Evaluation

Evaluation

For this assignment I had to produce and create a 30 second video to promote Gateshead College for to help future students with choosing the right college to attend. I had to start by generating different ideas of how I could promote the college followed by different pre production task before making my video.

Pre production

Before starting my Pre production work I had to think of an idea to pitch to my other classmates. I came up with the idea of showing basic shots from around the college of the different departments and conduct 2 – 3 interviews with different students to find out what they think of the college. I came up with this idea because I have never used a camera or made a video before so I thought it would be pretty basic but at the same time meet the brief to make a promotional video.

The target audience for my video was mainly 16-18 year olds as this is the main age range in the college but not disclosing mature students either.  I wanted to focus mainly on the media and arts department as that is where I’m most familiar with in the college. I wanted to show a recording studio with equipment in, the art department and examples of students work and the library facilities along with some shots of the ‘inspirational quotes’ around the college. I wanted to include some students talking about their experience at Gateshead College and what they enjoyed about it – at this point I was unsure whether I would include them visually in my video or just have them as a voice over behind the shots. I pitched this as my initial idea to the class and with the feedback I received I decided to go ahead and turn it into my final video.

Before starting to film I had to undertake a number of pre production sheets such as talent release forms for anyone who would feature in my video – this is so you have written permission that you can use them in a video that may be shown to people. I had to do a risk assessment sheet for the college in case of any accidents and so that myself and anyone else around was aware of any possible dangers and how they are avoidable.  I then created a cast and crew list so I knew where everyone was who I needed to be involved and made sure I had contact number to get a hold of them when needed. I also made an equipment list so I was aware that when it came to filming I knew exactly what I wanted and where I could find it and that it was available at the times needed.

After I completed all my pre production sheets I drew up some story boards to help me with the exact order, a guide and where I wanted all my shots to take place. I roughly drew each frame with what I wanted to happen, it took place over 8 small drawings I also wrote a short discription of what the shot would entail and the duration of it. Then I needed to make myself more familiar with a camera as I have had very little practise in the past. To do this I took different shots around the college such as long and short shot and tilt shots. This gave me a feel of the camera and used to the different buttons and how I need to check the focus before every shot as well as learning different shot types. I found this useful when it came to shooting my video because I was more prepared and knew exactly what the set up would have to be before each clip.

I then began the filming process I started off by filming different areas of the art department, the hall leading to it where all the paintings or on the walls then I filmed parts of the library and the sign outside which has a quote on I used the zoom in and out for this shot. I also filmed down stairs in the recording studio and showed a student using the equipment such as the drums and keyboard. I had a quick clip of the inside of the college for just a feel of what it looked like. I then interviewed four students all studying different things I asked them to respond to my questions as if I had not asked them, my questions were:

What’s your name and what do you study?

Why did you choose Gateshead College?

Do you enjoy your course and why?

Are the facilities good for you chosen subject?

What do you hope to go and do after college?

For each student I had them fill out a talent release form. Although I filmed four students in my final video I decided to use only two as the sound quality was poor and the voices I chose fit into my video better.

After filming and making sure I had enough shots to edit me then had to video capture the footage before editing. I found this a bit of a hassle as I had to find each clip and go through all the video before finding mine - this I something that could have been much easier if id kept it all on the same tape all together. I then edited my shots together to make my final video where I decided to keep my interviews in visually as well as the voices. I chose the audio track Happy by Pharrel Williams as the backing track as I think it’s an uplifting happy song to link to the video.

I enjoyed this assignment as id never really done anything in video before and I liked playing with the camera and getting different footage from around the college. I found my skills were very basic and could definitely be improved with practise! When editing I found that my sound levels on the interview were all over the place and very quiet, in my final video it’s hard to make out what the students are saying which is the biggest down fall of the final piece. I think I showed a range of shots in my video and good transitions from one to another but could have improved them with a steadier hand. I found the editing process quiet long but that was because I got a lot more footage then needed but only some of it was useable. I think overall it was a good first basic video for me and was edited quiet well together with music and writing at the beginning and end but next time I will focus on being more precise with my shots and angles and make sure I use the right sound equipment needed.

I also handed out feedback sheets to my class mates for them to fill out after watching my video, the questions were as follows:

Does the video show what is asked in the brief?

Are there enough aspects of the college shown?

What could be improved?

Do you think the music fits?

Any other comments?

From the feedback I got was that there was a good range of shots from around the college and the student interviews were a good idea and that it matched the brief given. They all found that the sound levels should have been better and that some shots could be improved by a steadier hand and more focus. They found that the music was a good fit and that the transitions between the shots were also good.

Throughout this I developed skills such as how to use a camera and how to take lots of different basic shots as well as learning to do the white balance before starting and recording. I learned how to capture the footage to transfer from the camera to my computer and how to use final cut to edit my final video together.