Evaluation Questions

Title : Critically Comparing my Skills, Processes and Methods

1st. Formulate your question:

Look below at what you  are you being asked to evaluate.

Unit 1

U1.2.1 Critically compare a range of communication methods used to convey meaning in creative media production.

Note Critically is similar to compare but concentrate on the things that are different with two or more methods used or what sets them apart. Point out any differences which are particularly significant.

In your own words say what U1.2.1 is asking you to do.

Answer: Critically compare a range of media.

2nd. Gather your information:

What have you been doing that you can evaluate

On your blog you now have two weeks detailing classes in The Carousel and professional ways to use tools, skills, processes.  If you have details of these you have done this point just add the links below.

Blog link to last week:

Answer: https://l3mediaualtomb.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/carousel-week-1.html

Blog link to this week:

Answer:

3rd. Apply the information

How well have you done in the sessions?

Ask yourself:

• Which skills, Processes and Methods or tools you enjoyed the most?

Answer: Adobe Photoshop is the software that I enjoyed the most. It is also the software that we used to edit between downloaded images, in order to create final integrated graphical image, made from other material. This process was fairly straightforward, and I believe would be easy to replicate within a full media production.

• Which of the things you have been shown could you demonstrate to another person?

Answer: I think I could demonstrate the graphical skills such as photoshop and illustrator to another person as the steps involved in this process were fairly simple and easy to replicate.

• Which of the things you have been shown do you need more practice with?

Answer: I need more practice with Maya as this was a lot more complex in that it had more settings and options to comprehend.

4th. Consider the implications

If you were asked by a professional to use some of the tools, skills, processes how well would you do?

Answer: This software allows the user to be creative with the various options and settings throughout the program. The method of creating a graphical image can be complex, but that depends on the specific details that the user would like to include.

5. Explore other points of view

Have you considered feedback from teachers and Peers as to how well you did in the session, if so what feedback have you had?

Answer:

What Feedback have you had so far that tells you you are doing okay in the session?

Answer:

Week 5 - Carousel - Fashion

Within this final week of the rotation, we started with swatches of different colours on paper, in order to experiment for our own graphic designs In order for these to be printed onto fabric, they had to be put through a heat press. Through doing this process, I noticed that the colouring of the design became a lot more vibrant after being in the heat press.

Along with this, we also had to make dresses of plastic bags and dress these on and off of a mannequin model to a human. I personally participated in the cat walk that took place with these fashion items, and learnt what to do on a professional cat-walk, such as how to pose.

From this experience, I have gained understanding in how to use mannequins for costumes that I could use in my own media production. This rotation also allowed me to experience working with other people and other industries which will also be useful when trying to create costumes and working with actors in my own productions.

Week 4 - Carousel - Photography

Throughout this week on rotation, I developed my knowledge of photography, this includes angles, lighting, shutter speeds and aperture.

When looking at aperture, I found new advanced understanding of cameras and their software. Shutter speed of a camera is an example, this measures how long the shutter is open when the picture is taken. The speed is measured in fractions of seconds; the faster the speed, the less light on the film. Similarly, aperture and f-stops measure the amount of light let in; the higher the f-stop, the less light on the film as well. When exploring motion images, we took images of someone running and changed the f-stop. When it was higher, the image was a lot more clear than when it was lower as the shutter closed faster.

Further exploring aperture, I found that you can change the lens to change the depth of field. The greater the depth was, the larger the range of focus. However, when it was more shallow, the range of focus was smaller and the image becomes more focused in on one point of the image.

We also got to explore the 3 stages of lighting; key, back and filler.

Week 3 - Carousel - Production

The final product of this week in rotation was to create an advert for the pen company, Bic. As the week progressed, we learnt about the 3 main stages of production; pre-production, production and post-production.

Pre-production consists of 20 production paperworks that must be signed and processed. Examples of this include; the proposal, an initial paragraph about the brief idea for the story. The story outline, a slightly more detailed version of the proposal, with specific scene by scene ideas. This then expands into the script, which is the most specific and detailed idea of the exact final storyline to be used. A storyboard is another along with risk assessment, location recce, contact sheet and shooting script, all of which are brought when producing every aspect.

When practicing production as we filmed the Bic advert, I was a part of the hot seat and did the live edit control of cameras. This was a large responsibility as it required me to be on my feet and have high concentration of what was going on around me in the rest of the studio, due to it being a live air production. This experience was very professional, giving me a good sense of what it may be like, on a small scale, of a real life studio.

Post-production was minimum due to our final product being a live edit, however I learnt about Adobe Premier Pro editing software and how to cut clips, add or change sound and edit the look of videos.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5e8g5uvG7AveEdILTFTUlVteVU/view?usp=sharing

Week 2 - Carousel - Graphics

As a basis, we learnt about 3 different programs that allow us to create graphical images. Through doing this I was able to expand my knowledge of different software in order to use them in my own projects and production work. The programs used were; Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Maya, another animation program. In general, these various programs allowed me to understand how to blend images in order to use graphics in my own production.

Using Adobe Illustrator, I chose a celebrity, Kanye West, and had to edit the eye in order to make it look more animated. When using this in my own work, I will be able to create my own unique look, style and feel, allowing me to express and present my own creativity.

When exploring Maya, I learnt how to create, manipulate and loop an animated ball. Some animated movements I learnt were how to make the ball bounce, squash and expand. This allowed me to gain a greater understanding and more experience of new software, meaning I can transfer these when creating special effects to my own media production, giving objects a realistic feel.

Overall, the first week of rotation, focusing on graphics, helped me to gain better experience and understanding of different softwares and programs. This will help with my own post production work and will make it look a lot more professional and better value. It also encourages my own personal touch on products as I can manipulate images and videos to my own preference.

Adobe Photoshop is the software that we used to edit between downloaded images, in order to create final integrated graphical image, made from other material. This process was fairly straightforward, and I believe would be easy to replicate within a full media production. This software allows the user to be creative with the various options and settings throughout the program. The method of creating a graphical image can be complex, but that depends on the specific details that the user would like to include.

USING PHOTOSHOP - SHORTCUTS

1. Evidence of me taking part: (Pictures, Diary entries, Printouts ETC)
U1.1.1

F = FULLSCREEN
TAB = NO TOOLBARS
CMD - OR + = ZOOM
CMD SPACE = INTERACTIVE ZOOM
SPACE DRAG = MOVE IMAGE AROUND
CMD 0 = FIT TO SCREEN
NON-DESCTRUCTIVE EDITING = CREATE LAYER MASKS/DON'T DELETE
CMD A = SELECT ALL

PHOTOSHOP IS RESOLUTION DEPENDENT WHEREAS ILLUSTRATOR IS RESOLUTION INDEPENDENT
ANTI ALISING


USING MAYA

3D MODELLING & ANIMATION APPLICATION

Week 1 - Induction

Week 0 - Film Review

The Martian

"The Martian", directed by Ridley Scott (based on the novel by Andy Weir, 2011), is a Sci-Fi/Action film starring Matt Damon, an astronaut surviving on a desolate planet, alongside Jessica Chastain and Donald Glover. It was released to cinema in 2015 and follows the story of a biologist astronaut, Mark Watney, left behind after a raging space storm on the planet Mars, whose team pronounce him dead and set out to return him home. However, a scientific phenomenon by the protagonist allows his survival for 560 days whilst his team have to decide whether to risk their lives and save him or listen to NASA, who advise them to head home due to the risk of more deaths and not enough fuel. As an audience member, tension rises as the life changing question is asked and a decision is made by the space crew, enforcing the crucial journey that they must face. 

In my opinion, this film contains a good mix of ideas about a person, Mark Watney in this case, staying humane in extreme circumstances whilst not being on earth. Scott has also used real science facts about space and the survival of humans whilst also giving a twisted reality of life in space, which is thought to be impossible. I also enjoyed the film as it contains elements of other genres, such as comedy (using his own waste as fertiliser), action, and adventure, allowing all types of audience to engage with the film as well as increasing interest due to this variation.

In conclusion I would recommend this film as it appeals to a variety of audiences, keeping them entertained and catering to a larger group. On top of this, I believe that it is a high quality film, in terms of well-known actors and incredible graphics that depict a realistic idea of the planet Mars which would again engage the audience.