2. Introduction
This is the evaluation of our latest video project: an
opening credit sequence for a teen sci-fi drama. The
next slides show what we included and why we
decided to include it, the problems we faced and
how we overcame them and how we felt the
project turned out.
3. Comparison with real media
products
This is the first key scene of the film. It opens the film
and launches the viewer into a medical bay where the
main character is being kept. It involves him dressed in
standard army trousers and a black shirt in order to
show the viewer that the plot has something to do with
the military. It draws influence on other sci fi films
where characters have been shown in a catatonic or
cryogenic state prior to being awakened or
experimented on, Such as Moon (Pictured right)
The second key image is of the “Commandant”
looking over Number 56. This is to both introduce
the commandant and to highlight that he obviously
has interest in the figure ling on the bed, Which is
why we decided to add this shot as the second shot.
The Commandant is dressed in a gas mask which
adds mystery to his character and makes the viewer
question him. It was shot in the medical room in
order to create the illusion of a laboratory
The third key frame is of the
commandant looking further over
number 56. It even more highlights
his gas mask and his growing
interest over 56. The shot is seen
from 56’s perspective and shows
the viewer what he is supposed to
be seeing.
4. Comparison with real
media products part 2
This is the fourth key scene in which the camera
closes in on number 56 and he opens his eyes
suddenly, prompting the screen to freeze and
the title to come on to the screen. This plunges
the viewers directly into the credits and tells
them that he has awakened. This is the last shot
in the medical room. It echoes the ending of
Avatar in which the camera closes in on the
characters eyes and they open (pictured right)
The fifth key frame is of The commandant firing
his gun near the screen as his cast name comes
on. This is to highlight the commandant’s
power with the slightly low angle shot. We shot
it in the forest near long in order to give the
shot a secluded effect. It echoes the great train
robbery and Goodfellas in which characters
shoot their guns at the screen to show power
and intensity
The sixth key frame is of another biologically
engineered humans standing against a wall ready to be
inspected. We chose to include this shot in order to
include more characters and to show the audience that
there are more soldiers than just number 56.
5. Comparison with real
media products part 3
In the seventh key image, number 56 is also standing
against a wall being inspected by the commandant.
We did this to highlight 56 again and show his cast
name. He is wearing the same clothes as he was in
the first scene which highlights that he is still
training. It echoes this scene from Starship Troopers,
in which the main character inspects a group of
soldiers at basic training.
In the eighth key image, a soldier has just
finished field stripping a weapon. This shot
introduces more characters for the viewer and
shows them more aspects of basic training. This
is the first shot that shows a full army suit. This
is to clarify that the story is based in the military.
We shot in the small media room in the front of
the college in order to give the film an isolated
feel.
The last key image is of Number 56 in full
ghillie armor, peering down a sniper sight.
We decided to shoot using a ghillie suit and
a sniper in order to show that 56 is on a
stealth mission
6. The Construction
Process
Overall i found the construction process very enjoyable despite a few hiccups.
The aspect of the process that i found most enjoyable was the filming process,
mainly because it allowed us insight into proper filming procedures, in that we
found that we weren't allowed to bring mock firearms onto the campus - when
we were stopped by site staff - without final written permission, which also
taught us lessons for next time. The aspect that i found the hardest was
probably the editing because i found it hard to edit the small amount of footage
that we had by the deadline into a believable credit sequence. This coupled with
rendering problems and the nearing deadline made editing all the more
stressful. We faced several problems with the process, the biggest of all being
the fact that we were told that we couldn't bring mock firearms onto the site
without permission from the head. this problem was overcome by arranging to
film after college and as far out of public view as possible. another problem was
Above is a picture of our timeline in final cut, On the upper left
that many of our video files went offline which slowed down the editing process
hand corner, you can see that some files have gone offline as a
more. this was overcome by making sure that we had copied the files over before
result of the camera being removed from the laptop without
removing the external camera. I found working in a team as beneficial as it has
copying some files over. This is one of the problems that i
been before, in that both me and Ed got all of our tasks done to the best of our
mentioned in the evaluation.
ability and heavily organized our work and production meetings by making
meeting minutes and noting down the tasks of the day.
7. Legal and ethical
consideration
The only big legal constraint that we faced was bringing weapons and army gear onto
the college site. At first we were very naive and thought that we would be safe as long
as our location permission forms were complete. We found that it was not when one of
the site staff caught us and confiscated our mock rifle. We then learned a lesson for
next time: to secure definite permission before we film with weapons or anything
supposedly incriminating and to film after college. This was overcome eventually, in
that we were able to film after college without fear of trespass or public view.
In order to show that we were filming, I had to wear a high visibility monitors jacket so
that the public would know that nothing was wrong and that the site staff would know
that we were on filming business.
Overall i feel that it was good that we learnt of the constraints on firearms and secured
permission, because if we had not been told, we might not have got away with as
much footage of them which definitely had a positive impact on our final piece.
Screenshots of said mock
firearms
8. Skills
Development
The main technologies that we used were Photoshop,
Final Cut and Garageband. Although we have been using A screenshot of one of our credits that
these programs for a long time, we did learn creative we keyframed to move along the screen
lessons for the next project. For instance, we learnt how every time the shot freezes.
to effectively keyframe our credits by moving them
across the screen in an interesting way as we had done
with our western credits.
The Motion keyframe tool
However, with garageband, i felt that we could have
been more originally in our musical score, because
although we were trying to be original, we still came out
using the same loops that we had in previous films
which has definitely taught us to make it more original
next time by exploring different instruments and loops.
This is a screenshot of the timeline with a picture in the upper
right hand corner of the credits moving with the film.
9. Quality of final
product
Looking back on the brief, I would say that we have remained true to the target audience expectations, in that we have conceived a very good teen
themed sci fi story. Although it has strengths in story and props, it does lack in editing and scripting. I feel that we could have included more dialogue
apart from the opening narration. Overall, I feel that it is extremely close to the original idea in terms of the shots we story boarded and the overall
concept. The early pitch - being far too complex - bears little resemblance to final idea, apart from the biological clones and the fact that they are
made to compensate for human weakness.
