Evaluation (Part 3)

6. What have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

In making this film, we have used several technologies. The most obvious is the Internet - this was very important for research and we gained a lot of knowledge and assistance from Google.

Another way in which we did research was to watch DVD commentaries and the opening sequences of films. From director's commentaries and behind the scenes footage we learned a lot, and were able to incorporate this into the way we made our sequence.

We had to use a camcorder to film the sequence, and this took some time to work out - the technology was complicated, but we were able to gain an understanding of it in time to be able to use it effectively when shooting the sequence. We also used a camera to get pictures for the Location Report, and the storyboard.

Editing was much more complex. We used the Vegas program to cut and edit clips and both diegetic and non-diegetic sound, but also had to record voiceovers, using the Microsoft Windows Sound Recorder. It took a few weeks to complete, several hours at a time. We had difficulties with this, because we found that we were unable to use what was already done on a different computer, and we couldn't transfer it onto someone else's userspace, so we were limited in terms of times when we could work, but were able to complete it in time.

In terms of audience feedback, I had the final film uploaded onto an encrypted site and we sent the link to certain individuals who we trusted to give us serious feedback, and through this were able to gain a range of opinions which proved to be very helpful in the development of our film.

In all, the use of technology was essential in every stage of making our media product, and my skills in these terms were improved greatly over the production period.

7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the full product?

I have learned a lot over the production periods of both the preliminary and final products. The most obvious skills might include the use of a camcorder and tripod, and the Vegas program, but I have developed other skills in the time.

The production stages of creating a film are pre-production, production and post-production. Pre-production is what happens before filming - storyboarding, writing, etc. Production is the filming process, and post-production is the editing process.

I found that pre-production was the easiest stage for me. As a writer, this stage comes somewhat naturally to me, and I learnt only a few skills that I did not already have - the effective use of a storyboard, to name the most significant. The pre-production process developed a lot between the preliminary and final piece, however - we spent much more time planning the final piece than the preliminary, partly because of its significance and partly before its length, and possibly too much time was spent on this, so I have effectively learned the importance of time management.

Production, too, was a fairly simple stage. The most important skills learnt involved camera angles, which we were not so successful with in the preliminary task, and the use of a tripod, which we found to be important when we saw the effects of filming without it in the preliminary. I was also involved in directing, and had to be careful to ensure that the actor was in a position that worked for the camera.

Post-production was the most challenging stage. I found the Vegas program difficult to use, and the process of editing was complicated and stressful. However, I did learn a lot about it, and we were able to use it to a much greater effect than in the preliminary task. We also added music, which we found to enhance the film and make it more interesting for the audience, especially in the silent parts, which seemed to drag before the use of music. Even with music they went on a bit, so we added voiceovers - extracts from Sophie's diary, and were able to shape them around the film so that they drew some attention away from the action, or lack thereof, and onto the diary. This was most effective in one of the last scenes, when Sophie is sat in the living room, watching TV, and takes painkillers in an attempt to kill herself. This scene went on for a while, and we cut it down, but it still seemed to be lacking something. With the voiceover, we were able to draw attention away from the images, where it took a while for anything to happen, and onto Sophie's thoughts. I learned a lot from this, and would consider myself much more able to include conventions like this in future.

In all, the learning process was a difficult, but rewarding one, and I would now fee much more competent in making a film than I did at the preliminary stage.