Production Technology

--Operating a video camera
I used my mum's camera to video my film because we don't have/couldn't get hold of a video camera, also because it is a photo camera I had to find where the video setting was. The camera also cut off the last 1 or 2 seconds at the end of each shot so we had to carry on each shot for a bit longer than first thought. But overall the camera wasn't too difficult to use.
--Composing shots
To compose my different shots I positioned the camera at different angles to make the film appear more realistic. My film is shown mostly from P.O.V. but also uses over-the-shoulder and panning. I found it quite easy to get the shots I wanted so it didn't take long to film, only about 2 or 3 hours. I did find it hard to get the 'slow-motion walk' down the hallway as it didn't look right when we actually walked in slow-motion and walking normal speed looked strange. Fortunately I had a few different shots of it and managed to find a good one to use.
--Recording or using sound effects, dialogue or music
I originally had dialogue in my film but when I cut all my film together it didn't fit with the music behind it. So I muted the dialogue (except in my first scene) because the gestures of my cast still conveyed what they were thinking/doing, my only issue was with having the mouths still moving, but I may be able cut out the middle of each shot, it may not look right though. 
--Importing images & video files
Importing video files was pretty simple on Premiere Pro but the editor was very temperamental when I was editing and found it wouldn't save my work that I had done, didn't play sound or claimed that the video files didn't exist anymore so I had to restart my film about 4 times which was very time-consuming.
--Creating music or sound effects
I didn't use any sound effects in my film although I had been thinking of using a creaking door when the wardrobe door is opened. I did use fade at the beginning and end between my final two songs (Gagool and Rising) so that they blended together better and had a cleaner transition. I found it quite simple to find the music I wanted, and the songs I have used in my film (Constancy Part Two, Gagool, Rising) were almost the first songs I listened to.
--Editing images for moving image production (use of editing software)
Because I decided to mute my clips I had to cut out some parts of the clips so that the viewer didn't think there was supposed to be talking, but with one clip it resulted in me having to use a black out fade to show time passing after Bryony and Kim have been found. When I exported my film and played it on a media player it tended to skip in places and had a wiggly line in the upper half of the screen so I tried again using a different player but it has still done the same thing even though it plays smoothly on Premiere Pro. So next time I think I would use an actual video camera and maybe a different movie editor in order to ensure my film played more smoothly.
--Editing sound for moving image production (use of editing software)
It was quite simple to edit my sound as all I had to do was mute all the clips except for the first one (98,99, 100. Ready or not here I come) which I required to set the scene and so the viewer knew that it was a game of hide and seek. I found the editing of sound quite easy and simple compared with the video editor.


Thankfully through trial and error I managed to complete my film to (almost) the standard I wanted.

Stage 4: Evaluation. Task 10: Production Process Evaluation

I was really impressed with the way my film came together in the end. I wasn't sure if my concept was a good idea compared to other people in my classes, but once my film was edited together and had music it look a lot better to me. I found that I changed quite a lot of my original treatment because it didn't come across as well on screen as it had in my head. 
My first 2 shots (from Storyboard) were kept the same, but I did not look left to right before searching for the friends, instead I walked straight down the hall, but looked into rooms on the way to the cupboard. In my 3rd shot, I had Kimberley and Bryony hide in the cupboard together because I was worried my film was going to be too long, and Bryony mentioned the idea so I thought we could try it out, and it worked out really well.  Shot 4 was removed because of this. At first I thought shot 5 was going to look like a joke because we couldn't film it right but when I slowed it down to 40% on the computer and added music it looked really good. The rest of my film opening was the same as on my storyboard. I also removed the voices from my film which I had originally had because it didn't fit in with the tone of the film, I kept the 
"98, 99, 100. Ready or not, here I come." Though because it set the scene for the film.
If I could do somethings differently in my film I would probably not have me in it and use someone else, this is because it would be less embarrassing without me in it. I would also work on the dialogue so it could be included, I could have improved this by asking my cast to say lines in different ways while I record them and then play it back to see how it would sound on the computer.
I found Premiere Pro very annoying to use because it often wouldn't work, for example it would shut down or wouldn't save my work and it claimed that the clips didn't exist anymore. It also made my film 'skip' in places or would repeat some sections twice when it was played. Premiere also didn't play the sound always which was also very annoying. So because of these problems I had to restart my film about 4 times before it began working properly for me. When I exported my video though, it played on QuickTime with the 'skipping' and repeating it had had on the editor before I had fixed it. I had to repeat the export onto a different player (Windows Media Player) but it still did the same thing. 
Without the skipping of sections and wiggly line at the top of the screen I believe my film would have turned out really well.

Stage 2 and 3: Production and Post-Production

see completed film.

Task 7: Locations, Permissions

I am using my own house for filming so do not require any special permissions from owners. 
I am going to film in the hallway and hall cupboard, upstairs bedroom and my bedroom (very briefly). 

Task 6: Art Department

Map (old looking) - make it myself (Siani Wyatt)
Camera - my Mum's camera
Costume - I have asked the cast to bring their own clothes (Kim Sletcher, Bryony Astall, Belinda Van Noorden)

Task 2: Research

In class we have watched some examples of other films previous classes have made and this has given me some ideas for camera movements and angles. 
SETTING: my film opening will be filmed at my house, therefore I will not need any special permission from owners or council. Because my film is quite simple there isn't any violent or dangerous acting, so everyone should be safe whilst filming. 
PROPS/COSTUMES: map and camera provided by myself, also my own outfit. I have asked my three actors to bring their own clothes to wear, but as they will be early teens not to dress too "old". 
MUSIC/SOUND EFFECTS: I will be able to find music on YouTube or iTunes, I am wanting it to be suspenseful and intriguing. I don't think I will require sound effects but if I do then they will be available on the  movie editor or I can record them myself. 
TALENT: I have chosen three of my friends to act in my film, Bryony Astall, Kimberley Sletcher and Belinda Van Noorden, I will also be in the film.
FRIENDS RESPONSE: I asked Jodana Horton to comment on my concept and treatment and she said that it was "very clear. I can picture every shot of your film". And that "the way in which you wrote meant that your scenes linked really well. As in, the transitions are smooth." She also said that my treatment did not really reveal the character's feeling "however this character's emotions are fairly self-explanatory, so do not worry about it". The few questions she had were "Are you going to show the children tagging along the protagonist?" and "Are you going to add sound effects?" I response to those questions, I would say that yes you will see the other characters. Once the map has been found the camera/protagonist will look up at her friends (point of view) to show the viewer their reactions to the map. I don't think I will need sound effects but if required then I could add them when the cupboard doors are opened by having a squeaking door, or similar.

Task 3: Design

TREATMENT: The opening begins with a blackout and a voice over saying 
"98, 99, 100... Ready or not, here I come"
A pair of hands the fade in over the lenses and slowly move away to reveal the protagonists legs. She then stands to search for her friends. She walks slowly down a hallway looking into rooms and opening doors until she comes to a cupboard, she opens the door slowly to reveal her two friends sitting together.
"Found you!"
"She found you first." (friend 1)
"No, you were found first." (friend 2) 
"No she found..." (friend 1)
"Lets just go find Bel." (friend 2)
And the friends walk out of the shot, (this is all filmed from the point of view of the protagonist.) It then EITHER cuts to, the three friends walk in slow motion down the hallway towards the camera showing the power of the teenager, OR straight to a jumpcut of the wardrobe in which the final friend is hiding.
(if i use the slowmo walking then the jumpcuts will follow after.)
A hand then opens the wardrobe door slowly to reveal her friend sitting on the floor looking at an old map,
"Found you! [pause] What's that?"
"I found a map!"
The protagonist then reaches forward to take the map from her friend, (over-the-shoulder shot) so she can get a better look. She looks up at her friends which have come to stand in front of her  (panning to show friends reactions),  before looking back at the map (close up/point-of-view). The main character then looks seriously into the camera before the titles appear on the screen.