Q6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Regarding technologies for the process of creating Turning Point, there was a number used:

Filming

• Tripod
• Video camera

Editing

• Final Cut Pro
• iMovie HD
• GarageBand

Stage 1:

Filming was a fairly easy task once we mapped out a schedule for filming days and locations. The video camera and tripod were both things we were familiar with and the use of it was highly basic and straightforward. There were hardly any problems apart from hiking up the tripod a little higher, and we needed a much higher angle for some of the shots. If we had "craning" equipment involved, then that method of filming definitely would have been used. A dolly wasn't necessary for any tracking or panning shots since we did not require any movement shots in the film opening as the atmosphere in the film opening was already quite fast-paced itself involving movement in front of the camera.

Stage 2:

When it came to technology involving editing, it was a new venture for our group as we had very little used Final Cut Pro. In the past, iMovie has been the editing program we have always used, and the functions of iMovie is very basic.

We first uploaded our footage (via firewire) onto iMovie HD and then imported those clips onto Final Cut Pro. The program was difficult getting the hang of since it is much more complex than iMovie and there is a wider range of options for editing audio, video and other aspects. Eventually, our group got the hang of the program and the editing process started to pick up it's pace.

The problems we faced involving Final Cut Pro was according to a various amount of factors. These were things such as fixing audio levels, applying certain video effects and using the freeze-frame feature. This was all overcome with the handy help of Google, which outlined step-by-step guides on how to get the required effect applied to our film. Also, some things such as title-effects and downloading new fonts were things we simply figured out on our own.

Stage 3:

Another editing feature we used was GarageBand. On GarageBand, you can create your own tracks which pre-made beats, guitar riffs and other musical aspects to create background music for our film opening. We needed two pieces of music and I feel that this was a very tricky task, as I spent quite a few lessons fiddling around with the program to get the perfect sound. Sound is a very important factor to films as it can entirely set the atmosphere. For the dream sequence I used an upbeat percussion and acoustic piece to set a very lively upper-class urban setting as Jane ventured through London's Oxford Street. The morning routine was a much more chilled out track as I carefully started it off with piano sequences and eventually built momentum as it kicked off into Jane's blurry morning routine. I think the music I made for the film played almost a leit motif for our character, and it mirrored the actions of what she was doing.

I found GarageBand very easy to use and had little trouble regarding the functions. The only hard thing about the task was to create the post perfect track to fit with the film's footage.

All in all, I think that the effort put in from the all three of us in the group to try to overcome the obstacles concerning technology was brilliant for people who had never used two of the programs before!