Monday, 28 June 2010

Post Three. Skills Table

Our task was to create a table with four columns of Digital Technology, Research and Planning, Post Production and Conventions. With the rows outlining the three types of skills as Cognitive, Technical and Impersonal. We had to fill the boxes with skills we think we have achieved and improved in these areas over our preliminary task and final project. Also outline where the creative elements came in. We found that the table pretty much linked together in certain places and some elements combined. For example constructing the narrative is placed in the Research and Planning stage, but returns in the post production to be edited and adapted.



Whilst filming our table we spoke over the writing of all the boxes adapting and explain our points.

SMART Targets to be achieved throughout the next year.

1. Be able to construct a clear narrative creating the beginning, middle and end whilst developing characters in our short five minute film to make an interesting story. This means thinking imaginatively and creatively to make an original piece.

2. Use the camera more effectively with the shots, angles and movements used in a professional manner, without creating jump cuts and bad framing. Also improving the quality of filming and keeping strong continuity throughout.

3. Improve my skills on Adobe Premiere to create effective marketing material- such as a postcard, and help with other projects in the future. I will need to learn what the relevant buttons can do and the best ways to use them to improve my technical skills on the programme and create promising work.

4. Thinking more about the location and set, especially with the lighting, to create a better atmosphere and make it look more realistic, whilst helping to portray our genre.

5. Develop my interpersonal skills and organisation as I will need to be working with new people from a different school, therefore working around everyone plans and making sure we are in the same place when needed. Also, although I can be good at motivating and calming the pressure of others I need to be more assertive, and speak out if I don't think an idea will work, to help everything run as smoothly and according to plan as possible.


Wednesday, 16 June 2010

Post Two. Creativity? A game of 'Consequence'

In many aspects of media creativity is very important in creating a new piece as how imaginative it is, usually defines how interesting it is. To be creative means to think 'outside the box' and be original and individual with your ideas.

A Game of 'Consequence'

We were in a group of four and the first person had to write an adjective after the word 'the', and then cover it over. The next person in the same form had to write and noun. Followed by a verb from the next person. And repeating the process again but with only the adjective and noun. This is called a game of consequence which we then adapted individually to make a photo showing the sentence 0f... The lovely door jumped the rusty cat.



I believe this task showed creativity in that we had to interpret the words to create a new picture which showed the sentence effectively and clearly but without just having separate pictures in a row to match the words. It made you truly think of the best way to portray your image as a whole and allowed you to explore different technical uses such as photo shop and paint to improve your skills.

Our next task on creativity was to create a one minute film in twenty minutes. We did not have any boundaries other than it must involve a pen and that it must all flow within one shot. Our group found it hard to think of an idea but this is what we came up with...




Our footage does not seem very creative in that it is simply just a tracking shot of people walking and does not use much of the imagination, plus is boring to watch. Although we needed to incorporate the pen we could have simply had a person with it tucked in there ear rather than basing the plot around it. Simply by doing this shows more thought. Also proves not to take the easy option. However with more time I am sure we could have come up with something more original and interesting.

Independent Study

The task was to create anything in which showed our individual creativity. I chose to do a moodboard of images in the shape of a performing arts mask of elements I enjoy in my life.



Defining Creativity

I believe creativity means discovering new ideas or concepts individually and originally, usually for a certain purpose. For example painting a picture or creating a college.

Other definitions of creativity are from...
Pete's Blogspot Creativity: 325 Questions on Production work- The word 'creative' has many meanings- the most democratic meaning would really suggest that any act of making something (even making an idea) might be seen as a creative act. In more elitist versions of the term, it is reserved for those who are seen as highly skilled or original (famous artists, musicians, film-makers etc). An interesting third alternative is to think about how creativity can be an unconscious, random or collaborative act that becomes more than the sum of its parts.

I agree with Pete's thoughts especially how he describes it simply as making something, however would say that anyone can be creative, even if undiscovered.

What is Creativity? By Linda Naiman
I define creativity as the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. Creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing. Innovation is the production or implementation of an idea. If you have ideas, but don't act on them, you are imaginative but not creative.

Linda's response seems very wise as she explores not just what creativity means but how it is achieved. Also the difference between being imaginative as you could associate them as the same, but in fact you just need one to do the other.

From the three different processes of using creativity in which we carried out, I obviously found it much easier to create my own piece as I did not have to fallow any conventions, plus could choose a part of my life I was interested in, therefore allowing imagination to flow. The task before hand should have been quite easy as we did not have many boundaries, however showed that even if you are only given one boundary you feel the need to stick to it which minimises your options. Yet if we had broadened our horizons we could have thought of a more interesting piece. The first task on the other hand meant us having to follow certain conventions and left no room for development, just interpretation. Obviously there was only a certain amount you could do with such a random sentence and was very difficult to create a real life picture, therefore making it harder to show creativity. This is much like when creating a film. You can be creative with any amount of direction given to you especially if that is very little, although if given a lot more you have to use more of your imagination and it becomes more restricted. But at times when there really isn't any conventions to follow or just a few you find yourself sticking close to it, or having to much on one point making it boring. For example having the theme of horror opens doors to many ideas and inventions, but if being told that you must base it on a true story or have a particular set, time period or characters for example, your ideas are more limited and you must think harder to make to piece fit these quality's, whist containing originality and appeal. Therefore showing that creativity is must easier to achieve when you can build on your own imagination and use personal qualities to make your film the best it can be.

Monday, 14 June 2010

Post One. Defining Skills

We are researching the definition of skill so that we understand fully the meaning of the word, and what personal skills we have and need to develop so that we can apply and write about them later on in the project.

Definitions of Skills form various sites...

  • A skill is the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills. For example, in the domain of work, some general skills would include time management, teamwork and leadership, self motivation and others, whereas domain-specific skills would be useful only for a certain job. Skill usually requires certain environmental stimuli and situations to assess the level of skill being shown and used. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skills

  • Proficiency, facility, or dexterity that is acquired or developed through training or experience.
  • A developed talent or ability.
    http://www.answers.com/topic/skill
  • Ability and capacity acquired through deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort to smoothly and adaptively carryout complex activities or job functions involving ideas (cognitive skills), things (technical skills), and/or people (interpersonal skills). http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/skill.html

Different types of skill...

Cognitive skills- mental skills in acquiring knowledge. Thought, experience and the senses.

Techniqual skills- Camera/ editing

Interpersonal skills- How you interact with people. Team work, working with others.

My understanding of the term skill...

A skill is the ability to perform a certain task well, achieved through practise and training.