Titles Update

We couldn't figure out the titling software so we resorted to using Final Cut Pro. The titles available here were high quality and easy to implement which made them ideal for us to use. We are now working on importing our piece and evaluation onto a DVD. We hope to finish this, with Paddy's help when he has free periods, by the end of the week.

Film Studios List

New Line Cinema

Lions Gate Entertainment

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Paramount Pictures

Universal Studios

Warner Bros. Pictures

Evaluation Update

We have finished filming our evaluation and we just need to edit it, adding clips and removing mistakes we made. Ryan took the camera with him to film added information for the evaluation (strengths and weaknesses of our piece) as we ran out of time when we were trying to get it filmed. Overall we only needed to film for about an hour, relatively little compared to how long the actual piece did.

Evaluation First Draft

1.       Our media product uses the tried and tested methods of creating atmosphere such as a dark setting for the pieces that build up suspense or a long shot to show isolation. I think that we challenged the conventions of media products by filming using two cameras, one that the characters are obviously aware of as they are filming using it. We referred to this as the amateur camera. The second camera was the conventional film camera that the characters are unaware of. We used this to get in the shots that the amateur camera couldn't feasibly do. We referred to this as the pro camera.

2.       Our media product represents only one social group as all of the characters are members of the group; Caucasian w/c. They are however part of an adolescent subculture. We represented this group as friendly but always aggravating their friends. We also represented them as slightly rebellious, out wandering the streets at night.

3.       We feel that the best media institution to distribute our product would be the social network YouTube as it is only around five minutes long and YouTube would allow us to distribute to a large amount of people, free for both parties, and potentially reach more members of our target demographic, which is people between the ages of 15 and 30 who enjoy horror/suspense films.

4.       We showed whoever we could during our free periods, posted the video on Facebook and YouTube. We received mostly favourable feedback with some constructive criticism from a few people, mostly those who also do Media Studies or Moving Image Arts.

5.       We have learnt a great deal more about software than hardware though we did all learn how to efficiently operate two cameras at once and a tripod. The software though was a different story. We were using iMovie for the majority of the editing, but we used Final Cut X to include the viewfinder effect in the amateur camera shots. We also tried to experiment with GarageBand to come up with a song that would fit our piece. I made an energetic piece that was unfortunately too long to include though it fit the tone of the piece quite well.

6.       The preliminary piece was of a much lower standard than our finished product. We weren’t sure what we were doing. It was definitely a learning experience. We learned that even when finished filming to hold off on the haircuts for a week or so in case you need to re-film a scene! We also learned how best to get certain angles and how to look out for possible continuity errors. We learned to be mindful of the setting and whether other people are going to use it. We applied all of these lessons to the final piece and I think it shows.

Update

We have now completed the titling and are working on the evaluation which Conchur and I are scripting. We will film it within the next week and from only need to edit it to include clips from the piece to put on the DVD.

Another Update.

All that needs to be done at this point is the titling sequence, which is probably going to be the biggest challenge since ryan and I haven't the faintest idea on how to use the software. Ryan fiddled around with it last period and I've been doing the same this period, so we're slowly trying to get used to it. Once we learn how to use the software and finish our titling sequence, all that needs to be done is burning the piece on to a DVD.

Update

It's just been me today, and yesterday, both Conchur and Paddy are sick. I've been working on finishing editing the project. It's gone fairly well; I've included all sound effects and all I need to do now is add in the titles. It's been a long haul trying to finish this by myself but I'm nearly there. Ryan Cairns

Update on editing

We have nearly finished editing our suspense piece. We nearly lost a clip but luckily we had it backed up on memory stick. Now all we need to do is add music to the clips and trim any unneeded footage.

Update

All we have left to do is to film one last scene and then obviously edit that. Aside from that we are waiting on titling software to put some titles in over the opening. We know where we're going with this as Paddy knocked up a rough edit of it to give us an idea and we liked it.