TV Ident - Introduction

The first Motion Graphics and Video project of the year is TV Idents. Following up our new found knowledge in Adobe Flash on the 2D Animation project will now be fused with Video to create Idents.

Idents are an intresting topic to look at, as they allow for a high level of creativity, and rely pretty much entirely on visuals to represne their channels branding. Visual communication is really interesting, and I think work like our Film Analysis and Audience Theories in Film Studies will help us to make meaningful visuals and create visual themes.

The project asks for a suite of 3 Idents (with a minimum of one actually produced), picking one of four Station/Theme Combinations. At the time of writing I have started developing Ideas for the 4th option, a new TV channel called Pulp with a theme of your choice. I have started mock ups, initial aims and developing ideas and will complete an investigation to give me further knowledge on existing examples.

Induction Week

We've spent induction week both being introduced to topics of the year as well as evaluating our skills and productivity, focusing on past experience, time management and motivation.

We were introduced to a new way of creating positive change and to increase grades through Win, Learn, Change This helps us analyse positives and strong points, identify weaknesses, and create an action plan for the future. Although initially this was a focused group exercise, it is built to reflect on yourself as well. With this in mind I have assessed my own skills.

Win - What did you do well?

• Graphic Design for Print: I achieved good grades and was enthusiastic about design projects, especially my Magazine Cover. 
• Practicing Film Production: Despite some issues with the story of our Advert, the work put into shooting, lighting and mis-en-scene was good (and also fun!)
• Working in Groups: I was initially nervous about this so it was good to become an important working, communicating member in a team effort.
• Learning New Software: I quickly adapted to new software [to me] such as Premiere and Encore.

Learn - What negative points can you learn and improve on?

• Ideas: Often in groups or in individual work, an idea would be settled upon without considering all contingencies or discussing with all parties. Better contact could have been kept with lecturers in regards to this.
• Scheduling: Although Production Schedules were made last year, I would rarely stick to them if at all, using it more as just a piece of proof to gain points. 
• Focus: Often I was distracted both at College and Home, leading to poor time keeping.
• Taking Advice: I didn't value other people's opinions enough, thinking my way was the best way.

Change - What will I change this time around?

• Communication: I will try to not settle on the minimum amount of contact with both Lecturers and Group Members. This will help keep a focused goal and keep things from going off track, and potentially leading me to higher understanding and marks.
• Time Management: College and Free time will be more structured, focusing on individual areas at a time to increase efficiency and productivity. 
• Researching: A regular use of books will help round out my investigations and learning. The library is also a useful tool to avoid distraction.
• Potential: I'll try to not settle for the minimum and go for the best of my abilities. I will also stop thinking "Have I done better than others?" and start thinking "Have I met the Criteria?"