On Tuesday we are meeting to film a few extra shots for the end of the film (Steve's suggestion). We will need to get shots of the following:
Dan editing - selecting clips, etc
The preparation paperwork that goes in to making a film (we will use the group folder for this)
Meet at 11:15 at stores and film in edit one. The equipment is booked and Dan has the edit room booked out all day.
Friday, 30 April 2010
Steve's Suggestion
In the tutorial today, Steve watched my version of the edit and had one suggestion that would improve it. The idea being that because we have manipulated the public interviews to include the positive things they have said at the end, we should show this process somehow, maybe by voiceover, arguing against the negative public views at the beginning. Amy reckons this would work well with some new cutaways recorded of me editing etc.
My personal thoughts on this are that it would be a good idea to incorporate into the film, especially with the kind of tone it has already. However I feel that at this stage of the production it may be hard to fit it into the piece, and organising equipment etc at the last minute just to change something that already works may stretch us a little, in my opinion.
My personal thoughts on this are that it would be a good idea to incorporate into the film, especially with the kind of tone it has already. However I feel that at this stage of the production it may be hard to fit it into the piece, and organising equipment etc at the last minute just to change something that already works may stretch us a little, in my opinion.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Dan's most recent cut
This morning I went to see how Dan's edit is coming along. Overall, I was very pleased with what I saw and I think Dan has done a really good job on it. I do have a few things that I might work on if it was my edit. These are as follows:
A few of the cutaways that have been used in the edit seem to be a bit 'rough' and 'jumpy'. I suggested that it might be a good idea to fade the images in and out. A particular cutaway that stood out to me was the image of Mathieu Kassovitz, Director of La Haine. Today Dan worked on a few different transitions and I think he has stuck with a short fade in/out on the image.
Another thing I noticed about the image of Mathieu Kassovitz was that there was a zoom out. Before we returned to the footage from Mark Herbert's interview, the zoom out stopped and there was a second or two pause on the still image. I explained, that for me, it felt better to cut back to the interview with Mark whilst it was still zooming out, and miss out the couple of seconds on the still image. Dan also worked on this today.
Dan has introduced some new music in to the opening few shots of the documentary. He explained that he wanted to use some dull music when the public were speaking negatively of media students. I'm in two minds about this as I do really like this idea, but I felt that the montage of shots of the different members of the public was funny and the music may take this humour away. The interviewees were asked what they think media students do, and we are taken through a number of shots of different people struggling to think of anything that media students do ('erm'...'ermmm'...'ermmmm'). This made me laugh when I first watched it and, for me, the music takes the humour away. I think that we should perhaps discuss this as a group and see what the majority vote is.
The interviews with Tom and Hussain are really interesting and I wouldn't want to cut any of their responses out, but they do go on for a very long time. I think that, if we had more time, we could spread the interviews out a bit throughout the edit, perhaps using them at the beginning of the documentary and returning to them at various points throughout. It concerns me that focusing on one person for a few minutes at a time may allow the audience to lose interest/concentration. Again, this is a very small point and I wouldn't get rid of any of their answers- the cut is fine as it is, just perhaps these sections go on for a little too long.
A few of the cutaways that have been used in the edit seem to be a bit 'rough' and 'jumpy'. I suggested that it might be a good idea to fade the images in and out. A particular cutaway that stood out to me was the image of Mathieu Kassovitz, Director of La Haine. Today Dan worked on a few different transitions and I think he has stuck with a short fade in/out on the image.
Another thing I noticed about the image of Mathieu Kassovitz was that there was a zoom out. Before we returned to the footage from Mark Herbert's interview, the zoom out stopped and there was a second or two pause on the still image. I explained, that for me, it felt better to cut back to the interview with Mark whilst it was still zooming out, and miss out the couple of seconds on the still image. Dan also worked on this today.
Dan has introduced some new music in to the opening few shots of the documentary. He explained that he wanted to use some dull music when the public were speaking negatively of media students. I'm in two minds about this as I do really like this idea, but I felt that the montage of shots of the different members of the public was funny and the music may take this humour away. The interviewees were asked what they think media students do, and we are taken through a number of shots of different people struggling to think of anything that media students do ('erm'...'ermmm'...'ermmmm'). This made me laugh when I first watched it and, for me, the music takes the humour away. I think that we should perhaps discuss this as a group and see what the majority vote is.
The interviews with Tom and Hussain are really interesting and I wouldn't want to cut any of their responses out, but they do go on for a very long time. I think that, if we had more time, we could spread the interviews out a bit throughout the edit, perhaps using them at the beginning of the documentary and returning to them at various points throughout. It concerns me that focusing on one person for a few minutes at a time may allow the audience to lose interest/concentration. Again, this is a very small point and I wouldn't get rid of any of their answers- the cut is fine as it is, just perhaps these sections go on for a little too long.
Monday, 26 April 2010
conclusion voiceover for Dan's cut
So after speaking to the public and professionals alike, what seemed to be the common denominator for success in the media industry? Sheer hard work and making the most of your resources. Make films, write scripts, network. Always be one step ahead of the game. And maybe you'll get your big break.
Cutaway ideas for this would include shots of us, engaging in the film making process.
Also we need to get some shots for the credits to go with the two we already have. One idea is to film me attempting to approach people in the city centre to interview them.
Friday, 23 April 2010
more voiceovers
We tracked down Mark Herbert who was giving a talk much like previous guests including Ross Kemp, Brian Blessed and Boris Johnson. Mark works for Warp X and has produced Donkey Punch and Dead Man's Shoes, some of the best British films of the last few years. The talk at Hallam was the perfect chance for me to ask him about his time at the University. So as the audience gathered and Mark arrived I got ready to ask him if he felt his degree was worthwhile
Watching the edit so far
Yesterday I went to see how the edit is coming along so far. I'm very happy with what Dan and Jonathan have put together, and it was good to see the footage that the group got from Hussain's interview. Dan wanted some input in to his edit and how he could cut it down, here is what I came up with:
I felt that some of the cutaways and the establishing shots of Sheffield at the beginning went on for too long. As Dan pointed out, when I watched this the voiceover hadn't yet been added and the shots may fit in time with these. However, I do feel that some are still a little lengthy and so, if possible, should be cut down slightly.
During the opening of Hussain's interview, the camerawork is really wobbly and is going up and down past his face for a few seconds. I suggested that, if it was my edit, then I wouldn't include this shot just because the camerawork is so unsteady. However, we really could do with hearing Hussain introduce himself and so Harry suggested bringing in the sound of his voice whilst on the cutaways, then cut to Hussain as the camera steadies. I think that this would work fine and is probably the best option.
There is a shot of a computer screen which zooms in to a link. During the zoom, the camera goes in and out of focus. Therefore I suggested cutting out the longer shot of the screen and the zoom in, and beginning the shot from the still close up of the link.
A few seconds in to the interview with Tom Gatis, there are cutaways to a computer screen showing the website of Tom's new scheme. Although this fits with what Tom is saying, I feel like I want to see more of Tom before the use of any cutaways - we have only just been introduced to him and then he is taken away. Again, this is my personal opinion and I think both Harry and Dan thought that it was ok as it was.
I suggested cutting away a couple of the public interviews involving an elderly lady talking about how she remembers Sheffield when she was 5 years old - I wasn't sure that this was entirely relevant.
Again, despite these few personal views on points for improvement, I'm very pleased with the edit. I look forward to seeing how Dan has developed the edit today and will hopefully get to see it on Monday evening.
I felt that some of the cutaways and the establishing shots of Sheffield at the beginning went on for too long. As Dan pointed out, when I watched this the voiceover hadn't yet been added and the shots may fit in time with these. However, I do feel that some are still a little lengthy and so, if possible, should be cut down slightly.
During the opening of Hussain's interview, the camerawork is really wobbly and is going up and down past his face for a few seconds. I suggested that, if it was my edit, then I wouldn't include this shot just because the camerawork is so unsteady. However, we really could do with hearing Hussain introduce himself and so Harry suggested bringing in the sound of his voice whilst on the cutaways, then cut to Hussain as the camera steadies. I think that this would work fine and is probably the best option.
There is a shot of a computer screen which zooms in to a link. During the zoom, the camera goes in and out of focus. Therefore I suggested cutting out the longer shot of the screen and the zoom in, and beginning the shot from the still close up of the link.
A few seconds in to the interview with Tom Gatis, there are cutaways to a computer screen showing the website of Tom's new scheme. Although this fits with what Tom is saying, I feel like I want to see more of Tom before the use of any cutaways - we have only just been introduced to him and then he is taken away. Again, this is my personal opinion and I think both Harry and Dan thought that it was ok as it was.
I suggested cutting away a couple of the public interviews involving an elderly lady talking about how she remembers Sheffield when she was 5 years old - I wasn't sure that this was entirely relevant.
Again, despite these few personal views on points for improvement, I'm very pleased with the edit. I look forward to seeing how Dan has developed the edit today and will hopefully get to see it on Monday evening.
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Update on the edit
Here is the latest screenshot of the edit I have been doing. At the moment it is still over 10 minutes but I will be looking into cutting this down further.
It has developed a considerable amount since the last screenshots. It now includes music at the beginning of the documentary to create a certain feeling towards the negative things the public interviews are saying towards media students. These have been split up from the positive things the public have said, and will be used later on in the documentary.
I have also managed to get all the cut aways I wanted, and have included them into the edit. This is creating a really good rhythm to the piece. One of the cut aways I used which I think works really well is a clip from the trailer of SAW. This is used when Hussain talks about the film as a success story. I have also included still photos in the part where Mark Herbert is answering a question from Harry.
At the moment I am trying to think about the conclusion. One idea by Jonathan was to have Harry getting interviewed himself and to sum up our findings. But I am stretched with time as it is over 10 minutes already, and so maybe this wouldn't be a possibility.
It has developed a considerable amount since the last screenshots. It now includes music at the beginning of the documentary to create a certain feeling towards the negative things the public interviews are saying towards media students. These have been split up from the positive things the public have said, and will be used later on in the documentary. I have also managed to get all the cut aways I wanted, and have included them into the edit. This is creating a really good rhythm to the piece. One of the cut aways I used which I think works really well is a clip from the trailer of SAW. This is used when Hussain talks about the film as a success story. I have also included still photos in the part where Mark Herbert is answering a question from Harry.
At the moment I am trying to think about the conclusion. One idea by Jonathan was to have Harry getting interviewed himself and to sum up our findings. But I am stretched with time as it is over 10 minutes already, and so maybe this wouldn't be a possibility.
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