Photoshop tutorials!

Hello everyone,


It's time to add another layer - the creation of our "screen ident", your group company's logo.

To begin training on the software, make sure to follow these tutorial videos.  I also recommend repeating their processes by using your own photos or images!  As with Premiere Pro, the more practice you have, the better you'll get with it.

Enjoy!


- T. Marcus

Holiday Task

Hello everyone!


My apologies on not getting this on the blog before today.  Hope you had a restful Easter weekend!

Below is an extract for you to view.

Instructions:

• Read the bulletpoint questions on the bottom of p97 in your course books
• Watch the extract
• Watch again, taking notes on one of the four technical elements
• Repeat process until you've covered all four elements
• Use the bulletpoint questions at the bottom of p97 in your course books to construct an answer to the following question-

How does this TV drama sequence employ the following technical areas in order to establish representations?

• Camera angle, shot, movement and composition
• Mise en scene
• Editing
• Sound

Answers should be 2 1/2 to 3 sides in length.  I recommend referring to the Key Media Concepts marking schedule I handed out earlier in the term.  Rewrite if necessary.

     Also, please check your blogs for my responses to your Opening Sequences and Thriller Sub-Genre tasks.  Hopefully these will give insights as the type and standard of work that is expected.


Have fun!

- T. Marcus

Creative Reflection options

Good afternoon -


Remember you have the multi-faceted presentation powers of the Internet, literally at your fingertips - use it!

Here is a site that has links to varying software and sites for our creative reflections.  Remember to use the links from the recent class handout, and feel free to come up with your own ideas for a creative presentation of your reflective process.

As a final key, be brave enough to refine your ideas.  Very few ideas are perfect at the moment when inspiration first hits you.  Think about it.  Talk with others, get their input.  And of course, Google is your friend.


- T. Marcus

Get set...

Hello everyone!


Well done on the first edits.

Where to go from here:

• Finish any "polishing" on your edits, export the video
• Complete your mini-critical reflections on the task - I recommend you practise using some of the resources on your Web 2.0 handouts!  (bubbl.us / slideshare.net / etc)
• Do the above in your time.  Schedule use of Media Studies room with T. Marcus if needed.
• Due 9am Tuesday 31st March

While you're doing that...

• Plan out Preliminary Task 2!

Second filming task brief-

• Two characters
• Both walk to a meeting place (together or separately is fine)
• An object is given to or taken from one of the characters
• Short chase sequence - resolved one way or the other!
• Two lines of dialogue
• A "discovery" or "revelation" moment
• 1 - 2 mins maximum length

Technical elements required:

• Use at least one extreme-wide / establishing shot, one close-up (CU) and one extreme close-up (ECU).
• Use 180-degree rule
• Use shot-reverse-shot
• Use match on action
• Use Thriller conventions

• Consider the Critical Reflection questions as you prepare for the main task!

Once again, the Critical Reflection questions can be found on the syllabus handouts from earlier in the year, or in your notes from when we wrote them out for discussion.


Remember to keep Reflection notes for blogging!  Notes should include-

• Process of research, planning and production
• Include refinement and changes
• Reflect on key moments
• Include individual contribution to any and all group tasks
• You may share "global" resources such as the storyboard and script for your critical reflections

- T. Marcus

Premiere Pro Training

Hi everyone!


EDIT:
Remember - all sound fx & tracks brought from home must be brought to me directly rather than loaded onto your machines!


It's finally here!  Editing and film practice will take up a significant portion of our class time from here to the end of the term.

As such, here's a helpful link for editing training.

I'll add resource links shortly.  Happy practising.


- T. Marcus

Opening Sequence analyses and Saul Bass

Hi everyone,


EDIT / UPDATE:  REMEMBER the Opening Sequences analysis is due WEDNESDAY 18th.


The sub-genre research is looking very comprehensive; colour me impressed.  Keep it up!

For your investigations into opening titles, remember we look into at least one sequence designed by Saul Bass, the man responsible for the stunning opening titles for Vertigo.

Mr. Bass was highly productive during the course of his career, and other film openings you may want to look at include The Man With the Golden Arm and North by Northwest (another Hitchcock film).

Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions.


- T. Marcus

Conventions and analysis - due date

Hello everyone,


I'm encouraged by the depth that we're getting to in this assignmment!  Keep going!

The project will be due this Friday.  We will also use a portion of today's class to assist with meeting that deadline.


- T. Marcus