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Video & Sound Production - Exercises

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Week 01 - Week 14

Qistina Nuralya Maria Binti Azly / 0354180

Video and Sound Production / Bachelors of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Exercises

Table of contents

1. MODULE INFORMATION BOOKLET (MIB)

2. LECTURE/CLASS MATERIAL NOTES

3. EXERCISES

3.1 Editing Exercise 1 & 2

3.2 Shooting Exercise

3.3 Editing Exercise 3

3.4 Three-act Structure Exercise

1. MODULE INFORMATION BOOKLET (MIB)

This is the Module Information Booklet for this module:

File 1.1 Module Information Booklet (PDF)

2. LECTURE/CLASS MATERIAL NOTES

Week 1

For our 1st class, Mr. Martin briefed us on Video & Sound Production as a module which included briefly talking about our upcoming projects:

Project 1 : Audio Dubbing

Project 2 : Shooting Practise & Editing

Final Project : Stop Motion

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Shot Size, Angle & Framing


Fig 2.1 Different Shot sizes (Source)

Shot size, camera angle, and framing are elements of visual storytelling utilized in film, television, and other visual media.

  • Shot size : the amount of space visible within a single shot or frame. Different shot sizes convey various types of information or evoke different emotional effects. For instance, a close-up shot captures a small area in great detail, often highlighting a character's emotions or reactions, while a wide shot displays a larger area, typically used to establish the setting or context.
  • Camera angle : the camera's position relative to the subject being filmed. Various angles create different perspectives and convey different information. For example, a high-angle shot looks down on the subject, creating a sense of vulnerability or powerlessness, whereas a low-angle shot looks up at the subject, suggesting power or dominance.
  • Composition : involves arranging visual elements within a shot or frame, including the placement of characters or objects, use of color and lighting, and the overall balance and symmetry. Effective composition creates visual interest, directs the viewer's eye, and conveys meaning or emotion.

These three elements—shot size, camera angle, and composition—are crucial tools for filmmakers and visual storytellers to create meaning and communicate ideas to their audience.

- The Quiz for this week is under 3.2 Understanding Shot size & Framing -

Reflection: I think it's quite fun to learn about how most stories are structured. After learning about it, I started analysing the movies I recently watched (Godzilla x Kong, Kung Fu Panda 4) through the the 3-act structure! It's overall very interesting.

Week 2

We were told in Week 1 that we had no classes for Week 2 because Mr. Martin had an interview to go to so we had to go through the class materials on our own time. This week, we learnt about the three-act method of story telling. 

Three-act Structure Storytelling

Fig 2.2 Three Act Structure (Source)

The three-act story structure, widely used in storytelling, especially in film and literature, divides a narrative into three main parts: the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution.

Act One, known as the Setup, introduces the protagonist, their world, and the circumstances they're in. It typically concludes with an inciting incident, a significant event that disrupts the protagonist's life and compels them to take action.

Act Two, referred to as the Confrontation, is the longest and most intricate segment. Here, the protagonist encounters a series of obstacles and challenges while striving towards their objective. This act often consists of two halves: initial progress towards the goal followed by setbacks and complications. The second act usually concludes with a major turning point, forcing the protagonist to reconsider their approach due to a significant setback or crisis.

Act Three, the Resolution, is where the story reaches its climax and eventual resolution. The protagonist faces their ultimate challenge or conflict and must overcome it to achieve their goal. The climax is the most intense part, with high stakes and peak tension. The resolution serves as the conclusion, tying up loose ends and providing a satisfying conclusion to the protagonist's journey.

In summary, the three-act story structure offers a strong structured framework for storytelling, enabling writers to craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences.

Quiz

Fig 2.3 My quiz results (Three-Act Structure)

I managed to get 10/10 for this quiz! I'd say this was more easier to do since I'm currently more to narrative writing than the technical camera shots/angles/etc.

Reflection: I think it's quite fun to learn about how most stories are structured. After learning about it, I started analysing the movies I recently watched (Godzilla x Kong, Kung Fu Panda 4) through the the 3-act structure! It's overall very interesting.

Week 3

Storyboard in Film Making

Fig 2.4 Storyboard example (Source)

A storyboard in filmmaking is a graphic representation of a film, animation, or video game, similar to a comic strip. It consists of a succession of pictures or images displayed in order to pre-visualize a film, animation, motion graphic, or interactive media sequence.

Storyboards are used to organize shots, understand narrative flow, and communicate ideas with the production team. They may include camera angles, character movements, dialogue, and even remarks on special effects or sound. This allows the director, cinematographer, and other crew members to picture the sequences and prepare for the shooting process.

Storyboarding is an important element of the pre-production process because it allows filmmakers to test multiple visual approaches, detect potential difficulties, and make required changes before filming begins, saving time and costs.

Quiz

Fig 2.5 My quiz results (Storyboard in Film Making)

I managed to get 10/10 for this quiz! Which was sort of a relief since I remember as a kid I would study so many storyboards of cartoons I watched at the time so it was be embarrassing for me to NOT know what storyboards were haha

Reflection: I actually had a dream to work as a storyboard artist in an animation film so it was interesting to learn what would've entailed if I'd pursue that dream. Honestly, I still think it's something I'd like to do but I still want to experiment on creating animations first before I fully want to focus on organising the shots or characters in the film I'd work on in the future.

Week 4

Production stages

Fig 2.6 Production stages in Filming (Source)

Filmmaking involves three key phases: pre-production, production, and post-production. Here’s a concise summary of each:

  1. Pre-production: This is the planning phase where all preparations are made before filming starts. Activities include scriptwriting, storyboarding, casting, location scouting, set and costume design, and hiring the crew. 
  2. Production: During this phase, the actual filming occurs. The team collaborates to capture all necessary footage, following the plans laid out in pre-production. This stage can be demanding, requiring the coordination of a large crew and adherence to a tight schedule.
  3. Post-production: In this phase, the filmed footage is edited and compiled into the final version of the film. This involves cutting and arranging scenes, adding music and sound effects, color grading, and incorporating visual effects. Post-production is meticulous and crucial for refining the story.

After post-production, the film may proceed to distribution and marketing, though these are not part of the production process.

Production Crew

Fig 2.6 The Production crew of Bridgerton (Source)

The production crew is a team of specialists who collaborate to create a film or video. Each crew member has a specific role and set of duties critical to the production's success. Here are some key production crew members and their responsibilities:

  1. Director: The director oversees the entire production, ensuring the project's creative vision is achieved. They work closely with the cast and crew to plan scenes, direct actors' performances, and make creative decisions regarding the film's look and feel.
  2. Producer: The producer handles the logistical and financial aspects of the production. They secure funding, hire the crew, manage the schedule and locations, and ensure the project is completed on time and within budget.
  3. Cinematographer: Also known as the director of photography (DP), the cinematographer is responsible for the film's visual style. They collaborate with the director to select the right camera, lenses, and lighting to create the desired look and mood for each scene.
  4. Production Designer: The production designer oversees the film's overall visual design, including sets, costumes, and props. They work with the director and cinematographer to create a cohesive and immersive visual environment for the story.
  5. Sound Designer: The sound designer manages the film's audio elements, such as recording and editing dialogue, sound effects, and music. They work with the director and editor to ensure the sound and visuals are well-integrated.
  6. Editor: The editor assembles the footage into a coherent and engaging story. They collaborate with the director and sound designer to shape the film's pacing, tone, and structure.

Many other roles, such as grips, gaffers, makeup artists, and stunt coordinators, are also essential, but these are some of the key positions in the filmmaking process.

Quiz

Fig 2.7 My quiz results (Production Stages)

Hooray!! I got correct on this whole quiz!! I sometimes do watch film analysis videos and they mention about the production stages quite a bit so I think that helped my overall understanding a lot.

Fig 2.8 My quiz results (Production Crews)

I unfortunately got the first question wrong for this quiz because I was confused of whether the Director was also in charge of visual aesthetic since they're also directing how the film would look like. But now I realise that its actually the cinematographer's job to supervise the film's visual style.

Reflection: Reading this helped me to understand what really goes through a single film and how many people are really needed to create a single working idea. It goes to show how important each production role is whether it be the major directing job or the more "minor" editing job. (minor is in "" since editing is still quite a big role in post-production)

Week 5

Colour Correction

Fig 2.7 Colour Grading in Filming (Source)

Colour Correction:

  • Fixes issues and balances shots to make them look natural and unified.
  • Make sure footage looks exactly the way the human eye sees things.

Vs.

Colour Grading:

  • Adjusts color and contrast to create a visual style or mood.
  • Helps to convey a visual tone or mood to heighten the narrative.

Fig 2.9 My quiz results (Colour Correction)

Reflection: I always liked when film utilised colour grading to make scenes more tense or calm. A lot of times, people think if a film has realistic lighting then that's already good enough but some films have a missed opportunity to enhance the mood of their films by simply shifting hues of the scene to better match the tone. All-in-all, it was fun to learn the technicalities of colour correction and grading.

Week 6

Mise en scène

Fig 2.10 Colour Grading in Filming (Source)

Mise en scène: a French term that translates literally to "placing on stage." 

In the realms of theater, film, and other visual storytelling mediums, it refers to the overall visual arrangement and presentation of a scene. This concept encompasses everything that appears within the frame or on stage and how these elements are organized to convey meaning, emotion, and narrative to the audience.

Key Components of Mise en Scène

  1. Setting and Location:
    • Physical Space: The environment where the action takes place, whether it's a realistic setting like a living room or an abstract, symbolic space.
    • Time Period: The era in which the story is set, influencing costumes, props, and set design.
  2. Props and Objects:
    • Items used by characters or present in the scene that can symbolize themes, indicate character traits, or advance the plot.
  3. Costume and Makeup:
    • Clothing and makeup that reflect a character’s personality, social status, occupation, or psychological state.
  4. Lighting:
    • The use of light and shadow to create mood, highlight specific elements, and guide the audience’s focus. For example, high-contrast lighting can create a dramatic or tense atmosphere.
  5. Composition and Framing:
    • How elements are arranged within the frame or on stage, including camera angles in film or the positioning of actors in theater. This affects how the audience perceives relationships and power dynamics.
  6. Performance and Acting:
    • The actors’ physical movements, facial expressions, and interactions contribute significantly to the mise en scène, conveying emotions and subtext.
  7. Color Palette:
    • The selection of colors used in costumes, sets, and lighting can evoke specific emotions or symbolize thematic elements.
  8. Spatial Relationships:
    • The distance and arrangement between characters and objects, which can indicate intimacy, conflict, or hierarchy.


Fig 2.11 My quiz results (Mise en scène)

Reflection: One of the movies I love that really utilised Mise en Scene is Knives Out where Richard, after seeing the "empty" letter on Harlan's desk, scoffs and throws a baseball from Harlan's collection out the window. That thrown baseball would then lead to the next shot of Benoit Blanc leaving the mansion. But there's more; The baseball then ends up being taken by one of the dogs and later in the film be brought to Linda. Linda then brings be back the baseball to her father's office, only to find that "empty" letter but uses her secret communication technique her and father used to have and fins out about Richard's affair. It might just be a simple object but that baseball helped to subtlety tell a narrative without any character outright telling the audience of the subtle chain of events. Which is exactly why I love Knives Out!

Week 7

Film Sound


Fig 2.12 Film Sound Effects (Source)

Sound design has progressed from simple effects to a sophisticated art form that significantly contributes to a film's narrative and emotional impact. Incorporating ambient sounds, such as environmental noises, footsteps, and background chatter, helps create a realistic setting and immerses the audience in the film's world.

Establishing Realism: Using appropriate sound effects, often crafted by Foley artists, filmmakers can establish realism, making fictional settings and characters feel authentic.

Emotional Impact: Sound effects can influence the audience's emotions as powerfully as visual elements, enhancing tension, excitement, or empathy within a scene.

Creative Techniques: The article highlights various sound effect techniques, such as echo, flanger, phaser, and pitch shift, which are used to create unique auditory experiences in films.

Resource Recommendations: For filmmakers seeking to enhance their projects, the article provides resources and guides on sound design, including the ultimate guide to sound recording and best sites for horror sound effects.

Fig 2.11 My quiz results (Mise en scène)

Reflection: Whenever I'm watching a film, there's a 20% chance I sometimes zone out and imagine the layers of sound effects within a scene in the film. Especially during intense moments like a fighting scene or the more calm moments like a "walking in the city in the rain" scene. My brain isolates each sound effect, both diegetic and non-diegetic, making it so I can appreciate the work that goes into timing and synchronising sounds post production.

3. EXERCISES

3.1 Editing Exercise 1 & 2

Week: 1 & 2

Editing exercise instructions:

  1. Download footage: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LI54P6zPIcdXOPpzChp637Fk3NRvVdoW?usp=sharing
  2. Create NEW Premiere Pro Project
  3. Import footage into Premiere Pro
  4. Arrange shots on timeline with proper order
  5. Export video
Videos:

Video 3.1.1 Mint Video.

Video 3.1.2 Doritos Video.

3.2 Understanding Framing

Week: 2

Identifying Shots:

Slides 3.2.1 Understanding Framing

Shooting Exercise:

Video 3.2.1 Shooting Exercise.

3.3 Editing Exercise 3 (Lalin)

Week: 2

Instructions

Second editing exercise instructions:

  1. Download the footage: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LGt1c2xPYia6gzLQGG_IuLnXgLvQnJvu?usp=sharing
  2. View the Original video: https://youtu.be/dSvEKiRB8EY
  3. Watch the Editing tutorial video: https://youtu.be/mmQHkApEREM
  4. Lalin final cut: Edit to 35 seconds sharp.
Final
Video 3.3.1 Lalin 35 Seconds.

3.4 Three-Act Structure Exercise

Week: 4

Instructions

Based on Everything Everywhere All At Once and Lalin, 

1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only. 

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

5.What is the theme of the movie?

Everything Everywhere All At Once

1. Acts Breakdown:

Act 1:
The story begins by introducing Evelyn Wang, a Chinese-American laundromat owner, overwhelmed by her struggling business, a strained marriage, and a tense relationship with her daughter, Joy. Amidst this chaos, Evelyn prepares for a dreaded IRS audit. The mundane setting is disrupted when her husband, Waymond, from an alternate universe (Alpha-Waymond), reveals the existence of the multiverse and her unique role in saving it.

Act 2:
Evelyn begins her journey through the multiverse, learning to tap into the skills and experiences of her alternate selves. As she faces Jobu Tupaki, the antagonist, Evelyn realizes that Jobu is her own daughter, Joy, who has embraced nihilism after being overwhelmed by the multiverse's infinite possibilities. 

Act 3:
Evelyn's journey culminates in her emotional and philosophical confrontation with Jobu Tupaki. Rejecting Jobu’s nihilism, Evelyn uses love, empathy, and acceptance to heal the fractures in her family. She reconciles with Waymond, affirms Joy's identity and struggles, and embraces her imperfect life. 

2. Inciting Incident:

The inciting incident occurs when Alpha-Waymond informs Evelyn at the IRS office about the multiverse, her unique potential, and the impending threat posed by Jobu Tupaki. This revelation disrupts Evelyn's mundane life and thrusts her into a larger conflict.

3. Midpoint Scene:

The midpoint is when Evelyn fully comprehends the extent of the multiverse and Jobu Tupaki’s philosophy of nihilism. The scene where Jobu demonstrates the everything bagel, a black hole of infinite destruction, symbolizes the overwhelming chaos Evelyn must confront. This marks a shift in Evelyn's perception, setting the stage for her to actively engage with the conflict.

4. Climax Scene:

The climax occurs when Evelyn confronts Jobu Tupaki at the everything bagel. Instead of fighting her daughter, Evelyn chooses to embrace her with unconditional love and understanding, rejecting the nihilism and showing Joy that meaning can still be found amidst the chaos. This emotional resolution parallels Evelyn's reconciliation with her own family and self.

5. Theme:

The theme of Everything Everywhere All At Once is the search for meaning in an infinite, chaotic universe and the transformative power of love and human connection. The film emphasizes that even amidst existential uncertainty, small moments of kindness and love are what give life its meaning.

My Name is Lalin

1. Acts Breakdown:

  • Act 1: Lalin, a Thai girl studying in Japan, is introduced as a popular "net idol" who meticulously curates her online image to portray an idealized version of herself, a person with no acne or "ugliness". Despite her online popularity, she conceals her true self behind a physical mask. 

  • Act 2: Lalin starts messaging a guy named "Nut" online and forms a relationship with Nut. However, she still hides her actual face whenever video-calling him as that feeling of self-shame still lives within her despite finding happiness with her time spent with Nut. Nut tells her that he'll be visiting Japan for a while and initiates that they should meet-up. Lalin reluctantly agrees.

  • Act 3: The day arrives when Nut and Lalin are supposed to meet and Nut waits patiently at the cafe. Lalin, however, is a nervous wreck. After a short breakdown, Lalin ends up standing up Nut. Nut leaves dejectedly and messages Lalin about it. Lalin then realises that Nut was actually an old classmate of hers in highschool and he was the only one who treated her normally. Lalin then realises what she'd done and runs after Nut as he's about to leave Japan.

2. Inciting Incident:

When Lalin is messaged by the 'Nut' guy and they begin to form a relationship.

3. Midpoint Scene:

Lalin, overwhelmed by the fake-persona she's created, contemplates the impact of her lying, leading to a critical self-examination and the decision to seek change.

4. Climax Scene:

The climax unfolds happens when Lalin and Nut are supposed to meet but Lalin decides to stand-up Nut.

5. Theme:

"My Name is Lalin" talks about the rocky pursuit of self-acceptance in a world dominated by superficial beauty standards and the pressures of social media.

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