Final edit of livetype and sound filming practice

As i wasn't in for the first half of the lesson whilst the other members of my group were filming, I missed out on the filming experience. However, I arrived in time for the editing on Final Cut Pro. Alongside my group, we worked on creating titles for the film using Livetype and all of its effects, and exporting the titles onto the film. Once the titles had been added, using Soundtrack Pro we added a musical composition to the film. This was good practice of using Livetype and Soundtrack pro, as all the experimenting would be useful when creating out title sequence.

Filming 'on shoot photos'

Here are a few 'on shoot' photos taken from filming. It highlights each of us using the cameras on the tri-pods and also the location shots. As we wanted to reflect the conventional, middle-class lifestyle, we wanted our location to be a tree-lined, suburban road. Initialy we chose Cassland Road in Hackney as it evokes wealth and is situated on a peaceful, leafy square. However, as a group we decided on Danson Road in Bexleyheath as it had more suburban elements to it i.e. it was further away from central London, there were green spaces between houses and the scale of the houses helped to create a wealthy impression. Also, as we needed to shoot the 'resident-taking-out-the-rubbish' scene, we needed a resident who would be willing to participate or lend the exterior of their house. As Nigel lived on Danson Road, we knew we would be able to shoot the scene without worries. In order for there to be fairness, we each took turns filming.

Pitch for our title sequence

This is the last slide in our pitch which for some reason, would not load with the rest of the pitch.

Location Shots

We need to film in a suburban area as our title sequence is inspired from title sequence Arlington Road. So we decided to film in Nigel's area but a road in particular, Danson Road. Danson Road is in Bexleyheath, Kent so we would have to plan where to meet in order to travel to the designated area.

This is one of the houses that we are planning to use in our title sequence. This house fits the idea we want of a nice residential area.

This gate looked similar to the gate in the title sequence Arlington Road. We came up with an idea of panning it and giving it the same style they did the title sequence.

This is a park we had an idea of filming in. There is a lake in the park as well where we can film.

This would be a suitable place to film as we were looking for an area to look like a middle-upper class area that seems to be 'perfect'

Planning of preliminary match cut exercise

We also did another filming exercise practice with match cuts before doing it in our title sequence. This was to practise match cuts when two people exchange dialogue so that we can make it look as professional as we can. We did the match cut on Final Cut Pro.To do this, we filmed it from my view and from Nahuel's view We had to film lots of times to get different angles and shots. We were successful with the match cut exercise.

Intro to Cameras & Health and Saftey Tutorial

Cameras

Each media class had a tutorial on the precautions on using cameras and how to use them. We learnt how to record, film and focus in on the subject as well as using it properly and handling it with care.

We used a JVC camcorder and were given two memory cards to put in for our memory. We learnt how to switch from one memory card to the other. For health and safety, we used rechargeable batteries instead of electric sockets. This prevented tripping over as well as enabling us to film where ever we had chosen to.

We were also taught how to extend the tripod depending on the height we wanted to film at as well as making sure that it is locked so that the camcorder so that the camera wont fall off and be steady when filming. When we filmed, we should carry the tripod whilst the camcorder is still on there, we should take it off first in case the tripod was to fall, the camcorder will fall with it.

When practicing with it, we were able to use to successfully whilst taking all the precautions needed.

Skills audit:Livetype and Sound

In one of our tutorials we learnt how to use livetype and sound so that we will be able to add titles, aswell as sound when making our title sequence .

Livetype

Livetype is a programme used to add titles aswell as the effects of the title that fits in with the genre of the title sequence.

When you open livetype, there should be a white blank square on the left and side. This is where you would preview your text.

To insert a title there are two options, you can right it in the grey square that is next to the white square on the right, or is you are considering writing alot of text you can write it in the other grey square that is underneath it.

When writing your text and are not happy with he text or effect of it, there are tabs right on the left hand side that have different sort of effects the first tab; livefonts is if you want your texts to be very animated. The are also categories within each tab for more different types of effects. The next tab; fonts, is just for the actual style of the font not the effects. The next two tabs; textures and objects are for adding a background to the texts. The last tab; effects is self explanatory. It just gives you a wider variety of effects without changing the actual font of it unlike the first tab. When you have chosen and effect or style there are two buttons at the bottom of it that says apply.

Click apply so that the effect will be added to that title. If you want to preview the title, there is a time line at the bottom. Press the space bar to preview the titles. If you wanted to add your titles on the actual clip, input and output your your clip on final cut pro, go to file>export>for livetype and save as a new clip. When you have done that go back to the live type programme and go to file>place background movie and open up your file.

Soundtrack Pro

Soundtrack pro is a programme for adding sound effects, instrumentals and making your own music. When you have opened up soundtrack, the left hand side is for adding a video so that you an preview it with the sound and make sure that they coincide with each other.

In the middle is where you would be adding the sound at the time and length you want, like final cut pro, there is a cutting tool to cut the piece of sound.

To get our desired sound or sound effect, you will see on the bottom right hand corner, there are three effects; Browser, search and favourites. People mostly used search but if you have found a sound from another programme you can open it up through browser. The search tab has different categories to help you find the sound your are looking for.

When you have chosen the sound, click and drag it to the timeline.

Skills Audit Livetype and Soundtrack pro

We learned how to use two different programs that will help with making our title sequences.

one of the programs we learned to use was: Soundtrack pro.

Soundtrack pro is used to make the music for your recorded footage, having music and sound in your title sequence is very important because it sets the mood and directs the audience to what they are going to expect to see. We learned the basics in soundtrack pro and practiced by playing around and making our own little pieces of film music. We learned how to browse through all the different sounds and drag them onto different tracks. Also we learned how to cut and shorten the clips using the blade tool.

Soundtrack pro opening screen

Another program we learned to use was: Live Type

Live type is used to create the actual written titles for your clips. We learned how to create text and put different effects on them. on both programs we learnt how to export the titles to put them into final cut to be edited and to be merged with footage, also in both programs we learned how to import the video footage we are making titles or music for to be in the background on the programs.

Rough Cut

This is our rough cut for our thriller title sequence "The Grove"

Location shots

Because we wanted our title sequence to be similar to Arlington road, we decided to film our title sequence in a middle class sub-urban area so I suggested for us to film on a road near where I live. This road is in Bexleyheath, Kent, It has big beautiful houses that we wanted to film.

The picture below is of the house where we wanted to film the bin scene.

This lake is in a park across from Danson Road where we filmed all the houses.

In this same park I came up with the idea of filming trees and bushes moving in the wind.

This gate is on the end of my road and we wanted to do a pan of it similar to Arlington road

We wanted to film someone looking from a window and we decided to use my house for that scene.