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Practising self-isolation I have started to work from home and keep myself busy. The first task on my list was to animate the logos for each documentary. I decided to animate them in Adobe After effects, just adding simple fade in and out transitions, along with making the $$$ signs in the clipart’s eyes flash in and out. Now although this is very simplistic, its little elements like this that will add to the overall production value in the final edit, and really make our productions looks valuable.

Practising self-isolation I have started to work from home and keep myself busy. The first task on my list was to animate the logos for each documentary. I decided to animate them in Adobe After effects, just adding simple fade in and out transitions, along with making the $$$ signs in the clipart’s eyes flash in and out. Now although this is very simplistic, its little elements like this that will add to the overall production value in the final edit, and really make our productions looks valuable.

Practising self-isolation I have started to work from home and keep myself busy. The first task on my list was to animate the logos for each documentary. I decided to animate them in Adobe After effects, just adding simple fade in and out transitions, along with making the $$$ signs in the clipart’s eyes flash in and out. Now although this is very simplistic, its little elements like this that will add to the overall production value in the final edit, and really make our productions looks valuable.

With the new rules of not being allowed outside our homes unless its an emergency, it has proven to be a big struggle when it comes to filming for these projects, whether that be contributors or b-roll. Fortunately we have been given permission (with the new assignment brief) to use royalty free stock footage. This is footage captured by someone else but shared with the internet to use how it pleases. I spent the afternoon trawling through the online sites downloading any footage relating to money or happiness, ready to send over our editor Rumen.

Practising self-isolation I have started to work from home and keep myself busy. The first task on my list was to animate the logos for each documentary. I decided to animate them in Adobe After effects, just adding simple fade in and out transitions, along with making the $$$ signs in the clipart’s eyes flash in and out. Now although this is very simplistic, its little elements like this that will add to the overall production value in the final edit, and really make our productions looks valuable.

Coronavirus! After hearing rumours and sceptical plans from the university, it has now officially been announced that the campus is closed as of this Friday, and all Grad Project shoots are now cancelled. Wow. Didn’t expect it to go to that extreme – but by the sounds of it the situation is only going to get worse.
Update – we have now been given our new assignment brief indicating that we are still to make productions, but with much more flexibility. We (as a group) have decided to stick with the two documentary ideas as we have put so much effort into the story development, but now filming will be done by the participants themselves and any interviews will be conducted over Skype.

This really highlighted for me the importance of looking after your health, and taking regular breaks when operating the camera. After a short 5 minute break I was ready to go again, but was really amazed at the extreme effect the camera had on my body. Now reflecting on the footage and the shoot day, I feel we may have benefited from shooting with a static tripod, and having myself monitor the camera instead – this is definitely knowledge I will be taking forward to the next shoot.

Our first shoot day! Overall, great success! Filming with our first contributor Hannah at her residence in Bournemouth was great fun, team spirits were high, good story being told from her and all technical gear was working great. Only downside was after following the presenter into the house, we immediately began the conversation between our two characters – not wanting to interrupt the flow of the story, I stuck with the shoulder rig and continued to shoot the conversation. After 15 minutes or so of filming I suddenly felt extremely weary and very lightheaded – simply due to the weight of the camera and the positioning of my arms… continued above!

It’s time to make the merch! With the first filming date coming up in the next few weeks, I felt that it was important for the team to have matching “Crew” t shirts, with the Interfocus logo on the front. Not only does this make us look like a more professional and well-established filming crew, it also adds to the mindset of the team-members. Whether they realise it or not, wearing a uniform like this subconsciously plays a role in my group’s behaviour and professionalism, helping them get into the mindset of working as a professional.

The next job for me was to do some branding for our 2 documentaries. “A Dog’s Life” is a Documentary focusing on the impact of therapy dogs to people’s well-being, and “Happiness: At what cost?” is focusing on the relationship between financial success and happiness. I designed both of these logos on Photoshop, sticking with a minimalist theme. This allows them to look professional, but also be versatile. Being all black, I could easily invert the colours to all white if it were to be placed on a darker background etc. Both logos include graphics that are relevant to the story and tell the audience what the programme is about.

On the day of head-shots unfortunately our editor Rumen was unavailable to come and get his picture taken! When I next managed to snap a picture of Rumen unfortunately the original location was in a building closed for the afternoon, as well no clapper board as the kit-desk was closed! Stepping up to the challenge I found the nearest white wall and got Rumen to pose for the photo anyway. Taking it into Photoshop and masking him out, I managed to super-impose him in front of a nice white wall, with a clapper board in his hand, keeping the head-shots consistent. Before and after photos on the left!

Week 2! Time for head-shots of the team to add to the social media accounts that our project manager Meghan kindly set up for us. Having a professional online presence is extremely important when it comes to crowdfunding money to fund the projects moving forward. For people to take you seriously and spend REAL money, you must look like a REAL production company. I was in charge of taking the head-shots, after buying black t-shirts from Primark and handing them out, borrowing a clapper board from kit-desk (thank you!) and standing in front of a nicely lit wall, we were ready to go. I took all head-shots apart from my own.

The start of grad project! We have just been given our project groups, and I have put myself forward to be the graphic designer for our groups logos. My actual group role within these projects is Cinematographer, however with an interest in Photoshop I wanted the challenge of designing a logo. After trauling the internet for an hour or so I decided on a simplistic black and white design for the logo. Not only was this for it to fit in with other professional production companies but also make it easier if we move forward and make crew t-shirts, making it easier to print in the future.

This week I have been looking at lighting, especially focusing on skin tones and light diffusion. After doing online research I have learnt the advantages of using light diffusion to soften the lighting, and make peoples skin look more flattering on camera. As well as this, adjusting the FS5’s in camera settings to help compliment skin texture and help boost the colours within the video. This is done by slightly reducing the cameras in camera sharpening and contrast.

This week I have been looking at lighting, especially focusing on skin tones and light diffusion. After doing online research I have learnt the advantages of using light diffusion to soften the lighting, and make peoples skin look more flattering on camera. As well as this, adjusting the FS5’s in camera settings to help compliment skin texture and help boost the colours within the video. This is done by slightly reducing the cameras in camera sharpening and contrast.

First hands on experience with the Sony Fs5 was much more successful than I expected! Moving into my 3rd year of Television Production at Bournemouth Uni means we are leaving behind the Pansonic 371s and moving onto a more lightweight and advanced camera setup. Although I have used sony cameras before, it will take a few more sessions with the camera to ensure I know my way around the settings fully.

First hands on experience with the Sony Fs5 was much more successful than I expected! Moving into my 3rd year of Television Production at Bournemouth Uni means we are leaving behind the Pansonic 371s and moving onto a more lightweight and advanced camera setup. Although I have used sony cameras before, it will take a few more sessions with the camera to ensure I know my way around the settings fully.