Preliminary Task for A2 Media

1. Evaluation for
preliminary task
ALICIA RHODES

2. Evaluation One: To what extent have you adhered to the brief? Explain.
u The brief said that we had to create a video that was a maximum of three minutes long, it needs to represents British youth culture
and has to be a short film. Personally I do not think that my group has stuck to this brief, this is because our video is not three
minutes long, it is actually only around 30 seconds long. Therefore this means that we have not stuck to the timing, that was
required. As well as this, I don’t really think that our video has many conventional features of a short film. Instead I think our video,
represents a film trailer and I think this is because, the film is quite quick and has more features of a trailer compared to a short film.
Although I think some tiny features of a short film can be seen, as our film has a beginning and an end. Lastly, the part of the brief I
think we have represented in the best way, is the representation of British youth culture. This is because we have clearly
represented the many different typical ‘stereotypes’ of youth. This was our main aim of our project, to represent youth culture in our
own way and I think we have done this well. However our stereotypes, can be seen to be ‘American’ and it was supposed to be
representing British youth culture.
A screen grab from our film,
trying represent the “princess”
and “leader” in British youth
culture.

3. Evaluation Two: How effective is your main project?
u I think our main project is effective to some degree. I think it is effective for the part of the brief, where we showed the
different typical ‘stereotypes’. This because the message we were telling through the film was effective, we were using
stereotypes to show that even though there appears to be different groups and stereotypes in British youth today, everyone is
actually just the same. Therefore, I think this part of our video is effective. Our video could also be seen as effective, due to
the transitions and effects we have used and the way the video has been put together, as well as the music could also add
effect to the message and the image on screen.
This screen grab from our film, is showing the
transition of the “geek” into the “tree hugger/
hippie”.

4. Evaluation Three: How did you use media technologies in the production and post production stages? What
have you learnt about these technologies and how did you use them?
Software used Hardware used
Final Cut JVC Everio full HD Video Camera
Free music web
page
Tripod
Vimeo Apple Mac
Research and
Planning
Memory Stick
One of the first pieces of technology, my group used was a JVC Everio full HD Video Camera and a tripod. Me and another member of
my group got taught how to use the tripod, and therefore we did not find this hard or challenging when we came to use it as we already
knew how. However, we had not been told about the camera, and this was the first time any of my group (including myself) had done
video, and therefore we had to figure this out ourselves. One member of my group figured how to use the camera and took main role of
filming and I also did some filming. Obviously we used this pieces of equipment in our production, to produce and record and the tripod
to hold the camera and to get certain shots and angles for our video. I think that my group found it harder to work with the video camera,
as we had never used it nor been taught how to. Then in the post production we used final cut, this was to upload and edit the video.
Again, non on of my group had used final cut before and therefore we had to learn how to use it. Personally, I found final cut easier to use
then I expected. The free music web page was used to get music for our video, again I had never used one of these pages, so had to ask
my teacher about them, however from doing this – I now know how to use them. The memory stick was used to store our film, so it could
be put onto the other members in my groups Apple Mac as well as this, it was also so we are able to upload our video to Vimeo. I think my
group found it hard, trying to upload our video, as there is technical issues and the video cannot upload for some reason. We used
software such as paper for our research and planning, as we noted down our ideas and made storyboards, so we knew what to do when
it came to filming. Lastly, the Apple Mac was used to upload and edit the video, get our music and then upload it onto Vimeo.

5. Evaluation Four: What have you learnt from this preliminary video task?
u Personally I think doing this preliminary task has been helpful, as nobody in my group (including myself) had done a video project and
therefore this was first time. This means we had to learn how to create a video and use the equipment (both software and hardware).
Therefore, from doing this task we have learnt a lot. This includes how to use software such as final cut, I found this easier than
expected and found it easier to use compared to other Apple Mac software, like InDesign and Photoshop. I didn’t personally find out
how to turn on and use the camera a lot, as another member of the group found this out, however I did use the camera to record a
bit. I think this task has been helpful because I haven’t done video and therefore it has taught me things I might need to know, if i
choose the video task for A2. It has also allowed me to know, what to expect if I do the video task, which could maybe make me feel
a bit more confident about doing a video task. However, I think one of the hardest parts of the task is comng up with ideas, and
knowing what to film and knowing what you want.