Camera Jib Techniques

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. Pick three of these techniques and summarize them. What do each technique demonstrate? What does it add to the shot?

2. Which techniques could you start using right away? Why?

1. Dynamic Point of View shot: This requires the actor to push the weight of the jib as they walk in a circular path. This can create the point of view of the opponent if they are both walking in the same circle. By having the actor push the jib, the camera can move perfectly with them, allowing a more realistic point of view shot.

2. Large movement but with a close up: This technique is exactly as the name says. In most cases, jibs are used to create large movement as an establishing shot. However, jibs can also be used to follow a subject's movement. This can help convey a certain emotion with a camera techniques that adds production value to the video.

3. Tracking/Revealing shot: This technique follows the actor in order to reveal a subject that they are walking towards. This is another type of revealing shot that can be used to as an introduction shot. 

I am most interested in using the jib technique that follows the subject as a close up. As seen in the example, this simple technique can add production value through the smooth movement.

Creative Slider Techniques

1. Pick three of these techniques and summarize them. What do each technique demonstrate? What does it add to the shot?

2. Which techniques could you start using right away? Why?

1. When pushing into the subject, set the focus to the final position. This is reveals the subject from out of focus to in focus. This technique only requires one person, so it is efficient to work with in comparison to attempting to pull the focus while changing positions.

2. Tilt the slider and level the camera. This effect can also be used as a shot to reveal a specific subject from another point of view. When this effect is performed perfectly in a smooth fashion, it can make a stable subject vastly more interesting.

3. Place the camera at the end of the tilted slider in order to create a jib effect. This effect can be combined with the first tip of setting the focus at the end of the shot. This adds depth into the shot by changing the background as the camera moves.

Technique one is the easiest effect to do because it requires simply setting the focus to the end point. This technique will not only be visually pleasing, but easy to do when shooting alone. 

Using a Slider

What types of movements are used in this video? What are 3 key tips that you learned in this video that you can put to work in your videos going forward this year? Why do you think they are useful?

Straight tracking shots: No pan or tilt is used; side-to-side motion. These are most effective for shots that reveal a certain subject into the frame. This type of movement helps add depth into the shot.

Tracking shot: The slider is moved back and forth with panning. This technique keeps the subject in the middle of the frame at all times. This is also an effective way to add depth into the picture because while the subject remains still, the back ground changes. When performing the tracking movement, it is advantageous to hold the head in order to ensure consistent, smooth motion. (tip #1)

Tip#2: Change the speed of the movement depending on the scene.

For example, when shooting an emotional scene, slower movement would be more effective compared to fast side-to-side movement.

Tip #3: Practice.

Although it is a simple tip, it is important to note that slider technique cannot be obtained right on the spot. It is a skill that requires practice in order to obtain the necessary consistency.

Kurosawa and Movement

1. What were three types of movement that Kurosawa used in his films. How did he use these techniques in his films? What did they communicate to the audience? Please explain each in detail

1. Movement of Nature

For example, weather, such as snow and rain, can be used as an element within the shot to enhance a stable shot. This type of movement allows the audience to relate to the image with a sensual connection. Such movement can be used to spice up a simple frame, or to create a smooth cut between shots. Nature can be used as a prop to display the character's emotions as well.

2. Movement of Groups

There are two types of groups: those who band together or those who split apart. Having a large crowd can emphasize the emotion of the shot, by having multiple people with the same facial expression. The coalition of the group with the camera movement ca be used as a tool to communicate a part of the story.

3. Movement of Individuals

In Kurosawa's films, the actor's blocking is exaggerated. For example, if the character is nervous, they will display those emotions visibly by covering their face. He often times assigned one specific movement for one character to help the audience recognize the character.

Camera Movement

Why does the beginning shot example look bad from a technical as well as a storytelling viewpoint? What are three differences between the static shot examples that the narrator shows and shots with a dolly or a hand held rig?

The beginning shot was extremely shaky for no enhancement in the storytelling. If the camera movement was specifically intended to fit the scene, it would have been perfect. However, in other cases, the jittering of the camera was unstable and took away from the audience's attention. In order to fix the problem, a bigger weight should have been added to the camera to create a smoother image. In comparison to the dolly or the hand held rig, the static shot displays minimum production value. With little effort, the footage could have looked more cinematic. Furthermore, the dolly shot was able to show more emotion in the scene, enhancing the actor's performance. The static shot was no more than the display of the actor's skills. 

Composition in StotytellingP.2

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. What does this video essay say about the purpose of composition? What does the narrator have to say about the use of lines in the frame?
2. What does this video have to say about the use of artificial vs. primal control? How is this used in composition? Why?

Composition of a scene can create meaning. When the concept of the frame is not exclusively,  seen as a frame, it can convey a powerful meaning as well. Lines inside the frame can be used to guide the audience to a certain focal point. It is important to understand how they converge as well. For example, a character that is pushed to one side of the frame can feel trapped in their current lifestyle. However, lines are not necessary in order to create a focus. It is simply an available option. Artificial control lies in the aesthetic control of guiding the audience where they should be looking. Primal control identifies what subject has the most control in the specific scene. This concept is not only applied to human connections, but it can also be used between interpersonal connections with the environment. The "control" or the importance a subject holds can be identified through the size of the object in the frame.

Composition in Cinematography

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. What are three things that you've learned in this video essay? How do these relate to what you've learned so far until this point in this class?
2. What does the narrator have to say about the frame? What is it used for?

Framing a shot is an expressive decision that indicates how the subjects or the environment inside the frame is exhibited to the viewer. This determines what the audience sees and what they don't get to see. However, the composition of a shot requires some technical skills. The shot must be able to convey the intended message, with proper structure. When deciding what the "proper structure" is for a certain scene, one must ask themselves, "why?" There are some pre-established composition strategies one may use in in order to create aesthetically pleasing shots. Rather than focusing on compositional variety, it is important to understand what the composition is saying. Proper composition can enhance the scene's meaning, much like color. Compositional strategies can help emphasize a certain point, convey a meaning. or suggest symbolism. The frame is often used to attract the audience's attention. For example, creating a "frame within a frame" pleases the audience's desire to create order in an disordered society. These can be used to incorporate subtext, such as separating different worlds.

Color in Storytelling

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. What does this video essay say about the purpose of color? What does the narrator have to say about associative and transitional in storytelling.
2. What is one way you could use color going forward in your filmmaking considering what you've learned this week?

The purpose of color can be divided into two: associative and transitional. The repetition of a single color throughout the film can be used to help the audience associate the color with a certain idea. Once the association is established, subject can be referenced with the color without the physical presence of them. The establishment of a certain color scheme or the repetition of a color can allow specific color to be an outlier. This is the transitional use of color. Shifts in color pallets can suggest a character's development,  change in setting, or whatever the color change is highlighted in. These two types of color uses can be combined as well to enhance the story. Going forward, I would consider the colors I incorporate in my shots from clothing, setting, props, and framing. I would take into consideration the importance of luminance and saturation and the effect it has on the overall story.

Color in Storytelling

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. What are three things that you've learned in this video essay? How do these relate to what you've learned so far this week about color in filmmaking?

Color has been around since the age of silent films. Early filmmakers often painted their films one by one in order to create a magical feeling to the film. Color was soon adopted as means of communicating different emotions. From studying the different psychological influences a color has on the viewer, color in film was chosen artistically to enhance the story. Through color, metaphoric storytelling became possible. For example, in a scene where only gold coins are tinted yellow, they represent the materialism that has consumed the people. Color can also be used to set the atmosphere of the story. Atmospheres such as gritty or dangerous can be conveyed by a certain combination of colors. Color is subjective among people and cultures. For example, red can be a symbolic color for strong love or hate. Color schemes can be used in films to create a well-balanced image. Complementary colors and analogous colors can be used to perform a specific psychological effect.

Color Theory for Video

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. What are complimentary colors? What are tertiary colors? What is the difference between primary and tertiary colors?
2. How can colors be assigned meaning in a film?

Complimentary colors are visually appealing colors that can be found on the opposite sides of the color wheel. Specifically, there are colors that especially compliment one another: red-green. orange-blue, and blue-yellow. Tertiary colors can be found by mixing the secondary colors derived by the primary colors. Primary colors cannot be derived from any color, thus the name, PRIMARY color. In film, emphasizing a certain color can convey a time of day, shed light to a specific character, or grab the audience's attention for an important scene. Color can be utilized within in a film by associating them with a socially constructed idea. Different cultures associate different colors with different meanings, and thus, a film from different cultures may utilize color in distinctly different ways. Color can also be "given" a meaning within the film by constantly associating a certain color or color scheme to an idea.

Color in Digital Filmmaking P.1

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. What are three ways that the video mentions color can enhance filmmaking?
2. What is color sub sampling? What are the drawbacks or benefits of 8 bit color? What are the drawbacks or benefits of 10 bit color?

Implementing color in film can be used as a visual cue for location, represent the the overarching theme of the movie, and provide temperature for the film. Color sub sampling reduces the color resolution while keeping the luminance resolution the same. 8 bit color, most often used in consumer cameras and DSLRs, can display significant deterioration in the quality of the image when heavily color graded due to the lack of available information. Although 8 bit color has drawbacks in post production, it is perfect for playback. On the other hand, 10 bit color, in ProRes or DNxHD, has twice the color information as compared to the 8 bit. Because of this feature, files captured in 10 bit is perfect for most professional post production.

Color P.2

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. What led to technicolor taking over color filmmaking? What films really drove the adoption of the process?
2. How did Eastman color affect the development of color filmmaking? What were some of it's pro's? What were some of it's con's?

Technicolor was a new, innovative way for color to be displayed on screen. This process was especially convenient because it was able to be played back in standard projectors. With the help of the new Imbibition, a process where another black gel was incorporated in addition to the magenta and green gels, films were able to contain more colors. One of the most famous films that drove the adoption of the process was The Toll of the Sea. Eastman color was developed during a time period in which Technicolor was holding a monopoly in the color film industry. Some benefits of Eastman color includes its affordable cost, the ability to wok in conventional cameras, and the fact that no specialized lighting or lab process was required. Although the technologically superior Technicolor had a significantly richer color compared to Eastman color, audiences were ready for a new change in the color tone.

Color in Silent Film

1. Why do you think modern day people perceive early film as ONLY black and white? What do you think has led to this perception? How do you think color was perceived by audiences back in the dawn of cinema?

Color in cinema was largely disregarded in the process of preservation because many believed this aspect to be an "add-on." This is especially the case for tinted and toned films, because they were relatively easier to produce compared to stencil and hand-colored films. In addition to lack of motivation to preserve the colors, colors themselves were hard to preserve due the film's poor shelf-lives. Thus, as a result of fading, attempting to preserve color films were ineffective. Ultimately, many assume that the majority of silent films are monochromatic. Back in the dawn of cinema, the bright colors incorporated into the silent films grabbed the audience's attention. The colors made the films seem to be magical, enhancing the film's tone in most cases. 

Color P. 1

Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1. What is color? What principle did James Clerk Maxwell discover?

2. How was color used in early filmmaking? What were the two major types of colorizing film?

Color is a function of light, and the span of color, or the visible light, can be examined through the Electromagnetic Spectrum. As a result of his experiment, Isaac Newton discovered that all of the color combined can create white light. James Clerk Maxwell, founder of electromagnetism, refined the color theory created by Thomas Young and Herman von Helmholtz by using a colored spinning wheel. In this experiment, Maxwell discovered that the primary color are red, green, and yellow, instead of blue. Before digital colorized film, hand-tinting was a popular in the industry. Because these films were only roughly ten minutes long, though a daunting task, it was a viable option. Some examples of color used in film include Le Voyage Dans La Lune (The Man on the Moon). As films became more produced and hand tinting became a less viable option, toning rose in popularity.

Frame Rates P.2

Answer the following questions in 2 in depth - paragraphs:

1. What were tee reasons why 60 frame interlaced chosen for over the air broadcasting? How did the introduction of color factor in?
The interlaced format was introduced as a result of the attempt to reduce the necessary bandwidth. The increasing popularity of television in modern society meant that letting the VHF die off was impractical. Thus, the race to achieve the certain color standard began. Color TVs adopted the separation of luminance and chromas which means the separation of colors versus their brightness. I order to prevent the color standard from interfering with the audio signals, the frame rate was reduced by 0.1%. Therefore the common frame rate is in fact not exactly 60 frames per second, but rather 59.94 fields per second.

2. How do you convert a film to television? What is 3:2 pull down?]

In order to allow 24 fps to fit into a 60 i video format, it must be split up into fields known as the 3:2 pulldown. However, this is not a completely practical way of converting files because they lead to jitters every 2 frames per 4 frames. Thus, in order to maintain the quality of the video, it is optimal that one shoots in 24 fps to begin with.

Frame Rates P.1

1. What were three reasons why 24 frames per second chosen as the modern standard frame rate for filmmaking?

24 frames per second was chosen as the modern standard frame rate because it was a number that was easily divisible by six numbers, including 2,3,4,6,8, and 12. Although other numbers have similar aspects of being easily divisible, 24 was chosen because it was the most financially efficient, requiring the least film as possible. Sound was what drove the introduction of the 24 fps second standard, however. Because of this new introduction of audio waves on the side of the film strip, the films had to be in rigid format. In order to achieve the desired 48 projected frames per second, 24 was a convenient number that required 2  blades to run the film.

Frame Rate

1. Define what shutter speed is and what frame rate is.
2. What is frame rates relationship with shutter speed? How do each affect the image?
3. How could you use these principles to artistically affect your images going forward?

Shutter speed is "the amount of time that each individual frame is exposed for" while frame rate "refers to the number of individual frames that comprise each second of video" recorded. The shutter speed must be the double the frame rate. Different frame rates can either create a cinematic look a video look. For example, a filmic look would be shot in 24fps, while a video look would be composed with 30fps. Frame rates can also be altered accordingly to the application in post production such as slowmotion or creating realistic motion blur.

Under and Over Cranking the Camera

1. Think back on what you've learned about filmmaking. What is overcranking the camera? What does it do? How is it done?
2. What does undercranking the camera do? How is this done?
How does this affect the image artistically?

Over-cranking the camera refers to slow motion and under cranking a camera refers to a timelapse.  Slow motion can be used to capture every detail of a fast motion. By slowing down the time, the audience will pay more attention to the activity on the screen. This effect is typically done by increasing the frame rate in order to obtain a smooth image. On the other hand, undercranking a camera allows the filmmaker to convey the passage of time. This is typically done by setting a camera down and letting it sit still for a long period of time. Artistically speaking, they create variations in the image, capturing the attention of the audience. They can be useful and effective in small amounts.

Pan and Scan

1. What is pan and scan? Why was it created? How does it affect a film when it's transferred from the theatre to home video? In your own words explain 3 examples from the video on how pan and scan changes what the filmmakers intended.

Pan and scan technique is used when a wide screen needs to be cut into an aspect ratio with a shorter width. This allows the film to be redirected so that the film has a different emotional appeal. Readjusting the frame of the film allows more flexibility in post production. Although this technique has a tendency to ruin the creativity that went into composing a certain shot, it can add new creativity as well. The aspect ratio is often that intended look of the director, and can be damaging to the storytelling process when done incorrectly. Sometimes, seeing a portion of the picture loses an important aspect of the original production.