Preliminary Task Final Work The McGuffin -

Final Work - 

Preliminary Task Evaluation 04/12/15 -

Preliminary Task McGuffin  - 

Audio:
The audio is acceptable and we have input various other sound effects. Although, there are a few moments where the sound could be slightly louder but this can be fixed in 'Premiere Pro' during the editing process.

Video:
The video camera used was a 'Sony Handycam HDR-SR7'. The video is, for the most part, good. However, there a few scenes especially the over the shoulder shots that are out of focus. To improve this we will be practicing the shots with the correct composition in the studio in preparation to re-shoot on the date of Tuesday 8th December.

Additionally, there was some outside footage that we wanted to re-shoot but due to weather conditions we have been unable to.

Lighting:
We used 'Soft Box' lights with the settings on '1/8' to create an eerie atmosphere but we also needed enough light to show the characters within the scene, therefore, this was a happy compromise.

Improvement: 
We re-shot our video footage on Tuesday 8th December to replace the blurry footage. We will be editing the final footage on Premier Pro on the date of Friday 11th December.

Preliminary Task The McGuffin Script -

Preliminary Task -

The McGuffin – 

FADE IN:

In a common industrial site a suspicious looking individual walks across whilst holding a conspicuous briefcase that appears out of the ordinary for the attire of the individual.

CUT / FADE TO:

INT. AN INDUSTRIAL AREA – OUTSIDE – DAY

CARRIER, scruffy individual, shady appearance, carrying an out of place briefcase.

CARRIER

(On phone) I’m at the meeting place, where are you? (Looks down and sees a bag on the floor)… You want me to put the bag on?..(Puts bag over head)

INT. MEETING ROOM – TIME UNKNOWN

SUITED MAN, smart appearance, official looking, powerful, appears to be anticipating the arrival of something or someone. 

CARRIER

(Already sat down,Bag off head)

SUITED MAN

…Do you have it?

CARRIER

Yes… Do you have what we agreed upon? (SUITED MAN passes envelope)

Where’s the rest? This isn’t what we agreed upon!

SUITED MAN

You’ll get the rest after your next job. That is what we ‘agreed upon’.

CARRIER

I’ll take all of my money now or I’ll walk!

SUITED MAN

I’m sure your dear mother wouldn’t appreciate that answer. (Sly smile)

CARRIER

(Scowl) Fine. (Places briefcase on the table {pause} slides the briefcase across)

SUITED MAN

(Checks the contents, approves, slides across second envelope) This is your next assignment; you may leave now.

CARRIER

Wait, I can’t keep doing this, I can’t keep doing these jobs for you.

SUITED MAN

You don’t have a choice, Kate Fur. (KATE looks distressed)

END SCENE

Mise-En-Scene Continuity Plan -

Continuity - 

Dylan (Actor 1/ Suited Man):

• Suit jacket
• Suit trousers
• Tie
• Shoes

Emily (Actor 2/ Carrier/ Kate):

• Green coat
• Dark blue jeans
• Black hoody
• Black military style boots

Props:

• Black briefcase (2)
• Brown envelope (3)
• Mobile phone
• Table
• Chair (2)
• Black bag

Preliminary Tak Plan Filming and Audio -

Filming and Audio Planning - 

Filming -
A DSLR camera can film as well as take photographs. However, these have limitations such as the quality of the audio especially when the subject in the scene is far away. This can be resolved using a 'Boom Mic' for audio.

DSLR cameras can be used on a variety of rigs from body rigs to dolly's but these all have different advantages and disadvantages.

Audio -
When filming, audio is very important and the quality of the audio is best when using specific equipment such as a 'Boom Mic'.

Advantages:

• Provides better sound quality
• Filter out background noise

Disadvantages:

• Difficult to use when shooting a wide angle shot
• Heavy after use for a sustained period
• Directional and has to be aimed directly at the subject of the noise

Other -
The 'Dolly' can be used to avoid movement of the camera when filming thus creating a smoother image.
   

The 'Track and Dolly' is very similar to a normal 'Dolly' however this equipment involves the camera resting on two parallel bars and is often used for action cinematography.

Advantages: 

• Ideal when doing tracking or panning shots
• Ideal for action cinematography
• Can film steadily whilst filming in most situations
• Heavy and can sustain weight such as expensive camera equipment

Disadvantages:

• Time consuming to set up the equipment and become familiar with it
• It's expensive
• Difficult to relocate to another filming location
• Heavy to carry

Glossary -

Glossary -

Textual Analysis-

Mise en Scene - Everything that appears within the scene.

Verisimilitude - Being believable or having the appearance or being true.

Production - Everything in the making of a text / film etc.

Code - A system of signs which can be decoded to create meaning.

Convention - What the audience expects to see in a certain genre.

Continuity - The state of continuing without changes.

McGuffin - An object or device in a form of media that serves only as a trigger for the plot.

Audio - 

Diegetic Sound - A sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film, sounds made by objects in the story or music represented as coming from the instruments in the story.

Non Diegetic Sound - Sound whose source is neither visible  on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action e.g.. narrators commentary, sound effects added for dramatic effect, mode music. Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from a source outside the story space.

Camera - 

Match on Action - Match on action occurs when an action that begins in one shot is continued or completed in the next.

Shot / Reverse Shot - A film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character.

The 180 Degree Rule - People in the scene must remain on their original side. If the side is switched then the movement of the camera to the second position must be shown. The audience must be re-orientated at the end of the scene as they are a secondary participant.


Editing - 

Jump Cut - When the transition is a sharp cut from one scene/ clip to the next.

Eyeline Match - The perspective of the character is shown so the audience is seeing through the characters eyes.

Preliminary Task Plan (Mind Map and Plot) -

Preliminary Task - 

• Plot - Morgan Redman, Emma Weeks and Dylan Koolman
• Story Board with Camera Shots - Morgan Redman
• Location Scout - Emma Weeks
• Actor 1 - Dylan Koolman
• Actor 2 - Emily Wicker
• Camera Person - Emma Weeks
• Mic Person - Morgan Redman
• Director - Morgan Redman
• Film Editor - Dylan Koolman
• Make-up Artists - Morgan Redman and Emma Weeks

Plot Ideas Mind Map - 

Plot Idea 1 The McGuffin -

• Actor 1 opens the door and enters
• Actor 1 sits opposite Actor 2
• Actor 1 places a McGuffin on the table between both characters
• Actor 1 and 2 discuss the importance of the McGuffin
• Actor 1 exits leaving the McGuffin on the table
• Blank screen

Plot Idea 2 The Drug Cartel Deal -

• Actor 1 opens the door and enters
• Actor 1 sits opposite Actor 2
• Actor 1 places money on the table between both characters
• Actor 1 and 2 discuss the importance of the pick-up time
• Actor 1 and Actor 2 exit
• Blank screen

Preliminary Hobby Final Work -

Hobby - 

Filming My Hobby Plot -

Plot -

Hobby : Watching Westerns

Shots :
Long Shot (whole body, walking)
Medium Shot (standing still)
Head Shot (zooms in whilst actor is standing still, also featured when actor is sitting)
Extreme Close up (on the eyes, Western inspired)
Feet Shot (walking, typical Western inspired)

Ideas :
Pan shot following the rolling tumbleweed
Stops at feet of the actor
Pans up to extreme close-up shot of eyes
Zooms out to long shot of actor walking
Cut to sitting down
Medium shot whilst sitting
Low angle long-shot whilst talking
Improvised shots during discussion
Close up of feet, pan shot as actor leaves

TV My Favourite Hobby Video -

The Shots -

Long Shot - From bottom of the feet to top of head

Medium Shot - Mid arm to the top of head

Close Up Shot - Head shot

Casting -

Actor - Dylan Koolman

Director - Morgan Redman

Camera Man - Emma Weeks

Plot -

Walking to location (10-15 seconds)

Sit down and discuss hobby (1 minute)

Filming of My Hobbies Mind Map -

Mind Map -

Magazine 'INDIE' Inspired Magazine Cover Analysis -

Magazine Analysis - 

This magazine cover is very simplistic with a specific style inspiration from the fashion and music magazine 'INDIE' which gave my magazine its name. 

The image to text ratio is quite unbalanced with the main image taking centre focus on the cover and the text and typeface of the masthead being the only textual feature demanding automatic viewer attention. The graphology of the typeface begin red and the font being sans serif implies that the magazine is minimalistic but artistic and clean cut.

Furthermore, the main image in itself can be analysed as the main article is about a band but only a singular figure ,the 'lead singer', is featured on the cover. This adds to the simplicity of the cover and also conforms to the conventions of the magazine which inspired my own.

There is no skyline/top line ,or bottom line, on my cover which means that the image is more prominent on the magazine to attract the audiences attention. 

Additionally, there is only one cover line on my magazine cover which is placed in the right third thus defying magazine conventions which normally place cover lines in the the left third. However, I do believe that the cover line being in the right third works well with my individual cover as it is the only feature placed in this section meaning that the viewers eye is drawn to it.

The left third of my magazine cover is reserved for the PUG which is the barcode, the issue number and the price. This is placed in this section so that the main image is not detracted from by chaotic placement of the information.

The semiotic elements of my cover include both the mask, black clothing and the vintage camera. The mask are used so that the audience can associate the name of the band, 'The Bandits', and their image. The vintage camera implies that the band are creative and possibly that they incorporate retro ideas into their music. The connotation of wearing a mask and black clothing is that the band are mysterious and and interesting. On the other hand black clothing is also a symbolic staple in the indie, rock and metal music scene which would allow a reader to assume that the theme of the 'INDIE' is indie rock.

Magazine Components -

Media Initial Magazine Components -

Magazine The Making of a Magazine Cover

The Stages of Making a Magazine Cover Using Photoshop -
The  image used to make the magazine cover was taken using a Canon EOS 450D with the setting on fully manual I then edited it using Photoshop CC 2014. The specific settings are as follows allowing for the fact that the image was taken in a studio using flash lights:
F-Stop : 16
ISO : 200 to 400
Shutter Speed : 1/125

This image is the base ,or as photoshop calls it the background layer, and this is what I used to form the basis of my magazine.

Secondly, using the 'Horizontal Type Tool'  I inserted a text box where the masthead would go and typed my desired title. Using the 'Toggle the Character and Paragraph Panels' tool I adjusted the height of my text making it appear more like a masthead of a magazine. However, the text was over the person in my image and I wanted to fix this.

To place the masthead behind my cover girl I had to use some specific photoshop tools. I began by using the 'Quick Selection Tool' to select my model, I then went up to the top bar and clicked 'Select' and chose 'Inverse'. Then I went down to the bottom left colour selection panel and chose black. The next step involved selecting the 'Brush Tool' to paint the black over the section of the masthead which I wanted to be behind the image.

Afterwards, I inserted a selling line/ strap line underneath the title. I did this by using the 'Horizontal Type Tool' and making two text boxes, one either side of my models head, so that the image would not become obscured. 

Next it came to adding the PUG in the left third. The PUG includes the barcode, price and issue number above the barcode. The text was inserted again using the 'Horizontal Type Tool' whilst the I simply dragged the barcode ,as it's own layer, over the background layer image. 

Finally I added my only cover line by again simply using the 'Horizontal Type Tool'. However, I did use two text boxes so that I could change the composition of the writing rather than having just one long line of text. This is my finished music magazine cover.

Magazine 'KERRANG' Inspired Magazine Cover Analysis -

'Kerrang' Inspired Magazine Cover -

This cover depicts the chaotic ideas of 'Kerrang' music magazine with a skyline, multiple cover lines (mostly placed in the left third) and a central main image. Therefore I have complied to Kerrang's layout conventions.

I created this final image using a Canon EOS 450D and editing it in Photoshop CC 2014. To get to this final image I used a variety of simple and more difficult techniques from cropping and layering to  masking.

The only semiotics featured in my magazine are the masks worn by the 'band members'. I used the masks to attract reader attention and to link to the band name of 'The Bandits'. The connotation of wearing masks and black clothing suggests that the band are mysterious; however the black clothing is also an iconic symbol and wardrobe staple of Indie, rock and metal musicians which again links to the theme of my magazine being an Indie Rock magazine. The denotation of having the three people on the cover of a music magazine explicitly informs the reader that they are a band and therefore the music the audience are likely to hear from them is most likely going to be rock, indie or metal.

Magazine Template

'Indie' Inspired Magazine Layout -

Magazine Template

'Kerrang' Inspired Magazine Plan -

Magazine Analysis and Research 'INDIE'

Magazine Analysis and Research - 


The colours and composition used in this magazine may suggest that the magazine is edgy and the use of the lexicon 'Independent Style' suggests that it is quirky and that the target audience may be those with very different style.

Magazine Analysis and Research 'KERRANG'

Magazine Analysis and Research -

Magazine Front Cover Draft

Draft Magazine Front Cover - 
The image depicted below is the most recent draft magazine cover that bears no relation to the finished product.

I am not content with the overall appearance of this image and if I was to re-design this magazine layout the composition and many other factors would be changed. For example, my chosen background did not serve suitably to place any coloured typography and text over it, the masthead would be placed behind the image to appear more like a realistic magazine, I would incorporate more features for the pug such as free posters, my work does not feature either a top or bottom strip.

A few features that do work well include the off centre main image and the red typography of the title on a reasonably blank top section of the background image.

However, as a draft I believe this is a good starting point as I now have knowledge of magazine layout and how to use photoshop which will help with designing the final magazine composition. I also have more in depth knowledge of the features of a magazine to improve how realistic the cover looks. 

Magazine Layout

Main Features of Magazine Layout - 

Masthead: This is the title of the magazine that is usually the magazines name to attract pre-existing customers.

Tag: A phrase or singular word that is used to attract viewer attention such as “exclusive”.

Typography: The font used.

Strap Line/ Selling Line: The introductory headline that describes the magazine.

Main Image: Often shows the image or people directly associated with the magazines main feature/article.

Pug: Corners of the magazine that may depict a feature like barcode, price or promotional offers such as free gift or posters.

Cover Lines: A short statement found on the magazine cover that is used to give an idea about the articles contained within the magazine.

Left Third: The left third contains the magazines main articles that gives an insight into the core subject of the magazine.

Top and Bottom Strip: The thin strips at the top and bottom of the magazine to give an idea of the magazines contents.