Video and Sound Production

04.04.2023 - 30.05.2023 / Week 1 - Week 9
Lim Rui Ying / 0358986
Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Exercises

LIST

Exercises

Week 1: Video Editing Exercises
Week 2: Shooting & Editing Exercises

Week 3: 3-Act Structure Exercises

Week 4: Colour Correction

Week 9 - Week 10: Stop Motion

LECTURES

WEEK 1 | Module Briefing

Mr Martin briefed us on this module and the projects we will do throughout this semester. Mr Martin also introduced three phases of doing a time base project which we will go through in the upcoming projects:

Pre-production - Idea development, Story, Storyboard, Visual references, Location/Props

Production - Lightning, Costume, Principal shooting

Post-production - Offline editing, Online editing, Audio editing

WEEK 2 | Framing & Storyboard

Cinematography

- Motion picture/Film/Video is made up of many shots

- Shot: a simple basic unit of video

- Sequence is a series of scenes or shots, complete in itself.

- Scene defines the place or setting where the action is laid. A scene may consist of a series of shots or sequences depicting a continuous event

Shot sizes

1. Extreme wide shot

2. Wide shot

3. Medium wide shot

4. Medium shot

5. Medium close-up shot

6. Close-up shot

7. Extreme close-up shot

8. Over-the-shoulder shot

Shot sizes (Source: Pinterest, by Anna Hawes)

Camera Angle

Rule of thirds

Subject Angle

- Facial modelling is best when the subject is turned 45º (¾ angling) to the camera

- When two or more surfaces are photographed together, 3 Dimensional solidity is most evident

- Angle the camera so that parallel lines diminish and converge preferably toward the right to ensure that the viewer’s eyes are carried into distance.

Subject Height

- Low angle: the character looks big and strong

- Eye angle (*mostly used)

- High angle

Camera angle - subject height (Source: Wix Photography)

Screen Direction

Dynamic screen direction

- Constant screen travel depicts the subject motion in one direction only

- Have to ensure an object or a character moving in the same direction to show progression

- Keep the camera at one side/film from the same side

Static Screen Direction

- When planning shots with two characters, you need to understand the camera movement about the 180º rule

- The camera stays on a horizontal axis (“Line of Action”) and does not cross sections so that it will disorient the viewer

180º Degree Rule

- If Cameras 1 and 3 are used, the audience stays on one side of the line of action. These shots are called "reverse angle shots".

- If Camera 2 and the black camera are used, the audience crosses the line of action. It's disorienting and confusing.

180-degree rule (Source: Restream)

WEEK 3 | Storytelling in Film

3-Act Structure

3-Act Structure (Source: Studio Binder)

PLOT POINT 1 “The plot thickens”

- The “inciting incident”

- Turn the story in a new direction

PLOT POINT 2 “The longest mile”

- The “Climate Turning Point”

- Protagonist's quest reaches critical mass

- Possible solution is presented

- Biggest cliffhanger: will the protagonist win or lose?

ACT 1: BEGINNING

- Introduce the world, main characters

- Establish the dramatic situation

- Leads to an incident that complicates the story (PLOT POINT 1)

ACT 2: MIDDLE/CONFRONTATION

- Known as ‘Rising Action’ (Climax)

- To develop obstacles/complications, stopping the characters from achieving what they want

- Leads to the climb of the story (PLOT POINT 2)

ACT 3: END/RESOLUTION

- Ending of climax

- Answer all obstacles/problem

- Tying the loose ends

Storytelling is about how the character overcomes challenges and weaknesses and learns from them to become a better person.

INSTRUCTIONS

EXERCISES

WEEK 1 | Video Editing Exercises

In the following exercises, we learned to create a new project, locate files in the same folder and combine video footage using Adobe Premiere Pro.

Notes:

- Add clip into the sequence: Insert (,), Overwrite (.)

Exercise 1: MINTS

Fig. 1.1 Screenshot of locating files - MINTS, Week 1 (4/4/2023)

Video 1: MINTS, Week 1 (4/4/2023)

Exercise 2: DORITOS

Fig. 1.2 Screenshot of locating files - DORITOS, Week 1 (4/4/2023)

Video 2: DORITOS, Week 1 (4/4/2023)

WEEK 2 | Shooting Editing Exercise: Framing & Editing Exercise: Adding Caption

Premiere Pro Editing Exercise 1

Shooting Exercise: Framing

We are divided into groups of two for the framing exercise. We are to film our partners in different shots listed by Mr Martin as a shooting exercise.

The eight shots are as follows:

- Low-angle wide shot

- Frontal MCU (soft background)

- Frontal MS (soft background)

- Extreme close-up shot

- Side angle MS (soft background)

- 3/4 angling MCU shot (with blurry/soft background)

- CU shot

-Eye-level medium wide shot

The shots filmed by me are uploaded to Google Drive.

Editing Exercise: Adding Caption

Next, we are to add captions of the types of shots to the videos we have filmed following the tutorial video (Adobe Premiere Pro CC - Basic Titles for Beginners) provided.

Fig. 2.1 Timeline panel - Editing and adding captions

First, I trimmed each clip to get the exact part I wanted and inserted them into the sequence according to the list of shots. Next, I inserted the caption (the name of each shot) to each clip and added the Cross Dissolve effect to the captions. I also added the Cross Dissolve effect to each clip so there is a transition between the clips. Finally, I added background music to the video.

Video 3: Editing Exercise: Adding Caption to the Shots

Premiere Pro Editing Exercise 1 “Lalin”

We were tasked to edit a video with provided footage filmed by our seniors that are not finely edited according to the story of the original video Lalin, following the tutorial video by Mr Martin. The duration of the final edited video should be 35 seconds sharp.

Video 4: Original video - Lalin

Notes:

- Use the Editing workspace

- Trim footage: Mark in (I), Mark out (O)

- To make the character disappears (Scene 1 shot 6A & 6B): Shorten shot 6B → overwrite shot 6A → apply the Cross Dissolve effect

I watched the video clips first and renamed them according to their scenes, shots and takes so I could arrange them into the sequence based on the storyboard.

Fig. 2.2 Renaming each video clip, Week 2 (17/4/2023)

According to the editing requirement, I inserted all the clips into sequence and edited them to 35 seconds sharp.

Fig. 2.3 Editing video clips to 35 seconds, Week 2 (17/4/2023)

I applied the Cross Dissolve video transition effect to the beginning of scene 1 shot 6B to make the character disappears.

Fig. 2.4 Cross Dissolve video transition effect (scene 1 shot 6A & 6B), Week 2 (17/4/2023)

For the graphics part, we have the message dialogues to insert in the clips. I created the guides to ensure that each of the message dialogues has the same size (Fig. 2.5 left). Then, I inserted the iPhone message notification to where the message dialogues pop up (Fig. 2.5 right).

Fig. 2.5 left: Adjust the size of message dialogues; right: Inserting message notification, Week 2 (17/4/2023)

Lastly, I applied an adjustment layer as a filter to the video clips for better video outcomes. I also inserted background music into the audio track.

Fig. 2.6 Timeline panel overview, Week 2 (17/4/2023)

Video 5: Final outcome of Premiere Pro Editing Exercise 1 “Lalin”

Original Video Clip (by Taylor's University student) https://youtu.be/o5ryGqCv3A0

BGM: nomaBeats - sakura https://pixabay.com/music/modern-classical-sakura-141497/

WEEK 3 | 3-Act Structure Exercises

We are to analyse two short films based on the 3-Act Structure by filling in the worksheet provided by Mr Martin.

Exercise 1: Guang (2011)

Guang tells the story of an autistic young man with a hidden musical talent who struggles to find a job and his relationship with his brother.

Video 6: Guang (2005)

Exercise 2: Lalin (2005)

Lalin' is a Thai girl living in Sapporo, Japan; where no one knows her and can live under a new identity. Posing as a modern beauty, she becomes an idol on the internet. The reality is that Lalin hiding from the world and striving for self-acceptance.

Video 7: Lalin (2011)

Fig. 3.1 3-Act Structure Exercise - PDF, Week 3 (24/4/2023)

WEEK 4 | Colour Correction

Before we head into the colour correction exercise in Premiere Pro, we have to know what colour correction and colour grading is. We were told to ask ChatGPT the following questions:

1. What is colour correction?

2. What is colour grading?

3. What are the differences between colour correction and colour grading?

4. Are both colour correction and colour grading necessary while editing videos? Or just do one of them?

Then, we are to verify ChatGPT’s answer with Google and summarise the answer. We are advised to paraphrase the answer from ChatGPT and Google in which both sources are just references for us to get the idea of colour correction.

Fig. 4.1 Colour Correction - Answers from ChatGPT and Google - PDF, Week 4 (25/4/2023)

Summarised answer:

1. Colour correction involves correcting the colour of a video or film, which includes adjusting contrast, exposure, white balance, and black levels. The purpose is to ensure that all footage in the project has the same colour tone.

2. Colour grading focuses on adding stylistic effects to the video or film. This includes applying filters and adjustments to enhance the overall look and feel.

3. Colour correction and colour grading use different methods and serve distinct purposes. Colour correction aims to adjust contrast, exposure, and other elements to match the colour tone of all footage, while colour grading enhances the stylistic look of the film through filters and adjustments.

4. While editing videos, colour correction and colour grading are not strictly necessary. However, colour correction becomes essential when the colour tone of the footage is different, and colour grading is applied when a specific stylistic look is desired to enhance the final outcome of the video.

Colour Correction Exercise in Adobe Premiere Pro
Colour Correction

- Use Color editing workspace

- Open the Lumetri Scopes window to select Parade RGB and Waveform Luma

- Adjust white balance, temperature, tint, saturation, exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites and blacks under the Basic Correction section in the Lumetri Color panel

Colour Grading

- Add a new adjustment layer to the Project panel

- Drag the adjustment layer into a new video track

- Play around with the adjustments under the Lumetri Color panel to get the desired look or mood

Notes:

- Workspace: Effects

- Turn on comparison mode and the Lumetri Scopes window

- Lumtri Scopes: Parade (RGB); Waveform (Luma)

In the process of colour correction, I used clip 3 as the reference for the other two clips. I made adjustments to things such as exposure, highlights, shadows, contrast, and other relevant settings to ensure that the two clips match the same colour tone as clip 3.

Fig. 4.2 Clip 3 as the colour correction reference, Week (25/4/2023)

Fig. 4.3 Colour correction on clip 1, Week 4 (25/4/2023)

Fig. 4.4 Colour correction on clip 2, Week 4 (25/4/2023)

Video 8: Colour correction outcome, Week 4 (25/4/2023)

For colour grading, I applied the preset of SL GOLD TOBACCO under the Creative section and adjusted its intensity, vibrance and saturation.

Fig. 4.5 Colour grading, Week 4 (25/4/2023)

Video 9: Colour grading outcome, Week 4 (25/4/2023)

Video clips provided by Mr Martin

WEEK 9 - WEEK 10 | Stop Motion

Filming Practical

During week 9, we had our class in the Photography Studio. We learned to film stop motion videos using a DSLR camera and mobile camera as an exercise and practical for our final project.

DSLR camera

To film using a DSLR camera, it is important to set the image format from RAW file to JPEG file. Besides, Mr Martin guided us with setting up the lightning.

View the filmed clips in Google Drive.

Mobile camera

Video 10: Stop motion video outcome (film with mobile camera)

Stop Motion Editing

In the week 10 class, we learned to edit stop motion videos using Adobe Premiere Pro. Mr Martin guided us to insert the clips into the sequence and adjust the sequence settings.

Fig. 5.1 Insert clips into the sequence, Week 10 (6/6/2023)

Fig. 5.2 Setting up sequence settings, Week 10 (6/6/2023)

Next, we learned to nest the clips into a nested sequence.

Fig. 5.3 Nesting clips, Week 10 (6/6/2023)

Below is the first attempt at editing the stop motion video. The outcome was unsatisfying regarding the displacement and the difference in the colour tone.

Video 11: Stop motion video attempt #1 (film with DSLR camera)

Thus, I adjusted the clips to let the objects remain in the same position using nested sequences. Besides, I applied an adjustment layer to enhance the overall looking of the stop motion video.