use?


Human traffic is comedy/drama/music film that revolves around 5 main characters and their love for music and drugs. Throughout the film the predominant feature is the use of drugs, which ties in with the rave culture of the 1990's. Not only are the main characters taking drugs, but the majority of the people who are at the clubs and house parties in the film. This suggests that drug use in the 1990 era is very popular. Each of the main characters express their love for the weekend and the majority of them hate their jobs and are living for the weekend. During the film this is continuous reference to the effects that the drugs have on the characters mind and body and is quite informative. However the information mainly focuses around the positive effects of ecstasy such as being able to dance for hours and feeling confident when talking to other people. There is reference to the "come down" after taking the drug which puts drug usage in a more negative appeal. The films main scenes were set in the club and house party in which drugs such as ecstasy, cannabis and alcohol are consumed. The way both the camera angles, flashing lights, loud music, intense colours and fast paced editing are used creates a sense of being in the characters shoes and experiencing what they are.
Theories such as the "Effects Model" where mass media affects the way audience think and behave could be active in Human Traffic due to glorifying drug use and perhaps influencing some people. I personally feel that if you were quite an impressionable person, Human Traffic does glorify drug use and could perhaps persuade you to try them. I also think the film focuses on the positive effects of drugs rather than the health issues that come with consumption. For example a particular scene where Nina's brother is nervous about taking drugs and is set in a science laboratory lab where the teacher is outlining all the negative effects and Jip is telling him about the good effects and that in actual fact the risk of using ecstasy is very small. This could come across as a bit of a biased film and could perhaps include aspects of the propaganda theory if you are an easily impressionable person. However I really enjoyed the film and thought it represent the 1990's raver culture fairly.

My Theory

Discountenance - the awkward situation when watching a comedy sketch

British Film Study

Robin Hood - 2010

Story and plot: Robin Hood is a film based in 13th century Nottingham about a man ( Robin Hood) who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Him and his gang of merry men, including characters such as Little John target the rich, confront them, threatening them with bows, arrows and swords. The film relates to a british matter because it is about the currpotion of the throne during the 13th century and is about the distinct barrier between rich and poor people during that period of time.

Actors: The actor who played Robin Hood is New Zealand born actor called Russell Crowe. He grew up in Austrailer. He also helped produce Robin Hood. Crowe has been in a total of 42 films including American Gangster, Gladiator, and The Insider. C

Actress : One of the leading femal characters Marion is played by Australian born actress Cate Blanchett. She has appeared in The Lord Of The Rings Triology, Hot Fuzz and Babel.

Director: The director was Ridley Scott, who was born in county durham, England. He has director both American Gangster and Gladiator, in which Russell Crowe appears in both. He has also director the film Alien.

Style/Genre: I think that the film characterises the style of the film as Action/Adventure/Drama due to aspects that feature in the film that fall into these particular genres.

Production Company: The production company was Universal Pictures, which is based in California, US, Florida. The film is a co-production from different countries including other companies such as Imagine Entertainment, United States and also Relativity Media, again California.

Distribution : The film was also distributed by Universal Pictures

Exibition: The film was released May the 14th, 2010 and it's box office weekend grossed £75 million out of North America. Its competition was Iron Man 2, which was releasd May the 8th 2010.