LiveType and Soundtrack

Livetype is a program which allows you to create animated title sequences for your footage. Unlike final cutpro, Livetype offers a lot more ways with which you can experiment with your text. Of course it sticks with the basic things such as being able to choose colour, size, font etc, however Livetype also offers thing such as being able to change attributes of each title or character including the size, drop shadow, outline, extrusion, glow, opacity and tracking of the text. Through Livetype you can create exactly the  title sequence you have in mind for  your thriller film and combined with the right music make the prefect opening of a thriller film. Here o briefly annotated LifeType: 

 

When it comes to editing our sound, the program we used was Soundtrack Pro. This program allows us to compose and edited our audio applications. Once you understand and get the hang of using soundtrack its pretty straight forward and great as it makes your sounds origional and can have  a massive effect on your production.

 

 

Introduction to editing skills

When editing different clips the program we use is called FinalCutPro. The great thing about it is that it's pretty straight forward, you import your files and they end up on the left or right hand side of the screen. You can then view your videos individually and begin editing it. When editing you get a variety of options from the tool box, such as the razorblade tool for cropping your footage, adding different effects such as fade in/out.

Of course there are many more editing options on final cutpro and youtube is a great source when looking for new things you might want to do for your own creation. For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPYjBHhUQZM&feature=fvw

I created a few annotations explaning a bit more about FinalCutPro:

To Ivet

Ivet
I am loving the movie analysis of WLB that you have made - it's great.
Well
Done

PRACTICE FILM 1: THE BAG SWAP

Introduction to cameras: Skills

Introduction to cameras: Skills

We had an introduction to cameras and how to operate them as well as the Dos and Don’ts.

Some Basic things that we learn which however play an important role in the outcome of your production is for instance trying to have your camera as much on the Tripod as possible. A Tripod itself is the stand the camera uses for support as usually has 3 legs. This stands provides support and stability therefore making your shots smoother. Also it makes taking shots such as a panning shot quick and easy with a great outcome. 

Another basic skill that we learnt which still plays a big part in the outcome of our production is to never use the Zoom button when filming, the only time we can use it is to focus a shot and then film.

Consequently, because we use the Manual setting instead of Auto setting we had to focus each and every shot before we start filming. The reason being is that with the manual setting you have to adjust everything yourself, unlike with the Auto option where the camera Lens focuses by itself, and finds people with the face detection. However the good thing about using the Manual setting is that at the very least you’ll  know how light and shadow interact on film or digital media so if you did decide to work in auto mode you’d be sure of getting it right as sometimes it can be a bit tricky with the lighting. 

In the end we got to put the skills we learnt into practise by creating a small video footage ourselves, which allowed us to experiment around with the different options and at the same time remind ourselves of all the camera shots such as over the shoulder, mid shot etc.

Camera Shots that we used:

• Pan
• Long Shot

• Medium Close Up

• Over the Shoulder Shot

Analysis of a title sequence which inspires me

Intertextuality

Intertextuality is a term used to describe visual referencing between films. Put simpler, its when films “borrow” from one another with either camera angles or aspects of mise en scene.  A film which has become an icon for directors to borrow methods from without actually copying it is of course Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

An example of a film which is influenced by Psycho to create a suspenseful scene without actually copying Psycho is a scene in Fatal Attraction. In this scene, straight away one major similarity apparent between the two films is the male taking on the role of the more powerful one who is after the female the one portrayed as being weaker. Similarly, the mise en scene is taking from Psycho once again, with the famous bath scene, however the difference in Fatal Attraction, is that the woman doesn’t actually die in the bathroom, but only seems to fall and carry on, the bathroom is not where the scene revolves around, however is present in order to create suspense as she falls on the floor and we begin to think he will catch her. Consequently, the close up of the woman as she’s on the bathroom floor is similar to the close up of the woman in the shower in Psycho, one because of the close up itself, and two because they both have a plane white background behind them at that very moment. Also the costumes used are similar as both women are in dressing gowns which created suspense, as dressing gowns have connotations of sleep and privacy and having a man disturb that creates drama and worry as it’s not the way it should be.

We also saw an example of previous media student and their own media production and how that was influenced by Psycho but at the same time kept original. The mise en scene was similar in the sense that it was in a shower and main props such as the knife were used, this mise en scene is great at creating suspense because the person in the shower is unaware as to what is happening around him,while at the same time we see the girl on the other side making her way closer and closer to him until she pull out a knife, which builds up anticipation as to what will happen next. The way the students managed to make their film different thought was by changing the roles around and having the male as the victim rather than the female.