Context: Weekly Reflections
Week 1
This week, after a debrief on what to expect and how the FMP term will lay out, I started to plan out what I would do for context. I started by creating the website and publishing it, then I created a pitch on google slides. So far, I am still on the pitch doing the slides and making it as big as possible to show my dedication to this project and what out means to me. Once I have completed this pitch, I will enable myself to move on and continue with the project. Context is important and establishes the idea of my project and gives the viewer an idea on what I hope to accomplish.
Week 2
This week, I continued with my pitch and my project proposal, I hoped to finish these but I think it will take longer than expected. I did continue with my context tasks this week, however, I wasn't able to complete anything and move on. In reflection, I should've ideally completed context, but it took longer than expected. However, I intend on completing context next week.
Week 3
This week concludes context. I managed to complete my pitch after getting feedback on it, and working on the places that got criticism, and improving it, I completed the pitch and enabled myself to move on. I also manged to complete my project proposal, which is an important part of actually getting your point across. Overall, I hoped to finish this sooner, but I'm glad I finished context and I can move onto research.
Research
Weekly Reflections
Primary Research
Week 1
This week, marks the start of my research process. At the beginning of the week, I filmed my pitch, this enable me to start my research. I did this by creating a google quiz. Doing so, I had to research different formats of questions that give me a detailed answer on what my target audience looks like. In conclusion, if I get a good enough response from these. I can create efficient profiles and then this can benefit me in production and writing.
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Week 2
This week, after creating a form, I uploaded it onto google classroom and also put a link on my Instagram for a wide range of responses. Also, these are the platforms I will share my project so getting answers from the people that interact with my media is the main source of my viewership. So after getting varied responses and recording the answers, I created demographic and psychographic profiles for my audience. Doing this over the week has given me a lot to write about and in conclusion, I have benefited from using the responses given and this will hopefully be of use later on.
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Week 3
This week, I started preparing my interview with an industry professional, I decided I was going to reach out to the writer and director, Jane Gull. I sent her an email and am currently waiting on a response. I believe I was professional and was straight to the point. In conclusion, I hope I can get a valid interview
Week 4
This week, I managed to get the zoom interview finished and uploaded onto the bottom of my primary research page. I conducted the interview over zoom and recorded the whole thing. I believe I asked valuable questions, and got the responses I had initially hoped id achieve. In conclusion, I managed to interview an Industry professional, get a valuable interview filled with answers I can take into consideration, and I uploaded it onto my site.
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Week 5
this week, I started Secondary Research for my project. After a successful end to Primary Research, I enabled myself to start researching practitioners and their work. Firstly, I began research into Quentin Tarantino, this meant I did some background research on him, then after I had a profile created with the basic facts, I began research on his film, Pulp Fiction. This was because that film and his style as a whole is a big inspiration and has had a big impact on my creative process. In conclusion, I believe this week was very productive as I started off well after a good week prior, I continued with that same work ethic. Next week I intend on expanding onto experimental research and wrapping up secondary research.
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Week 6
This week, I began experimental research, this consists of; writing a script and doing a table read of a previous one, conducting auditions for my project and interviews. Alongside this, I continued with secondary research to an extent where I feel I can leave it and move on, I intend on moving on until I get feedback from my teachers. For experimental, I managed to get me and my classmates to do some improvisations so we could get an idea on how well we would work and how much on screen compatibility the actors would have. Along aside this, I managed to start some pre production by creating some worksheets to help me once in production. This will help as I intend on filming in the upcoming weeks.
Pre Production and Production weekly reflections
Week 1
This week, marks the first week of production. Due to a shortage of time, I had to start production alongside my pre production documents. I already completed the key worksheets, like the risk assessment, and then began production. At the weekend, I managed to gather a cast and crew to film at my house. This turned out to be very successful and I hope it will be useful in post production. I wish I asked for more because there were some scenes where I wanted it to be slightly different but I stopped and said it was fine to move on. If I were to do it again, I would take my time, because taking my time and getting that shot I want, will be more use to me in post production. In conclusion, after a rushed start with pre production and production schedules, I intend on preparing earlier for next week so I have more time to organise a cast and crew.
Week 2
This week, was the second week into production where I had originally planned to film multiple scenes throughout the week and weekend. I had set out to film scenes like 9-10 and also scene 5. I ended up filming scene 5 on the bank holiday for a couple of hours, and completed it. However, I had set out to film scenes 9-10 on Saturday as my cast and crew were free, and the weather was looking good as it was all outdoors filming. Unfortunately, it was non stop raining and has to cancel. In the moment, I thought this was going to set me back expedientially and cause re shoots and delays in production and therefore post production. Luckily, after many hours of contemplating, I managed to re organise and get the crew together for the following day, Sunday. We eventually filmed Sunday but was very rushed due to other arrangements like my part time job, and the crews other plans. We still managed to film everything and then this enabled me to move on. Filming on Sunday ending the week on a high, I finished production for these scenes, and created a few production diaries along to keep constant reflections. In conclusion, this week I managed to film some lengthy scenes, reflect efficiently and prepare for next week.
Week 3
This week, marks the third week of production. This week I had planned to film scenes 2-4 and then scene 7. I started off strong by filming scene 7 on Monday, the first day of the week, on location in Braintree. For this scene we waited for it to get dark and then began shooting. As I said in my production diary, I needed it to be raining and luckily it was, however that quickly stopped and caused me to go back and reshoot the scenes I had shot prior. This ended taking longer than expected but we got everything filmed. Unfortunately, a couple days later as I began to get the footage off of the SD card and onto my usb, I noticed everything we shot that day had come out very very dark. This forced me into a corner, not knowing what to do. So, I reached out to my classmates to then getting the idea of colour grading. I put the scenes into premiere pro and started to colour grade and overall just mess around with things like shadows, highlights and temperature to get the intended shot. It came out really nicely, it began to look cold and gloomy how I wanted it. Later on in the week, I then finally shot the first few scenes of the film , scenes 2-4, on location in my house in Feering. After having to reschedule a few times due to little problems like availability or weather, we shot all the scenes needed with only me and the actor. For these scenes I needed a shot of the camera lens getting covered in blood, similar to the hallway scenes in "The Shining". I did this by getting a glass panel from a photo frame and putting it over the lens, I then began to cover my hand in fake blood and dripped it onto the lens to get the desired affect. After a couple tries I managed to get the shot I wanted and wrapped up for the week. In conclusion, this week went very well practically, however, I didn't get a lot of written work done because I was so busy with trying to organise filming days, actually filming and my part time job too. To not have this problem again, I hope to plan ahead and plan around everyones other arrangements and especially my own.
Week 4
This week, marks the last week of this course, as I wrapped production by editing and completing post production, I started evaluating ready for the hand in date. This year, I have struggled to keep up with the work and have a consistent work flow and ethic. This led me to rushing around the past couple weeks by filming and editing in the same day, then reflecting as soon as I had done that. Juggling this project alongside my part time job and other commitments made it very hard but in the end I have reached the hand in date with a relatively good amount of work to be proud of. My final outcome isn't perfect but its finished, which is better in my opinion. Upon reflection, I wish I tried harder in production and organised re shoots, but alternatively, where I struggled on shooting days I think my post production and editing has helped make the finished product up to standards. In conclusion, I think this final major project has gone really well and I hope my hard work is evident in my short film, Sonder.