End of Project Evaluation

Hello Everyone!

This is an evaluation of our group project, which has now been completed.

The areas that I will evaluate on would be the group effort, time management, financial costs and the finished project itself.

Group Effort

From our past group project centred on making a radio programme we were each very familiar with working with each other that didn’t cause a problem. We each had to work together again as it wasn’t an option due to lack of students on the course.

Compared to our last project I felt that we each worked better together this time, as we are now more comfortable with interacting with each other.

Our main good quality within the group was that we each identified our own strengths and weaknesses within ourselves, which lead to each of us completing separate tasks in order to make the work load a lot easier.

During completing these tasks we all sent each other regular e-mails to keep ourselves updated with the different stages of the project.

We also helped each other out on location with any technical difficulties that arise like for example one of us didn’t know how to properly set the exposure levels manually on the camera. Instead of criticising the individual we helped out by teaching him the correct way of doing it. This allowed us to create a positive atmosphere within the group that made working on this project enjoyable.

Towards the end of the production we each took turns with the editing sessions to help split the workload so that it would help us get the project completed on time.

Our huge massive constraint within the group was that due lack of numbers it proved to get quite difficult at times especially when filming. We got around this by giving each other the main important jobs that each of us could handle. This unfortunately left the little jobs out that a fourth person could do like holding the reflector. This had sadly made us loose some quality when looking back at some of the filming.

Time Management

During the pre-production phase we as a group had created a production schedule that helped give us all an idea of the amount of time that we had to complete this film. Using this schedule helped us set targets for each of us to complete between certain dates in order for us to meet the projects deadline.


Financial Costs

There were unfortunately no financial costs to the making of this production. We had some money to pay for the costs of petrol for the car to transport us to set locations.

If we did have money we would use it to book out additional equipment like a crane or a dolly that would help improve the movement and the feel when watching the film.

But as there was no budget we couldn’t pay out for these additional things if we wanted to.

The Finished Project

I am happy to say that the finished project has turned out exactly in the way in which we had planned it during the brainstorming sessions.

I am pleased in the way that we had created the mood that we had wanted which was to make it sentimental towards the end of the film in remembrance to those who lost their lives during the war.

We achieved this with the choice of music that we had used along with the use of shots that we included during the montage sequences.

There are certain areas that I am not that happy with and that is the quality of some of the shots that were taken. There were some errors in the settings of the white balance and exposure levels that had occurred. Due to the lack of practise and experience of our skills this did cost us the loss of quality with some shots.

We can each improve on this by taking the camera out and having a go of experimenting with the manual settings and getting more confident with how to properly handle the camera.

WW2 Music

Hello Everyone

Our film edit of our group project about memories of WW2 is progressing very well. We recently have been importing tracks from CD’s that I have traced from a public library containing WW2 songs. We intend to use these songs as background music to help uplift the interviews and montages when watching them.

The CD’s that I had got from the library were:

1) Spirit of Victory (Hits from the 40’s)

2) Songs That Won The War (Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of VE Day)

The songs that we intend to use are:

1) We’ll Meet Again (Vera Lynn)

2) Thanks For The Memory (Bing Crosby)

3) White Cliffs of Dover (Vera Lynn)

4) In The Mood (Glenn Miller & His Orchestra)

5) Saturday Night is the Lonely Night of the Week (Frank Sinatra)

Our massive constraint about using these songs if we would like to show this film to a public gathering is that we would need to ask permission from the publishers of these songs other wise we would be breaking the copyright laws.

The way to go about it asking permission would be to trace down the publishers of the songs by looking through the booklet that comes with the CD and email them permission through a website that specialise in this called the MCPS (PRS).

In this e-mail I would tell them the song that I want to use along with the duration. In their reply they would give me a quote about how much it would all cost to use this particular song.

As we are using this film for strictly educational purposes this matter isn’t a great deal of worry to us. If we were going to show it to an audience then the copyright laws would then come into place.

An alternative way around this to avoid copyright infringement would be to compose our own music. This unfortunately wouldn’t be the same though as wouldn’t work well as background music to the interviews as original songs from WW2.

Voice Overs

Hello Everyone

We all have been working through the final stages of editing our group project about memories of WW2. What we have achieved at the moment is editing the sequences of our 5 chosen interviews. At this early stage we have only edited 2 of the 5 interviews as editing is a slow and painful process with an excellent out come.

We have very recently recorded in our voiceovers were it will be used during our opening and closing montage sequence. Before recording the voiceovers we were unsure of who was going to do it. We decided by having an audition between ourselves into the microphone to see who would be best suited for this role.

During this audition we decided that Dan would be suitable for this part as he was the most confident with talking into a microphone.

We recorded the voiceovers onto the hard drive of the computer by plugging the microphone into the M-Box. We then recorded the voiceovers into a software called Sound Track Pro were we then exported the data and imported back into Final Cut Pro where our film edit is saved. We then transferred the data over onto the video drive so that the computers hard drive won’t get clogged up with too many files.

Recording these voiceovers was essential at this stage as it helped give us guidance of how the film would finally look.

Edit Day!

Hello Everyone!


Today we began editing our Memories of WW2 documentary as our deadline is not that far away.

The primary role that I had played for today was film editor.

We began the editing session by tranfering data over from our DV Tapes of all the footage that we have filmed in the recent weeks. The software that we were transferring over to was Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro is a professional non linear editing sofware software which is used through out the media industry.

After transferring all the data over Dean and I watched some of the interview footage to see whether which one is suitable enough to use for editing. Before hand we decided that we would use two interviews from each location that we filmed at. Although we only had a chance to film at two proper locations including a third one which was Dean's nans house would then make it five interviews to feature in the documentary.

Unfortunatley Dan couldn't make today so Dean and I managed to split the work load between us by taking it inturns to edit. We both agreed to edit for a hour and a half each.

I began editing the interviews first. The first interview that I had edited was Deans nan.

Our next target for the next editing session is to record Dan's voice overs.

My Role as Film Editor

I was not afraid of editing as I am very familiar with operating Final Cut Pro, which allowed me to produce work to an acceptable standard. I was able to use the software without getting into any technical difficulties.

R.A.F. Flowerdown House

Hello Everyone!

Recently we filmed some more interviews with WW2 Veterans and Civilians at the R.A.F. Flowerdown House for our group project. We began filming at the location at 2:00pm as it was the most confinient time for them.

Compared to our first attempt at filming the interviews at the Somerset Legion House the second attempt I felt was alot more successful. It was successful becuase we were alot more confident with our overall approach to the contributers and we knew what sort of answers that they were going to give.

The total of interviews that we had filmed in this session was four as they were the only ones who were the most happiest to participate. Out of these four we found that only two of them were the best interviews to use for the film, as the other two unfortunatley were either too ill or suffering from memory loss.

After the doing the interviews we then gained permission to film some cutaway shots around the guest house as it has lots of artifacts, photos and memorabilia of the R.A.F. which we all found very interesting.

After filming the cuttaway shots it was now 6:30pm which by then we decided to wrap up for the day as we have filmed enough for what we needed.

The next stage for us all now is to begin the editing sequence where we would all go through all the footage that we have filmed and work as a group to help create the final cut.

News Article BC1004

Wheel is proven to be great success!

This week thousands of thrilled seeking excited tourists from all over came to experience some stunning views from Weston’s latest attraction.

Visitors and residents took to the sky in the 30-pod looming structure that stands at 40-meters which towers over Weston seafront, to take in some panoramic views of the town, the South West, the Bristol Channel and across to Wales.

The 30 pods are capable to taking up to six adults and two children. The VIP pod can take up to four people and a bottle of champagne is also included.

North Somerset Council leader Nigel Ashton told the Mercury and the Midweek how fantastic the wheel would be to the town.

“I am proud that the town is playing host to such a wonderful attraction that would reap awards to the resort”.

Councilor Ashton along with executive member Felicity Baker and the Weston Mercury team were the first to ride on the town’s latest attraction.

Councilor Ashton said, “The wheel is an absolutely terrific and wonderful addition to Weston and North Somerset”.

He also added, “Everyone will want to go on the wheel and I am absolutely thrilled and delighted it has come to Weston”.

“I believe the wheel is a fantastic attraction in a brilliant location and I’m sure the people of Weston and from all over will love it”.

“I believe the wheel is a fantastic attraction in a brilliant location and I’m sure the people of Weston and from all over will love it”.

But Councillor Ashton says that the World Tourist Attractions contacted the council following the Grand Pier fire from last year and saw a good opportunity for the town.

The wheel is due open from 10am-11pm each day of the week.

The ride itself lasts up to 30 minutes. 

Ticket prices are £5 for adults, £3 for children aged three to twelve, £1 to children aged 1 to three and £4 to for the over 60’s.

Tickets are available from Weston Tourist Information Centre, the Winter Gardens and the Playhouse.

Family tickets for up to four people, including at least one child, are available at £12 along with private VIP Pods are also on offer.

Interviews with WW2 Veterans

Hello Everyone!

Recentally on the 10/04/09 Dean and I were down at the Somerset Legion House filming and interviewing the Veterans of WW2.

The time we had arranged to interview the verterans was at 2:00pm as it is just after their lunch time which is convieniant for us all.

Unfortunatley Dan couldn't make it to any of the interviews as he had to work some overtime during the Easter Holidays.

Dean and I arranged for us both to meet up for 12:45pm so that we both had an hour to plan in advance for the day and also to check that the equipment is working ok.

Just as well we arranged this becuase bad luck cursed us on the start of the day. Unfortunatley the plastic fitting on the eject button broke due to the ware age of the camera which left us in the lurch as we couldn't use it.

Fortunatley we had a spare camera to use as we took one out before half term. The spare camera was indeed around at Dans house. Luckily though his dad was in and lent us the fully working camera which served us well through out the day.

After all that kerfufull the time is now 1:30pm which left us half an hour to buy some DV Tapes before heading off towards the Somerset Legion House.

The time is now just 2:00pm and we have finally arrived to our location. As we had entered the building we received a warm welcome from the management and to our surprise there was a whole queue of WW2 Veterans just waiting to talk to us.

Feeling a littlebit overwhelemed Dean and I set to work of setting our equipment up in a private room and framing our shot ready for interviewing.

Our roles for today were that Dean was the interviewer and cameraman and my roles were cameraman and boom operator.

The interviews that we had recorded were a little bit hit and miss as some of veterans gave a mixture of open and closed answers.

This was understanderble as some of them were in their 80's and 90's+ and some were even trying to remember their involvement of the war.

Some residents even became a little bit emotional to talk about it so we had to deliberatley cut the interview short to avoid upsetting them.

Dean and I had begun to realise that this was not at all easy as we had hoped and we were begging to find it tiring.

The time is now 5:15pm and we had now just finished interviewing everyone who had volunteered to be interviewed. We both ended the day by taking some cuttaway shots of the exterior of the building along with some establishing shots of one of the veterans who we had interviewed.

Today has mainly been a big learning curve for us of how to properly interview people especially when they're senior members of the public.

The areas that Iam pleased with today s that we have filmed some really good interviews that would be a great benefit to when were editing. Iam glad that Dean has now got on to working with the camera properly that he is beggining to get more confident with it when framing shots.

The areas where Iam not that happy with is that the room where we held the interviews didn't have much of a nice background except for a few military paintings on the wall. This made things quite limited for the amount of camera set ups we could do for the different interviews, but we had to make do with it as it was the only private room we were allowed to use.

Today has made me confident with our next film shoot at R.A.F. Flower Down House which would take place on the 17/04/09. After todays experience I feel as though we are going to do a lot better on the next film shoot as we now know what to expect and seeing in our minds for definate what the finished project is going to look like.

First Day of Filming!

Greetings Again!

Recentally Dean, Dan and I were out and about in Weston-Super-Mare filming cuttaway shots for our group project for BC1006. The locations we were filming at were Grove Park and the North Somerset Museum.

The purpose for filming these cuttaway shots is so that when editing we have loads of footage for editing a montage sequence or using them over the top of the veterans interviews.

The Camera we are using for filming our project with is the Sony PD150.

Our first location that we were filming at was Grove Park. In the park there is a war memorial to commemorate the memories the soldiers who died during the WW1 and WW2.

After filming in Grove Park we then headed off to the North Somerset Museum to film some more cuttaway shots using the museum exibits of WW2.

As we arrived at the museum we explored around the exbits of the towns history until we found the WW2 section. We were very pleased with the exibtions as they contained relics and artifacts from the war that were very intersting and useful to film for cuttaway shots.

At 5:00pm we all decided to call it a wrap. Our next film shoot would be on the 10/04/09 at the Somerset Legion House as we are due to interview the WW2 Veterans themselves about their memories of the war.

Visiting the Legion House

Good Day Everyone!

Recently Dan and I went and to introduce our selfs to the management of the Legion House in order to get permission to interview the residents about their memories of WW2 for our group project for BC1006.

Our day begun by meeting Dan at Tesco Superstore in Weston-Super-Mare Town Centre and then head off for Orchard Street where the Legion House is supposed be situated.

My embarrassing lesson for myself and for everyone is to be very caucious of any road directions given from the internet becuase they're not always kept up to date. This lead to some confusion and deley.

The address that I have got about the Legion House being down Orchard was wrong. The address down Orchard Street lead us to an Adult Strip Bar called The Rock Gardens. We later discovered that the Legion House had moved to another location in town along the sea front not far from Clarence Park.

An embarrassing situation it was!

Fortunatley I had the correct address of the Legion House that I had found on the internet that was reliable and we both headed off to the location.

As soon as we got there we both introduced ourselfs and explained what our itentions are to the management. They were very helpful by looking into the reservations to see whether there are any WW2 veterans staying over the upcoming weeks. We finally got a date for the 08/04/09 when there are some veterans staying at the Legion House.

The management then reccommended that we should try the R.A.F. House that is situated right next door. The R.A.F. House operates the same as the Legion House but with Veterans who served in the R.A.F. We both then headed off next door to find that the min manager with who to deal with was away for the week. We both managed to get a phone number and our aim is to contact the manager the following week.