Questions:
Answers:
| Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 0 √ | 19th March | FMP Brief: Changed
|
Visit to Kubrick Archive and Tate modern | WORK | Write up Kubrick Archives | Write up Tate Modern visit | Researching effects (YouTube) |
| 1 √ | 26th March
Come up with ideas. Choose final idea. |
Adapt final idea. Research after effects | find pictures for costume, location and after effects. | WORK | Start writing proposal | Start writing proposal | 1st April Easter
Day off |
| 2 √ Easter Hols | 2nd April
Email Elena proposal to see if I am doing the correct thing |
Picture research | Knole garden visit
Reply from Elena |
WORK | WORK
Extra email from Elena |
Knole Garden write up | East Grinstead Location rekki.
Finish Proposal 1stdraft |
| 3 √ Easter Hols | 9th April
Write up about the location rekki |
Science Museum Visit | WORK | WORK | WORK | Write up Science Museum visit | Personal time. |
| 4 √ | 16th April 1st Draft Proposal Deadline
Proposal review. Research: – Altered Carbon -The Host -Divergent |
Research:
-Illuminae -Drug side effects -The world without water -Cape town water shortage |
After effects research and note taking and simplified instructions.
Proposal final draft complete. |
WORK | WORK | Personal Time | Test Shoot for after effects and effects in general. |
| 5 √
|
23rd April
Edit in the effects. Create Survey. Skills Audit. |
Edit in the effects.
Casting.
|
Script ideas. Brief Narrative.
Finalise locations & costumes Fin: Creates music |
WORK | WORK | Seeing Avengers: Infinity War at the cinema. | Write and send out Self Tape Scripts.
Draw character costume |
| 6 √ | 30th April
Scripting draft 1. Peer feedback Character profile. Context checklist |
Scripting draft 2.
Feedback & focus group. Create story board template. Choose final cast. |
Final draft for script.
Filming Paper work for Monday. Contact cast. |
WORK | Story boarding. | Personal Time. | Story boarding. |
| 7 √ | 7th May BankHoliday
Filming- abandoned building.
|
Update Blog
Reflection Filming Paperwork Create self-tape video compilation |
Film in TV studio
Acting for Dan’s film |
WORK | WordPress updating | Filming last few shots | Personal Time. |
| 8 √ | 14th May
Editing- hologram person Blog |
Editing- hologram watch and drug side effects
Blog research and reflection |
Editing- rough cut
Paperwork Filming for Troy |
Deadpool 2 at the cinema | Editing- dialogue
WordPress. WORK |
Personal Time | Personal Time |
| 9 | 21st May
Editing- colour grading, creating title |
Filming for Troy
Editing- Title |
Filming for Troy
Editing- adding transitions, re-ordering footage. |
Editing- background disruption.
Feedback on film so far. |
WORK | Personal Time | WORK |
| 10 Half term | 28th May BankHoliday
|
WORK | Prep on blog for future posts | WORK | Final Edit | WORK | Personal time |
| 11 | 4th June
Hand in work
|
WordPress | 6th June
WORK |
Personal time | WORK | WordPress | WORK |
| 12 | 11th June
WordPress |
Group Crit | 13th June
Diploma Show Group Crit Folder |
WORK | All WorkCompleted | WORK | |
| 13 | 18th June | ||||||
| 14 | 25th June
Term Ends |
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media (Unit 8) Evaluation
Number of words: approx. 750
| Student name: Charlotte Lee
Critically evaluate a media project against the agreed requirements and parameters. |
| 1 Proposal |
| My proposal was based around the idea of water becoming finite so supplement pills are created to keep humanity living. I was going to base the film around a young woman surviving with these effects.
I think it was ambitious I knew I wanted to create holograms which is something I haven’t ever done before. I was also able to develop a slightly different narrative from my proposal. Instead of just following a girl living with the effects I made the film into more of a rebellion story. I also developed the idea of the government putting extra drugs into the pills to cause the side effects, this was supposed to keep the public under control. |
| 2 Sources |
| I went to the Science Museum and Tate Modern to conduct research. I also used films, TV series, book, online videos and internet research. In the Tate Modern I was able to get inspiration for my film even if it was for a different idea. In the Science Museum I found out about limited resources and drug resistance. From the films and TV series that I watched they inspired different things within my work, for example, Altered Carbon inspired my idea for drug abuse and holograms. The host inspired me to have a reoccurring theme in my film.
I chose resources that were visually interesting so that I could then create a visually interesting piece of work. As I developed my ideas I got absorbed into this fear of resources becoming limited and carried on researching so that I could make the fear that I had discovered real in my film. Once it came to editing I started to do more research into editing in my effects, colour grading and titles. My research helped me to create a film that has a believable element to it. I believe if a film doesn’t have some believable and relatable qualities it won’t absorb the attention of the audiences. I think it would have helped to find more visually related resources to the side effects of drugs, as my idea may not be realistic. I also wished I had spoken to people who have taken drugs to get real life opinions. |
| 3 Development of ideas |
| Originally I was going to create a film following the life of a girl whole has to put up with the side effects of something that is necessary to her survival. I then decided to develop the idea into a film about rebellion. At first I had no reason for the supplements to have any reason to cause side effects; then I developed the idea of the government adding extra drugs to the pills to cause the side effects.
In my trailer I don’t think the idea of the government putting drugs in the pills is very clear. My idea for the trailer is for it to be mysterious and cause the audience to question what is happening so that it entices them to watch the film. My work progressed very quickly, at one point I was ahead of schedule which was worrying as I thought I had forgotten something but it turned out to be very helpful as it gave me more time to edit and help out with other people’s work. I think my action plan was successful as I handed the film in on time and will finish all the writing work in time too. |
| Contextual links |
| I found the internet very helpful. Everything is at the end of your fingertips meaning I could do one piece of research and if I had any further questions I could research a little bit more. For the visual idea the internet was also very helpful (specifically Pinterest). However, I also found TV series and films very helpful because they are all visual and you can take ideas from multiple films and put them into your own.
The more I worked the bigger my bibliography got as I was constantly research more starting at the basics and then I started to think out of the box. I think it is important to look at other film makers work when doing my own work as you can see the mistakes they make and take note to avoid it. Alternatively, you can see things that they do well and aim to achieve something similar. I like to call it ‘magpieing’ but sometimes I like to borrow ideas from other films or inspire my film around someone else’s work |
| Problem solving |
| During production I had to change my original time plan to suit my main actress, originally I was going to film in the evening but had to change to during the day, it turns out this was probably helpful as it allowed my location to be more lit up. In editing I thought I could use my test shots as templates- but couldn’t- so I ended out having to spend more time editing my effects than originally planned. I also had to re-shoot my voice over multiple times as it wasn’t good enough, this increased my editing time quite a bit aswell.
I have learnt that Adobe Audition isn’t the solution to audio issues, sometimes you just have to suck it up and re-shoot. Planning is key; without planning my filming days would have been a shamble and would have doubled the amount of time spent on location. |
| 6 Development of skills |
| I have learnt how to use my camera properly, this means I have good shots and none of my footage was out of focus. I learnt how to use Adobe After Effects, in turn this made me have a better understanding of Adobe software in general as they all run in a similar way.
From the beginning of the FMP I have said I would like to go into the CGI/ FX industry and this is still the case. In fact, my enthusiasm towards CGI/ FX has increased. I found that editing the effects in really fun and therapeutic. I would like to explore more into this avenue and possibly take it as my subject for university. |
| Outcomes |
| My aim was to create a trailer. I feel my film fulfills the criteria of a trailer.
To be honest I don’t really like my film anymore, I have watched it so many times that I find it hard to enjoy it now. I also think the way I approached the idea for the film could be completely different. I think the voice over is very cheesy and needs a brand new script. I also feel the whole narrative is un-original and the narrative is a bit weak. I also wish I had created a short film instead of a trailer, however, I don’t think I was quite ready to create a full film yet- when I started the FMP. Some strengths are: the music, colour grading, effects and the title. Some weaknesses are: the voice over, the time length, the continuity of some shots and the quantity of shots taken. I believe my film has followed the concept. The deeper narrative is hidden so that the audience don’t know the whole film without watching it but you get an essence of the story. I stuck to a sci-fi, dystopian genre so I kept to the original theme. |
| 8 Retrospect |
| In future projects I am going to consult people on what they think about the script and get truthful feedback. I am also considering giving the script to a fellow pupil and allowing them to direct it. I think this could be an interesting experiment to see how they adapt the script. I also want to explore CGI/ FX further and develop my knowledge on it.
In year two I am going to have a go at making short films so that I can push my boundaries. |
| 9. Conclusion |
| I have learnt that planning and research is key to every production. Without research you could be portraying a load of lies through the screen. Without planning filming days could be really un-organized and you could miss out shots. I have learnt that having honest feedback is really important, people like to tell you that it is really good but that never works and makes you not improve your film. I have learnt a lot about editing programs such as Adobe After Effects and Premier Pro CC. I have also learnt that casting is key, bad acting could ruin a film so having good actors is really important |
The biggest problem I had was the voice over, the original issue was there was a lot of background disruption that I tried to edit out but that made the voice sound robotic. Luckily my actress was able to re-record it and it was sorted. The next issue is that I expected the voice over to be this big omniscience presence but it sounds a bit week and not dark enough to fit in with the film. Also the actual writing is poor and very basic.
I originally thought to make the holograms I could also use the test shots I did as templates. Turns out I couldn’t. The hologram person turned out ok but I am not as proud of the hologram screen. I think the footage on it should have been different.
On the filming day in the abandoned building we had to get to set 3 hours earlier because Brigi the main actress could not make the later times that I originally planned. Therefore I had to re-arrange the time table. This wasn’t too much of an issue and it ended out being helpful as it meant the natural light was still available and I didn’t have to try lighting my scenes. This meant I had less to worry about when using artificial lighting.
On my filming day it was very hot (27°C). I had planned for the character, Idris’s costume to have a hood and a jumper. Unfortunately we could not make Brigi wear the jumper as it would have caused a health and safety hazard. Instead I played with lighting and the camera angle to keep her identity as secret as possible.
Brig (the main actress) was not available for filming multiple days so all the scenes that I said would be filmed in Oxted didn’t happen. Instead I filmed most shots at the abandoned building so that I would still have my footage. Thinking back on it I’m not sure the underground walk way in Oxted would have worked as the location has a very different tone to the abandoned building.
Brigi, Alana and Ben all asked me to print out the image release forms for them so they could fill them out. Unfortunately, Jess forgot to bring hers so When I gave them all the forms Jess, Ben and Alana filled in the actual form and Brigi was left to just write her details on the back of one of the sheets. The same happened on a later filming day when I asked Dan to print his out and he forgot.
I had an idea to make jewellery out of tinfoil, thinking it would look sic-fi, it ended out looking really cheap and tacky. Therefore I did not include it in my costume.
Sam, an actor I had cast for a specific shot could not make the filming day so the shot that I wanted to get could not happen. In relation to this shot, during editing I wished I had a medium rule of third shot of al my characters as I think it would have filled out my trailer a bit more.
Looking back on my work I wished the music was longer and therefore my trailer would have been longer too as I feel like I could have included more shots and made the film feel bigger.
Overall, No.
There are parts I like and am proud of but in general I do not like my film.
I am always over critical of my work and whenever there is group crit I am usually the one to contribute the most criticisms towards my own work.
Elena says I should be proud of my work especially for a first year student but I find it hard to oversee this.
I like my film for the way some frames look:
I am also proud of the way I used after effects- I still have a lot to learn but I don’t think I did a bad job for a rookie!
My film also follows all the codes and conventions of a trailer So I guess that makes it a successful film. But…
One big reason for me not liking my film is because I have spent so much time creating it, coming up with this big idea in my head. Now that I have created it I feel the initial picture in my head is different and not as good. I had high expectations that were in some ways too high.
I think I also lost a love in my project by the end of the process as I had been working on it for a long time and then realised there was nothing more to add to it to make it better (well… in the time limit). I know perfection is not achievable but I always strive for it.
Looking at my film I would approach the whole concept differently. For my film I chose an easier option of creating a trailer for a film of TV series. In some ways I wished I had chosen to make a pilot episode. It would have required a lot more work but I feel it would have kept my attention for it longer than the trailer. In someways I don’t think I’m ready to do such a big project.
In my film I have a voice over. I feel the voice over is very cheesy and has no art to it. It is very explicit and I feel like it should have been more implicit. I am a massive reader and feel I could have done better.
I think the trailer is too short, I said I was going to create something two minutes thirty seconds long and failed to do that.
I need to do more research into creating a strong narrative and then being able to portray it on screen.
When I go to get feedback on my work I always feel peoples answers aren’t honest. I usually get positive feedback but I don’t ever care about the positive feedback. I would much prefer the negative feedback as it helps me to improve.
For my film I was extremely luck to have a music student make some original music for my film.
Fin has also been completing his FMP and when I came near to finish editing some feedback I got on my film is that the music needs a big bass dramatic bit when it finishes to really make it a trailer. Unfortunately with Fin’s deadlines and a mountain of work he couldn’t edit the music. Therefore I have left the music as it is.
In the real world this would’t happen as Fin would be paid to do the job. In my case I am poor and can’t pay him.
I don’t think this compromise is too much of an issue, I like the music the way it is.
Many thanks to Fin Mowen.
Here is the story board compared to the shots that I got. I ended out mixing the order of the story board up as it made more sense the way that I put it. The following order is the original order I planned.
In this shot I did not add the hologram distortion noise as it would have ruined the message coming from the hologram.
I didn’t include the cries of war as it wasn’t necessary and would have taken away from the voice over.
There are no during water sounds. I wished I had tried out reversing the music when the water is reversed.
In this shot I thought I had enough footage of feet walking so my actress Brigi offered up an idea of watching her stumble from one post to another. I liked this idea as it showed the struggle more clearly than trying to fake a close up of stumbling feet.
This shot was not included in the film as the actor that I wanted for the shot was not available for the film. I wish I had done a shot like this for all the actors that I used as I think it could have been used.
The following titles were not kept in the film
Charlotte's Media 