TECHNICAL RESEARCH

PHOTOGRAPHY• For my media production I will have to take original photographs for my

ancillary tasks, to prepare me for this, and to ensure my photos are of a high standard, I did some research into the technical skills of photography.

Keep it simple, often the best photos used in media ancillary products such as magazines and film posters are simple and create the most powerful impact.

Rule of thirds, divide the image into thirds both vertically and horizontally and then place objects in different sections of the screen. This makes it look more dynamic and can be used to add tension between an object and an empty space.

Balancing elements, if you have more than one object in the photograph consider placing one of them at a different distances to place more emphasis on important objects.

Symmetry and patterns, using a symmetrical pattern creates a consistent theme throughout the image, making it more eye-catching for an audience.

Viewpoint, consider using different viewpoints and shot types on the main image e.g. close-ups, high-angle and low angle to make the image look more exciting.

Focus, you can use sharp focus to make the more important images stand out and use soft focus on the background to make it stand out further.

PHOTOEDITING• I have to incorporate my own original images for my ancillary

pieces and some of these images will need to be edited. So that these images are edited appropriately I investigated some of the technical aspects of photo editing software e.g. Photoshop and Fireworks.

General editing, general editing techniques consist of sharpening the image, altering the focus and amplifying the colours to make the image stand out more.

Colour, also I could use the editing tools within the photo editing package to change the mood and atmosphere of the ancillary, for example I’m doing a horror film trailer and could use the dark and greyscale effects to emphasise the apprehension.

FILMING SKILLS• Arguably the most important part of my media

production is going to be filming the shots that will be edited together to create the film trailer. In preparation for this I researched some of the technical elements of filming.

Framing, the camera operator needs to frame shots accordingly and capture all that is required in the shot. This could include emphasising the power and authority held by one character or the emotional state of another character, it’s important that an appropriate shot type is used.

Steady filming, the camera operator should also use a tripod to ensure a steady shot is consistently used whilst also making sure the shots taken look familiar.

EDITING• I will be editing the shots I have taken from the filming together to

create a sequence for my film trailer. I will be using video editing software such as iMovie and Final Cut Pro to edit my production and decided to do some research into the technical aspects of editing.

Ensure continuity, this can be done by using the colour matching tool in Final Cut Pro, ensuring that the lighting and the colour is consistent throughout the editing.

Transitions, transitions can also be used during the cuts between shots to make the piece look more professional and entertaining to watch

Balance of sound, make sure the balance between the diegetic sound of the clips can be audible over the non-diegetic sound of the typically scary and apprehensive music. However, the music must also be the dominant sound in the film to create the unease theme of a horror film.