Filming - It's Liverpool

On Tuesday afternoon our group decided to go and shoot for the 'It's Liverpool' brief. our chosen location is Bold Street so we decided to do the time lapses that we are going to put in the film. Because time lapses take a long time, we used this whole afternoon to shoot half an hour at each end of Bold Street. It was very VERY cold put we powered through and managed to get an hour of footage. Time lapse is one of the brief requirements for this short film so it was essential that we did the time lapse footage when we had a clear day (so that the camera would not be damaged).
I took a couple of photographs of the shoot to document, here they are:

Not only do you get a sense of where we are shooting from the many shops and cobbled streets; but it also allows the viewer to see other aspects of Liverpool such as the Bombed out church. We want the location to be as obvious as it can because we have been told that other films for 'It's Liverpool' have been too generic. I am happy with the footage that we got on this shoot and as you can see I took the liberty of using my Canon EOS 1100D to document the event. The bottom photograph was also my photo of the day for Tuesday :)


Speak soon!

Creativity and Concept - Facilitation

This Creativity and Concept lesson was all about facilitation. Now, what is facilitation? Well it is the process of enabling groups to work cooperatively and effectively. A facilitator is someone who leads the group in the right direction and stops any distractions or tangents from occurring. Facilitators are usually used in business settings where decisions need to be made or ideas need to be thought about. Groups of people come together when ideas need to be formed for new things (for example, toy companies). A facilitator can be an outside person who just simple directs the group to what they need; they don't even need to understand the companies work!

Here is the overview of facilitation:

For all of the group to experience facilitation, we were split into groups of 4. We were given a brief which was 'LJMU are having a festival to celebrate all of its achievements and students. What could they have at this festival?' After we had received the brief we all headed for a board each and one person was the facilitator at a time. We all took turns in being the facilitator; we had to be encouraging and stop anything that wasn't to do with the brief being spoke about. Also, nobody was allowed distractions such as mobile phones. We basically mind mapped (or brain stormed) about the whole festival. We came up with as many ideas as we possibly could; here are a couple of photographs of our work:

 We then had to decide what ideas we liked the most as a group and then pitch them to the rest of the class. We had a couple of great ideas but we narrowed it down to three.

We decided that the idea that we would probably use would be the student Olympics/camp out. This was one of our crazy ideas but we wanted to have something original that nobody else had done. The Olympics would be subject based so you could take part in any but you would have an  advantage when taking part in your own subject. The camp out was attached to this idea because after the Olympics it would be like an after party with fires and marshmallows for everyone. When it all settles down everyone could camp out with their friends for this one night only! We thought that the camping was good idea because the festival was going to be in the summer (we were told). I suggested Otterspool Prom because it would be beautiful by the water, but we could also do it somewhere like Sefton Park or Chavasse Park.


Of course this festival is fictional, but it allowed us to see what we were like as facilitators and also it gave each of us a chance to express ourselves.


Speak soon!

Production Practice Camera Workshop

In this lesson we had a workshop taken by Trevor (Head of Department). We touched briefly on some camera techniques but the main part of the workshop was to allow us to get to grips with using sound when filming. The first project we did was visual only and we were allowed to add music or sound effects. Now we will be recording sound as we shoot to apply it to the visual.
We received booklets that are very detailed and helpful to have when at a shoot; they give you more of an understanding of the camera and also how to use the microphones to the best of their ability.
I found a lot of the information useful and pretty much all of it was new to me. I did like how the workshop was set out because they had a camera filming another camera and this image was on a large TV. This gave the whole class a clear view of what buttons were where and how to use them. I think that without this workshop I would find it very difficult to use the microphones and sound through the camera.
The most interesting thing that I learned is that when shooting a film, the sound guys like to get extra 'atmos' (which is basically the atmospheric sound surrounding the shoot). This enables to editors to have more layers of audio to work with and gives the films more depth. I definitely will be using this technique when we are filming our next projects because I want to try my hand at everything - not just strictly holding the camera and pressing record.
After the workshop we were sent off to have a play around with the equipment to get used to using it and see how everything works. This was a useful exercise because we could actually get our hands on the sound equipment rather than just watching someone else explain everything. I do like active learning more, especially on this course because it requires a lot of hands on practical work.
Hopefully everything that I have learned will sink in and I can use these skills on my next shoot!

Speak soon!

Digital Media Tools is back!

Our first lesson back was all about looking back at what we have done so far and possibly improve any work that needs it. We talked about the various things that we have looked at:

• Image composition
• Photoshop
• Perception of image
• Flash (animation)
• Five frame storyboard
• Stop frame animation

I personally want to work more with Flash because I think there is a lot more that I could learn which would be useful for me if I make any more animations. I want to compile the five frame narrative together because I never had the time to do it. I only learned some skills with Flash so I want to go in to more detail so I will be able to use it on my own without help.

Our stop motion animation also needs to be put together and I would like to work with one of our lecturers in doing so because this is something that I would like to do in my spare time outside of the course. I also want to add audio to the stop motion animation because we have yet to record anything. Which brings me nicely to the rest of the lesson as it was all about audio!

Sound can either be the human voice, sound effects or music. These are the essential three elements when making films, animations, etc. Sound requires attention to detail and so acquiring/making your own will be more beneficial. A good example of layered sound is from Alien - Ridley Scott (1979). The scene that we looked at had many sound effects layered over each other which made the sequence have more of an impact and brought you inside the ship instead of listening from the outside.

Sound is exaggerated to match the impact on the screen; especially through animation. A prime example of this (and it is also one of my favourites) is Creature Comforts by the wonderful Aardman Animations. Creature Comforts is created by first taking interviews of people talking about day to day things; and then Aardman create characters that match this persons voice. It is a very effective way of getting the audio to match perfectly with the movement that is happening on the screen.

Music is usually used to represent a persons traits, for example certain characters in films will have a sort of theme tune, if you like. Any time they are on the screen, elements of their 'theme tune' will be evident in the layered audio.

Synchronous sound is matched to what is viewed and contributes to realism or draws attention to what is happening. Asynchronous however, is not matched with the visible source of the sound on the screen but it adds realism because of the layers.

Background music is used to add emotion and rhythm to a film. It usually helps move the plot along. Also, sound bridges are used in film so that the audio overlaps the next scene. This gives sequences a smoother transition. An example of this would be through the film High Noon (1952). And finally, we spoke about how the pace of audio was be applied to match the imagery. This is an obvious one, shown through most films with action or adventure in; if the scene is fast pace then generally so will be the sound.

Anyway, that was a summary of the notes I made in this Digital Media Tools lesson. I found the lesson very useful because I learned a lot about sound that I did not previously know. This will help me when creating sound or applying sound to films that I am making in university and also in my spare time.

Speak soon!

Image Credits: 

cinemasights.wordpress.com

news.bbc.co.uk

Location Based Narrative

Okay, so in our Contemporary Media Issues lesson we have started a new assignment which is to create a location based narrative using a location in Liverpool. The whole thing has to be presented on Google Maps using Placemark's and other various icons. The location that my group was given is Sefton Park. Here is the plan that we came up with:

If the photographs aren't clear enough here is basics:

• A drunk is lying on a bench in Sefton Park dreaming of a better life for himself.
• Locations that we will use are all gardens: Sefton Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Central Park and Park Du Champs De Mars.
• Media that we will use on Google Maps will include: Videos, Images, Sound Bytes, Text and Web Links.

We hope to create an interesting story using these places and types of media. The links between the places will become more clear on the actual map; as this is just initial ideas that we have had as a group.

Speak soon!

Team Work!

In one of our lectures this week, we discussed in depth aspects of working in teams. Of course this is a big part of our course (Media Professional Studies), because it is rare for us to work alone. Making pieces of media usually requires great minds to think alike and so working as a team is something that we all have to do.
We spoke about what makes a good team:

• Keeping goal in mind
• Listening skills
• Voicing opinions
• Honesty about suggestions
• Don't be passive
• Good leadership
• Delegating
• Accepting criticisms
• Trusting/supporting/being friendly
• Relaxed atmosphere
• Organisational skills

We were then asked to do an online questionnaire to see who we are when we are part of a team. The options were: Evaluator, Ideas person, Leader, Compromiser, Summariser, Recorder and Encourager. I got the highest mark in Recorder. I think that this is very true because every time I work in a team, I always take notes and I always like to have everything organised. For example, the new project we have just started called 'It's Liverpool', I have taken all of the notes that we have about the plan and also created any other relevant paper work such as a filming schedule.

We had to get in to teams that had people from various categories in them, this was to see if we would work better when there is more variety in the team. I think this is a good plan because it gets people to work with others who they have not worked with before. I found this exercise helpful because it allowed me to see what sort of team worker I am and also allowed me to see what other people in my class are like as well.

Speak soon!

Creativity and Concept - First Assignment of 2012

In the first Creativity and Concept lesson back we were introduced to the first assignment after Christmas. We have to create an exhibit, event or artifact for the new Liverpool Museum.
First of all we had to choose a user group out of a list that the lecturers provided. We have to pick numbers out of a hat to see who got the first pick (because the first picks would obviously be the better ones). We, unfortunately, were number nine so we had to pick one of our least favourite ones. I am not too dissapointed though because we got Film Enthusiasts which will allow our group to explore our chosen university subject in a different way.
Little funny anecdote; we had to choose a group names so that the lecturers would know who had which user group. Of course, because me and Ashleigh are obsessed with Harry Potter, we were naturally 'Gryffindor'. Anyway,


Speak soon!

'It's Liverpool'

The project that we have been given in Production Practice is the brief 'It's Liverpool'. We have been asked to create a short piece showing what Liverpool is really about. We should not use typical stereotypes that normal adverts portray and we should also avoid being generic as the piece needs to show, not just any city, but Liverpool.
We started working in our new group and came up with a few ideas. We want the whole piece to be based on Bold Street and we will show aspects of the city through one main character. In our next Production Practice lecture we are going to come up with the final idea in full detail so that we can begin filming as soon as possible.
We have to do this project at a fast pace so we need to get a move on! Once we have finished this film we have to start another right away which will be a profile on someone from Liverpool.


Speak soon!

Please follow my photography blog!

Here is my other blog that I have created for 2012. The idea is that I am going to take a photograph each day of the year; it's a challenge that I have set myself to see if I do progress with my work. I am going to actually do this New Years Resolution because I doubt any of my others will last very long! Here is the link, it is on Tumblr so hopefully a lot of you are familiar with this site!
http://stevies1day1photo.tumblr.com/


Speak soon!

Catching up!

I suppose I should catch you all up on my Christmas/New Year adventures! Didn't blog at all over the Holiday period because I simply didn't have the time. But I am now back with a vengeance and I have things to show you!
I took sooooooooooo many photographs these past 2/3 weeks so I thought I would share the good ones with you. I'm finding using my new camera a lot easier now as time passes; i am learning a lot of new tricks and it is slowly becoming an extension of my own arm.
Here are some photographs that I have taken over the Holidays with captions - enjoy!

 A Californian Christmas

 The Regal Kitty

 Reindeer in Red

Baby Bauble

 Snowman Chess

 Down at the Duck Pond

 Peculiar Christmas Tree

 My Little Pony

 Lake Padarn and Llanberis, Wales

My Three Favourite People

Well that was a few photographs I took over the Holidays, hope you like them! I would appreciate feedback if anyone has any to give. I'm still learning with my photography so of course I hope they get better :)
It has been nice to catch up, I will be very sad and say that I have missed blogging. My nice little outlet is now back and I welcome you, happy 2012 people!

Speak soon!