Note to the Examiner

Dear Examiner,

Since September 2013, I have been constantly working on constructing this blog for my AS Media Studies coursework, which is hopefully evident in the posts below.

My coursework starts at the very bottom of the blog with my Preliminary Task and works in a reverse order as my blog ends with the more recent task which was my Opening Sequence.

This blog is equipped with navigation tools on the right hand side called the 'blog archive' which allows you to easily move through the whole blog and find certain posts. 

For the Opening Sequence task, I have done a draft followed by a final copy.  The difference between the draft and the final is small but is hopefully noticeable. 

I hope you enjoy it all!

                                                                             Roop Arora

Opening Sequence - How I improved the final project from the draft

Between the draft opening sequence and the final opening sequence, I have included a few extra features and aspects including differing camera angles, an extra soundtrack which I made on Logic Pro X and improved synchronised editing between the soundtrack, titles and video.

Opening Sequence - Audience Feedback

Omar (16) --> 'Soundtracks are good, the costumes are really well suited to the characters and a good variety of camera angles throughout.

Camille (16) --> 'Good range of shots and I like how the beat of the music is synced with the footage'

Milo (16) --> 'I like how the music fitted the titles and the costumes are great'

Louis (16) --> 'Great choice of music and is well synchronised with the textual insertion and there are a good variety of camera shots'

Sophia (23) --> 'Really good choice of music and I would watch the the rest of the film it was made

Toby (17) --> 'The unique music was nicely complimented by the well stylised opening sequence which had a good variety of camera shots'

Max (17) --> 'Great variation of shots and a fantastic choice of non-diegetic sound to accompany them'

Anita (39) --> 'I'm not too sure if I enjoyed it or not, I did like the editing and the music though! Well Done!'

Alex (17) --> 'It seems like two opening sequences in one'

I asked a handful of people from my target audience about their opinions of my opening sequence. I was contented with the feedback I received because there is a fine balance between criticism and praise. 

Also, I asked one person aged 39 and they said that did enjoy it but I feel 40 years of age is the limit in terms of target audience as the storyline would be mainly out of their interests.

Here is a collection of the comments I received on YouTube and it seems all positive. This tells me that people enjoyed my opening sequence. The comments have a theme running through them about how the shots, titles and music were synchronised together during the editing process.

I am overall very happy with the feedback I have received across all forms.

Opening Sequence - Directors Commentary for the FINAL

Opening Sequence -- Final Project FINAL

Opening Sequence -- Behind The Scenes

This is the video for my behind the scenes. It comes across that filming was very fun in which it was and I really enjoy it and cannot wait to do another project again. I have included interviews and a commentary from me about the basic plot of my opening sequence. The song I used in the background was the instrumental version to 'Rather Be' by Clean Bandit.

Opening Sequence - Directors Commentary for the DRAFT

Opening Sequence - Final Project DRAFT

This is the draft for my opening sequence as there are aspects of it which I can improve on to make it better.

Opening Sequence - Rushes

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Seven

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Six

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I used a handful of technologies to construct the opening sequence. Firstly, to edit my media product, i used Final Cut Pro X which is Apple's industry standard film editing software. 

A Screenshot of the Final Cut Pro X application whilst I was editing my Opening Sequence.

Secondly, I used Logic Pro X which is used for soundtrack and music production. I used this application to make the soundtrack perfect for the opening sequence. This was to make the soundtrack as smooth and synchronised as possible. 

Logic Pro X

Other than computer software, i used my Macbook Pro to complete and finish the opening sequence. But to film the all important footage, I used a Sony AVC HD camcorder which was very reliable and easy to use.

Sony AVC HD Camcorder.

MacBook Pro 

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Five

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Four

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Three

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question Two

Foundation Production Evaluation - Question One

Opening Sequence - Editing Process

I used Final Cut Pro X for the editing process of my Opening Sequence.

Here is a Screenshot of Final Cut Pro X on my laptop which I used to edit my opening sequence, behind the scenes and other videos for my coursework.

The editing process was a lengthy process because I did a draft and a final. The draft was the favourable template that my opening sequence would follow and the final project is more refined, better edited and includes more camera angles.

The editing process took a long time and a large chunk of my spare time and lesson time in media studies but I feel was well worth the time as I enjoy editing videos.

Opening Sequence - Soundtrack

I CHOSE THIS SONG AS IT HAS A REALLY CATCHY BEAT THAT MAKES SYNCHRONISED EDITING EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE. IT IS ALSO ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SONGS. I USED THE INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF THIS SONG THOUGH TO AVOID ANY UNWANTED BACKGROUND LYRICS.



I CHOSE THIS SONG BECAUSE IT HAS A MEMORABLE RHYTHM WHICH I THOUGHT FIT MY OPENING SEQUENCE WELL. THIS SONG HAD NO LYRICS MEANING IT WAS RECORDED AS AN INSTRUMENTAL. I DO ENJOY THIS SONG A LOT.

THIS IS THE MAKING OF MY OWN PIECE OF MUSIC DONE IN LOGIC PRO X AND IS THE FIRST SOUNDTRACK HEARD IN MY OPENING SEQUENCE. IT COMES IN AS SOON AS THE CHARACTER SWITCHES ON THE LIGHTS. THIS TOOK ME 1 HOUR TO MAKE AND I FEEL IT FEELS THE OPENING SEQUENCE WELL. 

Opening Sequence - Shooting Script

Libertine Shooting Script

Opening Sequence - Construction

THE MAKING OF MY OPENING SEQUENCE

Things that went wrong during the filming process

The fact that all of the other characters other than myself are in my media studies class, it becomes difficult to gather everyone together on a specific date making the filming process harder because they were also busy on their coursework. This may have been due to poor communication and organisation skills on my part.

Due to this, I could not get all of the actors together at any point causing me to have to film individual parts and edit them in hence why my opening sequence does not feature all of the characters together in any shot which makes everything tougher.

I had to do a lot of filming on different days, the weather plays a massive part as it affects continuity because sometimes it may be dark and sometimes it may be lighter. I tried to make this less obvious to the viewing audience through shooting mostly during the day as opposed to night time. 

This camera angle was shot during the day on a cold, cloudy day.

This was filmed at around sunset on a sunny day. 

The Editing Process

I used Final Cut Pro X throughout the editing process. This editing software made by 'Apple' let me to edit my opening sequence with very close detail.

I felt that focusing on continuity and synchronising the non-diegetic sound and the textual insert was most important and using both 'Logic Pro X' and 'Final Cut Pro X' was the best way to do this.  

Costume

For the majority of the opening sequence, all of the characters are wearing suits and sunglasses as they get dressed and leave their respective residences for a night out together. The opening sequence begins when one of the characters wake up in the morning in a joyous mood wearing nightwear and text messages a fellow character if  'tonight is on'.