Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

The hardware that we used during the course of this project includes:

• Cannon Camcorder
• Tripod
• Boom Mic
• Studio Lighting
• Green Screen

Tripod, Headphones, Tape, Camcorder, Boom Mic & Pole
(from left to right)

During the filming process we mainly used the tripod, camera and boom mic. The tripod was used for about 95% of the shots used in the final sequence because we wanted to follow conventions of the genre and use steadicam shots, therefore the tripod was most helpful in achieving this. The fact that we had access to high standard, digital camcorders meant that we were able to produce high quality footage during the project. During the various test shoots that we had, we experimented with focus pulls on the manual settings of the camera, but other than that we did not need to use any other settings for the project we had chosen to do.

TIP FOR FUTURE GROUPS: double check that your camera batteries are fully charged before a shoot and that all pieces of equipment are working properly together. During one of our test shoots our battery ran out of power meaning that we had to rely on the back up and the boom mic was not fully working with the camera.


3-Point Lighting Explained! from Bill Simmon on Vimeo.

We used both 3-point lighting and studio lighting in order to get the full effect that it was a school environment. From this project I learnt about why 3 point lighting was used and how it should be set up in order to cancel shadows (demonstrated in the video above). However, if we were to do this again I think that we could spend more time in ensuring that the shadows were minimised, because it is still clear that shadows are present.

TIP FOR FUTURE GROUPS: To save time and to ensure that shoots are more efficient, remember where your lights were placed, what brightness levels, etc. so that during editing the process is much easier to ensure continuity.

We also used alot of software to produce the final opening sequence:

• Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 - this is where most of the editing occurred
• Adobe Photoshop CS3 - we used this to create the comic book effects
• After Effects on the Mac - this is where the opening titles were created

At our editing suite

To achieve the moving character on Angus' page and the pencil lift, we used a green screen. We filmed Frank standing against the green screen shaking his head, and then edited the green screen out using several chroma keys in Adobe Premiere. We followed the same process for the pencil when Angus is using his superpowers. This is one of the many things I learnt during the project because beforehand I didn't know how to edit out a green screen using Adobe Premiere.

Frank after the green screen was edited out

I think I have learnt alot from the process of constructing this sequence, as I have developed my skills in each of the stages involved. Even though I had used Adobe Premiere in previous years, I still developed my skills in using it greatly, as I learnt how to use the three way colour corrector for grading and using the different transitions, such as the ghosting effect.

TIP FOR FUTURE GROUPS: When grading (and generally editing) get feedback from those around you and teachers to check whether your colour levels are right, because sometimes you can become absorbed in the project and need a third party view to recognise problems.

3 Way Colour Corrector

I discovered how to turn our stills into realistic comic book images in Photoshop, using photo filters and applying poster edges. While doing this I also learnt how to create a freeze frame in Premiere from our footage using Frame Hold.

Applying Poster Edges in Photoshop

The process has also taught me that even though an idea can seem relatively simple, it still requires a large amount of organisation and time in order to perfect it. During production we experienced quite a few problems wit actors as they were either not available or just didn't turn up. This meant that we ended up having many shots where we came away without the shots we needed in order to move forward.

I also realised that it takes alot of patience to get a shot that might be a little more challenging, an example of this was throwing the paper ball and making it hit the top of Angus' head. It took nearly 12 takes in order to get the shot that we could use for the final sequence.

The internet was a major element of the project as we used it to communicate, research, advertise and get music tracks/sounds. The main websites that we used throughout the project were:

• Facebook - communication and advertising
• YouTube - research and advertising
• Audio Network - music effects and soundtracks
• Photobucket & Scribd - sharing group photos and planning sheets
• Blogger - group blog and individual blogs