Practical Relfection

Since you have all taken a few practical tests, reflect on what you've learned so far. Please write a detailed paragraph on why the practical tests are necessary in this class and you're future career. Make sure to cover at least three different reasons in detail.

The practicals are necessary because they give you valuable experience with the equipment. With the Am class being only two hours long, it is harder to gain experience within the time frame. However, with the motivation to finish a practical, we got hands-on experience on what it is like to use the equipment properly. Another benefit of the practical is that you are forced to learn about unknown parts of an equipment. For example, there were countless buttons on the FS5 that I never knew about while filming normally. Because of the practical where I have to label every part of the equipment, I came into contact with interesting functions of the camera. I also learned about the importance of small parts of handling the equipment. From the experience of failing the practical by saying a word wrong, I learned that it is important to pay attention to the details.

Educating Clients on the Production Process

What are three key pieces of advice that this article gives on educating potential clients on creating videos for them?

     When dealing with clients, it is important to communicate the client's requirements and vision for the video. It will be effective to know firmly when they want it and what their budget is limited to. An easy way to understand their vision is through a sample video. They may have a specific video in mind that fits well with their ideal style. One thing to keep in mind before shooting the video is that you must be approved by a single point of contact. It is very expensive to reshoot an entire video just because a high positioned person who was initially uninvolved with the project has a problem with it. In order to efficiently produce a video for a client, it may be useful to share the production schedule that establishes milestones. With each of these milestones signed off as they go, there will be less confusion and more communication between the filmmaker and the client. 

     When going on to post production, the client should not see a big portion of it. This is to help the creative vision of the editor themselves without interruption. Although it is okay to show them the rough cut, it is not recommended to show them a extremely rough cut. They will most likely not understand the potential of a final cut when shown a poorly done rough cut. 

     As of financial issues, keep in mind that being open about expensive costs will help in the long run. Bringing down expectations can help the clients get educated on the complexity of the production process. 

Guest Speaker Questions

Type up 5 questions that you would like to ask Mr. Steeples about his career:

1. How did you make connections in the industry?

2. If you can give advice to yourself ten years ago when you just started, what would you say?

3. Do you think it is necessary to gain a college education to get into the film industry?

4. What are the benefits of entering a guild?

5. What is your goal as a filmmaker? 

Tips for Pitches

Summarize what you've learned in this article. What are some difficulties you've had with pitching your idea's so far?

The way in which an idea is pitched can make or break green lighting. Here are a few things to keep in mind before the day of the pitch:

1. Be prepared

Before pitching, an idea must be solid with characters and concepts ready to be discussed. This does not necessarily mean the idea must be completely memorized. A note card is acceptable if it helps the pitching process.

2. Know Your Audience

The company the pitch is intended to be towards must be fully understood. Make sure the pitch is works well with their previous and current work.

3. Don't Oversell

A longer pitch does not make it a better idea. Keeping it "short and sweet" will leave time for any questions the potential buyer may have.

So far, I've had difficulties with creating a a valid reason for the activity to be incited. For the current project I am working on, my team and I is having a hard time coming up with a valid reason someone should be chased.

Career in Video Production

Summarize what you've learned in this article in a meaty paragraph.

Compared to 36 years ago, finding companies to contact have become significantly easier because of the emergence of the internet. However, because video gear have become accessible to more people, the competition to be involved in video production have become more competitive. The industry have increasingly popular especially because on the surface level, it seems to be a glamorous occupation, but in reality, it consists of a significant amount of dirty work that is often unnoticed. Recently, the benefits for investing videos is getting recognized. Thus, it is easier to find jobs through collaboration with other companies. In addition, special events jobs such as weddings can be found through word-of-mouth. Legacy videos, a historical family video, are becoming popular as a video to be passed down to upcoming generations. 

6 things to know before you shoot

What are three key things you learned in this video? Why are they so important?

I learned that knowing the call time is important in order to respect the cast and crew's time. The call time should include the arrival time and end time. Normally, the call time of the crew should be an hour earlier than the cast's arrival time, and an hour later than the cast's end time. Furthermore, it is important to have food ready for the cast in crew, as a production team performs the best when fed. These foods and drinks are also known as craft. The availability and the content of the breakfast, lunch, or dinner must be identified before the day of the shoot. It must also be kept in mind various dietary restrictions as well as how the food is going to be obtained. (picked up, delivered, etc.) Knowing the location of the restrooms and having access to them is vital to a productive day at shoot. In some cases, a location can create a difficult situation to reach such facilities. It may be necessary to make arrangements with nearby restaurants or other facilities in these cases.

The Importance of Editing

What does this video say about how people learn? How can you use his guidelines in the creation of your own future videos?

According to the video, some people learn through listening, reading, doing, or most commonly, a combination of all three of these elements. When editing, it must be kept into consideration how the audience is going to absorb the information to reveal the story. One key aspect of editing to communicate a story is to "say it, show it, and spell it." This indicates how the action on screen must follow the character's dialogue. In addition, it will help the audience acknowledge the subject if it is spelled out on screen. Texts will help keep the audience focused on the video as well as communicate the intended message in a more effective fashion. If texts are unfit for the video content, it is important to display what the spoken words are indicating through b-roll. This strategy also keeps the audience engaged in the story because it provides a variety of shots in a single video.

Writing an Effective Video Script

What are the four parts of an effective video script? What do each of these parts do for your final video?

1.  The hook

This part states what the video is a couple seconds of content that catches the audience's attention in a short and interesting way. This keeps the audience engaged in the video to tell them why they should keep watching the video. 

2. Introduction

The introduction should state "who you are and give any additional information related to your video or video purpose." This acts as a reinforcement of the hook and it is also a good time to add any branding elements. 

3. Body of Video

This is the most important part of the video because it consists of the bulk of the information. This is is key to making a video because it is the content the viewer came to see.

4. Call for action

This increases viewer engagement because it suggests commenting, subscribing, or hitting the notification bell. This is especially effective if the video is intended for marketing purposes. 

Title Safe

Why is understanding title safe areas so important even during the era of modern televisions?

It is important to keep all texts title safe because you have no control over where the audience is going to be watching the content. There is a possibility that people will be watching an online video on their phones, laptops, or through a television screen. Each of these devices may be set up differently, causing an unusual crop. If the text is not placed in the correct location, (inside the title safe box) it can result to the text getting cut off depending on the viewer's device. Title safe boundaries can also help keep important subjects in an effective position. By placing these subjects within the title safe boxes, it is more likely for it to be placed in a balanced, desirable position.

Styles of Video Scripts

Summarize the script abbreviations for video and audio that you've learned in this video. Why is it important to know these abbreviations when writing your script?

MUSIC IN queues the music to start, and GRAPHIC queues the graphic to appear. INT. SCENE is the slug/video, which includes the description of the specific scene. CHARACTER NAME/VOC refers to the person speaking in the scene. Some audio abbreviations include NATS for natural sound and SFX for sound effects. When identifying basic shot types, one should use abbreviations such as LS for long shot, MS for medium shot, CU for close ups, ELS/ELS for extreme long shot, MLS for a medium long shot, MCU for a medium close up, and ECU/XCU for an extreme close up. When indicating talent sources, abbreviations such as VO (voice over), VOC (voice on camera), and SOT (sound on tape) can be used. Abbreviations allows quick communication within the script, saving time and space. It is important to understand these abbreviations when writing a script because if all of these words are written out on paper, it will not only be time consuming, but also confusing to the reader.

Writing Video Scripts

In your own words describe what the purpose of a video script is. How should a proper video script be laid out? What are two key important factors to keep in mind when creating a video script?

A video script is designed to have a plan for interviews, graphics, narration, and music. This script consists of a table with columns that is intended visualize what is to be seen and heard. In addition, the video script should determine "what the narrative audio track of the video will be." Furthermore, it can include any additional texts, graphics, or SFX. A proper script should include columns labeled as RT, ST, Audio, Video, GFX, and Music. In the video column, it should include a precise description of the mise en scene. The same precision should be implemented in the audio column as well. When creating a video script, one must keep in mind that it is better to preplan thoroughly than suffer during the production day. Using an extra few minutes in preproduction can go a long way when shooting. If filming an interview, it is important to note the questions in the interview. This process will help visualize the final edit.

2-Column Script Formatting

What are 3 key things that this article says are important about formatting an AV script?

1. Column Labels

When formatting an AV script, it must be labeled with VIDEO and AUDIO. This allows the script to be identified in an easier fashion. However, this is not an extremely necessary step if the columns are already obvious to begin with.

2. Capitalization

If the word is not spoke, it is recommended that it is capitalized. This must be implemented throughout the entire script. Performer's words must be be in the standard upper and lowercase letters. This is intended to allow the performers read the script easier because it helps distinguish which words are part of the dialogue.

3. Description

In the descriptions, abbreviations are accepted because readers who do not understand them do not need to be regarded. Thus, it may include words such as CU and LS. In addition, these descriptions must be in all caps.

The Production Process Wrapup

Now that you've completed (or almost completed) "The Production Process" unit, what are three things that you learned? Please explain each in detail. Why are these three things that you think are the most important to making a film?

I learned that there is a designated sound department to control the audio. This includes dialogue and folly audio. Especially because audio is one of the most important aspects of film, perfecting the audio becomes extremely important to the film. I found it most interesting that the folly audio department has to use various objects in order to enhance the audio. Making sure the audio is captured on set is also important as well.

I also learned that the special effects department has new job in which those effects can be seen on set. For some sets, there is a person designated to work the special effects so the director has a general idea of what is going to be on screen. This is important to the production process because it helps the director visualize the final production.

Finally, I learned that preproduction played a vital role in the production process. In the preproduction process, one needs to have their idea green lighted, storyboarded, and made into a shot list. (As a side note I learned that a shot list does not have to be in the order that it is going to be edited in the final cut.)

Streaming v.s. Traditional TV

How is Netflix changing the television landscape? How will this trend continue into the future?

Netflix allows the viewers to watch whatever content they would like to see whenever they like. In contrast, traditional television only allows them to watch the content at a certain given time. Those who used to be connected to cable TV are now switching to streaming systems. Studies show that younger generations are switching from TV to streaming systems. (the average age of Cable users are increasing) If this trend continues on to the future, Cable TV will disappear from the media as platforms such as Netflix takes over. However, sports programs that are mainly watched live may be what keeps people holding onto the Cable system.

Building Your Career

What are three suggestions in this article for beginning your career in the industry? How can an internship help?

1. Apply for an intership

An internship can be a great opportunity for a beginning filmmaker to gain experience in the field. Although internship programs for major studios are highly competitive, challenging yourself to those positions can bring great benefits. While these internships are considered more of a training rather than an occupation, these experiences can leave you with valuable connections for future employment.

2. Work as a Production Assistant

Responsibilities as a PA does not require a significant amount of skill to be performed. However, because this position requires a running around in different sections of production, it becomes a good overview of how a production is made. With a little enthusiasm and a good attitude, the position as a PA can help you rise up the latter in "no time."

3. Become an Assistant Editor

Although this position is considered entry-level, it requires you to have a certain amount of education and experience in editing. A job as a assistant editor may consist many cuts and edits created to help the main editor "simply sit down and begin cutting."

How a TV show gets made

What are three ways that television production is different thank feature film production? What did you find interesting about this process?

Television production is very different in that it requires one to be heavily constrained by time, requires distribution to television networks, and allows them to broadcast their show through different services. Time constraints make the writing of the script much more faster paced compared to a blockbuster movie. In a span of one blockbuster movie being made, a writer for a tv production can write thirteen 45 minute episodes. A show can be finished from a couple weeks to a couple hours before the show is aired. Once the entire episode is finished, the episode must get distributed to broadcasters around the country. While movie screenings have the movie theater to distribute their movie, tv episodes have different services to choose from to air their show. including Cable, Network TV, and streaming. I found it interesting that they were able to finish an entire episode in such as short amount of time. The writer must write quickly, the editors much make the final cut efficiently, and the production team needs to work together to meet those due dates.

Who Owns the Media

How do you think most of the media in the world being owned by just six companies affect our world? What are the pro's and cons of so few owning so much?

Because most of the media is owned by just six companies, they are able to dictate a large portion of the socially accepted idea. They have the ability to maneuver the public into having a certain political stance on a subject. Therefore, the audience is more susceptible to incorrect information. Corruption can also occur when such a small number owns the entire media. Some pros of this is that they can provide a greater global reach for smaller, newer companies. This allows more opportunities for upcoming companies to reach a wider audience. However, there are cons to this practice. With very few owning the media, it causes them to become "sluggish oligopolies," creating limited competition among these media companies.

EPK Director/Producer

How is an EPK Director/Producer's role different from a traditional film director or producer? What are some of their responsibilities on a production?

Compared to a traditional film director or a producer, an EPK Director/Producers are in charge of the creating behind the scenes, documentaries, an extras for the DVD release of the main film. On production of their film, they must shoot effective b-roll that enhances the story to better communicate the main film. They will choose specific days in which many cast members are on set. In order to film interviews, they must schedule with the cast and crew. They must also keep in mind that interviews must be close to the set as possible. Proper lighting and audio must be acknowledged for the interviews. They are responsible to create the film up to two months in advance to the premiere.

Lighting Technicians

Why are lighting technicians so important? What are some of their responsibilities on a film?

Lighting technicians are important because they are responsible for how the subject is lit and assisting with the power supply. One of the most important responsibilities include directing the Gaffer and the Best Boy to coordinate their creative vision. This creative vision for lighting must be tested beforehand in what is known to be the lighting tests. During these lighting tests and on the day of shoot, the lighting technicians will be using equipment such as light bulbs, traces, and filters to create their desired effect. Angles and positions in which the subject is lit also needs to be in consideration because the effect lighting has on the subject varies with these components.

1st Assistant Director

Why is the 1st Assistant Director so important? What are some of their responsibilities on a film?

The first Assistant Director is important because they decide how the scenes are shot and how those scenes are put in order through the collaboration with the director. Their primary role in the production is assisting the director through their supervision of the production members. They manage the communication between the director and the crew so the director will not be overwhelmed with abundance of communication and is able to work with the specific crew members he or she wishes to direct. During the preproduction phase, the Assistant Director must create a shooting schedule, keeping in mind the time and budget constraints. This shooting schedule is vital to the day of the shooting because the AD must be able to keep the entire cast and crew working within the schedule. They also decide what kind of shots are necessary through the creation of storyboards and organization of desired props.

Production Sound Mixer

Why is the Production Sound Mixer so important? What are some of their responsibilities on a film?

The Production Sound Mixer important because they make sure the dialog recorded during filming is clear by working closely with the boom operator. Their biggest challenge in location is the unwanted noise. They must be able to choose the appropriate microphone for the occasion to avoid unwanted audio. This choice is also necessary when the camera position required for the shot obstructs the traditional microphone position. Furthermore, it is their job to communicate with various departments (costume, visual effects, producer, director) to achieve their creative vision. Once the decision is made, the Production Sound Mixer must listen to the audio off set to check for any imperfections. During the post production phase, they are responsible for the audio recording if the scene requires music. They will then proceed to send the audio files to post production to be edited into the film.

The Role of a Production Designer

Why is the Production Designer role so important? What are some of their responsibilities on a film?

The Production Designer's role is important because they manage all of the visual aspects of a film. They are a in a key position that requires them to work closely with the director and the producer regarding the budget and the schedule. During the preproduction phase, they must look over the script in order to estimate the budget necessary to effectively communicate the story. (budget for location, props, costumes, etc.) The production designer must design the backdrop that aligns with the scene and overall story. It is also the production designer's job to consider whether or not CGI should be implemented into the film. In addition to this preproduction planning, the production designers must create design sketches to the Art Director. This becomes the basis in which the Construction Department builds their sets. Furthermore, it is one of the most important jobs of the production designer to manage time scheduling and money management.

The director of photography

Why is the director of photography role so important in a film? What are some of their responsibilities on a film?

The director of photography is important in a film because they are the ones that provide the creative vision to the film. They are in charge of all of the visual aspects, or mise en scene, of the film. Their main role in the production is to assign specific looks to the scene using lighting, framing, camera movement, and other creative elements necessary to achieve the desired look. They must work with the director hand-in-hand to discuss the visual style of the film. In order to obtain this discussed style, specific lenses must be chosen, proper equipment must be prepared, and the framing of the shot must be planned beforehand. However, the work of the DoP does not end in the production phase. During post production, the DoP must supervise the digital grading of the film. They will also play a part in distributing the film, helping to promote the film for its success.

Chain of Command on Set

What are 3 key pieces of advice this presenter gives about the chain of command? Why is it so important?

1. log information

Properly slating a shot is very important to the production. Everyone on set needs to make sure that a shot is properly slated. This requires people on set to acknowledge a sync point, whether that be in an audio form or a visual form. If a proper slating is not done at the beginning, it must be informed to be slated at the tail of the shot.

2. spot problems

Anyone can spot problems. As previously mentioned, if there are problems regarding slating, someone must make sure that it is corrected. Safety is also a concern when coming to spotting problems. On a film set, it is important that all problems spotted are reported. Everyone should keep their eyes open for any problems.

3. communicate

Crew members must communicate with each other to solve these previously mentioned problems. Higher up positions should have full and direct communication with whoever they wish to communicate with. Details and notes must be acknowledged fully to address the problem. However, one must make sure that communication is done at the proper time, at the proper location.

The Role of the Director

Why is the directors role so important in a film? What are some of their responsibilities on a film?

The director of the film needs to be able to translate the script into actual images on a screen. They are responsible for developing a artistic vision for the entire project, appointing effective cast and crew members, and controlling the technical aspects of the film such as camera movement. The director must also be involved in the post production; the director must work closely with the editor in order to achieve perfected final cut. Furthermore, the director is also responsible for managing the budget of the film and making sure the project is realistic within the given conditions. Overall, the director is responsible for the entire project's success or failure.

Departments on Set

What department on set interests you? If you had to choose a job in filmmaking, what would it be? Why?

From the list of various jobs on a film set, I am interested in becoming a director of photography / cinematographer, colourist, and a film editor. Out of these, I am most interested in becoming a film editor. I love the process of physically seeing a project come together before my eyes as a single project. Being able to work with the director and piecing together shots sound like an interesting position to be in. I will also be interested in becoming a colourist for a film. The first editing software I have ever downloaded had a strong emphasis on their color grading feature. Being able to create a cinematic shot out of a flat image is a crucial process to the post production.

The Producers Role

Why is the producers role so important in a film? What are some of their responsibilities on the movie crew?

The producer's role is important to a film because they must choose who to cast and who to assign as crew in order to construct a successful project. To do so, the producer must first select an effective story in the preproduction phase, find locations that would be effective for the shoot, dictate the production team to run smoothly, and finance the distribution of the finished film. The producer usually does not fully involve in all four phases of film production. (preproduction, production, post production, and distribution) However, with the help of the crew chosen by the producer, he or she is able to produce a successful film. In addition, producers also must secure the safety of their cast members. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, they are obligated to prepare health and safety procedures for the workplace.

Who's who on a movie crew

Why are there so many different jobs on a movie crew? What is one job that you learned about in this video that you'd never heard of. Why might it seem interesting?

There are various types of jobs on a movie crew because people who are specialized in specific districts are necessary in order to perfect a production. I learned about the gaffer for the first time through this video. They're role in the production is to design the lighting for the setting and execute the plan on set. It might seem interesting to become a gaffer on set because different light designs make all the difference for a scene. Being able to create different moods from different lighting designs seems like an interesting job to have on set.

Before Action!

In your own words, write a paragraph on what needs to be called on set before what and explain why it is so important. Refer to the Production Process slides if needed.

Some things that need to be called before "action!" are "pictures up," "roll sound" or "rolling," "sound speeds," "camera speeds," slate number, and "set." It is important to call such things before the call of action because it allows everyone to make sure they are on the same page. If one of those calls fail, it becomes a clear indication of which crew members are not ready. Without these calls, the director may accidentally roll the scene without knowing that a certain portion of the film is not ready. The actors may not have been able to settle in, or people on set may not know that a scene is rolling. It is important that everyone on set knows when a scene is rolling because the crew members may cause an unintended interruption without the notice.

shot v.s. setup

What is the main difference between a shot vs. a set up? What is the most important thing to keep in mind when you're going to shoot a scene?

A setup is a configuration of the lighting, props, set dressing, and actors all combined to create a desired shot. On the other hand, a shot is the entire aesthetic of the scene, including angles, movement, and other aspects of camera techniques used express emotion and ideas. It is important to keep in mind that some shots are able to be taken in the same lighting set up, even if the camera angle or the point of focus is different. This can allow time efficiency on set, thus eliminating unnecessary set movements in a turnaround. This may make the shots out of order. However, by avoiding complete turnarounds, time used to change the lighting is drastically cut short.

Pre-Production Wrap Up

What surprised you in the pre-production presentation? What are two questions you still have about preproduction? What is one thing you learned from the presentation? Why is it important?

I was surprised that the storyboard and the shot lists were both very different things, and that both were necessary for the preproduction process. Before, I only knew about storyboards, and thought they were completely sufficient by themselves to prepare for filming. However, through the presentation, I learned that shot lists were equally as important because it became a baseline for what the shots are supposed to look like in a sentence format. 

How do I storyboard something if it is a long tracking shot?

How do I create an effective story for a film?

I learned the importance of a pitching from the presentation. Pitching is a crucial step to preproduction because it allows the creator to get feedback on their idea in a constructive manner. Even if the originally presented idea needs some work, the feedback the group gets from their audience will only improve their script.

shot list basics

What is a shot list? Why is it so important?

A shot list is a list of every shot planned to be taken the future production process, scene by scene. One must imagine all of the necessary shots for the story to be communicated to the audience. This will identify what kind of shot will be taken: angles (low, high, over the shoulder, etc.), framing (wide, closeup, etc.) blocking, lighting, and camera movement. This preproduction process will make the actual day of the shoo much easier and more time efficient. Without a shot list, you will be taking up people's time and money.

Storyboarding

Why are storyboards so important for planning your film? How does the script relate to the storyboards?

Storyboards dictate what kind of shot, what kind of angle, and what kind of framing is going to be done on set. The entire film is going to be referenced to this, even if the final film is not a complete replica of this storyboard. This also tells the kind of movement that is needed for the story, so the filmmaker knows exactly what kind of shot is needed for the scene. The script relates to the storyboard in that it becomes a baseline for what the shots in the storyboard will look like. The person who is making the storyboard must reference the script a number of times in order to make sure the type of shot matches the movement and lines of the actors specifically written in the script.

3-Act Structure

In your own words, summarize each act of the three act structure and explain what it's role in the story is.

Act 1: Set up

Act one refers to the basic introduction of the story. Here, the main characters are introduced, as well as the environment and the overall reality of the setting. The point in time the story takes place needs to be clear during this first act. This opens up space for creativity of the filmmaker. No matter how odd the setting created in the act 1 is, it is usually accepted by the audience. Act one also acts as a hook for the entire movie; it must make the audience excited for what is to come.

Act 2: Confrontation

This act is the longest, and it is placed in between the introductory acts and the climax of the storyline. Although there are no more elements in the story to introduce, the filmmaker must keep the story moving forward. On may use a subplot --a minor story layered under the main narrative-- in order to add a three-dimensional aspect to the characters despite it not being directly relevant to the main plot. Some foreshadowing that leads to the climax may be done here as well. An action defined as a midpoint is important to be included in the second act to make the goal of the film clear to the audience.

Act 3: Resolution

The resolution is the final act of the film that is followed by the denouement. The climax or conflict must be settled during this act, and falling action will happen in a short amount of time. The writer must "tie up loose ends" by this act in order to keep the audience satisfied. There should not be any unintentional confusion left at the end of the film.

Outline, Synopsis, or Treatment?

In your own words, explain the differences between an outline, synopsis and a treatment.

Story outlines are general guidelines of the plot for the story. This does not have to be thought out or detailed because it is simply a collection of notes to help remember an idea. An outline of a storyline can be altered to a great extent by the end of the pre-production phase. If writing an outline for a TV series, it would be effective if the audience is presented with significant moments also known as "beats." A synopsis, on the other hand, is a description of the story summarized in one paragraph. This paragraph should be able to concisely summarize the plot, characters, and the overall idea of the film. A treatment is distinctly different from a synopsis in that they are much longer and more in detail. Often times, the treatment can range from 2 to 30 pages worth of writing. Because the treatment should feel like a shorter version of the script, the writing should be in present tense.

What is a Pitch?

What is a pitch? Why is it so important to the rest of the film? What are three things that you learned about pre-writing and the pitch in yesterdays keynote?

A pitch is a presentation to another party about an idea regarding a plot of the new story for a film. This is important to the rest of the film because this idea dictates what the film is going to be about. Although the story may not be exactly how the pitch was explained due to the necessity of adjusting to the specific circumstances or to enhance the story, the general idea of the story comes from the pitching process. 

1. Prewriting can start as a cluster of ideas from an ideal journal

It is important to keep an idea journal whether it be digital or physical. Making a personalized system to jot down ideas can help you come up with ideas when presented with an opportunity to pitch. This can be as detailed or broad as one desires, but it will be important to leave out unnecessary details when pitching to another party.

2. Determine a target audience

Having an audience the film is specifically intended for is crucial to pre-production. A specific audience is necessary because it dictates what kind of jokes and appeals will be appropriate for the story to progress.

3. Just Write

The creative ability is a practiced skill. Although first ideas, pitches, and brainstormings may not be great, it will improve as long as one continues to create ideas. Simply jotting down notes in an idea journal is all it takes to start practicing the creative process of pitching.

Pitching

What are three major tips from this article that you took away on how to create a great pitch

1. Don't tell the whole story in detail
Being able to tell an idea concisely and clearly is important when pitching a story. Specific details can always be discussed later, but big ideas and concepts need to be understood during the pitching process to get an idea approved. All pitching needs to include are basic characters and their personalities, how the story is going to be followed by the audience, and the general plot line. However, the resolution of the story should not be explained to create suspense.

2. Begin by revealing how you came up with the idea
Knowing how an idea was created, even if it is a brief explanation, will add to the understanding of the story for whoever is listening to the pitch. This strategy adds an interesting introduction to the pitch rather than a blatant start to an explanation of a story.

3. Finish your description with the title and the log line

Including the title and the log line at the end of the pitch will be much more effective at the end compared to if it was added at the beginning of the pitch. At the beginning of the pitch, even if the audience is presented with the title, they will have no idea how it relates or symbolizes the plot. A title is simply ineffective to catch the attention of the audience especially in the beginning. However, if the log line and the title is presented at the end of the pitch, the audience will fully understand how the words relate to the story as a whole, therefore being able to understand and appreciate the title more.

Pre-Production Intro

What is pre-production? What are the steps that a filmmaker must take to transfer an idea in their head into a form that is ready to be filmed on camera?

Pre-production is a step in filmmaking that helps prepare for the day of the shoot. A filmmaker must first create a story. This refers to pitching, outlining, writing a treatment, writing a script, story boarding, and then writing a shot list. When in the process of pitching, a group of people must come together to collect each other's ideas for the story. This is simply a rough draft with no specific shots or scenes planned. Shot lists are created in order to have an idea what shots are needed to create the story planned during the pitching process. The document may include the angle or direction of the camera in relation to the character and the location. The second step to pre-production is planning the day of the shoot. This will require deciding which characters appear in what shot, blocking the action, and planning the lighting set up. Blocking the action will dictate what specific actions or movements the characters will need to take to fully become the created characters themselves. This will become even more important in action films.

Composition in the Real World

Now that you've learned about framing, angles and composition, how has it improved your appreciation of watching films and television? What are 3 examples of how you've seen these principles in play out in the world?

Angles taught me that filmmakers must keep in mind the the eye line of the characters in the scene. If the angles are off, one character may be looking down at another character, but it may make it seem like they are looking in the opposite direction. The most prominent use of angles can be seen when using a low angle on one of that characters while using a high angle for another. This can portray the power difference between one character and another. Framing is important when composing a shot without dead space. This applies to an effective use of head room, lead room, and nose room. Unless done intentionally, the awkward amount of dead space can confuse the audience. For example, in a car chase scene, a car must have a reasonable amount of lead room to convince the audience that the car has a destination instead of running into a wall. Good composition can be found in the fibonacci sequence. This is the golden rule where the fibonacci spiral circles around to ultimately focus the audience to the subject in the middle of the spiral. This can be found in the natural world but it can also be intentionally be made by placing people in a spiral such as the cowboy scene in the keynote.

Composition Summary

What are three things that you've learned about in the camera and composition unit? What are two things that you still have questions about? What is one thing you want to learn more about?

I learned how to adjust the white balance on the camera using the buttons and a white surface, use an ND filter when it is too bright outside, and follow the Hitchcock rule when appropriate for the time and story. I especially found the Hitchcock rules interesting because his rule made so much sense and nearly applied to all filmmaking.

I still have questions about the different menus and the functions of some of the buttons on a camera. There are many button on the camera that that serve the same function as another button on a camera. I don't understand when to use one over the other. I also do not understand what the difference is between an EX1 and an EX3 besides the shape of it. Is one better for one purpose and is the other better for another purpose?

I want to learn more about screen direction. It was very interesting to know that antagonists usually move from right to left, as opposed to protagonists who usually move left to right. I was curious about the other different theories regarding screen direction.

The Hitchcock Rule

What is the Hitchcock rule? How does it apply to filmmaking? What is one example of when you put a close up of a detail in your film? Why did you choose it?

The Hitchcock rule says that the amount of space the object is taking up should correspond with the importance of that object to the story at that time. This applies to filmmaking when you want to show an environment, a relationship, or detail. An environment or a establishing shot may be needed when the character goes to a new location the audience is unfamiliar with. In this case, an establishing shot is much needed to enhance the story. A medium shot that displays a relationship can be used with the Hitchcock rule because each of the objects in relationship to the other object should have different sizes depending on their importance to the story. A shot showing closeups is the most obvious use of the Hitchcock rule because it can only be used if the small detail is vital to the story. I filmed a closeup of the buffet of food when I made a video about my senior trip with my class. I included this because the delicious food was such an important aspect to our trip as whole. Since this buffet was one of the most memorable, I had to include a closeup of it. 

Screen Direction

What does the video narrator have to say about how characters should enter and exit the frame? What happens if these rules are not followed? How does this apply to diagonal movement in the frame?

The video narrator says that if a character goes from left to right in a certain shot, then the corresponding shot must have the character moving from left to right. In addition to this rule, he also states that if a character is taking up a large portion of the frame in the previous scene, the character must also take up space in the second scene. (graphic continuity) Characters entering and exiting the frame correctly allows videos to have video coherence and continuity. However, if this rule is not followed, it makes the audience think that the character changed directions. In order to avoid this, it is important to keep the 180 degree rule intact. The rule still applies to a diagonal movements in the frame. If the character exits screen left, then the character must enter screen right.

Angles

What are the differences between a high and low angle shot? What do they mean you show them on screen? How is an eye level different?

High angle shots are placed above the character, as opposed to a low angle shot that is placed below the character's eye line. Using a high angle shot displays the character's inferiority or weakness. If a low angle shot is used on a character, they can seem to be more powerful and confident. A shot reverse shot of these two types of shots can be used to clearly identify which character is in the position of power by matching their eye line in each shot through angles. The eye level shot is different from these two previously discussed shot types because the camera is placed exactly in the height of the character's eye. These types of shot are usually used when the angle of the camera does not want to take away from the character because the eye line shot is the most common and comfortable shot angle to the eye. It is also natural for the actors because looking straight forwards is far more comfortable than looking up or down.

Framing Shots

What are the key differences between full, medium and close up shots? How does this apply to over the shoulder shots? Two shots? How do different lenses effect these shots?

Full: Shows the entire body from head to toe. Does not cut off any part of the body

Medium: Framing above the waist area

Close up: Frames just the subject's head

Over the shoulder shots can have a closeup over the shoulder, a medium over the shoulder, or a full body over the shoulder. Two shots can also have variations such as the closeup two shot, medium two shot, and a full body two shot.

Using different lenses for different types of framing of a shot adds or takes away from the depth of the scene. For example, a medium shot using a 50mm lens tends to have a more blurry background compared to a medium shot using a wide angle lens. The framing of the shot has nothing to do with the type of lens one is using, but it provides unique feelings to each shot. When using different types of lenses, one must make sure that they are standing in the correct position for their desired framing because each of the lenses have different degrees of magnification.

Filmmakers and Framing

Write an in depth paragraph using the vocabulary that you have learned so far during the lectures on the following prompt:

What are 3 reasons that you think filmmakers might have for framing their shots differently? Justify each reason.

Framing a shot is one of the most important aspects of filmmaking because the mise en scene determines the subject in which the audience sees. A filmmaker may alter from different types of framing due to contextual reasons, emotional reasons, or to add depth to the shot. An example of shot framed with contextual reasoning is such as an extreme long shot used to establish the location of the scene. This informs the audience where the scene is taking place, what kind of environment they are surrounded by, and the general idea of when the scene is taking place. (year, time, etc...) A filmmaker may frame a shot based on emotion when framing an extreme closeup. These types of shots emphasize the facial expressions of a character, displaying their emotion directly to the audience. An example of a filmmaker framing a shot to add depth is such that composes the shot with a blurred foreground, a middle ground in focus, and a background. This creates a three dimensional image on a two dimensional screen by displaying all of the depths of objects in one frame. Framing a shot in different ways has different contextual evidence, emotional impacts, and artistic approaches.

Movement

Movement in film can be used in a variety of ways. What are some that you noticed are mentioned in this film? What ways are they used? What are some films that you like that you could go home this weekend and study for their movement? What aspects of their camera movement interest you? Please explain.

Dolly paced with the character: No specific meaning, displays the character's conversation in a simply effective way

Handheld shots: Maintain the kinetic energy in the film

Crane Shots: Allows great vertical shots that reveal the setting in a seamless fashion

Slow zoom: Focuses the attention on the subject the camera is zooming towards

Panning: Gives a feeling of getting watched, a secretive conversation

I would like to go watch Everything Before Us by Wong Fu Productions to study their movement. The way they use handheld shots and stable shots at different types of scenes are interesting to observe. 

I'm interested in the emotional involvement or assumptions the audience makes about the character or scene simply through camera movement. For example, panning from a far point from the character is able to give a sense that they are being watched. I would like to learn other theories of camera movement like the effects of panning.

Zooming v.s. Dolly/Trucking

What is the difference between zooming and dollying? What does dollying and trucking add to the shot?

Zooming: Zooms into the subject without moving the camera by magnifying the image. The depth of field does not change.

Dollying: Decreases the distance between the camera and the subject physically. Creates a three dimensional feeling and displaces objects by moving through space.

Dollying and Trucking shots displaces the objects. However, compared to the dolly movement that becomes increasingly closer to the subject therefore creating a different depth of field, trucking shots' depth of filed remain the same.

Camera Perspectives

Summarize what an objective, subjective and POV shot are. What are the key differences between an objective, subjective and POV shot? Why are they different?

Objective: a shot that consists of the characters in the story from a observer's point of view

An objective shot allows the audience to feel included in the story, but as an "invisible" being or a "fly on the wall" that cannot be noticed from the character themselves. This is a way of composing a shot that is least involving for the audience.

Subjective: a shot that seems to be looking through a character's eyes

As opposed to the objective shots, a subjective shot actively involves the audience into the story as if they are one of the characters. This type of shot can be used to cause additional emotional involvement from the audience. 

POV shot: displays what the character sees, but also includes the character themselves

POV shot is the combination of both an objective shot and a subjective shot, because it involves the perspective of the character while including the actual characters themselves. This creates a more objective view of a character while maintaining an invisible stance.

Framing a Good Shot

What is headroom? What is look room? What lead room? Why are each of these important for your composition?

Headroom is the space above a subject's head. An improper amount of headroom leaves a subject either sinking into the bottom or bumping into the upper side of the frame. When considering headroom, one must make sure the head is not popping up by itself, but has enough room for shoulders in order to avoid a "severed head on a platter" look.
Look room is the area between the direction the subject is looking and the side of the frame. Without a proper amount of look room, the subject can look suffocated into a small room. Look room provides a space that suggests a conversation between subjects.

Lead room is similar to look room, but it defines the space between the direction of a moving subject. This lead room implies that the subject has a destination. Without proper lead room, the subject can appear to be impeded.

Rule of Thirds

What is the "Rule of Thirds?" How is it used in video production? How should you compose your subjects in the future in the frame? Why?

The "Rule of Thirds" is a general composition rule that divides the shot into nine equal parts by using horizontal and vertical lines. This rule emphasizes the importance of placing a subject in one of the intersections of the lines or the lines themselves. I will make sure to keep the rule of thirds in mind so my shots are not awkwardly symmetrical. This technique can create an interesting shot that is pleasing to the eye, and focuses the attention of the audience to the subject placed on the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is an easy guideline for amateur filmmakers to create interesting composition.

Zooming

What does zooming do? Is it overused? Why?

Zooming increases or decreases the visual distance between the camera and the subject. This can be done either by using the ring for a manual zoom or the servo zoom for an automated zoom feature. This technique is overused because it is one of most the basic and easy techniques of videography. It allows the camera operator to achieve a different compositions without moving the camera. It is also a quick and easy way to achieve a closeup shot. Nauseous feeling the audience gets from the unnaturally zoomed image is easily forgotten when the shot is composed. As a general rule, this effect should only be used when purposefully intended to be included as a part of the story telling process.

Focus and Exposure

What does focus and exposure do? How do you check to see if your subject is in focus when shooting? How do you check to make sure your subject is exposed correctly?

Camera focus adjusts the depth in which a subject is crisp and detailed. In order to check whether or not a subject is in focus when shooting, the camera operator must first zoom in as tightly as possible to the eye of the subject, then proceed to focus until all of the details of the shot can be identified. Focusing the subject can be done through rotating the focus ring in either direction. Finally, one must zoom out of the eye in order to reframe the shot. 

Exposure measures the amount of light that goes into the camera. In order to assure the image is exposed correctly, one must open or close the iris to adjust the exposure level. Although only practice can perfect exposure levels, recent cameras have a zebra stripe feature in the camera to help the operator judge the lighting.

White Balance

In your own words, please explain what color temperature is. What is white balance? What color is outside lighting vs. inside lighting? Why is it important to white balance your camera?

Color temperature is how warm (orange) or how cold (blue) a footage looks depending on the type of light the subject is exposed to. White balance adjusts these extreme temperatures by adding either colors in order to resemble what the scene looks like to the human eye. Outside lighting appears to be blue, while indoors lighting appears more orange. It is important to white balance your camera because it allows the footage to obtain the colors the human eye sees. Without correct white balancing, the shot will have an unnatural color that is displeasing to the eye.

3 Camera Unit Goals

Take some time and type up three goals that you have to complete during this unit. How do you plan on accomplishing these?

1. Become familiar with the camera and be able to operate it with ease

Practice. I will need to practice setting up and using the camera multiple times before I become fully familiar with the camera. The different types of buttons on the camera, as well as the tools and features will need to utilized with ease.

2. Master white balance

In order to understand correct white balance, I will need to first learn the basics of color in a film. In addition to basic knowledge, I would need to know some of the technical features on the camera that manipulates white balance.

3. Understand exposure, gain, and shutter speed

Although these can be learned through a keynote, I believe a deeper understanding of these concepts will only be obtained when one practices with the camera. While operating, I will need to be aware of these settings.

Run Lola Run Reflection

What did you think of Run Lola Run? Was the film what you expected? How did it surprise you? What were three things that you noticed in the film from the unit that you learned about?

Run Lola Run was an odd but interesting film. I was expecting something close to Sherlock, which demonstrates many different types of interesting transitions. I was surprised they incorporated an animated scene  n their film. I liked the second run when Lola tumbling down the stairs in animation was following by Lola as a real character on the floor after she tumbled down the stairs. It gave a alternate reality-like twist to the story. I was also surprised they used split screens in a film that is not based off of comedy.

Three thing I noticed in the film from the editing unit:

Cross cutting: The cross cut can be found between Lola's running scene and Lola's father's interaction with the woman.

Dissolve: After the death of Lola and Manni in the first two runs, the scenes dissolved into a red, then into Lola and Manni's mysterious scene in bed. 

Eye-line matching: This was most clearly seen during the death of Manni and Lola. They both looked into each other's lifeless eyes, facing directly into the camera.  

Motage Edit Status

What is the subject of your montage edit? What is it's status? Are you able to complete it in time? Why or why not?

The subject of my montage edit will be love; the love of family and the love of dance. The montage will be about a girl who grows up in a loving family. She begins to love ballet at an early age, and slowly finds herself being immersed into the world of dance. When she is about to go into high school, her father joins the military. A montage of the horrors of the war will be played side by side with the girl's dramatic dancing to express her emotional state. I am unsure whether or not the father should come back alive or not. My montage project already has a song selected and the basic storyline is made. I will most likely be able to finish it on time especially since this project can be easily worked on home, and exported as a premiere pro file. Images are also easy to find at home as well.

Murch on Editing

Summarize each of the six rules of when to make a cut. Why do you think cutting on emotion and story are so much more important than the next four?

1. Emotion: The overall emotion of the cuts must match each other to prevent the confusion of the audience. The cut must add to the preserved emotion.

2. Story: The cut must make the story advance. Each cut should be able to provide new information to the audience.

3. Rhythm: The cut must be placed so that it goes with the rhythm of the music to fit with the overall established rhythm.

4. Eye-trace: A technical rule to make sure to have a reasonable point of view.  The character must be looking in the same area as the previous clip.

5. Two Dimensional Plane: The 180 degree rule. Are the characters facing the same direction as the previous cuts?

6. Three-dimensional Plane: Objects must be coherently placed in the three dimensional world. 

Cutting on emotion or story emotion is much more important to than the following four because the rest of the rules can be used to disorient the audience to call attention to them. If the editors make a bad cut on action on emotion, the audience will not be able to fully immerse themselves into the story. However, the violation of other rules can cause the audience to be disoriented, forcing them to focus on the important scene.

Manipulating Time

Summarize the three techniques that she taught in this lesson. What is a way you could use each of these individual techniques going forward with your video's that you create?

Slow Down: The slowing down technique allows the audience to see the motion slowly, lengthening the duration of the clip. This can be used to emphasize a fast action of the clip in a more dramatic way. These will be most effective in dramatic jumps to appear as if the character is floating in the air for a longer span of time. This can also be used for hair blowing in the wind effect because it creates a dream-like atmosphere.

Speed Up: The speed up tool shrinks the duration of the clip. These are commonly seen in time lapses to show the flow of time within a couple seconds. Action scenes can be sped up slightly to appear as though the actor is moving faster than they actually were.

Reverse: The reverse tool rewinds the specific segment. This effect can create a magical effect because these reverse segments often display an action that cannot be done in real life. Using the reverse with the speed up tool may be able to create the effect of going back in time if used correctly.

Split Edits

What is a J or L cut? What do they do? How can they improve your edit?

The J cut is when the visual cuts after the audio, forming a shape resembling a "J". This allows only the video to be cut later or the audio to be cut earlier. The opposite is known as the L cut, in which the visual cuts before the audio, resembling the shape of a "L." These techniques can improve an edit by mixing audio tracks and visuals to create new sense of continuity. For example, in an L cut in which the audience sees the visual before the corresponding audio track, the reaction of the second (non-speaking) character can be observed. This allows the audience to understand the emotion of the second character towards the speaking character. On the other hand, if the editor uses a J cut, the audience can see the speaking character's emotional state after the character's line.

Natural Transitions P.1

What is a natural transition? What are three different techniques that this video mentions? What would each of them add to a scene?

Natural transitions are transitions intended to have a smooth flow to disguise the cut. These can easily cut between time and/or location.

1. Use similar objects or shapes

For example, since a clock and the moon both have similar circular shapes, they can be used to as a natural transition. This can also be applied to similar textures of the same color, such as the wall.

2. Use similar colors

Much like the wall example in #1, similar colors can be effective as natural transitions. This color can also be black, which can be created by covering the lens at the end of one shot and at the beginning of another shot. The blue sky is also a great example of utilizing similar colors.

3. Use similar camera movement

Camera movement can be effectively used as natural transition by utilizing the same techniques in two consecutive shots. For example, if a tilt from top to bottom is used in the first shot, it may look interesting to cut in the middle to another shot tilting from top to bottom. Swish pans are also natural transitions that create continuity through camera movement by disguising the cut through a blur.

What is an editor?

Drawing from what you've learned and experienced so far, what is the editors role in a movie? Out of all of these responsibilities, what are three that you could give examples of?

Editors create a natural flow in between shots by cutting, arranging, and correcting. 

Cutting: Editors must have the ability to cut parts of the shots which are uninteresting or otherwise unnecessary. This is an important skill to have, because the editors cannot choose the shots which are simply beautiful. A scene may be the most beautiful shot ever taken, yet editors must cut out the shot if it is unhelpful for the story.

Arranging: The editors must know how to arrange the scenes correctly to enhance the flow of the edit. This means the editors must choose which scenes are necessary at what moment in order to tell the story in the most effective manner. Some stories will not make sense if it is ordered incorrectly. The better the continuity of the edit, the harder it is the recognize the editor's job.

Correcting: Fixing the mistakes made in the raw footage is another job the editors must be able to do. No matter how cautious one is on set, some mistakes cannot be found unless the scene is carefully viewed by the editor. It is the editor's job to correct these mistakes by cutting them out or using special effects.

Cutting On Action

What is cutting on action? How does it seamlessly blend two shots together? What are two things that you must keep in mind when cutting on action in your films?

Cutting on action is an editing technique which means to add a cut when there is motion occurring on screen. It seamlessly blends two shots together by forcing the audience to focus more on the action rather than the cut by cutting on an action frame. When cutting on action, the editor must keep in mind that the action of the scene must flow together. For example, if the preceding shot cuts right when the character touches the door knob, the next shot must show the door opening immediately. This way, the flow of time and action are not disturbed by the cut. Another thing the editor must keep in mind when utilizing this technique is to storyboard before shooting. Not only would this make the editing process easier, but it also helps when shooting the film to have a preplanned list of shots.

Mise-en-scene

What is mise-en-scene? How is the term used in the film industry? What are two reasons that it is so important?
Mise-en-scene is "the arrangement of everything that appears in the framing " In other words, it is the entirety of what appears on screen including the set, lighting, and costumes. The term is commonly used in the film industry to describe the result of the collaboration of people who create on screen what is asked of them from the director. Academically speaking, this term is most often used to describe the overall feel of the movie. Mise-en-scene is important because it communicates a certain emotion to the audience. The sets and costumes, as color of the screen can evoke different types of emotion. Mise-en-scene is also important because it communicates the context of the story or character. For example, if a character is wearing a scrub, the audience can make a reasonable conclusion that the character is a nurse.

What is Timecode?

In your own words, explain what timecode is to someone who has no idea. What is it? Why is it so important for editing video?

A video is a cumulation of multiple photos displayed in sequential order. Time code allows the editor to define the frame in a sequence indicated by the CTI, or current time indicator. The CTI will most often be seen as a long vertical line on the timeline panel. The four groups of numbers are hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. Time codes are important to editing a video because it helps pin point a certain frame at a specific time. For example, time codes can be specifically typed in the editing software to reach an accurate frame. A full length movie will require more attention to time code in order to differentiate from good shots and bad shots. Professional videos require more attention to detail of frames in order to maintain continuity between shots or tell the story more effectively.

Premiere Pro Surprises

How are you getting used to editing on Premiere Pro? What surprises you about it? What challenges are you having?

I am starting to learn a couple new keyboard shortcuts, mastering the use of c,v, i, o, and '. I understand sequence types to a certain degree and I am starting to understand basic color effects. I was surprised that the audio file is always separated into two, and I have yet to figure out why that is. I was also surprised that logging is an important part of editing, because it seemed like a long and unnecessary task when dealing with short films. I am still challenged by management of files. Everything because very confusing when a shot is identified incorrectly. I am still trying to learn new keyboard shortcuts, because I accidentally press an unknown button at times which causes unknown effects on the timeline. I continues to struggle with time controls; I am still trying to find where the speed curve is located.

Guide to Montage Editing

What are three concepts from this article that you can incorporate into your montage edit? Why did you pick these three? How can you apply them in the edit?

Use Symbols: I chose the use of symbolism because incorporating this tip in a montage edit helps the audience create a story within the seemingly disoriented and unrelated clips. It provides a way for the clips to connect with each other without having it be the same location or time. I can apply this tip into my edit by first looking for a thread in between the shots. Once I have found a theme within the multiple shots, I can create the edit to emphasize the symbolism.

Mix Close-ups and Deep Shots:

I chose mixing close-ups and deep shots because I understand that variation in shots make the film much more interesting compared to a bland film with similar shots all around. This helps with the overall idea that a montage edit must make the audience "lose control". Having unusual shots in unusual locations keeps messing with the normal expectation of what's to come. I can apply this into my edit by allowing a variation of shots side by side; they do not require to be in completely different locations.

Use Color and Tone:

I chose this clip because I understand myself how odd a montage can look when the overall atmosphere differs between shots unintentionally. By making sure a montage has a similar color sequence, it can create a constant mood throughout the montage. I can apply this into my edit by using the color grading feature on Premiere Pro or by using look up tables to have a constant color. I can also make sure there is a specific color for most of the shots.

Linear to Nonlinear Editing

What three technologies needed to be invented to change the editing industry from linear editing to non linear editing? Why do you feel that each of these technologies were important?
Note: Please be specific.

Videotapes:
This was the first non linear editing program. Although it was extremely difficult to operate and forced editing to be a more technical process than a creative process, it helped the lead the way to more efficient ways methods of editing. The introduction of videotapes allowed a great reduction of the cutting and gluing process. 

Computerized VTR: 

The computerized VTR allowed the editor to include in and out points. Previously, cutting a film was a physical job, in which one had to cut the beginning and the end of the shots. this reduced the amount of expensive mistakes.

SMPTE timecode: 

This system allowed single frames to be located in a scene. Prior to this invention, editors only had a general idea of where the cut should be placed, yet through this invention, it became a step closer to nonlinear editing, cutting frame by frame.

Montage Editing Techniques

Summarize one of Pudovkin's techniques outlined in this video essay that interests you. How does it contribute to the storytelling in the modern movie clip that the narrator talks about? Why do you find this interesting?
Parallelism contributes to the storytelling in the modern movie clip by placing an obvious symbolism or allowing time to flow naturally for the audience. This technique can create a sense of correlation between the shots in a more elegant way. I find this very interesting because these shots successfully achieve similar shots in different time periods in different locations yet they still flow nicely together due to the visual similarity or audio similarity. Parallelism is also interesting because the two different shots can contain a suggestion for future events in a plot.

Continuity Editing

What are three perks of continuity editing that this article mentions? Why are they important? What are three rules mentioned later in the article that help you achieve good continuity? Why are they important?

Clarity: This helps the audience understand the story better by allowing them to see which parts are important to the plot, in the order in which they make sense. The clarity of continuity editing in crucial for storytelling in order of plot.

Hides Editing: Good continuity allows editing to be hid, which allows the audience to be more immersed into the story rather than the cuts. If a continuity editing is done poorly, the audience would not only be confused, they would also be more focused on the editing.

Rhythm: The rhythm continuity editing creates can build suspense or expose the mood of the scenario. This way, the views would understand the kind of mood a character is feeling or how dangerous a situation is.

Keep the same style: Switching from a style to another style is a totally different deal compared to switching from a different rhythm. Switching styles in a certain edit can confuse the audience because it changes the flow of the edit.

Have an establishing shot: Including an establishing shot before a scene helps the audience have an idea of the setting. For example, if the establishing shot shows a farm with little technology, we know that the story is going to take place on either a poor farm or a farm back when technology was less developed.

Cut on action: Cutting on action helps hide the editing. If the editor decides to cut when the action is settled, the scene can feel cut off, which causes the audience to feel confused or alerted. Cutting when there is no action should only be one purposefully.

The Early History of Editing

What do you notice about early filmmakers in regards to editing? What similarities did you notice between early filmmakers and the mobile films that your classmates have made?

Early filmmakers had one scene that never moved. These often consisted of a medium shot which did not pan even if the subject went out of frame. After some innovation to the editing process, scenes were put together to form a story, but each scenes were very long compared to modern day movies. The early filmmakers' films and my classmates' films are similar in the sense that they both had very shaky footage. For the old filmmakers, this was due to the quality of the camera, but for us, it was because we refused to put the phone down for our mobile video to be steady.

Beginning your editing journey

How does it feel taking your first baby steps? What are three things that surprise you? What are you finding difficult?

It feels amazing to finally be able to use Premiere Pro. Learning how to edit quicker and more efficiently is very exciting, because it leads to improvement in the film overall. I was surprised that every single shot has to logged by the description of the shot. Although the process takes a long time, I learned that it helps especially when there are numerous amounts of clips. I found it surprising how useful the zoom in and zoom out features are. Not only are they easy to locate because they are identified with plus and minus, but they make editing in detail so much easier. Keyboard shortcuts were familiar to me before, but finding new useful shortcuts were some of the most exciting parts of editing. Using the "`" key to select a certain area into a full screen, and using "ctrl A" to select all are some of my favorite features. I find it difficult that the normal keyboard shortcuts I use are different on Premiere. Although these default keyboard shortcuts can be changed, I lack the knowledge to know which position is ideal for editing.

Organizing your edit

Why is organizing your footage so important to editing? What are two things you found really helpful that you learned in this video?

Organizing footage and accurately logging footage will speed up the editing process. By putting files into folders or marking the clips, it can help the editor find the shot faster. If the files are not logged or put into folders, editors would have to watch every scene based on the thumbnail, which will be time consuming and inefficient. Smart Bins can be used to put together files that similar in names or style of file. For example, the audio format can be put together in one folder by selecting the type of file. These can potentially decrease the time collecting similar shots. Slates can have additional information added to the clip. Information such as crew names, scene numbers and the type of lenses used for the shot can be added manually. This can also be added in the description box found when it is scrolled towards the right. These descriptions can also include the question if it is an interview shot.

Raiders Boulder Scene

What did you notice about the way that the boulder scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark was edited? In your opinion, how did the editing play a key role in the opening of the film?

The scenes with the most actions had the most cuts in it. The most important angles of the story was used in the cuts to help tell the story. For example, the scene where the guy is holding onto the rope had a closeup of the rope in order to emphasize the importance of the rope for his survival. Most of the shots that were hard to recognize as a cut has similar movements in both shots, which helped the flow of the edit. When a character is running from left to right, the next scene would also have a continuation of that left to right motion.The cuts usually showed where the most audio is coming from, whether that is a footstep or a conversation. Also, regards to the audio editing, some of the audio was made to go from the right to the left in order to follow the visual. 

Editing Unit Goals

Take a moment to determine three goals that you'd like to make that you can complete by the end of the editing unit. What are these three goals? Why have you chosen them?

Goal 1: Master short cuts

Mastering short cuts can help me edit with any softwares, since short cuts are interchangeable in most. This will help improve editing speed immensely by shortening time on a mouse and allowing more time to be used for the real editing process.

Goal 2: Learn how to achieve continuity through the edit

Picking shots that flow well together help the entire edit flow. Additionally, being able to use transitions effectively between the shots will help bring the edit together. I also want to be able to bring audio into the edit effectively.

Goal 3: Understand the basics of color grading

Color grading footage has the power to portray the message of the entire film. I want to be able to color grade the content without the help of LUTs or any pre-made color grading system in order to enhance the footage. I want to be able to understand the color chart, and how to use it in order to equalize the white balance.

Copyright and Fair use

Explain the concept of fair use in your own words? How do you think you can you apply fair use to you work that you create in this class?
Fair use means to utilize the creation of someone else through educational, critical, entertaining, and publication uses. Copyright must be followed in order to protect one's rights for their creation published online. Using without permission, giving credit, or responsibility for the content posted can be considered a violation to the creator's rights. For this class, I believe copyrighted material will most often be used for educational purposes. Images and songs will be used to practice editing and filming, which can be considered an educational purpose. Education is one of the fair uses, in which one can use the creation of another without permission.

21st century skills

What are the four 21st century skills? How do you think you can apply each of these to your work in this class going forward into the year? Be specific and give at least 3 examples.

The four 21st century skills are critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Critical thinking can be used to solve problems in class. Common sense and some critical thinking can help solve a problem one was not warned beforehand. For example, some critical thinking can help a student overcome small hurdles regarding film equipment. Creativity is key to filmmaking because it adds an artistic approach to the film. Creativity is also required to think outside of the box for new ideas for a film. Communication with the teacher and students are important. Miscommunications between a teacher can lead to academic problems, while miscommunication among students can lead to poor teamwork. Good communication leads to good collaboration. Having good collaboration skills can help a student achieve a great, efficiently made film as a team.

Digital Citizenship

What do you think that digital citizenship is? What does it consist of? Why might it be important?

I think having digital citizenship means to be a part of the community on the internet. Digital citizenship consists of reliability, initiation, and professionalism. Reliability can be built by always showing up on time and finishing work correctly and time efficiently. One who holds initiative will always seek out new responsibilities, enthusiastic to exceed the expectations given to them. Professionalism can be observed from a positive attitude and the ability to leave personal problems aside from work. All of these skills regarding digital citizenship is important because these will ultimately help one get hired for a job. Film makers would want to hire workers who are professional, reliable, and initiative to help them create a film.

Employability Skills

What are employability skills? Give three examples of what you feel are effective employability skills that you think could help you get a good job. Why are they important?

Employability skills are a set of skills necessary to become a employable worker. Communication, for example, is an important employability skill. Communication helps connect with coworkers in order to collaborate and complete a large project. Communication is also key to being an employable because it is a critical skill to have during emergencies. Being able to easily contact allows the hectic situation to be as collected as possible. Creativity is also a skill one may consider when employing a person. Without creativity, humans can be easily replaced by robots. People are employed for the their creativity, their ability to think outside of the box for new ideas. Having a creative employee at work allows the company to grow through new products and company management ideas. The most important employability skill to have is critical thinking. Organizations prefer to have workers who can solve their own problems because it allows more time to finish important work. Critical thinking also have the potential to help others overcome their problems in times of need, therefore allowing the worker to become a valuable worker.

Set Safety Wrap Up

Now that you've completed the set safety and etiquette lecture, why is it so important? What parts of it do you think will be difficult to follow? What parts would you like to learn more about?

Safety on set is important because film sets have the potential to cause serious harm or even death depending on the amount of caution one has on site. There are large quantities of heavy equipment on set which can fall at any given moment when handled incorrectly. On a set where explosions occur, crew members can be seriously burned if he or she is not in the assigned position. If one refuses to follow correct procedures for film equipment, unlucky individuals would have the suffer the consequences. Constantly being alert would be the most difficult to follow. Objects such as cables and props are very easy to move or trip on when one lacks alertness. I would like to learn more about fire safety. I still do not feel fully prepared on what to do or where to go in case of a fire emergency. I would like to know how to use fire safety equipment more thoroughly.