Welcome to my blog :D: Production Diary

Smart Targets

S: specific
M: measurable
A: achievable
R: realistic
T: timely

Using these S.M.A.R.T targets, my team and I are hoping to achieve our aims through dedication and time, and deadlines set. We will keep account of our progress so that we can see how far we have come with making our opening film sequence, we will make sure that what we do is realistic and that we can all meet aims and deadlines through realistic targets, and we will be specific in what we do, using a variety of techniques such as camera angles, shots, editing techniques so that we can get the best out of our work.

Wednesday 17th February 2010

Today our group met at college to do some shooting for our film opening. Our original plan was to go to college to collect the necessary equipment needed, and film in a different location, which was to be near a local estate. However, we decided that filming some shots at college, which were not necessarily associated with our storyline would help during the editing process, therefore giving us more locational shots as well as back up footage in case there were to be any problems.

The first footage we shot was of Terry putting his stuff into a locker. This particular scene was shot again and again so that we can get a variety of shots such as a long distance shot, behind the shoulder shot, and to add more of an effect, we placed the camera into the locker.

The next footage shot was of Myrin sitting alone doing work. For this scene, an above angle shot was used, behind the shoulder shot, and a close up. This scene is supposed to portray that his character is very secretive and has something to hide, despite the innocent look.

The last scenes shot was of Josephine getting into a lift on her way to a lesson.

Saturday 27th February 2010

Today we were supposed to film some additional scense for our film opening. However a few problems occured which involved equipment, and management times, therefore we were able to film what we needed. Nevertheless we have rescheduled Monday for fiimg.

Monday 1st March 2010

As Terry & Myrin were unable to make it, Jospehine & I met up to film our additonal scences which involved a group of people, plus Josephine & myself taking drugs inside an estate. To get some extras in, Josephine recruited some friends to help out with the shoot. We shot close ups of the substances that would be used such as alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and cigarettes. We also filmed; close ups of the substances being used, medium shots of all of us taking the drugs, and establishing shot of the estate.

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Using Adobe After Effects, I began to start the process of making the title animation and font 'Estate of Mind'. As this was my first time using After Effects, I had to learn the basics of the programme such as setting everything up, positioning where the title would go, fonts, colours etc. When this was done, I then began with making the title. I experimented with the different colours I could use, and I chose to have red and white, as these two colours connote danger, love, passion, hope, peace, many themes that link very well to our film. I also experimented with different animation techniques, and I have chosen a technique where the letters appear on the screen one by one, but jumbled up, which connotes the confused and jumbled up lives that the characters in our film are struggling with.

Me (Duane)

Thursday 4th March 2010

Today my group and I focused on different parts of our film: Terry focused on the opening credits, Myrin focused on the production logo, while Josephine and I focused on the different editing techniques for the footage we shot on Monday, as well as Josephine helping with the titles also. Using premier pro, I experimented with the different ways that I could make the footage better such as inverting colours, reversing some of the shots, freeze frame and so on. We are still yet to fully complete the editing for our film opening.

Myrin