Video and Sound Production - Lectures & Exercises
1/9/2023 - 1/12/2023 / Week 1 - Week 14
Lim Jia Zhen / 0349294
Video & Sound Production / Bachelor in Mass Communication (Hons) in Advertising and Brand Management
Exercises
INSTRUCTIONS
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LECTURES
Week 1
Mr. Martin gave a detailed overview of the assignment and a summary of the module during our first tutorial class. This module includes preparation, shooting, editing, and the whole filmmaking process from pre-production through post-production. Our first task is to install Adobe Premiere Pro and then download the assigned tutorial work and rearrange the clips. our final assignment requires us to film a stop motion video. In order to help us better understand the assignment, we have to choose 3 of our favourite stop motion film and post it in out blog.
Week 2
We examined shot sizes, camera angles, and screen direction in filmmaking, understanding their roles in visual storytelling. Shot sizes include extreme wide, wide, medium wide, medium, medium close-up, close-up, over-the-shoulder, and extreme close-up. Camera angles encompass the rule of thirds, various heights, eye-level, low-angle, and high-angle shots. Additionally, we covered screen direction and the 180-degree rule for visual consistency in film.
We also did a shooting practice exercise, s=we got assigned in a group and film each other in different shot sizes. Then edit the video and add captions in Adobe Premiere pro. We also have another exercise which is edit a short film called "Lalin" provided by Mr Martin, we have to rearrange the clips and add graphics, transitions and music.
Week 3
In our recent lesson on film storytelling, we explored the fundamental structure known as the 3-ACT structure. Act 1, the Beginning, serves to set up and introduce the story while establishing the characters' motivations. Act 2, the Middle, focuses on confronting the central problem. Finally, Act 3, the End, resolves the conflicts introduced earlier in the story. Within this structure, pivotal moments known as plot points drive the narrative forward. Plot Point 1, also referred to as the 'inciting incident,' sets the stage for Act 2 by raising the stakes. Plot Point 2, known as the 'climactic turning point,' sets the scene for the story's conclusion. These plot points mark significant twists that propel the story into its subsequent acts, shaping the narrative's direction and intensity.
Week 4
Mise En Scene encompasses all visible elements onscreen: composition, set design, lighting, costumes, props, and spatial depth. In film production, diverse roles collaborate seamlessly.
- Producer oversees logistics from inception to completion
- Director steers the creative direction, working closely with the crew and actors to set the film's mood and composition.
- Assistant Director assists the director and manages scene execution and interdepartmental coordination.
- Director of Photography (DOP) leads the camera team, ensuring cinematography aligns with the creative vision.
- Art Director collaborates with the director and producer to determine the visual style and overall look of the video.
- Boom Operator manages sound-related aspects, ensuring high-quality audio capture. These combined efforts shape the film's visual and auditory narrative, dictating its overall impact and resonance.
Week 6
This week, I learned that color correction involves adjusting individual scenes to achieve consistency in colour balance, aiming for natural and realistic tones across the footage. Its primary purpose is to rectify any colour imbalances or discrepancies, ensuring uniformity throughout the scenes. On the other hand, colour grading, executed across the entire scene using an adjustment layer, goes beyond mere correction. It involves the artistic manipulation of colors to evoke a specific mood, style, or visual tone, enhancing the overall storytelling by imparting a distinct and intentional look to the video.
Week 7
Mono sounds are captured using a single audio channel, whereas stereo sounds involve two audio channels. In our upcoming Project 1: Audio Editing, we'll explore the concept of sound shaping. To initiate sound shaping, navigate to Adobe Audition and create a new Multitrack session. Within the Effect Rack, locate Filter & EQ, and access the Parametric Equalizer. Additionally, for Reverb Sound Effects, generate a new Multitrack and apply Reverb, simulating sound within a spatial context, echoing due to sound wave reflections off surfaces.
Adjusting specific parameters such as Decay Time, determining the reverb's decay period in milliseconds, and Pre-Delay Time, setting the milliseconds for the reverb to reach its peak amplitude, influences the sound's perception. Manipulating the Dry percentage adds spaciousness to the sound—higher values create subtle spaciousness, while lower values produce unique effects. Similarly, regulating the Wet percentage, keeping it lower than the Dry percentage, contributes to the overall spatial quality of the track.
Week 9
This week, I learned that there are two ways to edit stop motion using Adobe premiere Pro software or Adobe After Effects:
In Premiere Pro, initiate a new project, setting it to 1920x1080 resolution at 24/25 frames per second. Adjust the timeline setting by accessing Premiere Pro CC → Preferences → Timeline and modify the "Still Image Default Duration" to between 2 to 5 frames per second to control the pace. Organize sequences as nests or individual clips, using a new sequence for each photo sequence or scene.
In After Effects, ensure the import setting is set to 24 frames per second under "Preferences." Import multiple files and select the necessary options in the import dialogue box. To adjust speed, right-click the layer within the composition, navigate to Time → Time Stretch to modify the duration as needed for the stop motion animation. These steps in Premiere Pro and After Effects offer distinct methods to create stop motion animations with diverse editing capabilities.
Week 10
In week 10, Mr Martin introduced us to Visual Effects (VFX). We learn to use VFX to edit footage provided by Mr. Martin. These newfound VFX skills are expected to prove advantageous for enhancing and improving our upcoming stop motion project.
Task 1- Video Editing Exercise
In our first tutorial, we worked with the Adobe Premiere Pro software. We were required to download and import the commercials that were provided by our lecturer into Adobe Premiere Pro. Then, we would need to arrange these shots in the proper order on the timeline and subsequently exporting the finalised video.
Figure 1.1 Mints Commercial Video Clips
Figure 1.2 Arranging Mints Commercial
Final Video
Figure 1.3 Mints Commercial
After that's done, we would need to arrange these Doritos Commercial shots in Adobe Premiere Pro.
Figure 1.4 Doritos Commercial Video Clips
Then I exported the Doritos video clips into Adobe Premiere Pro.
Figure 1.4 Arranging Doritos Commercial
Figure 1.5 Doritos Commercial
Task 2 - 3 Favourite Stop Motion Video
1. Archie
"Archie" is a captivating stop-motion short film about Archie’s journey to his late aunt's home in Scotland with his loyal pet dog. I admire the stop-motion animation for its intricately designed sets, stunning scenes, and impeccable lighting. The use of wool for characters and effects like fire displays remarkable creativity and attention to detail. The scene featuring tears streaming down Archie’s face impressed me with its smooth and realistic appearance.
2. Under The Winter Sun
This short stop motion film is about a lonely snowman who builds a friend for himself but their friendship did not last. The way they stretch, bounce, and emote in every movement adds a remarkable depth to their characters, making them incredibly lifelike despite being made of clay. The gradual transformation, as the friend starts to melt away, it's truly remarkable how they've brought such a natural and realistic quality to the melting process using stop-motion animation with clay.
3. Lost & Found
The film beautifully portrays the bond between a crochet toy fox and a dinosaur. Its deliberate lack of dialogue emphasises the power of visual storytelling, and yet the emotions on all the character's faces were so well done, each frame is meticulously crafted with attention to detail, lighting, and composition, which not only brings the characters to life but also creates an immersive and enchanting world for the audience.
Task 3- Shooting Practice
I collaborated with Alefiya and Hamzah for this shooting exercise, we delegate our tasks equally and exchanged roles in each different shot. We captured the shots according to the shot sizes specified by Mr. Martin. We scouted various locations around Taylor's lakeside to determine the most suitable settings for each shot in the video.
Figure 3.1 Shooting Exercise
Task 4- Lalin Editing Exercise
Additionally, we were assigned to edit the Lalin video clips that were provided by Mr Martin and our seniors and complete it at home. One of the two storyboards that Mr. Martin gave us may be edited into a 35-second film. After determining which clips were required for the chosen storyboard, we downloaded the video clips from Google Drive and imported it into Adobe Premiere Pro. It was our responsibility to remove any extraneous material from the movie, assemble it with graphics and music, and make sure the final outcome was exactly 35 seconds long.
Figure 4.1 Compiled the Clips, Added Background Music & Sound Effects
Figure 4.2 Added Graphics and transition
Figure 4.3 Audio Tracks
Final Video
Figure 4.4 Lalin
Task 5- 3 Act Structure Exercise
We were tasked to analyse the movie "Lalin" (2005) and "Guang" (2011) to understand how the three-act structure functions in a film and complete the three-act structure exercise using the template provided by our lecturer.
Figure 5.1
Task 7- Sound Shaping
This week, Mr. Martin gave us lessons on frequency range and dynamic range as well as how to add reverb and parametric equaliser to Adobe Audition to produce a variety of sound effects.
1. Phone Call
Task 8- Stop Motion Editing Exercise
Task 9- Stop Motion Shooting Exercise
This week we did a stop motion trial shoot. We learn to set up the set design with characters and elements and then shoot one scene with stop motion app and one without the stop motion app.
Figure 9.1 Shoot WITHOUT Stop Motion App
Task 10- VFX Exercise
This week's focus is on integrating visual effects (VFX) into videos.
Start by importing shots into After Effects (AE) and arranging them in a Composition as per the tutorial. Create different compositions for the Flick and Jumping shots, both requiring masking. For the Jumping shot, isolate frames where the character floats and experiment with time stretching. Use the Puppet tool in the Jumping composition to match size/shape with the Bumping shot, and add keyframes for adjustments. Add an adjustment layer to harmonize colors across all layers.
Jumping shot: Make a pre-composition, focusing on floating frames and using the Rotobrush.
Flick shot: Make a pre-composition, crop, reposition, and apply Keylight for enhancements.
Figure 10.1 VFX Exercise
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