Evaluation
The evaluation was the final part of my project were I reflected on myself as a student and had to adapt.
Throughout the project I made a reflection journal that reflected on everything I done every week.
19/03/2025
Today I was told to complete a proposal form for final major project to show case all the different aspects of my project and my general idea for what I am creating. My idea is I want to create a realistic first person shooter trailer by shooting everything in real life. What I will do is use airsoft to film the trailer. I'm still coming up with what the story will be about and what exactly I will do. This is my proposal involving these ideas.
02/04/2025
This week I have been looking at the research for my project so I've looked at the game Bodycam to see how the camera is place in the game to make it ultra realistic. The changes that I will use for my trailer are to make sure the vision is clear In the camera. I will make this change because In Bodycam and other first person shooters they make sure that their gun is clear to see and the what they are looking at. For the next couple of days I will be looking at more first person cameras but looking at movies that do this, I will also start my pre-production documents. I also was told by one of my tutors that I should add a lot more detail to my FMP proposal so I decided to enhance the document and make it more clear for my proposal.
09/04/2025
This week, I have finished multiple research task that I need to complete before I start filming. I explored the introduction to first-person shooter (FPS) games and the broader genre they belong to. I examined how various games have contributed to making the genre so popular and influential over time. I also looked into the visual style of FPS games and considered the cultural and social influences that have shaped them.
When I began researching FPS games as part of my project, I had several ideas about how I wanted my document to look. Initially, it was just a basic essay in Microsoft Word. While this was acceptable, I decided to enhance it by adding headings, bullet points, and a table to improve the layout and give it a more professional and polished appearance. This change made the document feel slicker and better organized.
The images included are just two examples from my research document. Through this process, I've learned many reasons why the FPS genre is both impactful and important. Each game within the genre offers something unique. For instance, while some FPS titles aim for a highly realistic experience, others—like Call of Duty—are known for being more cinematic and stylized rather than strictly realistic.
1/04/25
Today, I created a forum document for my primary research on first-person shooter (FPS) video games and films. The purpose was to better understand what people think about the genre and what aspects they enjoy most. This research will help guide the development of my own project.
I also began working on my pre-production documents, including my media treatment and prop list. In the forum, I included a set of specific questions to ask my fellow students. These questions were designed to help shape my film by gaining insight into audience preferences. For example, I asked whether people prefer cinematic, action-based, or tension-filled trailers, or if they prefer gameplay-focused trailers in FPS games. I also asked which FPS games they enjoy and whether they even enjoy the genre at all.
These questions were important because the answers would influence how I approach my trailer and what direction I take it in. After sending out the forum and receiving the results, I found that out of six participants, four of them play FPS games. The games mentioned included Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, Bodycam, and Ready or Not. The films they had watched that were similar to what I'm aiming for included Hardcore Henry and John Wick.
In response to the final question, "What do people enjoy in FPS games?", there were equal votes for three aspects:
Realism and immersion (2 votes)
Fast-paced action (2 votes)
Story and character development (2 votes)
Based on these responses, I've decided to make sure my film includes suspense and strong realism, similar to Bodycam.
From this process, I learned that creating a forum to gather feedback is extremely valuable when developing a project. It allows for necessary changes to be made based on actual audience preferences, which can significantly improve the final outcome.
Next, I plan to finish all my pre-production documents, shoot some test footage, and prepare everything for filming.
19/04/2025
By the end of this week, I have completed all of my pre-production documents for my project and have just finished filming all the footage for my trailer.
While creating some of my pre-production documents—such as my prop list and location recce—I initially used a basic Word document. However, one of my tutors suggested that I use a proper Harvard-style template to make my work look more professional, which I'll apply going forward.
On the day of filming, I wasn't familiar with how to use a GoPro, so I quickly watched a five-minute tutorial to get a basic understanding. Once I started using the camera, I actually found it quite enjoyable. Since I wanted the footage to look authentic—like a real first-person shooter (FPS) game—I had to make sure the resolution and frame rate were correct. I set it to 60 frames per second to achieve a smooth and realistic look.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get some of the shots I had originally planned. For example, there was a muddy area that was off-limits, which I had hoped to use for more dynamic scenes. Instead of letting that stop me, I adapted on the spot. I managed to capture intense moments with help from someone else, and luckily, playing airsoft naturally produces a lot of exciting, game-like footage.
Despite the challenges, I don't really see them as setbacks. I learned how to think on my feet and make creative changes in the moment, which ultimately helped me shape a trailer I'm pretty proud of.
Next, I'll begin the editing process and finish up some of the remaining pre-production tasks. There are parts I couldn't complete earlier because I needed to finish filming first. I also need to create a feedback form for my trailer and start working on my evaluation and portfolio.
25/04/25
This week, I began gathering all my footage, organizing it in the correct order, and searching for a suitable soundtrack using various websites. I also started researching editing techniques that would make my video feel more like a trailer. Additionally, I created a mock HUD (Heads-Up Display) for the trailer.
After selecting a soundtrack that perfectly fit the tone I was aiming for—it was about 1 minute and 25 seconds long—I noticed it had natural breaks in the audio. I thought these breaks would be great spots to insert text showcasing different features of the game.
Through my research, I discovered several effective editing techniques for trailers. For example, in one part of my trailer, there's a fast-paced beat—almost like flickering—so I decided to flick to black between scenes to match that rhythm.
After completing a rough cut of the trailer, I sent it to a few friends and my parents for feedback. They suggested that some of the shots should be faster-paced and that the color could be improved. Based on this feedback, I plan to adjust the color grading and pacing in the coming week.
02/05/25
This week, I completed the editing and focused on finalizing the trailer. I also began preparing feedback forms for my evaluation document.
Based on the feedback I received, I made several decisions: I adjusted the coloring and lighting in many shots to increase suspense, build tension, and give it a more cinematic, trailer-like feel rather than just a short film. I completed my feedback form and sent it out, hoping to receive responses next week.
This week taught me the importance of being adaptable—changing and improving elements to ensure the best possible outcome. Next week, I plan to begin working on my portfolio and finalize my evaluation.
09/05/25
This week, I officially finished my trailer and completed my evaluation, including the analysis of feedback. I also made significant progress on my portfolio—I'm about halfway through now.
Creating the portfolio has been a new experience for me. Aside from a previous multimedia campaign where I only created a single webpage, I haven't done something like this before. This time, I'm using Webnote to create multiple pages that document each step of my project. I thought it would be a great idea to showcase all the different documents in order, along with various images and creative decisions I made along the way.
The main thing I learned this week was how to design a website that's both informative and visually presentable. I found it really enjoyable to compile all my hard work from the past few months into one place. My goal is to make everything look professional and hopefully achieve the high grade I'm aiming for.
Next week, I plan to finish the portfolio and tie up any loose ends.
16/05/25
In this final week, I wrapped up everything related to my project, including the portfolio. I also completed the final details of my treatment and made any necessary finishing touches.
By this point, I had already completed my evaluation, but after showing my work to a few more people, I made some small changes based on their feedback. One person mentioned that the tone should lean more toward drama, so I made adjustments to reflect that.
Overall, I've learned a great deal from this project—especially how to adapt and revise work based on feedback. I also gained practical experience with tools like Adobe Premiere and the GoPro, and deepened my understanding of stylistic influences like Tron: Legacy and the FPS (first-person shooter) genre.
This project has been a valuable learning journey, and I feel proud of what I've accomplished.
Evaluation
One of the main achievements I gained from this project was learning how to adapt to unexpected challenges. For example, one of the locations I planned to film at was closed on the day I intended to shoot, so I had to scrap that idea and quickly come up with an alternative by filming in different locations.
I also faced some difficulties, particularly with equipment I wasn't familiar with—such as the GoPro camera. At first, I didn't know how to use it properly, but after watching several tutorials, I was able to understand its features and use it effectively in my project.
I drew on skills I had learned in previous projects, especially the basics of Adobe software. I also applied techniques like colour correction to adjust the tone and mood of specific shots. This time around, I learned how to edit a video to build suspense and create high-tension moments—essential elements for an action trailer, as they help convey the genre effectively.
Overall, I feel that this project marked a significant step forward in my development as a media student. It taught me how to work independently and take on multiple roles in a production—whether as a producer, editor, director, or cinematographer. I've learned how to bring a project to life from scratch, and that experience has been both challenging and rewarding.