Improvements and How we would achieve it

Improvements and How we would achieve it

A weakness that was mentioned was the volume level as some areas such as the sound effects were considered to be louder than other areas, which ruined its fluency. A mentioned improvement was that we would make sure to check our short film properly before finalising. We would achieve this by establishing from the start areas as key dates. Establishing them as a key date would give them automatic importance which would ensure that we cover these areas eventually. We would need to find a date where we would have enough time for covering these activities. Another improvement that was not originally mentioned was to have a default volume setting for all clips and audios. Whenever we would implement new audios or clips we would make sure to manually compare them to previously implemented to see if they need to be tweaked to be made louder or quieter. We would also mention it as a question for the draft audience feedback viewers, specifically asking if the audio levels were to the right amount and were fluent. If they find a problem with it, this will still give us enough time to make sure it is right for the final edit. This would further ensure whether we have edited our audio levels to a good standard.

Another weakness that was mentioned was that the scenes specifically where the character was running away, looked staged or unrealistic to the audience feedback viewers. A mentioned improvement would be to have a reshoot, however since it could be considered difficult as the locations are very busy. Another improvement would be to have more personnel/actors included for our short film, this way we'd be able to find those with more prior experience and talent. A way in which we would achieve this is to send messages out both physically and digitally that a role for filming is needed. We could spread the messages through our friends and social media, which would spread very quickly and eventually we could potentially gain a few volunteering personnel. If this plan backfires and we did not receive any volunteers, we could also spread the word to our friends or family relatives seeing if they are able to fill out a role in the production of our film.

Another weakness that was mentioned was that the camera shots were too shaky and a bit blurry. This is considered as a weakness as it may cause negative opinions by the audience. An improvement that was mentioned was that we would make sure to properely look at the camera settings before use, we would also film more than one attempt for most shots, to potentially get the best shot we could. A way we could achieve this is through research, we would research into what camera settings would be considered suitable for filming. As we have done research now we have learnt that auto focus was a feature that we did not take advantage of when filming, which could have given us a massive advantage in terms of the quality. Having more than one attempt for a shot would mean that we would be making more shots in total, we would mentally prep our personnel and filming crew to make sure that they are ready for filming and reshooting scenes. A way we would make sure that the shots do not shake as much in the future, is using tripods. Tripods can be applied on to cameras to help keep stability, this would instantly make the quality better as our should would not shake as much anymore. A reason why we did not consider using tripods is for mobile purpose, since some of the locations are far and needs to be travelled to. This meant that we could note carry tripod as we physically did not have any equipment to carry the tripod. In the future we will make sure to keep expense to make sure that we buy equipment such as tripod bags and camera bags, this will helped as be prepared better for travelling and taking shots in other locations.

Evaluation of feedback

One of the points that one of the members of the audience mentioned that they liked is that one of the transitions specifically explaining that it was very smooth. This was the scene where the masked character snaps their finger and the sound effect matches and links well with it.   The next audience member explained that he liked the whole narrative since it was unique and does not fully follow the general conventions of a normal thriller film. Thriller is the genre that we are aiming for with our product. These can both be considered as strengths within our short film, as this means the transitions were perfected and ready. The other point that can be considered as a strength is that we have shown uniqueness in the short film product which could build interest in potential audiences. 

One of the audience members strongly agreed that the short film overall acted out very fluently in terms of visuals and fx. The other audience member explained that because of some of the camera shakiness, it made it a bit less fluent although in terms of fx and transitions everything was seen to them as of good standard. We agree with this, seeing that and making sure our films fx and transitions were not random or making the rest of the scenes awkward. The first point that was made we considered as a strength, this meant that the visual fx were implemented and presented at a good standard, this would appeal better to the audience which would push them to give better opinions on our short film. It would also overall affect their experience with our film. The other point that was made mentioned that the fx was good however due to some of the visuals being shaky or having blur, this made it less fluent. This means that some of the shots that we took were not clear, and when shown to the audience it could create a negative opinion by the audience.

Another point was made by one of the members of the feedback audience. He explained that the timing was right having the total time around 5 minutes which fitted an aspect of what a short film normally is. He also explained that the narrative relates to a student which is something he himself can relate more to as normally one short film's convention is that they are more relatable or realistic to the audience, or based on real life when compared to normal films. We agree with this as we did intend to make the timing right as originally the total time of the short film was around 10 minutes. This point made it clear to us that we have met a convention of the short film being its duration, which is a positive aspect. This is positive as this means when real audiences view our product they will be given a film that accurately applies to its type of film. 

One audience member explained that some of the shots were blurry in the city, which made it unclear of what was happening. They said a possible improvement would be to either find a new location to reshoot those shots or go back to those locations to reshoot those shots. Another issue was that some of the shots were shaking too much, and they suggested that a possible improvement to this would be to have training provided or use a tripod that would give stable movement when holding the camera. Looking at these points it was clear that the feedback was accurate, as some of the shots were blurry, as well as others having being shaken too much. This is a clear drawback to our short film as these 2 aspects make our short film's scene less appealing to the audience. This would reduce interest as well as professionality and quality. 

Other than these few weaknesses and improvements, they considered everything else to be easy to follow along and interesting.

Focus group feedback analysis video and tables

Focus Group Feedback Analysis Video

This is the Focus group video that we created after the focus group video. Here we explained what we gathered from the feedback reviewers when they watched out film.

	Areas for development	How the development would have improved your short film
Individual	An area which I could develop in is my acting skills. This is because I have never done acting before. This means that some of the acting skills weren’t on point. I feel like some of scenes looked fake for example ‘running through the tunnel’ this is because it looked like I wasn’t running as if I need to catch him. I feel like some of the shots were blurry which meant that I should have corrected it there on scene, this is because it will be hard for us to go back to them places as there too far away.	It could improved my short film as if I retook the shots it would have looked much more realistic, and not fake. If the shots and scenes looked more realistic it would create more tension in the film. This means that the scenes would be much more enjoyable for the audience as they would want it to be like a proper film with good acting skills. The main character should have thought to them self as they were in the actual shoes of that person.
Group	-As group one improvement that could be made is to have more members included. -Another improvement that could be made is to consider including more than a few shots for each scene. -Another improvement is to have prior training done to the group	This would make the production process a lot more easier as we have more members to complete each task at a time. This could improve the short film as it will give us more time in our schedule to view other areas that may need to be covered in our short film. - -Having more than 1 or 2 shots made on a scene could create the opportunity of us finding a better way to take the shot or to possibly finding a better shot than the current shots we have taken, this would improve our film in terms the quality. - -Having prior training done to the group would prep them for the real production aspect of our project, this could mean that our shots could be made better, acting which would instantly boost the quality of our film.

Focus Group Video

Post production notes

Post Production Notes

After we finished collecting all the footage, we began importing all the footage onto our Macs on final cut pro. The route we used to store and transfer all the footage is through using an SD card which we recorded and saved all our footages on the camera.

Final cut pro is the software that we intend to use for editing all the footages and making our rushes video, draft and final edit.

After transferring all the footage, we began making our first project which is a rushes log. The rushes log contains all the unedited footage including the blooper scenes. Most of the scenes will not be in order in this step, it is just The purpose of making the rushes log is to help us decide what scenes would needed as well what scenes would not be needed. This would help as build a foundation to our short film which we can continue to build on later during our draft and final edit. The draft is the first version of the film, I will contain the footages in order with most of the bloopers or unneeded footage removed. It could contain some sound effects and transitions however these aspects have not been fully focused on yet as this is only a draft. The draft can be used to gain audience feedback, this would help later in editing as the audience feedback can help create new opportunities that could be made, that could not be made if we did not receive that feedback. From the audience perspective they'd be able to point out things that may stand out to actual audiences which means their opinions could be considered as value to the editing production as it gives accuracy on key areas that would possibly need to be focussed on.

Focus Group Feedback Analysis Task allocation

Focus group questions

Focus Group Question

What do you like about the film?

Does our film follow or have similarities with the conventions of short films?

Were the transitions and visual fx fluent?

Did the sound effects fit with what was happening visually?

Was the short film storyline easy to follow along?

Were there any scenes that you did not like or was not clear?

Were the locations used fitting to the storyline?

Is there any improvements that could be made?