Evaluation Question 4

The process of constructing out film involved using a digital camera in order to capture our picture. The camera we used was a Sony HDV1000, a camera we acquired from college, which none of our group had ever used before. This therefore involved us learning how to use the new camera correctly and efficiently, as well as overcoming difficulties such as the transpirtation of the camera and the tripod we used, both of which were larger than the ones used in our first year production. The camera helped us capture our film in better quality, gave us more interesting clearer shots, and produced great sound quality which we didn't gain from our first year production.


To edit our film we used the editing software 'Final Cut Pro' available on the Apple Mac computers that we have available to us through college. This programme was the same as our first year production; however we used different aspects of the programme this time around. For example, we used the text input option for our title sequence; this involved making text appear on screen with the titles in order to give details of the cast and crew. We also used transitions and effects, such as the black and white effect, so our flashbacks became clearer to the audience.

When recording the voice over for our film, and to record our radio trailer, we used a H4 Zoom Recorder to record our dialogue. This was new to our group, as we had never recorded sound before. Therefore we encountered difficulties such as having to figure out how to balance the sound so everyone spoke at the same volume, at the right time and at the right to place, to fit in with the shots shown in our film, and to make our radio trailer seem both realistic as well as give the desired effect of drama. I believe we achieved both.

Whilst researching our film, I personally used the internet to search for films similar to the one we aimed to make. I used search engines such as Google and Bing to help find these, as wel as YouTube in order to search for clips from the films in question. I also watched some DVDs from home in order to research films similar to ours, for example I watched and evaluated a short film which appears before Pixars Toy Story 3.

In order to publish our work, we used the website http://www.blogger.com/, we used this to keep a record of our work, keep up to date with what we needed to do, and to publush our work for others to view. I believe this helped us manage our work effectively, as well as show others the interesting and complex expirience encountered when creating a film. Making a film doesnt just involve the actors and a film crew, it is a long process where everyone from health and safety to lighting play a key role in a film production, and I believe showing work helps put this message across. The website is extremely useful and one which I will use again without a doubt.