Andreas Mina conducted experiments to test different filming techniques for a short film project. For the POV shot, Mina tested using a GoPro, cannon camera, and phone and concluded the GoPro footage was clearest with a natural fisheye effect. Test of a dolly zoom showed shoulder mounting the camera provided the smoothest movement. Color experiments adding a darker tone made footage more tense. Homemade music on GarageBand and royalty-free songs were considered for sound. Testing fonts showed a bold style suited the comedy-drama genre best. Lessons from the experiments will inform techniques used in the final film.

1. Experiments
Andreas Mina

2. Content
• POV- Head on shot from the character
• Dolly zoom- Shows shocked face from character
• Walkthrough- shows the camera operator
• Colour- The tone to fit with the mood
• Sound- Garage band Verses royalty free.
• Font- for the name of the film
Side Note:
I have included cinematic bars in some of the footage that I've recorded, to
see if it fits with the footage. I looked to see if it cuts out any footage on the
top and bottom and how effective It is to the short film. I made one on
Photoshop by putting two black rectangles on the top and bottom of the
transparent image. The bars made the footage look wide screen and more
like a film. It worked well with the footage, as it doesn’t cut out anything
important to the video, like a head. I just need to make sure not to film
something important or key to the film on the bottom and top of the
camera. The footage looks more cinematic, as it makes the short film
practically wide screen. Without it, it just looks like a video.
To conclude with the side bars, I will definitely include the cinematic bars to
my film. The reason is because it makes it look more like a proper movie
shot, as it gives more of a cinematic look to the Clips I had just took.

3. Process (POV)
For the POV, I wanted to potentially use three recorders. I wanted to use my Go pro, The cannon camera and my phone
footage. For this, I had brought my go pro to college, and had been given the equipment to hold the camera on my body
to give a POV shot. I did try the body cam, but it prevented the go pro from facing up. I changed plans, and used the
three way stick instead. I held it towards my body position and moved forward with it. I then decided to use the cannon
camera. With the cannon, I held it in my hands and walked down. I had to redo it, as the first footage was set to 4 by 3
resolution. Lastly, I used my phone to go down. I didn’t really fully intend on using my phone, but I tested it to see if it
would be good as a back up camera. For my phone, I just held it. And walked down. i should also point out that i put
cinematic borders, to see If the footage works well with it. After watching the footage, I've seen what was good and what
wasn’t with all of the cameras. I've noticed that all of the footage is a bit too shaky than I wanted it to be. Luckily, these
problems can be fixed with the go pro and the cannon, as I can get better support for them. The go pros camera was
more naturalistic, as it was a lighter video. But, the canon had a more cinematic look to it, as it had the tinted lighting. I
do prefer the go pro, as the lighting is something I can easily adjust with editing. With the phone, its not my primary
camera, but I can conclude that it will be an ideal backup, as it has clear footage that isn't too shaky. I do quite like the
fish eye effect from the go pro, as it looks like your looking out from an eye.

4. Footage video:
POV shots

5. Reflection
• What elements of your experiments will you include in your final product?
From the process and practicing of accomplishing the shot, I think that I'm going to use the go pro. Even though I didn’t
have head gear this time, I'm going to book it for the real production, as I believe it will be more stable on my head,
it will also be at a relevant height and will be an easier process to do, as this process wont be needing me to have
my shaky hands hold it. I also prefer the camera on the go pro, as it has the slight fish eye effect and because its
lighter to put on your head. The fish eye effect looks like its inside a sphere. So for that reason, I will be using the go
pro to record the POV. If I'm not able to get the head gear, I will consider placing the go pro on the tri pod towards
my face and filming it, like I did in the experiment.

6. Dolly zoom
A dolly zoom is the perfect shot for one of the scenes in my film, as it dramatizes my characters expression, by moving the
background to keep the focus on what the character is doing. I tested the shot in two different methods and two different
cameras. I used the cannon camera and the go pro. The two methods I tested was the manual hand done way, with the
move in, zoom out, and the edited way on premier pro. I wanted to try out the two ways, to see which was easier to do, and
which gave the best output. To accomplish the dolly zoom with the cannon, I used a slider, which goes on the tri- pod, so
that I could have a steady forward move, whilst zooming out. I practiced by zooming the camera towards another student
with the cannon and slider first. I then practiced doing it hand done with the go pro. I do believe that the slider was jerky
and unstable, but it kept the camera in place, so it doesn’t shake about. There was another method I had a go at, but didn’t
work. I tried shortening one of the tri pod legs, and I moved the tri pod forward, whilst angling the camera forward. This
was supposed to be another technique to accomplishing a dolly zoom, but it came out with a hill effect, as rather it going
forward, it went up and down. I attempted to practice this technique many times, but I could never get it right With the go
pro, It had a fish eye effect, which helped with the Person to look more closer to the camera. The go pro was a bit shaky,
but moved forward more smoother. I then edited the dolly zoom in premier pro, by scaling the video down. I do believe
both outputs came out unsuccessfully, as the background position just sat still with the student In front. To solve the
problem, I need to do more research in how to have a successful dolly zoom. I need to look into how to properly accomplish
the zoom, so that I'm prepared when it comes to filming. I lastly decided to try a shoulder mount. The arm rest was on the
right hand side, but I'm left handed, so it felt awkward for me to use. To fix the issue, I put the rest upside down and dug it
underneath, which made it more sable for me . With this, I had to place it on my shoulder, and walked towards the person I
was filming. I later edited it on premier pro. As the angle of this video was more stable and in line, the edited dolly zoom
was more successful and had a better output, as it was more strait and forward focusing.
Dolly zoom
Edited mp4 First DZ. mp4 Camera DZ
Two legged tri
pod DZ
Videos:

7. Reflection
• What elements of your experiments will you include in your final product?
From doing the dolly zoom practice, I would like to use the shoulder mount for the actual filming. The reason is
because it gave the best support, and it was not heavy or jerky to use. Also, It gave the best result compared to the
slider and the tri pod as it was easier to move forward and easier to control, as the slider was too jerky. For editing, I
am going to do an edited dolly zoom, rather than the practical. The reason is because the practical one is one that I
cant get right without the footage looking stiff. The manual one is an easier and time consuming, as it only requires
me to enlarge and zoom the footage to get the same effect that you'd get if you were to do it the more practical way.

8. Video:
Side view walkthrough

9. WalkthroughFor the walk through, I did one for two separate scenes. I did a side view one with the slider, and I did a front face view using the shoulder
mount. The slider was an intension that I was considering to do. I wanted to see if it was more effective than a pan. For it, I got someone to walk
across the room, whilst I grabbed the camera strap and pulled it towards the direction that he was walking to. The final cut footage shows the
shot following the person.
For the Front facing view, I used two different cameras. I used the go pro and I used the cannon camera. For the go pro, I had secured the tripod
holding it under my arm, and held the top of it whilst moving backwards and following the person moving forward. I also used the cannon
camera. With this, I did two different techniques; I used the shoulder mount, and I used no stand for it. With the shoulder mount, I had placed it
under my arm for better support, and walked backwards with it. With no shoulder mount, I held the camera with both hands, and moved it side
to side whilst moving backwards, to give it the shaky effect. The shoulder mount was an easier handle, as it provided better support and gave the
output a more smoother video. Without the shoulder mount, it seems to be lower and a bit more shaky. I found it more stressful to handle, as I
had less to handle it on. With the go pro, it was more stable than using it for the POV, as its tri pod was tucked underneath my arm, whilst I was
holding the top of it. It was stable enough, as it didn't’t shake too much, and it gave the natural follow effect I was looking for, as the shaking
made it seem worrying, as it looks like someone is looking at the character. I do think the footage was good, but it has the fish eye effect, which
doesn’t really fit with the situation., as it’s a meaningless effect. To point out, I had tried filming the scenes with a tilted angle shot. I wanted to
see if it gave the distressing effect. From what I'm seeing from the footage, it distresses the footage, making the situation look strange and
unusual. I'm hoping with this effect, It will make my audience more anxious, as it is an unusual looking shot as its not common to see or strait. It
will make them anxious, as it excaudate the character walking forward, teasing that he is in trouble.
No mount
walkthrough
Walkthrough music/ Colours
1=cannon 2=gopro
Videos:

10. Refection
From the practice of the walk through, I feel like I would like to use the cannon camera with the shoulder mount. It was a
comfortable feel , as it gave a good strong support between the camera and my shoulder . If I'm not able to get the
cameras shoulder mount, then I will use the camera with no stand. It will be my second option, as it was more easier to
control compared to the go pro. I will choose move backwards when filming the shot. To stay safe, I will pre check where
I'm moving, for me to be aware. With the tinted angle, I will consider using it, as it makes the scene look more
distressing. I believe that It will work well with the scene, as it adds to the tension of the character walking towards his
“intruded” house. For the side view shot. I've decided that I wont be using the slider. It was too unstable to move, and it
doesn't move as far as I want it to. Instead, I will just pan the camera round, as I can get a wider angle of the running.

11. Colour
For the colours, I decided to change and alter it on one of the practice
video, to see if my intentional colouring is possible. I wanted to make the
colours bland and plain to fit in with the tension scene. If the bright colours
were left, the mood wont be as dark and tense. I added the effect to the
walkthrough video, on both the cannon and go pro footage just to test it
out. I added an RGB curve tool to the video, and done it, so the separate
colours are turned down a bit, to stop it from appearing as bright as before.
The effect did make it look both cinematic and bland. The bland effect
made the corridor look eerie, as it was dark and had no bright colours in it
to change the mood. The process for doing the effect was very hard to get
right, as the colours would either shift and distort the image or over
exaggerate the colours brightness. To get it to the way I wanted it, I had to
add another point to the Colours curves, to stop the image from looking
distorted. The effect isn't perfect as colours are still a bit visible, but it
works well enough to create a tense environment.
Walkthrough music/ Colours
1=cannon 2=gopro

12. Reflection
For the colour, I will consider adding the same tone to my actual film. I will memorise the shape and attempt
recreate it on the RGB curves on the FMP. The tone makes the clip look cinematic and eerie, as it looks dark. This
effect will be added and will work with the tense scene at the beginning, as it will remove the bright colours in the
background that would potentially change and mislead the mood into something else. I wont include it for the
surprise scene, as I need the bright colours in that scene to change the mood of the film.

13. SoundRoyalty free sound
Hand made sounds
For the sound, I experimented with garage band, and I browsed on a
copyright free music website for ideas for the music I could add to the
video. I'm wanting to make/find tense and eerie music, with slow
sounding, beats. When I was using garage band, I mixed seven different
instruments together, starting with the beat, then the background noise,
then the other instruments, to make it all work together to sound eerie
and tense, as its not a build up beat that goes up and down. The creation
process was more easier than I was expecting it to be, as it was only the
case of creating one beat, then moving onto the next and seeing how to
blend the work together. The finished song was added to the
walkthrough video. The finishing result made the video tense and freaky
along with the colour too, as the chiming's in the sound made it look like
the person was anxious and on edge whilst walking. For the royalty free
music, I had browsed on audio nautix for some fitting tense music. The
good thing about this music is that you can categories the genres and
moods, to find the right song for you. Some of the songs were too loud
and upbeat for the scene, but there were other options that weren't. I
did manage to find one fitting for the horror genre. It isn't upbeat, and
sounds tense, as it lacks upbeat sounds. The Royalty free websites do
have a wide range of music t find, as they have separate categories to
find it, but with garage band, its your choice to make the music right for
you.
Horror 13. Available: http://audionautix.com/index.php. Last accessed 27/04/2018.
Walkthrough music/ Colours
1=cannon 2=gopro

14. Reflection
From making the sound, I will consider making my own music first, and if I cant come up with any beats, I will
always be able to find one on The royalty free websites. I would like to create my own music, as the
creation will most likely create something I definitely want to sound like, unlike the royalty free sounds,
which wont fully meet your intention, since I cant put my own taste to it. From the royalty free sounds, I
may get sound effects from there, as a back up, if the ones I make don’t work.

15. Font
With the font, i wanted to test out what i could use to put
in the potential poster i may make. As a notice, the text
isn't the official title for the film and is only a working one,
as I may decide to change it. I started by playing around by
writing up the working title using different fonts. I Looked
on Da font for other options too as they have a huge range
of fonts to use. As my film is a comedy, mixed with
seriousness, I looked at bold and strait fonts, as it stands
out more because it is more in your face, as its bolder than
the thin fonts. It also looks more serious, like its being
shouted at you, as it makes the words look big. After I
chose my font, I played around with the graphics. I turned
the H into a house shape, to fit with the films theme of the
home In the film. The house was inspired by home alone. I
then played around with colours. I looked at what colours
fit with the film best. I thought green, but its too calm and
unsettling to the films theme, so I played safe and went
with Gray. The colour is modern and will bend well with
any background. I then changed the house shape to make
it thicker. I just spaced the word out, and added a box in
the H shape. I lastly put the first word over the last three,
and lightened its colour. This made it look less generic to
the font, and it makes the word Someone look more
important, as its different looking the others.

16. Reflection
I don’t believe that I will be using this title, as it seems to be a bit long, and the easy option, as explains what happens, so I
will be thinking about new ideas .From what I've Done with the Logo, I would like to take on board the font. I believe that
the bold font works really well with the logo, as it doesn’t look to comedic or too serious and sinister, it levels off the theme,
making it fit with the multi genre and mood of the film. From the creative design that I did on the H, I will consider turning
one of the letters into something relating to the chosen title. The Art makes the logo look fitting with the film, as it adds
relation to the plot/story. Lastly, the colour. I would like to take onboard on using the colour gray to represent the logo, as it
will blend well easily with a Background colour scheme, as it isn’t a too bright/dark colour that will look odd with some
colour schemes as its pretty much neutral.