UAL Y1: Mini Final Major Project

Mini Final Major Project

~~Intro slides to VFX and SFX~~

Brief:

Propose and then create a short TV scene with a visual or special effect for a film producer. A title sequence may be included. It needs not have a clear narrative, but the effect should be in keeping with the style of the film. 20 seconds max.

You may adapt your script from your previous task if you want to use an element from your previous project.

Here is your digital brief and process, please download and always reference. Remember you have 6 weeks in total!

Brief

Assessment:

You will be assessed on the quality of your research skills and also your working practices.
Check the mark scheme below, especially the research element.

Here are the areas you will be marked on

Examples of good Final Major Project Research

https://declanhenley.wixsite.com/mysite/task-1-2

https://moo16268766.wixsite.com/-rough-and-ready/research

Timing

You have six weeks. Most of your time should be spent planning. You will just use your 180 lessons

You will work by yourself on this project - this is your own project and should be unique to those around you. However, if you need other people to help to execute your plans, you may get three other people to help, who will gain a credit.

Good working practices

Breaking down the project into manageable/achievable chunks and making a plan of what to achieve and by what date. Make a clear process and how to process will build up to your final product.
To plan a lesson-by-lesson guide to know exactly what you are doing each lesson - Use This
Last 5 minutes of every class reflect (this should be embedded into your research page) on what you have achieved in the lesson and what you want to achieve next lesson. How will it alter or change your final product.

Tips

- You will need to be able to experiment and see failures as a positive learning experience
- You will need to be able to be self-critical of your work
- You will need to be highly self-motivated - an autonomous learner.

We want to see students who do good research and have a structured work flow, the quality of the final piece is secondary.

TASKS

Here will be tasks to help guide you and follow during your mini FMP, you will be expected to do more than what is on the blog and also have full creative outlook over your blog and presentation.

Remember we are looking for research skills, reflection and evaluation linked to overall project brief.

Task 1

Set up a new blog called:

Effects

Pages to add:
Research, Practical, Evaluation & Reflection

Email links to your teacher

Task 2

Page: Research

(Make sure it is clearly laid out with titles, sub headings etc)
(All the Research tasks should be written up on the Research page with images and text)

Define the difference between a special and visual effect. Give examples to back up your definition

Find 5 examples of visual effects
Find 5 examples of special effects

Use different research tools, YouTube, Vimeo, Website tutorials, Workshops - You MUST evaluate and reflect on various research methods as well as how the research tools are reliable and useful.

Explore these effects in the following ways:
-What is the intention of the effect?
-Is the effect successful in enhancing the scene?
-How do you think it was made?
-Evaluate which two you enjoyed the most and why

From the original 10 effects, choose 2 to analyse in detail.
-How does this effect enhance the scene?
-What effect does it have on the audience?
-Break down the effect down into parts and stages, how are all the small details contributing to the overall effect?

Discuss how it would be possible to create similar effects and how the research can help your overall brief. Link to the brief you have been set.

Task 3

Page: Research

Brainstorm images, ideas, colours and films that will help you decide what effects you want to make. Create a mood board to show inspiration, designs and overall what makes a SFX/VFX

Create a Mindmap with loads of ideas of what you could create, use images to help.

Create an infographic on Piktochart and explain what a typical effect is, materials normally needed, methods of creating. An infographic on Special effects.

Moodboard

Mind Map

Infographic

Make sure you include images and your research tools for information.

Task 4

Page: Research

Example work to look at and analyse
https://qdacrekingsa2.home.blog/2019/05/12/creative-critical-reflecions/
https://youtu.be/dpqs_TtJ-5Q

This is also distinction level

https://eddieeffects.blogspot.com/p/research.html

Proposal

Planning: you are going to have a meeting but you are very lucky, the person you are meeting is completely clueless so you can decide what effect you want to make! However you have to have some suggestions

Answer the below questions to whatever extent is helpful

Backstory / What is the context of the task, what are your initial thoughts, how will you progress and plan?
Opportunity / What are the problems you are aiming to overcome? What opportunity does it suggest?
Scope / What’s the overall target for your project, what are you aiming for?
Target Audience / Who are they? Where are they? Describe them for your scene/effect
Constraints / What are the constraints you have, technology, resource, people constraints?
Resources / Who is in the core and extended team? What is needed to achieve success? What access do you need
Success / How will you measure success? Describe the hard metrics of success
Envision / What does success look like? Feel like? Where will this project lead?

https://scakoni.wordpress.com/context/

Read through this example for support.

Here is your proposal document to complete - Proposal Document

Present to a classmate for feedback. Listen to someone else’s.

Give feedback verbally and take notes on your feedback.

Use this to write up your feedback - Proposal feedback

Task 5

Page: Research

Update your production diary/planning. Talk through your plan and proposal. Show your teacher what you are planning and talk through what you need to do.

Make an update on your blog of what is still needed to research/plan

Production Plan

Task 6

Page: Research

Technical Proposal

You will need a technical proposal and one with a lot of detail/drawings/images

Research the skills needed to create your chosen effects.

Summarise the assets you will need (people, places, equipment, props, storyboard etc etc).

Use this Technical Proposal as support for areas to comment on. Make sure each area has been covered and is in detail. Remember to reflect on what problems/solutions you have as well as referring to research tools/reliability.

Use the one below or create your own with the same areas covered.

Technical Proposal

This is a good example of an effect plan illustrated. You may draw and upload images etc.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t536jfdi5i2ohcs/effect_design.pdf?dl=0

Task 7

Page: Research

Now you need to start testing materials and methods. Here is a good Mini FMP to help you on how your research and testing should be laid out.

https://eddieeffects.blogspot.com/p/research.html

Start learning and testing the skills you have been researching.

Effects Test & Review should consist of images, reflections, process or a guide on how you have tested and created.

Effects Test & Review Sheet

Task 8

Page: Research

Vlog Video Update

Present the skills learnt so far, to camera visually or audibly, as a 30 second clip.

Link to your blog. Reflect on problems/solutions and what you want to achieve from now.

Upload to your blog with a title and description

Task 9

Page: Research

Final plan

You should now have all of your plans together with an idea of creating, filming and editing. Remember this is only a short clip.

Use the final plan document and comment on your final stages and what you need to complete for the production and post production stages.

Update you production diary/plan

Task 10

Page: Practical

Filming

You now need to film and document your SFX/VFX. Include production docs and record your scene.

Update on your blog with how your process went as well as your raw video clips.

Task 11

Page: Practical

Editing

Now you need to edit together your SFX/VFX whether its in Premiere Pro, After effects, Audition etc.

export and add your finished edit to your blog.

Task 12

Page: Evaluation & practical

Evaluation

Your evaluation can take 3 forms: written, audio or video
Your evaluation should be at least 750 words or at least 4 minutes long if audio or video
You should at the very least, discuss the following. Refer back to experiences, feelings and anecdotes to back up your points.

If written up then make sure you include sub headings.

Meeting the brief - How well did you meet the brief? Did it meet your standards of success?
Effect - How effective was your effect? Did it fit in with the style of the film?
Research - describe your research process, how successful and useful was it? What would you do differently to improve your research?
The effectiveness of your workflow - What did you do well? How would you change it?
Scope of the project - Did you feel challenged? Did you stretch yourself?
Management - How well managed was your time? How did this impact your final piece?
Autonomous learning - How did you cope with being self-dependent? What did you learn about yourself? Where do you need to improve? When were you tested? How did you overcome issues by yourself?
Pride - are you proud of your work? What will you do with your work now?
Skills - What soft skills have you developed? What hard skills have you developed?
Future - What are some changes you will make to your mindset for the FMP? What are you looking forward to about the FMP?