Personal Skills Audit Name:_Michael Rowell______________

Skills acquired How did these skills contribute to the creation of

your product?

How will you develop these skills during the A2 project?

Digital technology - What

equipment/software packages did you use to produce your production?

I learned to use photoshop and final cut last year at AS. I also learned how to work a camera and use a Dolly-track. I also used Cubase to create a soundtrack to use for my AS. I also used a flash-based presentation software on the internet called Prezi. This was used as an alternative to powerpoint.

My main focus in the group, was to supervise the sounds of the product. I was in charge of making a soundtrack for the film, and finding the sound effects used. I also did most of the graphic work, such as a company logo, and a film poster.

This year, I hope I will be able to spend a lot more time with the resources available at college. These include using the macs to further develop my editing and graphic production skills using Photoshop and Final Cut.

Post production - What software did you

use to create your production?

- Discuss specific features of the software.

With Cubase, I used its built in functions to build the different instruments digitally that I wanted to use in my soundtrack. I wanted instruments that would stick with the noir genre that our film fell into. These instruments include, saxophones, piano, violins, muted trumpet.

These skills helped me to achieve my major group role, which was sound producer/engineer. I think my sound work was to a high standard using the resources I had at the time. Ultimately I achieved a B grade for my coursework.

I will develop my editing/ sound editing skills this year, in the hope that I can achieve an A grade. This year I want to be able to do all the editing/graphic work/sound work myself.

Research and Planning - What tasks did you

complete when preparing to film your sequence?

- How did your planning help the smooth progression of your film?

Last year, the research and planning stage gave me the opportunity to develop my skills and understanding of the subject.Last year, I deconstructed different media texts such as opening sequences from films of the same genre.

These skills that I acquired contributed to my work significantly. I used my research and planning skills to use when it came to planning my own opening sequence.

These skills will develop in A2 because I am in a smaller group this year, meaning I will not be able to rely on other people to do some research tasks. This year I will have to use and develop these skills to ensure I get the B grade I want.

Using conventions of real media texts

- Which texts did you analyse?

- Did you take any inspiration from the conventions found from your research?

In AS, I had to analyse various media texts, and by doing this I think I have acquired a fairly extensive understanding of the conventions used in various media texts. For my group, I had to analyse the opening for Memento.

Analysing these media texts last year, allowed me to learn how to break down a media text and study the individual things that I could later incorporate into my own work.

This year in A2 Media, I want to select a wider range of different media texts from different genres. This is because I think it will give me the chance to learn more about how a music video is structured. I also want to analyse more media texts than last year, as I thought that in AS I could have done more work for my research.

Creativity - were your ideas for your portfolio imaginative and unique or did you adhere to conventions?

At AS, I think I learnt how to think creatively thanks to the many media texts to study and worksheets that were made available.

These skills that I acquired, allowed me to use imaginative and unconventional ideas in my work.

This year I aim to push my creative ideas as far as I am allowed. I think that, by studying more outlandish media texts, I can learn how to use different and unique ideas without over doing my video.