6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

During the construction of our media product our group has learnt about multiple different technologies such as the camera and editing software. We learnt about the 180-degree rule and the different types of shots such as close up, panning shot and establishing shot. Knowing how to use the editing and filming equipment meant we could be more adventurous with the shots and special effects such as transitions, for example when the main protagonists (Matthew and Samantha) are walking down the canal there is a echo effect to make it look like this is a memory and maybe even dreaming about it. We have also added the four-point garbage matte so that a second piece of footage can be played over the first piece as if it’s a memory being recalled while walking through Manchester.

Another device that we used is the sound track we used for our film. We used a media sound track of the song called Aftermash by the band Thirteen Floors, which is perfect for the dream like atmosphere of our opening sequence.
For the camera we learned how to use a rig steady cam in order to take the tracking shot of the male protagonist walking through the isolated section of Manchester.

The more we used file cut pro the more we realized about the number of effects could be added to our shots, for example we learned that we could deepen the contrast of color in the ‘present time’ shots of Matthew in the city by himself. It was here that we realized the sunny weather was very important in our shots, as the deepened contrast mixed when the brightness of the sun made everything have a dark and gloomy atmosphere that, we felt, reflected the emotions of our male character. This made it difficult for us as we had to film on two different days so making sure that it was the right weather was crucial. The contrast effects also made it look more like a professional film rather then a low budget video that we feel has a higher chance of grabbing the audience’s attention.
In conclusion, the experience that we have learned about how editing technology can be used to create unique effects that we choose such as the echo effect of the memory and the second footage played over the tracking shot. Using the camera technology helped us greatly in creating a unique line of shot for the construction of our final project. It has also taught us about the errors that can be caused through editing or camera work, which helped realize what we need to do in case we use the software or equipment again.