Editing Techniques Video

This is the video that me and AJ created to express our understanding and ability to recreate different editing techniques.



Shot Reverse Shot - 

Shot reverse shot or also known as shot/countershot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (the other character is more than likely off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character.

180 Degree Rule - 
The 180 degree rule is a cinematography guideline that states that two characters in one scene should maintain the same left/right coordination to one another. When the camera passes over the invisible axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line and the shot becomes what is called a 'reverse angle'.


30 Degree Rule - 


The 30-degree rule is a basic film editing guideline that states the camera should move at least 30 degrees relative to the subject between successive shots of the same subject.

Cut In - 

In film a cut in shot is the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else. It is usually, although not always, followed by a cut back to the first shot, when the cutaway avoids a jump cut. The shot is only on screen for no longer than 2-3 seconds. 

Cross Cutting / Parallel Editing - 

Cross-cutting is an editing technique most often used in films to establish action occurring at the same time, and usually in the same place. In a cross-cut, the camera will cut away from one action to another action, which can suggest the two actions are happening simultaneously. However it is not always the case. 

Establishing Shot - 

An establishing shot is usually the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the scene is taking place. It is usually an extreme wide shot.

Match On Action - 

Or also known as 'Cutting on Action' is an editing technique or continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot portraying the action of the subject in the first shot. This creates the impression of a sense of continuity. The action carrying through creates a "visual bridge" which draws the viewers attention away from slight cutting continuity issues. 

Temporal Overlap - 

When an action is repeated from a different point of view and often within slow motion.

Kuleshov effect - 

A recognition that a shot’s meaning is not only dictated by what it contains, but by its relationship to other adjacent shots

Eisenstein Montage - 

An approach to editing developed by filmmakers in the Soviet Union in the 20s. It emphasises dynamic, often discontinuous, relationships between shots and the juxtaposition of images. It’s primary focus was to engage with the viewer in an intellectual manner.

Health and Safety

In regards to health and safety the main concern was the mask and how little vision and breathing space it gave me to wear. It was very claustrophobic and that paired with the furry arms and the jumper meant that I overheated a lot and I couldn't see where I was going so I kept tripping over and walking into things, we tried to counteract this by me re-doing the scenes a couple of times with the mask off and then doing it with the mask on after I got to grips with it. Another issue we had was that one of the days when we were filming it was really warm and got to about 21 degrees, so the combination of the mask and the furry arms and the jumper meant that I would overheat quickly and it would have been unsafe for me to film and possibly make me ill to film. So we compromised and decided that instead I wear a t-shirt with a similar design to the jumper on it.

Apart from the monster mask we didn't really have any other health and safety issues apart from that. We had two cameras and both of them did not have any wires or anything like that. So in other regards we didn't really have any other worries apart from making sure our bags were out of the way of the public when filming. 

Making the Monster

This is the making of the monster costume that Connie kindly offered to do seeing as she is more arty than me and Leah, this process took about a week to do and consisted of creating the monster mask and the arms and shoes that I would also be wearing in the video. To create the mask as you can see Connie had to paper maché  a plastic mask to create the texture and expression of the monsters face, afterwards she glued in eyes and teeth to create a monster look. The mask itself was very well made and was a good attempt based on our budget and the money we had to spend on it. Evaluating it though I would've liked if the mask itself had some breathing holes or something that I could see out of. The mask itself had no eye holes and nowhere to breathe out of so it was very claustrophobic and I couldn't see out of it at all. This meant that I couldn't see anything when I had the mask on so it made it difficult to act because I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going, the lack of breathing holes meant that it was uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Especially when we had to record in 20 degrees heat. Although it was not very practical it was a very realistic looking mask and portrayed what we wanted it too.




The rest of the materials were used to create the monster were found either in Connie's house or Leah and Connie went charity shopping and found them there. The cost ended up being about £8 each which was very cheap for what we got out of it and what Connie was able to do with it. The teeth Connie already had due to an old project of hers and everything was sourced from different shops and then it was used to create the monster.

Gantt Chart for the Music Video

This our Gantt chart to help us keep on schedule with our filming it helps us remain on track.

Focus Group

We did a focus group in order to help us with our idea of our music video, these are some of the ideas we got given by our peers after showing them our ideas. It has been very helpful to do this because it has given us ideas from people outside our group while also helping us see how other people will perceive it. 

• There is a note or something in the shirt, some kind of inspirational note that helps him
• Falls in love with something or someone which helps him to get happy again 
• Dancing with an item of clothing, falling in love with somebody, clothing or an item
• Watching campy horror films 
• Even the people on the tv are screaming at him
• Italian neorealism
•  Just walking through town with the costume on and getting people's natural reactions to it
• Really rubbish things happening to him throughout the day 
• Dogs running away from him, raining on him, bags breaking, loosing on a scratch card.

Evaluation of Promotional Video

For our promotional video unit me and Connie decided to shoot a studio in Nuneaton called Bliss Pole and Aerial, we got into contact with the owner of the studio and organised a meeting and pitched our idea to her. With this we created a powerpoint that had all of our key points on it and reassured her that we would do the studio and herself justice with our video and create the best video possible. She was more than helpful and had a lot of creative input with the final video.

The studio is a 5 minute drive from Connie's house and a 15 minute drive from me so because of this I had to get the bus to get there and back. When filming ran too late and there was no buses we worked around this by Connie's mum giving me a lift home on a few occasions. We ran into one problem with it came to travel and filming and this was when there was a snow storm in Nuneaton and therefore the buses were cancelled so we had to miss shooting for one day because Connie couldn't film without me because I had the release forms. To make up for this we quickly rescheduled and made up for the lost time.

Another problem we had was that in the hoop room of the studio although it is spacious enough for two hoops and 4-6 students if you add two camera people in to that with limited shooting space and angles we kept getting each other in our shoots which would make them useless. So to counteract this we created a quick action plan so that we would be in opposite spaces at all time and we could avoid each other and we got used to the space after one or two filming sessions.

With our shot list we decided to create one to give us some diversity and artistry to the shot, this allowed us to play around with filming. It also gave us the ability to film a lot quicker and allowed us to communicate with our client about what we wanted and we had hoped to achieve and the shot list allowed us to visualise that before filming.

We had one technical problem and that was the microphone which when we tried to use it was dead and even with the spare battery we packed it still wouldn't work and died quickly after we started the first recording. So after two failed attempts of interviews we released we had a dead mic. Luckily I already had a recording app on my phone from a previous video so we used that instead and ended up with three useable recordings.

With what went well I think we presented ourselves in a professional manner and we held that professionalism throughout our time filming and we included our clients wishes and made any changes she deemed necessary e.g. the website link which was wrong. I think that the editing we both did to our own respective videos was good and they were fast paced and high energy and blended a lot of editing techniques into it like using a voice-over and remixing the music and the cuts and transitions. Our communication with our client was also detailed and constant and we were professional the entire time with our emails. Our client left us incredible feedback with it all being highly rated and well done from the way we conducted ourselves to the quality of the footage itself.

In terms of what to improve I personally think that the footage we got could of varied in angles and shot types but this was hard to do so in a closed environment when trying to stay out of the way of the students and to not get in the way of each other. Another thing we could improve was how stable the shots are. Some of them are a tiny bit off balance and you can see the slight shift in the camera as it moves which could come across as unprofessional and to counteract this we could have used the stabiliser.

Overall, I am happy with the work we have created and the way we have presented ourselves and the work we have put across. From the communication and the planning to filming and then to editing the final video ourselves. Amanda our client was incredibly helpful and we couldn't have asked for a better client.

Weather/travel/moodboard/release forms for promo vid

Moodboard

This is my gantt chart. It depicts what I am going to be doing with the client and the planning that I will undertake.

This is the journey from the college to the studio, it takes 8 minutes to walk there so we just walk from college to the studio which makes it easy to get there. They are easily accessible.

promotional video shot list

These are the different shot types we are trying to achieve when doing the video, the reason we chose to do a shot list instead of a storyboard because the studio teaches lessons and we cannot dictate what they can and can't do so we chose a shot list to create some structure.

1. I wanted this shot because with the camera being underneath the hoop it would create a shot where the woman would be the centre piece of the shot. I thought that this would be an interesting shot to do.

2. I wanted to do this shot because it would be a good establishing shot of the studio and the space available and it would also mean that several of the women are in the shot at once which would portray the comrade of the studio which is what we were aiming to do.

3. With this shot I wanted to get two angles on the hoop so that people can see the moves from a different angle and it adds artistry.

4. This was our interview shot lay-out, this could so it jus be a person one on one with the camera.

5.  This shot is similar to the hoop shot to add some continuity with the shots and can create a reoccurring sense of style. 

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Promo Video Meeting with client and contact with client

Powerpoint

Meeting Notes: 

Audience - Amanda’s biggest client base is females who are 25 to 35 years old and we have agreed on aiming towards that audience base.

Message - Amanda wants the message to focus on the community of the studio and how welcoming and we agree that we want to focus our video on how much of a comfortable environment it is.

Direction of the Video - Amanda wants to aim it more towards getting fit and healthy and making friends so to do this we are going to interview people who come to the studio and the instructors that teach there.

Scheduling - Amanda has no problem with us filming whatever classes we want apart from beginner, so we have all agreed on Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 for pole dancing and any hoop or hammock class on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 and 7:30. 

Distribution - Amanda has expressed an interest with putting the video on her website.

Health & Safety - We have no wires or anything so there are no tripping hazards just need to be careful of the ladies doing the pole and hoop and make sure not to get in their way.

 First contact with our client:

Analysis of 4 Promotional Videos

With Apple they tend to have similar videos where they use only complicated language with diagrams that explain everything in order to over complicate it and over-sell the device. This video contains text that jumps and changes to the beat of the song that is playing. This is to keep the watching entertained. It combines facts about the phone with images/videos of people demonstrating this. For example for the most durable glass fact they had someone running into the camera and bouncing back. This way the appeal to a wider audience and makes the 'average joe' think they need a this phone to be something they aren't. It shows different abilities of the phone from the camera and the new A11 chip to the animoji's so its the more technological side of the phone to the more appealing features that other people would be interested in that aren't technological. There are a lot of zooms within this video and it emphasises the phone really well. 



This is a Hasbro Advert for a children's toy for my little pony, you can tell its aimed towards children because of the bright colours and the fact that the toy is the centre of attention at all times. It also aims towards parents because it shows them in the advert. The bright colours and showing how the toy works as long as the voice-over that is high-pitch and over the top. The video combines hand-held camera shots with 'life-like' shots and cartoons with a voice over to truly appeal to the audience. The hand-held camera shots give the audience a POV and make them feel like they are there which creates longing for the toy. The addition of the voice-over tells the more uninteresting facts about the toy and this is aimed at parents.



This a google drive video thats a tutorial on how to use it. You can tell its a tutorial by the simple and explanatory manner in which the video is made, the man uses a simple voice over and visionary details. The audience of this is anyone who wants to use google drive but mainly business owners. The simple structure and narrative makes it an easy to video to follow even to those who aren't very skilled in IT.



This is an example of a more relaxed tutorial video by a choreographer who creates tutorial to supplement his business income. This video is aimed towards dancers and people who aren't professional dancers but interested. He uses simple explanations and visual cue's which helps emphasis the simplicity.

Health and Safety

A risk assessment analyses what hazard, harm and risk a set-up pertains; 

• A Hazard can be defined as anything that has the potential to cause physical injury or damage to health, the environment or to property.
• Harm is the adverse effect on an individual that may result from exposure to a hazard
• A Risk is a measure of the probability of harm being caused and the severity of that harm.

Within a studio set-up there are a number of safety measures and precautions that need to be taken to ensure safety, it is each person who is working in there responsibility to maintain high level of health and safety. Wires within a studio setting can be a tripping hazard so it is important to unsure that any wires are taped down or are winded around the equipment out of the way of the path that people are walking. With using a studio there is the risk of electric shock with using the electric equipment to ensure this doesn't happen make sure to keep a look out for open wires and make sure to tell someone who maintains the studio, they also come with an emergency stop button in the case of an emergency so to be safe make sure you know where that is. With the set-up below you can see that is a relatively safe environment, all of the wires are out of the way of everyones path so there are no tripping hazards, you can see the emergency stop on the left hand side on the wall.

When filming out and about its important to keep all of your equipment safe and make sure non of it gets stolen, if you are filming make sure you are still aware of your surroundings and that you are not near heavy traffic areas etc. 

Contextual Analysis of Roberto Rossellini and his influence within Italian Neorealism

This is my video essay on Roberto Rossellini and his influence in the italian neorealism era, I have done this through analysing scenes from several of his films, looking at his techniques, his views and his input into the new wave of cinema.

Lighting Skills

Lighting

Studio Lighting Techniques

Rembrandt Lighting is a lighting technique can be achieved by using one light and a reflector or two lights at different settings to create a shadow under the eye, this is a popular technique because although it is simple it can help a picture become interesting with little skill or equipment.

Edge lighting is a technique that is used to create subtle lighting edges on the subjects face, edge lights are aimed at the camera and so the user has to be careful to keep any light from shining into the front of the lens and stop any lens flares. 

Butterfly lighting is one of the most used and oldest techniques for highlighting a face, this is named after urge shadows it creates when lighting up the subject, the light creates a butterfly shaped shadow which forms underneath the subjects nose, this setup is proven method to secure your subject is lit well.












Interview Lighting

Bristol Planning/Research

Equipment Needed;
1. A camera (own my own)
2. A tripod (need to talk to technician)
3. A SD Card (own my own)
4. Camera battery charger (own my own)

Locations

Clifton Bridge

Clifton Area

Observatory

All of these locations are within 15 minutes travel of the hostel we are staying in so they are easily accessible and we are going to be in the clifton area for the majority of our filming, we are going to close up filming of the bridge and the area and then use the observatory as a high point to get long, establishing shots of the area and the city itself. This will give us plenty of view points and attractive shots of the clifton area of bristol and hopefully make our video appealing and enticing and will encourage people to come.

Group Planning

This was our group planning board where we decided what group was going to film in what location and what each of us needed and the roles each of our groups would take. In our group we are taking on the Clifton area and Leah is our camera handler, Connie is our director and I am the safety and technology person.










Storyboard (I really can't draw so I'm relying more on explanation, sorry your eyes have to see this)

Clifton Bridge

 Using a tripod and camera we are going to go to a viewpoint where you can see the whole of the bridge and do a zoom/focus of the bridge, this will show the span of the bridge, highlight its magnificence against the scenery. (10 secs)

 Using a hand-held camera we are going to drive down the bridge, this is to give a perspective shot of the bridge and to entice other people to come and see it. (30 secs)

A close up shot of a pillar of the bridge with the suspension, this is a good shot to get in as it shows the structure of the bridge itself. (10 secs)









Observatory

A close up shot of the observatory with a reverse dolly of the people in front of it to add a bit of flair to the video.

A far away shot of the observatory to establish the building itself, it will be a panning shot of the observatory and then moving onto the bridge to show how close together they are.









Clifton Area

This is a shot of the houses within clifton, its known as a posh area and all of the houses are very grand and some of them have some history behind them.

This will be a shot of a park within clifton to show the communal areas of the area, it will be a panning shot from end of the park to the other.













Travelling to Bristol

This evidence of my different ideas and research into the travel to Bristol, Megabus seems to be the most cost effective and time-efficient way of travelling there after comparing a number of different methods.

Overall 

We aim to show a more rural, historical side to Bristol while also highlighting its greatest assets, such as the bridge and the observatory while also showing some lesser known places and making use of the picturesque setting and aesthetics of Bristol. We are aiming our video towards those who are more interested in sight-seeing and historically inclined people.

Promotional Video Research and Characteristics







https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/2 - copyright free website

Promotional videos tend to have a sole focus point and tend to be zoomed in, constantly zooming in on the thing that they are promoting, the music used tends to be upbeat and positive to