Tuesday 27 November 2012
Attention A2 Media Students Advanced Skills Check that you know what to do on your shoot
Here are the 3 most crucial things you must be doing on your shoots - from looking at some of the footage groups have returned there seems to be a lack of skills preparation despite covering this on the blog with instructional videos
You edited this video so you could see how you should be filming yours - look carefully at the framing, the angles (they got down on the floor!) where the lights are positioned, the use of focus, how the light creates shadows, the composition of the shots down the guitar/bass neck - ask yourself...
DOES YOUR LOOK THIS PROFESSIONAL? What's the difference? This is what is expected for an A grade - that is why it was given to you as an example to work with
Advanced Production = Advanced Skills = Advanced Cinematography
Without the above you will not get the A you need to carry you through the A Level exam.
So before any more kit is booked all groups must see me for a 30 minute tutorial to discuss and for you to prove you can do the above - do not expect to collect kit on the day without going through this...it has become necessary to take these steps.
Why Use Depth of Field? Here are some of the reasons I love using a shallow depth of field: It directs the viewer’s attention. When we strategically place things out of focus, the viewer doesn’t pay attention to them. Viewers focus on the part of the image that’s in focus. It reduces distraction in the background. Distracting backgrounds can be a huge problem. And unfortunately, they tend to be a normal part of video. You can control depth of field and make distracting backgrounds bearable. It makes the image look more cinematic. If you’re going to be shooting video anyway, you might as well make it look cinematic. :) You can add visual interest. In the birthday cake example above, I described a technique called a “rack focus” which is simply shifting the focus from something in the background to something in the foreground, or the opposite direction. This a technique you can do in video, that you can’t do in a single still photograph. You can probably think of more reasons, but these are the big ones I could immediately generate. So now you know why to use depth of field. Now the question is…how? A Shallow Depth of Field: How to Create It Would you be surprised to find out that your current video camera can most likely create a shallow depth of field? There are a few exceptions, such as the small pocket cameras like the Flip Video camera, Kodak Zi8, or the iPhone. However, with a traditional video camera, here’s how you create a beautiful shallow depth of field: Move far away from your subject (because you’re going to zoom in a lot.) Zoom in a lot (maybe all the way). Open the aperture on your camera all the way. This might be called the f-stop or Iris on your camera, but open it all the way up. It could be that your video camera has a mode called “portrait”. If so, choose that mode.
You edited this video so you could see how you should be filming yours - look carefully at the framing, the angles (they got down on the floor!) where the lights are positioned, the use of focus, how the light creates shadows, the composition of the shots down the guitar/bass neck - ask yourself...
DOES YOUR LOOK THIS PROFESSIONAL? What's the difference? This is what is expected for an A grade - that is why it was given to you as an example to work with
Advanced Production = Advanced Skills = Advanced Cinematography
- Using Pictoral Lighting (Backlighting, Kicking out from the background)
- Composition (Rule of 3rds) & creating Depth & Interesting Perspectives (ie from shots up the guitar neck)
- Using Depth of Field = Shallow Focus & Focus pulls
- Movement, Steadicam, Arcs, Tracks, pans, tilts
- Coverage from 8-10 angles ALL THE WAY THOUGH THE TRACK with LOTS OF CLOSE UP 'SINGLES'
Without the above you will not get the A you need to carry you through the A Level exam.
So before any more kit is booked all groups must see me for a 30 minute tutorial to discuss and for you to prove you can do the above - do not expect to collect kit on the day without going through this...it has become necessary to take these steps.
Why Use Depth of Field? Here are some of the reasons I love using a shallow depth of field: It directs the viewer’s attention. When we strategically place things out of focus, the viewer doesn’t pay attention to them. Viewers focus on the part of the image that’s in focus. It reduces distraction in the background. Distracting backgrounds can be a huge problem. And unfortunately, they tend to be a normal part of video. You can control depth of field and make distracting backgrounds bearable. It makes the image look more cinematic. If you’re going to be shooting video anyway, you might as well make it look cinematic. :) You can add visual interest. In the birthday cake example above, I described a technique called a “rack focus” which is simply shifting the focus from something in the background to something in the foreground, or the opposite direction. This a technique you can do in video, that you can’t do in a single still photograph. You can probably think of more reasons, but these are the big ones I could immediately generate. So now you know why to use depth of field. Now the question is…how? A Shallow Depth of Field: How to Create It Would you be surprised to find out that your current video camera can most likely create a shallow depth of field? There are a few exceptions, such as the small pocket cameras like the Flip Video camera, Kodak Zi8, or the iPhone. However, with a traditional video camera, here’s how you create a beautiful shallow depth of field: Move far away from your subject (because you’re going to zoom in a lot.) Zoom in a lot (maybe all the way). Open the aperture on your camera all the way. This might be called the f-stop or Iris on your camera, but open it all the way up. It could be that your video camera has a mode called “portrait”. If so, choose that mode.
Sunday 25 November 2012
Week 4
Where are you at?
1. Video Diary
What day/date & week - how many left?
What has happened since last week - how much have you got done?
On schedule - What are you feeling (should be that all shooting completed last weekend, photoshoot done, edit started/uploaded)?
What problems have you faced?
How have you/will you solve these problems?
How will you catch up - hours commitment this week?
2. Multiclipping - performance footage
Monday 19 November 2012
Video Diary - Production Diaries
Week 3: To be on target
Completed your SHOOT & PHOTOSHOOT
Remember your photos on set - show that you BOTH filmed/operated cameras/lights etc...
Intro: The day, which week, how things are going...
1. ARE YOU ON SCHEDULE?
2. IF NOT, WHY - WHAT PROBLEMS/REASONS?
3. HOW WILL YOU SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS?
4. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO/PRIORITY & WHEN?
5. WEEK 3 OF 7 PRODUCTION WEEKS... HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAVE YOU MADE?
Monday 12 November 2012
Tuesday 6 November 2012
A2 Mentor groups
Chloe & Nicole: Alex Watt, Ellie, Nicole
Max & Katie: India, Chloe, Nana
Iesha & Alex: Rosie R, Emma Nye, Martin
Kieran & Connie: Grace, Rosie H, Danny
Beckie: Tom, Finn, Reece
Beth: Abbey, Benn, Peter
Maisy: Aimee-Grace, Hannah, Katie Offer?
Nicole: Katie Offer?
Adam & Magda: Callum, Molly, Chris
Georgina & Abbie: David, Jake, Toby
Joe: Debbie, Megan, Sophie Butcher
Max & Katie: India, Chloe, Nana
Iesha & Alex: Rosie R, Emma Nye, Martin
Kieran & Connie: Grace, Rosie H, Danny
Beckie: Tom, Finn, Reece
Beth: Abbey, Benn, Peter
Maisy: Aimee-Grace, Hannah, Katie Offer?
Nicole: Katie Offer?
Adam & Magda: Callum, Molly, Chris
Georgina & Abbie: David, Jake, Toby
Joe: Debbie, Megan, Sophie Butcher
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