Final Lookback...

Look back at your experience over the last two years here at Film/Video Production. Reflect on what you've learned, accomplished, the friends you've made and compose a letter to yourself on the first day of class in the beginning class. Imagine that this letter couple be delivered to yourself on that day and he/she could read it.

What advice would you give your past self?
Would you tell them they are going to have a great experience?
What would you warn them about?

Try to wright a thoughtful reflection to yourself on this last day of class.

Dear Megumi,

I won't give you advice or tell you what your experience is going to be like in your class at SVCTE. That's for you to discover. The experiences here were valuable because I didn't know what to expect.  The experiences here were valuable because of the mistakes you made and the lessons you learned from it. So that's why I won't warn you of anything. One thing I can tell you is that this class is a little more than you'd expect. Have fun! You'll be alright.

-Megumi

Least Valuable Unit

What is one unit this year that you felt was the least useful? Why? How could it be improved? If there was one unit in the entire year that I could strike from the schedule, which would you suggest? Why?

For me personally, the directing unit was least effective. I won't call it least useful because some of the blog questions genuinely opened my eyes to the role of a director. However, because I was not working on any projects specifically geared towards directing, I was not able to put that knowledge into use, and therefore it felt like an ineffective unit. Since there are always going to be few Advanced students and there are so many different aspects to filmmaking, it is important to allow more flexibility for the student. The first year was a time for the student to be exposed to all different aspects of filmmaking and so I see no harm in letting the advanced students be more specialized. For example, if the student is interested specifically in audio, the student can find an article or video talking about audio and write a summary paragraph about it for a blog. You can specify what kind of article they research by giving them a topic such as "audio levels" or "audio mixing."

3 Valuable Things

If you had to pick three things that you found the most valuable from this class experience, what would they be? What do you feel overall that this course has helped you prepare for?

The classmates I met, how I found what I specifically love about filmmaking, and the unique experience of having access to so many opportunities was the most valuable thing I gained from the class. The demographic back at my homeschool is significantly different from the class demographic at SVCTE. I was able to interact with people from so many different backgrounds and it opened my eyes to the world outside of my homeschool. I was also able to discover my love for post production. I love finding new techniques in After effects and editing just about anything. Hopefully, I would be able to find what exactly I love about post production in my college years so that I can specialize even further. The opportunity to speak in front of so many people, participate in Skills USA and CreaTV, volunteer at film festivals, they all became experiences that became an important part of SVCTE.

Revisiting Goals

Look back at your goals for the Fall and Spring Semester blog posts. Were you able to achieve your goals? Why or why not? What could you have done differently? Looking back at them, what could you have done to focus more on your goals in the course?

1. Have an Understanding of how Adobe After Effects works

I am happy to say that I have a relatively good understanding of how After FX works. Although there are still features that I have yet to figure out, I am able to work my way through the software without much confusion.

2. Understand  all of the color correction panel's functionalities.

I meant to understand more about the Premiere Pro color panel, but I ended up having a better understanding of Lightroom. I am hoping to learn more about Photoshop so that I can perform basic functions when needed.

3. Created Varied projects outside of class

I have been making cinemagraphs often outside of class mainly in order to improve my skills on After Effects. Working with still images allow me to focus on the effects without worrying about rendering issues. However, I also work with videos whenever I want to practice a certain skill.

Developing Strong Characters

What are three key pieces of advice from this article that you can implement in your directing going forward?

1. Include the actors in the filmmaking process

Allowing actors to collaborate in creating the story will allow them to have a in-depth understanding of the characters. They may also have the opportunity to skew a character in a way that is better fit for them as an actor.

2. Table read

While rehearsals can serve a part of the purpose of a table read, this process is vital in developing a character. This is especially effective because the actors are able to read the script without worries about blocking and they are also able to ask questions whenever they are confused.

3. Think about the character's overall picture

A character must be sculpted from the ground up. They are real people with reasonable motivations. Getting feedback for their acting is vital for the actor to understand the director's vision.

Blocking Actors P.3

What choices in the room com take changed the scene? What choices in the sitcom take changed the scene?

Although the room itself did not change, the actors moved around the room in a way that altered the setting so that the actors are confined into a setting that no one else can see. By creating a confined setting, the tension of the scene increases, thus creating an environment that forces the character to interact with one another. The characters in this scene must solve a problem, and the scene that locks them in without outside help reflects the situation they are currently. in.

Blocking a Scene P.2

How did camera movement change the scene? What was the difference between handheld and the steadicam? How were visual metaphors used?

Camera movement is able to assist the emotion of the scene. This scene, for example, was able to create tension within the scene by moving the camera along with the actors so that the idea that they are in a hurry in conveyed effectively. The handheld camera, on one hand, jerks the camera with the footsteps. As a result, films that are shot hand held can look more like a documentary or the Office. On the other hand, a steadicam would absorb all of the shocks coming from footsteps, creating a more cinematic look. Visual metaphors can be incorporated into the use of stabilizers by connecting their emotional stability with the stability of the camera.

Blocking a Scene P.1

What is crafting the performance in the edit? How does he do this with the first cut of the scene? What is "business?" How does this help the scene?

Crafting the performance in the edit requires careful consideration of the camera angle, camera settings, and blocking. The use of or the lack of motion can create different emotions. The first cut used the least motion and only used simple cuts between characters who barely moved. For simple cuts, the editing becomes more important. The close up, for example, can create tension that is not present in the acting. However, simple relying on editing wastes talented actors. Business is referred to what an actor should be doing when they are not delivering dialogue. Business adds a secondary objective for the actors to interact with while they are not speaking.

Cultivating Respect with your Crew

What are three key pieces of advice this article gives on cultivated respect with your crew? Look back at your own behavior on set and compare these suggestions. How did you behave compared to them? How can you begin using this advice?

1. Make Room for Communication

Having shared respect for one another can bring about the best performance from the cast and crew. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively to an actor can help build a healthy relationship between the actor and the director. The director must respect the cast and crew's artistic vision while also implementing the director's vision of the big picture.

2. Avoid Micro-managing cast and crew

Because most of the big decisions are made during preproduction, the director, at times, needs to sit back and trust the process.

3. Build a Reputation

Throwing a tantrum when something doesn't work out will never be an effective way to solve a problem. Placing blame on one single person will also ruin relationships with the crew.

Directing Subtext P.3

What does "Good artist borrow, great artists steal" mean to you? How can meaning and subtext play into this?

A great artist would "steal: from another artist by putting in their own interpretation in order to create something that is entirely theirs. In the end, art is a remix of what is already there. One's own interpretation changes what that art means. By adding these references to other works of art, it creates a subtext that may allude to the subtext of the original piece of art. Stealing art from something thatis relevant for your own art will ultimately enrich the art itself.

Subtext P.2

What are the three rules of subtext mentioned in this film? What does each mean?

 Subtext can be created through a multitude of visual elements. One of which that is introduced in the video is the X on the screen. The X, though often subtle, foreshadows death that is coming in the end. Another strategy is to add an object to every shot in order to provide social commentary. Cinematography, makeup, sound design, and screenwriting ultimately creates the deeper meaning within the film. The first rule, is that the subtext must be organic to the story. Second rule, being that the undefined is much more powerful than the defined. The mystery of a scene is what invites the audience to engage in a film. The third rule is to think laterally (linear thinking.)

Directing Subtext

What is subtext? What is the role of subtext in your film? How does the director play into creating subtext?

Subtext refers to what is happening under the direct conversation of the actors. Subtexts add dimension to the character so that the audience is able to sympathize with the character more. Everyone is responsible for creating subtext because cooperation is vital to create an effective story. The creator of the story must put into consideration the motivation behind the character so that the sympathy by the audience is maximized. Putting this into consideration, the director can specify how the scene is shot or how the charactered should be directed.

Bad Directing

What does the director need to keep in mind with their scenes? What made the first scene shown an example of bad directing?

The director must always keep in mind what and who is important in the story as a whole. A character or scene may make an impact on the story, but the director must be able to recognize what the story is ultimately centered around or what the audience needs to focus on. Techniques used to emphasize a scene should be used scarcely so that they are able to have an effect on the audience. Using too many techniques that are ineffective for the scene can be distracting. This is what made the first scene shown as bad directing. Hitchcock, on the other hand, did not use any camera movement or movement in actors, forcing the audience to listen to the judge.

How Speilberg introduces a Character

What methods does Spielberg use to introduce characters on screen? What role does action and fraction play with charaters in your film?

"First impressions is the most lasting." In a similar way, a character's first impression is very important. His use of action and fraction is vital to his introduction of character. The characters must show their emotions through their actions and display their character through their reaction to certain life scenarios. The character does not necessarily have a long screen time, but rather their impact on others is wha holds importance. Fractions refers to the way Spielberg focuses on a specific portion of the character that speaks for the whole. This can be either a body part of something that the character wears or treasures. This technique can create a mystery for the audience to be engaged in. this technique also allows the character to feel larger than life.

Auditioning Actors

How do you prepare for your audition? What are the physical resources you'll need? What are some other great tips that you've learned in this video?

In order to holding a casting call, you must know the script front and back. It is important to know all the terms and setting of the scene. You must list the specific information about the casting and production as well as story setting of the character. The audition should be well organized and assume that many people will not show up to the audition. Booking several people for a certain time slot is smart so that the casting manager will not be too bored. The atmosphere, rather than the location, is important for the actors. They should be comfortable in the waiting room and be able to audition in a blank space. A large role should be around 3 pages while smaller roles could have a page and a half. Is is important to record them so that you don't forget their performance.

The Trap of Assumption

What is the trap of assumption? How can you deal with your assumptions?

The trap of assumption is to assume that others will have the same reaction to a certain work a you did. Something can be clear to one person and can be difficult to understand for someone else. At the end of the day, what someone feels is going to be different for everyone because a script is nothing more than a cumulation of words. Assuming that everyone's reaction to a piece will be the same is a trap that must be avoided when directing. The director will know how the scene will play out but it must be conscious that his assumption is right but the opinion ultimately do not matter. In the end, the only assumption that matter in the scene is the assumption of the character.

Director's #1 Job

What is the directors primary job? What is the relationship of story and character in this? What role does "the machine" play into this?

As a director, the most important job is to be a storyteller. Everyone surrounding the director is supporting the director to tell that one story. They must take care of the story and tell the story in the most authentic way. At the end of the day, they must know that the character is telling the story. Performance can make or break the story. Casting is crucial to the film because the actor cannot interfere with the character. Finding someone that can fully act out a character is of great importance to a great film. The director can get distracted by all of the problems that they forgot that the most important part of the story--the performance.

Directing Characters

What is directing the characters? How does this work? Why is is a useful technique?

For a moment, the director must forget the character for a moment and interact directly to the actor. The director must find a way for the actor to find the same emotions that are within the same character. The director must face the fear of director and the actor must face their own fear. Having the courage to know that he is able to maintain authority over the actor while also communicating with them is important in the role of directors. Actors needs to give up their desire to control their acting and the directors need to give up their desire to control their directing.

Authentic Acting

What is authentic acting? Why is planning how to play a scene bad?

Authentic acting means that the actor is moving in accord to the complex emotions of the character. The actor should never have a plan on how to play a scene because the moment is only understood in the scene. The "performance" is in reality, simply a plan that becomes mechanical very fast. Thinking what the character is feeling will result in a more authentic acting. The director, in this case, needs to stop ordering specifics from the actor. The actor must think for themselves in how the character will think in the moment. Demanding an end result is confusing and infuriating to some actors.

How to Direct a Great Scene

What is the role of director in creating a great scene? What advice did you find most useful out of this video to help you direct a scene?

The role of the director is to dig deep into the intentions of the characters and the relationship between the characters. The actors must fully understand the context of the character in order to express the true emotions of the character. The scene can be enhanced by clearly identifying the objective of every single character. Every scene has a core moment that usually comes at the end of the scene. This could be a brief moment that identifies why the scene is in the movie. The core moment can help the character go through a transformation or the audience can go through a transformation that enhances or evolves the story in some way shape or form.

What Directors say to Actors

What is "creating a safe place" on set? Why is this so important? How can you do this with your directing?

Acknowledging the actor's work is important on set. Creating a safe place is important for actor because being approved for their work helps the actor to continue being open to the director. Even if the performance is not what the director envisioned, it still still important to continue praising them for their work. Sighing and saying "we have to do this again" creates resentment for the character that is detrimental to the acting. Positive reinforcement requires the "character brain" that interrogates the character themselves. The lack of plan is what makes the conversation authentic and effective to the audience.

What Not to Say to an Actor

What are three key things that you shouldn't say or do to your actors? Whats a better way to director your actors that you took away from this video?

Direction towards actors should not be vague. Instructions such as "give me more" and " bring it up" is unhelpful to the audience. Throwing a mixture of emotions to the actor is also ineffective as well. Simply naming an emotion is already ineffective, and combining contradicting emotions can be even more confusing to the audience. Bringing up another actor's name is rude towards the actor. Talking insensitively about other actors is unappealing as well. Having a positive environment and creating that as a director is important for the audience to freely express themselves.

The Acting Method P.4

After watching this entire video, what are 3 key things that you've learned about acting from this lesson? What changed your understanding about the importance of acting in film?

Acting originated from the stage acting that was meant to be obvious in order to convey an emotion from one side of the stage to the other. the development of naturalistic acting came from the idea that emotions can be conveyed in a better fashion if it is relatable to the audience. This comes from life experiences and replicating the physical and emotional movement of that feeling. The words are nothing without the emotion behind it. I now know that acting is more than saying words and moving on the stage, but being the character and living in their situation.

The Method P.3

What is method acting? How was it different from the Stanislavski System? How did Brando, James Dean and Monroe change acting in the 50's?

Method acting, or the Strasberg method, focused on the emotional memory of the actor in order to create a realistic act.  The Stanislaski system focused more on imagination rather than an emotional memory. Thus, it did not emphasize specifically the pains of life but the entire expeirence of life. Brando's film helped spread the success of Method acting. James Dean, as well as Monroe had a great impact to the acting styles in the mid 1900s. Their naturalistic acting proved to be effective on screen, increasing its popularity to this day. As a result, Method acting was cemented as the way to prepare acting for the screen.

Acting and the Method P.2

What was traditional acting for the stage like in the 19th century? How did Stanislavski change acting? What was the Stanislavski System?

Theatre in the 19th century was often exaggerated because it was thought that theatre cannot be real without the over exaggerated emotions. Not only was this practical because there were not microphones, but it was also thought to be an art form. Stanislavski was sick of the set poses that were specifically set aside for certain emotions. Accompanied by another man, Stanislavski created the Moscow Art Theatre where they were given the opportunity to practice natural acting. Stanislavski System emphasized the importance of preparation, immersion into the role, and truth.

Acting and Method

How did Greek and Roman theatre create the art form of acting? What was commedia del' arte's influence on the development of acting?

The Greeks and the Romans introduced the concept of acting in order to tell the stories of Greek mythologies. Since these stories were not written down, they were most commonly passed on my word of mouth. this eventually became what is to be known as theater. Commedia del' arte was a form of professional Greek theatre. Due to the emphasis on improvisation, the actors often took an authorship in their roles. Also during this time period, women also started to take the stage.

Nolan on Directing

What are three key important pieces of advice that Nolan has to say about directing? How do you think you could incorporate this advice into your work going forward?

1. The more you create, the more you learn

Narrative structure can be learned from doing short films. Short films are created in a shorter amount of time, and so therefore it requires less money to make mistakes. Student films can make these mistakes and learn from them.

2. Play to your strengths

If you have a certain strength, consistently practicing the craft will make something that is unique to the individual. Incorporating the desire to pursue their strength may not seem valuable immediately, but it will pay off in the end.

3. Study other's films

There is much to learn from other's films. By looking through the structure of the narrative, geography of the setting, these points can be incorporated into one's own films.

How David Fincher Hijacks Your Eyes

What does this video teach you about the importance of camera movement? How can camera movement tell the story of the characters that the actors play in the story?

 

David Fincher's camera movement follows the actor's movement exactly at the exact velocity. In other words, if the actor stops, the camera stops. Once the actor moves again, the camera moves with them. Such camera movements lock the audience into the behavior of the actor. When a person moves, their perspective moves. In a similar way, the camera moves with the actor. This connection between the actor's movements and the camera allows for the audience to connect emotionally with the character. The physical movement in a shot is a great way for the director to communicate the emotion of the character. Camera movement that captures this motion is significant in his films.

Riley Scott on Directing P.2

Summarize three key things that are interesting about Ridley's advice on directing. What were the biggest challenges he found to being a director?

 He stresses the importance of doing a few good takes of one scene. He claims that jokes would get old and performance would be weakened if one shot is done too many times, even if it means that it is shot from a different angle or framing. Scott likes to be the operator instead of simply standing there and calling for action. He enjoys working with the actor on a personal level according to what he sees on screen. Start by lighting naturally, he says. Always start with what would be available as natural light, and add to it as necessary. His strategy in working on commercials to build up money to create a feature film worked. With his team of directors, he was able to build the company to be successful as it is today.

Riley Scott on Directing P.1

Summarize three key things that are interesting about Ridley's early career. What does he have to say about storyboarding?

Ridley's career in commercials started during his university days. There, he learned the distinct roles of a director and a producer and how they collaborate in order to create a project. His career in making commercials led him to pursue this kind of film for a while until he was in his 40s where he finally started working with real actors. The 18 years of training he had in the industry allowed him to have more experience but it also posed as an additional difficulty. During these years, he learned to be more comfortable with actors and how to direct them in order to create the desired vision. He claims the importance of shooting during the first take because the actors are most likely to deliver exactly what was asked of them.

Innovations of the New Wave P.2

What were some key stylistic innovations of the French New Wave? How did it change shooting?

The new wave also incorporated new styles of camera movement. They rejected the static camera, panning quickly, and shooting a scene handheld. This was also a result of new technological innovations that were available at the time. The new wave was not just about rejecting the old modes of cinema. It was about experimenting beyond the strict rules to see what techniques enhances the story. In this, it did not matter whether or not the scenes seemed realistic or continuous as long as the story was communicated effectively. One interesting technique used in the New Wave was changing the framing without zooming or cutting. They were free to incorporate as many films as they desired in one shot.

Innovation of the New Wave

What were some key stylistic innovations of the French New Wave? How did it change editing?

The French New Wave was primarily based off the philosophy that films can be made without the strict rules of traditional studio films. One of the main differences of these cinema was the jump cut, that was avoided at all costs previously. This type of cut that jumps through space and time was discouraged because it ruined the continuity of the shot. On the other hand, the films of the new wave wanted to make the editing abundantly clear. This style wanted to communicate to the audience that they were watching a film.

The French New Wave

How was the French New Wave connected to Auteur Theory? What was so different about French New Wave films from those that came before it?

The French New Wave came when the World War ended and the German control over film receded. It gave the filmmakers the opportunity to reach beyond the typical studio's filmmaking rules. They often used forbidden techniques such as jump cuts to express certain emotions that were thought to be inappropriate for the cinema. This movement allowed the filmmakers to prove that a great film can be made without the strict rules or high budget productions. The rejection of hollow replications of famous novels paved the way to the break through of the new cinema.

Beginning Director Advice

Summarize the key tips from this piece. What pieces of advice did you find the most useful from this video?

Key Tips:

Don't assume that the director is supposed to know every single move and facial expression of the actors. Instead, having a firm idea of the overall look of the final piece is more important. Rather than specifying the intonation of specific words and the small details of a movement, it is more effective to give the actors a certain feeling that they should replicate.

Always keep an open mind to suggestions. The original plan is not alway the best plan. If someone has a suggestions, there is a chance that their idea can make the scene better than the original

Choosing people who you enjoy working with is important in filmmaking as well. This makes it easier to communicate with one another and makes the filmmaking scene much less stressful at times when the time constraint is strict.

Auteur Theory P.3

Is the director's vision the only one expressed in a film? How much of a film is the director vs. the other artists who worked on it?

The director is not the only vision that is expressed in the film. In reality, all of the people working on set has a part in the overall vision of the film. The director firmly guides the people on set in order to create the basic vision, but the cast and cinematographer also has a say in what the artistic vision of the film will ultimately be. Ultimately, the director will have the biggest say in what the film will look like artistically. However, it is undeniable that others in production also have an important role in the end.

Auteur Theory P.1

What is auteur theory? How did it first develop in France?

Auteur theory refers to the idea that a film directly reflects the creative vision of the director. In other words, the director is the author of a film. Therefore, the film's quality is ultimately in the hards of the director. Even in the early eras of cinema, France held an important role in the film industry. With the introduction of sound into film, musical films that adapted theater rose in popularity. Once the world war kicked in, many filmmaker fled France, while those who stayed were only able to make escapist films under strict German control. During this era, the ban of British and American cinema allowed the French films to prosper. Though French cinema grew in popularity, the industry lacked a creative output for aspiring filmmakers at the time.

Kurosawa's Advice

What are the key pieces of device that Kurosawa gives beginning directors? What does he have to say about writing?

Kurosawa advises that aspiring directors should write screenplays. Through screenplays, the importance of structure of a film can be learned. However, he noticed that these directors are not following his advice, saying that the writing process is too dull. To this, he argues that one must be able to endure the dull tasks in order to achieve greatness. Once writing becomes second nature, writing will be easier. The resilience to obtain that state is what makes or brakes the writer. He emphasizes the importance of patience; young people, in according to Kurosawa, tend to rush to the end.

Guillermo Del Toro on Directing

What are the key pieces of advice that Guillermo del Toro gives beginning directors? How can this apply to your career?

He emphasizes that people tend to over complicate the  concept of directing when in reality, directing can be done with any kind of audio-visual device. Anyone can be a director of their film. They do not need a large crew or an expensive set in order to direct. "It is always better to answer through your work" if there is something in the media that you do not enjoy, he says. By directing your own film, you can create something that you believe to be better than the flaw you saw on the big screen. It is a more fascinating and active method than complaining about another director's film. A director needs to have the resilience towards the countless rejections they will face in the future. 

Whats the Point of a Director?

What can a director bring to a film? What do choices have to do with directing? Give a few examples

A director can bring about a certain mood to a scene that contributes to the overall story in an artistic manner. The director's choice can convey a message to the audience about the character's motivations or emotional state. The director has camera movement, blocking, lighting, and anything on screen at their disposal. For example, overcranking or undercranking the camera can have different appeals that have different impacts on the audience. It all depends on the directing, whether or not the average script will become a masterpiece of kill the mood.

Directing as a Career

What training or skills do directors need? How can you begin your career toward becoming a director?

According Richard Walter, directors need "an ability to work supportively and nurturingly with actors." Though the director must give clear instructions, it is equally important for them to give them space to allow them to create their own character. The director may be the dead of the production, but they should be considered a collaborator that keeps the crew together. Shooting something everyday is a great place to start. By creating something everyday, skills of storytelling are bound to improve. Displaying these works on social media may be an output for the work that was created. Watching films critically may also help develop "a strong viewing sense of cinematic history."

Directing Crash Course

What does the director do? What are their responsibilities on a film?

The director coordinates with the cast and crew in order to communicate the story of the film. A director is not supposed to demand a specific character out of the actor. Instead, they should be able to give a "safe space" where the characters are able to explore who their characters are and how they would act in the situation. However, this does not mean that the director can give vague idea to the actor. As a result, the actor must give clear instructions but while also giving giving them space to contribute their own skill as an actor. 

The Role of the Director

Think about what you know and what questions you have about the role of a director in film.

Write two paragraphs about the following:

1. What do you know about a directors role on a film?

2. What questions do you have about the directors role on a film?

The director coordinates with the cast and crew in order to create their desired vision of the film. Directors are all different in their approach; some would rather work with the cast and keep the camera direction to the cinematographer while others will have specific directions for the cinematographer. They also work closely with the art director and the sound mixer, playing a key role from beginning to end.

Questions: What are some techniques to effectively direct actors? How does the director manage to coordinate with everyone on set to create their vision?

Wrapping Cinematography

Explain in detail three key things that you have learned during the scope o this unit. What are two things you still have questions about? What are two suggestions you have to improve the unit overall?

Overall, I learned the different effects of lighting setups. For example, there are multiple types of diffusion that all create a different look on the subject. Through the multitude of grip blog questions, I have learned the use for many different variations of equipment. There are different clamps for different uses and any lighting setup is possible with the correct equipment and the correct use. The cinematography unit also taught me the importance of color in a film. Color can not only create a different mood in the scene, but it can also have a symbolic meaning behind it. I still have questions about how to create an effective set that is realistic for the scene. I also would like to learn the different movements that are possible with a gimbal. This unit could be improved by going through the slideshow faster. I believe that fact that it dragged on for a very long time made me lose focus on some of the topics. Though the unit was made effective through the assignments, I believe there should have a been one more small project assigned instead of some of the assignments.

Practical Lights

What is a practical light? How is it used differently than regular film production lights? What is Bradford's advice in using them for film?

Practical light is a light source that would naturally occur in a setting that can be used as a part of the lighting setup. Using practical lights increase the reality of a scene and is also convenient for the filmmaker because it is already a part of the set and therefore does not require to be hidden behind the camera. Practical lights also tend to take up less space in this matter. These lights can be used solely or used in combination with film production lights if it helps create the desired look. Bradford advises to put black on any wall that is not shown inside the frame. He specifically focuses on blacking out the ceiling or the floor which is often unseen. This way, it makes it easier to control the light in the scene.

Don't Complicate Lighting

What is Geoff Boyle explaining in the is video? Why is it so important to keep this in mind?

His point is, lighting doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment. When you have the basics down, thousands of variations of lighting set ups can be created with minimum equipment that do not cost much. No matter how big the budget is, creating a similar lighting does not require expensive equipment. Knowing the angle and the properties of light is much more expensive when it comes to cinematography. As long as one has a firm understanding of atmosphere, quality of light, and the effect of different flags can be just as effective as any other.

Horror Lighting Tutorial

What are three key techniques that these filmmakers created tension with their lighting in this scene? How did they use lighitng effectively?

Illuminating the victim's face is important in making the audience associate themselves with the character. In that way, they will be able to feel a similar sense of horror that the character is feeling. Color can come to use in various ways. For example, using a blue light to demonstrate a cold night can be justas horrifying as using area light to demonstrate intense fear. Any extreme colors that doesn't appear in the natural world is effective for a horror film. Underexposing footage can also be effective in giving the audience minimum information so that they can fill in the blank for themselves.

Horror Lighting

What are the historical, aesthetic and psychological reasons for lighting from beorror films?

Up lighting distorts the human face, creating shadows around the eyes. Light from below does not occur in the natural world, and also symbolizes light coming from hell and is therefore scary to the audience. The light from below is symbolic of this emotion over the course of film history and so it is natural for people to associate this kind of lighting style with horror. Often times, fear comes from association with other elements that are seen as scary in other scenes in life.

Horror Cinematic Lighting Techniques

In a detailed paragraph, answer the following questions:

1. What are they key tips that you learned in this video?
2. What tip do you feel you could put to use in your horror film coming up?

Uplighting creates an uneasy atmosphere because it is a lighting set up that usually cannot be found in everyday life. It is useful to have this as a practical light so it doesn't look abnormal. Spot lighting is effective because it forces the audience to pay attention to one specific location n the shot. The inability to see anything beyond the spot increases the horror. Therefore, it is crucial that the parts of the frame that is not directly lit be pitch black. Highly saturated red and silhouettes can be psychologically distressing as well. Among these techniques, I hope to use the uplighting technique so that I can create a scene that is visually appealing for the audience.

Horror Film Techiniques

In a detailed paragraph, answer the following questions:

1. What are the key tips that you learned in this video?
2. What tip do you feel you could put to use in your horror film coming up?

Story, atmosphere (setting), sound, and are all important aspects of horror. For example, creating an  intriguing story that has a twist at the end keeps the audience on their toes. Creating an unnerving atmosphere throughout makes a jump scares even more effective. Sound design is key in creating hits atmosphere. When there are gaps in the sound, the audience is less likely to be indulged in the story. The video introduced the effectiveness of setting the camera settings to have one stop less light than a typical shoot. Having natural shadows and darkness can increase the realism of the scene.

Steps to Making a Horror Film

In a detailed paragraph, explain how you are using or could use 4 of these 13 steps to help develop your horror film story before you begin shooting.

4. Pick a Location

The location is set in the man's room, where he finds comfort in. Having a home invaded by unknown beings will increase the unease of the situation. 

5. Pick an inciting inincident

The inciting incident, in my case, is when the man hears a doll speak to him. At that point, he will recognize the baby's name, but he will not know where the voice is coming from.

10. Pick the confrontation

The scene where the doll kills the man in the world outside the room can be considered the confrontation. The man is no longer able to avoid the doll due to his size in comparison to the doll.

12. Pick the right music

Though I have not yet found the right music, I want the background to have a ticking noise that increases its frequency slowly. Hopefully, it will increase the heart rate of the audience, physically changing the emotional reaction of the audience.

Short History of Horror Films P.2

Why do you think that horror films happen in cycles? In your opinion what is it about horror films that makes this happen?

Horror films follow a cycle because of the change in the audience's perception of what they consider scary. For example, during the war era, people would fear science and the potential for an atomic war. As war erupts again and again, the audience will fear such events again and again. Returning back to old styles of cinema and recreating them has always been popular among filmmakers. The horror film is especially prominent in this factor because it specifically targets the fear factor of the audience. Fear is often an emotion that unites people, as it speaks to their strong natural instinct.

the Psychology of Scary Movies P.2

1. What makes horror films so attractive to audiences?
2. What are some of the theories around the popularity of horror films?
3. How to horror films relate to nightmares?

Though it is difficult to clearly identify the reason for attraction to horror, there are some theories that philosophers have brought up that can give us clues. For example, Aristotle believed that scary stories were attractive because they are able to purge their negative emotions through a process known as Catharsis. Some theories claim that curiosity and fascination with the unknown may play a part in why people enjoy horror films. There is also the Disposition Alignment Theory that claims the satisfaction when a malicious character is given the proper punishment for their actions. Films are inclusive sensory entertainment that can be described as a middle ground between being awake and being in a dream state. In that sense, horror films can possibly be identified as a nightmare.

The Psychology of Scary Movies

1. What are horror films?
2. How to Tension, Relevance and Unrealism play into the the popularity of horror films?

Horror Films are films cerated with the intent to trigger fear within people. There are some fundamental sources of fear that can used to create fear within a film. Such horror films trigger attention from the audience through tension, relevance, and unrealism. Tension can build suspense in a scene, relevance allows the audience to feel the emotions in the character's feet, and unrealism triggers the fear of the unknown. Some of the subgroups of relevance includes universal, cultural, subgroup, and personal. All of these can manipulate the audience's emotional connection to the film.

What Makes a Movie Scarier?

1. Explain the importance of buildup and payoff in a horror film.
2. What aspects of the example made it scarier?

The length of the buildup increases the suspense by the second. Rather than multiple mediocre scares, it is more effective to use time to build up to one horrifying scare. Additionally,  buildup can increase effectiveness by setting the location as somewhere a person is comfortable at (ex. a bedroom). When a comfortable place is violated, the audience is more likely to experience unease. The examples were scary because they effectively used time and location in their favor to create suspenseful horror scene.

Spielberg on Horror

How does Spielberg craft such effective horror scenes in his blockbuster films? What are three techniques that you've learned in this unit that Spielberg uses? How does he use them?

Spielberg focuses on the character's reaction more than the source of fear itself. The facial expression is more important in displaying emotion and communicating that emotion to the audience. Spielberg also intensifies fear by building up fear before the actual danger appears. The mystery surrounding what the source of danger is increases the suspense in the scene (fear of the unknown.) Instead of glorifying the scene like some other block buster movies, Spielberg specifically gears the scene so that it terrifies the audience.

Kwaidan

How did this movie make you feel as a viewer watching it? What mood does it create? How is this different from a western horror film?

As an audience, the movie made me feel an inescapable unease for most of the scenes. The pop of red within dark, earthly tone increased the discomfort. For example, the characters would often have a red outlining in their eyes in scenes where they are being haunted by a spirit. Red flags in the war and in the water as blood also appear. The use of color in addition to the theatrical lighting creates a ominous mood. In comparison to western horror films where sudden scares are prevalent, this film scared the audience by intensifying unease. 

Duvetyne Cloth

What is duvetyne cloth used for? What is so special about it? Explain three different uses for it on set and what you should bring in addition to use it. 

Duvetyne cloth can be used to black out a window so that the lighting doesn't change according to the time of day. It can also be used to skirt lights in order to prevent unwanted light leaks. This kind of cloth is heavy enough to be unaffected by slight wind and does not cause much noise for the audio department. They are also the right thickness to efficiently block out the light without doubling them up like bed sheets. The fact that the cloth is flame retardant is key to keeping the set safe at all times. 

How to ND a window

What is ND gel used for? Why would you want to use it on a window? What are two key important factors in setting it up?

ND gels are used to cut the amount of light without altering the camera settings. These gels are useful for windows because the outside tends to be blown out when the subject is in the shadows. It is important to keep in mind light leaks when adding an ND filter to the windows so that it doesn't look artificial. Though gaff tape is preferred, in times of need, double sided tape works just as well. When working on a high-budget production, windex should be used to stick the filter onto the window. 

Lighting Stands P.2

What is the difference between a low boy and a combo stand? What about a mombo combo stand? What are each of these stands used for according to the presenter?

Low boys are small combo stands and tends to weigh significantly more than premie stand. Some have a socket to install a baby pin or has a baby pin already installed in it. Lowboys also come with rocky mountain legs. A combo stands are much larger than low boys. Besides the size, it is entirely the same as low boys. The mombo combo stands are significantly bigger than low boys or combo stands. Mombo combo stands are caoable of withstanding much heavier equipment.

Lighting Stands P.1

What is the difference between a premie and a baby stand? In what situation would you use each of them?

A premie stand tends to be shorter and stronger than traditional stands. Additionally, they are constructed using aluminum, making them less susceptible to damage. These can be used to create a slider shot by placing the ends of the slider onto two stands. The baby stands can rise up to 12 feet and has a "rocky mountain" ability that allows the stand to be placed on uneven surfaces. Both of these stands are extremely lightweight, which can be a great help when carrying a significant amount of equipment. 

CTO and CTB gels

What are CTO and CTB gels? What are they used for? What are two practical or artistic uses for these in your films?

CTO is considered Tungsten and is often associated with an orange undertone. CTB is known as daylight and is associated with a blue undertone. Gels can change the color temperature of a certain light. For example, if two lights unintentionally have different color temperatures, these gels can be clipped in front of the light to match the color. These two different color temperature gels can be used to intentionally create a mismatching color temperatures. For example, a CTO gel can be placed in front of the subject while a CTB gel is used to create a colder background.

Baby Plate and Scissor Clips

What are scissor clips used for? What are baby plates used for? How could these be used your productions?

Scissor clips can be used to mount a light on the ceiling using the baby pin. However, one downside is that only light-weight lights can be used when mounting on a normal ceiling. A baby plate can be screwed onto a wall or a piece of wood using screws. This also has a baby pin attached so that lights can be attached wherever there is a wall. These two can be useful in mounting lights when in an inconvenient or small location.

Clamps P.2

What are bounce boards and duck clamps used for? Whats the difference between a square and circular bounce? How could you begin using them with your productions asap?

Bounce boards are used to reflect light from a stronger source of light. They are normally used to fill in harsh shadows to create a softer look. Duck lamps are often used to holds these bounce boards in place. This can easily be done by attaching the clamp onto a C-stand and then clamping the board in place. A square bounce and a circular bounce can have different reflections in the eye. A circular bounce looks more natural in comparison to a square bounce when reflected in the eye. These bounce boards can be used to fill in shadows on set for the next project.

Paper Amps

In a detailed paragraph answer the following:

What is the concept of paper amps? Why is it so important to keep in mind when you are lighting on set?

You are lighting a scene and using the following lights:

1000w tungsten fresnel
750w open faced tungsten light
650w tungsten fresnel
2 - 300w tungsten fresnel's

How many amps would this setup draw? If you had to use this inside a house, how would you go about safely setting this up?

Paper amps refers to the total wattage divided by 100. When amps are not kept in mind, the breaker can pop resulting in a power outage. If the circuit is able to withstand the wattage, then it will safely conduct electricity. The wattage of the light is usually listed on the side of the light when calculating whether or not there is sufficient space for the electricity. Keep in mind that paper amps are usually higher than the actual amp measurement. In the end, the best of thumb is one light per wall. In the given example, the lights will draw a total of 30 paper amps. Regarding how most houses have a capacity of 15 to 20 amps. Therefore, it will be the safest to plug in one light per wall if possible, or two low-energy lights per wall.

Using Solids on Set

What does a toper and a bottomer do? What are cutters used for? Whats a lenser? What is a courtesy?

A toper cuts light from the top, while a bottomer cuts the light from the bottom. Cutters are 2 inches by 6 inch floppies that can be flopped down into a 4 by 6 inch. This can be used to cut the light spill often shown in the background. A lenser is used to shade the light and can be done by many different kinds of flags. The courtesy is a type of flag that is used to help the filmmaker see the screen in a bright scenario. If it is windy outside, it is effective to clip the ends of the flag or to pull a heavy piece of metal through the bottom.

Cookies, Nets, and Solids

What are the differences between a cookie, a net and a solid? What are 2 different uses for them on set? If you had to ask someone to go grab a net or a flag out of the cart, how would you describe the difference to them?

Cookies are cut out in a way that creates patterns of with lights and shadows. A net, on the other hand, cuts the amount of light through wired frames. A solid, also known as a flag, completely cuts out light to specifically caste a shadow on certain parts of the scene. Cookies can add interesting patterns to a bland background. A net can create a much softer shadow in comparison to a solid flag. The main difference between these is the patterns it creates and the harshness of the shadows. 

Clamps

What are the differences between a cardellini and mafer clamp? What are 2 different uses for them on set? If you had to ask someone to go grab a cardellini clamp out of a box, how would you describe it to them?

Mafer clamps can be used to clamp around circular objects such as poles and stands. It can be used to mount another light on a stand already in use. Mafer clamps occasionally comes with baby pins in them which can be altered for many other kinds of clamps. Cardellini clamps hold onto objects such as tables and pieces of thick wood. It can also be used to hold reflectors and white boards onto stands. Cardellinis, when explains to another party, can be explained as a large, steel, clip attached to a medium length pole.

Drip VS. Electrical Dept.

What are 3 key differences between the grip and electrical department on set? What is one thing from this video that adds to your understanding of what the grip department does?

1. Grips are in charge of controlling the light, rather than setting it up. This includes diffusion, gels, and barn doors.

2. Gaffer works with the lights and cables; anything that has to do with electrical power will be handled by the gaffer.

3. Grips also work with the camera department with the camera movement.

The entire film crew is like a relay of information. the information usually starts from the director, organizing the information according to people's professions.

Basic Grip Gear

Your gaffer has tasked you with packing up a grip package for your current film noir shoot. Create a comprehensive list of all of the gear that you would need for your grip package. Be detailed! use the jargon and terminology that you have learned so far. You should easily have over 10-20 items.

1. grip box
2. fresnel light fixture (3)
3. sift box
4. power strip
5. light dimmer (3)
6. A clamp
7. C47
8. black wrap
9. cables
1. stingers
10. gobo head (4)
11. C-Stand (4)
12. Mafer clamp (2)
13. Flashlight
14. Reflectors

RJFS Grip Equipment

In a detailed paragraph answer the following:

1. What are 3 key things that Dominic goes over in this video?
2. What is important to keep in mind when building a large frame?
3. What is one new thing that you've learned from this video?

Platypus is mostly used for bounce boards that are attached to a C-stand. They are relatively easy to to handle, as is the Cardellini. This has two different types including the center jaw type and the end jaw. These can attach to various things ranging from poles to stands. A gobo head, also known as a grip head, can be used to secure different grip equipments onto it. A big frame requires  four corners and ears in order to create the desired size frame. I learned that there are multiple variations of a similar function for different sizes of pins or lighting fixtures. In the end, all of these variations are necessary in order to create all of the desired lighting fixtures safely.

Thursday, January 24th

In a detailed paragraph answer the following:

1. What is the role of the grip department? What are their responsibilities?
2. What is the Key Grips role in that department? What are their responsibilities?
3. What are two new things that you've learned from this video?

The grip department collaborates with the Cinematographer and the Gaffer in order to sculpt the light into the desired look. Overall, they are responsible of overlooking the general safety and welfare of the cast and crew. The Key Grip is the department head who participates in the preparation while collaborating with the Cinematographer and the Gaffer. Here, the scrip is broken down, location is scouted, and special equipment is prepared. There are multiple reflectors that help reflect the light in many different ways. When it is too bright, negative fill can be used to creates shadows within the frame.

Using Flags

In a detailed paragraph answer the following:

1. What is the purpose of flags? How can they be used to shape light?
2. What are cookies? How do they affect the image?
3. How can you combine these instruments to shape your light?

Flags kill unwanted spill that created unintended shadows in unwanted places. This may help bring about contrast into the scene as a negative fill. Cookies can help create a pattern with the light to add texture into the scene. This is add subtle detail in a bland scene. By combining these instruments, unwanted spilled light can be tamed to create the desired look. 

Current Project Status

What is the current status of your current project? What are the challenges you are facing during production? Why is it over due? What are 3 immediate actions you can put into effect to finish principal photography and begin post production?

I have finished shooting all the scenes that need to be shot on the stage and all of the equipment have been put away. The only scene left is the one outside where David gets fatally shot. On Tuesday, I will be considering how to light the scene so that I can start shooing on Wednesday. Some challenges in the shooting include actor availability and insufficient experience in lighting. It could be considered "over due" the production started later than expected because it took unexpectedly long to change the wall setup and the create the set. Starting from the 11th, however, I would consider the shooting schedule to be one time. Both cast and crew have been on task and the project would mostly likely finish shooting by Thursday. Some tasks I have left until post production includes establishing the lighting setup outside, rehearsing the scene, and creating a call sheet for the two days left to shoot.

Gels

1. What are CTB gels? What are they used for?
2. What are CTO gels? What are they used for?
3. What are party gels? What are they mainly used for?
4. What are diffusion gels? What are they mainly used for?
5. What are C47's? What are they used for?

CTB gels: blue gels used to convert tungsten to daylight (AKA Color Temperature Blue)

CTO gels: orange gels used to convert daylight to tungsten (AKA Color Temperature Orange)

Party gels: gels with strong primary colors; rarely used

Diffusion gels: gels that cut the amount of light and spread the light source to create softer shadows

C47: wooden clothespins often used to clip sheets of gel onto barn doors

Simple Cinematic Lighting

Answer the following questions a long paragraph:
1. What are the key differences between the four of these lighting setups?
2. What techniques have you learned from this video that you can begin using in your upcoming films?

The sci-fi look has a distinct hair light that separates the subject form the background while keeping the majority of the background in a mysterious darkness. A colored light works nicely in this situation because it creates a world that is out of this world. This set up has texture given in the reflection so that is adds to the tone of the set. The Noir set featured a hard light that gave a hard contour on the face. The key light was cerated by bouncing a light, filling in the shadows created by the harsh hair light. The romance set up was created by soft, diffused light that has minimum harsh shadows. This video taught me the importance of considering the situation when lighting the set. The lights can be used outside or inside the set as a working light.

Kino Flo Lights P.2

Answer the following questions a long paragraph:

1. What are 3 important tips that you learned about the kinoflo lights from this walkthrough?

When setting up the fixture, it can be useful to pay attention to the length and the color of each cable so that each bulb is set to the right place. The kinoflo lights can be dimmed by clicking on the two-feet bulb setting that is originally intended to be used when using an actual two-feet bulb instead of four. It is not a great idea to use a dimmer on these lights because the light fixture may disfunction. There is a also a net attachment for the light that can be used to dim the light even further. 

Kinoflo Lights P.1

Answer the following questions a long paragraph:

1. What kind of lights are kino flo? Soft? Hard? Cool? Hot?
2. What makes them so useful and versatile?
3. How are the different from a normal flourscent fixture?

The kino flo lights are florescent bulbed lights that are light and bright enough for convenience when making a movie. This lighting fixture was later developed by the company, who invented lights that light weight enough to be stuck on the wall or the ceiling. It was also innovative that the lights did not flicker like the previous lighting fixtures. They are also energy efficient because they do not produce as much heat in comparison to other lights.

HMI Light

Answer the following questions a long paragraph:

1. What makes the HMI light so unique?
2. What are some applications that you can use the HMI for?
3. What do the different lenses do?
4. How is the Arri M8 different from the other HMI light?

HMI lights are unique in a sense that they have multiple applications that is very small yet very powerful at the same time. This can be used to bounce in lights, create hotspots in the background, and reflect light off of large white boards. HMI light lenses allow for the light to be spread apart in a certain way or be shaped according to the scene.  Arri M8 on the other hand, does not require a different lenses to be handled with gloves. Arri M8 can be more powerful than other HMI lights. This type of light is very consistent in its color temperature. 

Shaping Hard Light

Answer the following questions a long paragraph:

1. What do you notice is challenging when shaping hard light?
2. What are two new things you've learned from this video walkthrough?

Shaping hard light requires small adjustments with the shape of the light using blades and the size of the circle. The harshness of the light can also be adjusted in order to create the desired result. The lens must also be chosen so that there is enough area of the surface that is lit. Adjusting the light according to the surface can reduce unwanted like leakage. This video taught me that the light source can have different lenses that allow for a different throw length. This type of light is a lot more versatile than I imaged previously to the video.

Outdoor Lighting

Answer the following questions a long paragraph:

1. What are the four techniques you have available to you when trying to improve your lighting at noon? How do each of these four techniques affect your image?

When improving the lighting, you can use reflectors, white boards, diffusion, and location. Outside always provides one source of light-the sun. At midday, it is placed right above the actor, creating an unflattering raccoon eye effect. At these times, it is important to keep the four techniques in mind. Reflectors can help fill in harsh shadows while white boards can fill in the crisp shadows casted on the subject. Diffusion can create a softer light overall on the subject. These technique can be used together in order to create the ideal effect. Location is not always an option, but when it is, it is convenient to move the scene where the subject and the background will be in the shadows.

Lens Filters

Answer the following questions a long paragraph:

1. What is a soft filter? What does it do to your image?
2. What do polarizers do? What does it do to your image?
3. What are neutral density filters? How are graduated filters different?

A soft filter is placed either in front of the lens or in the matte box that softens the image. This filter creates an image with a "dreamy" quality which can be chosen from different degrees of softening. Polarizers help reduce glare and increase saturation / exposure of the image. As a result, the image will reflect a more accurate color. ND filters cuts down the amount of light, helping the cinematographer have more freedom in exposure settings. Graduated ND filters can darken a half the frame while the other side remains at a clear level.

Spring Semester ADV Goals

Look back at your goals that you set in the fall, did you achieve them? Why or why not? How can you make steps or corrections to achieve these goals? Where will you need to look to gather help or resources?

Next, set some new goals to achieve by the end of the course this May.

Please write a complete paragraph on each of three goals you set in the fall, along with an introduction paragraph.

I went into the advanced class setting some goals for myself to accomplish by the end of the year. Overall, I found it difficult to achieve them because I was so busy with college applications outside of class; time outside of class was vital for some of these goals to be achieved. With that in mind, some of these goals can be reconsidered as this semester's goals as well.

1. Have an understanding of how Adobe After Effects works. 

I can say I have a very basic understanding of how After Effects works in comparison to my very limited knowledge at the beginning of the year. This is mostly due to the time I had over the break to experiment with the software. I made a couple of short videos that last a couple seconds that helped me focus on specific aspect of the software. As a result, I can make some basic clips on this site. However, I must admit that I am able to make more with the skills I have on Premiere. I will work towards using this software more to achieve a similar level of proficiency on After Effects as well.

2. Understand all of the color correction panel's functionalities

Although I am sure I have not mastered all functionalities, I now have a better understanding of how to interpret the information projected on the waveform graphs. The waveform graph is quite simple, yet at the beginning of the year, I did not know how to put the information I gained from the graph into use. There are still other panels available in Lumetri Color so I hope to explore them more this semester. I may consider using another software so that I can work with nodes.

3. Create varied projects outside of class

This is the goal I struggled with the most due to the business outside of class. Though I did my best to create content in the earlier months of the first semester, by the final months of the semester, I was at a point where I was not even able to consider it as an option. That is why I hope to create more content outside class so that I can incorporate those skills for in-class projects and assignments. Depending on the content I make, I may be able to submit them to a film festival.

Goals to achieve by the end of the course this May:

1. Be more involved

Now that I have more time in my hands, I want to be more involved in CreaTV and film festival volunteering. 

2. Reach a level of proficiency on After Effects so that I can see a significant benefit in using After Effects over Premiere Pro

At my current level, I am able to do so much more in Premiere Pro. All of the things I can do on After Effects, I can replicate in Premiere. I want to edit more on After Effects so that I can understand the benefit of the software more.

3. Create a project involving motion graphics

This is another goal involving After Effects; I believe such project will help me achieve the second goal simultaneously. Because this project would take more time for each frame, I requires a level of time commitment, but I hope to complete this project by the end of the semester.