Tutorial class (wholly dolly) For this tutorial we where shown how to use a wholly dolly which is a cheap light weight version of a big production dolly. We where first shown how to assemble the dolly tracks. Our lecturer layed down a protective stabilizer material which the tracks would lie on top of to prevent bumps from showing up on camera. Then we where taught how to attach the poles together which act as the tracks. They screw together and are put threw hoops on the protective lining for extra stability. The carridge that holds the tripod legs is a T shape, put together using screws. Stoppers are put at both ends of the track on the side where the carridge has two wheels. This prevents the dolly from leaving the tracks.The tripod fits into holes on the carridge T shape. The tripod is tied down as well for extra stability.
We where shown a special tripod head that is used for low angle shots looking up. We all went out to do some on location shooting with the dolly. This was good practice. I did a shot of the stairs from a side view. I filmed a class mate walking down the stairs using the dolly. I instantly saw how much potetial this piece of equipment had. The dolly can create some amazing shots and is an essential piece of equipment to have for film making.

For this tutorial we where introduced to a new piece of equipment. The steady cam junior which is used to increase steadiness when shooting. At the beginning of the lecture we watched a short extract from a tape introducing the steady cam. This gave us the advantages of using the equipment and the art it requires to master.
We had a steady cam in class which we studied. We looked at all the features which included a spirit level, built in monitor, hand grip, the stage, battery compartment and battery weight compartment. We also looked at the Guide and gimbal which are vital to giving the steady cam its flexibility.
The most important thing to learn about the steady cam junior is balacing the weight this can be done in a number of ways. The two main ways of doing this are to adjust the upper and lower Spar which shift the weight in the desired directions. Another way to balance the cam is to adjust the side trims, this moves the stage which the camera is balanced on, one for side to side and the other for forwards and backwards. Stop blocks can be used aswell to change the angle of the lower spar. The battery and weight compartment located on the lower spar has adjustable weights which can be set for the desired balance.
Myself and Jeri Jang went out to practice with the steady cam junior, we took some shots of ourselves walking. We also used the steady cam for a shoulder shot. We found it difficult to operate sometimes. The cameras we use (the mini DV cam and the pd170) are either to heavy or to light and it has been difficult to find the right balance for shooting.

For this class we listened to reports on the new daytime television show we were studying. We discussed set design, lighting, topics discussed and the presenters and their characteristics the hold. All of these factors contribute to the general mood the show projects and how people will receive it. The back ground was a reddish colour it also contained blue. The lighting was not so good as it was far to bright and gave it a tense up tight feel which is not particularly the mood a day time chat show should be going for.
We read an article from the Irish Times which reviewed the show. It was all negative as the critique attacked the show for its characters which describes the female of the pair to be intelligent but with not warmth. It also described how the pair failed to connect on a level which the viewing audience could fell comfortable with. We compared the show to other day time shows (e.g. Richard&Judy) which we thought where successful in this category. We took note of points on which the show could improve on by mimicking these shows such as better relationship or vibe from the presenters and a less intimidating atmosphere e.g. more relaxed furniture and darker lighting

4th tutorial For this class we studied more funtions of the pd170 such as how to adjust the shutter speed, how to do a pull focus and how to acheive a sillouette effect. High and low shutter speed effects where achived by pressing the shutter speed button at the back of the camera and scrolling up and down. A pull focus effect is acheived on the pd170 by getting an object in the distance and focusing on it then using the focus ring on the lens to refocus on an object closer.
The sillouette effect was acheived by placing a person in front of a window with light entering from behind, light adjustments where made using the buttons the room was dark thus giving the sillouette effect.
Light intensity can be controlled by sliding the tint button up and down.

Brainstorm Class. For this class we where split into groups and given a product to study. My group consisted of myself Eammon, Keiran and Stephen. We were provided with an A4 sheet and a marker and told to brainstrom ideas for and advert connected to the product. We were given an energy drink.
Words such as sport, fast, ball, running water fish tank came to mind, after accumalating a number of words and phrases we put together a few ideas for an add.

Brainstorm Class. For this class we where split into groups and given a product to study. My group consisted of myself Eammon, Keiran and Stephen. We were provided with an A4 sheet and a marker and told to brainstrom ideas for and advert connected to the product. We were given an energy drink.
Words such as sport, fast, ball, running water fish tank came to mind, after accumalating a number of words and phrases we put together a few ideas for an add.

3rd tutorial Absent

2nd tutorial
For this class we where introduced to the new equipment. The new camera the pd170 and the new tripod. We were first shown how to set up the new tripods with the different leg attachments to adjust height. We then studied the pd170 and how to attach it the the tripod. Frist you take the plate and attach it to the camera then you gently slide the plate which is on the bottom of the camera onto the tripod, you press the red button on the side of the camera so the camera fits on releasing this will lock the plate in place. We then studied the latches which lock the tilt and pan options. We cheaked the spirit level to make sure the camera was balanced. We slide the battery into the back of the camera and where shown how to use the camera form hooking it up to the mains. We studied the slow zoom located on the top of the camera and the faster zoom located at the rear of the pd170. A unidirectional shoutgun mike is attached to the top right of the camera with its own XLR cable. There is a focus button on the lower left of the camera with the options of manual and auto zoom.

1st Tutorial
For our first tutorial we were told we would be working with new equipment, more advanced then last years. We where told that one of our assinments was to produce our own advertisements which would be entered into a competition for young film makers. The five best adverts in our class would go through to be entered into the competition. Our Lecture showed us adverts from other colleges such as Tallagh I.T. We studied them and after we disscused the good and bad points and what could be done to improve them such as better lighting and more dialouge.
We where told that our concept should be unique but oringinal and contain a clever catch phrase or pun related to the product/idea.