Discuss how far digital technology has enhanced the creative process in your media production work.
The ultimate aim of any piece of media technology is to help a person to better realise their creative vision for a project. Whilst better technology will not make a poor idea successful, it can help a project with potential to achieve as highly as possible.
Throughout my production work at AS, I felt I was held back by the quality of our cameras. My work was highly visual and I found that the low quality DV tape cameras hindered the appeal of images I had spent a great deal of time composing. During my A2 course, I feel that using a high quality HD camera will provide better clarity in my footage and result in a aesthetically successful piece of work, giving my ideas better representation in film format.
Editing software during the AS course was sufficient. Whilst the software package, iMovie, was fairly basic, this did enable me to fully understand the software and use it in a dynamic and creative way. With updated editing software facilities in the form of Adobe Premier Pro, I understand that I will be able to achieve more in terms of advanced functions. Useful and interesting as this is, the program is also highly complex. I do not yet completely understand how to use it to its full potential which may have a negative effect on my creative output simply by being unable to perform rudimentary tasks. Whilst I could potentially achieve more on Adobe Premier Pro, I still do not yet have the knowledge I need to do so.
Post production during the AS course was neglected. I did not posses the facilities or the understanding. Through the addition of the Adobe After Effects package to our system, this is an area that can be developed greatly over the A2 course. It will allow me to be creative in a completely new way, utilising processes like computer generated images and effects, having been trained in the software's capabilities.
Reflecting on the comparatively basic facilities available at AS, I can now appreciate the true nature of creativity in media. Having better facilities will, in theory, allow me to better replicate my ideas, but during AS, our equipment in itself encouraged creative thinking. Working on my production task taught me to embrace the facility's weaknesses, as well as its strengths, working around problems and often producing positive effects for my finished product as a whole.
Creativity and availability of suitable technology may well be two separate issues. To be creative, one must have a strong idea. It has to be clear in the creator's mind exactly what they want to achieve. Production of a successful piece of media hinges on its founding principles, and then using technology to best replicate them.
Media technology is important within production tasks. As I have discussed, not only does it allow you to represent your ideas better, it also can effect the character of your piece and force creative thought. That said, the key factor in any production, in regards to creativity, is the core idea that lies at its centre. Without an idea, you simply don't have a production.
Showing posts with label G325. Show all posts
Showing posts with label G325. Show all posts
Monday, 13 December 2010
Monday, 13 September 2010
Production Work
Some Ideas...
Music Video
I thought that it would be good to attempt a stoop motion film. This has been done by several youtube video makers and achieved successfully, often with a very simple set up. This would present a serious challenge when it comes to production and editting, but also a creative challenge that might inspire an interesting outcome. I aim for a mise-en-scene that is bright and upbeat. I think a dark, gritty film has become somewhat of a cliche.
Childrens Drama Opening
Strangely, I think a stop-motion film would also work well for a children's TV show, especially for a younger audience. Especially with a bright mise-en-scene. Possibly with little plastacine things moving around... Thinking about it, that idea could work for both.
Research and planning
• How did your research into genre contribute to your production work?
My research into films of an arthouse or film-noir style has a stong influence over my production work. The tendency towards minimalism and subtlety, and a strong focus on photographic style images were all as a result of specific research into these particular genre.
• How did your research into audience contribute to your production work?
My audience research led me to the idea that within an opening, less is more. People seemed to appreciate the idea that an opening is best kept simple and easy to understand, and expressed a serious distaste for films that brought in several confusing ideas early on. It also confirmed that people would respond well to black and white as a format, as long as it was used in the correct genre.
• How did your research into institutions responsible for the production and regulation of the media influence your production work?
By researching institutions, I realised that companies such as Paramount Vantage valued the quality of film above finantial gain. This encouraged me to persue an individual piece of cinema, giving the value of the film as a piece of art over that of comercial appeal.
• What pre-production planning techniques did you employ (scripting, storyboarding, shot-lists etc.)? How effective was your planning – how did it help you in the production phase?
I produced a story board early on. From this I was able to complete a shot list before heading out to get the footage. I think this was effective. I was able to gather all of the necessary shots in two nights of filming, with very few problems. Prior to filming, I took some location shots so that I could further visualise the final products and get a greater sense of its mise-en-scene.
• What did you learn from planning your first production that helped you to improve your planning for the second?
That knowing exactly what shots you need to take where and when can make filming a lot quicker and run smoothly.
• How did you use audience feedback to influence your production work while it was in progress?
Whilst editting the final footage, I thought about how the audience responded to my questions about pace within an openning sequence. Feedback from my classmates and teachers also helped me to edit my footage in order to establish the pace I desired.
Music Video
I thought that it would be good to attempt a stoop motion film. This has been done by several youtube video makers and achieved successfully, often with a very simple set up. This would present a serious challenge when it comes to production and editting, but also a creative challenge that might inspire an interesting outcome. I aim for a mise-en-scene that is bright and upbeat. I think a dark, gritty film has become somewhat of a cliche.
Childrens Drama Opening
Strangely, I think a stop-motion film would also work well for a children's TV show, especially for a younger audience. Especially with a bright mise-en-scene. Possibly with little plastacine things moving around... Thinking about it, that idea could work for both.
Research and planning
• How did your research into genre contribute to your production work?
My research into films of an arthouse or film-noir style has a stong influence over my production work. The tendency towards minimalism and subtlety, and a strong focus on photographic style images were all as a result of specific research into these particular genre.
• How did your research into audience contribute to your production work?
My audience research led me to the idea that within an opening, less is more. People seemed to appreciate the idea that an opening is best kept simple and easy to understand, and expressed a serious distaste for films that brought in several confusing ideas early on. It also confirmed that people would respond well to black and white as a format, as long as it was used in the correct genre.
• How did your research into institutions responsible for the production and regulation of the media influence your production work?
By researching institutions, I realised that companies such as Paramount Vantage valued the quality of film above finantial gain. This encouraged me to persue an individual piece of cinema, giving the value of the film as a piece of art over that of comercial appeal.
• What pre-production planning techniques did you employ (scripting, storyboarding, shot-lists etc.)? How effective was your planning – how did it help you in the production phase?
I produced a story board early on. From this I was able to complete a shot list before heading out to get the footage. I think this was effective. I was able to gather all of the necessary shots in two nights of filming, with very few problems. Prior to filming, I took some location shots so that I could further visualise the final products and get a greater sense of its mise-en-scene.
• What did you learn from planning your first production that helped you to improve your planning for the second?
That knowing exactly what shots you need to take where and when can make filming a lot quicker and run smoothly.
• How did you use audience feedback to influence your production work while it was in progress?
Whilst editting the final footage, I thought about how the audience responded to my questions about pace within an openning sequence. Feedback from my classmates and teachers also helped me to edit my footage in order to establish the pace I desired.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Last Years Blogs - Let's 'ave a butchers!
Our homework for this week to compare last year's blogs to the mark scheme and work out what kind of mark we might give based on what we've read.
I think this blog deserved a very strong Level 4. It seems to satisfy almost every possible detail of the mark scheme. Idea's are documented at every stage. They are communicated clearly, they are well presented and there has been significant use of ICT throughout. I really liked the way that the blog seemed to form a diary, where the progress of the project was updated regularly and extensively. Planning is documented through use of scanned sheets and photographs. My one slight criticism might be that, in my mind, there seems to be too much text. Whilst photographs and other images feature, the blog is predominately text. The candidate is trying to communicate a very large amount of information and the lines and lines of text make it a daunting read. 
Again, I felt that this was a very strong blog. I particularly liked the design; the appearance of the blog certainly gave of a much more approachable impression. The use of text was as concise as possible, whilst still documenting the significant steps in the production process. The use of ICT was very impressive, especially in regards to the frequent use of embedded YouTube clips to better illustrate an idea, or an important piece of research. Speaking of research, it's all there.Communicated clearly, and detailed extensively. Plans for production are detailed sufficiently. Again, this blog would, most likely, gain a Level 4.
I think this blog deserved a very strong Level 4. It seems to satisfy almost every possible detail of the mark scheme. Idea's are documented at every stage. They are communicated clearly, they are well presented and there has been significant use of ICT throughout. I really liked the way that the blog seemed to form a diary, where the progress of the project was updated regularly and extensively. Planning is documented through use of scanned sheets and photographs. My one slight criticism might be that, in my mind, there seems to be too much text. Whilst photographs and other images feature, the blog is predominately text. The candidate is trying to communicate a very large amount of information and the lines and lines of text make it a daunting read. 
Again, I felt that this was a very strong blog. I particularly liked the design; the appearance of the blog certainly gave of a much more approachable impression. The use of text was as concise as possible, whilst still documenting the significant steps in the production process. The use of ICT was very impressive, especially in regards to the frequent use of embedded YouTube clips to better illustrate an idea, or an important piece of research. Speaking of research, it's all there.Communicated clearly, and detailed extensively. Plans for production are detailed sufficiently. Again, this blog would, most likely, gain a Level 4. Wednesday, 8 September 2010
A2 Production Briefs - First thoughts
Today we were given our 5 options for our production.
My first thought was that the newspaper option was not for me. It doesn't really give me much option for creativity and print really isn't what I want the majority of my project to be made up of.
The two film options that seem the most appealing are the children's drama title sequence or the music video. I'm used to working in film, and with music being a serious interest for me, surely it would make sense to make a music video? However, the children's opening seems like it would be really enjoyable and I think that if I enjoyed a film it would make a better end result.
My first thought was that the newspaper option was not for me. It doesn't really give me much option for creativity and print really isn't what I want the majority of my project to be made up of.
The two film options that seem the most appealing are the children's drama title sequence or the music video. I'm used to working in film, and with music being a serious interest for me, surely it would make sense to make a music video? However, the children's opening seems like it would be really enjoyable and I think that if I enjoyed a film it would make a better end result.
Monday, 6 September 2010
G325
G325 Critical Perspectives in Media
This is a written paper sat during the summer exams. It is synoptic in that it draws together all that will be learnt during the course.
Section A is entirely devoted to production work (G324) throughout AS and A2.
1. Research tasks carried out.
Assess the impact of the activities/tasks/challenges you have outlined above on the success (or otherwise) of your finished foundation portfolio.
Audience research and viewing professional examples allowed me to identify the key themes and conventions that appeal most to my target audience. Planning ensured that the whole production ran fairly smoothly and minimized the time spent filming during fading light. Whilst overcoming the challenges created problems, it also encouraged me to think creatively and often resulted in an overall better result.
This is a written paper sat during the summer exams. It is synoptic in that it draws together all that will be learnt during the course.
Section A is entirely devoted to production work (G324) throughout AS and A2.
1. Research tasks carried out.
- Audience research in the form of a series of short interviews.
- Viewing similar examples of film openings and writing analysis on blog.
- Storyboards.
- Location shots.
- Shot list.
- How to strike up a balance between subtlety and interest.
- Maintaining video quality.
- How best to use the software to achieve the desired effect.
Assess the impact of the activities/tasks/challenges you have outlined above on the success (or otherwise) of your finished foundation portfolio.
Audience research and viewing professional examples allowed me to identify the key themes and conventions that appeal most to my target audience. Planning ensured that the whole production ran fairly smoothly and minimized the time spent filming during fading light. Whilst overcoming the challenges created problems, it also encouraged me to think creatively and often resulted in an overall better result.
- My previous piece lacked a sense of continuous narative. Whilst this is less applicable to the A2 task, I should aim to maintain interest.
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