The document discusses what the author learned about technologies from constructing a film product. They used their own camera which helped the filming go smoothly. They also learned about using tripods, natural lighting, and editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro. Surveys, social media, and the internet helped with research, locations, and feedback. Mobile phones aided communication and contact during the process. The author believes technology will both help and hinder small filmmakers in getting noticed in the future.

1. What have you learned about
technologies from the process of
constructing this product?

2. Filming Process
For the filming process of this unit, I used a Canon power shot SX40
HS. My initial reason why I choose to use my own camera was mainly
because I thought that if I did, the filming process would go more
smooth and successful, due to the fact I am more familiar to this
camera and the techniques available with it than the camcorders
available to use from the college facilities. Before filming I practiced a
few shots in the location my product was going to be filmed so that I
would have an open mind to capture more artistic and varied shots for
my product. Because I used a SLR I learned how effective focus can be
in capturing the atmosphere within film. Which I tried to expand on in
certain scenes.

3. Due to the fact that I didn't use a tripod while doing the practice
shots, I realized how important a tripod can be and how much it
contributes to the final finish of the product. It also defines the
distinction between amateur footage and professional footage. So
when it came to the filming for the product, I took measures to make
sure a tripod was always used, unless the camera was propped on a
surface where it can capture still and clear footage. Although the
stillness of the camera contributes dramatically towards the quality of
the product, handheld can be effective also. In my final location for
filming, I swayed the camera to bring distortion to emphasize how
dizzy/confused my character was.

4. Editing Software
In terms of editing, during the construction of this product I have
improved on how I use Adobe Premiere Pro. Ranging from colour
correction and how the footage flows together. I think this contributed
dramatically towards the quality of my product because without some of
the changes I made, the audience wouldn't have seen the flow in
narrative as well and also the editing I did helped increase reactions
because I was able to capture the atmosphere better.
Courtesy of the camera I used and the natural daylight, my intentions on
editing a blue/green tint on the images to increase the cold atmosphere
was unnecessary. This made me realize how important natural daylight
can contribute to the quality of my product, if I was to make the scene
look realistic lighting, what better way to achieve this than to use actual
natural lighting by simply planning on filming at the right time and day by
checking weather forecasts.

5. Also to create a warm domestic
tone for the opening scene, I
used a number of lights for a
yellow glow on the footage so
that I didn't have to edit it in for
all of the shots used for that
segment. However, this does not
mean I did not need to make
some colour correction which is
the main editing I did apart from
cutting and increasing speed
duration of shots.

6. I also found using the opacity
levels useful to brighten the
footage that was filmed when the
daylight was decreasing. I decided
this was better than the
alternative of turning on lighting
that would prove difficult to
match the colour of previous
footage when the daylight was
brighter. I've learned that natural
lighting can be very useful but a
major implication is that it can be
unpredictable and filming can
over run meaning that the
daylight could have changed
massively in this time.

7. When I wanted to build up suspense, which was rated important in my
survey by the majority, I changed the speed duration of that shot to
speed up the timing it took my character to get to the door and also
cut lots of shots to make a variety to build up continuity editing which I
found effective from the preliminary task research and video.
Influenced by Levi-Strauss' Binary Opposition I decided that to
reinforce the enigma code, I had to build up a contrast between the
warm calm and safe domestic scene and the cold mysterious scenes. I
emphasized this contrast by using longer lasting shots for when the
atmosphere was calm and then more rapid various shots for when
suspense was being built up. This method was very use to do on
Adobe Premiere Pro, which is the software I used for editing my
product. I choose to use this editing software because I have used it in
previous years and thought that the editing process would go
smoother. It allows you to trim and arrange your footage into the
appropriate places very easily, making it ideal for editing my product.

8. In addition to these editing
methods I found effective, the
video transition 'dip to black'
proved very useful in at a number
of points. I found it gave a
professional and formal look for a
title sequence and the black fits
in with the conventions of the
thriller genre. Also, black
symbolizes mystery which fit in
well with the mysterious ending.

9. Contribution of the Internet and
convergent devices
Before starting this unit I didn't realize
how effective the internet and devices
can have on the film industry. With the
spread of ideas and views, which is very
well illustrated through the 'Global
Village', small budget films can became
massive profiting films distributed by
international film distributions.
For my product I tried using them
effectively. Firstly, in terms of using the
internet which allowed me to a great
amount of resources that contributed to
my final product greatly, one being
Survey Monkey. I used Survey Monkey to
make a survey for a potential target
audience to take to give me information
on what people look for in the thriller
genre.

10. Contributing to the success of my survey
is social networking sites; with the
younger generation and older ages using
portable phones with easy access to the
internet, I could post my survey to get a
variety of people taking it. I used Twitter
and Facebook to advertise my
survey, requesting for people to
complete the survey. These sites were
especially useful for when searching for
possible locations to film my product, I
uploaded pictures and asked for
feedback whether the location was
suitable and effective for filming a
Thriller opening and also whether there
were any risks in filming in this location -
just in case whilst completing my risk
assessment I missed any details.

11. YouTube also proved incredibly
effective. I did various research to
help benefit my product such as; the
codes and conventions of the thriller
genre, filming and editing techniques
and adverts from successful directors
that are useful in addressing
audiences. As well as using YouTube
to aid my research, I used the web in
general too. I learned how useful the
web can be in spreading information
which majorly benefited my product.
YouTube also allowed me to post my
product for feedback to help me
improve on certain aspects.

12. For my title sequence, the online
software on Worldle.net was very
useful I learned, with access to
different colour schemes, I could
produce a professional looking and
suitable images for my title
sequence. I found the layout
effective as I included words linked
to the Thriller genre to bring my
product to an end.

13. Mobile phones were useful in
contacting the actor portraying the
protagonist in my product and also in
case of emergencies, if we needed to
contact anyone. Because I did my
research beforehand it was not
necessary in this case, but mobiles or
other various devices could have
been useful whilst outdoor filming
for tips and techniques in producing
better quality footage. BBM was
useful to set across pictures asking
for feedback on possible locations,
props and camera shots.

14. Implications for the future of
film making
I think as technology advances and more people buy smart phones and other
technologies that provide access to the internet, that small budget film
directors will find it increasingly difficult to make their niche products be
noticed. With ideas spreading rapidly, through a "global village", downstream
niche products are going to be less rare and individual, therefore they are
going to find it hard to make their product seem like the 'next big thing'.
However, from research I have learned that it can also have the opposite
effect. With more people on the web there can be more chances that certain
niche products and independent films are going to be noticed.