UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma

Unit 13: Unit 13: Extended project in creative media production

The Final Major Project (Year Two)

STATEMENT OF AIMS

FMP unit is the summative unit in the final year of the two-year qualification. It
will provide students with a measure of self-directed learning through the
completion of a substantial creative media production and technology project.

The unit requires students to apply the skills, knowledge and understanding
developed over the entire course, to complete a creative media production project. It
will provide students with a measure of self-directed learning, and an opportunity to
further clarify their longer-term goals through their choice of an activity to explore in
greater depth.

Name Annabelle Blackmore

Disciplines Video
(primary/secondary
)
(e.g. video,
animation, sound,
photography, 3D,
etc)
Project (e.g. short Short film
film, music video,
animation,
documentary, advert,
branding, etc.)
Section 1: Rationale (minimum of 100 words)

Throughout my time in this course, I have learnt how to use an editing app such as
Adobe Premiere Pro; knowing how to split and cut clips, adding effects and text,
and just working the software. For this short film I will be using Adobe Premiere
Pro to edit, opposed to Adobe After effects, as I am most used to Premiere and
know the layout and design of it better. I’ve become more apparent with video
editing over the years and not talents in relation to the software; Adobe Animate or
Cinema 4D or Adobe Photoshop. I’ve always taken a liking to editing, even before
I joined collage, but coming here has only increased my interest and capability
towards it.

For my final major project, I have decided to opt for video since I am aware I am
most confident in that area. I have been rather competent with any work I’ve
produced for video (the perfume advert, upside down 30 second short film, and of
course my final major project) - for year one (the documentary and specialist
subject) – so far for year two, this FMP being my final project of the year and my
time in this course. I’ve enjoyed creating video projects the most, hence I produce
my best work in that area. Before collage, however, I had zero to no knowledge
about cameras and how they work. Being so engrossed in editing, the filming side
comes with it as well, causing me be fascinated in both the subjects.

Personally, I feel as though I have come along way since the beginning of
September in 2022. Both my mental and technical confidence has improved
massively since I started, my work becoming more neater and polished because of
that. This is why I have chosen video for my FMP, sticking with my passion for
editing, in hope I construct a creative and jaw dropping short film.

Section 2: Project Concept (minimum of 200 words)

My concept and main theme for my final major project is writers’ block. I want the
video and atmosphere to be very old fashioned; shot in my grandparents’ house,
typing on a type writer, a black and white filter with a grainy look edited, a VHS
overlay overtop, etcetera. As someone who gets writers block often, wanting to be
an author, I felt like portraying something that I personally struggle with. My aim is
to help any audience if they’re stuck when writing, I’m not saying to this extent, but
just explaining that you can always go by what has happened in your previous day,
month, year or just a fun or spooky experience you’ll never forget, and incorporate
that into your writing.

My passion and dream for the future it to write books and become an author so I
wanted to base my FMP around a subject related to my interests and what I want
to peruse. As well as this, my favrioute genre is Murder Mystery so I want to
include that somehow, as it’ll bring me more joy to create a better, more thought-
out presentation when finished. To stick to the themes, old fashioned and writers
block, the camera will start off by filming the main character typing motivationally
on a type writer, set in an ancient house clearly from times when type writers were
the norm. Suddenly, the raring idea they so desperately wanted to get down, is on
the paper. Leaving them confused on where to lead their story next. In spite of
sitting around for a few minutes, unsure and stuck, they decide to go on a walk. To
think and hopefully gather an idea about the upcoming chapter. The character
walks for a while but when they get absolutely nowhere in their mind, the strangest
following few hours imaginable occur in their life that day. The protagonist
accidently murders someone. A robber tries to snatch their necklace they have just
pulled out their pocket to put on, in anger and confusion they tourn around and use
the necklace to strangle the criminal to death. The main character notices a
witness by the scene so panics and realise they must go too. She uses the same
strangulation method to kill them, but now there are two bodys to hide. He props
both corpses against a nearby tree and runs to her car for props to ‘hide the dead
bodys’. The protagonist props the first human against the tree, placing a wine
bottle in their hand. She puts a blanket down and lays the second on that, a bottle
of alcohol beside them. In spite of all of this; another eye witness notices the odd
scene. The, now, murderer commits their third and final crime of the day. They pull
them once more and situation them beside the two other deceases. The character,
earlier in the day, had no idea she would do such a horrific act, but have now
come to an conclusion, they now have a very clear plot twist: to conclude their
murder they have just committed into the words they have previously written.
Although it is less murder mystery and more just the murder aspect, I wanted to
make a short film on how anything can be made into a passage, its just up to the
author to elaborate on the original topic and story. The murder will most likely
happen on a beach or in a park since there will be more open space to film the
scene.

I want the victim to die in a clever way by the protagonist; something that
resembles a meaning perhaps. Either in relation to a subject that has been
previously mentioned or shown, or something related to a type writer or the fact it
is all old fashioned. I’m thinking it’ll be self-defence rather than any way on
purpose. A stranger will attempt to rob the main characters most prized
possession that they happen to be holding while walking about. They will then fight
for it back, accidently hitting them with said object, causing them to drop dead with
the hard hit. The item could be a necklace or a bracelet, causing strangulation to
be used to kill them, and since both objects often are passed down from older
generations, it gives it more speciality and meaning.

Throughout, they’ll be no one talking and I’m going to try and keep any faces out of
frame. I’ll add a vintage soundtrack that’s light at the start but dimmers when the
crime takes place, going back to bright at the end when she’s writing up her
diurnal. I want the audio to have a raspy grain added in so the whole project looks
and sounds like it was filmed and edited in, say, the 1950s. As well, as I have
previously mentioned, the video itself will be slightly shaky and unstable with VHS
and static overlays, possibly filmed on my iPhone or on my mums camcorder to
give more of said effect. The colouring will be black and white or sepia.

In preparation for shooting all of the above, I am going to carry out as much
research as I can to help push me into creating the most effective piece for the
eye. I will put out a question survey, asking: “What do you do when you are feeling
stuck when working?” And “how do you overcome writers block?” As well as
searching on the internet ways to get back motivation and new ideas. I’ll also
explore creative ways to murder someone with just an object you can call a prized
possession, in case I dismiss strangling and go with a box of some sort that hits
them around the head.

When shooting my final major project, I’ll use myself as the main protagonist and
find three actors to be the other characters that gets murdered. I’ll also need to find
a 1950s prized possession I’ll wear or hold which will later become the murder
weapon. In regards to locations; I have decided to shoot the first half in my
grandparents house, room yet unknown as I’ll most likely see on the day which
looks best on screen and has the best lighting, and either the beach or a park for
the second half when the crime occurs.

Section 3: Evaluation – How you plan to record your progress (minimum of 100
words)

Whilst working on this project, I am planning to record my progress throughout,

using blog entries on my weebly page. I’ll take screenshots of my work that day
and write about my progression as well, occasionally, just marking down my work
if pictures aren’t necessary. I’ll also reflect on what I have achieved and struggled
with during the lesson and what I can do to keep up my produced work and
conquer the matters I found more difficult. As well as this, it will give me an
opportunity to talk about if anything regarding my overall idea or even just little bits
here and there, such as the prized possession, has changed. Through these
entries I’m going to explain what I have done that day, in detail if I used any
software or the website URL I used if I was doing research online; it’ll enable me to
come to terms to what I have left to do in the future and what my very next step is
the next lesson.

Section 4: Proposed Research Sources

My proposed research sources will consist of the internet, surveys and films and
TV shows. I will analyse films such as Glass onion and Death on the Nile and TV
shows such as Only murders in the building and Dead to me, for crime, and films
such as Can you ever forgive me and Barton Fink for writers block.

I’m going to produce a survey as well as asking my friends and family how they
over come writers block or any work in general. This should hopefully help me with
the idea to add along with the accidental murder. I also want to put out the
question “what is your most prized possession?” So it gives me a clue on what the
main character could have, something so special someone would want to steal it.

Section 5: Equipment Required

I will film on my mums Camcorder and edit on a computer, the software Adobe
Premiere Pro. I’m going to have my mum hand film it all. Despite I want to portray
the olden vintage look to the short film, I don’t want it too shaky that it comes out
unpleasant and fake, so I’ll add the subtle vibrates in editing.

Section 6: Resources Required

I’ll use my typewriter when writing the fake story and items like jewellery,
preferably an old necklace, which will attempted to get robbed. I am using that
same object as the murder weapon. For the deceases props; I’ll need some wine
bottles, I’ll make sure are empty, a blanket, maybe sunglasses and a speaker to
give of the impression they’re having a party.

In regard to the location, I’ll be shooting in my grandparents’ house and a beach or

park. I have decided on a park.

For my costume, I’ll put together some old fashioned outfits for all characters to
wear, sticking with the 1950s theme. My makeup and hair will also attempt to
portray that era; hair curled up in a short bob, red lips, eye liner, pale face and pink
cheeks. However, since only the chin and below will actually be shown on screen,
I don’t need to worry too much the remainder of my makeup.

Section 7: Skills to develop/learn

Transforming the clips from the camera I’m not used to onto the computer is big
skill I need to develop, as it is not modern. As well as knowing more filters and
effects on Adobe Premiere Pro will be useful to give the old fashioned atmosphere.

Section 8: Personnel and responsibilities

I’ll get a family member to help me record handheld and I’ll most likely film each
scene twice so I have two versions form different angles and positions in the room.
So when it comes to editing I can see which one I preferer or I’ll keep both for
different perspectives.
Section 9: Intended audience and context

My intended audience for my final major project is authors. People, preferably

16-85 years old but either gender, who write. Whether it’s inspiring novelists, script
and play writers or poets. Since my theme is murder, it’s also targeted to and
suitable for crime and murder mystery enthusiasts, audience who have either one
of those topics as their favourite genres rather than romance or sci-fi. I say this is
for 16-85 year olds because ages like 14 years old and 13 years old, and very
much below, are uncommon ages to start writing a book in this circumstance, of
course it is not imposable, just rare. As well keeping to the murder aspect, too
young of an audience will become scared when watching the crime. 85 feels like
an appropriate age most authors will retire and put down the idea of writing any
longer.

Most likely this could be shown as an actual film if it was elongated and in more
detail.

Section 10: Creative Mindsets

The entire short film is all completely my idea that I have concluded together
because I desire to become an author and my favourite genre is murder mystery. It
is also my idea on coming up with how the character is going to be murdered and
the fact the writer is going to turn that into their book.

I do need to think critically while producing this to the best of my abilities; does it
look like it was filmed and set in the 1950s? Does the murder look realistic? Will it
portray the message I want it too? I need to make sure my makeup, hair and outfit
is spot on to what they wear in the 1950s, as well as the victims’ attire too.

The weather will probably be my biggest problem since a park and the beach are
both outside. To overcome this, I will make sure to film on a dry day. If I begin to
shoot and it rains or looks dull on camera, I’ll schedule for another day where it
stays bright.

I’ll need to think creatively when it comes to murdering the victim and unique ways
of doing so. So far, I have decided on strangulation but I still need to figure out
how it actually comes about and the way they drop dead. I would like to make the
prized possession the protagonist has, related to another part of the film as well,
hopefully creatively.

The risks I will be taking while creating this production is; trip hazards if the
necklace is left on the floor and not around my neck or in a safe space when not
used.

The only collaborating I’ll need is a small team to help me film and actors to
portray being dead.

How to successfully complete a final major project

1. Do something you enjoy – look back on projects this year and think about
what skills you’ve learnt and which you have really enjoyed. What job would
you like to do in the future? How can you apply it to your project? Pick a
theme or themes which you can connect with.
LOVE YOUR PROJECT

2. Do lots and lots of research – primary and secondary are both essential.
Use a wide range of methods and resources, such as questionnaires,
surveys, interviews (Primary), and researching the work of professional
practitioners and techniques (Secondary).

3. Manage your time – Just think how fast this year has gone so far. Plan
ahead and don’t fall behind. MAKE USE OF INDEPENDENT STUDY TIME.

4. You must document everything what happens as you go along. Your entire
journey from start to finish should be fully recorded. Describe and analyse as
you go along. Every aspect of your project should be fully considered. Your
Planning and Schedule will be vital to the success of your FMP

5. Research, design, experiment, build, evaluate. Your project should evolve

over the allotted time. Be flexible and adaptable if your FMP decides to go in
a different direction than first intended. Ensure you record all developments as
the project develops.

6. Critically analyse and evaluate – this will refer to the research you
undertake, the pre-production, production and post-production. Don’t just
describe but analyse, interpret, research and evaluate.

7. Listen to advice from your lecturers in formative assessment sessions

throughout the project. You might just find that as we are used to marking
work, we know what the requirements are to make good/exceptional projects.
Remember, your work will be graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction, so aim
for the best grade you can and take advice on board when given.

8. You are being graded against SEVEN Learning Outcomes, so you need to
ensure that you do the very best in each of them to achieve the grade you
may require, so pay close attention to all parts of the FMP