The document discusses the development of the author's camera and editing skills through making a trailer for a film project. It describes learning about different camera angles and settings from a book and lessons. The author learned to consider shot composition, lighting, and backgrounds. Photoshop was used to create graphics for the trailer, magazine cover, and poster. Sony Vegas was used to edit the trailer by adding titles, music, and color correction. A digital camera, camcorder, and various websites were also used in the project.

1. Construction Kristina Tristram

2. How did camera/editing skills develop? We had a couple of lessons at the beginning of the year with Mr. Taylor who gave us a book which had different camera angles in and explained what they were. It also included how to use the camera and the different settings that you can use. Such as when filming in light and dark areas. This helped with finding out what different camera shots/angles there were and which ones were more associated with a certain genre. It also helped with working a camcorder and using the right settings for when filming in the dark or light.

3. How did camera/editing skills develop? When I first started filming I was more focused on trying to get each shot done and focusing more on the actors than what the shot looked like. As I filmed more and more I was thinking more about what interesting shots I could have such as the shadow on the wall walking down the stairs and the actor looking through this big old mirror so that there was two of her and then the hand coming up beside her. Not only this but where the camera was going to be placed and checking to see what was in the background of each shot. This is because, as it was meant to be an old home, I had to move some stuff out of shot such as boxes of wine glasses, signs that said ‘don’t touch’, and the fire bell. I also thought more about the lighting which would make everything around the main object darker and creepier and keep the object in the light.

5. Photography I used photography to take the photos for the magazine cover and the poster. I firstly thought about what I wanted my poster and magazine cover to look like as this then helped me to know what it was that I needed to photograph. For the magazine cover, I thought about where I wanted the two actors to stand so that they were in the middle, a gap was between them so that I could get the light to shine through and make sure there was enough room around them so that there was enough room for text on the cover. Photography helped me to visualise what It was that I wanted and also to see the composition and see which looked best for either the shots in the trailer, the poster or the trailer.

6. Photoshop I used Photoshop to make a title for the end of the trailer when the name of the film comes up. This was so that I could make something that was more in keeping with the rest of the trailer and therefore made it look a little more interesting. With the photo for the magazine cover, there is a gap between Becky and Jem which because that is where I wanted the light to be shining through (like the flash of a camera). I tried using a spotlight in between Becky and Jem; however the photo didn’t come out how I wanted it too. I therefore used a tool in photoshop to create the light. It definitely looked much better and stronger than what it did with the spotlight.

7. Photoshop I also used photoshop for the poster where I was able to make the reflection of Becky and Jem in the camera lens. To do this I took a photo of the camera lens, then a separate photo of Becky and a separate photo of Jem. I also used photoshop to add the old style texture on top to give the poster the old look like the old photos have. Not only this but to remove the faces of the two people in the old photo. The skills I needed were being able to se a camera and take the photo in the right size so that if I wanted the photo any bigger, it wouldn’t go pixilated. Skills in photoshop were needed too if I wanted to get the look that I wanted of a professional photo/poster.

8. This shows the photo that I took before it was edited in photoshop for the magazine cover. Below it is the poster.

9. Digital Technology Adobe photoshop- This was used to create the poster, magazine cover and title of the film. It allowed me to create interesting looks and any ideas that I had which I was not able to capture with just a camera. For example, the reflections in the camera lens and the light shining through Becky and Jem on the magazine cover.

10. Sony Vegas Movie Studio- I used this programme to edit my trailer. This involved cropping down any shots, adding in music and sound effects, adding in the titles and also changing the colour of each shot too. You definitely had to get used to using the different layers available and trying to work how to get the text to move.

11. Wordpress- Wordpress is where my blog was at. This was helpful in placing all my work together and embedding my research. It let me keep track of what I was doing and what it was that I still needed to do. This was also where I put the different versions of my trailer on. I could see what it was that I needed to change or add.

12. Youtube- Any videos that I had made this was where I uploaded. I then used the link of the video that I wanted, too embed it onto my blog. Me and anyone else who visited my log was then able to view the video without having to go and search for it somewhere else. It kept everything together.

13. Slideshare- This is another website where I was able to upload work onto, and then using the link provided for that particular presentation, I was able to embed it onto my blog. This, again, saved people having to go and look for any presentations else where.

14. Digital Camera- I used my digital camera to take photos of the actors and location shots. For the old photos, I didn’t take a photo of them, I scanned them into the computer. Taking the location shots helped me to imagine what the shots would look like and whether the setting was the right one.

15. Digital Camcorder- I obviously used the camcorder to film shots that I needed for my trailer. I also used the tripod to keep the camera steady instead of having it shaking. There was a helpful setting on my camcorder called ‘night shooting’ that I used because where I was filming, it was quite dark. This setting lit up the shot without having to use special lighting. I then connected the camcorder to the computer so that I could transfer the videos across.