#unit 32

#4 using Special Values

2D animation is a seen as traditional and well known form of animation. But, it has restrictions as it can only move up and down lowering the movement it can do. This is usually seen in TV, films and advertisement as it is simple.

3D animation is able to move in other directions as well as the up and down motions of the 2D animations. It can appear more realistic to people who are watching the animations. In recent animation they have put 3D over the top of 2D in games.

Stop motion various images are cut together. Each one with be slightly different to another. When this is done and they have all been places together it helps to change the motion and movement of the image. But, this can become a long drawn out process.

Layering is used to change the visibility of other layers. The top layer will show the best over all the other layers. This can be used as a method of organisation or to create a stacked effect.

There are various different types of Editing software available for use. They can be used with images, footage, audio or to enhance the quality of something. This also helps because it makes the media stay together and stay in the same order.

When I create my ident I will be Using Adobe Premiere Pro to edit my footage together.

Memory is very important. For example, if you are planning on taking a lot of footage then you will need to have a higher memory capacity to hold it all. If the pictures are going to be of a high quality then it will take up more storage per picture then a lower quality one.

Different file formats will not be compatible with each other, also with certain devices. Therefore it is important to consider the file format that is being used and the software that is also going to be used to make sure they are compatible.

When I create my own ident I will use mp4. This is because it's compatible with a range of editing softwares.

When producing a video you have to make sure you are organised. This will help to meet deadlines, it will be easier for cast and crew to be aware of these deadlines as well to ensure everything is filmed by the appropriate dates.

I think the scheduling for my ident will be fairly simple. This is because I will be able to shoot all my footage in one day, because it's a short video and only a little amount of footage is needed.

It is important to set and meet deadlines when producing. Normally it may be set by a client. Having a good deadline also makes it easier to know roughly when the production should finish.

Its very important not to miss my deadline on the 17th june 2016, so I will make sure all production is finished before then.

There is a variety of different Management resources when producing something. This could be a camera, microphone or lights. It will be hard for one person to manage all of these things by themselves. Therefore it would be easier to have someone in charge of each of these to ensure everything is being done correctly.  

When creating my ident I will only need a camera, allowing me to be independent when filming. But I still require a small cast of actors to film for my horror ident.

Working with clients means they will usually have a brief that will include everything they want and the finishing date. This helps the production to be able to know what to include and gives a clear understanding of everything that has to be done. Listening to the client allows the client to physically be able to show the productionist what they want.

Client negotiation is where the client wants something to happen but it is unable to be produced. This could be from many different reasons like lack of experience for example. The client will then need to be able to come up with an alternative that can be produced.

Quality management includes making sure that each part of the production is being kept to a good standard. This will have to be closely monitored by the director.

Most productions are done within a team. Each person has a specific role within the production. Each role is different, one role may be a lot harder than another needing a lot of experience. A team can get the production done a lot faster but it will require a lot of organisation.  

As it only A small project I can work alone but I still need a small cast of two to film.

Enhancing ideas-

Its very important to improve the channels ideas so the channel is more visually effective and can be represented through these ideas. The TV channel will have to consider fonts, sounds, colours and imagery. The colours typically used in a channel depends on the types of programmes they show. If it was the horror season they comment dark and red. This emphasis the darkness and blood which is seen in horror movies. The general mood of the channel can change depending on the sound. For the horror season if they used scarring and creepy music with a sinister voice over it will make the channel seem scarring and highlight want films they show. The font could also play a big part in representing the channel. If the font was unorthodox and out of place it could be be eye-catching and reveal the obscure programs they air.

Pushing the Technology-

This is when the lasted technology and special effects are used to make the ident more appealing for viewers. Nowadays it's very important for channels to keep up to date with the latest technology because the target audience may prefer it. Also it could highlight the change the channel has actually had, through its idents, by showing the improvements in technology and special effects.

Communication Visual Ideas to an Non-Visual Audience-

I normal for everyone to prefer to watch something which is appealing but still informing the viewer because otherwise you will get bored of having to read. With ever advancing technology visuals are more commonly used because they like special effects, animations and lots of colours. Because technology allows us to show to audience visual information quicker and easier, it's possible to still have a short ident but still portray the channel's brand identity. But many viewers like the visually impaired can not take in the idents information, so they are shown alongside voiceovers and audio descriptions. This will make it easy to understand the visuals. But still still these viewers may not interpret the idents as a non-visually impaired person would. Music is important to help them engage with the ident as with both visual and non-visual audiences such as a catching tune. This is because they will always represent the music with this programme.

Creating Under Pressure of Time and Budget-

Television Idents- Creative Media Unit 32

Purpose & Design

Television Idents have been around since the early 1950’s, they were a way of identifying different channels by their logo in 15 seconds or less, since they didn’t have all the new technology that we have today they only showed a logo in black and white and with no moving images, the BBC’s first ident was recognisable and everyone nicknamed it ‘Bats Wings’, whereas now they have developed into colourful short films whether they are animated or real life imagery, that people can recognise to be with a certain channel and also to stand out to people and be different from the other idents for different channels. Idents are very important to advertise the identity of the channel it is on.  The idents usually take the same ideas as what the channel entails. This can be from certain objects or colours etc. This is important to highlight what genre or kind of films they will be showing in this channel and aim to attract a certain viewers.

E4 has been a companion channel to Channel 4 since 2001; they are a entertainment channel aimed at people between the ages of 15-35 years old as they show programmes like ‘2 Broke Girls’, ‘Misfits’, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ etc. The idents for E4 are mostly animated, some are a mix of animation and real life imagery, and some of them can be inappropriate for people who are younger than the target audience’s age. In 2001 when E4 started the idents weren’t that different from what they are today, the first ever ident was of the E4 sign causing havoc breaking down the set and breaking the channel 4 sign which shows that E4 airs shows that are more inappropriate than what channel 4 airs. Since then they have developed to be more comedic and also have real life imagery involved in some of their idents. The ident that I choose to look at was a popular one that everyone knew about and whenever it came on they couldn’t help themselves but sing along to it (E4 - My Kingdom For A Horse) This is a very good example of the idents that E4 shows on there channel as well as it being recognisable as the E4 colours of purple being involved in the ident as well.

Another example is the crime scene idents by FX, these idents not only promote FX with the red squares flying around that represent them but it also promotes the type of programmes that they air, the ident shows the red squares flying around a crime scene showing tape and holes in a wall until they form themselves on the floor making a body shape before showing the actual FX sign at the end (FX - Crime Ident). The red squares floating around are recognisable for the viewers of FX as it is the red square the FX sign is actually put on.

Idents are very important to advertise the identity of the channel it is on. Television idents need to stand out from other idents, they can do this with different identities and branding. The idents usually take the same ideas as what the channel entails. This can be from certain objects or colours etc. This is important to highlight what genre or kind of films they will be showing in this channel and aim to attract a certain viewers.

Marketing-

Idents are a way in which television channels can market the channels towards the audience. During the programme you're watching you will usually see a ident at the start and end and also during the adverts. This is important to place the name of their channel in there heads. This is because every time you see the ident it will remind you of the channel. They market this way in the hopes that it will appeal to the audience and they will watch the channel again. If the identity of the programme is shown then it will become familiar to them and they may watch it all the time.

Packaging and Repackaging

This process can be used when creating a new identity for an ident. Its normally packaged and repackaged depending on what time of the year. So for example when its summer they may change the colours to be bright and colourful and in winter they may incorporate using snow. This is a familiar process used in channel because its can be used to represent which season it is but still keep some aspects of the original ident. This is important so the viewers can still identify the channel.

Scheduling/Segmentation with scheduling

Scheduling is what programmes are shown and when they are shown. This information given is usually in the form of a voiceover in the adverts and it shows what programmes are coming up soon. When the audience hears the times and dates of the programmes this can influence them in watching the programs because its keeps the audience aware. It also helps highlight the segmentation of the scheduling. It can be a form of advertising as well.

Density of Information

This just simply means what kind of things a company would like to show within there ident. It crucial for companies to show key information towards the audience in there ident. When planning during the design process the television company will specify what they want. This can be in relations to films or sports. These are using to show the kinds of programmes what will be on the channel. The density of information is key because it can play a role in choosing how the audience think of the channel. If there is a large range of information being revealed in the ident it could suggest there is a variety of context, but if there is very little it could show that most of the programmes being shown are very similar.

Space and Time

You always need to consider space and time when creating a ident. Time is is the duration a ident runs for. The length of a ident can change depending on what specific target audience. Normally a channel with their target audience with young ages like CBBC the ident will only last for a short period of time. This is because people of young ages are normally inpatient and can get bored quickly. But with an older audience the may not mind if the ident was longer. Space is all about how much gaps the ident can fill on the screen. With space you need to consider the age of the target audience before changing. With a younger target audience they would prefer a energetic and interactive ident. So the ident will be packed with objects which will fill up the gaps in the spaces. With an older audience, the ident may have more bigger gaps and flow in a much slower pace.

Screen Tempo

Screen tempo is  how fast or slow all the shots and cuts are within the ident. But this depends on which kind of programme the ident is used to advertise for. If the ident is used to advertise a football match it could have a player sprinting across a pitch. So the cuts and shots need to emphasise the speed in which he/she is sprinting. Fast pace music could also help. When a TV channel has created a successful ident with good tempo it could be a strong form in giving a channel its identity.

Interaction With Viewers

Interaction with viewers can play an important role in a good television ident. You can see in many idents there interact with the audience using a voiceover. This can make sure the channel's viewers stay interested and connected. This is because when they read out information the audience will take it in more than if they have to read it, because it grabs their attention. Nowadays because social networking is commonly used some idents ask the viewers to poster comments online. This will keep the audience engaged in watching the programme because the programme can reply a following message towards the viewer in the next ident.

Information-Led

Information-led is when a television ident gives information on the content of that channel. It important so the audience will know the scheduling of the channel. It could be in the form of a voice over.

Entertainment-Led

Of than giving information an identi much be keeped interesting all it won't appeal towards the target audience. Usually channels tend to use visuals or maintain the momentum through a announcer's voice, in the hopes to keep it interesting. When creating a ident you may want to consider if you want to aim for a more entertainment-led ident or a information-led ident. But this normally depends on their target audience and what context they are showing. For example a channel with a younger target audience may want to be more entertainment-led as the viewers will get bored.

Ident Opportunities

Idents are a way of promoting a TV channel, and also a way of showing what the channel has to offer for the target audience and a creative way of gaining more people watching that channel. When ITV was re-branded they changed their logo to be more colourful this is to show the wide range of different programming that they show, it also made it so they could make merchandise with this logo. 4Music idents are another good example as they are colourful and they always have two people dancing together to new music before showing the 4Music sign at the end, this is promoting that they play music and it is also goes with their target audience of 16-25 year olds (4Music – Dance).

Creation of Corporate Identity

This is when TV channels try to connect with the viewers social identity. To make sure they do it successfully they must consider; density of information, space and time, interaction with the viewer, screen tempo, entertainment-led and information-led. All of these considerations link together to represent the identity of the channel and try to attract a specific social identity. The viewers have 7 different types of social identities which are; aspirer, explorer, reformer, succeeder, struggler resigned and mainstream. To keep and gain viewers the channel will create a corporate identity which will only appeal towards one of these social identities. These guidelines are very important for channel because the target audience will connect with the identity though many platforms because they recognise the identity when they see it. As the TV channel can difine there target audience they just need to consider the social identities interests to make the channel more appealing.

Display of Text-Based Information

This is when the scheduling of programmes in a channel is being displayed. This allows the audience to read it themselves because its is shown visually. Normally the text-based information shown with a snippet or picture of the programmes highlighted. This could make the programs more recognisable.

Branding of Content

All idents will have a some kind of branding to show what kind of programmes will be shown on the channel. This can be revealed by showing the most popular characters of a specific show with information on scheduling. With regular scheduling being shown it will implant in their heads what time the programme is, so they won't forget. If they like the programme they will continuously come back to watch this programme when it's scheduled. All of this helps represent what kind of channel it is and will brand all the programmes which are aired. You can see many times in idents they appear with clips of programmes that are aired side-by-side with information. These are all key features to represent the channel.

Creation of Tone

When an ident is being created it's very important to consider tone. This is because they will have a certain tone depending on what brand it is. The aspects they need to think of are; shapes, colours, objects, music etc. A good example is CBBC as because it's aimed for a young target audience so they will use bright colours and fast pace, wacky music. This is important to keep the viewers engaged whist the channel is advertising there own channel. You can see there is lots of quick cuts used to keep up the momentum and keep the audiences interested. A manly from bright colours there is the constant showing of green which helps represent their channel. A lot of outrageous and fun shapes were used as they will fit towards the young target audience.

Encouragement of Brand Loyalty

Film

Digital

What went well?

With this task, I don’t really think that much went well. I think that when I was picking the film, I thought I was choosing something quite simple but I don’t think that my images really show the film as well as I could have done. 

With my digital images, I think that I managed to get the uniform and guitar right but I think that the atmosphere and feel of the image isn’t correct. I think that this also goes for my film still life image. However, this project did allow me to experiment with the darkroom and different use effects - which I wouldn’t have really used in the past. 

Where do you think you could improve your project?

For improving this project, I think that I could have allowed myself a lot more time and not rushed it as much as I did - which I know is my own fault. I could have included a lot more in my images other than just keeping it simple and using such basic things, as they look quite simple and boring. I also could have been a little bit more creative as this has defiantly effected my final images, as they now look rushed and not well thought out. 

My prints also need improving, as they are awful. I think that this goes down to the fact that in my film images, I accidentally shot the corner of the soft boxes in all of my images, except for one or two. This then narrowed down my choice of images and I also shot some of my images in 1/125 which then made them come out with black lines along the bottom. My prints are also quite blurry and look uneven on the paper and because of this, I am not happy with them. 

With my digital images, I could have allowed myself more time and been a bit more creative other than just keeping it simple. I think that the lighting in the images are quite moody and are a bit under exposed. Luckily, as I shot them in RAW, I was able to recover some of them and make them a bit more exposed. I also think that they don’t really suit the mood or atmosphere of the film and overall, I’m just not very happy with them. 

What were your original intentions with this assignment? Did you achieve what you set out to do?

My original intentions were to try and create something which represented the film and to complete the brief. I achieved the still life images of the project but I think that they could have turned out a lot better and included more props and objects to represent the film. As for my location shots, they didn’t really go with my original intentions as I thought of much better ideas than what I ended up with - which again, is my own fault. 

Was your experimentation and investigation valid and useful?

I think that the experimenting was useful, as it gave me the chance to try new things which I wouldn’t have tried before e.g. Pictograms, Dying and shooting without a lens on. By doing these, I haven’t learnt how to do these things and I could now think about using these for other pieces of work or projects. Researching was also useful, as it allowed me to look closer at the film - other than just being a viewer. So when I was analysing, I noticed things which I wouldn’t have noticed when I was just watching it. 

What did you learn during this assignment? 

For this assignment, I learnt how to create pictograms. I had a rough idea on how to do it, but now I know what kind of time I need to put it on and how to lay out my objects strategically without making them look cluttered. Another thing that I hadn’t done before, was shooting without a lens. When I first tried this, I thought that you could just take the lens off and you would still be able to see something - I was wrong. I had to hold the lens close to the camera but it didn’t have to be attached. I then practiced shooting a few of these and it was quite interesting as I would have never of thought to do this in other projects or in my personal work. 

What next? How will you move forward now?

What went well and why? 

I feel as though my final images turned out really well. I am happy that I didn't need to edit it too much, and this goes to show that my photographic skills are improving with each project I do.  I had a lot of ideas, but I narrowed them down quite easily. When shooting my film I shot three f-stops 8/11/16 to make sure I had a range of images to work with in the darkroom. While printing it took me a while to find the right exposure, and when I did I found a new and easier process to making better prints. My studio work went well because I have been doing a lot more work in there so I was confident when setting up lights and composing my photos. In the darkroom once I had the right exposure time and contrast it was a good opportunity to work on my dodging any burning, and how you can completely change the 

What could you improve?

I would like to experiment more with gels over my lights to put more colour in outside of Photoshop, and to add colour to the background of my photos. I would like to use more of my model next time and maybe explore a different character, like Buffalo Bill, which would enable to explore wider topics such as transvestites, or Clarice Starling and her role as Hannibal’s puppet being manipulated by him. I would also like to expand my locations for taking photos both digital and film, as well as improving my overall film taking  techniques. 

Did you do purposeful research? Did it help towards your final results?

I felt as though some of my research was helped towards my final results, looking at the cinematographers work on silence of the lambs, and other films that he did helped with how I would compose my images. I like the way he focuses close on the face, so you can see the minute details and facial expressions. This went towards my final two images. But I found the research a bit difficult because I had already formulated ideas for my shoots, so I was trying to find things that fit with things I already had, which made everything much harder. 

What did you learn from this project?

I learnt the importance of composition and how that can effect your photo. For example my final photos have been cropped to increase and continue the theme of tension and thrill. When developing ideas its best to have sufficient research to fuel your ideas or its going to be hard. 

What could you do differently next time?