Production Tips

Research and Planning tips
What think about before you plan your film opening
Key issues to consider to help you make a professional-looking film opening on no budget:
How to download YouTube videos
Just use:
http://www.clipconverter.cc/

Storyboarding
Download this storyboard template by Tim Clague, BAFTA-nominated film-maker. You can either print it out and write/draw on your storyboard or, better, import images etc and upload the pages to your blog.

Guide to shots, angles and camera movements

A really helpful guide to camera work, both for your production and analysis is at:
http://www.thewildclassroom.com/wildfilmschool/gettingstarted/camerashots.html
Try the exercise on this site for spotting different shots and their effect.

Editing Tip - How To Crop Your Video
Handy clip on how to crop a video in Final Cut Express to get rid of anything on the outer edge of the frame that you don't want:
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c_CxCw2UH_E" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>

Editing Tip - How To Fade in or Out Your Sound



How to upload your work to YouTube

Informative site here on how to upload videos to YouTube. That way, you can upload much larger files that those you can upload to your blog, and then post a link to the file in your blog. Essential for getting comments from your target audience, especially if you put the rough cut up first and then take the constructive criticism.

How to Use Chroma Key for Greenscreen Work

How to record your Mac screen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lGmCBzz8XU

Before handing in your work...

It's time to hand in your coursework. Here's how to make sure it is complete:

1. Check that all your planning is on your blog and that you have responded to any comments from your teacher (e.g. acknowledging sources of information).
2. Add the following to the beginning of your coursework film:

• Blank black screen with the following text in white: Foundation Portfolio G321 (2 seconds)
• Second blank black screen with the following text in white: St. Mary's School 52235 (2 seconds)
• Followed by black screens with your full name and surname and YOUR candidate number (do in alphabetical order of surname) e.g. Amy Smith 1234 (2 seconds each)

3. Ensure all your answers to each evaluation question are completed and on your blog.

THIS MUST BE COMPLETED BY THURSDAY 28TH APRIL.

How to make a DVD of your work

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1611

Before you export, take the following steps to adjust the dimensions of your video so that it will have the correct aspect ratio in iDVD:

1. In Final Cut Express, select the sequence you want to export in the Browser.
2. Choose File > Export > Using QuickTime Conversion.
3. Click Options to reveal the Movie Settings window.
4. Click Settings in the Video section of the Movie Settings window to open the Standard Video Compression Settings window.
5. From the Compression Type menu, choose DV — PAL.
6. Choose 16:9 from the Aspect Ratio menu.
7. Click OK to return to the Movie Settings window.
8. Click Size to reveal the Export Size Settings window.
9. From the Dimensions menu, choose Custom, then type the following dimensions:
   • For PAL, 1024 x 576
10. Click OK to return to the Movie Settings window.
11. Click OK to return to the Save window.
12. Type a name, select a location and click Save to finish.

Now you're ready to create a widescreen iDVD project that will handle the exported movie as intended.