- The document is a production diary for a film opening sequence project over 19 weeks. It outlines the student's progress, including research on codes and conventions, pre-production like scriptwriting and storyboarding, filming, editing, adding titles, music and sound, and getting feedback. The student worked on drafts, filmed at various indoor and outdoor locations, recorded audio, and completed a final edited opening sequence and evaluations.

1. Film Opening Sequence
Production Diary
Teodora Radovanovic
AS Media Studies

2. Week No. Progress Update Plan for next week/month
Week 1 During the first week I was introduced to the overall
AS level course structure. I learnt about both the
practical production and exam preparation as I went
through the syllabus with my teacher. I worked on a
project brief proposal to finalize into my selected
coursework project.
Introduced to:
• Example of coursework
• Syllabus outline
• Project brief proposal
• Select coursework project
Week 2 The following week my secondary research was based
on learning the concept of codes and conventions of
opening sequence so that I could have a better
understanding for my final project. I based my
research on the analysis of a variety of opening
sequences such as: Psycho, Catch me if you can and
Forrest Gump. I also made a photo story as an
exercise to establish the understanding of camera
movements and types of shots
• Research opening sequences
codes and conventions
• Practical introduction to
camera movements and types
of shots
• Photo story exercise
Week 3 In this week my assignment was to construct
preliminary task research which was video continuity.
In addition I had to do pre-production planning which
consisted of making a synopsis, writing a script,
drawing a story board, establish an equipment and
prop list needed and did research for my location
search around various neighborhoods around my city.
• Preliminary task research
• Pre-production planning:
synopsis, script, storyboard,
equipment list, props and
location search

3. Week No. Progress Update Plan for next
week/month
Week 4 For this week I was focusing on the filming and editing process of my
video continuity task. The roles in my short film consisted on two
tennis players playing a match in an outside court. During the filming
process, I utilized the knowledge of camera movements and types of
shots I had learned from previous weeks. After the filming process I
first constructed the rough editing the shots I took. My teacher
checked my progress and gave me suggestions in terms of further
editing. For my final editing I involved import, cut, render,
transitions and mark in and out techniques in Pinnacle 15.
• Filming on location
• Rough editing
• Final editing
Week 5 After finishing with the editing process, I proceeded to creating an
evaluation for my project. Parallel to this I commenced with research
for potential script for my final project at the end of the year.
Furthermore, I wrote a short synopsis’ for all the potential script
ideas for the better realization of the project and thus narrowing the
ideas down to my final option that I would choose.
• Evaluation of
project
• Research potential
script for final
project
• Writing short
synopsis for all
potential script
ideas
Week 6 During this week, I have chosen my potential idea script for my final
project and evaluated my film idea. In addition, I started working on
the first draft. Simultaneously, in order to get a deeper insight into
the genre I have chosen to present, I researched about my genre
which is romantic drama. To enhance my knowledge of this genre
and to help me get inspiration for my project, I further did analysis on
a romantic drama series and film opening sequence of The OC and
The Notebook.
• Final synopsis for
project.
• First draft of script
• Genre research

4. Week No. Progress Update Plan for next week/month
Week 7 After completing my genre research, I proceeded onto
focusing on the development of my script by creating a
second draft. In order to have an insight into how to
plan and organize my shooting schedules I did research
on pre-production to make sure that I am following all
the steps needed. In addition, regarding the
visualization of my project I started with a rough draft
of my storyboard in order to make my project easier to
comprehend for shooting.
• Second draft of script
• Pre-production research
• Rough Draft of storyboard
Week 8 In this week, I focused on perfecting the final draft of
my script and on the second and final draft of my
storyboard in order to have a concrete representation
of my project that I will need for filming and post-
production procedures later on. After finishing this, I
proceeded onto making evaluations with the changes I
have made for each of my script drafts.
• Final draft of script
• Final draft of storyboard
• Evaluation of all drafts of the script
Week 9 During this week, I did both a location search where I
looked at various locations and places around Belgrade
so its mise-en-scene would fit into the message wanted
to convey. Moreover, I did a casting to select characters
that would be used in my project. I then proceeded on
to constructing and later evaluating my shooting plan
which consisted of a: Shooting schedule, Prop list,
Equipment list, Contact sheets for both Cast and Crew
and my Characters’ wardrobe.
• Location search
• Casting
• Make and evaluate shooting
schedule

5. Week No. Progress Update Plan for next
week/month
Week 10 For this week I commenced with shooting my indoor
locations. I shot the indoor location with the dining room.
The only character needed for this was the male character
since due the schedule’s of me and my characters I could
only film them separately. However, due to my battery dying
towards the end of my shooting session I had to hastily finish
my last shots.
• Filming in dining room
location
Week 11 Due to difference in appearance for my male character by
him getting a haircut, I had to re-shoot my dining room scene
parallel to shooting the elevator and mail area locations. I
did this in order not to waste time and get my project done
the most efficiently since the locations were near to each
other. I liked the other dining setting better due to it
representing more of a rustic appearance and moreover the
fact that I could utilize a stereo in the background to play jazz
music which was not on my initial plan and turned out to be
great in enhancing my project.
• Re-filming in dining room
location
• Filming mail area/elevator
locations
Week 12 For the outdoor and mail area locations, I needed my female
character. For the outdoor location I liked the influence of
bystanders and exterior noises of traffic because it made the
scene of the female character seem more realistic. However,
when filming indoors, constant bystanders passing by
created a problem since I had to re-shoot most of the shots.
• Film outdoor/mail area
locations

6. Week No. Progress Update Plan for next week/month
Week 13 After finishing all the shooting necessary for my
project I commenced with the rough editing of
the opening sequence. Here I placed the shots
that I wanted to utilize and cut them briefly to
the parts that I wanted to use. Later I evaluated
what I did in the rough editing process.
• Do rough editing of opening sequence
• Evaluate rough editing process
Week 14 During this week, I focused on editing the
second draft of my opening sequence. Here I
shortened my shots in order to form a quick
pace through out my project so that it
resembles the appearance fast structure of a
typical opening sequence. After finishing that I
evaluated the second draft.
• Do second draft of editing of opening
sequence
• Evaluate second draft of editing process
Week 15 Before doing the final editing of my opening
sequence, I needed to record the voice-overs of
the male character in order to fulfill the
concepts present in my script. I did not have any
type of microphone with me so I videotaped
him and thus learnt how to extract an audio
from a video format which now I can implement
in further projects when needed. Moreover, I
worked with my music teacher on the structure
of her compositions for my project. After,
making the final versions I recorded my teacher
in the same manner as the voice-overs
• Record male character voice-overs
• Record music compositions

7. Week No. Progress Update Plan for next week/month
Week 16 After finishing the recorded segments needed I did the final
editing of my opening sequence. I added various aspects to
my project in order for it to resemble an opening sequence.
At the beginning I have placed my film logo company name
which in association with my teacher I chose. Throughout
the sequence I added the title sequence of the main cast,
additional cast and crew members. For special effects and
fining tuning I added slow motion the shot with the girl’s
earphone falling out to make it seem more comprehensible
and zoom in’s onto the boy’s face to capture his
expressions. In addition I added and edited the voiceovers
and music compositions so they were compatible with the
sequence.
• Do final editing of opening
sequence
Week 17 During the following week, I focused on evaluating my
audience feedback in which I included constructive
criticisms from my teacher, school mates and family.
Moreover, I also did a filming on location evaluation where I
discussed the positive and negative aspects during shooting
in detail.
• Do audience feedback
• Do filming on location
evaluation
Week 18 In the week, I uploaded all of my drafts of the editing
process onto my blog and youtube channel. Before
uploading my final opening sequence I did some further
adjustments to the shots in order to perfect it fully.
• Upload all drafts
• Upload final opening sequence

8. Week No. Progress Update Plan for next week/month
Week 19 During this final week, I did my main task
evaluation in which I discussed the reasons for
my choice of camera positioning and
movement, lighting, mise-en-scene, character
wardrobe and sound in terms of music and the
voice-overs of my male character. After
consulting my teacher, I chose to present it in a
format of a Powerpoint presentation since it
allowed me to implement picture which
provided a deeper insight into the overall
process of the production of my opening
sequence.
• Do main task evaluation
End of Project