The document discusses the use of digital technology for researching, planning, and evaluating a film opening sequence project. Various online tools were used at different stages, including search engines for initial research, YouTube for tutorials and film samples, IMDB for genre information, and blogger for collaborative planning and sharing findings. Digital cameras, editing software, and online music libraries also supported filming and editing. While technology provided many advantages, it also presented challenges around information validity, repetition, and volume that required cross-checking and curation of sources. Overall, digital tools proved essential but were paired with traditional techniques for effective project work.

3. SEARCH ENGINES:
Our main research resource were digital
search engines such as Google, Safari and
Youtube.
Having constant access to these search
engines allowed us to quickly and easily:
1. Find information on our film genre,
allowing us to understand it better. This
also comes at a free cost.
2. We found a huge volume of information
that we could pick and choose the
relevant information that we wanted.
3. Using these search engines, we could
access any website we needed to such as
IMDB without having a security block. If
there was a block, this would have limited
the information we could have gathered.

4. Google is the largest search engine. It allowed
us to access any possible website. There is a
wide variety of knowledge and is a reliable
resource.
However, sometimes this very volume of
information was overwhelming, and it can be
very time-consuming sampling sites until you
find the most relevant
YouTube has a huge selection of videos.
One main reason we used it was to gain
understanding on how to create a freeze
frame as there are many useful tutorials
hosted here. We were also able to watch
many opening sequences, both generally
and in our specific genre. Reading the
comments of others was also an
interesting addition and often gave
insight into how the whole film played
out.
One problem was if we did not already
know the specific names of films in our
genre. YouTube is not good for non-
specific research as it is not as well
linked as Google.
Safari is a similar engine to Google, we
used this on the Macs, it is just as
effective as Google.

5. USE OF GOOGLE IMAGES
We researched ‘Gone Girl’ because it was
from the same genre of our opening
sequence, thriller.
It was useful to have research into the same
genre of films because we could look at
different camera angles and techniques
that were used to help with ideas for our
own.
Seeing screenshots from a successful films
helped us to then make sure we use the
right techniques in our opening sequence to
get the right idea across to the audience. It
was especially useful for mise-en-scène as
we were able to see the overall look and
style of the film easily from thumbnail
collections such as those shown.

6. USE OF IMDB
IMDB has all the information on new
and old released films and includes
summaries, reviews, statistics and
so on. This allowed us to gain extra
knowledge of what the audience like
to see within a thriller film.
It also gave us ideas about mise-en-
scene and costume.
The main benefit of a site such as
this is that it is very specific to our
actual needs. As our work
progressed, we found that we were
using more of these specific sites,
such as Artofthetitle, Digital Spy and
so on and relying less on more
general sites.

7. USE OF BFI STATS YEARBOOK
This was another very specific site
that we used a great deal once we
had discovered it.
A key area of progress for us in our
use of the internet was becoming
more aware of where the best
information lies. This is a vital area
of knowledge for any professional.
Once a year, the BFI publish a
statistical analysis of UK film in a
digital format. Reviewing the
audience and genre sections of these
across recent years gave us the
statistics we needed to feel
confident in our initial analysis of our
potential target audience, as we
were able to back up the ideas we
had as to who this audience would be
with hard facts related to other UK
films and their audiences and
success.

8. Access to the internet was vital for us when we were researching music for our
sequence as we were able to access free websites where we could download
themed music for free. However, this took a long time to listen to every track and
sound effect out of them all.
One of the key benefits of the internet is the way people share – in this case
music, but also their skills and knowledge in tutorials and so on. However, the
disadvantage remains the sheer volume of material. Here we see there are 117
pages of results for the search ‘music for heist films’ on one copyright-free site:
FINDING COPYRIGHT-FREE MUSIC

9. As we know that many
internet sites are
largely unregulated,
one good practice we
developed over the
course was cross-
checking any
information we found
where possible.
CROSS-CHECKING INFORMATION

10. Many search engines have quite sophisticated filters for finding
results such as looking for similar colours, styles and in the
example here looking for the same faces. This occasionally
made research easier, and will be of more benefit next year
when we will be doing more still image-based work
USE OF FILTERS

11. We used the hosting site
Blogger to create a blog for our
production company and were
able to keep all our research
there. Posts are stored in
chronological order and
access to the blog means
access to the research of
anyone posting on it.
This was particularly useful
when we were looking into
opening sequences and were
able to look at the research
completed by the whole group,
not just our own.
USE OF BLOGGER

12. Another useful feature of
having a group blog in this way
was that we could actually do
joint research. As we neared
the end of the research
process, we often researched
together and added our own
individual findings under the
resources which we could then
read and compare. Again, the
sharing capacity of digital
technology is very important.
USE OF BLOGGER

13. There were many advantages using digital technology for our research. For
example, it was very convenient as we had the ability to research at home or even
on our phones, as well as at school, which meant we were all flexible in how and
when we did our research.
However, there were many challenges and difficulties.
 As many sites duplicated information from one another, when we then
individually researched, our information was sometimes very repetitive.
 When using sites like Wikipedia, any member of the public has the ability to
change or alter information, and so when researching into film profits for
example, the information may not have always been exact.
 When finding and choosing our music for our opening sequence, we had to also
be careful using the internet. Not only did we have to choose the right music
that would represent our sequence, but we had to ensure that it was copyright
free, so that we were not using other peoples music unlawfully.
SUMMARY OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
FOR RESEARCH

15. Blogger was our most helpful resource when planning our opening sequence. We
were all able to save our work onto on blog, so that each of use could access it.
We were also able to communicate through this when establishing where our
sequence was going to be filmed, and our character roles and costumes.
USE OF BLOGGER

16. As the blog could also be accessed on our phones, it was a very useful
resource when we were out filming practice tasks and even the real
coursework as we could look back at our scripts and shot lists on
location.
USE OF BLOGGER

17. We have been using Final Cut Express, a digital editing package that enables you
to move clips around and access pre-packaged transitions and effects, to do all
of our editing. This included the practice filming we carried out as planning for
the actual task.
When we first started using the package, it was very challenging as this was a
completely new software which we had not previously used.
The hardest part was including the credits as we were encouraged to use Live
Type. This was another software which is compatible with Final Cut and
specialises in animation and effects for text. This at times would become very
tricky as this was also a completely new software for us, but it was useful that it
was compatible with the main editing programme.
USE OF FINAL CUT EXPRESS

18. We used Canon camcorders in order to film our opening sequence and take any
photos needed for our work on the blogs. Using them on our practice filming was
important as it allowed the group to become more experienced and more
comfortable with the filming equipment and how it works,
so we were ready when we came to film our real opening sequence.
Digital cameras have many advantages in that you can make a first edit on the
spot by deleting poor takes in camera, they are easily compatible with digital
editing packages and transfer footage very quickly, and as you become more
experienced you can experiment with focus and lighting settings. Backing up
footage is also easy and you can even create dual recordings for greater piece
of mind.
USE OF DIGITAL CAMERAS

19. Advantages Disadvantages
The digital cameras
allowed us to film most of
the Scenes we wanted to
film and provided the
angles we wanted.
However we were limited in
some of
the original angles we wanted to
film,
like an aerial shot which we did
not
have the equipment to film.
The Macs allowed us to
edit the our scenes in the
ways we wanted, allowing
us to fix any continuity
issues.
However we were limited in the
music
and sounds we wanted to use in
certain
Scenes.
The camera also had
enough memory to keep all
the footage we filmed
while backing up to HD
card.
However the footage we filmed
ended up having loads of
continuity issues so there was a
lot of wasted footage
SUMMARY OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
FOR PLANNING

21. Here we are trimming and ordering our clips on the
timeline and then adding credits over the top using
images imported from LiveType (the black boxes).
Final Cut is useful because it allows you to build up your
piece in layers, importing separate sections until you
have the whole image you want.
MANIPULATING IMAGES

22. This shows two separate sections
where we have worked hard on
sound. The first is trying to make
our music tracks merge without an
obvious join.
The second shows us trying to
adjust volume of dialogue and
ambient sound so they work
together and with the music.
MANIPULATING SOUND

23. This view of our overall timeline is a good image to show
the value of Final Cut – building up separate components
of sound and image until you have the sequence you are
happy with.
SOUND AND IMAGE TOGETHER

24. Advantages
*There are multiple ways to approach the editing in Final Cut Express
*Has a user friendly interface, simple layout with direct effects
*Has a variety of effects for sound and video e.g. filters and blurs
*Motion tool helped place credits from Live type.
*Easy to Import files to Interface e.g. Mp3 files and video clips
Disadvantages
*Editing both ways is time consuming
*Learning how to start using Final Cut Express for the first time is
difficult
*Easy to lose work as the timeline is important to the whole work.
USE OF FINAL CUT FOR VIDEO AND SOUND

25. Advantages
* The easiest way to make credits as it is
especially made for the job
* You are able to add a variety of effects (e.g.
fades and entries) suited to our film
* Easy to export and then import to Final Cut
Express
* Has an extremely friendly interface, able to
use as a beginner
Disadvantages
* Some fonts were not available to use on
Final Cut Express
* So the amount of changes we could do to
each text were kept at a minimal
* Text and effects where sometimes too simple
and not complex enough for what we wanted
USE OF LIVETYPE FOR CERDITS AND TITLE

27. *In order to present our evaluation we have been using Blogger, a
website that allows users to post articles and blog posts online.
*We have already been using Blogger when collecting research
and planning for our final piece, which made it easier for us to
link our evaluation posts to our research and planning. Most of
the comments made about Blogger in that section are valid here
too.
USE OF BLOGGER FOR EVALUATION

28. *This also helped us make it clear that some of the things
we had gone over in the evaluation posts had already
been researched previously, for example we had done
some research into our chosen genre before writing out
the evaluation of whether or not we successfully
portrayed our genre in our final piece.
USE OF BLOGGER FOR LINKING RESEARCH
AND PLANNING

29. *Blogger also adds a comment
section to each post, which
helped us in our evaluation as
we were given the unbiased
feedback of others as to how
we were progressing with our
work. We were able to make
useful contact with other media
students we have never even
met through Blogger.
*This in turn helped us in our
evaluation as we knew more
about where we went wrong
and what went well, which
gave us more to write about.
USE OF BLOGGER FOR FEEDBACK

30. *Using Blogger allowed us to present our evaluations in a
variety of formats.
*This made for a more interesting and reader-friendly
evaluation.
*It also allowed us to work together and as individuals.
*It encouraged us to be more creative in our ideas.
*Some of the formats are explored below.
BLOGGER AND TECHNOLOGICAL
CONVERGENCE

31. This evaluation has been presented in this format
because:
- There is a lot of supporting visual evidence and we
needed a format that would work well with this
- We could all contribute equally without repeating
ourselves.
MULTIMEDIA FORMAT - SLIDESHOW

32. Here we decided our
discussion around
distribution needed a longer
format because there were
many options to consider
and we did not all share the
same opinions. Therefore
we recorded this as a
debate and also edited it
with LiveType annotations
as rough ‘chapter headings’
and images so that the
debate could be watched on
fast forward and paused at
pints the viewer might wish
to know more about.
MULTIMEDIA FORMAT – EDITED
PRESENTATION

33. We returned to our
definition of our target
audience and evaluated our
initial ideas as a mind map
created on Photoshop. This
allowed us to cover the
initial ideas briefly without
repeating them and to
explain changes in our
opinions. It also allowed us
to include images to support
our views.
MULTIMEDIA FORMAT - MINDMAP

34. This contact sheet was
created using
Photoshop. It allowed
us to give a sense of
our piece overall
without having to
embed the whole
video. It also allowed
us to describe key
moments to show our
use of genre
conventions and share
these moments with
the reader.
MULTIMEDIA FORMAT – CONTACT SHEET

35. MULTIMEDIA FORMAT – COMMENTARY
Using Final Cut we
were able to present a
commentary on our
opening sequence. As
we had more to say
than time, we were
able to include stills to
slow down the
sequence and allow us
to make our points. We
were also able to insert
comments given as
feedback.

36. *Easy to use and a good online database for storing our
work.
*The fact that all of our work is in one place makes it easier
to link Researching, Planning and Evaluation together.
*Having a comment section on each article provides
unbiased feedback which can help improve our work.
BLOGGER – ADVANTAGES FOR
EVALUATION

37. We could not have completed this coursework without
digital technology. The skills of using pre-digital formats are
slowly being lost, and we certainly don’t have them.
We needed technology at every stage, not just on the more
obvious construction stage.
We are aware that digital technology has made some of the
stages so much easier than it must have been in the past e.g.
research.
However, we did find ourself using non-technological
approaches – debates, discussions, handwritten notes, drawn
storyboards, sketches – these were all very useful too and at
times seemed the more appropriate format.
SUMMARY