1. Q.6
What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this project?

2.  Since the preliminary task, where I was introduced to Adobe Premiere
Pro CS5.5, I have discovered more program’s and have developed an array
of skills. I have had the opportunity to use equipment like the green
screen and Canon 550 camera’s. I have learned how to use a lot of tools
within certain software which has enabled me to help create a sequence
far better than the preliminary one. I am about to discuss the different
software, hardware and online media which I have developed skills for in
order to complete our main task.

3.  For the preliminary task, I only had the skills applicable to the basic
usage of Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5; an editing software. Since then, I
have discovered how to create a dynamic link using Adobe After Effects
CS5.5; an animation and effects software. I have also started to use the
effects, styles and transitions on Adobe Premiere Pro, whereas I didn’t
know about this before. One of the skills I now have on Adobe After
Effects is being able to alter the sequences colour and background by
animating, stylizing, distorting and keying.
Software

4.  Our film, Elijah, is a gothic-fantasy, therefore we needed a non-realistic
dream-like setting for the dream scene. This meant we could use the green
screen. We used the process of keying in post-production to create the
desired background. On Adobe After Effects there is an add on called
Keylight 1.2, which enabled us to add the background to the footage.
Keylight 1.2 not only let me change the background, but allowed me to
soften the edges of the characters in the footage in order to keep
continuity, as it looks more realistic.
Software

5.  I also used Adobe Photoshop CS5.5; an image manipulation
software. I used this to create the title Elijah for the end of the
sequence. I had never used Photoshop before, but I taught myself the
basics by just using the program. I did it on Photoshop because it
saves as a high quality image and also, it allows me to use fonts from
online websites and manipulate them to how I want it. However, in
the end, we decided not to use this image.
Software

6.  I have also used the Celtx software which is a script writing program.
It allows me to create a script which is usable in the film industry. It is
important to have a legitimate type of script as every little aspect is
important. For example the font needs to be Courier New instead of
something like Comic Sans – which would be frowned upon in
Hollywood. Now I know how to use this program, I can easily write up a
script readable for actors. These skills will come in handy when creating
future sequences.
Software

7.  The main piece of hardware which we used was the Canon 550d. The Canon 550d
is a digital SLR camera which films up to 50fps at full HD (720p or 1080p). For our
film we used the 720p pixel aspect ratio because there wasn’t enough room on the
Network- FS6. Meaning used only 30fps as there wasn’t enough memory space. I have
learned the basics on the camera like setting it up, getting the right angles, zooming,
panning, lighting and focusing. As I quickly developed these skills I applied them to our
production; therefore I was a great help to the group. I have learned that the more
frames per second means the higher the quality of the image (higher pixel aspect ratio),
I have also learned that it is vital to film more than one of the same shot due to
mistakes going un-noticed.
Hardware

8.  We were one of the only groups to use the green screen and lighting provided
by the college. We controlled the brightness and darkness of the scene using
professional studio lights. The lights had a swivel slightly translucent umbrella and a
tripod stand which could be altered to the desired height. By using this equipment,
I’ve learned that lighting is important because its so easy to create unwanted
shadows and unwanted bright patches. Also I’ve learned that having creases or dark
patches on the green screen ruins the outcome of the Keying on Adobe After
Effects CS5.5.
Hardware

9.  Other hardware I used and developed skills for was a Dell PC with Windows
and a SONY Phillips MP3 recorder. I was able to develop loads of different skills
on the PC using software already mentioned. I first used an MP3 recorder for the
ambience track in the Preliminary task, so I applied these skills for the main task and
managed to get a good ambience for the silent parts of the sequence. Throughout
this experience, I’ve learned that PC’s can be very temperamental when using lots of
software at once and rendering entire sequences. Next time round I’ll probably be
more patient with it.
Hardware