Mid way creative critical reflection
12/12/17
Midway through reflection i have decided to reflect on what i have made so far on media product.This was beneficial for us because it allows us to look whether our works are following to our initial aims and see mistakes and area we can improve on.
Peer Review CCR
These are some of the feedback collected from our Peer from watching the final film.
Feedback:
-Mood/Theme in the story were kept constant through out the entire video
-Great flow and rhythm passed on from each scenes
-Well produced/selected sounds enables the small parts of the film to not be empty
-Smooth continuity and flow of editing makes the film easy to understand
-Good choice of music, timing
-Great Cinematography
-Use of the water elements to represent the wife doesn't disrupt the flow of film
-Meaning passed through the use of reflections
-Continuous flow of scenes/sequence of the film enables very smooth feelings while watching
Final Creative Critical Reflection
15/2/18
I have decided to film my self talking about the creative critical reflection on my film after my full post production process.
Here are the list of questions i have talked/discussed through out this creative critical reflection video.
How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?
How did your production skills develop throughout this project?
4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?
Evaluation and Summary of the Creative Critical Reflection
1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
Our film has touched on the topics of sexual discrimination and social desirability.In today's modern world society women are still discriminated and treated under/indirectly by males and the eager need for a good social appearance and status has still been increasing continuously higher in today's world.No matter in what circumstances we’re at some point trying to level ourselves higher than others as we live in a society where conquest is one of the key to success.We are profound social animals.We crave each other’s affection,respect and support.Our film uses the protagonist to highlight both the idea of sexual discrimination and social desirability.
Insecurity Commentary
I have made a commentary on my media product "Insecurity" which covers 3 areas: Cinematography, Editing and Sound.
Cinematography
Editing
An example referenced technique of editing from Midnight in Paris
In the film opening above a montage editing technique have been used in relation with a non-digetic sound which conveys the audience into a certain breathtaking mood of the city.Some of the scenes shown in the beginning of the clip is also shown again near the end of the film opening which creates a smooth repetition between scenes and represent change of times,mood and the overall surroundings of the scenes.
Our film also features similar techniques as well by showing similar objects and surroundings right in the beginning and near the end to create a smooth repetition and highlights the scenes while showing a change in mood and time.Montage techniques of the protagonist and the views of cityscape was also shown with jazz music to create the sloitude and mysterious mood to our film.
Sound
Notes: I have used Thinglink to pinpoint comments on each scene and explain the meaning behind it.
Introducing the wife slowly through the reflection and using the reflection to reflect meaning of the characters.
Similarities and influenced scenes from the opening scene of "Seven" and "American Psycho"
Seven
Our opening scene contains some elements from the "Seven" opening scene/credits particularly on the areas of metric montage editing as you can see that around the first 30-40 seconds of our film opening shows the different close up/and mid shots of the protagonist's action while not showing his actual appearance through the use of montage in relation with metric method where the montage scenes of the protagonist actions were cut to beat of the non-digetic soundtrack on some parts just like the opening scene of seven where the antagonist actions was shown indirectly while cutting it onto beat at the same creating this eerie and anxious mood to the audience,whereas on our film specifically implies more of a rich/elite-class and mysterious mood of the protagonist to the audience.
American Psycho
In the opening scene of American Psycho above, it features montage editing technique of slowly revealing the protagonist perfoming his daily routine with a commentary on the actions/scenes through the protagonist digetic sound . This fits in similarly with how we first introduced our protagonist on our 2 minutes short film using montage editing in slowly introducing and revealing the protagonist's character showing him doing his daily routine such as getting dressed and going out to work.
We decided to put in the company ident a little bit further into the film instead of the beginning because we think the timing and flow was more suitable to put it there.There's also a perfect space in this in this particular frame that's very encouraging to add it as it wouldn't have affect the flow or makes it too tight for the frame before and after although it may blurs the audience a little bit from focusing at the objects on the table.
The transition cut between the montage scene of the protagonist into the scene of the wife through the use of a simple minimalism at the coffee.This also works well as a way to slow down the pace of the music and switch to that whole new mood of silence and vagueness represented by the wifes' damaged feelings due to sexual discrimination.
This scene/shot was influenced by a shot from the movie "Coffee and Cigarettes" taking a simple shot of coffee and cigarettes on the table through the shot from above.The cinematography in this scene doesn't have much move movement and is simple but, is highly effective in making the audience focuses on the objects on the table.
The concept of reflection used to show how the characters really feel and the extremely solitude mood.
The idea of connotation between objects was shown through the wife's character and emotions being represented by the white flower which symbolises this idea innocence and freshness.The identifiable link between these two are that they both have white colours.
The use of pan camera shots to grab the audience attention by forcing them to trace upto the key subject of the scene.
Another connotation on the idea that suicide from depression in the scene have led the wife to freedom which she cant seek for in reality and the bird flying up high in the end alone representing her being free after the suicidal action.
Introducing the theory of "Yin Yang"
A Chinese philosophy and religion where two principles, one negative, dark, and feminine (yin) and one positive, bright, and masculine (yang) whose interaction influences the destinies of creatures and things.
This idea we're trying to link in is also similar to Sigmund Freud's famous "Id,Ego,Superego" theory.
Id, Ego and Superego
This is one of Freud's single most enduring and important idea that the human psyche (personality) has more than one aspect.
To make it simple the Id is as would refer to the evil side while the superego is the good side in the human personality. In the film we wanted to show an obvious contrast between the two characters both representing the two very extremes side the good and bad.The protagonist as often shown related to dark/black colour would represent the bad side the "Id" or the "Yin" in the theory while the wife as mostly associated to the colour white would represent the good side the "superego" or the "Yang" from the theory.
2. How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?
Our product is aimed at teenagers up to adults as the story requires a certain level of skills and reasoning in order to understand and evaluate the topics we're trying to present.Adults or young adults may specifically enjoy it more if it were to be a real film as it relate topics they may have came closer to or experience more in everyday life settings such as in work place or school where colleagues,friends,managers,teachers and bosses may have try to discriminate or level themselves higher hence, wearing a masks to present them in best way possible.
We used the website Ugov to help find information about our target audience.
Youtube is the platform in which our media product will be distributed in terms of trailer/teaser it is almost a definite answer.
3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project?
I usually enjoy editing photos on Photoshop since my IGCSE on Art and design.Editing videos/films is an absolute new experience and a step up in terms of complexity hence having elements to consider which i have never touched on before such as rhythm and emotion.
I have learn basic editing techniques by using different platform such as Youtube to help me with the particular area i wanted.There're many tutorial videos on Youtube which i find highly useful especially the ones made for beginners like me.
For my first media editing work i have to make a video on compilation/montage lists of camera shots type.It was a group and my role was to edit the video.Despite, having the editing program Premiere pro already installed on my laptop but haven't ever used it to me it was a perfect time to get started. I went on Youtube and looked for a few tutorials video which are not too long but is highly effective.
Having to learn this i was able to use the Premiere pro quite fast and freely according to my own likings. Everything about the program is very interesting to me as you have so much freedom to create your content genuinely from your ideas.I was able to explore different features and colour gradient on each little video footage and try to make them all in the same tone.Moreover, i have decided to add background music to the video and work on the editing rhythm make the whole video flows smoothly into an entertaining and enjoyable mood.
This is the final video of the filming technique:
I have changed the program i use to edit my work since Premiere pro is too large for my laptop to handle which often makes it lags and stopped working causing longer editing time and my work sometimes being gone.
The new program i have changed to is the Sony Vegas Pro 13.0.Therefore,i have to learn tutorials from Youtube on how editing works on Sony Vegas.
Personally, i like to watch tutorials from "JustAlexHalford" due to the fact that his explanations are clear and simple and there're specific tutorials on each area of editing fro instance the sound ,adding text and effects.This allows me to save more time rather watching a long video i can go straight to the area i wanted to know.
link to the channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/JustAlexHalford
I have tried to make some edits on my short film planning footage with Soton by using the Sony Vegas Pro and it works brilliantly without any buffers or delays.
After using Sony Vegas Pro i realised the program is very similar to Premiere Pro as they have similar capability of allowing the editor to explore and create content on different dimensions.Sony Vegas to me is a slightly simplified version of the Premiere pro and works more effectively on all PCs due to their lower size of program.
As a result i have worked on my final media product (Short Film Opening) using Sony Vegas Pro which so far have been highly complacent to me.
This the film opening after the second sound edit.
This is some cuts of the editing process i have been through and what i have learn/achieve by doing so.
Using new programs ie. Sony Vegas pro and premiere pro have enabled me to understand how vague and free the programs offer you to experiment and explore to create content using different features with different combinations.I have been inspired to use the amazing tools to create interesting content and passed it on to people with similar passion or to passionate them.
I have created a Pokemon to show my progress through out this year's As Media Course.I have learned many aspects of media through with different people and taking their advises.
4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?
We have used technologies to make plans for essential shots and make notes on key aspects of product a media product through the Wix blog.Sony Vegas and Premiere pro software have been used heavily to help us edit and produce high quality content in relation with well selected sound.
The internet has been very useful for us to make research and back up all the vital information needed for the film.We are able to earn knowledge related to psychological thriller film type/editing techniques,find out key factors to consider and make short but effective interaction with the members and teachers during work through programs such as Line and Google Drive.Our videos from work can also be posted and gain simple access from Youtube,Vimeo and etc. which enables our work to be spread to people more easily.
Using the Wixblog for studying and uploading media content.
The Sony Vegas helped me hugely for a easier editing and ability to maximise several functions/aspects in editing a film.
The OnlineVideoConverter website in which i used to convert sounds from the internet into mp3 or mp4 files.
Team Drives for tracking lessons and progress which can also be used to make plans and interact with teammates and other Media students.
The wonderful website Dropbox which i use to mostly upload/store my files and get access whenever or where ever i need it.