Applying Audio | Exporting Film

* Cannot use other people's work (music) without permission - illegal
* Use Legal Music Sources - Check Document on ManageBac

Exporting Film:

Click anywhere on timeline sequence first: File --> Export --> Quicktime Movie (Command E) --> Settings: Setting - Current Settings | Include - Audio and Video | Markers - None |
DON'T Recompress all frames --- UNCHECK | Make Movie Self-Contained --- CHECK √
--> Save

Missing Windows on Timeline:
Double Click on Sequence in the Browser / --> Window and Select them

Render Film (when red line appears):
Sequence --> Render Selection --> Render [Audio]

Applying Audio:

* Only add audio when the final film is completed.

Applications: GarageBand or Soundtrack Pro

GarageBand

Compile a basic sound track / sound effects for video 

Sound Track Pro

(Applications --> Final Cut Studio Folder --> Soundtrack Pro)

Everything is found in the Browser

1. Bring in our video - Browser (Bottom Left) - Drag video to timeline 

2. Browser - Search - Sound Effects / Music Beds - Click on one to preview 

3. Choose one and drag to timeline - you can move it around / make it longer (cursor on right hand side)

It is good to keep things in separate tracks - helps you to remember where things are and view things. 

Certain sounds can be a lot louder than the other ones, so you have to adjust the volume (left hand side of tracks). 

Ambience Sounds - Fill any sounds (when people are talking / hover background sounds)

Audio is very important! Amazing sounds makes a film better. 

Effects: 

- Left hand side

Clip Distortion 

File --> Export --> Settings: Exported Items - Master Mix | File Type - AIFF | Bit Depth - 16 Bit | Sample Rate - 48  (This only exports audio -- add audio into Final Cut Pro afterwards) 

To add audio into Final Cut Pro, import it to the browser first, then drag into timeline 

Get rid of clip that needs to be removed : Select the clips --> Modify --> Link (Command L) 

Then individually select the clip and delete the audio

Search for sounds 

iTunes 

Convert mp3 to AIFF 

General Preferences Import Settings --> Import using - AIFF Encoder | Setting - Custom | Sample Rate - 48 

Right click on the file and create AIFF version then drag it back to browser

Progress Journal - Analytical Entry #3

Our group is falling behind schedule.

Firstly, one of the biggest challenges in our film production is to create the background set in the school auditorium for our carnival sideshow scenes.

Shot from Original Movie - The Lone Ranger

As you can see from this photo, the background set includes large items - the tent, the huge rock and the desert wallpaper at the back.

I am clueless about how we will be creating the background set, as it is impossible for us to create something this huge unless we have enough tools, time and money. One of our group members suggested using the projector, but it would definitely not look very realistic. We can also cover a small stool with brownish grey paper and use it as the rock that the Indian is standing on. Other than that, we tried our best to make our film appear Western when we created the banner that we will be hanging above the door in the auditorium. We borrowed paper, some black paint, and brushes from the Art Department, and painted the words "Old West" on it. We also splattered the paint onto the paper as well. 

Secondly, it is not easy for us to find a time when all 5 of us are free. We planned to finish filming all the scenes during mid-term break, but we only got part of the shooting completed. A lot of changes were made to our original production plan. It is inevitable that some of us may have to make sacrifices and film instead of doing another previously planned activity. As I mentioned in the previous Progress Journal posts, although we work quite peacefully as a team, I think that our group is often not well-prepared for the shoots. I am worried that we may not have enough time to complete shooting or editing our film. 

The final product is due in less than two weeks, and we have neither completed shooting the scenes on St. Stephen's Beach, nor have we started filming in the auditorium. In addition, we are not prepared with the set dressing and props as well. Compared to other groups which have already started editing their footage, we are so far behind schedule. All of the shooting was planned to be done during mid-term break, but a lot of changes were made to the production plan. Since we are planning to get most of the shooting done next week, we may need to spend extra time editing as well. The following week is going to be very crucial as it is the only time (the last week before the final film is due) for us to catch up with our progress. 

Final Cut Pro - Notes

Setting
Format: Apple ProRes 422 (changes based on how camera is storing its information)
Primary Scratch Disk: Folder --> Documents --> Final Cut Pro Documents --> OK (where the video raw footage are saved)
"Unable to locate the following external devices" "HDV (1440 x 1080) 24p / 60i - Resolution = Cannot Locate Camera

How to import footage in the browser
"File" --> "Log and Transfer" ("Log and Capture" for Tape) --> Drag (It then transfers)
[ --> * Clip Name . Scene ]
Label the clip by right clicking (Best take, good take, etc.)
* Always know your footage well and be familiar with it

Frame Size: 
If frame size / frame rate does not match the one in the sequence, there may be problems. When dragging the first clip, Final Cut Pro would give you a message about changing sequence settings.
Moment of Black is needed [A] -- Titling / Text -- Can be dragged to sequence

* [A] Matte --> Solid Colour --> Choose Black --> Put it at the head of the timeline for at least 5 seconds
Last names should not be included in titles (First Name, Initials)

Choose in points and out points on monitor then drag to timeline

Canvas is where the final film appears

Use Slug to fill in scenes that are not yet ready / shot

Sequences: Can be used to divide complicated scenes / sections and afterwards drag it to the main edit sequence

Progress Journal - Analytical Entry #2: Film Shoot - Day 1 / 2 at St. Stephen's Beach

         3rd October, 2014 was our group’s first filming day. However, things did not turn out the way we planned. Before shooting, we went to search for the missing costumes and props that we need at Stanley Market, and the search took us longer than we expected, as it is quite difficult to search for the items that we need in this big massive market. After that, it began to rain and we were not able to film on St. Stephen’s Beach as our scenes are set outdoors. We decided to spend the rest of the time preparing for our production portfolio by taking photos of our costumes and props, so that we would be well-prepared for our next shoot, and arranged another day and time to film. 

         Finding another day and time to film was not easy for our group. We communicated mainly through emails, and we all are free at different times. One of our group members created a spreadsheet for us to fill in dates to clearly list out when we are free. We finally organized a time for our second shoot. 

         Our next film shoot was on 23rd October, 2014. We started off with the actresses putting on makeup and changing into costumes. The director and I, the camera operator, collected the props that we brought. Unfortunately, one of us forgot to bring the prop gun and our prop map was missing. Moreover, we needed fake blood for our shooting scene, but we did not have all of the ingredients required to create fake blood. Nonetheless, we went to St. Stephen’s Beach to shoot the scenes that does not involve the use of fake blood and the missing props. During the shoot, I was operating the camera - although I took film in Year 8 as well, this is actually my first time being the camera operator. Setting up the tripod and microphone, and manually changing the settings of the camera, was at first complicated, but through practice, it becomes a piece of cake for me. The weather was very hot, but it was perfect for our scenes as the setting was a desert. We got part of our film shot, however, since we forgot to bring some of the props, we need to arrange another time to come to St. Stephen’s Beach to shoot the rest of the scenes. 

         I often find it hard for our group to be well-prepared and organized for film shoots. Not only is it difficult for us to gather together, but not every one of us is clear about what scenes we will be shooting, causing us to forget to bring equipment, props or costumes that we need. For example, I, as the camera operator, has all the film equipment - camera, shotgun microphone and tripod, but I left the equipment at school as I thought we would be shooting at school. However, it turned out that not everyone was free, therefore the shoot was cancelled. As a result, I had to go back to school during mid-term break just to retrieve the film equipment from my locker for our film shoot. To avoid this situation in the future, creating a list of items that we need to bring to the shoot may be helpful. Our group should also plan beforehand, instead of making last-minute decisions. Moreover, I think that I should work more on communicating with my group members. During the shoot, the actresses wanted the scene to be shot differently, but personally, I did not think that the scene should be shot that way. I find difficulty in expressing my own opinions, as I am more of a quiet listener than a talker. At last, I shot the scene using both ways and we will review the footage and decide on which one to use when editing. 

             Producing a film is not easy - it certainly takes a lot of effort and time to produce a good film, but I am looking forward to our following shoots. 

Progress Journal - Analytical Entry #1: Production Portfolio

Our production portfolio was due about 2 weeks ago, and I would like to write an entry about it not only to record the process, but also because the experience has taught me about the importance of time management. The assignment was given a long time ago and I started by planning out what I have to include in my production portfolio. 

I made a list of what I need to include in my portfolio, so that my work would be organized. 

I put a ‘√’ check mark next to each part when I finish them. 

As I am the camera operator, I was responsible for the storyboards and overheads. I also planned to add information about camera shot sizes in my portfolio. We were given time in class to work on our production portfolio, however, I did not get much work done during class because I did not spend time wisely, so most of my production portfolio work would have to be done at home. I researched on the Internet on how to create fake blood, as well as camera shot sizes. I stuck photos that I found on the web and photos of costumes and props that our group took in my portfolio. There was a lot of work to do. We also had to buy or create some of the costumes and props that we couldn’t borrow from school, and it was not very easy for us to find the items that we need. During our first shoot, we went to Stanley Market to buy some items, however, not all of the items could be found there. For example, we needed an Old West silver star badge, one of the major props in our film, but we could not find it anywhere. Therefore, we made our own badge using silver paper, cardboard and a safety pin. We tried our best to find costumes and props that look similar to those in the original movie. 

      The Badge that we made 

The Original Badge

Although I finished my portfolio at last, I left most of my work undone until the night before the portfolio was due. I got home at around 8, which was later than usual that night, and I started working on my production portfolio as soon as I finished my dinner and all the homework from other subjects. Since most of my work was not yet done and the research that I previously did was not detailed enough, I worked till after midnight. At that moment, I regretted not starting to do my work in advance and felt very ashamed of myself. I could have started earlier and my work would be better as well. I did not manage my time well and waited till last-minute to start my work. This has taught me that time management is very important. If you leave your work till last-minute, not only would the quality of your work not be as good, it would also affect your physical health. That night, I only had a few hours of sleep and the next day, I did not have that much energy and undoubtedly, it was hard for me to concentrate in class on that day. 

Doing pre-production work takes time and effort, but it has helped us with producing our film smoothly and would improve our final product. The mise-en-scène of our film has certainly improved as for example, we did research on how to create realistic fake blood and we also searched for props that look similar to those in the original movie. Even though I completed my production portfolio, I am not 100% satisfied with my final portfolio. If I had the chance to redo it, I would not make the same mistakes again and start working on it in advance.