Card Game

For our card game task we were given a deck of cards as a prop to create a short practice film. Different camera shots and angels were used to make the film more interesting. This was then edited using Final cut pro where we trimmed clips and combined clips to make up the film. Soundtrack pro was also used to edit the film by adding sound effects which made the film more interesting and more on edge.

Camera shots, sound and editing:

• Medium close up (MCU)
• Close up (CU)
• Long shot (LS)
• Wide shot (WS)
• Shot reverse shot
• Over the shoulder shot
• Sound effects
• Match cut

Match Cut Exercise

For the match cut exercise we had to film a short clip and use camera work and editing skills to show a match cut and shot reverse shot. The finishes were done on Final Cut Pro where we trimmed imported clips to create a finished short clip containing a match cut and a few shot reverse shots.

Camera Shots/Movements Used:

• over the shoulder shot
• Medium shots
• Panning
• Long shots

Preliminary Match Cut - Planning & Skills Audit (Filming/Editing)

Storyboard

In the match cut exercise we used a range of different camera shots/movements and editing skills to create a match cut and a series of shot reverse shots to show a conversation between two people. To create the match cut and shot reverse shots we had to film the scene twice from different positions to later on edit in Final Cut.

Camera Shots/Movements used:
- Long shot
- Medium shot
- Panning
- Over the shoulder

After filming our footage we imported our clips into Final Cut Pro and cut the clips in the right places to make the next clip follow on smoothly.

Preliminary Task - Match Cut Exercise

Card Game

For our card game we used Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack Pro to edit and create our final sequence. We used a variety of different camera shots to make our shots look more interesting and thrilling to create suspense. We also used sound effects to add suspense and exaggeration to the action.

Camera Shots/Editing/Sound:
- Long shot
- Medium close up
- Over the shoulder
- Close Up
- Wide Shot
- Shot reverse shot
- Match Cut
- Sound Effects

Card Game (Livetype & Sound Practice)

The Art of the Title - Sherlock Holmes

The font and style of the titles themselves seems like a handwritten type of text, this adds to the mystery and tells us the movie will have a crime element in one shape or form. The titles are of actors names, the director, the producers and the title of the movie itself (Sherlock Holmes).

The font is also a type of text that would of been handwritten during the period the movie is set which adds authenticity and realism to the movie.

The images behind the text is of the characters of the movie who are important to the plot and story of the movie. The shot types are of variety, with mid-shots, long shots, close-ups and extreme close-ups.

The title sequence appeals to me because it has mysterious factors to it. It makes me want to watch the movie and find out what happens. The actors starring in the movie also appeals to me because there are big Hollywood stars such as Robert Downie JR and Jude Law. This will most likely guarentee very good acting and a very good movie overall.

Skills Audit - Livetype & Soundtrack Pro

Soundtrack Pro

Skills Learnt:

- Adding Sound Effects and Music

- Layering Sound Tracks

- Changing length of tracks

Livetype

Skills Learnt:
- Adding text to a still and moving background
- Adding effects to text
- Changing fonts, colours and size of text
- Changing length of effects and text on screen

News and current affairs

I saw many interesting stories in the news recently, but these are the few that have caught my eye, and could possibly be made into a blockbuster movie.

• 'Mother accused and arrested of murdering daughter'
• 'Wife poisons and murders husband'
• 'A group of Militia arrested as they tried to take 33 children out of quake-hit Haiti are questioned by a judge'
• 'Troops are deployed in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi after weeks of ethnic clashes in which dozens have been killed'
• 'The children of a Moroccan Olympic champion fled from his house and were smuggled out with Norway's help, they say'

Camera & Health and Safety Introduction

Before we could start filming our thriller opening sequence we were shown how to use the cameras/tripods and the risks involved while filming.

Things learnt for using equipment

Camera:
- Turning on/off camera
- Opening and closing Camera Lens
- Adjusting the camera for automatic or manual focusing
- Reducing brightness of light
- Zooming in/out
- Viewing recorded footage

Tripod:
- Adjusting tripod height
- Locking camera onto the tripod
- Removing camera from tripod
- Tightening/Loosening up tripod for fast/slow panning/tilting

Risks to Equipment

Camera:
- Close the lens of the camera if it is not being used
- Put the camera back in its bag for tranporting long distances
- Do not touch the lens
- Keep the camera out of bad weather

Tripod:
- Make sure all legs are securely locked when using
- Put tripod back in carrier bag if it is not being used
- Keep tripod out of bad weather

Health & Safety

- Be careful not to trip over tripods

- Do not run while carrying equipment

- Carry equipment in their carrier bags

Art of Title Sequence

Title Sequence: Casino Royale
Designer: Daniel Kleinman

The style of the Casino Royale title sequence was influenced by the graphic designer/filmaker Saul Bass, who was well known for producing animated title sequences which told stories through simple images. The Casino Royale title sequence was done using a lot of computer effects and animation to re-create scenes from the actual film. The fonts used in the title sequence are sans serif but they look very formal and strong, which suits the genre of the film very well. The title sequence has a lot of action and movement, which is emphasized on by using contrasting colours to bring out detail, and solid block colours to make the human figures look stronger and bolder.

I found the Casino Royale title sequence appealing because it was different from other title sequences, and it sets the theme of the film very well by using simple animation.

Skills audit - Soundtrack Pro & Livetype

- Soundtrack Pro

- We learned how to add a background movie, to get a feel on how it will turn out.

- We learned how to use several audio tracks at a time, via adding new audio tracks.

- We also learned to lengthen audio tracks.

- We learned how to export the final audio track back to FinalCut Pro.

- Livetype

- We learned how to add effects to the used text and font

- We also learned how to change aspects of the text, such as fonts, colours and size.

- We learned how to add effects layers, to use several effects at once on one particular piece of text.

- Changing the position and length of the effect, to suit the text better.

Mood

The mood shown in this shot is confused which has been created by someone holding a book the wrong side up.

Photo words activity 4

This photo is supposed to suggest speed. The slight blur effect in the photo shows speed shows how the bus is going very fast and 'hard to catch up to'

Where is your homework?

Hello guys
just wondering where is your homework - the diary of events you were supposed to be keeping this week? I've also noticed that you are getting a little behind in your blogging - you should have 7 seperate posts each by now! It's important to keep up to date! Look forward to you next blogs soon!

Editing Skills Audit - Final Cut Pro - BAIT Tutorial

Skills learnt in Final Cut Pro:

- Using Razor tool to cut clips
- Changing clip lengths by dragging double headed arrows
- Marking In and Out points in the viewer window
- Dragging clips onto the timeline
- Inserting clips into a sequence
- Layering clips

The skills learnt were used to practice creating our own short sequence.

News and Current Affairs events

- Haiti Earthquake

- Bomb Disposal Expert Killed in Afghanistan

- Leeds Football Players attacked by fans

- Wife poisons husband

- Mother arrested over murder of daughter