Journal & Feedback | Unit 13 Fmp

Week 1 (27th January – 2nd February):

28th January:

Was given assignment brief, proposal, and pitch template document. Began thinking of ideas. Began proposal.

30th January:

Completed proposal. Began pitch and completed half of it.

31st January:

Completed the information of pitch completed, and design complete.

WEEK 1 REVIEW:

What I did and mini review -

This week, I was introduced to the pitch and proposal and got through it very quickly and at a fast pace. I speculated and gathered ideas and concepts that I have a strong interest in that I could incorporate within my work to ensure that before production and post-production, it stands out due to its USP.

How I overcame any issues or challenges –

One challenge that I faced was choosing a topic for my short film project – To do this, I looked in my virtual diary (on my phone) to look at my list of topics that I have an interest in, I also looked at books (mainly non-fiction) that I enjoyed the most, songs that have themes with a particular message, and atmospheric/cinematic photographs for inspiration.

List of known issues or challenges for next week -

Delving further into topic
Deciding exact themes and materials (research, planning) necessary

List of potential issues that could arise for next week -

Delivering project with confidence
Elaborating in-depth on complex ideas

Week 2 (3rd-9th February):

4th February:

Completed working on pitch, inserted all notes. Began working on project website. Read over grading matrix, pitch guidance and help. Received constructive feedback from my tutor, Colm, on my pitch (pre-delivery):

5th February:

I updated my final major project website and added the pitch document. I delivered my pitch to Nik, and he said that it was excellent – 24 minutes of recorded discussion. Began research document – Researched books for subject matter research and looked at inspirations.

6th February:

Began character writing. Continued research. Began mood board. Researched inspirations. Made a survey for target audience.

WEEK 2 REVIEW:

What I did and mini review -

This week I did many different things and multitasked a lot. I had submitted my pitch and proposal (the first hand-in assignment deadline!), received positive feedback from two tutors, I had delivered my pitch and it was recorded for around 24 minutes, I began the research for my project which allowed me to begin character writing, I had began a mood board, and I finally created a survey for my target audience at SERC (peers and tutors).

How I overcame any issues or challenges –

This week, my main challenge was to stay on track and working at one thing at a time. Despite beginning different documents this week (like mood board, character writing, and research), they were those that were complementary to each other and worked best if done at the same time. I overcame my challenge of staying at track by looking at my proposed deadline timetable, and I tried to work at an even faster pace than I had initially planned.

List of known issues or challenges for next week –

Staying on track of work and deadlines
Multitasking

List of potential issues that could arise for next week –

Working at a pace that won’t lower quality of work
Collecting topic research, and analysing

Week 3 (17th-23rd February):

18th February:

I read pages from Phenomenology by Chad Engelland and analysed them. I used the ones that resonated the most with my project concept and wrote an essay.

19th February:

I read pages from The Ego & The Id by Sigmund Freud and Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant and analysed them. I used the ones that resonated the most with my project concept and wrote an essay. I had begun the second draft of my script and had begun a mood board.

20th February:

I had continued working on the second draft of my script. Continued working on mood board.

21st February:

I had finished the second draft of my script, in which I had decided to make it the final script version. I designed my website with animations, links, and pictures.

WEEK 3 REVIEW:

What I did and mini review -

This week, I had looked over and read my annotated notes in three books: Phenomenology by Chad Engelland, The Ego & The Id by Sigmund Freud, and Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant. I decided to analyse the information within the topic of these books and wrote essays explaining my understanding and how the topics will be applicable towards the production of my work. I had begun a mood board alongside my script that I had finished that week. As well as this, I had designed the majority of my website including the home page, pitch & proposal page, pitch subpage, and proposal subpage.

How I overcame any issues or challenges –

My main challenge this week was being able to focus and pay attention to what can be applied to my own work within contextual media (books) and using their relevancy within my script to display an important message. To do this, I closely looked through the description and context within these books and allowed myself to further adapt these ideas within my own unique understanding and synthesis.

List of known issues or challenges for next week –

Application of contextual research
Multitasking
Communicating to an audience (keeping them in mind)

List of potential issues that could arise for next week –

Accurately creating a mood board that portrays the content within my script
Thinking about dates and locations and risks that can coincide with them
Beginning similar products research (as I have only been doing target audience and topic research)
Successfully completing target audience primary research

Week 4 (24th February - 2nd March):

25th February:

Our class sat in the Centre Hall to listener to speakers discussing media related businesses and entrepreneurship. (GoSucceed)

27th February:

I went into Belfast (23 Donegall Street) for production office work experience with Northern Visions, with guest speaker Leon Fee.

28th February:

I had begun my storyboard and had completed up to shot 16.

1st March:

I had continued my storyboard up to shot 25 and attended Ulster University open day for screen production at 1.00pm.

WEEK 4 REVIEW:

What I did and mini review –

This week, I was very productive, and had learned a lot more that contributed to my research (audience, skills and techniques) that will overall contribute towards the development of my project. I went to three different places that involved speakers, this could also be considered as primary and qualitative research; GoSucceed’s talk on succeeding in businesses and freelance at the SERC Centre Hall, Northern Visions work experience at 23 Donegall Street, Belfast, focused on training and understand qualities in CVs and interviews that appeal to the production office in the screen production industry, and lastly, Ulster University open day in the BA Birley building Floor 5 that explained the contents and qualities of their offered course. Pre-production-wise, this week I had also began my storyboard, and drew a total of 25 shots.

How I overcame any issues or challenges –

This week, I found difficulty trying to work on my pre-production for my project, as I had three events to attend to. Despite having to gather and think deeply about various sources of new knowledge, I was able to find time for myself to work on my storyboard at home, in which I had zero distractions. Ensuring to work and produce material with eliminated distractions (a quiet, peaceful place) is what allowed me to work to a high standard, and great pace.

List of known issues or challenges for next week –

Attending events/conferences/talks and balancing that with my own work
Collecting/writing a sufficient amount of detail from events that are applicable towards the research of my project

List of potential issues that could arise for next week –

Completing storyboard, and ensuring it’s of a high-quality standard
Anticipating and forward planning the production stage of my project to location scout, create a risk assessment, contingency plan, recce, and casting call.

Week 5 (3rd - 9th March):

3rd March:

Worked on storyboard up to shot 34.

4th March:

Worked on storyboard up to shot 41 and attended NIScreens talk at SERC.

5th March:

Attended Ulster University’s BBC interview at the Belfast campus with classmates and Nik.

6th March:

Was sick and stayed at home but worked on storyboard up to shot 54.

7th March:

For similar products research, I did film analysis research on 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) by Stanley Kubrick, including both quantitative and qualitative data. I had also worked on my storyboard up to shot 60.

8th March:

For similar products research, I did film analysis research on Chinatown (1974) by Roman Polanski, including both quantitative and qualitative data. I had also finalised/completed my storyboard, with a grand total of 73 shots.

9th March:

Made a risk assessment and contingency plan. I began the shot list for my project’s production. I uploaded my finalised storyboard to the pre-production document. Received production location grant from owner that signed the release form.

WEEK 5 REVIEW:

What I did and mini review –

This week, I had further stepped forth into production by completing my storyboard, contingency plan, production location grant, and risk assessment, and also worked on a shot list, whilst simultaneously researching both primary and secondary data. Primary research being the attendance at BBC’s OffShootTV Ulster University interview and NIScreens talk at Bangor SERC Campus, and secondary research being film analysis.

How I overcame any issues or challenges –

This week, it was difficult to maintain a steady flow and focus of work as I was sick for one college day, and for another day, our class went to Ulster University’s Belfast campus to attend the interview. By going in between research and working on pre-production material, it made focus and understanding of when completion of certain materials will be thorough, and what’s next to work on. However, through these challenges, I managed to work continuously and steadily – I had written down briefly on my phone as to goals/materials that I aim to work on next and complete, which ultimately allowed me to be driven and focused on gathering as much material as possible, to a high standard, and at a pace that I’m comfortable with.

List of known issues or challenges for next week –

Balancing workload of different production stages
Completing shot list, which requires steady focus and a lot of time/energy
Completing deadlines with minimal stress, but also with work produced to a high-quality standard

List of potential issues that could arise for next week –

Work fulfilling distinction standards whilst also meeting deadlines
Writing information in different production stages documents to provide context, purpose, focus, and aim
Considering dates and times for production, cast/crew members, and more locations

Week 6 (10th - 16th March):

11th March:

Unexpectedly found out that the deadline for the first draft of the research part of the project is due today. In research document, wrote about Ulster University’s Screen Production open day on the 1st of March (audience research) and the GoSucceed presentation at SERC Bangor campus on February 25th of February. I wrote a research introduction including context, the grading matrix that I will be referencing in my research, ambitions, purpose, and research methods list. I made a bibliography for my research. I watched David Lynch’s advice on scripts for skills/techniques research. I watched a YouTube guide on mistakes commonly made whilst storyboarding.

12th March:

Continued working on the shot list, and it’s almost complete.

13th March:

Completed shot list. Worked on project treatment.

14th March:

Made a shot schedule and production schedule. Almost finished Project Treatment, only need to insert short film length after I create a predicted running order list (will do this on 15th or 16th). I made a costume list and drew a costume design plan.

15th March:

I made a prop/equipment list, production notes, and audio/SFX list. I had continued working on my Mood board and completed production set design plan drawings.

16th March:

I had finished my mood board, created a predicted running order list, finished my project treatment, made a recce, printed release forms, and had completely updated my pre-production document, and submitted the first draft alongside other materials for the assignment deadline.

WEEK 6 REVIEW:

What I did and mini review –

This week, I had impressed myself by dedicating a lot of my time and energy to focus and work on pre-production material. I had worked on and completed my shot list (which required the most amount of time and energy), shot schedule, production schedule, project treatment, predicted running order list, costume list, costume design plan, prop/equipment list, production notes, audio/SFX list, mood board, production set design plan, recce, and I had printed release forms in advance. The reason as to why I strongly considered completing a lot of pre-production material is because on Tuesday 11th March, I was unaware that the deadline for the first draft of research material was that day, so I completed as much of it as possible – After it’s completion, I had found out that the deadline for the first draft of pre-production material was due on Monday 17th March, in which I intended to submit it for Sunday 16th March. I spent as much time on it as possible, including right before bed, at work, and on the bus.

How I overcame any issues or challenges –

This week I had faced two major unexpected challenges, both involving deadlines. The first draft deadline for research and pre-production was required for Tuesday 11th and Monday 17th, but to reach and fulfil these deadlines, I had to complete as much possible for these first drafts this week. This was very time-consuming, and there was no way to speed up the process as it involved getting as much done possible before the deadline. During this timeframe, I got a very large quantity of material complete (around 50 slides for each document).

List of known issues or challenges for next week –

Tidying up on context and descriptions within production stages documents
Casting calls

List of potential issues that could arise for next week –

Deadlines
Confirming production schedule
Returning to prioritising relevant research once complete (or almost) pre-production

Week 7 (17th - 24th March):

18th March:

I had began working on my brief song list, and used the shot list, predicted running order list, and storyboard as a reference.

19th March:

I had finished my brief song list. I had asked Nik who to get in contact with in order to book out the Central Hall for production. He gave me his email, so I gave a quick email to him.

Nik and I had reviewed my progress to date in the audio studio – In which he said that he was pleased with my work, especially pre-production and my project treatment. I had written descriptions alongside my first drafted script, finalised script, and storyboard in my pre-production document to explain my intent, focus, context, purpose, and aim. I used Pinterest to source reference photographs for my set design reference photo collection in my pre-production document. I had made a casting call poster for The Priest.

20th March:

Nik had informed me that for the second day of my shooting, the studio at SERC may be more suitable as it can provide me with the same shot type that I’m looking for. Because of this, I had to adjust my Casting Call Poster to no longer say ‘Central Hall’ as the location.

21st March:

I had booked out equipment including Zoom microphone, canon camera, and tripod to take out of Thursday 27th of March and return on Tuesday 1st April. I had emailed a performing arts teacher named Jenny Curtis for an enquiry about a casting call for my project, and if any of her students would be interested in playing the role of the Priest.

I had analysed the results from my target audience survey that was sent to peers and tutors at SERC, and I had completing writing the context of my application of these researching findings/data to my project. I had also done some audience research on Filmfreeway, Galway Film Fleadh, Disappear Here Film Festival, and Cinemagic Young Filmmaker Festival.

WEEK 7 REVIEW:

What I did and mini review –

During week 7, I had further tidied up on my planning/pre-production, despite already handing in the first draft. Being able to include a plenitude of vast detail and knowledge within the materials that composed my pre-production/planning ultimately allowed me to both have a great sense of confidence with the security of my project, but also that I understand entirely what needs to be done, completed, and produced in order to create my project to a high standard. I had finished my brief song list, reviewed my work, provided further context in my pre-production document, created a set design reference plan, a casting call poster, booked equipment out for the weekend (zoom microphone, canon camera, and tripod), analysed my survey results, and researched film festivals on film freeway.

How I overcame any issues or challenges –

This week, I had struggled to foresee casting an actor for the role of the Priest – To overcome this, I asked my tutor for contact details of who I should send my casting call to receive replies from performing arts students. I created my casting call poster and styled it to best replicate the atmosphere/theme/mood of Spiraling Winding Night. My documents for research and pre-production felt very empty and didn’t entail much information/description, so, to overcome this obstacle, I focus heavily on writing on the majority of slides with images with context, goal, and application.

List of known issues or challenges for next week –

Weather during exterior SFX/Audio recording production
Continuing and tidying up on production documents before deadlines/needing to move on to next stage

List of potential issues that could arise for next week –

Receiving responses from casting call
Booking out studio for shots of Priest
Confirming all cast/crew members and creating a group chat to inform them of a plan

Week 8 (24th - 30th March):

25th March:

I had researched films that I included in my similar products area, in which I had analysed and researched Chinatown (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), Se7en (1995), and Sunset Boulevard (1950). For each, I analysed their features, similarities, reviews, and market trend inputs.

26th March:

I had researched films that I included in my similar products area, in which I had analysed and researched It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), North by Northwest (1959), and The Third Man (1949) – Aswell as this, I had researched the TV show Twin Peaks (1989). There has been some complications with my casting call posters, as students couldn’t open it. I sorted out this issue with Nik, who also advised me to add contact details to the poster, and he managed to send them off to the students. However, he warned me that due to the age-range that I am looking for the role of the Priest, I have a lower chance of success. So, I will also look on online groups to find somebody for the role.

I wrote about my visit to Northern Visions media work experience in Belfast, as well as my attendance at the NIScreen presentation at SERC, Bangor campus.

28th March:

I wrote about my visit to OffShoot TV’s Q&A interview at Ulster University’s Belfast campus. I had also recorded interior and exterior audio. – THIS WAS MY FIRST DAY OF PRODUCTION.

WEEK 8 REVIEW:

What I did and mini review –

This week, I had finished all similar products research for feature-length films and TV shows. I began a bibliography, and it ended up being longer than the slide, meaning, next week, I will have to fix the bibliography to just two or even three slides. I suffered complications with the accessibility of my casting call poster, in which students couldn’t see it. I had to make a few changes in terms of the context in the poster as well, to provide further information to potential cast members. I further added written context to my research document, in which I discussed my primary data gathered from Northern Visions work experience in Belfast, and OffShoot TV’s Q&A interview at Ulster University Belfast campus. I had begun my first day of production, by recording audio/SFX outdoors and indoors.

How I overcame any issues or challenges –

The biggest issue that I had faced this week, was with the casting call poster and it’s accessibility. I had to send the casting call poster to my tutor, Nik, who was able to access and adjust the accessibility settings. After he viewed the poster, who advised that I provide further context including location and my contact details. However, despite all of this work for my casting call, I received no replies. This is likely because the role was unique, and performing arts students didn’t exactly fit the description for the role. This is why I decided to cast somebody that I already know, has a convincing appearance, and will be reliable.

I also didn’t achieve all of the sourced in person sound effects from my first day of production, so, I used the printed audio list sheet and used it as a checklist and proceeded to write within the production schedule for the 15th/16th of April, to record these sound effects, as the require the assistance of others.

List of known issues or challenges for next week –

Confirming all cast and crew members
Making a structured and organised group chat that includes all cast and crew members, and necessary files for reference
Beginning first date of shooting, and waking up early

List of potential issues that could arise for next week –

Tidying up pre-production document
Multitasking (Focusing on production, pre-production document, and research simultaneously)
Receiving all necessary details for cast/crew contact list