Assessment 2 - Editing

I am editing my film using Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, I am using this as I know my way around Adobe software and also other Adobe projects such as Photoshop can work in sync with each other. I first started by uploading my recorded work by connecting the JVC camcorder to my laptop, after doing this I selected "File", "Import" and then selected my video camera. I then found the start of my recordings and selected recored on Premiere.
I then used the "cut" tool shown selected to the right, to cut up the time frame and each frame so I can move and select the best shots. After doing this I found the clip with the best focus I moved them to the start of the time line and deleted the unwanted shots by right clicking on them and selecting delete.

I found that the first clip of the Christmas tree was too long and I needed to speed it up so that it could fit in with the ten seconds I have for my film. To do this I right clicked on the clip and selected "Speed/Duration" and then changed the speed from 100% to 150% as shown to the right.
After shortening the clip, I then made the written text on Photoshop and imported it into Premiere. I then shorten them to fit the time scale and placed them next to the video clips.
The clips once played did not run through smoothly so to solve this problem I added in a "Cross Dissolve". I added this by selecting it in the left hand box under effects, video transitions and then cross dissolve. I dragged the dissolve and dropped it over lapping the clips to make a continuous flowing film. as shown below:








I next added a Lens Flare over the video of the Christmas tree to give it a magical, sparkley effect. I did this the same way as I added the Cross Dissolve, but I dragged it over the whole clip and dropped it on top. I then moved the where I wanted the lens flare to be by selecting the lens flare tab and moving it by dragging the flare on my video as shown below:

I next added my music, to go with the theme of Christmas I decided to use a Christmas song. The song I choose was Sleigh Ride, I didn't want the introduction so I selected the well known singing in the song. I cut the song down by placing the song in the audio section of the time line. I then used the cut tool to the cut down the time I want and where I wanted the song to start. I deleted the unwanted music and moved the new edited music into place. I then needed the track to skip, to get this I found a song with a DJ scratching, and edited out the unwanted music. I copied and pasted scratching sound to get a skipping effect.

Assessment 2 - Filming

I used a JVC Mini DV Digital Video Camera to film my ten second assignment. I found this camera easy to use and navigate my way around filming and reviewing my work.
I started by filming the Christmas tree, starting at the top moving downwards towards the presents under the tree. I had a problem of lack of focus so I tried filming again and again to get the best possible quality. I found after reviewing my work on the camera that I still was out of focus a little. To deal with this I thought I could try a Wide Angle lens, I could get the whole tree in while standing closer to gain a better focus.
I next filmed the present of the socks being opened, for this I used my friend as the actress. I filmed her hands as they opened the present and as she drops it, moves down towards the floor.
I didn't have many problems while filming apart from the focus problem but I can edit my clips to my advantage using an archive effect.

10 Second Film - Assignment Two

For our second assignment I was asked to produce a 10 second video on my own demonstrating camera, and the use of Adobe Premiere. I have chosen to edit my film using Adobe Premiere because I know my way around Adobe software well and have used Premiere in the past. This will help with ease the post-production of my 10 second film.

Ideas::

My first idea was to make a cowboy shoot-out using our fingers as guns, this would be done with a number of camera techniques and angles such as shots from under the arms and close-up of the eyes.
I decided against this idea because of having to do it outside, the weather was cold, wet and dull meaning that the quality of the shoots would be poor. I also thought the amount of time I had would not be enough for all the shots I wanted. Also there was no real reasoning behind the cowboy theme.

My second idea was the idea I chose. This was to have a Christmas theme, and more of a meaning behind it. My idea was to have my Christmas tree lit up with presents under it, then a caption comes up saying "Christmas as a Child is Great" then it shoots to somebody opening a gift witch turns out to be socks, a new caption flashes up saying "Now It's $h%#".
I chose this idea because I thought it had more to it then some random cowboy film, also would maybe be funny to some people which is one of the things I want my film to do, to entertain in the short space of time I have.