Our group have been trying to work out how to use Photoshop, as we have not used the programme before. We have watched several tutorials on Youtube to try to figure out how to use it.
In the image above, we are trying to make a final draft of our poster.
These are the steps we have already completed
-Lightened the image to make the characters seem younger. It also gives the atmosphere a lighter hearted feel.
-Added a certification because it would make it look more realistic and show the audience who our target audience is
-Added different fonts for the titles. We would like to use a 3D effect, so have settled on the one seen in the photo above.
-Created a review and placed it at the top of the poster in a different font to the other titles.
Below is a screenshot of editing and inserting the film certification.
Firstly we found a picture of the certificate 15, and then cut out the background (as we're doing above).To do this we had to move the mouse steadily around the outside edge of the image. We struggled with this as it was very difficult to keep a steady hand and to create a smooth, neat result. After perfecting our technique we got an end result that we could move onto the poster.
We recently created a first draft of a poster and put it on Facebook for feedback. We had some response from the Facebook group as well as from teachers and peers. This is the overall response that we got.
- The font being too simple- we felt it was boring and didn't show the light hearted tone of the film.
- The main image was pixelated- This was due to only using paint so we have decided to use Photoshop to create a better image.
- The arrangement of the text on the bottom- didn’t look professional, so we have decided to change the font to a more widely used one.
This is the first draft of our poster. We created it in paint and have included the following things:
A main photo of the characters- to introduce them to the audience and so the film, poster, trailer and website are linked by these characters.
A review from a media company- so that the audience know it is reputable.
A film certificate- to show who is allowed to watch the film and to also show adults that it is not suitable for young children.
A title- so that the viewer knows what the film is called so they can watch it in the cinemas. The title is also in a juvenile font which we think portrays the comedic atmosphere of the film and would attract the target audience.
The names of the actors and production team
We have posted this draft of the poster onto our Facebook page and will update any replies we get.
We shot some scenes in October, however, when we have come to edit it we have realised that there are some issues that would effect our overall piece. After lengthy discussions we have decided that we need to re-film. The problems we face are :
- Poor sound quality in a scene where our characters are running.
How we could solve it: We could either refilm the sequence and position the microphone closer to the characters, or try to use the footage we have and record the dialogue again in a voiceover, editing it into the scene in post-production.
- A shaky camera lens in a shot of our characters walking, due to our tripod being broken and therefore not secure.
How we could solve it: Refilming- This is a big problem that cannot be disguised by careful editting.
- Availability of actors- one of the boys we used in our trailer lives in Stamford four days a week, and this tightens our filming schedule.
How we could solve it: We could utilise the time we all have off from school and college by doing our retakes during the Christmas holidays, weather permitting. We could also not bring his character into further shots and introduce another one instead.
- One of our actors, Sophie, has cut her hair since shooting, providing issues with continuity.
How we can solve it: We will have to either reshoot every scene invovling Sophie, or find a way to cover her hair in the remaining scenes. We could also not use her character in further scenes and introduce a different one instead.
Dear The Specials/ Production Team
I am writing to you on behalf of my media production group, KDN Productions. We would very much like to use your song A message to you Rudy, in our A-Level media coursework film. We have chosen this piece of music because all the members of the group like it and it suits well with both the genre and the atmosphere of the short film. It would mean a lot to us if we could use your music in our film as it may help to better our grades. This film will only be used for exam purposes and will not be publically released. We have also stated the name of the song, who performed it and who it was written and produced by, to abide by copyright laws.
We first started filming in the October half term. We decided to use actors due to the fact that it would better allow the group to focus entirely on the production side of filming.
The main locations we used were Cuckoo's Hollow in Werrington and garages in Gunthorpe, which we chose to use instead of the originally planned ones in Walton. This was because the Gunthorpe garages looked less urban as they were better kept, and based on the idea that our film is a comedy, we thought it would be funnier if the story was set in a very leafy, green Suburbia kind of setting. To give the allusion of “posh kids acting street”.
These are our actors: Anthony Race, Sophie Wardell and Joe Stimson. We dressed them all in the similar costumes of jeans and jackets to make them look geeky, plain and very ordinary.
This is a photo of Dan (production) positioning an actor so that he is framed correctly in the shot and according to his surroundings.
