Original Review Page

In the end I decided to go with with a Sight & Sound inspired review page following their colour scheme, layout and font.

Split Screen

We used the rule of thirds when framing the split screen opening which is the visible division of screen with explicit borderlines to depict simultaneous events. We decided to have three characters on a phone positioned in one third each allowing the audience to hear the conversation and narrow the events which took place before they all met in the bar.

Dating 101 New Edit

This is the newest edited version of the short film however it is missing the split screen section which will act as the opening and the ending exterior scene.

 

Shooting Schedule 2

This is the shooting schedule we wrote out for filming the interior scenes at the Miles Bar helping us keeps on track with what we need to accomplish. 

Final Script

This is the script for Dating 101 by Sammy Ali and Adrianna Paniak uploaded in the professional software Celtax.

Placing Test Behind an Object

Today I learnt how to use layer masks in Photoshop as I wanted to place a portion of text behind an image. This is a method of hiding pixels used when you want to alter certain portions of an image rather than delete the other bits. This was you don't destroy your original image and your picture remains flexible enabling you to experiment until you achieve the desired effect.

For the step by step approach look to this address  Placing Text Behind an Object.

Dating 101 Rough Cut

We've been editing shots as we we shot them which is why we're still missing the opening split screen scene with Harry on the phone with his two best friends Matt and Cam as well as the closing scene with Julia who he meets at the bus stop after a failed attempt at dating.

Ramsgate Shelter

Reviewing the footage we shot at the bus stop with our target audience they felt that they couldn't really hear what was being said became the ambient noise was overpowering the dialogue. They thought somewhere more quiet and secluded would be better and we agreed that finding someplace that could substitute for a bus stop would be beneficial if we will get better quality of sound. Ramsgate Shelter was proposed as it glass design could easily be mistaken for a bus stop.

Marketing

We used Facebook as a marketing tool to promote the speed-dating, posting a poster inviting people to get involved and become an extra. As a result of this we were hoping to raise the film's profile as people might have shared this on their Facebook pages for their friends to see and therefore go viral on the Internet.

Cuttign Script Length

We reduced the length of the script to the essentials as at the point of rewriting we were constantly adding more details than we could afford to keep even through we were aware than we had more than 5 minutes worth of material already meaning we would have to make cuts during the screenwriting process in pre-production or in the editing suite during post-production. We decided that the scene between Harry/Matthew and Megan/Morgan didn't really push the story onward and that the two girls could enter the storyline at the bar without losing any continuity.

Split Screen Effect

For our opening shot we planned to have a split screen effect with the three characters talking on the phone which would explain why the are in the bar. I never attempted this which is why I watched the Creating a Split Screen Effect in Final Cut Pro video tutorial which presented all the do and don'ts when framing it.

Letterbox Effect

Our opening shot of Harry walking down the street and talking on the phone turned problematic as a result of poor framing with a large chunk of the frame empty. To hide this in editing we decided to try on the Letterbox Effect which changes the aspect ratio of the shot which preferably we would have to adapt throughout the whole film. We used the standard production ratio of 2:35:1.

 Final Cut Pro X - Widescreen Letterbox Tutorial.

Dating 101

Upload the version with the opening in Ramsgate High Street and bus stop with Hannah.

Instructive Media Blogs

Blogs by other media students which instructed me on how to present my research and evaluation.

Victoria Media - short film, poster and review page

E'T's blog - trailer, magazine cover and poster

Filming Day 3 - Production Diary

Tuesday 21st January

The script had gone through through revision for filming as one of our actress was unable to participate on the day, our first option was to film it on another time however as we were already behind schedule we made the harsh decision of cutting her lines out and substituting them with another character without changing the ending result. Both sides mutually agreed to this effect and we were on track to achieving our goal. To achieve a more natural quality of lighting we reflected the light of the surface as light is said to be reflected when the angle at which light initially strikes a surface is equal to the angle at which light bounces off the same surface.

Will Channing and Cameron Smith rehearsing their lines off-screen. 

Josh Smith seducing the ladies. 

Sammy Ali hard at work. 

Matthew working out a difficult Maths problem. 

The lovely Hannah Thomas as Harry's love interest Julia. 

Mind your head and carry on. 

Guys when are we going to be done, this is like the... I lost count. 

I always have to do everything on my own. 

Filming Day 1

Behind the scenes pictures we took from the first day of production.

Ramsgate skyline

Experimenting with changing the focus

From the left Harry (Josh Smith) and Carlos (Cameron Smith)

From the left Matthew (Will Channing), Harry (Josh Smith) and Carlos (Cameron Smith)

Selecting Hair in Photoshop

While cropping my original poster I had problems with hair selection while detaching it from the background and this blog included a very useful and detailed tutorial showing you several ways.

Selecting hair in photoshop with channel selection

Evaluation - Question 1

Here is the evaluation of my media production, answering question 1 based on my short film, film poster and film magazine review page and how I worked with my target group and different technologies in constructing these products.