C,T&C Project

I have been asked to use copy, transform and combine to create a short film. In my last blog post I explained what I was intending to copy and how I was going to transform and combine it. The theme I ended up with was ‘alternate realities’.

Extended Project

In this blog post, I will be talking about the extended project and how I made it. This is the first college project that I have had compleate freedom to do anything I want with it.

The Scene

We have been set a task to make a one minute short film based around the theme of friendship. In order to prepare for this, I have researched other short films on YouTube in order to get inspiration for my short film.

Hello Project

I am making a  short film with the only dialogue allowed to be “Hello”. At first, I thought there was not much that I could do with just the word “hello” but after thinking for a bit, I realised that the word “hello” can mean completely different things when said in different ways and by different people in different contexts.

Unit 13 Portfolio

MY NEW BLOG IS “chrismcnairfilmandtv162.wordpress.com” WITH MY FINAL DRAFT OF

 

Chris McNair 26 Mar Draft 6

Chris McNair 26 Mar Progress Tracker and Peer Review

Chris McNair 19 Mar Draft 5

Chris McNair 19 Mar Progress Tracker and Peer Review

Chris McNair 12 Mar Draft 4

Chris McNair 12 Mar Progress Tracker and Peer Review

Chris McNair 5 Mar Draft 3

Chris McNair 5 Mar Progress Tracker and Peer Review

Chris McNair 30 Feb Draft 2

Chris McNair 30 Feb Progress Tracker and Peer Review

Chris McNair 19 Feb Draft 1

Year 2 – Term 2: Portfolio and Summative Feedback

Chris McNair 11 Feb Draft 6

Chris McNair 4 Feb Draft 5

Chris McNair 28 Jan Draft 4

Chris McNair 21 Jan Draft 3

Chris McNair 14 Jan Draft 2

Chris McNair 7 Jan Draft 1

Year 2 – Term 2 – Week 3,4 and 5: Experiments

This has been a busy 3 weeks. I have been experimenting with Transitions, Rolling Shutter and Sound Design.

Year 2 – Term 2 – Week 2: Research Report

I have decided to research and analyse the aspects of my favourite two inspirational media practitioners (Steven Spielberg and Casey Neistat).

Year 2 – Term 2 – Week 1: Who am I?

During my life time my values and interests have changed lots and I expect them to carry on changing into the future. Overall I have gained more experiences which has increased number of interests I have and values I have.

Year 2 – Term 1: Portfolio Downloads

Draft 10 (FINAL VERSION)

Draft 9

Draft 8

Draft 7

Draft 6

Draft 5

Draft 4

Draft 3

Draft 2

Draft 1

Year 2 – Week 10: Feedback and Reflection

This week has been interesting. I think the main reason for this is because I get to research my favorite films. It is also interesting to combine different scenes/films/TV shows and make something new.

Year 2 – Week 10: Copy Transform and Combine (Alternate Realities)

We have been looking at how everything that happens in films are not original. Ideas are influenced by other films and TV shows as well as our life experiences. By building on this idea I am going to discuss my favorite life experiences films and TV shows.

Year 2 – Week 8: Feedback and Reflection

This week has been enjoyable for me due to being able to pick a show that I liked. I had to choose the first episode of a British TV show.

Year 2 – Week 8: Movement Task plus Doctor Who Target Audience Study

The episode that I will be referencing can be found here: http://www.ewatchseries.ac/link/vidto.me/7751705

 

I have been looking at Doctor Who and in particular Matt Smiths first full episode – The Eleventh Hour.

Year 2 – Week 7: Feedback and Reflection

I don’t think I have taken as much away from this week as others. The Ken Loach research I found challenging as I hadn’t watched any of his films and from what I have read I most likely wouldn’t like the type of films he makes.

Year 2 – Week 7: Lighting Task plus Skins (2007) Target Audience

We were given the context of lighting 3 scenes. We were asked to do one scene in which the subject looked like they were near a fire. We were asked to simulate driving in a car.

Year 2 – Week 6: The Exposure Triangle plus Target Audience

We have been learning about the exposure triangle and the importance it holds to the visual look of the film. Exposure is another term for how light or dark your shot is.

Ken Loach

Ken Loach (Gerard O’Donovan, 2016)

This is Ken Loach. He is a director. He was born in 1936. He is English. He was born in Nuneaton (near Birmingham). He is known for very politically orientated films holding a socialist view on them.

Year 2 – Week 6: Feedback and Reflection

As I already knew about the exposure triangle I didn’t really take as much from this week either. I did, however, enjoy taking pictures and testing out the knowledge in a particle sense.

Year 2 – Week 5: Feedback and Reflection

This week has been enjoyable for me. I really enjoy practical work and I really enjoy doctor who and put them together and you get week 5.

Year 2 – Week 5: Copy Transform Combine Scene 1 (scene recreation)

We had to recreate the scene that we did a contextual study on last week. Mine was a scene from Doctor Who.

Year 2 – Week 4: Feedback and Reflection

I was limited to doctor who as it is the only British TV show that I watch on a constant basis (I watch mainly American TV shows).

Year 2 – Week 4: Own Choice Contextual Study plus Green Screen plus Myers Briggs Personality Test

Own Choice Contextual Study

We had to choose a British TV show to analyse. I chose a scene from Doctor Who.

Year 2 – Week 3: Feedback and Reflection

Looking into films and/or TV shows to see how they are made is always fascinating for me. Looking at Broadchurch and trying to guess the influences behind the plot was very interesting.

Year 2 – Week 3: Broadchurch (2013) Contextual Study plus Framing and Composition plus Feedback

Click here to download post in a word document

I will be trying to understand the first episode of Broadchurch and the context behind it.

Portfolio Master Copy

Click here to go to my finished project portfolio.

Or click here if you would like to download it as a word document

Term 3 – Week 7: Reflection

This week we have been concentrating on editing. Overall it has bee a successful week and I have produced a rough edit in order to record the voiceover next week.

Term 3 – Week 7: 3.1 ~ Extended Project

My Rough Edit

I have produced a rough edit (show below) so I can record the voiceover next week and add it to the video. You may notice some of the files are labelled slightly corrupt, corrupt or very corrupt.

Presentation PowerPoint

Click here to download my Presentation PowerPoint

Project Proposal

Click here to download my project proposal

Term 3 – Week 6: Reflection

This week we have been doing pre-production paperwork and a presentation. This part is crucial to the production process.

Term 3 – Week 6: 3.1 ~ Extended Project

This week we have been focusing on the pre-production documentation. This helps to be able to plan the practicality’s of my project.

Term 3 – Week 5: Reflection

Reflection

We have been mainly focusing on primary research this week. I feel like this has been a really helpful week.

Term 3 – Week 5: 2.2 ~ Extended Project

This week is focused on primary research in order to improve my skills in accordance to my Extended Project (EP). I will also be recapping on what I have learned in particular the subjects that could help me with my EP.

Term 3 – Week 4: Reflection

Reflection

This week we have been conducting secondary research into our extended project. I have been focusing mainly on researching voiceovers as that is the area in which I am least knowledgeable about.

Term 3 – Week 4: 2.1 ~ Extended Project

This week I will be researching existing media products practice and ideas. In particular research on short films and films that use voiceovers in the same way in order to get inspiration.

Term 3 – Week 3: Reflection and Formative Feedback

Reflection

This week we have been doing a range of things but mainly focusing on the industry and how it works. I think that it is very important to understand the industry you are going into.

Term 3 – Week 3: 1.1 ~ Extended Project

Over this week we have been trying to understand the practicalities of our EP (Extended Project). We have been mainly focusing on the film and TV industry and how it operates.

Term 3 – Week 2: Reflection

Reflection

This week we have been preparing our ideas for our extended project. Although initially I was a bit stuck for ideas when I started thinking about it lots came to my head.

Term 3 – Week 2: Extended Project Ideas

This week we have been planning and developing three ideas for our extended project. We will make one of our ideas and submit it at the end of the term.

Term 3 – Week 1: Reflection

Reflection

This week we have been set 2 tasks. We have been set the task of creating a mind map and a timeline.

Term 3 – Week 1: Extended Project Introduction

Click HERE to view my college timeline

Click HERE to see my “Who am I?” mind map

Term 2 – Week 9: Reflection

This week we have been editing our 1 minute short film. The hardest part I have found about this part is editing it to exactly 1 minute.

Term 2 – Week 8: Reflection

This week we have been planning for “The Scene”. We have been putting our pre-production knowledge to a practical situation.

Term 2 – Week 7: Reflection

This week we have been learning about the pre-production of visuals. I have rely enjoyed this week as I have found it very interesting.

Term 2 – Week 7: Unit 6 ~ Visual Production

 

This week we have been doing about visuals and the pre-production behind them. We have evaluated how the pre-production relates to other stages

Term 2 – Week 6: Reflection

This week we have been learning about the pre-production of audio. Once again another audio week that I get surprised how much goes into it.

Term 2 – Week 6: Unit 5 ~ Audio

We have been learning about audio and the production process and the 5 main steps of a production. There is the finance then there is the Pre -Production then there is the production and then there is post production and distribution.

Term 2 – Week 5: Feedback and Reflection

We have been learning about audio this week and how to record narrative. This week especially interested me as I have never thought about microphone placement much before.

Term 2 – Week 5: Unit 5 ~ Audio Task

This week we have been learning about microphones and recording dialog. We have learnt the different microphone setups that you can get.

Term 2 – Week 4: Reflection

This week we have been doing lighting. We were building on what we already knew about it and we went into more depth about specific techniques.

Term 2 – Week 4: Unit 6 Visual Task 4

We are revisiting lighting in class and learning about the different uses of it. At first, we were asked to come up with a few problems we have had with lighting in our past practical projects and the solutions.

The Prevent Strategy

We have been learning about terrorism in the UK this week and how to prevent it. According to ltai.info “Prevent is safeguarding children and adults and providing early intervention to protect and divert people away from being drawn into terrorist activity”.

Term 2 – Week 3: Feedback and Reflection

This week we have been doing about sound and its importance. We had some first-hand experience at operating different types of microphones and seeing how they work.

Term 2 – Week 3: Unit 5 ~ Audio Task 3

We were set a task to make a sound clip of the children’s story of Billy Goats Gruff. We were given part of a script and it was our job to create an environment using sound.

Term 2 – Week 2: Feedback and Reflection

This week we have been going into depth about camera movement and story boards. although I learned some interesting things the most helpful part was learning that you can’t cut from a panning shot to a static shot and learning that every camera movement has a beginning middle and end.

Term 2 – Week 2: Unit 6 ~ Visual Task 2

This week we have been learning about movement and storyboards. We were set a task to create a short sequence of clips that demonstrate different camera techniques.

Term 2 – Week 1: Feedback and Reflection

This week we have been researching social media and how it can be used. I have noticed that in order for a social media platform to take off, it has to offer something new that other social media platforms don’t offer, or don’t do as well.

Term 2 – Week 1: Unit 7 ~ Social Media Report

I am going to look into some social media platform, in particular, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and the less well known Ask.fm. I am going to talk about the strengths and weaknesses and the history behind them.

Hello Project: Reflection

I have been doing the “Hello Project” over the past 3 weeks and there is a lot I have learned from this project. It was the most interesting thing that I’v done on this coarse so far as it involved a lot of practical work.

Evidence Document

Click Here to Download the Evidence Document

Week 7: Feedback and Reflection

This week we have been learning a range of skills. We continued with Avid and syncing the audio to the video.

Week 7: Unit 3 ~ Working Practices, My Career Plan & Timeline – What do you want to be?

Freelancer

Freelancing is the most common form of employment in the media industry. Freelancers work for other companies on specific jobs.

Week 7: Unit 4 ~ Representation

The media industry is responsible for how certain news articles and stories are perceived. Stories and news articles can be manipulated and taken out of context.

Week 7: Unit 2 ~ Research Plan – subject – Editing – Plan, research and evaluate

What I want to find out

I am going to find out about editing; in particular, I am going to focus on the software and techniques used in the industry.

Week 6: Feedback and Reflection

This week we have been doing a range of things including learning about clapper boards, going into more depth about lighting and researching the research that goes into productions.

Week 6-7: Unit 1 ~ Introduction to Editing – continue with Avid

In class, we learned about the uses of clapper boards and how they are vital part of the production. Clapper boards help the editors know what clip they are editing and helps them sync the audio from an external microphone.

Week 5: Feedback and Reflection

This week we have been learning about editing and production research. Something that stuck in my head was that 98% of a production is planning.

Weeks 5-6: Unit 2 ~ Big Research Plan and Project

Production Research is the research done before a production. It is the most important part of the production as it makes up about 98% of the finished product.

Week 5: Unit 1 ~ Introduction to Editing – Narrative – building story via continuity editing – Avid

We are learning about editing and we have started using Avid Media Composer. We were given a few sample clips of someone surfing and we had to edit them using Avid.

Week 4: Feedback and Reflection

This week I have been learning about cameras and narrative. I have learnt how to become a Cameraman and I have found out what a Cinematographer was.

Week 4: Unit 2 ~ Research Plan – subject – Cameras – Plan, research and evaluate

What I want to find out

I want to find out the types of camera shots and how they can be used for different purposes.

Week 4: Unit 3 ~ How do you become a Cameraman?

How to become a Cameraman

To become a Cameraman you can start off by getting an internship or an apprenticeship.

Week 4: Unit4 ~ Narrative – different techniques and approaches

A narrative is a story and how it’s told. There are different types of narratives that I will explain later.

Week 4: Unit 1 ~ Introduction to Cameras – using equipment, correct set up, 180 degree rule

180 degree rule

The 180 degree rule is a rule where there is an imaginary line called the line of action. Crossing the line can confuse the viewer.

Week 3: Feedback and Reflection

This week I have been learning about sound. I have learned about different types of microphones and the different polar patterns they use.

Week 3: Unit 3 ~ How do you become a Foley Engineer

What is a Foley Designer?

A foley designer is someone who adds sounds in post production.

Week 3: Unit 4 ~ Mise-en-Scene – what is it, and why do we study it?

What is mise-en-scene?

Mise -en-scene originated from French theatres and its direct translation is “placing on stage” but in the film industry it means everything in shot i.e. what the camera can see.

Week 3: Unit 1 ~ Introduction to Audio – using equipment, different microphones

There are 3 types of microphones: condenser, dynamic and ribbon. Condenser microphones require an external power source like a battery or a wire and they are sensitive to sound.

Week 3: Unit 2 ~ Research Plan – subject – Audio – Plan, research and evaluate

What is Foley

Foley is adding additional sounds to a film in post production. Foley is used in almost every film. It is heavily used in action films. Foley artists use a Foley stage to produce the effects.

Week 2: Feedback and Reflection

This week, I have learned a variety of skills and increased my knowledge. I have especially found film noir interesting as I had not previously heard of the genre and learning about it has prompted me to watch The Maltese Falcon.

Week 2: Unit 4 – Genre – What is Genre

The genre is referred to in films as the type of content in it. A film doesn’t have to be just one genre as it can be a mix of different ones. Sub-genres are less popular genres and usually, branch off the main ones.

Week 2: Unit 3 ~ Lighting Tech, how to become one?

A Lighting Engineer is in charge of most aspects of the lighting. Lighting Engineers work with the director using semiology to create the desired effect.

Week 2: Unit 2 ~ Research Plan – subject – Lighting – Plan, research and evaluate

What I want to find out

I want to find out about lighting effects in films, in particular, the 1944 – 1954 film genre – film noir. This is because film noir uses lighting techniques to the extreme.

Week 2: Unit 1 ~ Introduction to Lighting – pictures taken to illustrate white balance.

I have been learning about white balance and the effect it creates. I have also learnt how to correct white balance.

White balance is the measurement of colour temperature. Colour temperature can be blue, white and orange and it is measured in kelvin’s.

Week 1: Unit 1 ~ Introduction to Framing – taking pictures illustrating shots

Framing

Today I learnt about different types of shots and camera angles. I took some photos to demonstrate the different effects they create.

Week 1: Unit 2 ~ Why do we research? – How to produce a research plan and implement it

There are two types of research: primary research and secondary research. Primary research is when you conduct your own research like interviews, photos and surveys.

Week 1: Unit 3 ~ How do you become a Director?

A director’s job is to oversee the film’s production and to make sure that it meets the vision they have in their head. They work closely with the producer to make the film.

Week 1: Unit 4 ~ Semiological analysis of key scenes

Semiology is the study of signs and messages. These range from the use of colours to the uses of lighting to create an atmosphere the audience can understand. The director uses semiology to portray a meaning or a message to the audience.

Induction Week

Chris’ Canterbury College Collage

I have made a collage which represents me. It includes my hobbies and interests, my skills and my personality traits. Some of these pictures are meant to symbolise a deeper meaning and some of them are self-explanatory.