Using hardware & software when producing 'Follow'

1. What advice would I pass on: I would advise against too many of the trickier handheld shots which require a really steady hand and balance in order to execute properly. Also, keep referring back to the camera whilst shooting or glance quickly during filming, just to make sure that a good take is still in focus and has adequate audio.

2. Advantages/disadvantages of the technology I used <---------

2.1. -Though the equipment was portable and stored in a rucksack, it was still expensive and heavy - which meant we weren't allowed to transport equipment via public transport. When shooting, the tripod also took up much more space than we had imagined, which posed practical issues when it came to shooting in a confined space

2.2. -Easy to use/pick up on, relatively simple & quick setup. The equipment was also portable, which made it easier to transport to and from location. The apparatus was of a high spec, which then allowed us to produce high-quality, high-resolution images with good audio. The ease of use of the tripod & zoom buttons/lens also allowed us to easily experiment with and achieve many shot types.

3. What do I know now that I didn't before: I now know how to correctly assemble, set up and put away equipment when shooting. In terms of new camera skills, I improved my panning skills, as I learned how to tighten the lever and how secure it should be in order to complete a pan correctly.

4. What would I do differently: I would have liked to have been a little more adventurous when shooting - especially as we had ideas such as birds-eye-view shots and focus pulls which didn't materialise. We could perhaps have experimented with lighting.

5. Hardware

6. What could we have done: As mentioned, we could have both varied our shot types even more, or used artificial lighting to enhance the sequence, though both would have been experimental.

7. Advantages/disadvantages of the technology I used --------->

7.1. -The software was not portable: partly because we didn't have the required programmes to edit at home, and partly because we were not allowed to work outside the space of school. Another slight inconvenience was having to download LiveType files as video files and importing them into Windows to allow them to work.

7.2. -All 3 programmes are very easy to use, and Premiere Pro is not only simple to use, but a powerful editing tool which allows most things imaginable to be done to a sequence using various tools (razor, pen, keyframes, etc). Its auto-save feature was incredibly helpful, as this provided peace of mind should the computer crash or if it was accidentally closed.

8. What could we have done: We could, and perhaps should, have nailed down more grading references to have a clearer picture of how we wanted the aesthetics of our sequence to come across.

9. What do I know now that I didn't before: I have expanded my repertoire of skills on Premiere Pro: I have now used ProcAmp, I know how to move frames and create split-screens using keyframes, whilst I also know how to selectively adjust a shot's volume using the pen tool.

10. What advice would I pass on: Ensure that you work carefully to get continuity spot on, and create two timelines (one draft and one final) to experiment with changes before making them permanent. Having said that, make sure that meanwhile you continue to work to task, and don't be too much of a perfectionist & preoccupy yourself with tiny details.

11. What would I do differently: In hindsight, the main area I would go back and change would definitely be grading. I would have created a larger pool of references, increased the shadows & reduce saturation, and taken much more of my time to absolutely perfect the cold tones of the film's aesthetic.

12. Software