Video & Sound Production Exercises: Editing, Shooting

 25.04.2024 - 02.05.2023 | Week 1 - Week 2

Maisarah binti Mohd Sufian | 0358458

Video & Sound Production | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

Exercises | Editing

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LECTURES

Week 1

This week, Mr Martin briefed us on what our future exercises and projects will be as well as the necessary equipment we should purchase. After that he taught us how to use Premier Pro by giving us a few exercises to do.

For the asynchronous class materials, the topic was about shot sizes, camera angles and composition. We completed a short quiz to test our knowledge.

Material summary:

Composition, shot size, and camera angle are crucial components of visual storytelling in movies, TV shows, and other visual media. The quantity of visible space in a photograph affects its shot size, which has an impact on the emotional impact and information presented. Wide pictures set the scene, while close-ups highlight emotions. The position of the camera in relation to the subject determines the angle and interpretation of the image; low-angle images convey power, while high-angle shots imply weakness. The location, color, lighting, and balance of visual elements within a frame are all part of composition, which aims to elicit strong feelings from the viewer, direct their attention, and produce visual appeal. When used in tandem, these resources aid filmmakers in conveying concepts and meaning to their viewers.

Week 2

For this week, we went through week 1's lecture materials in class and answered these questions:

1. Foreground = the element of the photo closest to the camera, Midground = the area between the foreground and the background, Background = the element of the photo furthest from the camera

2. Depth of field = the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that are in sharp focus

3. Deep depth if field = all/most of the elements in the photo are in focus.

4. Shallow depth of field = only one element/plane of the photo is in focus.

5. 180 degree rule (static screen direction) = camera should be kept on one side of an imaginary axis between two characters.

6. Continuity in cinematography = making sure all details are consistent from scene to scene/shot to shot.

7. Dynamic screen direction = the direction actors/objects appear to be moving from audience pov

Then we practiced our camera angles in pairs. We recorded videos of ourselves with specific camera angles given by Mr Martin. Then we edited our clips in Premier Pro. We were also given another task to do at home.

For the asynchronous class materials, the topic was about storytelling and understanding the three-act story structure. We completed a short quiz to test our knowledge as well as answered questions based off of Lalin and Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Material summary:

The three-act structure, which divides a story into the setup, confrontation, and resolution, is a common narrative framework in storytelling, especially in literature and film. The setup of the first act introduces the reader to the protagonist, their world, and the triggering incident that upends their way of life and initiates the plot. The confrontation, the second act, is the longest and most complicated. It is here that the protagonist must overcome difficulties and setbacks, first making headway before suffering serious setbacks. There is a significant turning point in this act that causes a crisis. The protagonist overcomes the last obstacle and all the loose ends of the plot are tied off in the third act, which is called the resolution. This format facilitates the creation of interesting, well-organized stories

Lalin

1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only.

Act 1- ends 5 min in -establishes Lalin as the protagonist of the film, and the world they’re in, the problem created is her insecurity of looking unappealing in real life as according to when she got bullied in high school during the past, compared to her dazzling online presence supported by editing her face online during the present day, yet to mask her true face she masks herself in modern Japan. By the end of act one her yearning for a partner also establishes the main obstacle to proceed with in act 2.

Act 2- ends 10 min in - The second act establishes the supporting character who also serves as an obstacle after the midpoint of the act, the artist who drew fanart of her, she fancies him and he fancies her, but she is still unable to show her true face to him. Regardless they spend the first half of act two happily calling each other and texting, thinking that she will be ready once they meet in real life, this is to set up the conflict for the latter half when rising action occurs when she is perplexed about truly showing her face, she succumbs to her fear and tells the love interest to leave the cafe they were meeting in, this is the crisis which forces them to reevaluate their approach.

Act 3 - ends 14 min in - The climactic end of the film starts with a twist where it is revealed that the love interest was in the same school as her and had a crush on her as she was, without any editing and had worked his entire life to reach her as she is now. The climax is revealed with flashbacks and shots cut in order to show that after learning this, the protagonist must chase after the man she told to leave, this is where the tension is at its peak and the audience is rooting for her to reach him. However, she does not reach him, but comes to a realization that she has finally taken her mask off in public, facing her fears. The resolution is her facing reality without masking herself, the loose ends are tied by also knowing the true face of the supporting character and creates a satisfying conclusion and message.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

The inciting incident is Lalin’s crush on the artist who made fanart of her, caused by her yearning for a partner.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

The midpoint of the movie is when Lalin and her love interest decide to meet each other in real life, this is the point of no return.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

The climax scene is when Lalin opens the artistic letters left at the cafe by her love interest which reveals his true intentions, which ends with her chasing after him at the train station.

5. What is the theme of the movie?

The main theme of the movie is of insecurity, identity and self-love.

Everythings Everywhere All At Once

1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only.

Act 1 - establishes Evelyn as the protagonist of the film, and the world they’re in which are her husband’s request for divorce and her strained relationship with her daughter, Joy. The problem created is Waymond’s body gets taken over by another version of him from another universe, who explains to Evelyn that the multiverse is threatened by Jobu (Alpha-Joy) who is creating an Everything Bagel, a black-hole that could destroy the multiverse. By the end of act one Evelyn gains the ability to jump through the multiverse and learns many things that were unknown to her, which establishes the main obstacle to proceed with in act 2.

Act 2 - The second act establishes the supporting characters who also serves as an obstacle after the midpoint of the act, Alpha-Gong gong (Gong gong from another universe). Evelyn is directed to kill her daughter by Alpha-Gong gong in order to stop Jobu from using her to enter Evelyn’s universe, prompting Evelyn to gain powers through verse-jumping as she refuses to harm Joy. Alpha-Gong gong sends soldiers after Evelyn, convinced that her mind has been corrupted like Jobu’s. Conflict arises when Jobu confronts Evelyn in her universe, causing her mind to splinter as she faints. The second half starts when Jobu then reveals that she has been searching for an Evelyn that are like-minded and agree with her, killing the ones that don’t. She reveals that the Everything Bagel was to allow both her and Evelyn to die, this is the crises that makes Evelyn behave cruelly in other universes, and harm those around her.

Act 3 -The climactic end of the film starts just as Evelyn is about to enter the bagel, with Waymond pleading to her in her universe for everyone to stop fighting and be kind to each other. The climax is revealed with flashbacks and shots cut in order to show that Evelyn has an epiphany and decided to listen to Waymond, and uses her powers to fight with empathy, bringing happiness to those around her and repairing the other universes. The resolution is she reconciles with her family and ties up loose ends by accepting daughter. Jobu enters the Bagel alone as Joy begs Evelyn to let her go, but Evelyn says she will always want to be with her as they hug. Everything goes back to the way it was.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

Alpha-Waymond possessing regular Waymond is the inciting incident in the movie alongside Evelyn’s visions of her alternate selves.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

When Jobu meets Evelyn, revealing her true intentions and she faints.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

When Waymond is pleading to Evelyn as she is about to walk in the Everything Bagel with Jobu.

5. What is the theme of the movie?

Generational trauma, existentialism, change and acceptance.

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EXERCISE 1 - Editing

Instructions 

We are given a a few clips that we must piece together in sequence using Premier Pro.

EXERCISE 2 - Editing

We are given a similar task but this time, the clips are not numbered in order and we need to reorder them. 

EXERCISE 3 - Shooting & Editing

Instructions

In pairs, we need to take videos of each other from 8 different angles.

We must take note of these reminders when carrying out the task:

- Landscape format

- 5 secs per shot

- Zoom in to get a soft background

- Refer to examples for good composition

- Avoid over/underexposure

- Shoot during the daytime

- Edit with captions mentioning the shot size

1. Shooting

My partner took videos of my while I took videos of her, and she sent me the videos of myself for me to edit. However, I wasn't satisfied with how the videos of myself turned out due to how rushed we were in class so I decided to have another friend help me reshoot the videos.

Close Up Shot

Frontal Medium Close Up Shot (Soft Background)

Frontal Medium Shot (Soft Background)

Extreme Close Up Shot

Side Angle Medium Shot

3/4th Angling Medium Close Up Shot (Blurry/Soft Foreground)

Low Angle Wide Shot

Eye-level Medium Wide Shot

2. Editing

I then imported my clips to Premier Pro and added basic titles following the video tutorial provided by Mr Martin.

I exported my video and this is the final outcome.

EXERCISE 4 - Editing

Instructions

For this task we must edit clips from a recreation of LALIN following  the video tutorial by Mr Martin.

1. Sequencing

I first reordered my clips in sequence following the storyboard.

2. Clipping & Effects

I then clipped the scenes to remove the director's calls, as well as added an effect (cross dissolve) to transition between the scene where the male lead is still at the cafe to when he left.

I exported my video and this is the final outcome.

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FEEDBACK

Week 1:

No feedback given

Week 2:

No feedback given

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REFLECTION

Experience

The class was overall interactive and Mr Martin clearly demonstrated to us what we are required to do, we were given adequate opportunities to carry our exercises and tasks in class.

Observation

It's very interesting how distance, zoom and other variables can affect how a shot looks and is perceived to an audience. I also was able to further familiarize myself with Adobe Premier Pro.

Findings

Shot angles and scene arrangement can make a big difference in how the final outcome is going to be understood, and there is a lot of team work involved in production and it is not possible for it to be a one man team.