Narrative report
Here is a copy of my report, I think they are quite long to post on a blogg but nevermind: In the hard copy I've included some images, but in here I didn't put them as I've already posted them before on blogg.
Reflecting on Narrative group production-MMPR10107
With the help from the online journal (i.e. bloggs), VLP group forum and other sources, I will reflect on my learning and development during this Narrative group project. By highlighting the skills and knowledge that I’ve gained and developed through this Narrative, I will hopefully show how my knowledge as a multimedia student has improved in terms of technical skills and working in teams. As one of the main aims for this module is about ‘team-working’, I will firstly discuss about the process and problems working as a team. Secondly, I will mention about how the online journal and VLP group forum was used in our group. Thirdly, I will talk about the tasks of this project, illustrating my learning through problems and solutions we found as a group. And finally I will conclude with discussing the improvements, showing how these attributes will inform my study in future modules this year.
1.) Team working:
People have different skills. So by working in a team with people of different skills in hardware and software will not only produce a good quality final product but also allow the other members of the team to learn. In our group, deciding on roles and tasks were easily determined as our strength and weaknesses were obvious, i.e. some person was good at using Photoshop, another knew how to use Premiere and so on. Although we have decided to give editing to those who are skilled rather than those aren’t as skilled, we’ve still got to learn by being involved in experimenting with using same software along with the creation of the narrative.
While team working helps broaden up our knowledge, there are two main problems I found through the narrative project, which are as followed:
• Issues in gathering each member’s ideas across
• Time management
The first point was simply solved by discussing amongst each other until we were all satisfied on a main idea. Through this, I’ve learnt that solid ideas on narrative are created by discussing and arguing many times.
For the second point, although I put scheduled times on the online forum and informed every one about the meeting times, some people failed to turn up at the meetings. Therefore the people who turned up had done more work than those who didn’t turn up. While having some people put great amount of input constantly throughout the production, others has put input only on few days. However I found that some of the group member has managed to make up their time by spending less time on pre-production and more work on post-production. Through this, I’ve learnt how to balance roles and tasks amongst different people.
2.) VLP group forum:
Looking back at the VLP group forum, I feel that we have used them mostly to put meeting times. Since most of us see each other in seminars and lectures, we tend to verbally discuss the ideas rather than posting them on the online forum. For this, I found passing ideas verbally much better than posting in written form as we are able to discuss and get feedback at the same time. Without using the group forum for this narrative, I wouldn’t have known that verbal discussion worked better on us.
3.) Findings and learning through development of the Narrative:
3.1-Photoshop
In the first and second weeks of production, we were mainly gathering information. Since our aim in this narrative was ‘to relate’ the situation of a student’s first day at university, we’ve used our own experience from being a student. Although we were already decided on the comical style, it was necessary to get ideas and influence from other sources in order to achieve what we wanted. A music video called, ‘Max Payne’ has influenced us on achieving line art for the stills. After searching for number of Photoshop tutorials and practicing on some sample pictures, I’ve learnt how to create line art on a photograph. Although, I had no background in using Photoshop, by having to experiment with the images, I have now gained more knowledge using different effects in Photoshop. Furthermore, using Photoshop in this project made me interested in using them again in the future projects. Here is an image of edited photo using Photoshop.
3.2-PowerPoint presentation
From the PowerPoint presentation, we’ve learnt that what we thought of ‘storyboard’ wasn’t what it was expected. We thought of ‘storyboard’ as just a guideline of what the story is going to be about (which may change throughout the production), but actually, a storyboard is a detailed guideline to what the story is about (which should include detailed events and dialogues). After the PowerPoint presentation, we’ve made new storyboard, including specific dialogues, sound effects and location in each event. From the feedback in clarifying what the ‘storyboard’ really is, I now know what it is expected in storyboard for future projects.
A presentation itself has also made me learn in number of ways:
• Making me learn a good way of presenting ideas (i.e. try not to rely on the notes when speaking.)
• Test the presentation in an assigned room before giving the presentation to avoid unexpected problems. (e.g. no network connection, use of audio sound devices).
• Layout of the presentation (e.g. in PowerPoint; avoid busy slides, include examples using the software to proof the ability of using them).
• Being confident.
3.3- Laws and regulations
As in the real production, getting permission to use any objects and sources had to be considered. Thinking about avoiding the copyright law; using free download website for music/audio effects and getting permission for using the public location and people, has made me experience the process of the real production.
3.4- Sound recording
We used sound booth to record the dialogues for our narrative. Being surrounded by technical equipment specifically set on the desk was stimulating. It was a good experience for all of us to work in the sound booth, as we’ve all learnt how to connect microphone (a proper one that is set inside the sound booth) to the DAT tape recorder and edit it in the computer in Sound booth. I now know at least a little about using the equipment in sound booth as well as how to use the DAT tape recorder, which will be beneficial for future project. Here is a picture of me editing in computer:
3.5-Premiere
Even though the main adjusting in Premiere was done by one person, final editing and testing was done by all of us. For this, I’ve also learnt how to render in Premiere as well as to adjust sounds onto the image, and to put effects such as flicking a page to achieve a comical style. This has also made me enthusiastic about using Premiere in future projects.
3.5-DVDs
We also had a problem with burning the DVD file onto the actual DVD-R, but we managed to sort that out by changing the computer from Windows 2000 to Windows XP. Thus this illustrates the improvement of the usage in technology. Additionally, by trying out using both DVD plus and DVD minus, I now understand the difference between them as well as when to use them.
3.6-Improvements
Even though I’m pleased with our narrative, there are things that should have taken in consider, which would have improved our project even better:
• Getting evaluation from number of people during the production. Feedbacks from general audience will help us see things that are not obvious to the production team. Thus makes sure that what we are trying to achieve (i.e. to make people relate to and laugh at the event) is accomplished.
• Putting overlapping music on each slide of the stills. i.e. hearing background music with dialogues at the same time.
• Adding movements in the stills i.e. moving effects on text, and even on some parts of the images, which would have made our narrative more advanced.
As this narrative was the first module to be given, at the start I was inexperienced in using most of the editing software. Perhaps, not only the programs, but I also had limited knowledge in using technical devices. But by being involved as much as possible in the production of this narrative, it has broadened my skills. So this project has definitely given me good understanding in using variety of different tools, which will then extends further more when using them in future studies.
Bibliography
LHCLEGION, 2006. Previously on Max Payne…[online]. YouTube,Inc. Available at: [Accessed 27th of November, 2006].
Reflecting on Narrative group production-MMPR10107
With the help from the online journal (i.e. bloggs), VLP group forum and other sources, I will reflect on my learning and development during this Narrative group project. By highlighting the skills and knowledge that I’ve gained and developed through this Narrative, I will hopefully show how my knowledge as a multimedia student has improved in terms of technical skills and working in teams. As one of the main aims for this module is about ‘team-working’, I will firstly discuss about the process and problems working as a team. Secondly, I will mention about how the online journal and VLP group forum was used in our group. Thirdly, I will talk about the tasks of this project, illustrating my learning through problems and solutions we found as a group. And finally I will conclude with discussing the improvements, showing how these attributes will inform my study in future modules this year.
1.) Team working:
People have different skills. So by working in a team with people of different skills in hardware and software will not only produce a good quality final product but also allow the other members of the team to learn. In our group, deciding on roles and tasks were easily determined as our strength and weaknesses were obvious, i.e. some person was good at using Photoshop, another knew how to use Premiere and so on. Although we have decided to give editing to those who are skilled rather than those aren’t as skilled, we’ve still got to learn by being involved in experimenting with using same software along with the creation of the narrative.
While team working helps broaden up our knowledge, there are two main problems I found through the narrative project, which are as followed:
• Issues in gathering each member’s ideas across
• Time management
The first point was simply solved by discussing amongst each other until we were all satisfied on a main idea. Through this, I’ve learnt that solid ideas on narrative are created by discussing and arguing many times.
For the second point, although I put scheduled times on the online forum and informed every one about the meeting times, some people failed to turn up at the meetings. Therefore the people who turned up had done more work than those who didn’t turn up. While having some people put great amount of input constantly throughout the production, others has put input only on few days. However I found that some of the group member has managed to make up their time by spending less time on pre-production and more work on post-production. Through this, I’ve learnt how to balance roles and tasks amongst different people.
2.) VLP group forum:
Looking back at the VLP group forum, I feel that we have used them mostly to put meeting times. Since most of us see each other in seminars and lectures, we tend to verbally discuss the ideas rather than posting them on the online forum. For this, I found passing ideas verbally much better than posting in written form as we are able to discuss and get feedback at the same time. Without using the group forum for this narrative, I wouldn’t have known that verbal discussion worked better on us.
3.) Findings and learning through development of the Narrative:
3.1-Photoshop
In the first and second weeks of production, we were mainly gathering information. Since our aim in this narrative was ‘to relate’ the situation of a student’s first day at university, we’ve used our own experience from being a student. Although we were already decided on the comical style, it was necessary to get ideas and influence from other sources in order to achieve what we wanted. A music video called, ‘Max Payne’ has influenced us on achieving line art for the stills. After searching for number of Photoshop tutorials and practicing on some sample pictures, I’ve learnt how to create line art on a photograph. Although, I had no background in using Photoshop, by having to experiment with the images, I have now gained more knowledge using different effects in Photoshop. Furthermore, using Photoshop in this project made me interested in using them again in the future projects. Here is an image of edited photo using Photoshop.
3.2-PowerPoint presentation
From the PowerPoint presentation, we’ve learnt that what we thought of ‘storyboard’ wasn’t what it was expected. We thought of ‘storyboard’ as just a guideline of what the story is going to be about (which may change throughout the production), but actually, a storyboard is a detailed guideline to what the story is about (which should include detailed events and dialogues). After the PowerPoint presentation, we’ve made new storyboard, including specific dialogues, sound effects and location in each event. From the feedback in clarifying what the ‘storyboard’ really is, I now know what it is expected in storyboard for future projects.
A presentation itself has also made me learn in number of ways:
• Making me learn a good way of presenting ideas (i.e. try not to rely on the notes when speaking.)
• Test the presentation in an assigned room before giving the presentation to avoid unexpected problems. (e.g. no network connection, use of audio sound devices).
• Layout of the presentation (e.g. in PowerPoint; avoid busy slides, include examples using the software to proof the ability of using them).
• Being confident.
3.3- Laws and regulations
As in the real production, getting permission to use any objects and sources had to be considered. Thinking about avoiding the copyright law; using free download website for music/audio effects and getting permission for using the public location and people, has made me experience the process of the real production.
3.4- Sound recording
We used sound booth to record the dialogues for our narrative. Being surrounded by technical equipment specifically set on the desk was stimulating. It was a good experience for all of us to work in the sound booth, as we’ve all learnt how to connect microphone (a proper one that is set inside the sound booth) to the DAT tape recorder and edit it in the computer in Sound booth. I now know at least a little about using the equipment in sound booth as well as how to use the DAT tape recorder, which will be beneficial for future project. Here is a picture of me editing in computer:
3.5-Premiere
Even though the main adjusting in Premiere was done by one person, final editing and testing was done by all of us. For this, I’ve also learnt how to render in Premiere as well as to adjust sounds onto the image, and to put effects such as flicking a page to achieve a comical style. This has also made me enthusiastic about using Premiere in future projects.
3.5-DVDs
We also had a problem with burning the DVD file onto the actual DVD-R, but we managed to sort that out by changing the computer from Windows 2000 to Windows XP. Thus this illustrates the improvement of the usage in technology. Additionally, by trying out using both DVD plus and DVD minus, I now understand the difference between them as well as when to use them.
3.6-Improvements
Even though I’m pleased with our narrative, there are things that should have taken in consider, which would have improved our project even better:
• Getting evaluation from number of people during the production. Feedbacks from general audience will help us see things that are not obvious to the production team. Thus makes sure that what we are trying to achieve (i.e. to make people relate to and laugh at the event) is accomplished.
• Putting overlapping music on each slide of the stills. i.e. hearing background music with dialogues at the same time.
• Adding movements in the stills i.e. moving effects on text, and even on some parts of the images, which would have made our narrative more advanced.
As this narrative was the first module to be given, at the start I was inexperienced in using most of the editing software. Perhaps, not only the programs, but I also had limited knowledge in using technical devices. But by being involved as much as possible in the production of this narrative, it has broadened my skills. So this project has definitely given me good understanding in using variety of different tools, which will then extends further more when using them in future studies.
Bibliography
LHCLEGION, 2006. Previously on Max Payne…[online]. YouTube,Inc. Available at:
Labels: Narrative
posted by eriko @ 4:34 AM
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