Video Production 9

April 2nd

For a quick reference on the difference between a documentary and a video essay.

https://blog.favoree.io/articles/best-video-essay-youtubers/

More tips on selecting a proper video essay topic.

1) Do NOT think too outside the box. A video essay about "what makes a video essay a great video essay" may sound like a good idea but it is NOT.

2) A topic that is too broad will lack focus. Think carefully before deciding on a compare and contrast style essay.

3) A topic that is too focused will not allow for elaboration. Longer is not always better but if a topic does not allow for at least 3 body paragraphs then it is likely too focused.

March 12th

The 13th assignment is another INDIVIDUAL assignment. Each student has to submit their own and it is one of the major assignments of Video Production 9. Your task is to create a 5 paragraph VIDEO ESSAY. The first step is to understand the basic structure of a standard essay by referring to the following diagram.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/40/65/df/4065df9bf483df08babee348ce9182f0.jpg

Pick a topic that you are PASSIONATE about and start drafting the written portion of your essay as soon as possible. The essay can be either EXPOSITORY or ARGUMENTATIVE.

The two following websites will further help you understand how to write an argumentative essay.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essays.html

https://www.currentschoolnews.com/education-news/5-paragraph-argumentative-essay-examples/

Each student in the class must write about a unique topic. Choosing a topic as soon as possible would be advantageous.

February 21st

The twelve assignment is also an INDIVIDUAL assignment. You will be making a cinemagraph. If you do know what a cinemagraph is either research or refer to the following websites for some examples.

https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/cinemagraph/

https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/more-cinemagraphs/

The most common and easiest cinemagraphs to produce involve split screens so use Capcut as your video editor. For more advanced cinemagraphs you will need to use an editor such as Davinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere (both installed in lab 1405) because you must learn how to DRAW MASKS.

We will be discussing in class more in depth on how to create cinemagraphs.

February 9th

The eleventh assignment is also an INDIVIDUAL project. Create a short video (target 30 seconds or under) to demonstrate the cloning effect. Refer to the following video to see how this can be done using Capcut but you can use any editor of your choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq_-3ZbmQxM

1) Set your camera's ISO to a fixed value instead of using auto.

2) Changing outfits is NOT necessary.

3) For extending proficiency you should attempt a video such that the character is cloned MORE than once.

January 9th

Your tenth assignment does not require filming. It is an INDIVIDUAL editing exercise. Create a video montage by using free stock footage available on the internet. A video montage is a series of shots that are edited together with music and sound effects to create a sequence that either conveys an overall theme/message or tells a story (challenging to do). While not exactly the same, you can think of a video montage as the video version of a picture collage. Do not confuse this assignment with the type of montages you see in movies. Those montages are to showcase the passage of time or to showcase the story development of characters.

TARGET ROUGHLY 20 shots of approximately 3 to 5 seconds so the entire project should be around a minute but as usual it's the overall quality that matters.

*** DO NOT MIX LANDSCAPE AND PORTRAIT VIDEOS IN YOUR PROJECT. Choose one or the other and stick with it.

The suggested website to download videos is Pexels. You do NOT need to create an account to download videos.

https://www.pexels.com/videos/

To download click on the icon at the bottom right of a video. Downloaded videos should be in the "Downloads" folder. The bulk of your work will be looking and sorting through all the available videos to see which ones can be edited together to make a montage that is meaningful and makes sense. If you know of another website that offers royalty-free videos for download go ahead and use it.

December 4th

Your ninth assignment is to film, and edit a movie trailer. Since the actual movie does not exist the project can be considered a mock-trailer. Once again TARGET roughly 20 shots so that the trailer is approximately 1 minute. Here are some general tips for success.

1) Plan, plan, then plan some more. Storyboarding is part of the planning process.

2) From the music and the first few shots, the genre should be obvious (comedy, adventure, horror, etc). Do NOT mix genres.

3) Use one piece of music. Two pieces may work but it would be much more challenging to edit.

4) Use a variety of shot types filmed in a variety of settings. Using the same shot types with the same characters wearing the same clothes in the same location would NOT give the project the feel of a trailer.

5) If using voiceovers having good sound quality makes a big difference. We will discuss this topic more in depth during class.

You are not expected to make a Hollywood style big budget trailer. As usual do your best to produce the highest quality work that you can and have fun!

November 9th

Before you can create any short film you need to further understand CONTINUITY. Besides having a good story, the basis of filmmaking is proper continuity. A typical introductory exercise for any filmmaking course is a continuity exericise that shows a person completing a sequence of actions (your shoe tying exercise is a first attempt before experimenting with more challenging sequences). The actions preferably involves interacting with objects because showing a person walking/running around requires minimal skill in terms of continuity. Instead of following a person around with a camera the goal is to film many different shots from different angles and edit them together as if the entire sequence of actions was completed in one take. Watch the following six examples made by aspiring filmmakers. The first four are typical of what students would produce as beginners. The last two are made by people that are slightly more experienced. They're cleverly executed continuity exercises with plots that are essentially short films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z7eVgd3AM8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqPghyuJwTU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4CvUFykXqw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjQmyQaiEgY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAc90Oh5cXc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RBVKTTqr5c

For the eighth assignment you will be filming a continuity exercise by following a storyboard. After drawing your storyboards, you will follow them as you film your project. Hand in the storyboards as part of the assignment. As with your trailer assignment try to incorporate a variety of the shot types. Your continuity exercise should use roughly 20 shots with each shot being around 3 to 5 seconds. Ideally most cuts should be on movement. Do not use transitions. To show extending proficiancy, limit the amount of cuts on running or walking. Aim for at least 10 cuts that are on movement that involves interacting with objects. As usual, quality is more important than quantity and proper use of the tripod is extremely important.

The tendency of a beginning filmmaker is to set the camera on a tripod, start recording, and then record long sequences without ever switching up the camera angle. Worst yet the filmmaker would just follow the action as it develops while hand-holding the camera. Neither of these methods demonstrate the use of film continuity that results from editing multiple clips together.

October 30th

The seventh assignment is to film a two-person conversation. Aim for a roughly 1 minute conversation such that each person gets to speak at least 5 times. PRACTICE the conversation before filming so that it flows as naturally as possible. Film the conversation from three different angles (a two-person full shot [master shot] from the front, a medium Over-the-Shoulder shot, and the reverse OTS shot). Demonstrate that you understand the 180 degree rule. Edit the different takes together so that the conversation switches back and forth between the three different angles. Try your best to find a quiet location for filming.

October 17th

Today's topic is the Kuleshov Effect.

Please watch the following video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVwKItbgd3s

The key takeaway from this video is at the end when the narrator explains that at its core the Kuleshov Effect is about "choosing the best sequence of images to achieve the desired response from the audience". Do not think of it as a restrictive technique that can only be executed by cutting from an expressionless close-up to a point-of-view shot and then back to the close-up.

For the sixth assignment, film and edit a sequence of shots (target 15-30 seconds) to demonstrate your understanding of the Kuleshov Effect. In other words, you are to use your editing skills to indirectly imply something that is NOT directly shown on video. Relating back to the fifth assignment, adding the appropriate music to your project is crucial. At the end of your video use text to state what it is that you wanted your audience to INFER from watching your sequence.

October 4th

Today we will look at using music to set a desired tone for a scene.

Please watch the following video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSkJFs7myn0

For the fifth assignment, film multiple shots and edit them together to form a 15-30 second scene. Pair it with three different pieces of music to convey three different implied meanings of what the scene is about.

September 27th

For the fourth assignment, you will apply what you have learned from the third assignment to the second assignment. Using a DSLR camera on a tripod, you will film a person tying their shoe (or similar action) using a variety of shot types by FOLLOWING STORYBOARDS. Please refer to the following pdf file for more details.

Intro Continuity Exercise

September 14th

One of the basic concepts of filmmmaking is SHOT TYPES. Please refer to the following website for an explanation of various shots. The list does not include every type that exists but is an excellent starting resource.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/filmmaking-101-camera-shot-types

For your third assignment, replicate the framing on 10 of the following shot types by FILMING VIDEOS. Each shot should last around 5 seconds to demonstrate proper framing. To earn full marks the subject should be performing an ACTION that justifies the use of that particular shot. The goal is to show variety. Seeing the same action over and over again in different shot types will NOT earn full marks.

- Extreme Long Shot

- Long Shot

- Full Shot

- Medium Long Shot

- Medium Shot

- Medium Close-Up

- Close-Up

- Extreme Close-Up

- High Angle

- Low Angle

- Dutch Angle

- Over-the-Shoulder Shot

- Two Shot

September 8th

The second assignment is to make a video based on how you interpret the quote below. You may use your phone or one of my point-and-shoot cameras. Once again grading will NOT depend on image stability. You MAY edit clips together so the video does not have to be one continuous take.

“A person is walking along when they notice that their shoe lace is untied. They give a sign of frustration, kneel down, tie their shoe and then continue walking.”

September 6th

The first assignment is to make a short LANDSCAPE video (target 1 to 2 minutes) telling me about yourself to help me learn names. This video will NOT be shown to the class. You may use your phone or one of my point-and-shoot cameras. Grading will NOT depend on image stability so tripods are not necessary, but please do your best to keep your videos steady. You MAY edit clips together so the video does not have to be one continuous take.

In your video discuss if given a choice what are 3 types of videos you would like to make during this course. Be as specific as possible.

Additionally, here are some possible topics to discuss in your video:

1) Tell me a little some of the things you enjoyed about your grade 8 year and this summer.

2) Talk a little about some of things that you are looking forward to for your grade 9 year.

3) Tell me a little about some of your hobbies and what you enjoy doing outside of school. Elaborate.

4) Talk a little about some of your past accomplishments that you are proud of.

5) Tell me about anything else that you would like to share about yourself.

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