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].

Stage 3 Narrative

Today, we’ve finally finished Narrative stage 3. We were mostly done with the actual project and all we had to do was to create a DVD file burnt onto a DVD and to write the peer assessment form, but it actually took us quite a while to finish them. We’ve started to work on it right after the seminar we had in the morning (which was until 12pm), and finished at around 3:45-ish. Thank goodness we’ve handed in on time!

Basically, what took us so long was the rendering bit in Premiere. When we were testing and finalizing our stills, we’ve found one slide that has got no sound on it, so we had to re-record just one sound that we needed. Well, we also took some time trying to find the technician for to ask for a room and equipment. After recording the sound and added into Premiere, we had to render it and save a copy into the USB pen for it to be burnt onto the DVD in W207. Since it was a heavy file, it has taken ages to render and save the files. And on top of that, the computer that we were using was one of our group member’s laptop and it was running out of battery!! But just by luck, we’ve managed to render and save a copy in the USB pen right before the battery was out.
We also had a problem with burning the DVD file onto the actual DVD-R, but we managed to sort that out changing the computer. The computer in W207 with Windows 2000 was giving us some problems (it wasn’t allowing us to burn the file on the DVD) but we luckily sorted them out after using another computer that has got Windows XP.

Anyways, I’m really relieved that we’re finished with creating the 2 minutes narrative. It was fun working with the people in group 14 and I think I’ve learnt new things throughout this project.

Just thought it might be nice to put 2 images of the cover of our narrative:
Here is the front cover:



This is the back cover:

Recording sound

On 24th of November (Friday), after the lecture in the morning, I’ve stayed at the university to record sounds for our Narrative project. As I’ve managed to book the equipment a day before, we (me, Sid and Rob) were able to start recording sounds straight away. We were actually planning to use the sound booth in W106, but we found that the room was already booked for lighting seminar for group A. So instead, we’ve asked nicely to one of the technician if we could use the sound booth in room 207. We were lucky to use the sound booth as we were actually supposed to book a room before hand. So for next time, I know that not only the equipment but I also need to book a room as well.
It was my first time using or even being in the sound booth. It was really exciting to see all the technical equipment being arranged on the table. Once we close the room, we can’t hear anything from inside and outside! I think 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 are some of the pictures I took inside the sound booth, working on the Narrative project:

Narrative group work

Today, we’ve worked on the Narrative project almost for the whole day. I’ve got to see most of the edited pictures (with comical effect), which we then discussed it, gave feedbacks and made sure that we (or the people who attended the meeting) has seen all the edited images. Then we started to sort out the dialogues that will be put along with the edited images. We’ve also practiced putting speech bubbles onto some of the edited images to make sure that the images and dialogues are properly laid out. After making notes and writing down the dialogues, we’ve then started to search on the sound we can find on the internet (free download ones, so that there isn’t any copy right problem). But through searching some of the websites, we found that most of the sound effects on the internet aren’t as good. So instead, we’ve decided to use some sound effects from the internet, but most of the other sounds will be recorded with microphones (i.e. dialogues and some other sound effects that we need in our stills (e.g. sound of a traffic, bottle opening..etc.)

I managed to book some sound equipment for tomorrow so that we can start recording sounds. We’re aiming to finish recording the sounds tomorrow, so that we’ll have all of next week to work on Premiere.

Narrative group work

Yesterday was a very busy day for me. I had a lecture from 9am, then I was working on Interactive narrative during the break, then I had 2 hours seminar, and then I had one hour break for next lecture. We tried to finish taking all the images on Monday but because we ran out of time, although we got most of the pictures, we've decided to finish off (couple of more shots) on Tuesday. So between that one hour lecture, Sid and I had to quickly go to my flat to finish taking the photos for our narrative project.

By fast walking, going from my place to university takes about 15 ~
20mins. So right after the seminar, we had to quickly go to my flat, take the pictures, then quickly go back to the university for the lecture. It was very tireing but we managed to finish taking the photos!! Also, we were lucky that the pictures that we had to take on Tuesday was indoor picture only and not outdoor. Because it started raining in the afternoon, it would have ruined our schedule if we were taking images outside!! Thank goodness!

Narrative work

After the Production Surgery seminar today, me and Sid went to take the pictures for our stills. We were planning to take the images last week, but due to the problem with arranging cars (for taxi) and police officer,being consistance in clothes..etc, we've decided to work on it today.

Since we've made a detailed lists (story board) of what pictures need to be taken, so at first I thought it wouldn't take too long taking the pictures on my digital camera..but I was wrong!! It actually taken us about a whole day do take pictures here and there in Nottingham.

Although we knew what pictures we needed to take, we had to decide carefully on how the image is being taken i.e. what sort of angle is effective, what kind of background is relevant..etc.
We discussed on the image taken and if it doesn't look good, then we took another one.
The greatest achievement that we had today was that we actually got a permission from the police officer to be in our narrative! (But its just two shots!) Anyways, it is better to have a real police officer rather than having to have a student dressed like a police officer.

What I've learnt today was that 'Just taking pictures' can take ages! A small tiny thing can ruin our plans when working outside and in groups. For example, weather can cause a great effect, if it rains we have to take the images some other day and this will ruin our plan (timetable). Or another example, if the actor (a main character) is ill, then it'll also change the whole schedule. So I think planning ahead would be the key, because anything can happen during our production whether we like it or not!!

Narrative Powerpoint presentation

Today our group 14 had the narrative presenation on powerpoint. We were rehearsing the presentation from the morning, finalizing and fixing few bits on the slides. To be honest, I thought our presentation will go pretty well because we thought (at least before the presentation) that we've put in every detail that we could think of. But after giving the presenation, the feedback we got wasn't really what we were expecting. But I think it was good that we've got to learn many things that need to be considered when presenting a narrative to the audience (or in the real world, will be the client). Furthermore, it also allowed us to realize the points that we didn't think of when developing the narrative. For example, we should have put speach bubbles and some sample of the sound effect so that it'll make the audience understand how our project will be more clearly.

The biggest thing that I've learnt today was the requirement for 'the storyboard'. I thought the storyboard are just a few picture/image that roughly explains what the story will be about. But as Debora mentioned in her comments, storyboard should have everything in it. Basically the storyboard should show the final piece (for example; we are doing stills, so rather than putting some images of how our story is being layed out, we should have put every single bit of images that will be used in the final project).
The reason why we didn't put every single image in our presentation was that we didn't wanted to give all of our ideas away. Because we thought it would be boring if the audience sees the storyline before actually seeing the final project.

Although it didn't go as smooth as we (the group) thought, I think I've learnt many things in this presentation and I think the whole point of having feedback is to make us learn and develop in depth to make sure that our final project in a better quality.

Narrative 2

I've looked at the following two sites to identify any narrative being used:

http://www.nike.com

In this website, I had to first select a country/language. Then number of graphical image appears on the screen, allowing the user to select different information. I think this uses categorical form- as each event doesn't contingent. This websiteis rather simple, mostly useing images to advertise the products. Though some sections do contain some texts, but seem to show rather personal (as the sentence starts with 'I')-thus I find this as an authorial point of view.

http://www.cocacola.com

Similar to the Nike website, this one also starts with selecting a country by simply clicking on the world map. But this website contains different information on different country. So unlike Nike website, the layout and the events differs depending upon which country the user select. At the beginning, I thought this is also using categorical form but perhaps this is more towards syntactic form. Although each country contains different events and each of these doesn't relate to one another, they are more organized in a way that seemed to guide the user quite well.

Narrative studies

I should have written this on to the blog long ago, but since i have problems connecting to the internet, i've finally had a chance to write my learnings from last weeks classes:

16th of October:
We were all split in a big group (Group A,B and C) to produce a story based on the objects that we as an individual has found on the street. Writing an instilation piece on the random objects on the street (i.e. mostly garbage) was hard to make and the biggest problem was we were in the big group, so it was hard to communicate with one another. The first thing we did was to pass around a piece of paper, each writing down what object each has found. After that we were in a big circle and has started to build a story. What we have come up was a journey that the viewer can experience through the random objects (that we found on the street), making this on a touch screen so that the user can easilly take on a journey depending upon which object chosen.
After we've decided on the main concept, we had to make them into reality (i.e. as a finished piece of work), so we then broke down to smaller groups and split the task. One group (4~5 people): were making dialogs and writings-basically writing the story in detail, another group was in charge of taking photos, and the last group creates the whole power point presentation.
I think we were doing fairly good in terms of dividing the groups and giving tasks.

19th of October:
In Narrative 1 class, we were divided in a small group of 4. Then we were each given a theme (which we weren't allow to tell the other groups) and we had to make a short film based on the theme given. We were to proof Jools's theory of us having a basic understandinf of using camera and the knowledge of showing the message across to the viewer, without having to learn technical knowledge. Our group was given a theme: 'Fighting compulsion'. So we did a short film of the students drinking alcohol and smoking but strying to resist (addiction), and eating sweets or doing lottery..etc.
I really enjoyed this seminar, it was really fun as we were co-operating really well and was a good team work. We got to think and share ideas and taking in each of the ideas and making them into a short film. After making the short film, we all looked at other short films made by other groups and wrote some feedback. The feedback that we got from other groups was useful and was helpful to know what the viewer found or thought through looking at the short film.
The importance of this exercise was: to be able to communicate, how to bring the message across, controlling the elements, understanding how to deliver information to the viewer.