1. FMP Problem Solving
Benjamin Lawrenson

2. Mind Map – Practical and technical Problems.

3. Mind Map – Theoretical Problems.

4. Problem
No.
What is the problem How it will affect my
production
Solutions or alternatives The implications of this
1. While filming, the SD
card that I am using
may run out of space
or become corrupted.
This means that I would not
be able to film any more
footage that day. This is a
problem as it would put me
a day behind schedule and
might result in me rushing
during editing.
At the start of each shoot,
I will transfer all data to
my USB so that SD card is
empty. I will also buy
another SD card so that
even if I do fill the first SD
card, I will still have spare.
I have one SD card
already but having a
second one will mean
that I must use more
money to buy the
second SD card.
2. I could lose my USB
stick with all my FMP
work on it. The USB
could also run out
space or be corrupted.
This action would lead to me
loosing all the work I have
done that I haven't uploaded
to my blog. This would mean
that I would have to recreate
any work that is lost which
would be to rushed and to a
lower standard.
To stop this, I now save in
three places. The USB
stick, my MacBook and on
one drive. This has three
places that can have my
work so that if I lose it in
one location, I still have
two more.
The only bad thing is
that this will take
longer for me to save to
all three places.
Potential problems and solutions- Page 1

5. Problem
No.
What is the problem How it will affect my
production
Solutions or alternatives The implications of this
3. Whilst I am shooting a
scene, the battery to
my camera might run
out.
This would mean that I can't
film for the rest of the day,
or until the battery has
charged back up. Meaning I
will have less time to film.
I could buy a second
battery to bring to set.
This means that if one
battery dies, I can carry on
with the spare. I will also
make sure that both
batteries are full to start.
This is something else I
will need to buy, and it
will take longer to
charge both as I only
have one charger.
4. Premier pro,
aftereffects or
photoshop could crash
while I am editing.
This will lead me to loosing
whatever work I was doing. I
would have to recreate it
which means I would have
less time and could result in
rushed work.
I will save my work in all
three places regularly so
that if this does happen, I
would lose as much work.
I will have to remember
to keep saving my work
which I might forget.
Potential problems and solutions- Page 2

6. Problem
No.
What is the problem How it will affect my
production
Solutions or alternatives The implications of this
5. While filming the foley,
there could be to
much background
noise.
This will make it harder for
me to edit out the noise and
might make it sound
spongey or distorted.
I will use a mic that I have
to get clear audio I will
also try record the foley in
a studio room with sound
dampeners to get better
audio.
There aren't any
implications apart from
needing to book a
room to record the
audio.
6. When I am filming
each character for the
scene, this lighting
could be too bright or
wrong.
Having the lights too bright
will make the scene look
bright white which will be
hard to edit out. The lighting
could also be uneven which
might mess up the
greenscreen.
If the lights are too bright
then I can change a setting
on the camera to darken
it, so I don’t need to
change the lights. I will
also have multiple lights to
prevent it being uneven.
It will take me longer to
set up the scene and
do a couple of takes to
make sure that the
lighting it up to
standard.
Potential problems and solutions- Page 3

7. Problem
No.
What is the problem How it will affect my
production
Solutions or alternatives The implications of this
7. After filming I could
find that the
characters slightly
blend in to the
greenscreen.
this would mean that I
would lose some of the
characters clothes of body.
This would result in me
having to reshoot that whole
thing and take more time
up.
To stop this, each
character will have a
themed colour and make
sure non of them are
green so that stand out
from the greenscreen.
There are no
implications of this as I
only need to change
the characters colours.
8. I have not fully tested
out the effects the I
will be using in this
and might take longer
than expected.
If I cannot make the special
effect for the characters
items, then this would be a
big backstep onto what I
want to make and may result
in me doing something else
rushed.
I will test out creating an
experiment to see if I can
create the special effects
that I plan to have. This
will also me to see at an
earlier stand if I need to
change my ideas slightly.
This will take a little
long to test out which
means I won't be able
to do as many
experiments.
Potential problems and solutions- Page 4

8. Music Experiment
https://youtu.be/LHdYJVTXfSk
Here is an audio experiment that I did to practice making the kind of music
that I will need in my Short film. In this experiment, I used garage band to
use a layer for each of the five characters. This makes it easy for me to set
out the character for how they will be positioned in the actual video. This
experiment has been very useful to me, because now I know how I want the
music to be in my film and I know I can do it.
I feel that the audio structure sounds good, and the different layers go well
together. For this experiment I wanted to change the direction of the audio.
For this I made the audio of the top two characters only come out of the left
speaker and I made the bottom two characters audio come out the right
speaker. With headphones this simulates the characters being on different
sides of the main character while adding an extra dimension to it instead of
hearing it all from both ears. I have left the main characters for both sides as
he is in the middle and it sound like you're hearing what he is hearing
(music coming from different sides)
I have decided that this will be the first part of the audio in the actual final
video. From this I will stick to a similar structure of how I create it. The only
thing wrong with this experiment is that the sounds of the instrument are
wrong, but that can be changed later when I use foley to dub over it.

9. Rotoscoping Experiment
https://youtu.be/-E72LG5oylw
Here is a rotoscope experiment that I did to practice making the kind of effect that
I will need in my Short film. In this experiment, I used adobe aftereffects and used
the roto brush technique to mask the phone, I use this as I can highlight a specific
area to edit. This allowed me to easily add a glow around the phone. This
experiment has been very useful to me, I was able to test out the process that I will
be planning to use in the final product.
I feel that the overall process was good, and it is a lot quicker than a process I have
done in the past. For this experiment I wanted to to isolate and object (the phone)
as this is what will happen in the real video. This is going to allow myself to pick out
the objects that the characters use and add a glow during the second part. This lets
the audience know about a different section in the video where the music changes.
In the experiment I have left in a couple of mistakes/ rough patches to remind my
self of the correct way that I want it to look. If I didn’t want it to look like this, I
would have gone back and precisely adjusted it, so it was smoother. .
I have decided that this will be the technique that I will use to highlight the
characters objects. From this I will follow the same steps I took to make this
experiment. The only thing wrong with this experiment is that I must keep checking
that the masked frames are wrapped around the object so that I don’t get any of
the background in the glow

10. How will I shoot my film?
Due to the acts of COVID-19, I currently having to create my
project from home. Because of this, and not knowing if I will have
the equipment at college to film, I will be planning to use what I
have at home to create my video.
• I will be using the Canon 250D DSLR camera to shoot my film.
This is a piece of equipment I am familiar with and it allows me
to be more flexible of the visual outcome.
• I will next be using my tripod to hold up the camera. Luckily,
these are the same as the ones at college, so what ever
happens with COVID, I’ll still be using the same.
• The final equipment I will use to shoot my film is the
greenscreen. Because of COVID-19 I am planning on using
myself as all five characters as I can't have anyone else on set
to be the other characters. Due to this I will be using the
greenscreen to get rid of the background so all the five versions
of myself can be on scene at the same time. This also allows
me to have my characters in whatever location I choose them
to be in.
I will only be using one camera to shoot my film. This is due to
only have one of each item to shoot. This is also easier as I find
that this type of music video will look better with only one angle.

11. How will I record audio?
Due to the acts of COVID-19, I currently having to create my
project from home. Because of this, and not knowing if I will have
the equipment at college to record the audio, I will be planning to
use what I have at home to create my sounds.
• The record the foley and any background noises that I need, I
will be using a wireless lavender mic like the one in the photo
to the right. I have found that this gives better audio than what
my camera can get. It is also good that it is wireless as I can dub
the foley over the audio that gets recorded while filming so
that sound is in sync to the movement and is smoother.
• As the main character’s item is a keyboard, I will be using my
keyboard. To capture the sound, I will connect the keyboard to
my laptop whilst recording so that I can play the notes in. I find
this to be efficient and easier, rather than having to play each
note on garage band.
Luckily with recording the sound it can be all done with one
person. I have designed it like this as I can count on anyone to
help this project due to COVID.

12. How will I edit the project?
For this project I will be requiring a few different editing software's for
audio, special effects and regular editing.
• After effects- I will be using this software for one of my methods
of rotoscoping. This is the method I am planning to do as it is easier
and quicker, giving me more time for other things. This method
allows me to have a glowing shape emerge around each
character’s item.
• Photoshop- I will be using this software for one of my methods of
rotoscoping. This is my backup method. This method is done using
a drawing pad and I draw around the object frame by frame. This
might look better but it is heavily time consuming and harder. I
only have it as a backup incase the first method doesn’t work
properly.
• Garage band- I will be using this for the audio. This will have the
song before the dubbed audio. Depending on the audio that I get
from my mic, I will use sounds from garage band if they are
clearer/ better than ones I record myself.
• Premier Pro- This is where all the visuals and audio will go when
they are finished and ready to be edited together. I can also use
this to easily edit out the greenscreen.
I have decided to use these four software's as I am very comfortable
and familiar with them, allowing me to use what I know best.

13. What lighting will I use?
As my project is only being shot from one angle, I only need a few
static lights.
• I will be using a ring light that I have to light up the characters
front. As each character is being shot one at a time, I will
position this ring light in the middle. This will cover the front of
the character evenly so that you can clearly see them. As I only
have one of these it makes sense to have this one in the
middle.
• Beside the ring light on either side, I will have a soft box
light/flood light. These two lights will be aimed at the
characters sides. This allow me to have a full coverage on them
and make sure they a properly light up. This makes it easier
when I am getting rid of the greenscreen as there will be no
shadows changing the shade of green behind the characters. I
decided to have these lights on the side as they are both the
same strength and allows me to know that the lighting will be
even on every character.
Unfortunately, these lights don’t have a setting where I can
change the brightness, so to deal with that I will have to change
the white balance on the camera so that it is darker.

14. Before I start filming, I need to-
• Complete the planning PowerPoint
• Decide what type of characters I want in the scene
• Choose each character’s prop/costume
• Write a script/ story board for what I want to happen and when
• Finish the song template on garage band for each.
character to mime the actions to.
• Choose a location for where the characters will be (greenscreen)
• Find where will be best to put up the greenscreen
These task all need to be done before I start filming. If these are not done, I will not be able to film or I will struggle. Tasks
such as what the characters will look like, the location of the greenscreens background and script/storyboard will all be
completed during the pro-production and planning stage. I am confident that I will be able to get these done in the two
weeks I have to do it. As an extra, I will have to finish the song in this timeframe. The song it possibly the most important
part as without the song, I will not know the timings of when to do each beat while filming. I believe that I will be able to
get all of this done in the time that I have so that I am able to start filming as soon as the planning weeks are done.
What needs to be done prior to filming?