I feel as if I have made countless changes and progressed massively since the preliminary task, in my preliminary task I made a fair number of mistakes across all areas such as editing, shooting, and acting. In the short scenes, the audio quality was horrible, making a low-level buzzing sound last throughout the entirety of the video, devaluing the voice acting skills of my actors, and dragging away attention otherwise court by the actor’s conversation. Also, the planning and scripting of the preliminary task was also rather poor, with little to none amounts of preparation in terms of shot lists and other organisation, which lead to a low standard quality of the video however did this serve to teach me the importance and key role of in depth planning and organisation before shooting. The editing was sufficient but not extensive but done at a simpler level due to my lack of previous experience of editing video.

On the other hand, thanks to giving my self-room to improve, I can now easily identify my improvements and the progress I have made since then. With me being able to identify where there is room for improvement, it let me create a more refined and well-crafted piece for the main task. Even though the sound again was unsatisfactory to the standard I wish it was, this time around instead of sticking with the sound I was unhappy with, I decided to further innovate my idea, and use only a soundtrack as which I intended to use anyway, this made my video seem higher quality (audio wise) and helped create / enforce a Proairetic Code – One of Barthes’s semiotic codes, this one is the one which states something in video done to create tension or such, to keep the viewer guessing as to what is going to take place. I also further planned and prepared for what is going to be ahead, organising actors, equipment and planning what shots, scenes and angles I will utilise in my work (found on my AS Media Portfolio http://wojtekraszewskifoundationportfolio.blogspot.co.uk/ ), this better organisation allowed me to work less erratically and more confidently as if lost, I could rely on my previously made plans, such as the in-depth storyboard, dates and times actors are available for recording, allowing me to make a higher quality video. The editing also greatly improved as I learnt how to use video effects and transitions in the chosen editing software, this time around iMovie and Final Cut Express.

Since than I also have developed skills, some completely new, and some just further built up on such as camera/recording skills, video editing skills, audio editing, general ICT skills and overall creativity. However, throughout the coursework my confidence also shifted multiple times, dropping when it came to recording due to lack of experience but than building back up after a while, when I gained more confidence and belief that in what I was doing was indeed correct.

My first iteration of the video, came under critique via my request by the fellow students, peers and teachers. Majority of the feedback received being positive comments such as the video being “clean and seemingly professional” and “a good showcase of camera skills”. Yet the criticism also stated that in most people found the video a little too fast, or short. I worked around this problem with the use of other recycled footage which I previously did not personally like, however in the end found acceptable to use. The film now coming to about one minute ten, from the previous 50 seconds and staying of the same quality all the way through.

In summary, I think that I have made a great deal of progress since my preliminary task, and have made considerable improvements in some key aspects of being a media student. I feel as if my work has paid off, and I am generally happy with how it has all turned out.