Saturday, 24 October 2009
Friday, 23 October 2009
Introduction to Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Server and account of editing the Preliminary Task
Final Cut Pro is a professional, non-linear editing software application developed by Apple Inc. The current version of the application is only available for Mac OS X, and is a module of the Final Cut Studio product. The software logs and captures video onto a hard drive, where it can be edited and processed. The current version of Final Cut Pro, version 7, runs only on Intel processors.
I have a history of using Final Cut Pro as i worked in various TV Studios over the summer, so the software wasn't new to me, but for most people it is a whole new world. Matt showed us Final Cut Server which stores all the work and when you want to edit recording then you have to check the work out of final cut server and when finished check it back in.
Once checked out the work can be edited in Final Cut Pro. At first it is really hard to get the hang of but once you have learnt where things are and some of the keyboard shortcuts and how to do things it becomes a lot simpler. You start of by creating a log bin which essentially is a folder in which you keep your best clips which can then be easily accessed to cut and stick together. Once this is done you start to bring your piece together. We looked at the final storyboard an then took the needed parts from the clips we had selected and pieced them together in a sensible way. The cut is during the action to make it look better and more realistic and believable.
We then went through the cut version and changed any visuals that didn't look right and put in any extras bits to spice up action. Once the visuals where done we went on to the sound. As the camera is closer to the actors on close ups and further away on wide shots the sound levels and quality are reduced or hightened. Also we needed to eliminate background noise and any other unwanted noises that would ruin the final peice. After that we put in a couple of background noises such as people talking, cars driving by as the set was outside. Once that was complete we had our Final Version.
EDITING THE PRELIMINARY TASK
To get us into the swing of using final cut pro we had to edit our preliminary task. We had to sort out the individual clips that we would use for the peice by selecting them from the whole recording taken on the shooting day. We then decided what order we wanted the shots to be in, i.e., do we start with a close up or a wide shot etc. Then we took the shots wanted and cut them down even further to the specific parts of that type of shot that we required. We then took thoose shots and cut them togther on the timeline to create our sequenced which went succsesfully. Finaly we cleaned up the sound and it was complete.
I have a history of using Final Cut Pro as i worked in various TV Studios over the summer, so the software wasn't new to me, but for most people it is a whole new world. Matt showed us Final Cut Server which stores all the work and when you want to edit recording then you have to check the work out of final cut server and when finished check it back in.
Once checked out the work can be edited in Final Cut Pro. At first it is really hard to get the hang of but once you have learnt where things are and some of the keyboard shortcuts and how to do things it becomes a lot simpler. You start of by creating a log bin which essentially is a folder in which you keep your best clips which can then be easily accessed to cut and stick together. Once this is done you start to bring your piece together. We looked at the final storyboard an then took the needed parts from the clips we had selected and pieced them together in a sensible way. The cut is during the action to make it look better and more realistic and believable.We then went through the cut version and changed any visuals that didn't look right and put in any extras bits to spice up action. Once the visuals where done we went on to the sound. As the camera is closer to the actors on close ups and further away on wide shots the sound levels and quality are reduced or hightened. Also we needed to eliminate background noise and any other unwanted noises that would ruin the final peice. After that we put in a couple of background noises such as people talking, cars driving by as the set was outside. Once that was complete we had our Final Version.
EDITING THE PRELIMINARY TASKTo get us into the swing of using final cut pro we had to edit our preliminary task. We had to sort out the individual clips that we would use for the peice by selecting them from the whole recording taken on the shooting day. We then decided what order we wanted the shots to be in, i.e., do we start with a close up or a wide shot etc. Then we took the shots wanted and cut them down even further to the specific parts of that type of shot that we required. We then took thoose shots and cut them togther on the timeline to create our sequenced which went succsesfully. Finaly we cleaned up the sound and it was complete.
Account of shooting the Preliminary Task
As a test of our practical skills and to produce work in order to learn the Final Cut Pro editing software we where put into groups and given a small task to do. we where given a list of shots to take, alothough we could change them if we wanted, and we where given a script the to actors to follow.
We started of by having to take the storyboard and putting in the order of which types of shots we will take in which order, i.e. wide shots first then mid-shots, and then close-ups etc. We then decided who would perform what roles. I was chosen as the editior as i have a history of using final cut pro, i also helped on the camera. Hermione was the finder of our actors and organized everything and Sarah was the main camera woman and watched the lighting.Our next task was to find our to actors wether it was 2 girls, two boys or a girl and a boy, it did'nt matter as it was our shot. My group, Hermione, Sarah and I, went with two girl actors, Heather and Megan. We then saw the set and decided on a storyline to follow. The storyline was that Mgan is trying to force Heather to Come to a nightclub with her but Heather knows her parents wouldn't aprove of it.
On the shot day we gathered the equipment and got set up getting the lights and camera ready for shoting. We stuck with our plan and glided nicley through the shoting getting some bad, good and very good shot which was a good learning process to find out how to get the best shots. We had time at the end to get some shots that were not on the storyboard which turn out to be very clever shots which we can use in the editing process to spice up the recording and make it more exciting.
End of the shot we are done we pack away our equipment and CUT.
Friday, 2 October 2009
The Practical Elements of Media
INTRODUCTION TO STILLS CAMERA
The First task we where given was to take some still pictures for our photoshop lesson. We where shown the basics of the cameras such as the shutter speed and apreatrure. We had to set the seetings on the camera and go out and take the pictures. This task presented its problems for instance when we went to take the pictures outside the light was ruining the pictures. To fix this i lowered the ISO to about 100 then put the white balance to the sun setting. I also increased the shutter speed to 1/60th and the appreature to f.22.
INTRO TO VIDEO CAMERA
Then we where introduced to the video camera and where given the task to record an interview with the other classmates. I was given the role of the one of the interviewers. I was given a script from which I read and interviewed other members of my class about why they decided to do media here at Hurtwood. Other people where assigned the task of lighting of which we used a 3 light setup, 2 at the back and 1 towards the front to light the faces, give some depth. Colours where used to help spice up the bare set. For the set we used the TV studio which was the logical place. Two more people where assigned as camera men. We used a PD170 to shot the interviews. We kept the shooting of the interviews and the camera positions as simple as possible it being out first time. Simon Wallis over looked the whole task. To help us with the technical we watch movies to help us understand the use of lighting, camera movement and give us examples.
INTRO TO THE TRI-POD
A tri-pod is a stand on which an SLR or video camera can slide on and clicks into the top. It is iportant to make sure the tri-pod has been secured!! The three lags of the tri-pod can be adjusted in height and width. They enable the camera to get a steady shot of the action as handheld can cause the footage to be shakey or blury. The arm sticking out the top of the tri-pod is used to hold and enable the use to pan and trilt the camera with ease.
A tri-pod is a stand on which an SLR or video camera can slide on and clicks into the top. It is iportant to make sure the tri-pod has been secured!! The three lags of the tri-pod can be adjusted in height and width. They enable the camera to get a steady shot of the action as handheld can cause the footage to be shakey or blury. The arm sticking out the top of the tri-pod is used to hold and enable the use to pan and trilt the camera with ease.
INTRO TO PHOTOSHOP CS3
Next we where introduced to Photoshop CS3. The software is editing software that allows its user to edit images in almost any way imaginable. Matt showed us through all the need to k now tools and helped us get to terms with how to get the best out of Photoshop.
We have had many lessons with Matt and Photoshop and each time we learn something new. With Photoshop you can make pictures lighter and darker. Put the head of one person on to the body of another, its crazy. Nearly all the main, big posters you see around today are edited using Photoshop, they are not natural pictures. Some of the tools that we used are the lasso tool which enables us to cut parts of pictures out and paste them anywhere, say onto another picture. Maybe on the body of another person. We where then sent out armed with DSLR cameras (Digital Single Lens Reflex). We where given a very quick talk through how to use the cameras and then we went out and took a few photo of friends. We then uploaded them onto the computers and started to edit them. This gave us a feel for taking the photos, uploading the photos, editing the photos and seeing the final product compared to the original and the difference it can make is incredible.
The most recent thing we have done practically was record a really simple 20 second sequence. We used the PD170 video cameras to record the sequence and we also used a tripod. To keep it simple we did not do anything fancy with the camera such as pan or tilt, we simply left the camera dead still and let the action walk into the frame. For my groups sequence we used the top floor of the dining hall as the set. We placed a chemistry book on the table and Hermione acted. She pretended to look extremely shocked when she saw the book as chemistry can be a hard subject to do.
We have had many lessons with Matt and Photoshop and each time we learn something new. With Photoshop you can make pictures lighter and darker. Put the head of one person on to the body of another, its crazy. Nearly all the main, big posters you see around today are edited using Photoshop, they are not natural pictures. Some of the tools that we used are the lasso tool which enables us to cut parts of pictures out and paste them anywhere, say onto another picture. Maybe on the body of another person. We where then sent out armed with DSLR cameras (Digital Single Lens Reflex). We where given a very quick talk through how to use the cameras and then we went out and took a few photo of friends. We then uploaded them onto the computers and started to edit them. This gave us a feel for taking the photos, uploading the photos, editing the photos and seeing the final product compared to the original and the difference it can make is incredible.
The most recent thing we have done practically was record a really simple 20 second sequence. We used the PD170 video cameras to record the sequence and we also used a tripod. To keep it simple we did not do anything fancy with the camera such as pan or tilt, we simply left the camera dead still and let the action walk into the frame. For my groups sequence we used the top floor of the dining hall as the set. We placed a chemistry book on the table and Hermione acted. She pretended to look extremely shocked when she saw the book as chemistry can be a hard subject to do.
My Thriller Poster
When starting out with thinking of ideas for my poster I thought of horror films that I have seen before that pulled me in. I tried to take things from them and change them around to make an original. I thought of films such as Halloween camp, chainsaw massacre and Amityville horror. I drew out 4 very rough sketches of for different new films. The film I settled for is called ‘The village that never woke up’.
When starting out with designing the final poster I knew I wanted a scary looking house, like Amityville horror. I decided to use Ewhurst place as it has an old theme to it and looks scary from the outside in the dark, and so when it was dark enough I took several pictures of the house. I then took several pictures of my friend, Ben Norris, who’s picture I used as the killer who standing outside looking into the house. I took several pictures of this setup in the dark so it had a more real effect to it. I then took some pictures of Ben as he pretends to stab a man through the window and staring at a girl through the doors. I took the picture on my own state of the art, Digital Single Lenses Reflex (DSLR) Nikon D90 camera. Due to the high standard camera the pictures came out extremely well.
I went through all the pictures and decided on the best ones, one of the house and one of Ben. I loaded them up onto Photoshop where I merged the images and made a few subtle changes to make the pictures become a poster. Once I was happy with the way the picture looked I then thought added in the title of the film, director’s name and the main characters name. All that was left was to think of an appropriate slogan. I tried to use the theme of sleeping and life as the title is ‘the house that never woke up’. Your life is in his hands was my first idea but that doesn’t relate to sleeping started again. After hours of thinking I came up with, what I thought was a very good slogan, ‘good can become tired but the mind of a killer never sleeps’.
I used the rule of three to help me place my items so that they stand out to the observer and therefore make the poster better. I made sure that I was the director and that I took the photos in order to make sure that the correct shots where taken and that they where taken properly. This poster has worked successfully as it looks scary and pulls the observer in making them ant to see them film, or see it again. It, to my mind, defiantly looks like it is a horror poster and describes them film just like I wanted it to. ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ and this poster defiantly tells the narrative better than the words.
When starting out with designing the final poster I knew I wanted a scary looking house, like Amityville horror. I decided to use Ewhurst place as it has an old theme to it and looks scary from the outside in the dark, and so when it was dark enough I took several pictures of the house. I then took several pictures of my friend, Ben Norris, who’s picture I used as the killer who standing outside looking into the house. I took several pictures of this setup in the dark so it had a more real effect to it. I then took some pictures of Ben as he pretends to stab a man through the window and staring at a girl through the doors. I took the picture on my own state of the art, Digital Single Lenses Reflex (DSLR) Nikon D90 camera. Due to the high standard camera the pictures came out extremely well.
I went through all the pictures and decided on the best ones, one of the house and one of Ben. I loaded them up onto Photoshop where I merged the images and made a few subtle changes to make the pictures become a poster. Once I was happy with the way the picture looked I then thought added in the title of the film, director’s name and the main characters name. All that was left was to think of an appropriate slogan. I tried to use the theme of sleeping and life as the title is ‘the house that never woke up’. Your life is in his hands was my first idea but that doesn’t relate to sleeping started again. After hours of thinking I came up with, what I thought was a very good slogan, ‘good can become tired but the mind of a killer never sleeps’.
I used the rule of three to help me place my items so that they stand out to the observer and therefore make the poster better. I made sure that I was the director and that I took the photos in order to make sure that the correct shots where taken and that they where taken properly. This poster has worked successfully as it looks scary and pulls the observer in making them ant to see them film, or see it again. It, to my mind, defiantly looks like it is a horror poster and describes them film just like I wanted it to. ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ and this poster defiantly tells the narrative better than the words.
My Blade Poster
This is my first poster that i did on photoshop. I made my background by myself with the light coming from the top corners to add an ery look to the poster. I then took the hands at the bottom from another poster i found on the internet and inserted it in to the bottom. I then cut the vampire woman and the head of the blade charecter of one of the original blade posters and pasted them on to my poster. I made blades head bigger than the vampire's on purpose to so authority. I then added in a full cut out of the blade character so you can get a feel for the charater. Finally i added the title of the movie.
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