Resolution

This is the day I will be handing in all of my work.

There have been some ups and downs along the way however I have just completed my radio trailer on Windows Movie Maker, which although is unfortunate that I wasn't able to take advantage of the college software, it is fortunate that we managed to fix all the hardware problems when uploading my project so I had to make do with the options available.

Upload success

I've been into the IT help desk who have retrieved the file and uploaded it to Youtube and have copied a version of my film to use to finish my evaluation and radio trailer.

resolved short film issues...

We have been trying to upload it over night onto my Youtube Channel but its been 24 hours and we're making no headway

Im heading into college with in the hour to talk to IT department and see if they can help me at all.

Further problems...

Now that my film is finished and sent off, I now need a copy on my computer to finish my ancillary tasks...

We have tried copying the film saved onto the computer we used to export the file onto my computer via:

• 
  Bluetooth
• 
  CD/DVD
• 
  MEMORY KEY

None of these options seem to be working, I will be going to college and see if anyone can help me get a copy of my film onto my computer so I can finish my work.

Hardware and Software Resolutions!

I brought the macbook into college today and spoke to our computer technician who had copied the files from the original hard drive to the college back up hard drive on from there we were able to export my short film!

It is now saved onto the network ready to be sent off and onto the macbook so I can take it home and use a few essential clips for my evaluation and radio trailer so everything should be finished by the end of the week.

Hard Ware Problem No 4

I borrowed Jake's external hard drive and took it into college so we could copy the files over to it and take the files back to the computer with a version of Final Cut Pro 7 however when I went in to do this I plugged it in and it is READ ONLY on the college computers, the technician said he would have to reformat the hard drive to enable me to use it to store the files on the hard drive but there is too many important files to be able to do that.

However they informed me that they do have a back up hard drive which I cannot take out of college however if I can get the computer to college I will be able to use that hard drive to store my work and connect to the mac so I can export my work.

I have called Ben who says that it will have to be at some point next week because he is busy until then so I will have to get on with the rest of my work until then.

Hard Ware Problem No 3

We have downloaded final cut pro 7 onto the computer and I have the hard drive with all my work on but the computer will not recognize the hard drive, It appears the hard drive can only be recognized by the college computers for some reason. Either way I don't have anything else to store the film on so I have called around and asked my friends whether they have another external hard drive I can store my work on for the time being so I can connect it to Ben's computer.

JAKE FEWELL

Has an external hard drive that he has agreed to let me use tomorrow to take into college, copy the files from their hard drive onto his and take it to Ben's so I can export the film.

Software issues - Resolution?

I have spoken to Brett and he said I could use the disks for his version of Final Cut Pro 7 which are at his house nearby and download it onto another mac so I will be able to export it as long as I find someone who is willing to let me use their mac computer for a short while.

BENJAMIN NEWTON

Benjamin Newton has recently bought himself a macbook and after calling around he agreed to let me use his computer to export my film and radio trailer so I will be taking the hard drive round to his house along with Brett's version of final cut pro to download onto the computer and hopefully hand my work in by the end of the week!

Evaluation - Software problem No1

I went into college today to export my radio trailer and film so I could use extracts for my evaluation however because I edited the sound levels on Bretts mac with Final Cut Pro 7 it means that the college macs cannot read the information as they do not have the latest version of Final Cut.

We tried to export it using Final Cut Express which they have the latest version of but it's not the same format so it won't work.

I could use Brett's computer to export it however he is now back in Derby which is about 130 miles from me and my college!

Evaluation - Editing Day No 3

So far things are going well, I've decided to use parts from filming day one and filming day two because when I filmed in the spare room I spoke more clearly in the first half than on filming day two but the setting looked better when I filmed outside so I have been editing parts of each into my main edit.

I have also been putting together the audience feedback with pictures of the people and what they said about my film which has proved more difficult than I first thought, Even though I've only taken quotes from what they have it still takes up a large amount of screen time to have enough time to read it

I have chosen a scrolling text to help the audience follow what they're saying as well as to add a little variety to editing my evaluation.

Evaluation - Editing day No 2

I used most of my day taking screen shots to use in my evaluation such as

Screen shots of my blog

Screen shot of my magazine article

Screen shot of my script

Screen shot of my shot list

Evaluation - Editing day No 1

Finally I have started making headway on the final piece of my project, I still need to export my film and radio trailer to a quicktime file so I can use clips in my evaluation but for the time being I have downloaded some clips from the other films I will be using in my evaluation.

I've downloaded realplayer to download all the clips I want to use in my evaluation.

These are some of the films I related to my own in my evaluation.

Two Ladies and a Hill

Gold Top

Booth story

Windows Movie Maker

Over the weekend I decided I couldn't wait any longer and so I have started the rough edit for my evaluation on Windows Media Player from home, this program is a very basic editing program and although easy to use it has a lot of issues that Final Cut Pro doesn't but I cant afford to waste anymore time.

Hard Ware Problem No 2

I borrowed the hard drive that contains my film and have taken it home to put the files for my evaluation on it and take it into the college to edit it but my computer will not recognize the hard drive! I have spoken to the college technicians who said it would be because I haven't got the correct drives installed but none of the information help because the files are too big to store on my memory stick and I cannot store them on the hard drive either, I am now three days behind schedule already and far behind the rest of my class I will try and find another hard drive to use but if not I will just have to edit my evaluation from home.

Evaluation - Fix No1

I've uploaded the files onto my home computer and downloaded a program to convert the files from .MOV format to a .AVI format in an attempt to help the college computers recognize the file, although it means some of the frames will be watermarked its essential to get the files onto the college computers to use their version of Final Cut Pro or I will be forced to use Windows Movie Maker to edit my entire evaluation.

Evaluation - Edit fail

I went into college today to import my film onto the college computers but for some reason the computers will not recognize the camera, I tried a few different Macs but my digital camera will not show up anywhere on the network. I have taken it home and connected to my home computer but it means I will have to find a way of getting it from my laptop at home onto the computers in college.

Filming day - Evaluation Take Two

After looking back through yesterday's shoot I decided to try another shoot in an outside setting as there is a slight echo on the sound and I think an interesting background might help the quality of my evaluation and make it stand out from the rest. I chose the college grounds on the grass in a more secluded area to film and although you can hear birds etc in the background I think it has worked quite well.

Filming Day - Evaluation

I've chosen the spare room in my house to film my evaluation, Its not exactly picturesque but I think the acoustics of a blank room could be beneficial to the sound quality when I begin to edit as I don't want to have to go through the trouble I encountered when editing my short film.

Evaluation - Script Second draft

Today I am taking the advice of my teacher, editing my script into a second and final draft in an attempt to get it filmed and edited as soon as possible

I've received the email and have taken notes to re-write my script.

Evaluation - Script Question 3

Today I have spent answering question 3 which although there is a lot to write about has been quite difficult as I'm not sure I'm writing what the examiners want to hear but I have gone ahead and written a script for it and sent it via email to my teacher to check and proof read it

Evaluation - Script FEEDBACK

Last night I sent my script to my teacher who has proof read it and sent it back to me with a few changes and suggestions...

I'm already behind with my work, as most people are in groups of three or four they are able to hare the work, this means even tough I always try to check and update a script at least three times I will have to edit my script into a second draft and film it as soon as possible to keep it up to date.

Evaluation - Script Question 2 - Part 2

I have written a more in-depth description on the media products I use and have arranged them into script format, this looks harder than it is as it can be difficult to remember every single media product used in the past 5 months to create such a broad project and then arrange them into a script with some form of structure but the best way is to separate it into three sections...

PRE-PRODUCTION 

(Planning and Research)

PRODUCTION

(Filming etc)

POST-PRODUCTION 

(editing etc)

Evaluation - Script Question 2

My response to Question 2 seems reasonably easy to write, using a list I have written of all the Media products I have used I have been able to elaborate a little bit to give some information on how I used them and how it worked with my project.

Theres a long list and I'm not sure if I'll be able to include it all but I will expand on them all and pick the one to use when filming and editing my evaluation.

Evaluation - Script Question 1

So far I have started my script  and its already coming along quite well, I'm not sure how long its supposed to be but I am finding it quite easy to write a large amount in response to each question...

I have finished the first draft of the first question and I am positive about the rest of the project going at a good pace as long as I stay focused

Evaluation - Step one

In class we have been through all the questions we have to answer in our evaluation and re-written a simplified version to give us a head start on finishing our coursework and help us understand the ingredients we need to produce to get the marks we want.

·  In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

·  How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

·  How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

·  What have you learned from your audience feedback?

We addressed them individually word by word and re-wrote them:

1.    Are the characters, setting, bits of plot, camerawork & editing, music etc in your little film similar to anything in real films, TV, adverts etc? 

2.   Explaining how you used these things, how useful they were, any problems & how you overcame them etc

3.    How do your film, radio trailer & magazine article fit together?

4.    What have people said about your film? Did they understand it? Did they respond in the way you intended? Did they pick on any particular details? 

Judgement Day

Today is the day I showed my film to the cast and crew to see whether they were happy with it and if there was anything I could change.

Alun Thurston, my lead actor, who has worked in front and behind the camera before who even lent me a hand on the rough editing, said...
" This project, although the microphones had trouble it shows a lot of time and effort has been involved to try and resolve the problem"




Yasmin Jones, my lead actress, said...
"There is some trouble with a shots being jumpy however the camera work was really well done"






Gemma Marson-May, my supporting actress, said...
"This project, although having troubles with the sound quality, shows a high standard and hard work with the camera work and editing"

Simon Sturt, owner of the Hawthorns Hotel featured in this film said...
"This short film shows indepth character development and plot, although some of the editing maybe jumpy at times I think its a great peice of work"






Brett Sturt, My friend studying Media Studies in university said...
"I would be pleased to show this as my project and as for doing this all on her own I think Rosie and done a very good job"

Beth Patrick, a previous A level Film Studies student said...
"This project shows attention to detail when it comes to pre-production and although the editing could use some work I think it will get a good mark"







Daisy Rendall, The drama student who was initially going to be our supporting actress said...
"I'm really pleased with this film and would loved to have been a part of it, it offers some fantastic roles for actors to play as well as a lot of guidance into the underlying tones of the film"

Balancing the sound levels

Me and Brett Sturt met up today and spent the entire day balancing the sound levels, it was a laborious task but essential to getting my film a better mark, we managed to make the sound a similar level most of the way through and did our best to make the quieter shots as loud as possible but this late in my course there is no chance of being able to shoot them again so we'll just have to make do.

At least this means I will now be able to complete my radio trailer and finish my work in time for my teachers to mark it before it gets sent off to the invidilators.

March - Schedule

Issues that put me behind schedule:

1. Losing one of our actresses set us two weeks behind filming schedule
2. Having to organize an extra filming day set us one more day behind schedule
3. The editing suite being booked up in the two afternoons of the days we spent trying to edit
4. The sound levels needing to be balanced has put us a week behind schedule

Over all these set backs are proving difficult however it is important just to work around it and come up with a new schedule...

Products Available

Brett Sturt will be back from university to help me manage the sound levels on my project in two days and has agreed to lend me his mac-book pro

This mac-book also comes equipped with the latest version of Final Cut Pro amongst other software used for similar media editing.

 With both of these products at my advantage we should be able to get back on track fairly soon and submit my main project for marking

Brett Thomas Sturt

So far we have had a few set backs that have set us behind schedule a few weeks...


Luckily one of my friends is coming home from university on the 10th of March, where he doing a degree in Media Studies and has offered to help me balance the sound levels on my film edit.

Brett Sturt

Brett is currently in his second year in university in Derby and is working on radio projects for the time being.

Brett has offered to show me how to edit the sound levels so my radio trailer should be back on track in the next few days.

Radio Trailer - issues

ISSUE NO 1

SOUND LEVELS

Through editing extracts of my film into my radio edit I have recognized that the sound levels need to be balanced before I continue otherwise it may be noticeable in my film and even more so with the radio trailer. As the radio trailer is solely focused on the audio editing it is essential that I work as hard as possible to edit the sound levels as best as i can to use in my project.

This means I will have to put my radio trailer on hold until I manage to sort out the sound on my main film edit which could prove difficult as I have never really had issues with sound before so I am not fluent in the knowledge of how to fix this issue.

Radio Trailer step 1

So far my radio trailer is coming along well I have replaced the visuals with a background picture I will be using for scenes in my evaluation

I have inserted the text 'RADIO TRAILER' over the top of this background picture to help present this piece of my work so there is no confusion.