Entry

I really think that we would benefit if we had some feedback from children who we would initially target the film at. I have created a survey online to get some feedback, and I have also asked some people to watch and write back on what they think. I think we would benefit from this as we have only got criticism from an older audience, if we were to get some comments from our actual targeted audience, and their opinions I think this would really help in trying to get the best possible media product.

This is the link for the survey that I have created:

Click here to take survey

Diary Entry

We have received feedback from the class and from our teachers regarding the title sequence. At the moment it is on a D grade due to the title sequence not being long enough. After discussing with the group, we feel that we need to include more shots that focus around the fantastagirls powers. Having said this, another aspect that will be required is the lighting of our shots, because in some cases they can be too dark. Taking this on, we are going to analyse the title sequence and edit it more thoroughly, and lighten it up in some places, in order for it to be a lot more diverse and fun feeling. Also, we are going to shoot more and include the shots into the title sequence, in hope that it could be more clear about the power that each fantastagirl obtains.

Filming entry

After getting feedback from the class and from the teachers, we were told that we needed to include more shots of us getting ready and to make it appear as if we were all in different houses. In the beginning we had jump cuts of all of us walking down the stairs, but this was in the same house, this made it unclear as to why we were all in the same house as we were all meant to be separate and then coming together. From this, we have shot more of us in the mornings, this includes all of us waking up in our beds and only one person walking down the stairs. We were happy with the shots we done today, and we feel that it will be clearer when we have included them in the sequence.

Editing process

There was a shot of myself 'air girl' that we were happy with the shot, but it was in reverse to the other girls close up shots. We had to change the way that the shot was played so it would match the other shots. Also, the shot of Holly, 'air girl' where she blows the bubble. We needed to include her name in the sequence, we found the typography and downloaded it on to final cut and then we added her name into it. But we wanted it to appear as if it came out when she was blowing the bubble, and then explode at the same time that the bubble popped. We found this quite difficult because we could not find out how to do so. There was an effect on final cut pro that allowed us to do this, and we were a lot happier with the way her name appeared. We still need to add in the rest of our clips into the sequence too.

I also think that we need to use more editing into the sequence to give the fantastagirls a more 'super hero' theme presented. On the close up shots of all of us, I think we should include an effect that can add to this; it will make us appear as superheroes more clearly to the audience. We are going to apply these changes to the title sequence tomorrow. 

Editing process

As we shot many clips yesterday (30/1/13) we had a lot of clips to choose from. Although it was a long process, it enabled us to choose from a larger variety of shots, giving the best available out come.

First edit of The Fantastagirls title sequence

30/1/13

Below are some pictures of the location that we were filming in on the 30th January. During this time, we filmed the rest of our title sequence. We filmed the fantastagirls coming together, individual shots, shots of us walking, and leaving the house. We filmed the fantastagirls outside in a really lovely location which enabled us to come in from four different directions and meet in the middle. We did have some difficulties because it was very windy and at one point the camera fell over. After this happening, we put weights down on the camera so this did not happen again. We also got many shots of us as we wanted to choose from a variety of angles. We were very happy with the shot of all of us walking together. We also got a closer shot of all of us together, where we wished the title 'The Fantastagirls' to appear. The shot was also from a low angle which portrayed us better superheroes because we looked a lot more superior to our other shots. We also got individual shots of us, as in our previous ideas we didn't have any and doing this made it look much better. Over all we were very happy with the whole filming and we were all very pleased with the total out come. We will need to look over our footage and then choose which ones will fit most appropriately in the title sequence.

Editing 29/1/13

We have started the editing of our new clips that we filmed yesterday. After looking over the shots that we filmed yesterday we are already a lot happier with the outcome of the our new ideas. We have edited the new clips and put them in order, also including the 'working title' introduction. We are having a problem with including the 'cross dissolve' as it is not working, but we are going to ask for it to be sorted out. We have all discussed the clips that we felt were better to use in the title sequence and we had our individual input of editing so far. We still need to do more filming, which we will then include into the rest.

Fantastagirls Filming

This is a video made of all the pictures that we took when we were filming on the 28th January.

28/1/13 Diary for filming

Today we filmed our new story boards. We filmed us walking down the stairs, and some individual shots. We also completed our fantastagirls outfits. Each fantastagirl has a different colour top, with their name printed on the back of it. We filmed the shots of us all putting on the tops. Within our new title sequence, we are filming the fantastagirls going about their routine in the morning, but only discretely showing parts of their faces. Then we will show them all walking, and we will show a shot of all the fantastagirls together, with four close up shots of all the fantastagirls. We are planning to do more filming tomorrow too. We are pleased with the filming that we done today as we got some successful shots. After previous filming, we made sure that we filmed the shots many times to get the best and most successful shots. We did have a few faults when it came to filming Megan, as we felt that the certain shot wasn't very successful but after filming her many times using different types of make-up, we finally got a shot that we were all pleased with. I think that if we were to do anything better, we would have planned which we were going to film first, as at times, it was quite confusing as to what we were filming.

24/1/13 New Idea's

After looking over our footage and beginning to edit, we feel as a group that we need to re-evaluate our story boards. We think that we need to change our story board to make the title sequence more appropriate and realistic. As we were beginning to edit the title sequence, as a group we felt that we were not happy with the total outcome of it, and we decided to sit down as a group and discuss what we were filming and the viewing of it.

After speaking to Leanne we feel that the title sequence needs to be more associated with the fantastagirls and their coming together. We are going to include different shots of them and create the sense of them coming together as a team. We have decided when to film this and we have included better preparation for the filming too, so we hope that it will be more successful. The whole title sequence needs to be more associated with the fantastagirls so we have decided to create the title sequence around the fantastagirls routine in the morning, but we will be subtly showing this. This will include the fantastagirls walking down the stairs in their pyjamas, only showing their bodies, not their faces. We will then have a member doing something associated with their power. For example, myself (air girl) will be out of the shower, and I will write my name on the mirror, as it would be all steamy, creating the sense of air. For Megan, (giggle girl) we will have her applying makeup which she will then make a mistake which will make her laugh, and she will then write her name on from this. Holly, (bubble girl) will simply be eating her chewing gum, which will pop and we will edit to include her name. Bobbie, (fire girl) will be eating her breakfast, and her name will appear in the food, which we will shot hot, creating the sense of heat. Also in the shot of bobbie we will include a newspaper in the background. This will then lead on to them coming together

We realise that we have filmed a lot to do with the other story boards but we are glad that we have noted now that we are not happy with what we have already, so we can film more before we have to show the first preview of our title sequence. It is unfortunate that we have only realised that it wasn't working but we are going to film the parts that we need to so we can continue with the title sequence. This does cause a problem as it means we have to film a lot in a small space of time, but what we need to film can be filmed in the same place.

Danson park filming

Filming - 6

On Thursday 17th January, we filmed in Danson park. We filmed a lot of shots in this time. We filmed people reading newspapers about the fantastagirls and we also filmed the shot of the fantastagirls together. We were very happy with the outcome of the filming as we got many successful shots and we are very pleased with them. However if we were to do this again we would have filmed more shots, in different angles to give it a better effect. Also, it would have enabled us to have a better variety of the shots that we took. We were very lucky with the weather, as it was very sunny and the reflection of the sun on the lake looked very picturesque and this created a sense of optimism. I think that it would have also been better if we were more prepared for the shooting, as we would have maybe been able to get more done in the time available.

Filming 5

On Tuesday 15th January we filmed the scene of Zoracks father (the superhero) being surrounded by people and being interviewed. Doing so required us to have a lot of people around creating the sense of a buzz from the people. It was very difficult to try and get people to help us, as it was very last minute. It would have been better if we could have asked people in advance. It also didn't help that the weather wasn't very great, and if it was sunny it maybe would have had a better effect on the way that the shot was seen. It was quite difficult to film this scene as there wasn't as many people as we would have liked. However, having said this, the people that we did use in the filming were very helpful and there acting reinforced the sense of buzz and happiness that we intended on applying to the atmosphere of Zorack's father. We were quite pleased with the shots that we got, I do think that we felt that this could have been handled better, but we will need to review and discuss the shots so we can get the best possible outcome.

Filming - 4

Thursday 10th January 2013, we filmed an over shoulder shot of a person holding a phone, reading about the fantastagirls. This required us to use a dolly as the person would be walking with the phone. We found this quite difficult as it was essential to keep both the person walking and the person filming to be in sync with each other. As a group we found this very time consuming, and we felt that the shot was not working, as you were not able to visibly view what the person was supposedly reading. Because of this, we decided to change the shot, and have the person sitting down at a desk reading about the Fantastagirls. We only needed to use a tripod, and we were able to see what the person was looking at on the phone. We were a lot happier with the change of scenery as it looked more realistic.

Filming - 3

On Thursday 10th January 2013, we filmed a group of people reading the newspapers that we had created. In our story board the shot was going to be a direct view, looking at the people reading, but we realised that an over shoulder shot would be more realistic, as the audience could see what they were looking at. We asked four people to be in this, and they sat on a bench reading the newspapers. We also used a dolly for this specific shot as we had to move along the people to see what each person was looking at. We feel that we were successful with this filming, and we are happier with the change in camera positioning. Having said this, we did have some difficulties as we did not have much time to record this, and again, the weather was not fantastic which did not help with the total outcome. Using the dolly was quite difficult on the specific flooring, as we felt that it looked quite jumpy; we will need to look over the filming on the macs to see if the shot can be used. If it is not successful then we will need to film it again.

Filming - 2

On Monday 7th January 2013 we done filming outside of school during our lesson time. During this time we filmed a shot where a person walked past a newspaper stand, collected a newspaper (associated with the fantastagirls) and walks off with it. We filmed it near a train station, on a main road, where there was a newspaper stand outside. We achieved as we filmed many times, from different angles and we feel that we have been successful in succeeding in this particular series of shots. The only problem we had, was the sizing of the newspaper we had. Although this was a slight problem, we filmed it so that you couldn't really see that the sizing of the newspaper was different. Apart from this, and as per usual, the weather, we feel that we were quite successful with the shooting as we were all happy with the shots that we got. We also filmed from many angles too which allows us to choose from many different shots, which will be more effective and a lot easier when it comes to the editing process.

Filming - 1

In our title sequence there will be shots of newspapers, that we have created. On the newspapers it explains stories about the fantastagirls, and portrays that they are all that's being spoken about in the 'society.' We filmed the newspapers according to the story board. We also had to use a dolly for one of the shots, as it required a smooth movement to be applied, giving the idea of somebody reading the newspaper. It was quite difficult at first because we were just using a tripod but then we decided to use a dolly to give the impression of somebody's eyes following the newspaper. We had to film this many times as we were not very happy with the total outcome of it, because it was paper, and it was quite difficult to film and make it look like it was an actual newspaper that somebody was reading. We are going to look over the shots too see if we needed to re-shoot the newspapers before we use them in the title sequence.