FMP Evaluation

Final Major Project Evaluation

For my final major project, my decision was to make a video log (vlog). We were given the brief of time and space, so as long as we kept it within that, it'd be fine. I've themed it on a week in the life of me - so I filmed various moments of my life and my journeys. It’s meant to act as a video diary – something that will always be available to watch at anytime.

My vlog is technically a video diary of events I’ve got up to in one week.

Using all the time I had for the project, the outcome matched my vision of the project perfectly. It includes some poignant parts of my life, which I’m happy to share with the audience. It gives an insight into how things change in life and how things can change so easily.

I took inspiration for my vlog from various YouTubers, but two channels in particular.

Prank Vs Prank are a couple (Jesse and Jeana) who pull various pranks on each other, and secretly film it without the other knowing.

The reviews for their videos are mostly positive, however some viewers get worried that one day a prank will go too far and it might cause them to break up.

CTFxC (Charles and Alli Trippy) upload daily vlogs onto their YouTube internet series Internet Killed Television. They film every moment of their day, even emotional events like their wedding, and when Charles had a seizure.

Recently, Charles became the bassist of the band We the Kings, so now most of their vlogs double up as a tour diary as well.

My original aim for the vlog was to include a wider variation of videos. For instance, I wanted to include some clips of my mum instructing me on how to drive, with her holding the camera as a different point of view. Also, I planned to go to my Gran’s grave on a different day and stay a bit longer to lay more flowers.

Despite this though, my vlog turned out pretty well, it had elements of these missing videos.

Another thing was that I wanted to include a few decent snippets of songs to go in the background, but I was pressed for time to edit the video together, so I chose simple songs to put in certain parts of the background of some videos.

My plan changed a few times during the process of filming and editing the vlog.

What went wrong was I intended to film a driving lesson with my mum, however we couldn’t find a decent time or place to film it, as she was busy working at most of the times I wanted to go out.

I planned originally on filming a lot more with my friends when we went out around town and to gigs. I forgot to film on those occasions, which put me at a loss, because those clips could have helped to lengthen out the vlog.

There were a lot of points that went well.

For example, when I was due to go up to see a band play in Bristol, I had to wait in the car for my mum to finish a job. So I entertained myself.

It helps make the vlog more humorous.

The journey into producing the final piece was interesting and challenging.

For the most part, I knew what I was doing. I had a specific plan with a time for each section of the video.

Although there were a few hiccups in the process and it turned out not 100 percent as I imagined it would, it was good enough to meet the brief I designed for myself.

Getting the clips together themselves was fun and easy for me, as I have previous experience with filming and editing vlogs together. I had the motivation to specifically go out, get some friends together and film whatever I needed.

If I were to do the project again and improve it, I would work on my time management a bit more.

There was a struggle sometimes to figure out what to film, so a lot of the videos I had had to be scrapped because they were completely irrelevant and too boring for the vlog.

I had a bit of a last minute rush to edit the clips together and find appropriate sounds to fit in with it.

This ties in with the organisation. I could have had a back up plan for the times when I stalled on filming, where I could have started editing ahead. Instead, I waited for all the videos to be filmed, and pressed on with editing in one night. It was a bit rushed at the end, but I got it done eventually!

My work would be best displayed on YouTube. That’s where I intend to upload it anyway.
It’s going to be available to view in the Plymouth College of Art Summer Show, for members of the public and the rest of my class to watch.

My final piece is something I’m very proud of.
The thing I think I like most is the memorial to my Gran. It’s a clip of her talking about her memories. It’s emotional for me, but I think it’s what makes the vlog more serious, and gives the audience a proper insight to my life.

I also like how it involves both my friends and members of my family. It’s definitely the best project I’ve done, the process itself went really well, and I’m pleased with the outcome!

Target Audience Poster

This is my target audience poster, explaining what types of films, music, TV shows and websites i like. 

I collected some together on a list, and included them in this poster, explaining who i thought would be the ideal target audience.

Final Major Mindmaps

Artists that relate to my Final Major Project

CTFxC (Charles and Alli Trippy - YouTube)
CTFxC has a web series called Internet Killed Television, which documents the lives of Charles Trippy, his wife Alli and their dogs Zoey and Marley.
The show consists of episodes averaging around six to twenty minutes that are filmed, edited, and then uploaded every day onto YouTube. The series was originally planned to last for only one year, but after the success of the first season, they decided to continue. The YouTube series has now reached its fourth year and every year, they ask their audience, the CTFxC(ers) to create a montage featuring the main events that had occurred that year. They literally have thousands of videos, but some of my favourites were from the first season. Their vlogs are what inspired me to do mine on my YouTube channel, however, mine aren't uploaded every day.

Prank Vs. Prank (Jesse Wellens and Jeana Smith)
PVP is a YouTube channel created in 2007 by this couple. They both play pranks on each other, sometimes physical, sometimes manipulative, and post videos of them on YouTube. The channel has had 386,932,087 video views, and 2,560,788 subscribers as of April 20, 2013. The channel was started when Jesse tricked Jeana into eating a spoonful of cinnamon. The reaction was posted on the Internet, starting the tradition of pranking each other and posting the videos online. Some of my favourite videos of theirs are 'Toilet Paper Gun Prank' and 'Surprise Haircut on Girlfriend'. Their videos have elements in them that i want to include in my vlogs.

PCA Media Video Critique

Dragonfly
This video was really interesting. It played with different perspectives and camera angles, to make it seem like people were interacting with objects in an unusual manner.
It explores loads of different camera angles, giving the effect of making people look bigger or smaller than the object they're interacting with. For instance, there was a person far away in the background being 'squashed' by a 'giant' shoe.
You don't see a lot of these videos; it's really creative and uses the imagination.
The music in the background is really fitting, it's slow and acoustic. It makes for easy listening, so you're mainly focused on what's going on in the actual video.

http://vimeo.com/59143259


Swish Cut
This video is kind of different to normal videos. I like how it uses a completely abstract camera angle, so it's set in first person. You see the story being told out like it's from your own eyes.
The storyline behind it is decent as well - it's based around an envelope, and everyone seems to want it and go out of their way to get it.
On the camera views, it gives me a good idea for my final major project. It's unusual and makes it interesting to watch.
The background music is suited well to it. It sets the tone and mood for the clip.

http://vimeo.com/44729538

Final Major Vlog Ideas

I've decided to make the vlog about nothing serious. I'm literally going to film what i do in my daily life, or a few road trips to places, like town and maybe around different cities depending on if i can get there. I'll try and make it a bit humorous.

Ideas to film:
Road trip / day trips
A day around town with some friends
Stories about something that happened in my life
Going to Livewire (Saltash) and the bands
Re-enact something, like a film clip
Challenge videos, like the Cinnamon Challenge or Milk Challenge
Do a PVP (Prank vs. Prank) style skit
Take Yoshi (my hedgehog) or Max (my puppy) for a walk
Learn a new skill and film it
Town (the Hoe) have a look around the war memorials
And then go diving in the water.

FILL A ROOM WITH BALLOONS.

What Is The Final Major Project?

The purpose of our final major project is to have something to show in the Summer Show, as well as to show what we've achieved during our college course.
We have the choice to produce either a film or photography piece. My choice is to do a film. It has to be no longer than 15 minutes, and it can contain anything i want, presuming there's no bad language, or anything too extreme.

At the stage i'm at now, which is planning an idea, i don't have much planned. The only thing i have is to make a vlog (video blog).
Altogether, we need to have produced a portfolio, in sketchbook form, talking about how we'll present and organise our work.
Pre-production documents including film critiques, questionnaires, location photographs, character biographies and a Proposal Form.
Production documents including storyboards, location recce, risk assessment, scripts, production diary, treatment, team list and equipment list.
We also need to make a pitch, which will be presented in front of the class for 10 minutes.

At the end of the project, i hope to have produced a finished vlog for the final major project, complete with all the documents we needed and complete.