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Final Video

There were some shots that I didn't include in my video. Reasons for not including these shots vary from focus problems to stability. I have created s short video that will show some clips I didn't use and why. 

Figure 105. Unusable Shots. Rebekah Briers. 2017.

Figure 106. My final video project. Rebekah Briers. 2017. 

Figures:

Figure 105. Unusable Shots. Rebekah Briers. 2017.

Figure 106. My final video project. Rebekah Briers. 2017.

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Week 15: 16th January 2017

Feedback

I shared my video on my personal facebook page to gather some feedback from my friends and family. The video got generally good comments from everyone. I did get one comment from a past pupil who gave me some criticism on my shot lengths, however, i was very grateful for his comment as I do agree with him, however, it gave me something to work on in future. 

Below shows screen grabs from comments that were made followed by the client’s personal opinion on my video. in total so far I have 52 likes, 22 comments, 18 shares and 343 views on Youtube. I think this is amazing as it shows the interest people have in my project. Some likes on my video were from sports personalities/sports coaches such as Marc McCullough (a Belfast Boxer) and this means a great lot to me as if someone who has very often use of a gym and it’s workouts likes my video then I have clearly got the theme and purpose of my video across. 

Figure 90. Feedback Screenshot from my client.

Figure 91- 104. Feedback from friends and family. 

Evaluation

Overall I believe that the project went very well. in honesty, I surprised myself with my capabilities I had within premiere and with the camera itself. I enjoyed this project more than I initially thought I would and the video turned out a lot better than I could have ever suspected. 

Positives:

The effects used within my video really made a huge difference to the clips and I don't think the video would look anywhere near as good without the effects used. the effect in which kept this video attractive and interesting was defiantly the Leave colour effect which left all colour in black/white except the blue. 

Shots

I believe that a great positive of my video production was some of the shots I captured. from being a student who had little use of a camera and no use of editing software, I believe I executed both well. I couldn't have created the shots in which I have without the research on the theory that I completed. 

Achieved my Aim

My aim was to capture the friendly environment and relationships of 2D Fitness and their clients. I believe I captured this well in my video without it looking as though they aren't serious about what they do. 

Shot timing matching audio timing.

A strong aspect of the video I feel is the areas where the audio fits perfectly with the shots. Shots such as dean on the weights, Dean running and also the shot where dean and dave are carrying the jerry cans all fit perfect to the audio used during them scenes and i feel this adds a better look to the video. 

Negatives:

Overall Length

I believe the length of this video could have been a little shorter if I really wanted it to. The length of the frames range and some were too long and if they had of been shortened then the entire video would have been too. 

Focus Problems

Some shots have focus problems, for example, the shot where dave is on the ropes. this show hasn't focussed properly and therefore it makes the shot look a bit blurry whenever it is actually focussed just not on the correct area.

Timing of some shots

 coming to the end of the video whenever i was getting tired and fed up I think I started to slack and become less fussy with some of the editing I was doing in relation to the timing of shots matching the timing of the audio. Although there are some that worked well there are others that didn't work so well. 

Conclusion.

In general, i am fairly pleased with everything to do with this project and the feedback I got was wonderful. If I were to go back there are a few things I would take into consideration and do differently such as:

stick more to my storyboard and shot list as I ended up with far too many shots

Spend more time researching more transitions and effects as the ones that I did research paid off well

I would try to maybe add another character or two into the sequences as it is very based upon Dean and Dave forgetting the other clients. 

Figures

Figure 90. Feedback Screenshot from my client.

Figure 91- 104. Feedback from friends and family.

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Week 11-Week 14:January 9th 2017

Adobe Premier

Adobe premier is the software in which I will use to edit my video. I have little experience with this video editing software or any and therefore I want to spend as much time editing as possible to ensure that I can get a good experience of using Premier. 

For certain aspects of my video I want there to be different effects. there is, however, one effect I want the entire project to have. 

Leave Colour

As previously stated, I plan to have my video in black and white with only the blue corporate colour shown on the clothing of whoever is in the shot. To do this, I will use the leave colour effect within Adobe Premier. Below will show my step by step process of adding this effect. 

Figure 87. Leave colour editing screenshots. 

Ambient Light

For a certain part in my video, I wanted a flashing effect to occur. After playing around with some effects and looking at youtube videos, I soon figured out a great way to make a flashing effect. I cut the section I wanted to edit into different sub-sections then added this effect on to every other clip. In part of the video, Dean is seen in a white top. I completed this by choosing the tick box at the bottom of the ambient light settings.

Below will show the process I followed to complete this followed by before and after.

Figure 88. Ambient Light effect Screenshots

Cinespace 25 Effect

When I looked at the black and white effect added to my video I believed it was nice but didn’t look complete. I wanted a more vintage feel to the video which would have darker shading. I found the cinespace 25 effect and decided to use this. I believe this has given it the finishing touch. Below shows how I complete this. 

Figure 89. Cinespace editing screenshots.

Saving in Adobe Premier 

For this project, i exported at H.264 as this is the best setting to save as for high-quality performance especially when uploading to youtube. To do this I went to File>Export>Export Media and selected the option from the drop-down list. 

Figures

Figure 87. Leave colour editing screenshots.

Figure 88. Ambient light editing screenshots.

Figure 89. Cinespace 25 editing screenshots.

Referencing 

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/919988

Unknown. 2015. Exporting H.264 video from Adobe Premiere Pro CC. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.art.ucla.edu/digitalstudio/pdfs/premiere_pro_h264.pdf. [Accessed 5 December 2016].

Vlady Radev. 2015. Best export settings for youtube. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.4kshooters.net/2015/07/28/best-video-export-settings-for-youtube-in-premiere-pro-cc/. [Accessed 5 December 2016].

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Week 10: November 28th

Production:

Camera use:

For this task, I will use a DSLR camera.

In relation to camera composition, I plan for my shots to vary throughout the video sequence. I will have quick shots cutting from close ups to medium shots or long shots to close ups then extreme close-ups. I feel that with a video that is based upon something like a gym that close up and extra close up shots are extremely important as they show facial expressions. Shots like these make the viewer feel a certain way and also inform them of how the client being filmed is feeling at that point in time. As the exercise work outs that will be included in this production will be very hard, the facial expressions of the clients will need to be shown. the facial expressions will show the card work and dedication of the trainer and clients and will hopefully inspire those who are watching to join this gym as it will prove to them that the gym really works and pushes their customers hard, therefore, ensuring their getting their money worth from the organisation.

I plan to include different shots using different camera composition rules, for example, the Rule of Thirds. this is an important rule as previously stated as it will direct the attention of the viewer to a certain area in the shot. I plan to create this shot using a medium shot with the client in one-third of the shot. I will use this throughout my video as the client will usually be I the center of all shots, however, i will have a few shots that show him to the left or right side.

For the majority of my shots plan to have my camera upright and centered however for some shots such as the man on the ropes, I want to capture this from different angles including one where the camera will be at an angle. For shots on the weights, I plan to have the camera at an angle also.

In relation to camera movement within my video, I want to be able to move the camera about however due to my hands not being as steady as I would like them to be to recapture some of the shots that can be seen in my inspiration video,  I have decided to try to stick with still shots however I plan to shoot a few with movement and try to add a stabiliser to them using adobe premier and see how they look.

I have decided that throughout my video, I will use the focus lens. This will, therefore, show my range in depth of field as I plan to vary the use of this focus lens sometimes even, in the same shot. I will also manually work this lens rather than use the auto setting as I will have more control over the shots. This lens will allow me to manually change the focus of my shots so if I want the back blurred out and the front focused then quickly change it, I can do this myself. The use of this will direct the attention of the viewers to where exactly I want them to watch and when.

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Week 8- November 14th

Pre-Production Continued

Recee Shots

Below shows some recee shots of my first visit to 2D. I tried to capture a variety of shots especially ones n which capture the space in which I have to work with. From these photos, I plan to sit down and think of angles and shots I can create. These photographs and videos give me a great perspective in terms of planning on what and where I have to work with. 

Figure 76. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Figure 77. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Figure 78. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Figure 79. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Figure 80. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Figure 81. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Figure 82. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Figure 83. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016 

Figure 84. 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Placeholder imaging. 

Below shows some screenshots of the video previously shown, in which I plan to take my most inspiration from. I have placed these images in a storyboard form as I want to show some of the shots in which I hope to achieve.  

Figure 85. Placeholder images.

Photographic Storyboard:

Below is a screenshot of a storyboard made up of recee shots. This storyboard will illustrate to me the shots I have to take when I am down at 2D gym. This will save me time and effort while also keeping me on track and ensuring my shots are feasible and useable.

Figure 86. Photographic Storyboard 

Referencing

Figures 76-84, 2D Recee Shot. Rebekah Briers, 2016

Figure 85, Placeholder images

Figure 86. Photographic Storyboard

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Week 7: November 7th

Pre-productIon

As i am currently unsure of what my video topic is going to be of, i have brainstormed some ideas to help with my idea process. i have narrowed down the pros and cons of each ideas to attempt to finalise which theme my project will be based upon to allow me to get started immediately.  Below shows some diagrams i created to sum up these pros and cons.

Figure 70. Diagram showing my idea generation

After looking at my diagram and getting into contact with the owner, i have decided to work with 2D Strength and Fitness gym for my video. 

Development of Ideas

After speaking to my tutor and spending some time researching different gym promotional videos, i have decided upon the theme and design of my video. i looked at numerous videos which will be linked in my bibliography and from here have gained a clear view as to what i do and don't want my video to capture. i have decided that I want a video that promotes the gym in a way that will highlight the trainer-client relationship. I have been told of the good relationships the clients have with their trainers in this gym and want to ensure that I portray this in the video. i also obviously want to ensure that i show the hard work, dedication and results that the clients have from using this company. When looking at videos, i found that many gym promotional videos are very focused on the equipment they have and thee is no certain feel of authenticity to the video that makes you feel as though the video belongs to the company. That was still i found a video promoting a person training gym that seemed to be very like the 2D Strength and Fitness gym i have chosen to complete my production upon. The key aspect of the video that i feel made the huge difference to me was the fact that the whole video was shot and edited to have reduced saturation with the house colour of the organisation, red, left. I like this idea as 2D has a primary colour associated with all logos, photographs and decor within the gym. This colour is a light blue. Another aspect of this video that caught my attention was the range of different shots it had included. It had used shots i would never have thought of using and i hope to be able to recreate these within my production. The variations of long shots that quickly changed to close ups really caught my eye. I liked that the shots quickly changed and that some went from long shot-medium shot-close up shot-extra close up shot.Another section of the video i want to ensure that i include within mine was a part in the middle where a man on the ropes was recorded from different angles then one medium shot had be slowed down in-between these various shots.

To gain an idea into what exactly i should put into my promotional video for 2D Fitness and Strength, i have decided to research some other gym promotion videos which are shown below. 

The second video is the one that appeals to me most as it is a personal training gym. Some things in which I liked were about this video are below including some of the ideas i want to include in my video.

The fact that they seemed to get along well and there was a very deep friendly connection between the personal Trainers and the customers came across very clear in the video. i want to portray this in my video as 2D also has a good relationship with their customers. personal training gyms usually do have close friendship with their customers as they usually work either 1:1 or else in a small group. 2D also has a very fun and exciting feel to it as although they take their work very serious, they know how to make you relaxed and concentrated. Personal Training is a scary experience to do and i want my video to portray 2D as friends, fun and effective, 

The wide range of shots used in the promo including some unusual shots such as the shot where the client has the camera on the rowing machine. 

I liked the use of slow mo as this really added to the effect of the hard core training they were doing whenever it was back to normal speed. 

Initially when i took my recee shots of the gym, i decided i wanted to shoot in black and white or else normal colour but edit it to be black and white. after watching this promo video, i seen how they used black and white contrast but slightly brought the red from the tops (the companies co-operate identity) through. i would like to use this idea only with blue as it is the colour associated with 2D and would give the video more credibility. 

Figure 71. Example research video https://youtu.be/tQYo2v7NkFQ

Figure 72. Example research video https://youtu.be/OSrkaf1D168 

Figure 73. Example research video/also example of inspirational video i used.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3c7B06Ykgo&t=16s 

Figure 74: Research video example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgS1B_7PZCo 

PLACEHOLDER IMAGES

Synopsis:

This project was based in Duncrue Cresent area of Belfast inside 2D Strength and Fitness gym. 2D Strength and Fitness is a personal training that offers 1 to 1 and 1 to 4 ratio training, 2D is run by David Henry and David Mayne.

I choose this gym as my project as I felt that it was a unique idea and also because I had easy access to this business due to connections I have with the owner. Therefore there was no problems with filming permissions and reshoots etc will be easy to complete if needed.

The idea behind this promotional video was to create a promotional video for the business in which showcased both my knowledge and understanding of video production. I also wanted to ensure that I could show a range of different camera skills I have learnt such as range of shot use, angles, focus changing and then my editing capabilities. I also wanted to challenge myself with this project and jump in head first as I had never learnt anything to do with video production before and this was now my opportunity.

Alongside my desires to create this video for my own personal gain, I also wanted to create a video for the business as they are good friends of myself who offer great opportunities however with them being so out of the city centre, their clientele is quite small however with this promotional video I am hoping to capture the leading and great service in which this company has to offer thus encouraging people to travel to 2D.

Within my video I want to capture a very specific video in which only shows an elite and exclusive group of individuals. I want to promote the gym in a way that will highlight the trainer-client relationship. I have been told of the good relationships the clients have with their trainers in this gym and want to ensure that I portray this in the video. i also obviously want to ensure that i show the hard work, dedication and results that the clients have from using this company. 

Storyboard:

Below shows my storyboard with qriting descriptions and shot angles included. i will take this with me when going to shoot some scenes as a guide to what i am hoping to achieve. 

Figure 74 Storyboard , Rebekah Briers, 2016

Shotlist:

Below shows a screenshot of my shotlist i have created. this shot list will help to direct me in the shots i desire to take in my production process. Although this series of shots will be what I plan on going by, i am not going to restrict myself to these shots as i want to have many shots to choose from when editing my video. 

Figure 75. Shot list, Rebekah Briers 2016. 

Figures

Figure 70. Diagram showing my idea generation

Figure 71. Example research video https://youtu.be/tQYo2v7NkFQ 

Figure 72. Example research video https://youtu.be/OSrkaf1D168 

Figure 73. Example research video/also example of inspirational video i used.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3c7B06Ykgo&t=16s Load video Figure 74: Research video example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgS1B_7PZCo  

Figure 74 Storyboard , Rebekah Briers, 2016 

Figure 75. Shot list, Rebekah Briers 2016.

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Week 7: November 7th 2017

Typography

Typography is the use of text. This is a very common use in all video aspects ranging from sub titles to just normal titles. They illustrate to the viewer through words what is occurring on screen. 

Kinetic Typography

Kinetic Typography is the technical name for movie text. Kinetic typography appears to be very common in days world. Ranging from use in television commercials to website landing pages, movable text is a popular visual tool that’s more commonly used that I thought. There is a number of reasons why kinetic typography is used such as: It can help convey tone and emotion. It can help create a unique visual when none actually exists. It can be a cheap alternate option for those with limited budgets. It can add visual interest when your design is in need of a attractive boost. However, one obvious factor is the fact that it catches your attention straight away. Words can also be quite boring to look at. However, if you move these words, it magically becomes interesting. The human eye is automatically attracted to anything that moves especially when the remainder is still.

Kinetic typography is put together with some simple animations mixed with text to create words that move on the screen, immediately gathering your attention to a certain area and engaging the senses.

It is an animation technique that is used to make lettering fly, shrink, expand, grow, move in slow motion, and change in numerous ways for the viewer’s amusement. The effect can be short and sweet with only small changes or quite complex and long.

Once an effect that was only used on TV and Video production, the evolving world of technology has not made it able to add these to websites. This is why kinetic typography is becoming more popular. The first this kinetic typography was used was on the ‘Big Screen’.

It has been traced that the first use of kinetic typography was in the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock film “North by Northwest.” In the opening credits, text is used in a movable format. This qualifies as Kinetic Typography. A year later, the effect was used again in “Psycho.” “This work stemmed in part from a desire to have the opening credits set the stage for the film by establishing a mood, rather than simply conveying the information of the credits,” Researchers at the Human Computer Interaction Institute and School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University wrote.

From this point on, kinetic typography became more shown in film and later in television. It’s been used in areas such as credits, during shows and for advertisements. A notable use of kinetic typography in advertising came in 2009 when Pepsi launched a “Refresh Everything” campaign with a new logo. The new design – featuring a logo in place of the letter ‘o’ – appeared everywhere from television to online using movable type.

Examples of how kinetic typography can be used to show feeling or add an atmosphere to a still shot are: Loudness can be mimicked by changing the size of text, as well as its weight, and occasionally contrast or colour. For high volumes, motions mimicking vibration can be used. Slow motion or fast motion shows running or walking Movement in arcs or waves as text moves along curved paths as if it was the ocean. Anticipated action, such a subtle movement before a sharp one Grease example.

Figure 60. Pulp Fiction Example of Kinetic Text, Unknown.

Below shows an example of Kinetic Typography to an audio clip from the titanic. I have created this ideo using basic After Effects settings. 

Figure 61. After Effects Example, Rebekah Briers. 2016 

Figures:

Figure 60. Pulp Fiction Example of Kinetic Text, Unknown. Pulp Fiction Example of Kinetic Text, Unknown, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXcFJAbrrHY 

Figure 61. After Effects Example, Rebekah Briers. 2016 After Effects Example, Rebekah Briers. 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFEz8q5caPY

Referencing

Wikipedia. 2016. Kinetic typography - Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_typography. [Accessed 7 November 2016].

Creative Bloq. 2016. 10 captivating uses of typography in movies | Creative Bloq. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.creativebloq.com/typography/great-uses-typography-movies-10134995. [Accessed 16 January 2017].

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Week 6: October 24th.

Sound

What is sound and is it important?

90% of motion picture is made up on sound. A video is an audio-visual production. Just like the name, audio comes first and without it the video wouldn’t be the best it could be. It is absolutely vital that you get the sound right for a video as without good sound, the video could go from professional standard to amateurish and sloppy. A slick and neat soundtrack can commonly hide the cracks in your images from the viewers attention. Therefore it is vital to plan the sound in the video just as carefully as it is to plan the images. There are different reasons for sound to be used in a video production such as: To simulate reality To add or create something they isn't there To help create a mood. A good example of sound importance is how the audience could be viewing your work via YouTube, the image might be reduced to a couple of inches wide, but the sound will be always be as big and powerful as the computer speakers it’s watch upon. It is exceptionally important when recording video shots using a handheld mobile device as it can leave you with images that are so small and the Sound needs to be greet to help to keep your audience’s attention. There are a few different types of sound that can be used. Using computer editing software, to possible to layer them in, adjust volumes and sync images to particular sounds. Using ‘J-cuts’, allows you to lay in a couple of seconds of sound of one clip over the end of the one before, therefore leading the audience attention into the visuals. It’s also portable to use a sound bridge to connect different sequences of images.

Foley sound

The foely process was created by Jack Foely. It's a process set and complete On a Foely stage. This stage will include many objects in which natural sounds can be made from. These sounds are then matched with the video sequence and added in. For example it will have several different floor types and from here the foely artist with watch the video sequence then decide upon what type of floor he will record the sound of his footprints on to match the video shot. However not always are the sounds relatable to the object used to make them. For example breaking bones can be made using the breaking up of carrots and vegetables. Or slaps can be made using raw meat. Foely sound is basically making your own sound effects that sound like natural sounds.

Diegetic & Non-Diegetic

Diegetic Sound-(actual sound)

Diegetic Sound is sound whose source can be seen on the screen or has been implied to be present in the action occurring in the film. Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source. Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame. Another phrase that is used for diegetic sound is actual sound Diegesis which is a Greek word for “recounted story”.

Diegetic sound is very commonly used when someone tells of a visual story. Diegetic sounds are those sounds that the on-screen characters live through. For example, in Star Wars, throughout the cantina scene, the audience is treated to a Bith band playing a likable tune. It takes place in the cantina and the characters can hear it, so it meets the requirements to be classed as diegetic sound. Even so, as the action progresses within this scene the diegetic sound even drops in volume and clarity, just as it would in real life. This gives a very more realistic feel to the not so realistic scenes.

Diegetic sounds are those that connect to something observable on screen, and can also be heard by the characters within the scenes. This incorporates dialogue and the sounds of objects/things on screen.

Dialog

Dialog is the sound of the characters talking while on screen. Usually to one another.

Ambient Sound

Ambient sound is also known as natural sound. It is the sound we hear in the background of a scene. For example when a character is walking down the street, we can hear passing cars and other people walking by. This is reduced in volume and placed in the background to give a more realistic and reliable feel to the video shot.

Non-Diegetic

Non-diegetic sound is basically all of the sounds that the audience hears but the characters cannot hear. This ranges from narration, to mood music, to sound effects.

Narration

Narration is the sound in which is made my a person recording a voice over. It is when w voice over can be heard but the person who is speaking can't be seen themselves. A good example of this is the use of documentaries. We can hear the narrator speaking however we cannot see them. What we can see is images or shots in relation to the topic in which he is speaking of.

Soundtrack

This is the background song or music which is added to the video in the post prediction stage. Adding a soundtrack to images is an art form. Music creates mood and atmosphere, often by manipulating the emotions experienced while viewing. Music can be classified as either soundtrack. This is very similar to 'Score' only score being an original piece of music created just for that video.

Below is a short clip in which i feel describes the difference in the sound types very well. It also shows the use of these sound techniques in some well known films.

Figure 54. Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound Video,  Josh Hanson, 2014. https://youtu.be/H_4hOY-9nKA

The use of both Diegetic and Non diegetic sound.

Sometimes, an audio component serves as both diegetic and non-diegetic, or even converts from one to the other. For instance, when a movie character presses the play button on an iPod, we as an audience can hear the song alongside the character. However, as the camera pulls back to show the actor jogging away, the music becomes a part of the soundtrack without us even realising it.

Another example of this technique being used is within the TV show Glee. Each episode contains music built around a central theme or artist. Throughout the show, it’s common to see a character sing a song in different areas of the school. Over the sequence of the melody, it becomes part of the soundtrack to other happenings occurring in other areas of the show. Towards the end, the song transforms back into a diegetic part of class where the singer can be seen finishing off the song. I am a big fan of Glee and therefore now that I know what diegetic sound is, this was a TV show that stood out most to me and really described what Diegetic sound meant.  

Figure 55. Diegetic and Non-Diegetic sound use in Glee, Fox TV, 2011.  Youtube.  GLEE 2x01 - Telephone (Lady GaGa). Fox TV. 2011.  GLEE 2x01 - Telephone (Lady GaGa) (Accessed  https://youtu.be/K1-jqPXGTSQ 

Why to use Diegetic and Non-Diegetic sound.

Diegetic sound is just an additional tool to help tell a story. The transformation technique is a common method to draw in the viewers’ attention and give them interest in the scene. By varying the role of music in the scene, you engross the spectator and delicately comprise them into the action. Alternatively, you can pull the viewer out of a scene to separate them from the story by also using this transaction method.

More old-style sound effects and Foley are another way to leverage diegetic sound. For example if shooting a battle scene for a project but unluckily you don’t have mass amounts of actors needed to portray a battle scene but do have a field, some dark clouds and a group of extras that can be reused alongside close shots. However the final outcome still doesn’t look realistic or packed as much as possible, with some reused extras and some sound effects to substitute for real diegetic sound, such as shouting, screaming, chanting and so on, it can make an empty scene seem more filled.

Lastly, diegetic and non-diegetic sound can be used to toy with the viewers. Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and Woody Allen are famous directors who have used narration as a tool to deceive the observer, making them think one thing when something else was actually transpiring in the background.

A great example of a movie in which uses this technique is the film The Notebook directed by Nick Cassavetes. This film is narrated by an older man, who regularly tells stories to an elderly woman. In-between narrating the film, it shows sequences of actors playing out the stories in which he is speaking of. The viewer gets so wrapped up within this story in which Noah is telling, by the end of the story when he reveals the story was in fact of himself and the lady he is reading to, the audience is mesmerised as to how they missed it when really it was all down to the fact that his story telling and the manner in which the film was directed caught your attention without you even realising that you had be transferred to another world. Almost as if you were included in the story he was speaking of. This is one of my most favorite films i have watched and i now believe that the use of narrative non-diegetic sound is one of the factors that has made it so.

Figure 56. Trailer for The Notebook. 2004. Nick Cassavetes. https://youtu.be/S3G3fILPQAU

Diegetic and Non-Diegetic sound Task:  Berberian Sound Studio Inspired Camera Work.

“Listen to audio folder and start to create the pre-production material. At this point approach the audio first and try to design a 30 second audio sequence in the Adobe Premiere timeline. The point of this is too use the audio folder as a foundation for the visual ideas. Synopsis will be the first part so agree on a story. As agreed with the group, shoot the video and then put it into the video timeline (your audio will already be there as you should have this done first) REMEMBER:Once complete export and link it to your blog explaining the process of the task.”

For this project i worked alongside Rachel. We worked together to create a short horror themed clip that fitted to a previously chosen soundtrack in which we also worked together to create. Below shows the Pre-production of this small project.

Synopsis The theme for this short project is 'Horror' and the idea behind this short film clip is of a character who is woken from a deep sleep to chiming of a clock in which he doesn't have. When he is woken, he hears the singing of children coming from outside his door. He follows this singing to find out where it's source is coming from only to wish he had stayed in his bed. Through this video project, we hope to show our understanding of sound use within video production. We want to show the important link between sound and film when narration or dialog is absent.

This video consists of three soundtrack clips from the film 'Berberian'.We choose these three clips as we believed they were best suited to the theme of 'Horror' and would be easy to film scenes to. The film is edited to be in black and white as we felt this added a very vintage horror effect to this trailer.

Storyboard

We created a storyboard showing the shots and ideas in which we had. This was to help with shooting the video by keeping us on the correct track (prevent us from becoming distracted or sidelined) and also to make the video process a lot quicker for us. 

Figure 57. Storyboard example 

Shot List

Below shows a screenshot of the shot list in which we created. This too was to save us time and effort when shooting our desired shots. 

Figure 58. Shotlist example 

Video 

Figure 59. Horror Inspired video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2yhqHhCl0Q

Figures

Figure 54. Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound Video,  Josh Hanson, 2014. https://youtu.be/H_4hOY-9nKAReferencing

Figure 55. Diegetic and Non-Diegetic sound use in Glee, Fox TV, 2011.  Youtube.  GLEE 2x01 - Telephone (Lady GaGa). Fox TV. 2011.  GLEE 2x01 - Telephone (Lady GaGa) (Accessed  https://youtu.be/K1-jqPXGTSQ

Figure 56. Trailer for The Notebook. 2004. Nick Cassavetes. https://youtu.be/S3G3fILPQAU

Figure 57. Storyboard example

Figure 58. Shotlist example 

Figure 59. Horror Inspired video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2yhqHhCl0Q

Referencing

Importance of Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sounds in Film | The Artifice. 2016. [ONLINE] Available at: http://the-artifice.com/importance-of-diegetic-and-non-diegetic-sounds-in-film/. [Accessed 24 October 2016].

So The Theory Goes. 2014. Understanding (Diegetic and Non-Diegetic) Sound - So The Theory Goes. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sothetheorygoes.com/diegetic-and-non-diegetic-sound/. [Accessed 24 October 2016].

Diegetic and non diegetic sounds. 201. Diegetic and non diegetic sounds. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/AshiqAjith/diegetic-and-non-diegetic-sounds. [Accessed 24 October 2016].

Videomaker.com. 2015. Diegetic Sound | Videomaker.com. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.videomaker.com/article/c4/15797-diegetic-sound. [Accessed 24 October 2016].

Diegetic and Non-Diegetic sound use in Glee, Fox TV, 2011.  Youtube.  GLEE 2x01 - Telephone (Lady GaGa). Fox TV. 2011.  GLEE 2x01 - Telephone (Lady GaGa) [Accessed 24 October 2016].

. 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/sound.2012.0037. [Accessed 24 October 2016].

Trailer for The Notebook. 2004. Nick Cassavetes.  Youtube.  The Notebook Trailer. dvdmajestic . 2004. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3G3fILPQAU&feature=youtu.be [Accessed 24 October 2016].

Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound Video,  Josh Hanson, 2014. Youtube. Diagetic and Non-Diagetic Sound.  Josh Hanson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_4hOY-9nKA&feature=youtu.be   [Accessed 24 October 2016].

[dvprebekahbrierss-blog]

Week 4: October 4th

Work flow in Video Production

There are three stages to every video project i.e. the Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production. Each phase will have its own challenges and will have alternate sizes in your project. In large scale projects being created in larger companies, there would be separate groups/teams working on each phrase. However for my video project there will be just me and therefore will take a lot of time and dedication to enable me to achieve the best possible production workflow as I can. In order for me to create the three phrases of my project, I first need to understand what each are and what they entail. I am going to describe each below.

Pre-Production

The most important part of idea production is what occurs before the camera starts rolling. Pre-Production is the planning and logistics phase of a video project. This is where the ideas are generated, shared and assessed for feasibility.

There are different stages within this phase that have to be completed to have a successful and effective pre-production phase. These stages are:

Development of idea- This is the generation of ideas from your very first thought to your final decided idea.

Synopsis- this is short piece of information basically just telling a quick description of the topic and purpose of the video.

Storyboard- As stated before, the storyboard is just to give you an outline of what you’re going to shoot when you get to the location in graphic form.

Shot list- the shot list is a document that illustrates all shot types, angles an movement. It also tells of the characters and location. This is used alongside the story board to direct you when going to capture the footage.

Production

Production begins from the minute the first video sequence has been recorded. This process will capture all of the scenes and information that the pre-production stage has outlines and assessed.

There are also different stages within this phase too that have to be completed to have a victorious and operative production phase. Some of the stages have been described throughout this blog therefore I will only explain the ones that haven’t yet been. These stages are:

Camera composition

Camera movement- This is basically the placement of relative objects and elements in a work of art, design, and video and so on.

Focus

Depth of field

Sound

Capture of footage and audio.

Post Production.

This stage of the project begins once all of the footage has been shot. This is where graphics can be added, music is added and even different effects. This is where everything comes together and the video idea comes to life.

There also a sub stage within this phase that have to be completed to have a successful and operational post-production phase. This is:

The Editing of footage and sound.

Task: Shining group work. Rebekah, Mark, Carson and Rachel. Feature Kirsty and Dean. 

We have been tasked as a group to create a short sequence of video. The sequence can be directly copied froma film and we chose the shining as we believed it was a very popular film. We also chose it as it has many different camera angles included within it. 

Storyboard

Below is the story board with screen grabs and descriptions on what each shot it is showing. These are the scenes we want to recreate. 

Figure 51. The Shining Storyboard. Rebekah, Mark, Carson and Rachel, 2016. 

Shotlist:

Below shows the shotlist we created for this project. It is very detailed and i believe it was very easy to follow. 

Figure 52. The Shining Shotlist. Rebekah, Mark, Carson and Rachel. 2016

Looking back at our clips, we could have done alot better. As it was our fourth week and we were all still only coming to terms with the use of video and the techniques and skills, you can tell from the video that we were very limited.

Although the shots were pretty bad, if we had of added some effects to this sequence i believe it would have completely changed the look of it. 

However, i do believe our shots complete captured the meaning of this task which was to reenact a known film.

Figure 53. The Shining Remake. Rebekah, Mark, Carson and Rachel. Feature, Kirsty and Deansly. 2016. 

Referencing

The Video Effect. 2017. Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production Stages . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.thevideoeffect.tv/2013/06/26/video-pre-production-and-post-production/. [Accessed 10 October 2016].

Pre-Production. 2017. Pre-Production. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.mediacollege.com/glossary/p/pre-production.html. [Accessed 10 October 2016].

Filmmaking Lifestyle. 2017. 14 Elements of Pre-Production For Filmmaking & Video Production • Filmmaking Lifestyle. [ONLINE] Available at: [Accessed 10 October 2016].

TechRadar. 2017. The 10 rules of photo composition (and why they work) | TechRadar. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.techradar.com/how-to/photography-video-capture/cameras/10-rules-of-photo-composition-and-why-they-work-1320770.[Accessed 10 October 2016].

Bibliography

Figure 51. The Shining Remake. Rebekah, Mark, Carson and Rachel. Feature, Kirsty and Deansly. 2016. The Shining Remake. Rebekah, Mark, Carson and Rachel. Feature, Kirsty and Deansly. 2016. 

Figure  52. The Shining Shotlist. Rebekah, Mark, Carson and Rachel. 2016

Figure  53. The Shining Storyboard. Rebekah, Mark, Carson and Rachel, 2016.

[dvprebekahbrierss-blog]

Week  2: September 26th

Storyboards in film

What is a storyboard?

When you make a video for any type or purpose, planning is extremely important. One of the most important stages of creating a video is creating a storyboard.

A storyboard is a graphic representation of how your video will unfold, shot by shot.

It’s made up of various squares filled with illustrations or pictures representing each shot, with notes about what’s going on in the scene and what’s being said in the script during that shot. Somewhat like a comic book version of your video. 

Figure 19. Storyboard example, Unknown, 2015. 

Why Do You Need a Storyboard?

Creating a storyboard might just sound like more time being invested into something that wouldn't improve or benefit your production in any way however there are many reasons a storyboard is useful and a great help in creating an effective video.

Here are three reasons why you need a storyboard:

Its a great way to share your vision

A visual demonstration makes it much easier to share and explain your vision for your video with others.

it’where we were trying to explain something and the other person just can’t s a common occurrence when we try to explain and idea nd others struggle to visualise what you are speaking of. The core of this issue is that most stakeholders struggle to imagine an idea off of a text deliverable, such as a script.

When a storyboard is created, you can show people exactly how your video is going to be panned out and what it will physically look like. This makes it infinitely easier for other people to understand your idea.

Makes production much easier

When you create a storyboard for a video, you’re setting up a plan/outline for production, including all the shots needed, the order that they’ll be laid out, and how the visuals will interact with the script. This really comes in useful when creating your video, as it ensures you won’t forget any scenes and helps you piece together the video according to your initial vision without forgetting some previous ideas.

Saves you time

Although it may take you a little while to put your storyboard together, in the long run it will save you time in revisions later as you won't have to go back and add in forgotten scenes or ideas. It will aid you to explain your idea to your production team and it will also make the creation process run a lot more smoothly.

Task

Using a range of camera angles that we have learnt so far, we split into groups and were set the task of creating a sequence of photographic shots that told a story based on the theme of Paranoia. 

Below shows a storyboard i have created with the group.. It will be a layout template for me to follow when taken a range of different photographs to try to convey this theme. 

Figure 20. Example of Storyboard. Rebekah Briers, Kirsty Browne and Vichristian Milo 2016. 

Storyboard we created. Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne, Vichristian Milo. 2016 We created this storyboard to try to give us an idea of what exactly we were going to shoot. Having this storyboard saved us a lot of time as we knew what we wanted to capture and we were able to go out, take our photos and then return back to edit them. 

When we began taken our photographs, we came up with some alternative ideas and therefore our storyboard wasn't exactly precise.

Figure 21. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

In this photo it shows me being watched by a strange figure in the background as i walked down the corridor on the phone. This photo would give a creepy and weird feel for the rest of the photos. It is also very intreging and would make the viewer want to continue looking to see what happens.

Shot Type: Over the Shoulder. Medium Shot.

Figure 22. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

This photograph shows me looking behind as i have gotten that ‘someone is watching me’ feeling...

Shot Type: Medium Shot.

Figure 23. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016  

This shot shows me running out to the carpark and into my car as i have had the paranoid feeling of someone following me. 

Shot Type: Long Shot

Figure 24. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

In this shot we have focused the camera so that my facial expression can be seen in the rear view mirror. This over the shoulder shot worked very well and the focus really added to the effect.

Shot Type: Over the shoulder. Close Up.

Figure 25. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016

This shows the strange figure sitting in the back seat. this extreme over the shoulder shot looks amazing especially as vic has captured it so that the head can't be seen completely. this adds a spooky feel to it. 

Shot Type: Over the shoulder. Close Up.

Figure 26. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

This photograph shows that i have seen the figure in the mirror but whenever have turned around the person was gone. was it my paranoia? or is someone following me? 

Shot Type: Over the Shoulder. Close Up. 

Figure 27. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

This shows me slamming my car door shut hopefully locking the stalker in the car. This is a very close shot of my hand. this has been taken so closely that the viewer would know exactly what i was doing.

Shot Type: Close Up

Figure 28. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

This full body shot shows me running form the car. this shot shows the car also but in the background. this informs the viewer of what exactly I'm running away from. 

Shot Type: Long Shot. 

Figure 29. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

This last shot shows me close up, hiding behind the wall looking for the stalker however she is behind me. this is where the shots end which leads the viewer to want more and to know what is about to happen. 

Shot Type: Over the shoulder. Close Up.

Editing and Conclusion. 

Each image has been individually edited so that it is in black and white. Some contrasting is better than others but I believe that the darker the contrasting the better. i believe that we could also have added a black vignette border to make the images darker and more freaky. 

We also should have ensured that all images were taken in landscape as the ones in portrait look strange.

the focus lens made a very big difference to the photographs and if it wasn't used these shots wouldn't have turned out as good as they did. Overall I'm very pleased with how it all turned out and i think the shots clearly explain the topic given even if there was no description included, 

DSLR Video Techniques:

Shutter speed

Shutter speed is the amount of time that the shutter is open. and its effect. Within film or photography, it is the length of time that the film is exposed to the scene that you are filming and similarly in digital photography shutter speed is the length of time that your image sensor somewhat ‘sees’ or is revealed to the scene you’re attempting to capture.

When considering what shutter speed to set when capturing an image you should always take into consideration whether anything in the scene is moving and how you would like to capture that movement.

White balance/consistent colour and colour temperature

White balance (WB) is the process of removing unrealistic or unnatural colour casts, so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in your photos or film. Camera white balance has to take into consideration the colour temperature of a light source, this refers to the warmth or coolness of white light. Our eyes are very good at judging what is white under different light sources, but digital cameras often have great difficulty with auto white balance (AWB) and can create unsightly blue, orange, or even green colour casts.

Auto vs Manual.

The difference in auto and manual adjustments on any type of camera is simple. The auto tracking is when the camera ‘automatically’ tracks the subject on screen. It automatically sets the settings and follows their movements and preparing for the next photograph. Manual adjustments is when you manually set the aperture, ISO and shutter speed etc to suit your own requirements.

Aperture

Aperture is the opening of a lens's diaphragm through which light passes through. It is recorded in f/stops and is usually written as numbers such as; 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 and 16. The lower the f/stops=more exposure because they represent the larger apertures, while the higher f/stops give less exposure because they represent smaller apertures.

How Aperture Affects Depth of Field Depth of field is described as "the zone of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind the subject on which the lens is focused." Basically, that means how sharp or blurred the area behind your subject is. The lower the f/stop is—the bigger the opening in the lens—the less depth of field—the blurrier the background is. The higher the f/stop is—the smaller the opening in the lens is—the greater the depth of field—the sharper the background is.

Figure 30. An example of Aperture use and effect on depth of field. Unknown.  Unknown, (2016).

How Aperture Affects Shutter Speed The f/stop also tends to affect the shutter speed. Using a low f/stop means more light is entering the lens and so the shutter doesn't need to stay open for as long to make a correct exposure which translates into a faster shutter speed. Using a high f/stop means that less light is entering the lens and therefore the shutter will need to stay open a little longer which translates into a slower shutter speed.

Figure 31. Aperture affecting shutter speed example, 2016. Unknown, (2016).

ISO

ISO is the level of sensitivity of your camera to the available light. The lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is to the light, while a higher ISO number increases the sensitivity of your camera.

The fixing within your camera that can alter sensitivity is called an “image sensor” or simply “sensor”. It is the most important and the most expensive piece of a camera and it is responsible for collecting the light and transforming it into an image. With an increased sensitivity, your camera sensor is able to capture images in low-light environments without having to use a flash. But higher sensitivity comes at an expense – it adds grain or “noise” to the pictures.

Figure 32. Example of ISO use, Unknown, 2016

Composition and Framing

In cinematography, a composition refers to the frame of the image and how the elements of the scene appear within it. Composition guidelines must be observed when telling stories visually, as in filmmaking.

Composition rules and conventions are older than cinematography itself. Most of the concepts within cinematography have been used for hundreds of years in painting. Filmmakers and photographers have borrowed many different techniques from various painters and contributed them as an outline for new ideas and practices.

Lead Room/space

If a character is looking frame left, then he should be positioned frame right. This makes the framing comfortable because the subject is looking at the open space in front of him and not into the camera or away from the camera where we cant see his eye direction. This open space is called lead room or lead space.

Figure 33. Lead Room example, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, (1969)

Rule of Thirds

Rule of thirds is the term given when the image is split into a grid. The most attractive position for the character is within one of the three columns of the grid. This term is used in photography, design, video and so on.

Figure 34. Example of Rule of Thirds in a Rear Window, 1954. Rear Window, (1954).

Static Composition

Compositions with the majority of lines being horizontal/vertical are called ‘Static Composition’. In theory, horizontal and vertical lines are somewhat soothing and calm.

Figure 35. Static Composition example, Hero, 2002. Hero, (2002).

Dynamic Composition

When a composition has many diagonal lines included in it, it is called Dynamic Composition. The dynamism or excitement comes from the fact the diagonals are somewhat unsettling and chaotic. They are the opposite of static compositions in which are neat and tidy.

Figure 36. Dynamic Composition example, Final Flight of the Osiris, 2003.

Task:

Below shows my first use of a DSLR. In this video, the examples are not too clear and therefore that is why i have included examples above with their descriptions to show that i have an understanding of each.

The first clip shows the difference in Shutter Speed. When comparing the two videos alongside one another, we can see the difference that a shutter speed actually makes. The first video is a lot more clear and focused as the dog runs past. The second shot can be seen to be grainy, somewhat delayed and just a bad shot in general.

In the second clip, we can see the difference in Aperture. The clip went from dark to bright using the change in aperture. We can also see how it affects the depth of field as it becomes clearer.

The last two clips are of the difference in white balance. These clips show us a direct comparison of white balance. The shot before is of automatic white balance that is pre-set. This shows that not always can we rely on the camera to fix our white balance for us. The second clip shows the difference in white balance whenever it is manually set. The difference can be clearly seen can see the change in darkness and exposure from one clip to another. the white within the image has been exposed more to the camera lens bringing out the white colour of each of the clips but more so in the first.

Figure 37. Example of different camera techniques, Rebekah Briers, 2016.

Referencing

Expert Photography. 2017. How to Understand Aperture in 5 Simple Steps » Expert Photography. [ONLINE] Available at: https://expertphotography.com/how-to-understand-aperture-5-simple-steps/. [Accessed 16 January 2017].

GoAnimate Resources. 2016. What Is A Storyboard And Why Do You Need One? - GoAnimate Resources. [ONLINE] Available at: https://resources.goanimate.com/what-is-a-storyboard-and-why-do-you-need-one/. [Accessed 19 September 2016].

No Film School. 2013. Storyboarding Tips from DreamWorks. [ONLINE] Available at: http://nofilmschool.com/2013/09/storyboarding-tips-dreamworks. [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Unknown, (2016), Example of ISO use [ONLINE]. Available at: https://cdn.photographylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ISO-200-and-ISO-3200.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2016].

Digital Photography School. 2017. ISO Settings in Digital Photography. [ONLINE] Available at: http://digital-photography-school.com/iso-settings/. [Accessed 16 January 2017].

COMPOSITION: Filling the Frame. 2017. COMPOSITION: Filling the Frame. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/cinematography/composition-and-framing/. [Accessed 15 January 2017].

Digital Photography School. 2017. Introduction to Aperture in Photography - dPS. [ONLINE] Available at: http://digital-photography-school.com/aperture/. [Accessed 16 January 2017].

Photography Life. 2017. Understanding Shutter Speed - A Beginner's Guide. [ONLINE] Available at: https://photographylife.com/what-is-shutter-speed-in-photography. [Accessed 16 January 2017].

Photography Life. 2017. Understanding White Balance - A Beginner's Guide. [ONLINE] Available at: https://photographylife.com/what-is-white-balance-in-photography. [Accessed 15 January 2017].

Figures:

Figure 19. Storyboard example, Unknown, 2015. Storyboard example, Unknown, 2015. Unknown, (2015), Storyboard [ONLINE]. Available at: https://resources.goanimate.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Storyboard_730x350.png [Accessed 19 September 2016].Figure 20. Example of Storyboard. Rebekah Briers, Kirsty Browne and Vichristian Milo 2016. 

Figure 21. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 22. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 23. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 24. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 25. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 26. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 27. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 28. Photography including Rebekah Briers by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 29. Photography including Rebekah Briers, Kirstie Browne by Vichristian Milo. 2016 

Figure 30. An example of Aperture use and effect on depth of field. Unknown.  Unknown, (2016), Example of Aperture [ONLINE]. Available at: http://cdn-7.nikon-cdn.com/Images/Learn-Explore/Photography-Techniques/2009/Maximum-Aperture/Media/max-aperture-005.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2016].

Figure 31. Aperture affecting shutter speed example, 2016. Unknown, (2016), Example of Aperature [ONLINE]. Available at: http://cdn-7.nikon-cdn.com/Images/Learn-Explore/Photography-Techniques/2009/Maximum-Aperture/Media/max-aperture-005.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2016].

Figure 32. Example of ISO use, Unknown, 2016. Unknown, (2016), Example of ISO use [ONLINE]. Available at: https://cdn.photographylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ISO-200-and-ISO-3200.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2016].

Figure 33. Lead Room example, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, (1969), Lead Room [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/images/lead_room_butch_cassidy.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2016].

Figure 34. Example of Rule of Thirds in a Rear Window, 1954. Rear Window, (1954), Example of Rule of Thirds [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/images/rule_of_thirds_in_Rear_Window.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2016].

Figure 35. Static Composition example, Hero, 2002. Hero, (2002), Static Composition example [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/images/static_composition_hero.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2016].

Figure 36. Dynamic Composition example, Final Flight of the Osiris, 2003. Final Flight of the Osiris, (2002), Example of dynamic Composition [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/images/dynamic_composition_osiris.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2016].

Figure 37. Example of different camera techniques, Rebekah Briers, 2016. https://youtu.be/UbcEQ1ce8AY

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Introduction to Camera Shots, Angles and Movement.

Camera angles, shots and movement are important in any video or movie production. Each angle, shot or movement can be crucial in portraying a certain theme, idea, feeling, place or purpose.  Camera angles and shots combine to make a sequence of images just as every word, phrase and punctuation create a sentence. 

Describing Shots

When describing camera angles, or creating them, you have to think about three important factors:

The framing or the length of the shot

The angle of the shot

And if there is any movement involved in the shot.

When describing the different cinematic shots/angles, there is a range of terms that are used to indicate the amount of subject matter that is contained within a frame. Each different shot included has a different purpose and effect. A change between two different shots is called a CUT.

Camera Movement

A director may choose speed up the action scene by telling the story as a series of cuts, going from one shot to another, or they may choose to move the camera with the action. However, moving the camera is time consuming and sometimes it can make the action look slower as it takes a few seconds for the moving camera shot to really be effective. However using ast cuts the same information can e shown on screen in a quicker and more realistic way. Not only must the style of camera movement be chosen, but the method of actually moving the camera must be selected too. There are seven basic methods:

1. Pans

This is a shot where the camera travels continuously right to left or left to right. An abbreviation of "panning".  The camera is placed on a tripod, which operates as a still axis point as the camera is being rotated, frequently to tail a moving object which is kept in the middle of the frame.

2. Tilts

A shot where the camera moves continuously Up to Down or Down To Up. A vertical panning shot. A tilt to the sky is occasionally a last shot in a movie.

3. Dolly Shots

Sometimes called TRUCKING or TRACKING shots.  It’s a shot that follows the person in view be it from behind or alongside or in front of them. Not as messy or random as a panning shot, The camera is placed on a moving vehicle and moves together with the action, normally following a moving figure or object. Complex dolly shots will involve a track being laid on set for the camera to follow, hence the name. The camera might be mounted on a a plane, car, or even a shopping trolley(this is an idea I may keep in mind if I want to catch some of these shots). A dolly shot may be a good way of showing movement for example the journey of a individual or for moving from a long shot to a close-up in a smooth way.

4. Hand-held shots

The hand-held movie camera first saw widespread use during World War II. This was due to news reporters taking their cameras into the center heat of battle. In doing so, it has produced some of the most fascinating footage of the twentieth century. After the war, it took commercially produced movies a bit of time to catch up, and documentary creators led the way, demanding the production of smaller, lighter cameras that could be shifted in and out of scenes quickly. This visual took a while be used with mainstream Hollywood, as it gives a jerky, untidy effect, completely different from the organised smoothness of a dolly shot. The Steadicam (a heavy machine which is attached a camera to an operator by a harness. The camera is steadied so it moves independently) bringing a new smoothness to hand held camera movement and has been used to create effect in movies and TV shows ever since.

5. Crane Shots

A shot where the camera is placed on a crane or jib and moved up and down. Basically a vertical tracking shot. This shot is greatly used in musicals. Often used at the end of a movie as if the camera moving away was them saying goodbye.

6. Zoom Lenses

A shot using a lens with a adjustable focal length that allows the photographer to change the distance between camera and object without physically moving the camera.

7. The Aerial Shot

An exciting alternative of a crane shot, usually taken from a helicopter. This is often used at the start of a film, in order to establish setting and movement. A helicopter being used is like a particularly flexible sort of crane - it can go anywhere, keep up with anything, move in and out of a scene, and convey real drama and excitement — so long as you don't need to get too close to the actors or use location sound with the shots.

Shot Types and Angles

Other shots that are used within the video industry are as follows: 

Arc Shot

A shot in which the character is circled by the camera. Often used by Brian De Palma and Michael Bay.

Figure 1. Black Hawk Down Arc Shot. Youtube. TRC Media Studies. 2013.

Bridging Shot

A shot that signifies a shift in time or place, like a dotted line moving across an animated map.

Figure 2. Bridging Shot edited, Youtube. Tom Wardman. 2016

Deep Focus

A shot that keeps the foreground, middle ground and background all in a sharp focus.

Figure 3. Deep Focus Shot Example, Gregg Toland, (Unknown).

Dutch Tilt

A shot where the camera is tilted on its side to create a unique and quirky angle. It is often used to suggest disorientation or confusion.

Figure 4. Dutch Tilt shot example in Batman Dark Knight, 2008.

Establishing Shot

This is a shot, at the beginning of a scene that clearly shows the location of the action. Frequently appears after the aerial shot.   Very often this shot is covered with the title of the film in which the scene is from. This is a very popular shot to be taken of a city sky line for films that are very based upon location for example TV Shows like Power for New York or films such as Fast and Furious in Tokyo. 

Figure 5. The Devil wears Prada establishing shot, 2006, Florian Ballhaus (Cinemotographer). 

Low Angle Shot

This is a shot that is taken looking up at the subject often making them look bigger in the frame. It can make everyone look heroic and/or dominant. It is also very good for making cities look empty. Below the example shows how the low angle shot makes Shrek look intimating and scary. 

Figure 6. Low Angle Shot example, Shrek, Dreamworks, 2001. 

High Angle Shot

This is the opposite of the before shot. It’s a shot looking down on a character or subject often isolating them in the frame. The Shot aims to show the character as part of their wider surroundings. It could be used to link the ideas within the story between character and setting or to create a smooth transition from one scene to the following. A film springs straight to mind with use of this shot is Matilda when faced with the librarian. See example below. 

Figure 7. High angle shot example, Matilda, 2006.  Eliza Schroeder. 

Extreme long shot (ELS)

This shot can be taken from as much as a quarter of a mile away. It is generally used as a scene-setting or establishing shot. It usually portrays an exterior for example the outside of a building or a landscape. This shot is often used to show scenes of action for example ones within a war film or disaster movie. In this shot there will often be very little detail visible in the shot, it's meant to give a general impression rather than any specific information. The object shown in the shot is usually very small. The extreme long shot shown above is taken from a distance, but denotes a precise location - it might even connote all of the entertainment industry if used as the opening shot in a news story.

Figure 8. Extreme long shot example. Joseph Leo Mankiewicz, (1963), Cleopatra (1963 film)

Long Shot (LS) This is a difficult shot to categorise however it is usually a shot where a person can be seen in whole body form (head at top of the screen, feet at bottom) that almost or does fill the screen. It is almost life size in relation to the distance between the audience and the screen in a cinema. Although the focus is normally on the characters in this shot, the background can be seen.  

Figure 9. Long Shot Example,Paramount Pictures. 2011. Thor.

Medium shot (MS) This shot usually contains the figure from head to knees/waist area. This is usually used for dialect scenes where the actor can be seen speaking. Various versions of this shot is he two or three shot where two or three people can be seen from the waist up. In this shot, the background usually is minimal as it is established in earlier shots as the audience already know where they are and now want to focus on the dialog. Another variation of this shot is the over the shoulder shot that positions the camera behind one person whilst revealing the other figure and part of the first figures back, shoulders and head.

Figure 10. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. 2012. Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans in The Avengers.

Close Up (CU)

This shows very little background and concentrates on either a face or objects. This shot magnifies the object onto the screen and show the importance of things whether it is a face (expressions), writing or an object. Close ups often illustrate a feeling or an emotion by zooming in to the face. This is a very intimate shot and usually works between lovers or close family members. This can also be used to make the audience feel uncomfortable or comfortable within a scene. 

Figure 11. Close up shot example, Harry Potter,  Warner Bros, 2011.  Extreme close up ECU

"An extreme close-up shows us objects and people differently than we see them. It calls attention to the subjects, making them more memorable visually" – Jennifer van Sijll, Cinematic Storytelling 

This shot would show only a specific feature for example on the face the eyes or mouth. No background is shown in this shot. This is an artificial shot and is used for dramatic use. 

Below shows a ECU from the movie Equilibrium. The shot accomplishes a high level of realistic contact with the outrageous close-up shot. This is the scene in which pastor John Preston tries and fails to spare Mary O'Brien from her predetermined execution. He arrives seconds past the point where it is possible to discover the chamber entryways practically shut. The camera zooms in on his right eye in which we see Mary's appearance as she gazes defenselessly through the end entryways. Having experienced passionate feelings for her, we obviously observe the enormous anguish in John's eye. The utilization of the extra close-up shot successfully underscores the significance of feelings in this essential snapshot of the motion picture. It is likewise intriguing to note that the truth is further controlled in light of the fact that we can't see the impression of the camera in his eye...

Figure 12. Extreme Close Up, Equilibrium, (2002).

Below is an excellent example of the use of extreme close-ups within film. This video was created by Filmmaker Jacob T. Swinney. It shows the role of the extreme close ups in the films of Quentin Tarantino, from 1992’s Reservoir Dogs to 2012’s Django Unchained.

Figure 13. Role of extreme close ups, Jacob T. Swinney. 

Over the Shoulder (OSS)

As the name suggests, this shot type is looking over one subjects shoulder to see the other subject. This is very commonly used in sequences that show conversation. it is a great effect to use to add drama to a certain scene. This shot can also act as a perspective shot as it shows what the person whose back is to the camera can see. 

Figure 14. Over the Shoulder Shot of Batman and The Joker. The Dark Knight Rises. 2012.  Warner Bros. Pictures

Point of View (POV)

Shows a view from the subject's perspective. This is another shot that can add a dramatic emphasis on a scene using just one shot. For example if in a horror film and the shots are cutting quickly from the subject to the monster/villain then back it can show what exactly the subject can see with their own eyes. It’s also a very descriptive shot as it informs the views of what the subjects speaking or looking at.   

Figure 15. The Coen Brothers: POV Shots. 2016.  Jacob T. Swinney 

Weather Shot

Usually used whenever the weather is the topic of discussion. It can also be used for shots or photographs. 

Figure 16. Wizard of Oz Tornado Scene. 1939. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.  

Noddy Shot

This is usually a shot that is somewhat like a news reporter. This shot would be commonly used in informative or documentary productions. 

Figure 17. Trevor McDonald Noddy Shot. Women Behind Bars. ITV. 2016.

I found this video on YouTube that helped to show me some alternative ways to create some attractive and more effective camera shots for my video that would usually require quite expensive equipment however this video shows some tools that are usually found around the house. I plan to have a great range of different angles and techniques used in my video regardless of the topic i decide upon as i want to experiment with the use of a great camera and therefore this video will greatly help me

Figure 18. Trips and tricks Angles, unknown. 

Referencing

Camera Shots. 2012. Camera Shots. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/. [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Extreme Close-Up. 2015. Extreme Close-Up. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.tboake.com/manipulation/Mosiadz/Mosiadz/page2.html. [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Camera angle, Shot and movement. PowerPoint. Michael Farrelly, 2016.

Khameneh, M, 2012. Film Directing Handbook. 1st ed. 1: Khameneh Mulitmedia.

Ian Freer, illustrations by Olly Gibbs. 2017. The Camera Angles You Need To Know - Empire . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/film-studies-101-camera-shots-styles/. [Accessed 19 September 2016]. 

Sammon, R, 1994. Camera Angles: Tips and Techniques for Professional-quality Photographs.

Bibliography

Figure 7. High shot angle of matilda, Eliza Schroeder. 2006. [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 8.  Extreme long shot example. Joseph Leo Mankiewicz, (1963), Cleopatra (1963 film) [ONLINE]. Available at:https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/enhanced/webdr02/2013/6/16/15/enhanced-buzz-23383-1371410234-34.jpg [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 9. Long Shot Example, Paramount Pictures. 2011. Thor. [ONLINE] Available at: http://schmoesknow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/thor-dark-world-chris-hemsworth-2-600x398.jpg. [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 10. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. 2012. Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans in The Avengers.. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/arts/the_movie_club/2013/01/130108_MOVCLUB_Avengers.jpg.CROP.multipart-medium.jpg. [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 11. Harry Potter, [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 12. Equilibrium, (2002), EXTREME CLOSE-UP [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.tboake.com/manipulation/Mosiadz/Mosiadz/Selected/Image09.jpg [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 13. YouTube. 2012. Tricks & Tips: CAMERA ANGLES - YouTube. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbeVSx1Gf4k. [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 14. Over the Shoulder Shot of Batman and The Joker. The Dark Knight Rises. 2012.   Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures, (2012), The Dark Knight Rises [ONLINE]. Available at: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aFcDqHSjA8c/UvKA5O_jbSI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/gjUnB5-MfHI/s1600/batman_1.png [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 15. The Coen Brothers: POV Shots. 2016. Jacob T. Swinney. https://youtu.be/jURepXxuiGE [Accessed 19 September 2016].

Figure 16. Wizard of Oz Tornado Scene. 1939.  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, (1939), Wizard of Oz Tornado Scene [ONLINE]. Available at: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ozwikia/images/1/1c/Twister2-1-2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140713055549 [Accessed 19 September 2016].   

Figure 17. Trevor McDonald Noddy Shot. Women Behind Bars. ITV. 2016,  ITV, (2016), Women Behind Bars [ONLINE]. Available at: http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article2297479.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Trevor-McDonald.jpg [Accessed 19 September 2016]. 

Figure 18. YouTube. 2009. Camera Angles and Techniques - YouTube. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jURepXxuiGE. [Accessed 19 September 2016].