CreativeJunky

Ellen Mulhern Productions

[creativejunky]

Mirror Mirror, final cut...

This has been some journey, a voyage of discovery for sure. I know its definitely not perfect, but for me its a great achievement. The feed back I received on my last review was great not as much as I feared, minor changes/improvements. I also got feedback from a former film student, her fresh eyes and ears pointed out other minor hiccups, and made some very good suggestions. I was truly grateful for all feedback. Would I do it again ? In a heart beat,  I would however take a different approach at many aspects of this project. All my mistakes are imprinted in my head as what not to do again in the future. This project has highlighted areas and skills I really need to improve upon. I think when the stress levels balance out I will revisit this project with fresh eyes and ears and make a few bold changes, I would also like to film the next stage of this documentary soon, but that’s another story.

Many thanks to my lecturers, classmates, past students, interviews and the beautiful Aoibhe for helping me make this possible.

[creativejunky]

Final rough cut

Can I really call it the final rough cut, I still see so many short comings. It definitely needs fresh eyes. If I was to do it again, I would change everything except a few of the clips of Aoibhe. When I say change everything I mean, place Andrea and Saoirse in a different interview position and location. I should have sources a second camera for the interviews (regardless of covid, there were ways and means) I should have done a few test runs with friends before interviewing Kieran on Zoom (audio and image could have been forseen and fixed) More lighting tests when using spy cameras/phones/gopro. Try and understand more on the audio side of things. I would also have reviewed my camera settings. Lets not mention colour correction. I have learned a lot from this project that I will take forward. I could explain away this documentaries imperfections were caused by having to capturing in the moment, lack of equipment, using a variety of filming devices, home learning and so-forth. The truth of the matter is, I should have tested and really got to know all my equipment, you can never do enough research and testing. I found working from home difficult but the lecturers went over and above to find ways to help and guide us. I feel I learned  an amazing amount this year. I know I lack knowledge in many areas of film, coming from photography helped in some areas but only few. No regrets.

[creativejunky]

Mirror Mirror, still in the editing process. I shortened clips that I thought was dragging, I feel as long as the piece of footage shows the emotion and point I want to get across that was what mattered.I also cut any repetitiveness I found. The crackle in Kierans voice is hard to shift (for me ) I have tried loads of things in Audition and Premier. I have striped it back to the original so many times, but at this point I feel im making it worse. On the upside, I have learned loads, came across things I never heard of but thought I could use that when .... I changed out a few things the blackboard without frame and resized it, still not 100% happy with how it looks will probably edge it some how.  Not overly happy as how the type sits in certain clips. Have touched upon the colour correction, fighting hard with some clips, there I or 2 that might be removed or replaced. I think background at end needs to be changed, also need to work on balancing the audio some clips are peaking a little. Some transitions needed as some cuts are too hard, need to recheck my framing. Lecturers once again are a great help.

[creativejunky]

[creativejunky]

Editing

Its all about the editing now, have 2 visuals yet to add, kettle boiling and change out child with ear defender image. Worked on audio, not my strongest area. Mark and Matt helped. Still needs tweaking but happier than before and learned in the process. Added royalty free background music.

Added Kieran to a Zoom screen at Marks suggestion really like the outcome. It also helps to alleviate the not so perfect audio by enhancing the visual aspect.

Matt suggested the blurred footage at the back of the screen, gives it an extra layer.

Kept the same idea for the blackboard. All boards the same now.

[creativejunky]

A few micro changes

[creativejunky]

Rough Cut 3

Some very obvious fixes needed, but after watching it on full screen I feel much happier than I did yesterday.. I did make a few minor changes, didn’t think they would make much of a change to it but they have. I feel there is a much better flow to it now . The more I look at it, little things keep popping up as to how I can improve certain scenes. I think I have just realized, everything doesn’t have to be perfect to work in unison. Gonna really knuckle down this week and try and get the most areas that need work done. Audio, colour correction and the dreaded titles.

[creativejunky]

Editing

Well I probably didn’t do as much as I wanted to this week - time limitations. But I did make a few changes.

I removed a lot of what I added prior, shortened certain clips (think there is still room to shave off a few seconds here and there).

I’m having trouble with Kierans audio, have tried a few things but still not happy with the outcome. Maybe im being too picky.

I feel as though Im lagging behind I have loads to do, colour correction, audio, titles, credits and so on. 

[creativejunky]

Roughcut 2.

Still lots of work needed. No colour correction yet. Im happy with the story, ending may change depending on circumstances. Not sure about the title. Need to soften some of my cuts. Lots of work needed on audio. Not happy with shoe and door footage, the list is endless. Need new eyes on it for feedback.

[creativejunky]

Editing

I thought I was doing ok until I exported it, The big screen tells no lies, I see and hear loads of mistakes. The past few weeks  Im doing things I never expected  to do so a lot of time spent on YouTube. I have done a little work on the audio but Im struggling to find a good balance with Ciarans audio. I know its a zoom call but I want his vocals smoother, have tried quiet a few things in Premier and Audition still not happy with the outcome - will get there. I resized the screen in the interview scenes - I think I can be a bit more ruthless. It is some thing I like and think it will stand out more when everything is done.

TITLE - Im now questioning if my title is fitting to my story-line. As the story unfolds In not seeing what I originally envisaged.

FOUNT/SOUND EFFECTS

Loads of time spent on fonts and sound effects sites. There is a variety of fonts needed, the Title/ Credits/ Introducing the scenes. Sound effects for the kettle, door slam, chalk on board, pen on paper

ROYALTY FREE MUSIC

Listened to so many tracks,I love the piano. I have downloaded a good variety of music to use in the background.

[creativejunky]

Audio to drive action, tester.

[creativejunky]

Edit

Using audio to drive action. Done in after effects. I resized the image and changed the values of the scale and opacity. I feel this is ideal to accentuate the audio by giving it visibility. Colours of the spectrum.

[creativejunky]

Editing

I have been doing a variety of edits in Premier and After Effects. The top video introduces the next scene, it was done in after effects. In premier I added a chalk board backdrop and chalk writing for effects. Chalkboard as its her teacher talking 1st time, 2nd time its a scene about school. The 3rd time is writing text in a book to introduce the social story. I just thought it was a little less boring than a static image.

[creativejunky]

Screen size.

I just watched Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal, very good documentary.

 What I really loved about it though was the ever-changing screen aspect ratio. 

Is there a written rule that everything has to fit the screen? I think in documentaries anything goes. I’m definitely going to use that idea in my documentary. I think I could easily get away with it if I use it to define a moment/mood/feeling. Quiet excited about trying it out, hopefully it will work for what I have in mind. My favourite size is the one in the middle.

[creativejunky]

ROUGH CUT

erhttps://vimeo.com/525735228

Uploaded to Vimeo . Its a very very rough cut. No colour correction, rough cuts, no audio editing done yet, a lot of gaps to be filled (more filming) Loads to do. BUT It is beginning to take shape. I can see the story now.  There is a lot of jumps in clips especially at the start with Andrea they all need to be smoothed out .There maybe a swap out of clips. In the structure I tried to keep a beginning, middle, end. I feel I need more to the beginning and a stronger end, just gotta figure that out. There are loads of very visible abrupt cut, some I’m going to find it hard to smooth out, a lot of fine tuning needed.In the interviews I found a lot of the breathable gaps filled with umm and that was all 3 interviewees.I find Im never off YouTube looking at editing techniques. Im happy with my interview audio other than a little noise reduction and de-esser I think they are fine. The rest of the audio needs to be worked on individually, that this and next weeks plan.  I also plan to get the last of my footage(hopefully)next week. I feel Im at an ok place with my project and after my feedback from the rough cut I will be able to progress much better.

[creativejunky]

Titles and Fonts

Well hands up, I am useless at choosing fonts and titles. I see something in my head but never seem to be able to achieve it. This font is LTC Italian Old Style compliments of my lecturer. I have looked at fonts but couldnt see any that I was fully happy with. This one I like. I havent yet decided what style my title will take. I do like the idea of movement. I know I probably shouldn’t say this but Im going to get the editing for my documentary done first so I can fully concentrate on my title then.

[creativejunky]

Audio

I haven’t done much with the audio as of yet but I did get around to opening up Audition a few times this week. I save the audio for Kieran’s interview separately as it will probable need a little work. I took out some background noise from Aoibhe’s singing and I very UNSUCCESSFULLY tried to de-muffle a conversation Aoibhe was having with her cats behind a closed door( decided in end not to use that audio)