PRE-PRODUCTION
In the pre-production stage, I used a range of online, software and hardware elements of technology. To work together in my production group I used predominantly online technology which was in the pre-production process which we used to communicate with each other, research and plan.
ONLINE
Snapchat and WhatsApp
To communicate with my production group, I created a WhatsApp group chat where we messaged each other voice recordings, images, files and texts. We used WhatsApp to sort out times we could meet during school hours and communicate when Sophie from my production group and myself had Covid 19. Using both my phone (hardware) and this app (software) shows how I integrated technology which was vital in my pre-production stage. WhatsApp was very useful when deciding on different concepts to pitch our idea including the feedback we received. I used Snapchat to communicate with members of my production group however we did not have a group chat as not all of us had the app.
YouTube
I used YouTube (online) on my laptop (hardware) in the pre-production stage to research and plan. For example, I analysed different opening title sequences on different YouTube channels from a range of genres to compare ideas from mine but also to look at similar products and conventions to make my product as successful as possible. I also used YouTube to upload some of the process of my planning. As well as this, I made a behind the scenes video out of footage which was taken on my phone (hardware) to keep track of our progress. In addition to this, we filmed a scene of dialogue on a Black Magic Mini URSA Camera (hardware) which was edited on the software Adobe Premiere Pro, this sequence was then uploaded to Youtube after I edited it so I could then transfer and embed it onto my blog (online). Another way I used this social media platform was to prepare and plan the costume and makeup that we envisioned before our shoot day; I looked at a range of makeup tutorials via social media influencers on YouTube on how to create a bruised makeup look for our victim character in our opening sequence.
https://alicesa1media.blogspot.com/2022/03/similar-products-and-conventions.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acIiB4iJFdA
https://alicesa1media.blogspot.com/2022/02/preparing-for-costume-and-makeup-for.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vwGaASaagE&t=1s
https://alicesa1media.blogspot.com/2021/11/research-into-horror-opening-scene.html
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Amazon
Amazon was crucial in the pre-production stage to order all of our props for the set design. This form of online technology was useful as it is very efficient to deliver items quickly and we were able to find reasonable prices. When planning for our shoot we split up the list of props evenly and then I ordered a range from Amazon such as the special fx makeup and white handkerchiefs. I used this special fx makeup from Amazon to create the bruised and beaten up makeup look which I practised on myself and my friends before the shoot day.
Blogger
I used Blogger which is a product of Chrome to track all my knowledge i.e the research and planning I had done before filming my opening sequence. I used this form of online technology to track the whole process including creating different concepts, making our pitch, tracking changes to our idea, researching to help our product such as looking at different genre conventions, blogging any contact with my production group and cast such as screenshots of emails. Using Blogger was helpful so I could stay on track with all my work which allowed me to stay organised.
Hardware
Laptops
I used my Macbook Air in the pre-production process which is a form of hardware for a range of different uses such as blogging my work, using Microsoft Outlook to email my cast and production group and researching on the internet. My Macbook Air is portable therefore I was able to work efficiently to blog and complete elements of research and planning. Features on my Macbook Air were useful as I could quickly use IMessage, Airdrop and Facetime to contact members of my production group.
Mobile Phones
In the pre-production process, I also used my iPhone XR which is a form of hardware which was a useful way of communicating and tracking my work. Using my iPhone XR was convenient to take photographs which I did throughout different workshops such as capturing photographs of the camera workshop but also taking photographs of the process of creating different makeup looks I did which benefitted me on the filming day as I had an image I could refer to. The notes app on my iPhone XR was integral in helping to keep track of tasks I needed to complete before filming such as ordering props.
SOFTWARE
I used the software Google Slides to present to our teachers our production group's pitch. This was to convey to them the genre, our idea, a short write up of the narrative of the whole film and a detailed account of our opening sequence, location ideas and actor ideas. Google Slides was an efficient software to use as it allowed our whole production group to work on it at the same time by making it collaborative.
I also used the software Google Slides to create a digital mood board to convey the theme of our opening sequence, the genre, ideas for location, characters and narrative elements of our product. This helped to convey the visualise elements we wanted to accomplish for our opening sequence.
