Video and Sound Production - Exercises
24/09/2024 - | Week 01 - Week 14
Koh Sher Wei | 0353816
Video and Sound Production | Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
List of Contents:
>
Week 01
>
Week 02
> Week 03
> Week 04
WEEK 01 (Asynchronous material)
In week 01, we learned about different shots and angles. There's:
- extreme long shot, long shot/wideshot, full shot, medium wide shot,
cowboy (three shot), medium shot (MS), medium close up (MCU), Close-up (CU),
extreme close-up
- establishing shot, which is at the beginning of a scene to set the
tone.
We also learned about camera framing:
- single shot
- over the shoulder shot (OTS)
- Over the hip shot (OTH)
- Point of view (POV)
This extends into 3 camera shot angles, used to specify where a camera is
placed and affects the viewer's perspectives during a scene.
WEEK 01 (Exercises)
In-class Editing
Our task is to rearrange a sequence of clips provided by the lecturer
into a full video. The purpose is to learn the functions and tools of
premier pro; hence the clips are already labeled in order.
1. Download clips from google drive: week 2 mints footage - Google Drive
2. Open new project in Premier Pro.
3. Import clips.
4. Select clip01 and make/place it into sequence.
5. Arrange remaining clips into sequence using the "insert" tool. [
It is important to make sure that the clips are lined with the end of
the previous clip to ensure proper connection. ]
|
| fig 1.1.1 Clips imported into premier pro |
|
| fig 1.1.2 Clips are placed into sequence |
| fig 1.1.3 Final exported video |
Independent Editing
We are given a different set of clips that are randomly labeled, in which
we need to re-order into the correct full sequence video. This is an
additional exercises to help us practice what we learned in
class.
All steps are same as above, with the exception of re-ordering the clips
ourselves.
|
||
|
WEEK 02 (Asynchronous material)
Three act Structure:
- Separates the three parts of a narrative for cohesion.
- One event must lead to another and then another
- Beginning (Act 01): Set up
- Introduction to character and background.
- Introduces an "inciting Incident"
- Usually around 20-30 pages of a screenplay
- Medium (Act 02): Confrontation or Build-up
- Should engage the audience and draw them in further
- The main part of the story
- Leads to the turning point.
- Should not be predictable
- End (Act 03): Resolution
- Should bring some kind of Catharsis or resolution
- Emotional Impact
- The 3 act structure acts as a guideline for the overall
flow of a story but can be broken down further within it's
own intended act.
3 act Structure Breakdown:
- The Hook should be captivating and capture audience
interest.
- The Inciting Event gets the plot moving.
- First Plot Point breaks into act02 and heightens the awe
of the moment.
- First Pinch Point is a quarter way through 2nd act where
the first obstacle occurs.
- The Midpoint is a halfway mark that redirects the
plot.
- Third Plot Point is a break into act03, also the highest
stake of the story.
- Climax is the big revelation of the story.
- Resolution is the closing scene that gives an emotional
impact.
WEEK 02 (Exercises)
Flipped Classroom:
[Depth of Field]
Foreground = the nearest object in view
Midground = elements between foreground and background
Background = the element furthest from our view
|
|
|
Deep DOF = all elements (fore, mid, background) are in sharp
focus.
Shallow DOF = any element away from the main subject are out
of focus/blurry.
|
| fig 2.1.2 Example of deep DOF |
[Screen Direction]
180 degree rule (static screen direction)
- camera shot switches between two characters in a scene while
maintaining an imaginary border; mostly used for dialogues. This
keeps consistency between the placement of each actor.
Continuity in cinematography
- to ensure details are shot with consistency from scene to scene for
a smooth flow.
|
|
|
Shooting Exercise
In week 01, we learnt about the different framing and shot angles.
So, this week we are told to practice different shooting angles,
compile them and add captions using Premier Pro.
Editing: Lalin
Quiz and Activity
Quiz score: 9/10
(The inciting accident is to create a problem that the
protagonist must solve)
Short Film "Lalin"
Act 01:
Lalin is an online influencer who wears a mask to protect her
identity. She has a rough past at home, so she studies in Japan
where she feels more comfortable as no one knows her background or
identity. It makes her feel safe and confident.
Act 02:
Throughout her personal journey in Japan, she comes across a love
interest. "Nut" is a novelist who she met on social media and have
gotten close with. They were starting to build their relationship
and were planning to meet up. However, Lalin suddenly feels
insecure and is forced to face her fears. She feels ashamed about
her appearance and wants to back out from meeting Nut.
Act 03:
As Lalin faces her conflicts, Lalin comes to a realisation that
Nut is a person she has met before. Nut turns out to be someone
who was also facing his own insecurities and has changed to become
this person that Nut is afraid of confronting. She suddenly
understands that Nut would have accepted her despite her "flaws"
because of his own past. However, It may be too late as we see
Lalin run through crowds to chase Nut who is already leaving with
his luggage.
Inciting Incident:
- Lalin Meets Nut online and plans to meet up with him.
Midpoint Scene:
- This is the first time we see Lalin's face.
- She's suddenly brought back to her insecurities.
Climax:
- Lalin is going through a turmoil to make her final decision.
- She's not sure if she will be able to face Nut and tells him to leave.
Movie "Everything Everywhere All at Once"
Act 01:
The film begins by introducing Evelyn Wang who is struggling
with many factors in her life. She's juggling with her
laundromat while dealing with a strained relationship with her
family. Matters only pile up further when she had to prepare for
an audit with the IRS led by a stern auditor that is making it
difficult for her. In the midst of her audit, she's pulled into
a reality where "Waymond" supposedly informs her that she is the
only one who can save the multiverse from collapsing.
Act 02:
Evelyn begins jumping to different universes where she
experiences alternate versions of her life. Throughout her
verse-jump, she starts feeling a sense of dissatisfaction of her
reality. Then, it is revealed that the antagonist "Jobu Tupaki"
is actually a version of her daughter "Joy". This version of Joy
has also experienced life in all every possible universe who
ends up finding life meaningless, hence the goal of ultimately
destroying the multiverse. Throughout act 2, Evelyn realises
that her fight with Jobu reflects the strain in her relationship
with Joy in their real universe.
Act 03:
In the final act, Evelyn figures out the solution to the
multiverse crisis. It's not about fighting Jobu, but about
choosing to accept her family with love. She allows herself to
embrace the meaning of life and reconnects with her family to
fix the strain in their relationship. It made her realise that
all she needs is to offer her daughter unconditional love which
neutralises the destructive influence with Jobu Tupaki.
Inciting Incident:
- Evelyn is pulled into an alternate reality where she meets another version of her husband, Waymond. He tells her that the multiverse is in danger and that she is the only one capable of stopping the antagonist, "Jobu" from destroying the entire multiverse.
Midpoint Scene:
- Jobu turns out to be a version of her daughter, Joy.
- Evelyn starts realising that she isn't only saving the multiverse, she needs to try and understand and heal her relationship with her daughter.
- Through this revelation, she becomes more powerful but also vulnerable.
Climax:
- Evelyn confronts Jobu in the "everything bagel" sequence.
- Jobu wants to use the bagel to destroy herself to escape from the multiverse.
- Evelyn chooses to embrace the love she has for her daughter instead of fighting.
What is a Storyboard
- Visual representation of a film sequence
- Break down of actions into individual panels
- Each scene is sketched out with camera directions, dialogue
or other details.
|
| fig 3,1 example of a storyboard |
Storyboard Format and Layout
- Traditional (basic sketches that includes detailed
information)
- Thumbnail (just sketches without any writing)
|
| fig 3.2example of a thumbnail style storyboard |
- Storyboard is constructed to match a written script
- Can also be tied to the actual storytelling process.
- Can also be tied to the actual storytelling process.
- Storyboards and animatics are fundamental in crafting the
story beats of an animation.
Quiz Score: 10/10
WEEK 04 (Asynchronous Material)
"Film production" refers to an entire process of a
film's perception, creation and release. It is often
divided up into these five stages:
- Development is where the idea of a movie
begins; when the financing, creativity and general
schedule is put together. During this process, the
producer is in charge of organising the creative
elements of a project into a "package".
- Pre-production is when the project is
picked up and preparation for filming begins. This
happens between the financing being secured and
production stage. Producers have budget and plan the
logistics of making this film, which means new hires
are required to take charge of different departments.
- Production is simply when the camera is
rolling and footage is captured. There are a few
things to take note of:
- The Call Sheet ( a schedule/planner for the entire crew and cast team )
- The Set Up ( preparation of lighting, camera, set, and others )
- Shooting ( Camera starts rolling )
-Post-production is when editors come into
play, they work with the audio, visuals and anything
else that makes a seamless film come together.
- Distribution is more about how to sell a
film. There needs to be good marketing and securing
distributions in order to get a movie out into
public.
Quiz and Activity
- We also read up on the tasks of different crews in
film production.
WEEK 05 (Asynchronous Material)
Colour Correcting is the initial process to correct
the colours in a raw footage. The aim is to get the raw
footage to look similar to what we would see in reality.
There are 5 basic steps to this:
- Normalise the footage to a maximum.
- Fix the saturation > brightness and contrast > set new white balance
- Double check skin tones.
Colour grading comes after, to create an aesthetic
for the video. When properly done, colour grading is meant
to express a visual tone or mood to enhance the narrative.
LUT (Look up table) is a cheat-sheet that can be used in
cameras or editing to make footages have a specific grade
and look. 5 steps to colour grading:
- Normalise folate
- Follow steps to colour correct
- Choose your desired look and style
- Make colour adjustments
- Double check skin tones and vectorscope
It is also important to understand the concept of colour
theory in order to properly express a film.
WEEK 06 (Asynchronous Material)
Mise en Scene, a French term "setting the stage".
Describes the visual of a film. It refers to the arrangement
of elements that are shown on scene, and the overall feel of
what it aims to convey. These elements include:
- Sets
- Props
- Lighting
- Costumes
- Actor blocking
- Shot composition
A few ways to breakdowns are: scoping out locations
according to script and budget. Colour and lighting
in film is crucial in creating mood or effects, and is a
primary tool in cinematic design. Set design plays a
large role in informing time, place and story.
Props should also be considered and recognised, as it
interacts with other elements in a film.
Costumes in the film world is key to a
character's role, as well as crucial information about the
film's settings. The same can be expressed with
hair and makeup.
Quiz and Activity
Score: 9/10
Mistake: example of a scene that symbolises a theme
(Use of a broken mirror to represent a fractured
identity.)
WEEK 07 (Asynchronous Material)
Sound effects are a powerful tool to increase the production value of a
film. Sounds are important in immersing audiences in a
cinematic experience. It ties everything together and brings
the whole film to life. A breakdown of the impact of sound
effects:
- Ambient sounds are used to set the tone of a scene.
- Establishes realism as it allows viewers to immerse themselves into the film.
- Sounds can express a storyline without having any verbal conversations in a scene.
- Sounds can also be used to push a plot forward by creating tension.
- Shift audience emotions; every little sound in a film, depending on the way it is structured can manipulate how viewers perceive a scene.
Quiz and Activity
Score: 9/10
Mistake: Which of the following is a hard sound effect:
(A gunshot when a character fires a weapon.)
WEEK 08 (ILW)
WEEK 09
Stop Motion (Tutorial)
We were given the task to film two short stop motion clips with
our previous group members from Task 2 Production shoot. We had
to film one stop motion with clay and one with paper cut. Once
we were done filming, Mr.Martin gave us a tutorial on how to
edit the individual photos into one full clip. We can do this
with premier pro or after effects.
The outcome can be found in
Final Project: Stop Motion.
WEEK 10
Visual effects (Tutorial)
This week we were given a tutorial on how to do VFX,
following a tutorial slide.
