FINISHED (week beginning 23rd April 07)

• This week I have completed my practical production, handing in my brief, production and evaluation.
• This week Mr.Bush looked at my edited production for the first time and fortunately he was very impressed, even I was shocked by his reaction. After we meet up on Thurs, Period 5 to tell me where to 'polish up' and tidied it up for the last time on Friday.
• Nothing is planned for next week as i have finished.

Weekly Progess (Week Beginning April 16th 07)

• This weekend I aimed to finish my production and finish off my evaluation.
• Throughout this week, I have stayed after school with Mr.Monro, and he helped me edit the script and carry out the voiceover. It was on Wednesday, that the voiceover was done. However when I put it in my documentary, some bits that were said were not said confidently as Mr.Monro did seem a little nervous at the beginning, however when he got into the flow, he was excellent. Also by me giving him signals (thumps up to start, and flat hand when I wanted him to stop) and from theses signals, I felt that it worked better. So, on Friday, Mr.Monro re-did the parts of the voiceover that I did not like and put it together. Whilst on Sunday, I editied my Brief and did my evaluation. Also, at the beginning I had a BBC Ident- Predator, however I decided I needed a female voiceover to introduce the programme and so I have chosen Ms.Spencer to perform this, with Ms.Stevens as a backup.
• By the end of this week, I aim to complete my 'Park Life' practical production

Weekly Progress (Monday 9th April 07)

• This week I have been continue to edit and have made far more progress than I did last week. As I have other work to commit to, usless I have chosen a day to do Media, I have stayed up until 12pm-1am and done some work.
• This week I have finally found my opening tune to my doc (Nature Trail (3)- composed by Terry-Devine King), and I personally feel that I have created a introduction that even I'm astonished I could make with what I got and also how the music has fitted so perfectly with it. Also I feel its very professional as well and I proud of it. Also I have managed to fit in some of the other tracks I have and put them into the initial documentary. Also detailed touches were being made to areas. The only problem that I have found is that I actually dont have enough footage of the Blackbird. I am just about finished in making the final touches, then I think that I may need to re-create a new script for Mr.Monro to perform on the Monday we get back.
• I aim to finish my production and Evaluation by tomorrow as I have other work I must do (Friday 12th April 07). However I did say that I may create a different version of my documentary as well, a more 'Man With a Movie Camera' style. I will make ago of that however now I feel that my orginial production is working out I may not need to create the second version, however I will make a start on it.

Weekly Progress Report (Week Beginning 2nd April 07)

• This week I was continuing to edit my project
• Good Friday was REALLY a Good Friday for me! I managed to find a website which will be helping me in terms of music and sound www.audiolicense.net. The site a section just for wildlife sounds including sounds for Activity, Drama/Dramatic, Insect, Chase, Flight, Slow motion and Documentary, with a choice of 427 songs to look through of the whole genre. I managed to find at least 3 to 4 songs I could use

1. Drifting (composed by Paul Mottram)

2. Sly Spy (composed by Igor Dvorkin and Ducan Pittock)

3. Winds (composed by Chris Blackwell)

4. Enigma (Paul Mottram)

I did not have enough varitey in my shots so I spent and whole afternoon and evening in the park filming and I was extremely lucky I did as I have captured even greater footage that I before (I would put it down to the beginning of Spring though), but I have lots more footage of the Robin and more shots of the park scenery, also more Starlings and Carrion Crow's. But it was worth it and I feel that this one afternoon and evening could have just strenghthed my work as before I personally feel it was a bit weak, especially in angles and variety of scenery.

• Next week ( week 2 of the Easter Holidays), I intended to continue editing my documentary.

Weekly Progress Report (week begining 26th March 07)

• On this week, I watched lots of documentaries and learnt and picked up even more ideas of how to make my production better.
• On Sunday, I intented to get a lot of editing done, however I feld very tired and could not concentrate, so instead I watched documentaries all day. BBC2 at 18.10, I watched the 'Natural World'- 5 Cats and one camera'. After watching it I was left inspired and also it was probably the best wildlife documentary I have ever seen. I learnt alot about how to construct a documentary. One way that the filmakers illustrated the African Big Cats was by having lots of different angles and close-ups. Also I learnt that each shot lasted no longer than 10 secs. Although the cinematography was great, I put as my favourite purely because Big Cats are my favourites and the footage that was initally captured was what was so amazing. e.g. Footage of a Caracal Cat jumping 10ft in the air and catching a Stork in flight!. But I did notice all the cameraworks and techniques they used. In the end, I did not waste time and now I know how to make my documentary stronger. Also Mr.Bush has recently met with someone who works in making wildlife documentaries for the Discovery Channel and has told me that I could maybe even break the boundaries and conventions by producing a documentary through just using visual images, just like 'Man With a Movie Camera'.
• So in the Easter holiday I will be making two drafts, One with my orginal way, facts, voiceover etc. and one in a similar stlye to that of 'Man with a Movie Camera'.

Weekly Progress (Week begining 19th March 07)

• This week I have stayed up every night working from 10pm till 12-1am doing the production.
• I feel that I have made progress as I made progress but not as much as I would have liked as I was editing at nightime, I understandably felt tired at times, however today (Snuday),I am going to work all day (starting from when I finish this progress report)editing and in between I am going to have to take some time off to revise for the Media Module 1 Mock exam which cuts some of the time off.
• Today I am going to continue editing my production, as I am to have blocked everything in and start looking closer and deeper into things and where am I going to put this shot, effect on audience. Also I am going to gain some help in making my introduction as this is the only area I am struggling with.

Self Evaluation

• Attainment- -A

I feel that I have maintained my standards, although I also feel that I have had a little bad patch.

• Effort- 1

I personally always give 100% in my work in all my work.

• Punctuality - 1

I only came in late once, and that was coming from the park whenI was filming, otherwise, I am always on time for my lessons.

• Submission and Quality of homework- 2

I feel that for the first time I have slipped at this section and I am extremely disappointed as this is one of my main strenghts in media

• Ablilty to work independantly- 1

I am currently working on my own in my practical production hence this is one way of showing my ability to work independantly. But also I work well on my own because I can focus and get progress done with my work.

• Quality of writing-1

I feel that as time has gone on I have improved in the quality of my writing in terms of using key concepts and analysing, however one thing I need to practice on and have lacked in most of my essays is concept flow.

• Organisation of media folder-1

Currently I have organised 3 folders, one for Mrs.Stevens, one for Mr.Bush and the third solely for my Practical Production. Organisation is one of my main strenghts and I feel that I have always been able to find what I am looking for when I am going through my folder

• Oral Contribution in the class-2

I feel that I do make a contribution, but not enough

• Quality of Coursework-2

Currently I am at the editing stage and can't say much about the quality. In terms of cinematography, I feel that some areas I of high quality e.g. A close up shot of a Grey Squirrel, while areas of poor quality such as the shot involving Starlings on a rooftop (which I have taken out). Overall I feel I am progressing and I feel that I can still turn this into a great production from what I have managed to capture.

• Standard of my Module 3 Blog-1

My view is that my blog is always up-to-date and very detailed in what I have done or achieved. Also I like many others like the colours that I have used as it really gives it a natural, park greenery look