REFLECTIVE LOGS

UNIT 12

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Week 1- RESEARCH

To begin my project, I started looking into the research part of my FMP. The unit 12 work is integrated into my final major project. This week I completed:

• Who am I? (piece to camera task)

• Mind map of possible ideas for my FMP and research topic

• Identify three strongest ideas with strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for each

• Justify the strongest idea. What interests me the most about my chosen subject / topic? What is it that I want to find out?

 

Week 2- RESEARCH TOPIC & QUESTION

In week 2 I consolidated my research topic and the research questions. The research question and the research itself helped me find out about the area of my interest for my FMP and gave me confidence in my project.

The work I completed this week was:

• Identify Research topic and research question

• Analyse at least three media products related to my chosen media topic

 

Week 3- RESEARCH METHODS & ACTIVITIES

This week I focused on identifying research methods and research activities that I need to conduct to inform my research question and the topic of my project. The work I produced this week was:

• In my own words explain different research methods: primary, secondary, quantitative, and qualitative. What are their strengths and weakness and the way I can use each method to help me find out answers my research question.

• Create a mind map of research activates that can inform my research question and my project.

• Finalize research activities for my project

 

Week 4- TOPIC RESEARCH & RESEARCH REPORT

During last and this week, I concentrated on developing a detail research plan and conduct research to support my research question. I used a range of research methods and techniques in my research, which includes books, websites, and a questionnaire. After the initial stage of creating a ‘mind map’ of possible research activities and instruments I broke down the research process down into:

• Specific questions I need to answer

• Specific stages

• Specific research tools and techniques I need to use to answer my questions, to answer who, what and how (primary, secondary etc.)

 

Week 5- RESEARCH REPORT

This week I worked on finalizing my research study and summarizing my findings through a research report.

As my research question was 'What is depression in young people?', I can confidently say I have achieved the answer to that, through doing all this focused research, including primary (mind maps, questionnaire, taking notes), secondary (websites, videos), qualitative (detailed) and quantitative (statistical) data I have completed my research plan thoroughly, and have learnt knowledge that can also be useful to me in the future.

I have learnt and discovered more about my topic of depression, and also about cinematography, which has allowed me to become more confident when researching a topic as a whole, and in my final major project, it’s also shaped my original idea into my final product. For example, to start off with depression wasn't my favoured idea at first, then I did the research and had a clear idea on how I could present my short film on the topic of depression, rather than a part two to my previous project which was a skating documentary, I feel like I could relate to my final idea more than the others and It’s the one I felt the most positive about.

 

UNIT 13

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Week 6- PROJECT PROPOSAL

This is the first week of Unit 13 Extended Project with the aim to complete project proposal. To start off, I looked at how the research I have done so far will support my extended project and I will question my idea before I start my project proposal.

 

Week 7- TARGET AUDIENCE, SKILLS & TECHNIQUES, PRODUCTION RESEARCH

Over the Easter break I concentrated on identifying further research that I will need to conduct to inform my extended project. There are four areas of research that I conducted in order to inform my extended project. Those are: Topic research (Unit 12), target audience research, skills and techniques research and production research. I concentrated on any further topic research that I might want to do, target audience research and skills and techniques research.

 

Week 8&9- PRE-PRODUCTION

For the next two weeks I will be doing pre-production planning and experimentation as part of my project. For my pre-production paperwork I did:

• Shot list

• Shooting script

• Locations recces

• Health and safety risk assessment

• The treatment

• Character profile

• Storyboard

• Production schedule

• Field equipment checklist

• Legal and ethical information

• Conclusion

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In terms of experimentation, I used Premier Pro to experiment with changing the colour and different ways it looks visually such as exposure. I was trying to achieve a better look for a small I scene I had already recorded, and to make it look balanced out in terms of colour and lighting. I played around with the different settings until I achieved the look I wanted. I had problems with remembering the editing shortcuts as I’m still not used to editing fully, and it took a while for me to get it the way I wanted it to look. All these skills will be used in my post-production of my FMP as I will be using colour and different exposure settings.

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Week 10- PRODUCTION

This week I focused on the production of my project. As I have sorted out my production schedule, I know I will only need a week to film this.

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09/05/2022

• Bus journey

I filmed a few shots while stood at the bus stop, a close up of the bus going past, and then I was filmed getting on the bus and then short clips of the bus journey. I made sure to get different angles, so I had a variety of shots to choose from.

• Train journey

Filming public transport is quite difficult as you have to make sure you get the shot you want at the right time, otherwise you will have to wait longer for the next train or bus to come, with this in mind I was well prepared and new the train times as to when to get ready to film. I filmed a close up of the train tracks, then I was filmed getting on the train and clips from the train journey, then getting off at the destination. The lighting was the only issue I had due to the shadow on me sat next to the window, but this can be solved in post-production.

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10/05/2022

• Woods (Northbourne/ Tilmanstone)

This location was quite difficult to get to but didn’t really have any issues with filming other than it being a bit windy for the drone, but it was mainly stopped by the trees surrounding where we were shooting. It was great as it was really quiet, and we only saw one dog walker. I got a few shots on my camera of me walking in the road and sitting on a log. I was then filmed on a drone walking through the woods on a path, and then used the drone for more clips to get more options to choose from.

• Capel (Battle of Britain Memorial)

As this location is at the cliff edge, it was quite windy, but the drone managed to not blow away. We filmed shots on my camera of me holding my phone and behind me sitting near the edge, then got drone footage of my dad sitting next to me as it pans out.

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11/05/2022

• Samphire Hoe

Filming at this location was quite simple and brief, all I filmed was the cliffs and a train going past on my camera, as this is a cutaway that will be edited in after a clip of me sitting near the cliffs. It was windy but it didn’t affect my camera, and for noise it won’t matter as I am putting music over the whole video. I got a few different angles of the cliffs so I could choose which one is the best.

• Canterbury City Centre

Like Samphire Hoe, shooting at this location was simple and didn’t take long, it was a time lapse recorded on an iPhone 13 of me sitting down and people going about their daily lives behind me. I decided to use an iPhone 13 as I wasn’t sure how to set up a time lapse on my camera, the quality difference won’t be that huge as my camera is quite good quality too. I sat there for 5 minutes just staring into the camera, and the time lapse came to around 30 seconds long.

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15/05/2022

• Home

Filming at home was fairly simple, I had most of my shots prepared and added in some new ones. It went the best out of all the other locations due to it being inside and in the comfort of my house, I had all my equipment so I wouldn’t forget anything. I filmed me waking up which took quite a few takes, same with the alarm. Then for the cutaway I used paracetamol and filmed a close up on the tripod to keep it steady. I used my camera for all these shots.

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16/05/2022

• Abandoned buildings (Lympne)

Recording at the abandoned buildings actually went really well. I spent less than 30 mins there and got all the shots I needed. Its difficult to get to but its close to a main road, which would’ve been an issue if I was using sound. I got one shot of me walking down the middle of the buildings then walking into one of the buildings. I also got some shots of my surroundings and filmed me sitting on the back of an old truck reading.

To conclude my production, it went better than I expected. I allowed myself enough time to be able to film all the shots I need and be able to have lots of time to edit to make sure I get it right and the way I want it to look. All of my locations were fairly easy to get to, and I wasn’t disturbed when filming in public. I’m happy with all my scenes and shots I got and didn’t really have any issues.

 

Week 11&12- POST-PRODUCTION

For these two weeks I focused on post-production and evaluation. Editing for my FMP wasn't too difficult compared to other projects, although it took the longest to edit. I edited the actual video together, added effects/ transitions, titles/ credits and added the colour tint to the final product. I didn’t really come across any issues except for some difficulties such as Premier Pro crashing or being slow. After I had finished editing, I decided to create a poster for my short film as most films have poster to accompany them. I edited this on Canva and took a screenshot from my short film and then added a title to it. I decided to use this screenshot as I feel like it emphasises the feelings I have portrayed in my video, and pretty much summarises my short film and shows what it’s about.