What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

From this project, we've learnt large amounts about how to use certain softwares and media-orientated tools. For example whilst filming we had to use a camera and tripod. These were technologies usually associated with Media products, and we had to film our final sequence using these. We learnt to adjust the tripod to a certain height in order to gain the most appropriate shots we needed, we also learnt how to record our shots on the camera we were given, along with how to turn it on and off, and look at the shots we'd recorded. After using these frequently, we then began to use them to shoot more creative, and suiting footage for our film. For example we filmed from many angles in order to create different moods. One example of this is at the start of our film when we used a very high angle, almost-aerial view shot as it would be the best sort of angle for an establishing shot.

Once we'd finished filming there were many more new pieces of software we had to get used to and learn to adapt to. The first software we were introduced to was "Final Cut Pro". We only had a few weeks to learn to import all the shots we'd filmed onto this, and arrange them in an appropriate order to create the tone and mood we were looking for. We managed to use it well very quickly, and started to be more creative on it, for example by using effects on the transitions and the filters in our shots and frames. We used a cross-fade between every shot in our footage to give more of a nostalgic, dreamy effect. This is because the main character is feeling nostalgic feelings about his dead lover and he is dreaming and reminiscing about the older, happier times with her. We also used a black-and-white filter for the memories he had to determine the difference between past and present, helping it to be slightly easier for the audience to understand. We played with a few other effects in the filters too which gave some effects that seemed very good to use in the memories. For example there was a glow effect, along with a desaturate effect.

Another main part of our film was the sound, and we used two different softwares to create the perfect sound we needed. Sibelius was used for some of the non-diegetic sound, specifically the music. We used this to input the notes needed for the music, we then learnt how to transfer this file to a file suitable for use on Final Cut Pro. We also used logic, to both change the music and store the voiceover on, and also to change that. We had problems in the dynamics of the music so that was the problem we overcome by adjusting the volumes on logic. With the voiceover we were frequently adjusting it by spreading out the utterances to make the voiceover last longer. Also we used recording instruments to record our voiceover, such as microphones and handheld voice recorders. We learnt a lot from doing this, especially how to export the recordings into different formats for use in Final Cut Pro. Our voiceover was a problem as it was usually either too short or too long for the 2 minute sequence we had, therefore we recorded it many more times so we could perfect it.

In conclusion, in the whole project of the filming and editing, we learnt a lot from how to use the cameras, to how to use the technology involved with editing. We made high use of the different programs on the macs, such as logic, Final Cut Pro and Sibelius. We are also using the technology of the Mac itself to create posts on this blog.