Technology evaluation

WHAT I HAVE LEARNT ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE

PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THE MOVIE OPENING?

By Mohoshin Raja

APPLE I MAC

I do not personally own an iMac. Through using the iMac for media studies, I have learnt how to operate it, i.e. starting it up and learning its user interface as well as learning how to use its unique keyboard and mouse. Because this system is different from Windows, I had to learn the new features that the iMac provides, however I got used to the iMac after using it frequently in Media lessons.

I used the iMac for many purposes. Firstly, it was the central location where all my important files were created and stored, most of which were produced through using apple’s built in safari application. In addition, I used other apple software’s built into the iMac like photo booth and Motion, which was used to create the titles of my movie opening. I even learnt that Microsoft built an apple version of Microsoft office, this meant that I had to learn how to use the office packages too. However, this wasn’t too hard as it was pretty similar to the office package on Microsoft computers.

Finally I used the iMac to run Final Cut Pro. Here I learnt how to set up Final Cut Pro and export my work using the iMac’s interface.

FINAL CUT PRO&

MOTION

One of the main software we used to create our movie opening was Final Cut Pro. Here I edited our video footage. Apples iMovie does not compare to Final Cut Pro because iMovie is a much more simpler and user friendly software. At first glance, Final Cut Pro looked intimidating as there was a lot of features and options.

However after learning the basic functions of the software, like learning how to cut, add and move clips, add inputs and outputs, using log and capture and how to export movies as a Quicktime movie, Final cut became less intimidating. Final Cut Pro is a professional software that requires a lot of practice and experience. It is due to making many small movies in class as preliminary tasks that I got better at using and understanding Final Cut Pro.

Motion was also difficult to use. I did not have enough time to learn about this software however I was taught the basics. I learnt how to locate templates and add text to the canvas. Also I understood how the frames worked. In the end my group found a simple but effective title art. Adding the text and exporting it as a Quicktime movie was easy. Personally, I would have liked to spend more time on Motion to learn some of the more advanced effects that the software offers.

CANON CAMCORDER&

VOICE RECORDER

I used a voice recorder because during one of the shots in the movie, the voice of my character couldn’t be heard. The voice recorder helped to record the same speech externally and then I added it onto the sound track on Final Cut Pro. I could have used the built in microphones on the iMac but the sound quality was better by using the voice recorder. Also this enabled me to experience more technology whilst making my movie opening.

We used a simplistic Canon MD205 camcorder and a tripod to record our movie opening. I learnt what the many signs on the screen meant, for example the battery life indicator. Also, I learnt how to set up a tripod whilst observing the built in spirit level to check the level of the camera angle.Finally, I learnt how to attach the camcorder on to the tripod and how to use the tripod so that the camera shots are smooth and precise.

The mini dv tapes were used to store the recorded video footage. To transfer the footage onto the iMac, I learnt how to connect the camcorder to the iMac by using the fire wire cable. After attaching it I learnt how to log and capture the video footage using the options on Final Cut Pro. I faced some problems with the tape, one of the problems were that the footage we recorded overlapped a previous footage, this was because we recorded over the footage and not the footage that was blacked out.

I used Jamendo to locate music for our movie opening. This website allows users to locate thousand of free music. The website had special ways to filter the type of music I was look for, for example, you can select the mood and genre of the music you are looking for. I quickly learnt how to locate the type of music I was after because the website was set up well. Also, I learnt how to download and transfer the music.

I learnt how to use this website to research the different types of titles that movies include so that I can add similar styles to my movie opening. The website offered a lot of title examples that inspired me. However, it was hard incorporating such styles into our movie opening as there were a lot of effects used. I had to use the templates that Motion offered.