- Year 1 Portfolio -
Final Major Project
Task 1.1 and 2.1 - Initial Ideas, Inspiration, secondary research
Secondary research Overview
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To summarise my secondary research, I have been able to analyse the most important features of the Bipolar Disorder in order to make an awareness product about it. My product is a short film about the main character; Sophie who is diagnosed with Bipolar. We see her views on the world as they change alongside her personalities. My short theme conveys the theme 'transition' through the change in mood and personalities that the character Sophie has. We follow the young teen through her journey of being bullied at school and we adapt to her feeling through the POV shots and first person views as all the different personalities inside her, grow into one to form someone completely different and evil. We see what life as a whole does to her and we see how she tries to cope with it through making diary entries to call out to the world for help. Does anyone listen? You will have to wait and see...
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My secondary research has helped me understand what the Bipolar Disorder is and to come to terms with it more. I was able to find the different types of bipolar there is and how they can be adapted or kept under control. The bipolar theme research was very crucial to me as I was able to find plenty of shocking facts and statistics including the most targeted age range. The targeted age range for bipolar is usually 15-19 year olds which was a bonus for me due to me being in this age range, meaning I am able to connect with this targeted age range to do something about those high risk rates. I may be able to put awareness out on social media about what someone could do to help keep their disorder under control or who they can locally go to for help. I have discovered helplines and of different hospitals and doctors that are able to help and give advice to people who feel that they are in need of it. I feel like this transition from mood to personality is very original and different and can contain a lot of deep connotations behind the actions you see in the short.
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I have also researched about how I could take my video product to a whole new level. Most people will be creating a video product because it is the 'easiest' and 'most simplistic' product that they can create. They feel that 'not much thought has to go into it' meaning it is less work piled on their shoulders. I wanted my product to be different from this. I want my product to be creative and well thought out and hard working and not your typical 'video' as everyone else is doing. I want to build my skill and professionalism to a whole new level which challenges my skill and ability where I am able to build on my knowledge rather than doing it because I have to do it. To prove this, I have added extra research into how I can create a professionalised product. How I could use cuts and transitions effectively, how I can take my video editing and visual effects to a whole new level, how I can record sound separately using the clapper board and how I can colour grade to give meaning.
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I have been able to review a range of research sources to support my creative media project, such as Youtube tutorials and products, Vimeo products, royalty free sound effect websites, film trailers and donation helpline organisations such as Bipolar UK which is all listed in my research. These research sources have provided me with the understanding of my main theme 'Bipolar' and how I could interpret this in a new light. Showing skill, showing creativeness and passion for what I am doing. Showing I understand what a creative media production means and how I have interpreted it in my own unique way. These range of research tools have supported my creative media product by providing evidence and understand of what I am creating and how I can create it professionally.
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With help from my primary research questionnaires, I have been able to adapt and develop my initial and final ideas into something both I and the targeted audience will love. I have been able to discuss with the public what they prefer and whether they like my initial ideas or whether they think that it is do able. For example, in my initial ideas and SWOT analysis, I made a questionnaire of one idea I really liked, involving the mutant create transition. The public had discussed that it is too hard and complex for my ability. I have not been doing visual effects for to long and I am still a beginning meaning my product may not come out as hoped. However, the public did like the idea of a protagonist VS antagonist scenario. Therefore I came up with a new idea which I no call my final idea and I have adapted it to show the transition not only from personality to personality but from protagonist to antagonist too. We see that Sophie starts off as being the weak and helpless human at the beginning of the film who just wants a friend, until later when she turns into an evil character who mashes their personalities into one creating an almost 'mutant creature' from hell look alike. This was made from both mine and the public's thoughts and opinions as I feel that the audience play a big part into making a successful creative media product.
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To ​summarise my secondary research analysis, my secondary research has provided me with the knowledge to enhance my cinematography and editing ability to create a professional Industry standard production at the end.
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Primary research Overview
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My primary research has helped me to discover my peers and participants view for my final product. The questionnaire has allowed me to develop my initial idea and create something more realistic and simplistic. I have been able to build on my requirements and parameters of making my project, as it is important to take in all views funded by the participants I asked as I can build on my project knowing it meets the satisfaction of what the viewers ask for. For my primary research, I read some stories in the newspaper about a man who sadly lost his life to bipolar after not being able to cope with it after multiple years of having manic depression, the first type of bipolar. I created two questionnaires, one for my initial idea and the second for my final idea, I looked into multiple tutorials and products on Vimeo and Youtube to learn more about how they have put the product together and finally I looked further in depth about what my requirements and parameters would be for my product. My primary research really helped build my project as I could find feedback from my peers and target audience for each step of my project. Meaning know what I could possibly change or develop to gain more views which would make my project have an overall successful outcome.
If I were to do this project again, I would create a little group for my primary research and film it to gain responses and discussions about my initial ideas and final product for what I could change and enhance. I feel that this would really help me develop.
Task 2.2 - Primary research and analysis, paper work and presentation
Resource Overview Table
Daily Log
Primary Research and analysis
Questionnaire
Questionnaire results
Questionnaire analysis
Project paperwork
Storyboard:
Project Proposal:
(left is different to UAL guideline, right is the UAL guideline proposal)
Shot list
To improve my storyboard next time, I will improve the numbering of my shots column. For example, instead of numbering the shots as 1,2,3,4 e.t.c, I will be numbering them as the number of the scene and then .1, .2, .3 e.t.c to show the number of shot I am drawing in the scene.
(To improve my shot list, I will do the same thing as I will with my storyboard. I will have the number of the scene in which it is and then I will have a decimal number for what shot it is I am referring to in that scene.)
Risk assessment
Script:
Contingency Plan
Project Overview Table
Bibliography - Section 5
My initial Production Schedule made by Word
Script for Presentation:
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(I am not following this word by word but this will be a basis of what I will be saying.)
Production Schedule
My Project Presentation:
My final production schedule update - How I have not always kept to my schedule
Here are my first initial mind maps of multiple ideas I had noted down at the start of the project: (Task 2.2 - initial project ideas)
If I was to create my storyboards, mind maps and daily logs again, I would do it on a word document and website named 'MindMeister' to create a professional standard mind map and log instead of doing it free hand and uploading a picture of it. You are still able to see the writing of my mind maps, storyboards and logs but it is a little scruffy and not professionalised. I would o rather done it on a word document or online instead. This is what I will improve for next time.
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I will also try and improve my presentation skills of how I present my project on page. Instead of using photographs and pdf's everywhere, I will put text on the page and make it much more creative. I will also improve on my presenting skills when talking about my project.
Developing my skill - (Task 2.2 primary research into developing skill)
Colour Correction tests - Horror security camera scene (Task 2.2 - primary research expanding skill)
To create this video, I used the Go Pro Hero 4 with the skeleton case for protection. I put this camera on top of the door in my nan's bedroom and I filmed the room for a while. The ambient noise is the tv downstairs, I felt like this added a very creepy atmosphere to the video which I liked. Halfway through the video, I moved the door a little for it to creek as if their is a supernatural creature in the room.
I then edited this video in after effects using several red giant plug-ins and assets to create this horror look to the video. I wanted the video to be fairly contrasted to have that creepy feel to it and I wanted it to look realistic.
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The reason for shooting this video was to create a horror-like scene inside a haunted house. The GoPro is supposed to act as a security camera, catching supernatural actions.
This project is also to increase my colour correction abilities for my final major project. The reason for practicing this is to build my skill on both, my initial ideas such as the mutant antagonist character who develops, and emphasising those dark, dangerous and depressing moments within my final idea about the main character who has Bipolar. I want to emphasise her strength and darkness within her by adding different colour correction assets that allow the audience to feel trapped within her soul, as if there is no way out. Just as she feels when she is unable to control her personality swings.
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I have created a second video demonstrating my colour correction ability, to see where else I could take this video. This was not the only video I recorded, I recorded about 20/30 videos in total to ensure I get the best possible outcome but these two are the best outcomes as the colour correction has matched the video and angles nicely.
This has enhanced my colour correction ability as I feel I am ready to take my editing stages further. Showing the changing of moods and personality within the character.
Visual effect and motion tracking - initial idea experimentation (Task 2.2 - primary research into expanding my skill for final product)
This is my third video created in order to enhance my skill and ability for my final major project. It is the second time I have practiced visual effects and motion tracking also. My initial ideas consisted of mainly motion tracking and visual effects which is the area in media in which I want to pursue a career in so I thought it was only right to build upon my initial ideas by following them up by creating edited short videos practicing my ability.
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Even though I am not following through my initial ideas, if I practice them and my ability, I will be able to create them in the future. These videos have taught me a lot about the industry and how visual effects and motion tracking is done and how it can be done, I learnt by watching YouTube tutorials.
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The flame was created entirely from scratch by using a plug-in name Trapcode Particular and I learnt to do this by watching a Youtube tutorial. I then masks certain areas such as my hand and face and added a glow and flicker to it to look like the flame. The beginning of the glow is very red to look like the first flame created and the curtains and background are also added glow and feather to look like the reflected flame light. I also added slight colour correction to create depth, curves and shadow. The effect I wanted. It is supposed to have a supernatural, tense theme to the video, hence why I have added high contrast. Lastly, I exported the video into Premiere Pro to do the finishing touches of colour correction as I find it easier to edit with this software and I then added a fire sound effect to match the flame being lit.
I have created this short project in order to develop my skill and knowledge of the beginning stages of visual effects and motion tracking. This is not my final major project but by creating short videos like these, helps develop my skill in the desired area I would like.
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For my final major project, I would like to have advanced visual effects and motion tracking involved in the after effects stages which means I would need good skill in both of these areas.
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I have never motion tracked or had experience with visual effects before so by doing short projects like these, really gives me a heads up of how I may create something or how it could be improved for my upcoming and major project.
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I believe that this project turned out well as I was not expecting to have motion tracked as well as the images did. I used after effects for the whole of this project which means I can apply this knowledge to my project 'Transition'.
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To improve this project, I will try and motion track the halo of the person on the right a little better as it is not exactly aligned and is a little out of sync. I would also like to use 3D objects which are more detailed and realistic. This would also look better when I am turning my head or turning around as the horns or halo would turn around with me as if they are actually attached to my head and are not just a still 2D image.
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I will be applying this knowledge and skill to my final major project and I will improve it each time I learn how.
These Youtube videos shown below are the videos in which I followed and have learnt how to create these effects.
Test shoot and occurring problem (Task 2.2 - primary research into testing my final product)
To the left is one of my very first text shots. Once I had pre-planned what I was going to do for my product, how I was going to do it and where it was going to be filmed, I started test shots for both me and the actors to be able to warm up to the part we are going to be playing on set. It allowed me to identify the best scouted locations, the best shots, movements and filming techniques and the best actors for which parts. The actors were able to warm up and get into their characters and know there lines and what they will be doing.
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I did a whole practice shoot of this so that I will have a strong taster of what it will be like on the final productions days and whether anything such as the shooting locations should change. Everything went according to plan and I felt happy with it so therefore I recorded plenty of shots just to see how they came out. The first thing I noticed when looking back on them is that the audio was only recorded on the left side, meaning I would have to find out how to duplicate this so that the audio will be central. Most shots will have to be re-filmed due to technical difficulties and noise reduction/movement in the background which I was not aware of at first. Lastly, when I put all my test shots on my One-drive to get and look at, at home. The file type had changed. Meaning I could only view certain videos because they was .m4v not .mp4 or .mov. The solution to this problem will take a very long while to solve, approximately 4/5 hours due to my computer being slow but I have found a software called Handbrake that allows me to change the file type. Only the files will have to go through the software one by one. But this is a learning curve for when I am really about to film.
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This has taught me the Do's and Don'ts for when I am about to film my final product. It will allow me to recover from the mistakes of noise reduction and the wrong file type's and it shouldn't happen for next time.
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One thing I did very well is I made multiple copies of my script to be given to all the actors and myself and I made them read over and over their lines so when I filmed that individual part, it was nearly perfect where they did not need to keep glancing down at the script as I did not like the look of this.
These screenshots show the testing of my production. None of these clips will be used in my final product but they allowed me to practice and see what each one will look like with a little more practice and changes.
For this test shot, I will need to cut both the beginning and the end. The idea was to get multiple shots of both Dan who plays Sam and Chloe who plays Sophie so that the jump cuts between both characters, will suggest something is about to happen. When shooting my final production, I will take it from a better angle so you do not see the point in which the characters will fall into each other. You will see only the journey to the action not where the action will take place.
This is a similar shot to the one shown above, except it is from Sophie's side of the story, showing her journey. For when I film my final production, I will make sure that this is at a much better angle and is matching the angle and movement of Sam's side of the story. AKA Dan.
This is a different angle shown to show the journey of the character Sophie before bumping into Sam. For the final product, I will be changing this angle slightly for the viewer to focus on the main subject of the frame which in this shot is Sophie.
For this scene, I will get closer and make the angle more from the side to show both characters. I will also use various other angles and shots in the scene to show properly what is going on and what the audience need to see. Half of Sophie is cut out and the viewer's eye ends up drifting down the corridor that you can slightly see. This will need to be thought out carefully and changed slightly.
This shot again cuts out the necessary parts of the characters. The camera needs to change the angle and less zoom to get better quality and the character's should be positioned better. These shots will also be further editing in after effects and colour graded in Premiere Pro CC.
This shot is tilted too high and needs to be more eye level. Maybe even handheld to show unsteadiness. I do not like the tilt up and again I do not particularly like the shot being on the corner. I think their should be more shots and less on the corner of the corridor ones. The characters also need to practice positioning and the action more as they clearly do not know what they are supposed to be doing. Maybe I could show them clearer with stage directions and marked spots on the floor to help.
For this shot, the character needs to be rehearsed more, the shot needs to be re-positioned and thought out while using my shot list.
This clip will again, need to be rehearsed and re-positioned. It needs a new camera angle and camera movement to show the importance of what is going on. At the current moment, the viewer tends to lose interest and loose focus of he main character which is supposed to be eye catching. The most important information is not shown in the frame which means it is not visually entertaining.
This shot will have to have ambient sound added for the environment, the sound will need to be recorded on a voice recorder instead of a boom mic, due to not having the directional sound needed, and finally it will need to be colour graded.
Title ideas for my title sequence:
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Taken from this website: http://www.boredpanda.com/mental-disorders-in-typography/
Here are different title sequences I had experienced with. Each time I did a title sequence, I showed it to the public and asked for opinions. I then changed my titles several times how they would want it to see what people like.
To the left, you can see how I have experimented with my title sequence. I first downloaded the font; manic-depressive from the website: http://www.dafont.com/manic-depressive.font
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I first discovered this font by exploring different manic depressive disorder titles until I came across a similar font to this one. I then searched through multiple websites to find different font's I am able to download and this is where I found this one. As you can see above, I looked at different kinetic typography's that convey meaning and a story of a similar disorder to bipolar. I saw how they convey meaning and context and I wanted to create something similar. I first started out by using the whole font for the word Bipolar, until I later used Photoshop instead of After effects and decided to use this font for only a letter. I asked my peers about what they thought of the font and they said it still doesn't convey much mean just the font on its own so instead I changed one letter to red to show conflict and I also tried making one letter like the R, the wrong way around to show resilience.
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I then tried experimenting with motion graphics in After Effects. I tried making the letters stand normally then tumble over as if the font is not in its right mind and is not co-operating with the other letters like it should. My peers said that this font was a little hard to read. Taking my peers advice on board, I tried changing the font with only one letter in the manic-depressive font to give context and to stand out. This is shown in the second image down. My peer had said that the A looks more like a road than anything else. Instead, I made the A in the manic-depressive font again, to give the title back its context which is what my peers had wanted. When in Photoshop, I tried making the letter typetext instead of manic apart from the A and my peers then said that the A is a little larger and should not stand out. It needs to be the same size. I changed this to be the same size and they loved it.
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Following this, I looked at short films on Youtube and movie titles when typed into Google to find results for similar products created using this title. This allowed me to gather further ideas and inspiration. Giving context and motion to my graphic title.
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I showed these titles below that I have found, to my peers and they seemed to like the glow on 'The Others' title. However, they said this may not convey the effect needed for the theme 'Bipolar'.
Some Bipolar related title/motion graphics title inspirations
These videos and images I have been watching for inspiration, allowed me to then be able to create a title for my final major project that conveys meaning and depth into the product. You can instantly notice what the short is about without it giving away too much detail. Here is the next title sequence I created and showed to my peers.
This is the title I later created. My peers Chloe Wallace and Breanna Bass had said that they really love the title. That it conveys the unstable emotion of Bipolar by being a little blurry and layered, while showing the danger in the red stain surrounding Bipolar.
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Out of each of the titles I have created, my peers had said that they like this one the best as it is simplistic, professional looking and fits the short's genre.
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This title is not a full title I am considering on using but it was a font experimentation.
I was showing my peers different fonts like: Bangla MN which is simplistic just as my peers had said it needed to be.
My final motion graphic title sequence for my Final Major Project:
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I decided to use the font: manic-depression because it is very scribbly and out of control which reflects the main character; Sophie's emotions. Showing she is unstable and all over the place.
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I have decided to use the effect; typewriter on the word bipolar to give it a tense effect of waiting to reveal the final topic name. Making the viewer wait a while before knowing exactly what the disorder is as most people on the street, would not recognise what disorder Sophie has due to it behind a emotion based disorder rather than physically noticeable.
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I have added the effect: jitter to the word; Disorder to show the unsteadiness of what the disorder is all about. Showing the word transitioning quickly from one place to another place very quickly. Showing Sophie can be up and down and all over the place with her emotions. She may be there but may not be in that current place due to her personality change. I wanted the title to have meaning and connotations to give slight insignificant clues into what the product will be about. This makes a good creative media production.
Screen Recording in After Effects CC
I created this screen recording in quicktime player to show evidence of me creating my final product. I used Premiere Pro to make my sequence and Photoshop to create my jpg overlay images then finally after effects cc to add in special affects such as my vlog effects, glitches and colour correction. This short screen recording does not show much of my editing but it provides evidence that I have created what I said I have created with no copyright involved.
Screen Recording in Premiere Pro CC
This screen recording shows my development within my project in Premiere Pro. To create my sequence, I first started out in Premiere Pro to initially make a sequence and put all my clips together, I then exported this sequence and imported it into after effects to add all my after touches such as the vlogging camera affects with the flashing record button and the glitches, finally I exported this sequence and imported it into Premiere Pro, deleted the original sequence in Premiere Pro and added in the video from after effects. I matched up the audio and the sound effects for the glitches, finished colour grading my clips and the last finishing touches.
Credit sequence trial
This is my attempt at creating a credit sequence. I created this in Photoshop to make my final product look more professional. I have seen that most films and creative media productions use credit sequences either at the beginning or at the end. I researched the order in which the credits go t both the beginning and the end and I have followed it to make my credits look professional. The only reason I did not end up using my credit sequence, was because the first column on the left is not in line,I tried to make it in line like the column on the right, however, it kept making the column on the right out of line therefore it did not make the product look professional so I did not end up using it. I tried making a credit sequence in Word, Premiere pro and after effects. After making this jpg in Photoshop, I dragged it into premiere pro to motion track it to go upwards slowly, however it did not work due to the jpg being too long.
If I was to attempt at making a credit sequence again, I would either have it at the start and have it 3D motion tracked or have it as motion graphics, or at the end and either go upwards slowly like most films, or have it again motion graphic where it bounces on with short bloopers of the characters and things.
Note:
To improve my screen recordings next time, I will screen record everything I edit and then speed it up in premiere pro as a time-lapse so it is not too long. I will make many more screen recordings and they will involve much more of my editing, rather than only the end bits.
Evaluation
How my final project has changed. Evaluation of my final product that differs from my production paper work
Evaluation:
Illustrations to link with my evaluation
What would I do differently or add to my primary research next time?
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Next time, I would like to create a focus group of people in the targeted age range for my product and I will be discussing ad asking them questions about how they feel about the Bipolar Disorder, what their views are and any queries they have about what it is and the effect it has on both the patient and friends and family involved. This will allow me to fully analyse the views pf the public and how this may affect my product. How I could potentially adapt my product to the target audience's points of view and understanding.
I decided not to have a second storyboard and script as I believe it to be irrelevant due to not having a team to work with. I also did not want to read off a script or I would not be looking at the camera and it would not be as natural as I would of liked therefore, I thought of hat to say then said it in my own words when filming.
UAL Student Self assessment/Evaluation: