Photoshop practice

I did some practicing on Photoshop to get used to the features and see what I could do so it is easier for me when I come to edit properly. I found it difficult at first as I have only had brief experience with this software, however it has advanced features and will make my magazine and poster look professional.

This is tool which enhances the photo to make the quality and light look more professional and show more detail.

This is a quick selection tool which allows me to select part of the image and detach it from the first background. This will be useful when I want to remove the background from an image and place the image on a different background.

Here I learnt about the crop tool which crops out unnecessary backgrounds. I watched the tutorial video I found and this helped me a lot when I came to look for the different features.

Ancillary tasks update

I have decided that as extra resources so I don't have to limit myself to certain images, I will organise a date with my actors in the Christmas holidays, to take more images to consider including on my ancillary products. I will ensure these images reflect my audience research (such as using close ups, low key lighting, showing the iconic mask and also using action shots for my magazine) so I know my target audience will be attracted to the products and are intrigued by them to watch the film.

Editing session 7

14/12/15

In today's editing session, my group and I:

• Ensured we had all the shots in the right order. 
• We watched what we had produced so far and decided that the equilibrium needed to be shorted as it was over a minute long and we got bored whilst watching it and we don't want our audience to be. 
• Ensured that all our shots were tightly cut down to a professional and sleek standard so they didn't drag out and show unnecessary content such as characters just standing there, waiting for characters to do something or for action to happen.

We are yet to add more shots in, however this is the footage we have edited for our montage so far. We wanted quick shots which will make the audience jump.  We have had ideas in today's lesson about removing the sound from the shots and having the sound of the spade dragging across some of the shots to suggest the shots in the montage are showing the disruption and disequilibrium in the film.

We thought that these shots were too long in the disruption after we watched them back from previous editing, so I cut them down to ensure they were sleek and professional looking. They look good here as they show the main action we want the audience see and they keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

This shot is quick and makes the audience jump. We cut it down so it just bangs on the door as soon as the shot comes on as this will be more frightening to the audience. When we come to sound editing, I want to enhance the banging sound as this will make the audience jump.

This is some of the trailer before the montage we have put together so far. It shows the action involved with the disruption and dis equilibrium and I really like how the shots aren't in film order as this leaves the audience asking questions. 

Editing session 6

13/12/15

Unfortunately today we only managed to do half an hour of editing instead of the full hour as we had some difficulties trying to retrieve our work on the Macs.

However, in this half an hour, we re ordered some shots and decided that the shots we have positioned for our montage needed to be cut down so they are only 0.5-1 seconds long. This is to make it extremely fast paced as I had previously analysed 'The Purge' trailer and I liked the effect its fast montage had on the audience. It increased their adrenaline and prepared them for the film and this is what we want to achieve with our trailer. 

I suggested we should experiment by repeating some shots in the montage and we watched the 'You're Next' trailer for more inspiration. We all really liked the montage in this, which also repeated shots, so we tried to recreate this effect in our own trailer. 

I also like the non diegetic soundtrack used in this montage as it suggests the time is flashing before the characters eyes and they need to escape.  After the montage in the 'You're Next' trailer and also when the title appears, it shows a complete contrast in the action to the calmness of the next shots. Also, the calm/silent sound juxtaposes the frightening shot of the antagonist jumping out which shocks the audience. This is something I want to consider doing when we come to adding sound as this will play on the audiences fears and add to the horror which will meet psychological horror conventions.

Photoshop guide

To help me when I come to practicing and using Photoshop, I downloaded a guide for how to use the basic features on the software. This is so I can learn the more technical features when editing as I will already know the basics such as cropping and transforming, which will speed up the post- production process.

I will look at using the pen tool and custom shape tools for adding the 5 star rating and stickers to my magazine cover and poster, and I will need to use the text tool for the text. However, when my group and I decide on a font for our film, we might create our own on Photoshop, so therefore I will be able to just copy this into my designs and it won't be pixelated if I transform it. I will also be experimenting with the saturation, enhancement and contrast of my images as well as other features similar to these, so this guide has helped me learn how to do this.

Photo editing for ancillarys on Serif

As Photoshop is not yet on the school Apple Macs, I have decided to practice and experiment with ideas on another professional editing software called Serif DrawPlus X5 until Photoshop is accessible. However, I will produce my overall ancillary tasks on Photoshop.

I like this distortion effect this edit gives the image as it conceals the identity even more as it does't necessarily look like a mask with this effect therefore it creates enigma.

I like this edit as it blurred to look as though it is creeping out the shadows. Shadows are conventions of the horror genre and so it foreshadows mystery in the film, encouraging people to watch it.

I like this edit as it simple and looks sinister. However, it looks very edited even though it is only a black and white edit and if I was to consider using this effect, I will use photo shop to remove the hair at the side of the face so it is symmetrical to look more professional.

I like this effect as it looks like weapons such as knives or axes have been thrown at the character, suggesting to the audience that the character is an antagonist. The weapon marks foreshadow danger in the film suggesting violence giving the audience clues.

I like this effect as it looks like the masked antagonist is outside a window. This creates enigma for the audience as they will as questions such as who's window is it? and what will happen to the person inside the house? The effect also ensures it shows the antagonist is female by showing long blonde hair, therefore this shows how unique the film is as it is clear there is a female antagonist which gives the audience another reason to watch the film. 

In this edit I have enhanced the light to create more shadow. I like this effect as it follows horror conventions and makes the antagonist look more sinister making the audience feel uncomfortable which conforms to horror conventions.