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

Technologies/hardware/software used during the process of constructing our opening sequence:
Production: Camera, tripod, microphone, headphones, light

Post Production: Computer Software: Adobe Premiere, Live Type, Adobe After Effects

What have I learnt during the process of making our opening sequence?

-Already knowing the basic of how to work the camera tripod, microphone and headphones from our prelim; I however learnt how to use manual settings on the camera. I used this especially when trying to get a focus pull. We used this often, such as the man drinking, putting it on the table and sitting back. This was very effective as we don’t see him until this but yet it’s still a blur to still keep the element of mystery.  

- I know how to use the basic tools and gadgets on Adobe Premiere. I learnt new things such as tools used for colour grading (the Three Way Colour Corrector and ProcAmp) this really helped to bring a better atmosphere that was needed. We used many different tools and gadget such as slowing the shot and others which we learnt from our technician or YouTube. 

The software: Adobe Premiere Pro



This is theThree Way Colour Corrector tool.



This is the ProcAmp, that controls the lighting

Example: Here is the original footage

Here when we used ProcAmp, making it darker.

Here is when using Three way colour corrector, we added a blue tint.

Here is a half screen shots of our original on the left and edited on our right. 

- I also learnt how to use the software Live Type on the Mac and add all the effects, and we used this to make the titles of our opening sequence. We had difficulty in choosing the right font and effects to get the perfect look as there was so much on it. All our titles were made on live type which was very useful and easy. 

- I especially learnt how to use Adobe after Effects, as I played around with it to make an effective title which was brilliant, however we felt it didn’t suite our film (it was to oriental). We especially used it for special effects of the gun shot which we learnt from looking at YouTube clips and help from our technician. We learnt the process, found it a bit difficult but the end product was beautiful. This helped the film suspend the audience disbelief and it added action and thrill. 

This is the title lotus with out the extensions

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lotus with extensions at a different time frame

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Picture with out special effect on the left with only make up effects, on the right original image with blood splatter





From what I’ve learnt, what would I do differently in hindsight?

- If we had had time or could have done anything differently I would have a re-shoot of some of our shots which looked grainy. We solved this by grading it and changing colours but it was still noticeable in my eyes, not the audience.

- Be organised with props, as our rough shot had many items missing. The fact that we had a rehearsal shoot made it much better, as we could see all the missing objects and see what worked and didn’t. 

-We had a lot of problem with our titles.  We spent a lot of times on them towards the end. Maybe next time we would find the right title first or at the same time as the music. 

- In the research of conventions of movie we forgot to add in a specific location however we could pass ignore it as the opening sequence would be longer than 2 minuets as the titles do go on and the next scene could have a clear location.