My name is Dan. This is my blog :)

Inspirational videos

2012-01-20T15:43:00.000-08:00

Projections moodboard

2012-01-20T15:14:00.000-08:00

This moodboard denotes my initial ideas for the projection project. As this project is meant to be abstract, I have collated random images which have no meaning. Obviously, the images on a whole do have a meaning, but to me, they don't as I do not know the background information to why the images were taken. They certainly relate to themes, for example, sunsets and reflections, but ultimately play no role in displaying a narrative.

Projections Brainstorm and notes

2012-01-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

This Project has been hard to grasp purely because there is to be no real narrative. Coming up of ideas has been problematic because of this, however I believe sticking to a theme, whether it's vague or not is the key to making an abstract projection for the music to relate to.

Here are some notes to take into consideration:
-Experimental/Abstract
-No Story/Narrative
-3-6 minute tracks
-14 tracks, have to pick one
-Possible multi projections.

Short 1 minute video

2012-01-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

I made this short video over Christmas, I was mainly testing my canon 600D to get the best out of it. It was all filmed at 60fps in order to create a few smooth slow motion clips. The song choice is a remix of the foals song 'Spanish Sahara' which I believe fits well with the video.

Here it is... enjoy :)

Showreel from Dan Bissill on Vimeo.

Say something political final

2011-12-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

Risk assessment form

2011-11-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Recce form for fifth location

2011-11-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

RECCE INFORMATION

PRODUCTION TITLE: Say Something Political

PRODUCER: Daniel Bissill

DATE OF RECCE: 1/11/2011

TIME OF RECCE:17:00 pm

LOCATION: 162 North Sherwood Street

HOW TO GET THERE (Car/Bus/Walk)

Access to car parking on North Sherwood Street . Fairly central to town. Within walking distance. Buses stop on Mansfield Road- 2 Minute walk to location from bus stop.

PERSON IN CHARGE OF LOCATION

CONTACT NAME: Daniel Bissill

POSITION: Director

TELEPHONE: 07837821244

ACCESS & PARKING/ HOURS AVAILABLE

Available all day and all night.

POWER AVAILABLE

Power is available throughout the flat. Has two power sockets in the room which the scene will be shot in.

SOUND / AMBIENT NOISE / PROBLEMS

Fairly loud ambient sound. Cars/people walking past house/ music from next door.

PLAN OF THE LOCATION (photographs)

To come, have not had access to the house yet. Seen the house a few weeks ago.

OTHER INFORMATION (TOILETS, CATERING, FUNNY CARETAKER)

Location contains two fully working toilets. One downstairs and one upstairs. Catering can be provided on set at any time.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF LOCATION

Lounge is fairly modern with access to power. Room contains two sofas but one will be taken out the room. A reasonable size lounge with easy access for equipment to be set up safely. The house is on North Sherwood Street. It’s a student accommodation.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

I intend to film a few varied shots of a male lying on a couch. The shot will roughly last for 5 seconds when edited. In terms of the cast and crew, only these will be allowed in the dedicated room for the shooting.

Recce form for fourt location

2011-11-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

RECCE INFORMATION

PRODUCTION TITLE: Say Something Political

PRODUCER: Daniel Bissill

DATE OF RECCE: 1/11/2011

TIME OF RECCE:16:00 pm

LOCATION: 19 Arthur street

HOW TO GET THERE (Car/Bus/Walk)

Access to car parking on Arthur Street. Fairly central to town. Within walking distance. Tram stop 2 minutes away.

PERSON IN CHARGE OF LOCATION

CONTACT NAME: Daniel Bissill

POSITION: Director

TELEPHONE: 07837821244

ACCESS & PARKING/ HOURS AVAILABLE

Available all day and all night.

POWER AVAILABLE

Power is available throughout the flat. Has three power sockets in the room which the scene will be shot in.

SOUND / AMBIENT NOISE / PROBLEMS

Quiet area. No noticeable noise apart from people living in the house.

PLAN OF THE LOCATION (photographs)

OTHER INFORMATION (TOILETS, CATERING, FUNNY CARETAKER)

Location contains two fully working toilets. One downstairs and one upstairs. Catering can be provided on set at any time.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF LOCATION

Lounge is fairly modern with access to power. Floor is fairly slippery so may have to put a carpet under the tripod for support. Room contains two sofas but one will be taken out the room. A small open planned kitchen is linked to the lounge. The flat is on Arthur Street. It’s a student accommodation.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

Recce form for third location

2011-11-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

RECCE INFORMATION

PRODUCTION TITLE: Say Something Political

PRODUCER: Daniel Bissill

DATE OF RECCE: 1/11/2011

TIME OF RECCE:14:00 pm

LOCATION: 5 Royal Albert court

HOW TO GET THERE (Car/Bus/Walk)

Access to car parking on Royal Albert Court grounds. Near to town. Within walking distance.

PERSON IN CHARGE OF LOCATION

CONTACT NAME: Daniel Bissill

POSITION: Director

TELEPHONE: 07837821244

ACCESS & PARKING/ HOURS AVAILABLE

Available all day and all night.

POWER AVAILABLE

Power is available throughout the flat. Has two power sockets in the room which the scene will be shot in.

SOUND / AMBIENT NOISE / PROBLEMS

Occasional ambient noise from nearby roads. No real problems. Windows are double glazed- will stop the noise quite well.

PLAN OF THE LOCATION (photographs)

OTHER INFORMATION (TOILETS, CATERING, FUNNY CARETAKER)

Location contains two fully working toilet. Catering can be provided on set at any time.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF LOCATION

Lounge is modern with access to power. Room contains three sofas but two will be taken out the room. The flat is on Royal Albert Court and will be filmed in the lounge. It’s a student accommodation.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

Recce form for second location

2011-11-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

RECCE INFORMATION

PRODUCTION TITLE: Say Something Political

PRODUCER: Daniel Bissill

DATE OF RECCE: 1/11/2011

TIME OF RECCE:13:00 pm

LOCATION: 61 Portland Road

HOW TO GET THERE (Car/Bus/Walk)

Access to car parking on Portland Road. Near to town. Within walking distance.

PERSON IN CHARGE OF LOCATION

CONTACT NAME: Daniel Bissill

POSITION: Director

TELEPHONE: 07837821244

ACCESS & PARKING/ HOURS AVAILABLE

Available all day and all night.

POWER AVAILABLE

Power is available throughout the flat. Has three power sockets in the room which the scene will be shot in.

SOUND / AMBIENT NOISE / PROBLEMS

Occasional ambient noise from nearby roads. No real problems. Windows are double glazed- will stop the noise quite well.

PLAN OF THE LOCATION (photographs)

OTHER INFORMATION (TOILETS, CATERING, FUNNY CARETAKER)

Location contains a fully working toilet. Catering can be provided on set at any time.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF LOCATION

Lounge is fairly modern with access to power. Room contains three sofas but two will be taken out the room. The flat is on Portland Road on the and will be filmed in the lounge. It’s a student accommodation.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

Recce form for first location

2011-11-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

RECCE INFORMATION

PRODUCTION TITLE: Say Something Political

PRODUCER: Daniel Bissill

DATE OF RECCE: 1/11/2011

TIME OF RECCE:10:00 am

LOCATION: 162b Mansfield Road

HOW TO GET THERE (Car/Bus/Walk)

Easily accessible by bus(bus stop outside the address) Access to car parking on Alfred street north. Fairly central to town. Within walking distance

PERSON IN CHARGE OF LOCATION

CONTACT NAME: Daniel Bissill

POSITION: Director

TELEPHONE: 07837821244

ACCESS & PARKING/ HOURS AVAILABLE

Available all day and all night.

POWER AVAILABLE

Power is available throughout the flat. Has four power sockets in the room which the scene will be shot in.

SOUND / AMBIENT NOISE / PROBLEMS

Loud ambient noise from nearby roads- Consistent. Also occasional noise from the flat next door.

PLAN OF THE LOCATION (photographs)

OTHER INFORMATION (TOILETS, CATERING, FUNNY CARETAKER)

Location contains two fully working toilets. Catering can be provided on set at any time.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF LOCATION

Lounge is fairly modern with access to power. Room contains three sofas but two will be taken out the room. A small open planned kitchen is linked to the lounge. The flat is on Mansfield Road on the third floor. It’s a student accommodation.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTION

Shooting Schedule

2011-11-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

Project Management

Shooting Schedule

	Tuesday 8^th Nov	Wednesday 9^th Nov	Thursday 10^th Nov
Location(s)	162b Mansfield Road. Lounge & 162 north Sherwood street	61 Portland Road & 5 Royal Albert court & 19 Arthur street	If footage is unsatisfactory go to the appropriate location.
Scene(s)	S1 and S2- refer to storyboard/ Script	S3,S4&S5- refer to storyboard/script
Equipment needed	Panasonic 151 and spare battery pack Boom pole and mic(k66), Softy + handle Tripod Headphones Reflectors	Panasonic 151 and spare battery pack Boom pole and mic(k66), Softy + handle Tripod Headphones Reflectors	Panasonic 151 and spare battery pack Boom pole and mic(k66), Softy + handle Tripod Headphones Reflectors
People needed	Director/producer- Daniel Bissill Assistant producer/sound- Chris Thorby Cameraman- Karl Harris	Director/producer- Daniel Bissill Assistant producer/sound- Chris Thorby Cameraman- Karl Harris	Director/producer- Daniel Bissill Assistant producer/soun d -Chris Thorby Cameraman- Karl Harris

Crew and Cast

Producer- Daniel Bissill

Director- Daniel Bissill

Assistant Producer- Chris Thorby- 07818878948

Cameraman- Karl Harris- 07751723579

Homeless person- Adam Warner

Kit List

Panasonic 151 x1

Spare Battery pack x1

Reflector x2

Tripod x1

Boom pole x1

K66 x1

Headphones x1

Softy x1

Handle x1

Budget List

Edit Facilities- £0.00

Crew- £0.00

Transport- £0.00

Catering- £5.00

Sundries- £0.00

Total: £5.00

Facts and figures for homelessness to be used in the advert

2011-10-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

-Many homeless people hide away from fear or shame or need to be alone.

-Approximately two million people are 'unofficially' homeless or 'hidden', sleeping on friends' floors or strangers' sofas in the UK alone.

-42... is the life expectancy of an average rough sleeper.

Final idea storyboad

2011-10-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Feedback from group on the three ideas

2011-10-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

From the feedback given by the group and Jools, it was clear to me which ideas worked and which didn't.

Idea one wasn't the one to be. Many commented saying that it was a fairly standard concept and it didn't work for them.

Idea two saw some interest. People said that the 'couch hopping' idea was fairly original and would be a interesting concept to develop further into something great and different. They liked what the concept actually meant; the idea being that you can still be considered homeless even if you don't live on the streets. A tagline needed to be thought of.

Idea three also had some promising feedback. A main comment was that in order for this idea to work, i would have to apply innovation visually to match the concept in order to create a hard hitting advert. Some people especially liked the image of having ' a slow motion perspective of a homeless person' however the audience will not know who this person is until the last shot where the camera zooms in to him.

Overall i am happy from the critical feedback, both negative and positive comments have helped me develop and choose my final idea.

Homelessness ad idea three

2011-10-19T13:21:00.000-07:00

Advert three:

Tag line- ' There is always time for each other, so why not give your time into helping those that need it.'

My final idea is based on time and how it is important to help the homeless as quick as possible. I intend to film different things around me, for example, cars and people, then speed them up to create a time lapse. This will indicate that time flies by for the average person in a day. On the other hand, for a homeless person, days can seem like weeks so this will show how hard it is for an average homeless person.

The main character will be young, but fragile with no real sense of what's going on. He has lost his social skills and is very much dependent on others to support him. His life needs changing.

The type of shots used will be ranging from long to medium for the time lapsing, and medium to close up for the shots with the main character in. Hopefully this will create flowing shots which are believable.

This advert will be aimed at everyone, youths, teenagers, adults and the elderly. I think it's important for everyone to realise that this is a massive issue not just in the UK but around the world. We often forget that everyone is the same and that everyone deserves a chance. I know i have at times. I barely pay attention to the homeless when i walk past them on the street, so i believe now is a greater time than any other time to make the difference and to support those that need it.

Homelessness ad idea two

2011-10-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

Advert two:

Tag line- ' Homeless people have a face, just look in the mirror, they're just like you, but they need help, and you can make the difference'.

My second advert idea for the 'homeless' is based around one character speaking into the camera about himself. The advert almost contradicts the idea of being homeless and the character will be juxtaposing the usual stereotype. He will be in fairly decent clothing, looking clean and healthy and he will mention this, however drops the sentence ' but I am homeless', which i believe pulled off well, will be a hard hitting advert which will make people support those who are homeless. I intend to include fast paced shots which will hopefully give a visual effect to the audience sub-consciously making them help and support quicker.

By having the character speaking and narrating to the audience, i think the message will deliver clearer as there are not many adverts that conform to this.

Homelessness ad idea one

2011-10-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

Advert one:

Tag line- 'Everyone's the same... Help those who are less fortunate.

The idea behind this advert is to show how homeless people can turn themselves around with the aid of fortunate people around them. The advert will consist of four main characters all living different lifestyles apart from one. The first three characters are James, Toby and Holly. The purpose for these three is to show how life can suddenly change; for example, Toby was managing a successful company two years ago, however got fired and had nowhere to turn to and was loosing money quickly. Inevitably like many people in the world, you resort to living on the street, becoming a part of the homeless society that surrounds us that is pushed aside by many of us. The last characters story shows how you can go from living negatively, being poor and going without any food for days, to turning his life around. He now has had help from local charities and works a few times a week earning money.

In terms of the narrative and structure, there is a exposition, a conflict, and a resolution giving the advert some depth and a realistic appearance.

Ultimately the advert is about helping the less fortunate who suffer day in day out, and aiding them to get work so that they can live a better lifestyle.

Homelessness moodboard

2011-10-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

This moodboard is my interpretation for those people who are less fortunate, for example being homeless. In collating these images my drive towards helping these people has grown dramatically. I want people to realise that they are also human beings, so maybe next time you walk past a homeless person you could perhaps try and do something different towards them. Maybe have a talk. See how you can help them.

Inspiration for binge drinking advert

2011-10-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

Alcohol awareness

2011-10-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

2011-10-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Below is a list of companies i have thought about contacting so far. I am still continually searching for companies and will be added to the list throughout this process.

1) Junior video editor- reel works media group

- Video production company in London. (02077706141)

-They create music video, commercials and corporate videos.

-Looking for a video editor.

2) VIDEOFEET

- Crate innovative films, design and music.

-St Albans

- 07891546588

3) BBC Nottingham

4) Giltbrook studios

- Finish in post creative and media production

- Located in Nottingam

-01159458800

5) Wellington films

- Feature films

- Located in Nottingham

- 01158400043

6) Bradley tv

- Video production company

-Corporate Videos, Event Coverage, Aerial Filming, Animation, Music Videos, TV and Cinema Commercials, PR Videos, Fashion and Lifestyle films, Motion Graphics, Video Testimonials, Product Demonstration Videos, Viral Videos, Foreign Language Films and On-screen Branding.

- Located in Leeds/ Offices in London- +441132344444

7) Tiger aspect productions

-Animation and Children’s, Comedy, Drama,Entertainment, Factual, Features and Feature Films.

-Located in London

- (0) 20 7434 6700

Production files

2011-10-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

Below is a list that MUST be included for the projects to come and i guess in every shoot that takes place in the big wide world!

1) Recce Sheet

2) Risk assessment

3) Treatment(e.g character, plot and genre etc)

4) Shot lift/prop list

5) Storyboard

6) Release forms

7) Music rights( release forms)

8) Referencing

9) Shooting schedule

10) Contact details or crew( Call sheet)

11) Log sheet

12) Edit sheet

13) Locations sheet

14) Script

My network

2011-10-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is my network as it stands. I will be adding and changing the outlook of this the more and more this project develops.

'Supporting the less fortunate'

2011-10-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

64% of clients have issues with substance use (drugs and/or alcohol).76% of clients are male.

48% of clients are ex-offenders or had been in prison.
2010 survey
HELP!

A really effective way of putting across the issue of being homeless. No music involved, just voices and background noises. Pure genious.

Another really effective and forceful message displayed in this advert. Simply shot and edited, however extremely successful.

Short interview with a 50 year man sharing his life facts with the world about him being homeless and how he doesn't want to live the way he lives anymore.

http://www.shareintl.org/archives/homelessness/hl-blUK.htm

The article above describes three peoples lives living on the streets in london. Each of them have different back stories but have ended up in similar situations. They take drugs and have alcohol addictions.

Smoking mindmap & images

2011-10-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

Smoking is a worldwide addiction for many many people and leads to unavoidable problems such as cancer. Here is a mindmap showing my thoughts and facts on the topic of smoking.

Litter mindmap & images

2011-10-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

This mindmap shows the different aspects to littering. By collating information about the matter, it will give me a deeper insight into what needs to be done to prevent one of the worlds biggest problems.

Mindmap for binge drinking & images

2011-10-13T05:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a mindmap for 'Binge drinking', a common decadent in the UK which I believe needs to be sorted out rapidly!

Inspiration for binge drinking advert

2011-10-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

This is a little video made by the NHS to show the idea of binge drinking and how there is a certain demographic following this 'tag' of being an uncontrollable drinker. It has given me inspiration and a few ideas for my own advert.

MALac

2011-10-11T13:53:00.001-07:00

Completed edit of MALac!

The script was ultimately about a young lady tormenting a man. In order to do this, she has a MALac, an object in which the audience do not know purely to create suspense. The groups interpretation was to create a hallucination type dream sequence in which the audience are to suspect that the man is going crazy.

It was fun filming again; getting us back into thinking about shot types and everything that is involved into creating a film gave the mind a real good work out!

In terms of the feedback given,

1) A student mentioned that it reminded them of a scene out of Dr. Who or Torchwood.
2) Shot selection was misunderstood at times(was quite complex when it didn't need to be).
3) Needed a clearer backstory.
4) Location was good as it was different(not inside).
5) Editing was clever and effective.
6)Could have shot it earlier in the day, as it got fairly dark.
7) Big production feel at the start.

Say something political

2011-10-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

Say something political

2011-10-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

Coursework 1

2011-10-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

'Discussing your place in multimedia in terms of your network and companies that you identify, that can be connected to that network and that you are interested in working with'.

I am pretty excited about this piece of coursework. It's all about identifying our networks in the media world; who our network is, where is it, how is it. This involves diagramming our network too!

At this current moment in time I'm building up a list of potential companies that I can get in contact with. Some include BBC nottingham, Blue cat productions, Videofeet and Giltbrook studios.

I intend to find around 25 companies ranging from small to large. In doing this, i will be then be able to reject the ones i am least interested in to create a tighter and more personal network.

Year two!!

2011-09-16T10:33:00.001-07:00

The second year of uni is about to start and i am extremely excited to start working again.

Hope everyone has had a lovely summer!

Rationale for gaze

2011-05-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

My main ideas and intentions in this project created were producing a film that was fairly originally and had not been thought of before. I wanted to create a film that was a challenge therefore changed the original script to make it more interesting. It was important to create visually pleasing camera shots and to make the audience laugh.

The methods were developed through creating an in depth storyboard which involved where the scenes would take place and what camera shots would be used. Videos were a source of visual research. The well-known ‘Misery bear’ videos on Youtube inspired us as a group greatly which made us want to change the girl from the script to a bear.

As I am a fairly quiet person, I wanted to be heard in the group and wanted a big role so I decided to be the cameraman as well as help to direct and produce what was going on during each scene. I believe that this helped me grow as an individual which was a positive as moving image has been my favourite module.

We were limited to shooting outside because the weather at the time was not great. Additionally when we did end up filming it was fairly windy at times.

It was hard to film the teddy as at times we had to re-shoot some scenes because the person holding the teddy got in the frame.

To solve the weather situation we looked in advance for the weathers situation and planned in depth on the days that we would film.

To solve the wind issue so we had to cover the microphone up with a jumper in order for the sound to be clear.

Ultimately I have learnt that working in a group where people don’t pull their weight can be a massive drawback to the final outcome. However the positives about working in a group are that everyone can express their ideas. Furthermore, it is interesting to work with people who know their roles well. For example, the producer knew what she was doing and told us what was happening next etc.

If I were to repeat this project, I would want to try another role. I would want to be the editor so that my skills will improve. Also, I would like to have more interest and involvement in sound as it is very important to get it right and sounding perfect.

I believe that the editing could be improved as at times seems a bit harsh cutting from one shot to another.

As the year is almost over, I really want to make short films in the summer. I have recently purchased a new DSLR which can record full HD videos so the majority of my spare time I will be out shooting and editing footage.

I thoroughly enjoyed this module and hope to continue moving image next year.

Group edit, individual edit and final script for 'GAZE'

2011-04-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

Gaze from Dan Bissill on Vimeo.
This is the groups edit of gaze. I believe on the whole, the fim was a success and was definately original. The script has been edited to suit the group and have added a few more scenes in for comical purposes!

Gaze individual edit from Dan Bissill on Vimeo.

This is my individual edit of the film gaze. I have shortened some of the unecessary clips and have added smoother transitions. Additionally the music has been changed as i wanted to experiment with different moods that music can have on the audience. Also, some slow motion effects have been introduced to give the 'car' scene some more tension.

1 EXT. STREET. (close up)Teddy is found laid in a muddy puddle.(camera zooms out)TEDDY

(vo)

There'll come a time when I'll look at the world and it will look back at me

Pedestrians/cars rush past the Teddy without noticing it.
TEDDY

(vo)

And I won't be there to see it

Teddy gets up and starts walking off.

2 INT. BEDROOM. (teddy walks into shot) The Teddy finds the house of its owner. It enters the house, climbs upstairs (camera from teddy’s P.O.V or follows it) and goes to the girl’s bedroom. There is a row of photos perfectly lined on the window sill. A desk with a pile of study books, homework and a laptop. There is a cork board on the wall with a perfectly cut out exam timetable to leave no excess. (camera cuts to show each thing the shows teddy leaving room)
TEDDY

(vo)

I've always been invisible. Had the ability.

My mummy had me for a limited time only

Teddy exits the room.

3 INT. LIVING ROOM. (camera facing teddy then cuts to show girl entering) Girl walks homework under her arm and delicately places it on the coffee table. The Teddy is sat on the sofa and she sits on him. (camera is facing side so you can see teddy being sat on)
TEDDY

(vo)

And if I shouted she could sometimes hear me

(camera facing girl) Girl looks puzzled as she hears the Teddy. She pulls him out from under her and throws him to one side of the room. (camera follows teddy as he flies through the air then camera cuts to show teddy getting up and leaving) Teddy gets up and exits the room.

4 INT.KITCHEN. (medium shot) Teddy is sat at the kitchen table. The stereo is playing. (close up on stereo) We can see the volume has been turned down to zero
TEDDY

(vo)

But of course she couldn't

Teddy goes to turn up radio and Celine Dion’s “All by myself” is playing. (full shot of table) Teddy places head on table and starts to cry.

5 EXT. PARK. (camera pans and stops to show swing & teddy walking away from it) The empty swing gently moves back and forth.
TEDDY

(vo)

If you let me creep up on you
(medium shot) Teddy is seen drinking a bottle of vodka (close up shot of bottle)The bottle of vodka slowly empties
TEDDY

(vo)

I can make you disappear too
(camera moves away from teddy and teddy moves towards it) Teddy is staggering around the park, pissed out of his face.
TEDDY

(vo)

I could just tell you some things. Things you don't want to hear. Things no one should have to hear

(close up)The Teddy snorts a line of cocaine (crushed up paracetamol) and injects himself with heroin (syringe from a fancy dress shop filled with water)

(full shot) The Teddy makes its way over to the car park.
TEDDY

(vo)

But it can't be your fault

(medium shot of the teddy) The sound of a car engine is heard followed by a horn, the Teddy turns around (faces camera then camera goes behind the teddy to show the car) and is struck by a car. It flies through the air and lands on the ground.
TEDDY

(vo)

(close up of teddy laying on the ground)

I am invisible you see. And now I am gone

THE END

Camera techniques

2011-04-13T05:07:00.000-07:00

As i will be the cameraman, i have researched into certain techniques which i think will be useful for our film.

Camera Techniques for research

The use of different shot sizes can influence the meaning which an audience will interpret.
The size of the subject in frame depends on two things: the distance the camera is away from the subject and the focal length of the camera lens.
Common shot sizes:

Extreme close-up: Focuses on a single facial feature, such as lips and eyes.
Close-up: May be used to show tension.
Medium shot: Often used, but considered bad practice by many directors, as it often denies setting establishment and is generally less effective than the Close-up.
Long shot

Choice of shot size is also directly related to the size of the final display screen the audience will see. A Long shot has much more dramatic power on a large theater screen, whereas the same shot would have less of an impact on a small TV or computer screen.

Spin look:

The camera spins around an actor to get a glimpse of what he or she is looking at. The camera may also begin by viewing the object then spin back around to view the character.

Also the spin look is an alternative to the popular technique of “ Cutting away” when a character looks off-screen.

Establishing shot:

An establishing shot in film and television sets up, or establishes the context for a scene by showing the relationship between its important figures and objects. It is generally a long- or extreme-long shot at the beginning of a scene indicating where, and sometimes when, the remainder of the scene takes place. Mainly used at a new location to give the audience a sense of locality.

POV shot:

It is usually established by being positioned between a shot of a character looking at something, and a shot showing the character's reaction.

Cut zoom in:

Cut zoom in is a technique that adds emphasis to another wise static shot. This technique usually has three stages, a very wide shot, a wide shot and finally medium shot.

Jump cut sequence:

A jump cut sequence is a specific type of montage sequence in which jump cuts are used to show similar actions occurring over a short period of time.

Tracking shot:

A tracking shot is a segment in which the camera is mounted on a camera dolly, a wheeled platform that is pushed on rails while the picture is being taken.

Reaction shot:

It is a shot which cuts away from the main scene in order to show the reaction of a character to it.

Film treatment for 'Gaze'

2011-04-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

Title: 'Gaze'

Outline of ideas:

Resource list: Camerman, lighting women, director, producer, sound engineer, one character, video camera. A set time without being in a rush to make the film look professional. In terms of props, some magazines, a teddy, a stereo, a glass of water and a phone are the main objects we need for our scenes.

Strengths: Knowing suitable locations which will fit the scenes well is vital. Locations will be local to reduce travel time and more time for filming.Easy access for props.
Weaknesses: The main limitation to making this film is the weather. If it rains or the lighting is poor then a plan will need to be created before our first filming day incase we have to change our schedule. Another weakness could be that we won't be great our roles that we have been assigned. This could cause the final outcome of the film to be worse than it should be.

Conclusion: Ultimately i believe that our film will work well. It will relate to people closely through our ideas about how toys played a big impact on our childhood life. In order for this film to work, we will need to be organised and need adequate research involved.

Roller coaster animation ride and rationale

2011-04-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

Thi is my roller coaster animation ride created on 3ds max. Overall i am fairly happy with the outcome. I learnt new things as i was creating this incuding texturing and modelling. In addition i gained knowledge into creating objects and making them move.

My main intention was to create a scary roller coaster ride which would display new techniques that I had learnt from the online notes and tutorials. I wanted to create a fluid piece of animation which seemed effective and would make the viewers feel in slight discomfort.

The methods I used to develop my ideas were mainly drawings and brainstorming. Additionally, I found videos that inspired me of roller coasters and also found images of a horror nature which gave me more ideas.

The risks I took during this project were that I had limited skills in using 3Ds max. I felt it was a big step up from the previous project in DP1. I felt that the main risk I took was creating something I that i believed I couldn’t make; so having no belief in myself!

On numerous occasions, 3Ds max would randomly crash and corrupt my work meaning that I would have to redo part of my animation. Despite this being a problem, it was good in the fact that I was able to practice and make certain props appear better.

Also, I found it difficult to create effective lighting. Therefore I looked at various tutorials online which helped me a lot.

In order to overcome these problems, the majority of the time I looked at online tutorials as I found them the most helpful. Also, I asked fellow students if they could give me tips on how to overcome the problems.

During this project I have learnt that it is important to plan my ideas in depth and use drawings in order to create ideas for the roller coaster and scare scenes.

In terms of skills, I learnt how to add textures and materials on objects to make them look realistic. Furthermore, I managed to use cameras effectively and applied lighting to give a haunted experience for the viewers.

Adding sound effects in time to the animation was also a skill I learnt. I found it hard to make the two sync and look professional but felt that overall I gave it my best shot.

If I had more time, a definite improvement would be in making more scare scenes and creating more appealing props. In addition, I would spend more time finding realistic materials and textures to make objects/scenes more realistic. I would create a new building for the roller coaster to be in as I believe that the building used was fairly generic and didn’t leave much room to experiment in.

From completing this project, I intend to create a new roller coaster with completely new scenery and scare scenes using more realistic textures and materials. I also aim to expand the scenery making a more in depth animation.

Entrance

2011-03-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

Possible entrances for my roller coaster. Still need to decide fast which one if any i want to use and create in 3Dmaxs.

Cart designs

2011-03-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

My cart design was fairly short and snappy. I didn't want a wacky cart, i wanted a more conventional cart which was simple but looked effective. Therfore i used cart one. I still need to tweak it a bit on 3Dmax but the general shape is there.

I may add some side banisters, however still needs some deciding to whether it will look bad or not.

Furthermore, i need to add a design to the cart.. i was thinking my initials... afterall i did create this roller coaster!

Adding textures and making something glow!

2011-03-02T14:34:00.000-08:00

Recently had a go at adding textures etc to objects. At first it was hard to get used to, but i think i have come to terms with it... although i still need to look through the notes on the NOW!

Also had a go at making things glow and blurring them to make a cool effect.

Haunted house moodboard

2011-02-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

This is a collection of images that interests me linked to the idea of a haunted house roller coaster.

Interactive Media rationale

2011-02-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

For my Interactive space project I was asked to create an online portfolio in which i would display some of my work. The pages are as followed:
• Home Page
• About Me Page
• Photo Gallery
• Blog page
• Contact Me

During this Interactive Media project, I found myself struggling at the start mainly due to the fact that coding a website had never been an interest of mine. However through looking at tutorials and helpful websites, I found myself to understand the subject more and began to enjoy it. By researching visual examples of current online portfolios, for example http://www.mattmorincreative.com/ and http://www.amyjotyson.com/ ,I found myself to understand what had to be involved in creating and coding a website; it wouldn’t just be a one week job! From looking at examples, I was able to take influential factors which could be changed to be used in my own website. This ultimately helped generate a basis for the website I was creating.

In terms of my design for my website, I wanted something that would stand out, however would appear simple to the viewer’s eye. ‘Simple is better’ after all. Therefore I started to draw a few ideas on some paper and after eventually deciding on my design. Furthermore I brainstormed potential links to involve, for example, a gallery displaying photographs I had taken. This helped me visual what my website may look like. Creating a wireframe was my next step, so that it was clear in my head what the structure of my website would look like. When the time came to actually making my website, the structure changed slightly in order to allow certain aspects of my website to be highlighted. For example I decided to lose the navigation at the bottom of my page to allow for easier interaction for the user. I found that using two navigation bars may confuse the viewer, therefore the simpler the website looked the easier it would be to navigate around.

I was pleased that I produced links to my blogger page and my twitter page that worked showing a clear link to social networking and user interaction. I believe it is important to give the viewer accessibility to these pages as it is a way of looking at current as previous work, as well as an easy way to contact me.

The main aspect of my website which I find appealing is the simplicity. It does the job of a website to make the viewer interact. It is easy to get around and provides the viewer aesthetically. On the other hand, I believe to make the website better, more content or pages could have been added to give the viewer more to look at. Despite this though, I am happy with my first ever attempt at designing, creating and coding a website and am glad i have gained more than a basic knowledge in web design.

Through this process, I have learnt that it is vital to gain research and to create several designs before choosing one to take further.

sneak preview.. portfolio page

2011-02-20T06:43:00.000-08:00

Text

2011-02-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

In terms of the main font I want for my website, I researched and researched until I found a font that appealed to me. I chose Eurostile as it is easy and clear to read.

Wireframe for my website

2011-01-25T05:51:00.000-08:00

This is my intended wireframe for my website. I believe it is simple but effective. More commonly than not, a website that appears to be simple has a greater imapct on the viewer.

Here is a version of what my website could look like.

This is another design for my website. It is a bit wacky but is fairly interesting.

Ditigal me- moodboard

2011-01-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

In the second seminar for 'Digital Me' our task was to create a moodboard that represented ourselves. In terms of my moodboard, i believe that i have included as much as I can that represents my main interests and likes.

eXistenZ- Threshold concepts

2011-01-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

"A threshold concept is like a portal, opening up a new and previously inaccessible way of thinking about something. It represents a transformed way of understanding, or interpreting, or viewing something, without which the learner can not progress" Meyer & Land (2003).

Narrative

In terms of the films narrative, it is non-linear allowing the audience to intepret their own thoughts into what is happening. The constant change from virtual reality and realism can be confusing at times due to the twists and elements of surprise that the audience encounter every so often. The concept is different and uses numerous techniques to confuse the audience.

Interactivity

The film interacts well with the audience pulling them to fully concentrate for the duration of the film. By throwing the audience deep into the films concept so early on, it allows for them to immediately start to think about what is going on. Therefore the interaction between the film and the audience is evident.

Convergence

The convergence of two different concepts(reality and fantasy) works well in creating a different film idea. However at times it can become quite repetitive and confusing. I feel if the film was a bit more understanding in the confusing parts, then the two converging concepts would be more successful.

Interactive space

2010-12-06T09:57:00.000-08:00

Hey, feedback would be appreciated and returned. :)

http://www.makingnewmaps.com/maps/Daniel_Bissill/index.html

One shot personal edit

2010-12-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

Lost in thought personal edit from Dan Bissill on Vimeo.

This is my personal one shot edit. I decided to play around with different colour effects which was inspired by a music video by Two Door Cinema Club in which they have a background that changes colour constantly. I think it works well and doesnt really distract the viewer from the video.

Interactive Space Rationale

2010-12-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

tiveThis interactive space project overall was a fun process. At first, i found it a bit weird and challenging using html and Dreamweaver, but after a few goes on it i finally got the hang of it and the coding. The idea i had was based around my travels. Taking and finding images that i needed to take/took were tough as i didn’t really know how my images would all link up. I actually considered scrapping this idea as i couldn’t think of a narrative to support my images, but after some thinking and brainstorming i came up with an interactive calender idea in which the user clicks a month in the year and it takes them to a destination, e.g February takes you to Spain.

I felt using Adobe Dreamweaver was a lot quicker, more efficient and easier than html as you could visually see what your page would look like and could navigate the hotspots easily to suit my needs. With my images i decided to edit them in Adobe Photoshop by making the whole photo in black and white apart from a certain part of the image which indicated the hotspot. I believe this creates an effective mood to the story drawing the users in.

Overall i am pleased with my interactive space project however if i had more time i would link some of the pages up better as there are loose ends e.g clicking on a later month would lead you quicker to the end of the story. Therefore if i had more time i would improve this so these loose ends were fixed. Despite this, i thoroughly enjoyed this project.

Interactive space photos

2010-12-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

Interactive space

2010-12-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

Originally i started off with a really basic narrative which wouldt really work with the pictures i took.

Therefore i thought to brainstorm some ideas and eventually came up with a 'interactive' calender. The narrative would be based on my journey to differnet parts of the world and would be represented by a little ball with my face on it.

To assemble all the images into the correct order, i find it easier to jot down the order rather than remember the order in my mind. I believe that i am am a visual person, meaning that i prefer and find it easier to see things infront of me.

A key effect i used in this process was the have the hotpoint in colour and the rest of the photo in black and white. This was achieved on photoshop.

My many images will be up asap :)

Re-designing

2010-11-22T08:24:00.000-08:00

I chose to re-design this CV mainly becuase it looks unprofessional and has no sense of layout or allignmet. It is quite difficult for the naked eye to actually tell what is going on which is mainly due to the scattered information. To improve this, the information should be clearly attatched to the heading. Another aspect of the CV that can be changed is the fact that there is a spelling mistake in the word 'Graphic'; the 'P' is missing.

This is a re-desgin of the CV just seen. I believe this has a more professional look due to the clear headings which are then followed by the important and meaninful words that should be involved opposed to irrelevant information.

A neat and exciting text has been used with some little alterations to make it stand out. For example the deep bold black headings and the fish-eyed effect 'job title'. This gives the page a funky feel.

Here is another design i altered....

The problem with the front cover to the 'Band of Brothers' DVD cover is the fact that there is a divide between the top and bottom half of it. There is very little going on at the top in contrast to the bottom where there is too much going on mainly due to the overcrowding of words. Therefore i intend to create a more even layout.

This is my re-design of the cover for 'Band of Brothers'. The main difference is the fact that the layout is simpler and i believe more effective as there are two pieces of text on either side of the soldiers. In terms of the allignment, i went for a centered one. My reasons being that it matches well with the soldiers on the front creating an even balance between them and the text.

Sequence two!

2010-11-22T04:37:00.000-08:00

Ted didn't like being defeated in squash today. Let the punishments begin!

Let's toast him...

Or grill him...

Perhaps boil him...

That's enough torture, back to where he belongs!

Sequence!

2010-11-21T08:13:00.000-08:00

Tiny...

To small...

To quite big...

To large...

To huge!!!

One shot group edit + rationale

2010-11-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

This is our final one shot video. It was fun making it and looks effective with the projection which makes one it appear unique. This was our group edit.

The one shot project was the one i enjoyed the most. I felt more in my comfort zone as i love anything to do with film and cameras etc. In terms of the various ideas we thought of as a group, we decided to experiment and make the idea as original as we could make it. We came to a conclusion that we would film someones thoughts. An idea of thought bubbles was discussed and was developed further so that thought bubbles would be projected onto a screen. We were originally going to have moving images in the thought bubbles but due to timing restrictions we used still images instead. The thoughts were pre recorded and were projected onto a screen on the day of the shoot.

Our first shoot established many problems and scenarios we struggled to resolve. It was a day of trial and error mainly because it was the first time we had worked together. It was difficult to establish who was doing what as everyone had a go at everything instead of having set jobs. In addition, there were flaws with the actually composition, for example there were objects and other distractions that were hard to avoid. Therefore we booked a different room knowing what to expect and filmed a few days later.

Our second shoot was more successful; the composition was good and had no distractions from fixings/objects. However as a team we found it hard to master the technique of lighting. We kept having trouble with shadows and spent quite some time trying to conquer and achieve the best lighting. Despite this, it was a lot of fun and achieved a good one shot in terms of the composition and narrative.

2010-11-18T08:34:00.001-08:00

North by Northwest; playing around with sequencing shots.

Visual storytelling!! EXAMPLE!!

2010-11-17T14:24:00.000-08:00

First lesson on interactive space which seems alright so far!! We need to come up with a sequence of photographs(no more than five) and tell a story from them. Above is an example taken from flickr just to show you what i mean and how a story can be told from five images.

My sequence will be up asap!! :D

Testing the oneshot, Ali G & Ashley Cole Spoof(lighting) and inspiration

2010-11-07T13:59:00.000-08:00

This was our initial take at our oneshot video. It was just a test to see whether the concept worked and whether we could take the pros and cons to come up with something better in our second take. On the whole i thought the thought bubble worked well however the camera angle and composition could be improved on dramatically.

This interview based scenario was mainly to play around with lighting and to create different moods. In order to do this, we had to use a 3 point lighting system. By using three separate positions, the cameraman can illuminate the shot's subject (such as a person) however desired, while also controlling (or eliminating entirely) the shading and shadows produced by direct lighting. The effect created in this interview isn't perfect but creates an interesting mood.

This music video by 'Two Door Cinmea Club' attracts my attention mainly due to the fixed environment and background allowing for manipulation when editing. The change in colour i think would be great to experiment when editing later on.

bush push nottingham trent 2010 & Idea for our oneshot

2010-11-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

This is our groups first attempt at a one shot film. As we didn't have a long time to think of ideas for a narrative, we decided on a simple but hopefully effective film which provides the audience with humour.

I've always loved working with cameras so i stepped up to be the cameraman which was an enjoyable experience to say the least!

As we managed to film this video fairly rapidly, we added some music onto the top and a sound effect to make it more interesting.

A likely plan for our one shot video. Based on a guy whos thoughts are projected onto a screen. Possible introdcution for a girl who is being thought about from the guy.

Michael Bosanko inspiration

2010-10-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Michael Bosanko conecentrates on the art of light grafitti which i find in Photography very interesting. Instead of spraying walls with paint, he can create a scene and bring it to life as shown in the images below :

From these examples, i will try and create some of my ideas and will post them on the blog shortly :)

After being influenced by Bosanko, i tried some of my own light graffiti:

I am very pleased with the outcome of theses images especially because it was my first attempt at light graffiti. I believe that they create a mysterious vibe which is down to the different colours and tones that have been created. Photographs like these are simple to produce. You need a tripod and a long exposure time to allow the blurred motion to become evident.

First attempt at ident, the edited version and the rationale

2010-10-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

Here is my first ident. It was a struggle getting used to the programme which i believe is evident in this ident. If i had more time and patience, i would make an improved version.

This is my final edit which i am pleased about as i have improved the camera angle and gave the letters more emphasis.

For animation, i found the project fairly difficult mainly due to the software we had to use which was 3D Max. When i first used this piece of software i was overwhelmed at how hard it was. In terms of the brief we had to create a 30 second television ident to convey the message of your own personal channel. I took this heavily into consideration and thought of the things i am interested in, something being scary films. I wanted to create a scary/spooky ident which symbolised TV programmes like ‘Dawn of the dead’ and ‘Halloween’.

In my first animation ident, using techniques was vital, especially the ones we had been taught. So from this basis, i used these techniques and introduced a moving camera as if the viewers were the camera from a first person view. I believe this works well as it makes the viewer feel more involved. However, i found that the camera was a bit jerky and didn’t focus on the whole surroundings, only a certain part of the scenery therefore i decided to re-edit it to make it better.

The decision was made to re-edit my animation to make the camera movement improved and decided to stretch the ‘D’ and the ‘B’ more so that they stood out. In terms of the audio, i chose a psychotic sounding clip which helps show my interests in genre of horror.

Ultimately, although this project has been challenging, i have enjoyed learning a new piece of software and animation in general. I feel that in the next animated project i will know what i am doing and will be able to improve upon my flaws at the moment thus creating a better quality piece of animation.

My Multimedia

2010-10-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

One item that i have an extreme passion for is my Sony A350 digital SLR.

I have had this camera for around a year and half now and i absolutely love it!

One feature i find appealing about this camera is the 'live view' feature.

The majority of 'live view' systems have to raise and lower the camera's shutter in order to autofocus and then show a live video feed from the image sensor on the LCD screen. You can see exactly what the camera will capture, but it also produces a noticeable delay, making this type of system invariably slow and best-suited to static subjects. However on the A350 it takes a completely different approach, adding a smaller secondary sensor above the optical viewfinder and using a small mirror to direct light either to the secondary sensor for the Live View feed or through the optical viewfinder.

This camera has 14.2 megapixels which evidently can produce stunning images :)

I have always enjoyed Photography since i was a small chap. My grandad was a photographer which i guess influenced me to follow his footsteps in loving Photography.

3d Studio Max Animation

2010-10-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

I find things as simple as this to be mesmorising to look at!

Here is a spooky ident which influences me a lot. It would be amazing to make something like this so i think i will carry on with my idea of making a scary tv ident which will represent me.

BBC2 Paint Ident (1998)

2010-10-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

This ident appeals to me mainly due to the fact that its really simple, however is very effective to the eye. It has given me inspiration for the ident i need to create.

BBC THREE Christmas sting 2008

2010-10-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

This ident is awesome!!! It has given me some ideas :)

whiteboard animation

2010-10-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

My design process

2010-10-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

During my A2 Media coursework a task was mandatory to produce a five minute piece of work. As i have a great passion for music I decided to integreat it into my coursework to produce a music video. However, it would have turned out to be disastrous had I not researched the music to create footage to, therefore I decided on a set genre of music; this being 'rock'. Furthermore, I produced a questionnaire which allowed me to gather information from the respondents. In terms of the narrative I thought of a series of written scenarios for the music video and eventually narrowed them down to two. This meant I could use both the scenarios to create and formulate one final scenario. After finalising this, a storyboard was drawn out. This helps me visualise what I need to film and how long roughly for which ulitmately will save valuable filming time.

In developing my original ideas, I find discussing with my teacher and students helps me. For example, gaining feedback from them can help adjust my ideas to achieve the best possible outcome. This was evident in my A2 Photography exam too.

My idea was tested once i had edited all the clips together for my music video. This enabled me to pick and choose certain bits i wanted and certain bits i didnt want. Once everything was edited, watching the video back made it easy for me to spot pros or cons with it.

I usually look back over my work to check everything i have created and my process in which it has been created flows and is to a high standard. If i start a new project, then looking over previous work helps me remind myself of the process and journey i took to create work.

3D animation

2010-10-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

So...3D animation! Using a piece of software that i had no idea about was hard, but i guess like everything in life, the longer you stick at something the easier it will get! My first 3D animation is to come!

Pinhole photography

2010-10-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

Pinhole photography. Well what can i say, it's a great invention! The fact that you can produce a photograph from a 500ml can amazes me. It may sound hard but it's actually a fairly simple process. Pinhole photography is lensless photography. A tiny hole replaces the lens. Light passes through the hole; an image is formed in the camera. Despite this fairly simple prcoess, it is relatively difficult to produce a quality image. I have never tried pinhole photography, so for a chance like this to occur was both challenging but fun!

Whiteboard animation

2010-10-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

So it all kicked off with this first group exercise which was full of creative thinking and most of all fun. Never in my life had i tried whiteboard animation, so for me this was a chance to get involved with the drawing and the the creativity that was needed. By working with like-minded students, it was great to hear the ideas that continously were created, ultimately giving us a chance to get engage.

Test

2010-09-28T04:58:00.001-07:00

Testing 123