1. WHAT I HAVE LEARNT ABOUT
TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE
PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING
THE MOVIE OPENING?
By Mohoshin Raja

2. APPLE I MAC
I do not personally own an iMac. Through using the iMac for media studies, I have
learnt how to operate it, i.e. starting it up and learning its user interface as well as
learning how to use its unique keyboard and mouse. Because this system is
different from Windows, I had to learn the new features that the iMac provides,
however I got used to the iMac after using it frequently in Media lessons.
I used the iMac for many purposes. Firstly, it was the central location where all my
important files were created and stored, most of which were produced through
using apple’s built in safari application. In addition, I used other apple software’s
built into the iMac like photo booth and Motion, which was used to create the titles
of my movie opening. I even learnt that Microsoft built an apple version of
Microsoft office, this meant that I had to learn how to use the office packages too.
However, this wasn’t too hard as it was pretty similar to the office package on
Microsoft computers.
Finally I used the iMac to run Final Cut Pro. Here I learnt how to set up Final Cut
Pro and export my work using the iMac’s interface.

3. FINAL CUT PRO
&
MOTION
One of the main software we used to create our Motion was also difficult to use. I did
movie opening was Final Cut Pro. Here I edited not have enough time to learn about
our video footage. Apples iMovie does not
compare to Final Cut Pro because iMovie is a this software however I was taught
much more simpler and user friendly software. the basics. I learnt how to locate
At first glance, Final Cut Pro looked intimidating templates and add text to the
as there was a lot of features and options.
canvas. Also I understood how the
However after learning the basic functions of the frames worked. In the end my group
software, like learning how to cut, add and move
clips, add inputs and outputs, using log and found a simple but effective title art.
capture and how to export movies as a Adding the text and exporting it as a
Quicktime movie, Final cut became less Quicktime movie was easy.
intimidating. Final Cut Pro is a professional
software that requires a lot of practice and Personally, I would have liked to
experience. It is due to making many small spend more time on Motion to learn
movies in class as preliminary tasks that I got some of the more advanced effects
better at using and understanding Final Cut Pro.
that the software offers.

4. CANON CAMCORDER
&
VOICE RECORDER
I used a voice recorder
We used a simplistic Canon MD205 because during one of the
camcorder and a tripod to record our shots in the movie, the voice
movie opening. I learnt what the many of my character couldn’t be
signs on the screen meant, for heard. The voice recorder
The mini dv tapes were used helped to record the same
example the battery life indicator. speech externally and then I
to store the recorded video
Also, I learnt how to set up a tripod added it onto the sound track
footage. To transfer the
whilst observing the built in spirit level footage onto the iMac, I learnt on Final Cut Pro. I could have
to check the level of the camera how to connect the camcorder used the built in microphones
angle. to the iMac by using the fire on the iMac but the sound
Finally, I learnt how to attach the wire cable. After attaching it I quality was better by using
camcorder on to the tripod and how to learnt how to log and capture the voice recorder. Also this
the video footage using the enabled me to experience
use the tripod so that the camera more technology whilst
options on Final Cut Pro. I
shots are smooth and precise. making my movie opening.
faced some problems with the
tape, one of the problems
were that the footage we
recorded overlapped a
previous footage, this was
because we recorded over the
footage and not the footage
that was blacked out.

5. I used Jamendo to locate music I learnt how to use this website
for our movie opening. This to research the different types of
website allows users to locate titles that movies include so that
thousand of free music. The I can add similar styles to my
website had special ways to filter movie opening. The website
the type of music I was look for, offered a lot of title examples
for example, you can select the that inspired me. However, it
mood and genre of the music you was hard incorporating such
are looking for. I quickly learnt styles into our movie opening as
how to locate the type of music I there were a lot of effects used.
was after because the website I had to use the templates that
was set up well. Also, I learnt how Motion offered.
to download and transfer the
music.