PRODUCTION: Adding a Title Screen

I wanted to add the title of my documentary ('The Desire of Designer') to the end of a clip, I experimented using different effects, one where a floral pattern comes up at the top left corner and the bottom right corner and one where sparkles flow across the screen leaving the title behind. I found that I preferred the first version as the font suited my theme better.

RESEARCH: Newspaper Advertisments

For my second ancillary product I need to create a newspaper advertisement for my documentary. Whilst researching into this I found that Channel 4 gave me some really good examples of poster adverts which I could use for inspiration. You can see these examples below.

These advert posters are simple yet effective, they use one main picture which clearly represents the program/documentary. They then use the channel 4 logo on the right hand side of the picture to show what channel the program will be shown on, the date of air in the bottom left corner, sometimes the name of the program or the use of a short phrase to describe the program and infer what program it is. For example,'Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier.' is used to advertise the program Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

A different style poster was used for 'Dior and I' (which was a documentary that I analysed)...

As this documentary is a documentary movie rather than a series its poster has a lot more information on it, the main title is in the middle at the bottom and it also uses a quote from a magazine at the top. However, it also only uses one main image for the whole poster which is the same as the Channel 4 posters.

RESEARCH: TV Listings

For one of my ancillary products I need to create a double page spread of a listings magazine, to do this I wanted to research into the general codes and conventions of a listings magazine.
Firstly I looked at the listings of one of the documentaries I have previously analysed called 'Secrets of the Superbrands (Fashion). As this documentary was aired in 2011 I was only able to find a 'listings magazine' online, however it was an online version rather than a paper version (see below).

Here you can see when all the episodes of the documentary series are on, the particular episode that I analysed aired on the 3rd June 2011. Click here to go to the listings website.

I also wanted to look at a paper version of a listings magazine so I found this double page spread of listings on various different channels....

This shows the times of all the programs on BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 3 for the 8th of November. After looking at the actual listings for the channels, I needed to look at double page spreads focused on one program as this is what I will need to create for my own documentary.

As you can see from these double page spread examples, there is usually one main image used on the page with only one or two smaller images used as well. They also clearly display the name of the program/documentary alongside the channel it is on, the time and date. The main body of the double page spread writes about the main focus of the program/documentary and what it is about. Finally they also use a heading and a sub-heading which is also a code and convention of all double page spreads.

RESEARCH: Academic Theory

Today I have been learning about academic theory within media. I first looked at Charles Leadbeater, his theory is the 'We Think Theory'. This look sat the fact the internet allows the public to share information which creates a platform for mass creativity. With regard to the film industry (where my documentary would be involved), films are now much more accessible and more easily uploaded. Therefore meaning my documentary would be able to be seen more widely.

I also looked at the theorist Chris Anderson, he came up with the Long Tail Theory. This theory suggested that since broadband, niche products such as films and books have become more widely available and they now collectively add up to the same revenue of one big hit. In other words these niche films will collectively earn what one big hit earns. This is relevant to my documentary as it is of a more niche market, only certain people are interested in fashion and so it makes it a more niche subject.

PRODUCTION: How to Speed Up a Clip

I wanted to speed up a specific clip in iMovie however I was unsure on how to do this. I looked up a video on YouTube which gave me the right resources to complete this task and I was successfully able to speed up my clip.

See the video I used below:

PRODUCTION: Adding More Footage

Today I have been adding more footage into iMovie. This footage creates the next scene of my documentary where I'm comparing the designer brands with high street brands, the clips also match up with my script which I will be using for the voiceover throughout the documentary which I will record through iMovie.

RESEARCH: Looking for More Music

As I was producing my documentary I found that some of the music I had first found doesn't work as well as I first thought it would. So I decided to look more into different music to add to the next part of my documentary. I want a more calm and slower music to suit the next scene where I'm comparing designer brands and high street brands. 

PRODUCTION: Screen Recording

This lesson I wanted to get some footage of a computer screen looking through designer handbags and their prices to use as a clip in my documentary. I found the easiest way to do this on a Mac was to use 'QuickTime Player', you can select the area of the screen you wish to record and then record whatever you'd like to within that area.
This is helpful for my documentary as you get to see the websites of designers as well as footage from inside and outside of the shops.

PRODUCTION: Adding More Footage with Different Music

I wanted to add the next scene of my documentary into my iMovie but with different background music with it. I was struggling to do this because whenever I added a new clip the old music would extend over it. I looked up how to use different tracks on the internet and I found a really helpful video which explained exactly how to. This then allowed me to separate the video clips and put different music onto each. The video I used can be seen below.

RESEARCH: Dochouse Cinema

Whilst researching I came across a website for a cinema which only shows documentaries called Dochouse. I found on this website a listing of all the previous documentaries which have been screened at the cinema and got the chance to look through to find some inspiration for my own documentary.

One particular documentary which caught my eye was The First Monday In May, this was based on the planning, making and production of the high-fashion event known as the Met Gala Ball. This documentary shares a similar genre to the documentary I am planning to make so I am hoping to take inspiration from some elements (including camera angles, shots, dialogue) of the documentary to use in my own. See the trailer for The First Day In May below.

PRODUCTION: Trying Different Transitions

Whilst editing my footage I wanted to look at different possible transitions between cuts which would look best and would suit the pace and theme of my documentary. So that I could demonstrate what each transition looked like I used a screen recorder, this recorded my screen as I played each transition and you can see these videos below.



The first transition I used was a cross blur (as seen below), I was't too keen on this as I felt it didn't flow with the music too well.



The next transition I used is a cross dissolve (see below), I preferred this transition as it fitted really well with the background music and the pace of the footage.




The final transition I used was a cross zoom (see below), I also like this transition but only between specific cuts as it is quite a fast transition and only looks right at certain points.

PRODUCTION: Testing my Music

I wanted to see which of the soundtracks that I found suited the opening of my documentary best, you can see from the screenshots below where I have been trying out each piece of music. 

Using Live the Moment Music

Using Midnight City Music

Using No Time for Games Music

Using Triumphant Classical Piano Music

Using Virgo Music

From listening to each piece of music with the opening of my documentary I was able to find which one suited the pace of the footage best. The music which worked best was 'No Time for Games' so I will use this piece for the opening.

RESEARCH: Background Music

At first I was unsure of where I would be able to find background music to use for my documentary, so I decided to do some research to find various pieces which I would be able to use. I knew that my documentary would need a fairly upbeat instrumental backtrack as the theme of it is quite light and enjoyable. So, I started researching into upbeat background music and I came across audio blocks.

Audio blocks is a website where you can listen to the backing tracks for free but you cannot download them. However I have found a way around this as you can look up the music titles and free downloads come up, I can also find them on you tube where I will then be able to convert them into MP3 files. For example, the 'live the moment' track I could find on you tube. Link to 'live the moment' soundtrack.

Here is a list of the backing tracks which I liked best and would like to use in my documentary:
1. 'Live the Moment' by Mikael Manvelyan, link here.
2. 'Midnight City' by Mikael Manvelyan, link here.
3. 'Triumphant Classical Piano' by Bobby Cole, link here.
4. 'No Time for Games' by Neil Cross, link here.
5. 'Virgo' by Mikael Manvelyan, link here.