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Video & Sound Production Exercises

Video & Sound Production



23/09/2024--26/11/2024   

Zhang WanRu / 0368214/Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

Taylor's University

Video & Sound Production Exercises

Week1

Shot size: 

Reading: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-camera-shots/#shot-size 

Video: https://youtu.be/AyML8xuKfoc?si=_xLVEotEBZG9VQk2 

Camera Shots：A camera shot is composed of the series of frames that are shot uninterrupted from the moment the camera starts rolling until it stops.  Camera shots are an essential aspect of filmmaking and video productions, because by combining different types of shots, angles and camera movements, the filmmakers are able to emphasize specific emotions, ideas and movement for each scene.

Types of Camera Shot Sizes

1.Extreme Wide Shot (ELS)：An extreme long shot (or extreme wide shot) make your subject appear small against their location. You can use an extreme long shot to make your subject feel distant or unfamiliar.
2.Long Shot (LS) / Wide Shot (WS)：The long shot (also known as a wide shot, abbreviated “WS”) is the same idea, but a bit closer. If your subject is a person then his or her whole body will be in view — but not filling the shot. there should be a good deal of space above and below your subject. Use a long shot (or wide shot) to keep your subject in plain view amidst grander surroundings.
3.Full Shot (FS)
4.Medium Long Shot (MLS) / Medium Wide Shot (MWS)：A medium long shot (aka medium long shot) frames the subject from roughly the knees up.
5.Cowboy Shot：A variation on this is the Cowboy Shot, which frames the subject from roughly mid-thighs up. 
6.Medium Shot (MS)：frames from roughly the waist up and through the torso.So it emphasizes more of your subject while keeping their surroundings visible. 
7.Medium Close Up (MCU)：The medium close-up frames your subject from roughly the chest up.
8.Close Up (CU)：it is often their face.
9.Extreme Close Up (ECU)：An extreme close-up is the most you can fill a frame with your subject. It often shows eyes, mouths and gun triggers. In extreme close-up shots, smaller objects get great detail and are the focal point.
10.Establishing Shot

Fig 1.1 Shot Size

Fig.1.2. Angle
Example：

Fig.1.3 example

Types of Camera Shot Framing：Camera shot framing is the art and science of placing subjects in your shots. Camera shots are all about composition. Rather than pointing the camera at the subject, you need to compose an image.

1.Single Shot
2.Two Shot
3.Three Shot
4.Over-the-Shoulder Shot (OTS)：
An over-the-shoulder shot shows your subject from behind the shoulder of another character. Over-the-shoulder shots can help to provide orientation, and connect the characters on an emotional level. 
5.Point-of-View Shot (POV)
a technique called shot-reverse shot:
～A camera shot of a character looking at something
～Cut to your (POV) point of view camera shot
～A camera shot showing the character's reaction

Types of Camera Shot Focus

1.Rack Focus / Focus Pull
2.Shallow Focus
3.Deep Focus
4.Tilt-Shift
5.Soft Focus
6.Split Diopter


Week 2
Understand Storytelling
What is the 3 Act Structure?
The three act structure is a narrative model that divides stories into three parts — Act One, Act Two, and Act Three, or rather, a beginning, middle, and end.
Some writers label these three acts the setup, build, and payoff. Both are correct. But the basic point of each of these acts is that they have their own set of guidelines to develop, build, and resolve a story.
On a basic level, Act One sets up the world, characters, the character’s goal, as well as the conflicts or obstacles that are preventing them from achieving their goal. Act Two raises the stakes for the character to achieve the goal, escalating the conflict. Act Three resolves the story with either an achievement of that goal or a failure.
3 Act Structure Breakdown
1. The Hook
2. The Inciting Event
3. First Plot Point
4. The First Pinch Point
5. The Midpoint
6. Second Pinch Point
7. Third Plot Point
8. Climax
9. Resolution
Figure 1.4 Three Act Structure Breakdown

Week3

Storyboard
What's a storyboard
A storyboard is a visual representation of a film sequence and breaks down the action into individual panels.  It is a series of ordered drawings, with camera direction, dialogue, or other pertinent details.  It sketches out how a video will unfold, shot by shot. It's is similar to a trial-run for your finished film, video, or commercial, laid out in a comic book-like form.
～Drawings, sketches, reference images or photographs to represent each frame.
～A description of the shot — any relevant information on the action, dialogue, or composition.
～Shot specs — shot size, lens length, two-shot, etc.
～Arrows to indicate camera and/or character movement or how each shot connects to the next.
Traditional vs. thumbnail
Traditional storyboards are what we see above — basic pencil sketches that include detailed information like arrows for camera movement, characters, props, etc.
There are also thumbnail style storyboards that don’t have any writing. Keep in mind I use the term thumbnail in this article and was referring to the image, not this style board. Again, the more detail you put into it, the easier it will be to execute later.
How to create a film storyboard 
1.Identify key scenes in the script
2.Map out the key scenes
3.Add images or sketches
4.Describe what happens in each frame
5.Share it with your team
6.Finally, reference it on the day

Instructions

Exercises
Week1
Organize video clips
This week, we need to use the footage provided by the teacher Adobe Premiere Pro, cut all the footage out in the proper order.
Steps:
1.  Download footage
2.  Create new Premium Pro Project
3.  Import footage into Premium Pro
4.  Arrange shots on timeline with proper order
5.  Export video


Fig.1.1Mints video clips

Fig 1.2 Doritos video clips

The first set of video clips, an advertisement for mints, was shown to us by the teacher in class. They are all clearly numbered, so we just need to put them in numbered order. The second set of video clips is the Doritos advertisement, which is not numbered in order, so we need to watch all the clips to find out the order, and the most important thing is to test how we can show it more perfectly.
Fig1.3 Arrange Mints video clips

Fig1.4 Arrange the Doritos video clips

Mints video link:
Fig1.5 Mints Video


Doritos video link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BKm-wXPV3ViCYvI6EzF38FnrKHFZjNXe/view?usp=drive_link

Fig1.6 Doritos video

Fig1.7 Week 1 Asynchronous class quiz result
Week 1 asynchronous class materials reflection：To be honest, this is the second time I use Adobe Premiere Pro. When I was editing the anti-corruption video last semester, a friend recommended me to use it, but I didn't understand it, so I used other video editing apps. But I've had a lot of fun learning to use this this semester. But at the beginning I didn't know what to do, but luckily, the teacher provided some tutorials and videos to watch and learn. When I was working on the Doritos AD, I found that the video clips were not arranged in sequence by serial number, which confused me a bit. So I just watch and learn bit by bit.Because I didn't have the full picture in my head, it was especially difficult to string each shot together. I had to watch each clip multiple times before I could even start editing. Although the process is slow and some sad, but I stuck to it, slowly began to become proficient in it, in fact, it is not so difficult to cut.
Ultimately, this exercise taught me the importance of organizing and arranging clips in video editing. Although it took a lot of time, I now understand how critical it is to structure the material properly to make the editing process go more smoothly.

Week2

The eight shots are as follows:

Low-angle wide shot
Frontal MCU (soft background)
Frontal MS (soft background)
Extreme close-up shot
Side angle MS (soft background)
3/4 angling MCU shot (with blurry/soft background)
CU shot
Eye-level medium wide shot
Fig. 2.1 Shoot and editing practice

Final Shoot and Editing: https://youtu.be/fRCCV-gYfSw

Fig 2.3Final Shoot and Editing

Shooting & Editing Practice

First of all, we need to download the videos and drawings provided by the teacher, and then connect these things.
Fig  2.4 

Then I started to watch the teacher's original video and did a simple ranking.
Fig 2.5 sort
I also watched the teacher's teaching video and the use of special effects mentioned by the teacher.
Effects➡️Video Transitions➡️Dissolve➡️Cross Dissolve
Fig 2.7 Effects
That's the whole process：
Fig 2.9 Final  Lalin
Fig 2.10  Week 2 Asynchronous class quiz result

Week 2 asynchronous class materials reflection：Through these exercises, I learned how to edit videos and add subtitles. This exercise allowed me to gradually understand every step of Adobe Premiere Pro. In the editing exercise (Lalin), the complete reference video and Martin's tutorial helped me better learn and understand Premiere Pro, so that I could finish the task quickly and smoothly. Besides, the teacher also explained the use of special effects to me, so that the video clips I edited were not so stiff.
In class, Mr. Martin gave us time to shoot the video ourselves, but some angles were not accurate at the beginning, so I used the extra time to shoot again. Therefore, in this exercise, I don't think I encountered any big problems.Since the whole process is relatively simple, just drag and drop animations and add sound effects, this task was not too challenging for me. I have mastered the basic operation of Adobe Premiere Pro through these exercises.

Week 2 asynchronous class materials Questions

1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only. 
Lalin 
Act One: Lalin is introduced, a girl who, despite presenting herself confidently on social media, actually suffers from appearance anxiety. One day, a boy named "Astronaut Nut" waits for her in a cafe, but she is very afraid to meet him, fearing that he will hate her when he sees her as she really is. Act 2: Lalin struggles with the question of whether to meet, but in the end she chooses to say hurtful things and push him away, forcing him to leave. Act 3: Lalin finally reads what Astronaut Nut wrote for her, tears down her face, and realizes that the people she hurt are the ones who really care about her.
Evelyn 
The first act introduces Evelyn Wang, a laundry owner who struggles with daily family and financial pressures. Her life takes a drastic turn and everything begins to change when she is told that she has a key role to play in saving multiple real worlds. Scene 2: Evelyn is caught up in the chaos of events, exploring different versions of herself and finding her calling in the multiverse while battling her main antagonist - her daughter - in different timelines. Act III: The climax focuses on the showdown to save the multiverse, but more importantly, Evelyn undergoes a personal transformation, embracing love, family, and self-acceptance to finally resolve her conflict with her daughter.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?
Lalin 
A boy named Astronaut Nut wants to meet Lalin, he has been waiting for her at the cafe, but she is afraid to meet him.
Evelyn
The trigger event is Evelyn being informed of the existence of the multiverse by an alternate version of her husband and informed of her key role in saving the multiverse, diverting the narrative from here.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?
Lalin
She finally decides not to meet with Nut and tells him a lot of sharp words to get him to leave the cafe.
Evelyn
As Evelyn begins to understand and use her abilities in the multiverse, she realizes the extent of her power and the real threat posed by her daughter, accelerating the emotional urgency.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?
Lalin
After Lalin asks Nut to leave, she goes to her seat and sees the book he left for her, the cover is about astronauts, she tears up after reading it and realizes that he really cares about her.
Evelyn
When Evelyn travels through the multiverse to save her daughter, she eventually discovers that love and acceptance, not power or control, are the keys to resolving conflict. This emotional breakthrough marks the high point of the film's tension.

5.What is the theme of the movie?
Lalin
The theme of the story is human connection and confidence, and for those who have appearance anxiety, it is about learning to accept oneself as imperfect and have confidence. The story emphasizes learning to accept yourself for who you are.
Evelyn
The theme revolves around the importance of love and family, as well as existentialism. The film explores how to find more meaning in the infinite choice and reality, and the power to connect with others.

Week4

Storyboard Practice 

Fig 4.1 Story beat

Fig4.2  Storyboard Practice

Production

Production stages：
The most widely agreed-upon, and the method we’ll be going by, contains five distinct stages:
1. Development 
This is where it all begins. Development is the spark. A producer or a screenwriter has an idea, and they begin to make that idea into a movie.
Development is usually overseen by a producer, as they are the person who is responsible for getting the initial pieces together – the creatives, the financing, the general schedule, and so on. Here's a more thorough breakdown.
2. Pre-production
Pre-production is where the rubber hits the road. A producer has put blood, sweat, and tears into getting their project picked up, and finally their wishes have been granted. Time for the hard part: making the movie.
Pre-production refers to all the preparation necessary before filming begins. In other words, it’s everything that happens between financing being secured and production. There’s three major things that have to happen during this stage.
3. Production
 This is when the cameras roll and the footage is captured.The entire process of making a movie is a marathon, but the production phase is a sprint. Usually, a production schedule is as crammed as possible (the longer a shoot, the more expensive it gets).
There are a ton of moving elements within the production stage, but let’s do a quick overview.
4. Post-production
This stage refers to all the work that is done after footage is captured to finish the film. Most people associate post-production with film editing, and while that is a crucial part of the process, there are many other elements at play in the stage.
5. Distribution
Many beginning filmmakers tend to be caught off-guard by this process, which is under-discussed and can be costly and time-consuming. Like most of these stages, distribution is a huge umbrella term that encompasses dozens of different tasks and steps.

Fig 4.3 Week 4 Asynchronous class quiz result (Production stages)

Production Crew


The production crew is a team of professionals who work together to create a film or video. Each member of the crew has a specific role and set of responsibilities, which are essential to the overall success of the production. Here are some of the key production crew members and their tasks:

1.Director: The director is responsible for overseeing the entire production and ensuring that the creative vision for the project is realised. They work closely with the cast and crew to block out scenes, direct the actors' performances, and make creative decisions about the look and feel of the film.

2.Producer: The producer is responsible for the logistical and financial aspects of the production. They secure funding, hire the crew, coordinate the schedule and locations, and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

3.Cinematographer: The cinematographer, also known as the director of photography (DP), is responsible for the visual aesthetic of the film. They work closely with the director to choose the right camera, lenses, and lighting to achieve the desired look and mood for each scene.

4.Production Designer: The production designer is responsible for the overall visual design of the film, including the sets, costumes, and props. They work closely with the director and cinematographer to create a cohesive and immersive visual world for the story.

5.Sound Designer: The sound designer is responsible for the audio aspects of the film, including recording and editing dialogue, sound effects, and music. They work closely with the director and editor to ensure that the sound and picture are seamlessly integrated.

6.Editor: The editor is responsible for assembling the footage into a coherent and compelling story. They work closely with the director and sound designer to shape the pacing, tone, and structure of the film.

There are many other roles on a production crew, including grips, gaffers, makeup artists, and stunt coordinators, but these are some of the key positions and tasks involved in the filmmaking process.

Fig  4.4 Week 4 Asynchronous class quiz result (Production crew)
Week 4 asynchronous class materials reflection：This week, I learned about the various stages and production teams of each film production, which gave me a deeper understanding of the film production process. Learn how the film is made step by step, and understand the specific responsibilities of different staff members in the creation of the film. Even this time I learned about the existence of this sound designer, I always thought it was the job of an editor when I didn't know about it.

Week5
1. Color Correction
Purpose: The main purpose of color correction is to fix technical problems, ensure that the visual effects of the image meet standards, and create a balanced picture.
Content: This includes adjusting exposure, white balance, contrast, saturation, brightness, etc. to ensure picture consistency between different shots and different scenes. It helps eliminate any color deviation caused by suboptimal camera settings or shooting conditions.
Basic Tasks: The task of color correction is to ensure that the color of the picture is accurate and correct it to a natural and realistic visual effect. For example, correct color temperature problems caused by uneven lighting or environmental effects.
2. Color Grading
Purpose: The goal of color grading is to add creative effects to the film and create a specific visual style or emotional atmosphere by changing elements such as hue and contrast.
Content: Color grading involves adjusting the color of the picture to produce a specific atmosphere, emotion or style. For example, movies often use cool colors (such as blue) to create a sense of mystery, or warm colors (such as orange) to convey warmth or passion. It can add emotional depth to the film and also help match the theme or plot of the film.
Artistry: Color grading is not just about technical adjustments, it is more about the expression and creative work of visual art.
3. Color Correction vs Color Grading
Color correction and color grading are usually two different processes, but they are often closely linked in post-production.
First, color correction is performed to ensure that the basic settings of the picture are correct and standardized.
Then color grading is performed to add creative and emotional elements to make the visual style of the film more vivid and unique.
4. Summary
Color correction is to repair and standardize the picture to ensure technical accuracy;
Color grading is to enhance the artistic expression of the film and create specific emotions and visual effects through color.
In modern filmmaking, both are crucial, especially in post-production, and they each play different roles.

Fig  5.1 Week 5 Asynchronous class quiz result (Color Theory, color correction & color grading)

Week 5 asynchronous class materials reflection：Through this study of color theory, I have a deep understanding of the multiple roles of color in movies. Color is not only a visual element, but also an important tool for conveying emotions and creating atmosphere. Through the use of color, movies can affect the audience's emotions and strengthen the development of the plot. For example, blue conveys tranquility and melancholy, while red brings tension; the contrast between cold and warm tones can also create a strong emotional tension in silence. At the same time, I realized the difference between color correction and color grading: correction is to fix technical problems, while grading is to give the film an artistic style and emotional depth. This made me realize that color is not only a technical adjustment, but also an expression of creativity and emotion. In future creations, I will pay more attention to the symbolic meaning and emotional communication of color, and strive to add layers and depth to the film at the visual and emotional levels through color.


Week6

Mise en scène is 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  6.1 Week 6 Asynchronous class quiz result (Mise en scène)
Week 6 asynchronous class materials reflection：Through this study of mise en scène, I deeply realized that every visual element in a film—such as the set, props, costumes, lighting, and composition—is not just for aesthetic or technical needs, but is used to enhance the film's emotional expression and thematic communication. By carefully arranging these elements, mise en scène helps tell the story, shape the characters, and convey potential symbolic meanings. For example, the use of lighting can create a tense or mysterious atmosphere, while costumes and props express the character's inner conflict or social status through the contrast with the environment. The arrangement of composition and space can also imply the relationship or emotional tension between characters. This made me realize that the emotion of a film does not only rely on dialogue, but also deeply affects the audience's perception and emotions through visual means. In future creations, I will pay more attention to the use of these visual details so that they can better serve the expression of stories and emotions.

Week7
Sound Effects Techniques
1. The role of sound in movies
Sound is not just to supplement the picture, it is an important part of the film narrative, which can enhance the emotional atmosphere, increase the plot tension, and provide more sensory information for the audience.
The sound design in the movie includes a variety of sound elements such as dialogue, background sound effects, sound effects (SFX), and ambient sound. They work in coordination to enhance the audience's immersion in the scene.
2. Classification and application of sound effects
Ambient sound: Background sound can provide a sense of reality and time and space background for the scene. For example, in a busy city scene, the sound of street traffic and the sound of pedestrians talking can make the audience feel the real atmosphere.
Foley sound: It is a sound effect produced "on the spot", such as footsteps, clothes rubbing, etc., which is used to enhance the authenticity and interactivity of the action.
Design sound: These sounds are usually associated with the theme, emotion or fantasy scene of the movie. They are sometimes deformations of natural sounds, or they can be completely creative sounds, such as the sound of monsters in science fiction or horror movies.
The linkage between sound effects and emotions: Sound can profoundly affect the emotional response of the audience. For example, by changing the rhythm, volume, or texture of a sound effect, sound can enhance tension, fear, or joy.
3. Sound Effect Techniques
Layering and Spacing: Sound in a film is arranged in different layers and spaces to direct the audience's attention. For example, certain sounds may be prominent in the foreground, while background sounds are placed in the distance to add depth and breadth to the scene.
Contrast and Emphasis: By contrasting the lightness and heaviness, clarity and blurriness of sound effects, sound can help highlight important plot points or details. For example, when a character's breathing becomes extremely clear, this can emphasize the character's tension or fear.
Rhythm and Beat of Sound: The rhythm and beat of sound can match the rhythm of the film to create a more tense or soothing atmosphere. Faster-paced sound effects usually appear in action scenes, while slower-paced sound effects may be used for suspense or emotional scenes.
4. Creativity in Sound Design
Sound design is not only a reproduction of real-world sounds, it is also a creative expression. For example, in many fantasy or horror films, sound effects are often exaggerated or reshaped, or even completely fictitious sounds are created to increase the visual and emotional impact.
Fusion of sound and music: The combination of music and sound effects is also extremely important. Music is usually responsible for guiding emotions, while sound effects reinforce specific actions or events. The combination of the two can make the emotional expression of the film richer.

The purpose of sound design in movies is not only to let the audience hear what is happening on the screen, but also to immerse the audience in the world of the movie through the details, layers, emotional guidance and creative presentation of the sound. Excellent sound design can enhance the emotional atmosphere of the film, promote the development of the plot, and deepen the audience's perception and understanding of the world of the movie through the use of sound effects.

Fig  7.1 Week 7 Asynchronous class quiz result (Film Sound)
Week 7 asynchronous class materials reflection：Through this study of film sound, I have a deep understanding of the key role of sound in film narrative. Homogeneous sounds (such as dialogues and footsteps) and non-homogeneous sounds (such as background music and narration) play an important role in shaping emotions and atmosphere. Sound not only enhances the realism of the scene, but also can enhance tension or set the scene through the use of skills, such as hard sound effects (such as gunshots) and ambient sounds (such as wind). I especially noticed that techniques such as sound bridges and counter-tuning can effectively connect scenes or create emotional contrasts, further deepening the emotional tension of the film. Overall, the role of sound in film goes far beyond the technical level. It is an important tool for narrative and emotional expression. In the future, I will pay more attention to sound design and its interaction with the picture and plot in my creation.

Week10
In week10, we learn and use After Effects.
Fig 10.1 process













































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