Aidan Harrison documented the equipment, technology, and processes used to film and edit an opening for a film project. A Canon DSLR camera was used to film 1080p footage, mounted on an adjustable tripod. Adobe Premiere Pro was used to edit footage, add transitions, and adjust audio levels. Photoshop was used to design titles and After Effects to add effects like sliding and typing animations. A boom microphone reduced background noise after issues with the camera's microphone. Music and sound effects were synced to footage in Premiere Pro. Storyboards were referred to during filming and editing to stay on track. Through this process, Aidan's skills with equipment, editing software, and filming improved.
2. Equipment
For my filming I used a Canon 100d DSLR camera which filmed in 1080p HD.
We used a tripod at all times to make for steady shots. The tripod was adjustable in
height and was able to move up and down and sideways to allow us to do various
types of camera movements.
The camera was very simple to use and it allowed us to watch footage back whilst
filming.
This disadvantage of this camera was the microphone that picked up a lot of
background noise but we were able to rent out the boom and microphone to reduce this
noise.
My skills when using this equipment has improved since we started the project as I
learnt from my errors I made in the preliminary.
3. Technology
I used adobe premier pro to edit my footage together.
I used Photoshop to create my titles and premier pro to edit them.
I used after effects to make my production titles.
Premier pro allowed me to import my footage, cut clips and add
transitions to my shots. I was also able to edit the lighting on my clips on
premier pro which was helpful. I was able to put my music into my footage
and decipher the volume of certain sections to allow dialogue to be heard.
I used after effects to add a transition to my institution title after I made it
using Photoshop. I was also able to add in my film title and its sliding
effect, also the effect on my director titles which recreated the typing effect
used in lock stock.
I used Photoshop and my skills that I developed in photography to create
my title freeze frames using various techniques to recreate the type of
titles seen in the snatch opening.
4. Sound
For sound we began with using the cameras
microphone and decided that the background noise
was too loud so then we used the boom and the
extension which was adjustable and we could record
sound near the characters but still film from further
away.
We used music that we had found from the research
to put alongside our footage, it had a fast pace which
matched the tempo of film.
We used a door knocking sound also to match our
shot so that it was a lot clearly as that was something
we filmed without the boom. We also used premier
pro to edit the volume of some dialogue that didn’t
come out as well.
5. Keeping on track
While working along we always referred back to our storyboard
unless we made improvements. We wrote most of our ideas
down so that we didn’t forget them come filming. You can see
here some examples of us replicating the ideas from our
storyboard into our final opening. Doing all this was very
important to make sure we completed everything swiftly.
6. What have I learnt
I have learnt many things through out this whole process. But my technology skills have
vastly improved by making my film opening. My skills in premier pro were bad before hand
but now I can use it well and do everything necessary to make a successful edit, I also learnt
some more technical things that can be executed in premier pro such as lighting effects. I
also developed some skills in after effects as I had not used it before, I was able to develop
four successful titles by using it. I learnt a lot when it comes to filming as I focused a lot on
making sure the continuity was good and that we had good shot variety. Also I used new
equipment that I have now learnt how to use such as the mic and boom also I'm a lot quicker
at setting up a tripod and using it effectively. I also learnt how to use new features on
Photoshop in order to achieve the effect on my titles.