Dance Barre

Katie Dickens Dance Barre Video  

The lighting setup for this shoot was quite tedious at first, but after a lot of trial and error, we managed to get the look we wanted. There has also been quite some distance from our first video we did to our second one.

Screenshot of our first draft of the first video.

Some of the things we addressed from this shoot were that it looked too dry. The lighting was very bland, C-Stand pole was in the shot and you could see cars driving past through the windows.

From this, we decided to put stickers on the windows to not only stop the reflections but also brighten up the atmosphere and create better vibes for the video. We also changed the lighting setup.

BTS shot of our second shoot setup.

Due to consistency and working around the booking schedule we decided to use two Dedo LED’S and a Kino as well as take advantage of the indoor lighting they had in the studio. We decided to bounce two LED’s from both sides directly to the white walls. We also used the Kino as one key light as she would remain stationary throughout the shoot. The reason for the LED lights against the wall is because it helps get rid of the shadows from the Kino and gives her a subtle back-light from the reflective light.

Below is a screenshot from our second shoot.

Location Sound 

For this shoot, we decided to use two different options for our sound. We used the lapel, which we hid behind her top, and a boom attached to a C-Stand. Both sources of sound were recorded into the f8 zoom field recorder.

The reason for having two options was because it not only gave us more room in post-production, but it was clear that both sources were always going to have their limitations. The lapel gave great clear sound, however, was prone to some static noises due to the rubbing of the mic with her clothing. Also, the transmitter that was strapped to her top wasn’t the most stable and would shake a lot as she was jumping up and down (although we fixed that with gaffer tape). The boom mic was also decent and gave clear audio, however, it did bring in more echo and picked up more ambiance than the lapel. But it was also always intended to be a ‘back-up’ in case the lapel lost signal.

Camera Setup

For our camera setup, we decided to cover it with two C100 MK II’s and Samyang Prime lenses. We had one master shot with a 25mm lens and a side angle with a 50mm lens both locked down on the tripod. The reason for two cameras is because it adds variety to the workout video and has also helped us “cover up” any screw ups that happens within the workout. We also shot in C-Log and AVCHD to give us more room for post-production.

Second Camera Angle Setup

Pitches!

“A good pitch generally has all the information I need in one page. It has the who, what, where, when and the how”? 

Every filmmaker knows that the best way to an investors pocket is through an amazing pitch. Now, although I didn’t have to pitch my idea in front of a crowd, I still found the whole process of presenting my idea a bit scary and its is definitely one of the things that I  need to improve on.

As someone who isn’t the most articulate speaker, this was a task that was rather challenging for me. Reflecting on this experience I felt that I didn’t really ‘sell’ my idea, but more so told the audience ‘about’ my idea. There was an article by FilmmakerMagazine that discussed the top 10 pitching tips from script to screen, one in which has stuck with me. It mentioned that “You should sell yourself, not just your project”(Dawson et al., 2011). That you should put across why you’re passionate about your project because ultimately that will help investors be passionate about it too. This was something I need to improve on for future works, believing in my concept and myself for that matter because like they say; fake it till you make it.

Although I wasn’t present for the initial pitches, I was there to see those whose ideas got chosen pitch for their crew. From my opinion, I think the most successful pitch was done by Maureen. Seeing as she had already seen through almost every aspect of production from writing, scheduling, prod. design and post-production it was clear that this was something that she was really passionate about. As a potential crew member in the audience, I felt that her use of visual aids/ references really helped me understand her vision and made me more immersive in the pitch. However, there was only one thing that I think Maureen could have improved on for her pitch; and that is centering her pitch around her story. I felt throughout the pitch, I, as an audience member was focused solely on the production side of things and didn’t really have a clear understanding of the story behind all of it.

Going back to my own pitch, I feel that one of my weaknesses was that my idea would be fairly hard to execute as we would have to cast several cast, film in alleyways etc. My concept was a rather simple one and was really just meant to be a ‘fun’ film, just to break it up a little bit. I decided to tie this film into the action/hero genre that is becoming more and more prevalent. It was about Hambungler who stalks the city of Big Smoke, intent on populating the streets with toxic, but addictive, burger joints. The community has fought to stop this infestation but many have succumbed until only one person stands for good nutrition and wholesome food, a retired nutritionist and full-time hero, Burgerman. For this pitch, I wanted to be fairly clear and concise with my story from start to finish. I tried not to go too deeply into this however as I wanted to focus on the story, as well as the production side of things. As I am not the most confident speaker I did feel I struggled a bit with how I spoke and would tend to stutter a bit through my words.

 

Overall, I think this was a great experience and one in which I can definitely learn from and implement for future pitches.

Dawson, N., Malin, S., Macaulay, S., Hemphill, J., Astle, R., & Aftab, K. et al. (2011). TOP 10 PITCHING TIPS FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN | Filmmaker Magazine. Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 11 December 2016, from http://filmmakermagazine.com/42999-top-10-pitching-tips-from-script-to-screen/

 

 

Highlight Christening Video

During week 8 of this trimester I had been asked if I could film a christening video for a client. Now,  because I have an inherent need to say yes to everything thrown my way, & because it would be a great opportunity to test out my new slider, I said yes. I was briefed to make a highlight video that would capture the best moments within a 3-4 minute time-frame.

Because it was just me creating this film I decided to use the canon c100 mk ii as I have become quite fond of its compactness, versatility, and low-light capabilities. I also mounted a Cineroid LED light on top of it for that extra light in the dark hall.

Being that this was a very ‘important’ film for the clients I decided to shoot in a very cinematic style with the camera virtually moving smoothly in every shot. I also made the decision to make everything in slow-motion so that the client can re-live those moments a little bit more.

Now, I’ll admit. There was no real clear plan for me in the making of this video which isn’t ideal but kinda helped me in a sense. It turned me into an opportunist as I was always trying to find anything that would contribute to the film. It would also keep me more alert as I didn’t have any clear direction with what I should capture.

As with every film, there are some things that I would have liked to have changed/ do better but I’m trying not to dwell on it but instead learn from it. But all in all, I think the video turned out well and the client is pretty happy with how it turned out.

Final Film below (p.s. press the pop-up button on the top right of the video):

This was a great learning experience for me as it was a great way to test out my cinematography and editing skills throughout this trimester. The main things that I have taken away from this experience though is to:

1. Shoot in sequences – it helps so much with the pacing of the edit and giving the audience an idea of the geographical and temporal continuity of the space. It also makes the edit flow a lot better than single shots.
2. Keep the camera rolling for that extra 5 to 10 seconds – I’ve heard it a thousand times at film school and I’m finally beginning to put it into practice. Having those extra seconds to play around with in post was so helpful for me and helped me cut to the beat of the music.
3. Be an opportunist – seeking every opportunity to get the best shot/ angle I can. There was a quote that my high-school teacher used to tell me “keep one eye on the viewfinder and the other on your surroundings.”

Corporate Video for UniLever Solutions!

Just recently I had the awesome opportunity to create  a video for Unilever Solutions on behalf of sales fit tv.  I was briefed to create a professional multimedia presentation that would be sent directly to their clients to up the number of sales they get each month.

Now, being a one-man-team, to say that this was an extremely challenging process would  be an understatement. How do I approach the clients? How do I direct them without being too assertive? What if I screw up? These are some of the things that constantly rambled through my mind before I arrived at the location.

Now, upon arrival, I was told that the staff members had only just received the script 20 minutes before I arrived and hadn’t had any prior practice. This was a huge ego booster and put me a bit at ease. The manager gave me 30 minutes to set up in which I used sparingly to put up lights and adjust camera settings & audio.

Prior to this shoot, I did quite extensive research about how I should approach this. One article in particular was very valuable as it went on about how to direct non-actors. Some of the tips it gave was to:

• Kick people out. To get everyone out of the room except for the talent and myself.  I found this very important as it really made a difference in the overall film as the staff members were more comfortable.
• Prepare your equipment. Before the staff members arrived, I had everything set up for them so that they didn’t have to worry about anything else but delivering their lines. T
• Remind your talent of the editing process. It was important to let them know that imperfection is totally acceptable & telling them how we were thinking of editing it.
• Keep the energy light and upbeat. I tried my best to make the staff members smile and relax. Between every few lines, I would ask them how their feeling and remind them that their doing a great job.

This, ultimately made the process 100000% times easier and it was easier to make them more comfortable.

So, when it was time to begin shooting, my first thought was to have them read off the script. Which was instantly thrown into the trash as I noticed that you can see the staff members looking off to the side.

Staff member looking off screen when delivering lines.

Instead, I ended up breaking up the script into smaller chunks so that they can deliver those lines in segments. I then had them read those small chunks directly to the camera so that it sounded more genuine and realistic. This also wouldn’t have affected the edit as the initial plan was to intercut between the staff members.

Below is a screengrab of the final video segment. This was an awesome learning experience for me as it helped me learn how to work with clients & direct non- actors.

Below is a frame grab of the final video 🙂

Social Media for Filmmakers

This blog will be focusing on how Social Media ahs changed filmmaking. There is an article where film critics, Will Leitch and Dana Stevens, discuss the effects of social media on their jobs. Leitch talks about the speed at which people respond to a film they have just viewed; in as little as five minutes after the films final credits, many other film critics have posted a one-liner opinion onto Twitter before later releasing a longer review of the same film. Leitch states that rapid reactions like those defeat his desire to read a review, “By the time that their review comes out, why would I read that?” Leitch prefers a moment of reflection within himself over a broadcast to the world about how entertaining a movie was. Talk over twitter also raises the question of why people would read your review if they already know what you think of the film. This being said, with an audience so connected to the online world, there is a higher demand for quicker reactions.

As a consumer, this does not affect me to an extent where my perception is completely swayed before I view a film, as I am usually not one to read a lot of reviews. I prefer to base my desire to see a film on a short synopsis or trailer. However, if I do hear about a general consensus of a film, from say friends and family, or through the media, I am more or less likely to have an interest in seeing the film, so I do understand the way in which it can effect an audience as a whole (even if it is subconsciously).

For independent distributors, there is a necessity for a presence on social media. Although there are other forms of advertising and networking, social media can reach a wider audience than that of a physical presence. Virtual marketing along with word of mouth can see an audience expanding from one continent to the next, and connections and fan-bases can be formed across the world. In an article by Elliot Grove, he talks of the benefits of social media stating, “Social media of course enables filmmakers to market directly to their audience”. A connection can be formed which brings the filmmakers to their audience and vise versa, allowing an otherwise impossible relationship to be formed.

There is an inherent need today for filmmakers and other creative industry professionals to have a presence on social media as its users build and its entertainment values increase.

Sources:

Grove, E. (2013). 3 Ways Filmmakers Benefit From Changing Media Patterns. Retrieved from http://www.raindance.org/windsor-detroit/3-ways-filmmakers-benefit-from-changing-media-patterns/

Music, Film, TV: How social media changed the entertainment experience. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.briansolis.com/2012/05/music-film-tv-how-social-media-changed-the-entertainment-experience/

tribecachannel. (2013, February 4). Film Criticism in the Age of Twitter: How Has Social Media Changed Your Job? [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6MQH023xt0

Future Pathways – Where to next?

This blog isn’t directly relating to any of the weekly topics, however, I bumped into something special and wanted to reflect on that. So, upon lurking on the SAE Vimeo page, I stumbled upon a learning resources video discussing the business of creative media. The video revolved around Austin Wintory, BAFTA-winning composer,  and his take on the film industry. His ideology was very articulate and brought up some good points, however, one point had stuck with me, and that was his remark that the 21^st century is “the entrepreneurs time”: a time where students create their own path as opposed to having one paved for them to follow.

I completely agree with Wintory when he states that it is an intimidating and daunting prospect for creators, as there is no correct method to follow that will lead you to where you want to go; that is if you are even aware where you want to go. He does, however, focus on what he believes to be five fundamental qualities a creator is required to possess, in order to become successful in their chosen creative field. These fundamentals include, the craft, technological skills, an understanding of the business, personality, and finally, Passion.

I agree with Wintory’s fundamentals, although as he says, this does not mean that you have to work alone. If you do not possess a certain skill-set, that does not exclude you from the possibility of obtaining other useful qualities or working with those that do have the necessary skills to make your projects excel. Giving and taking is part of the process in this industry and connecting with likeminded people who are able to bring something new to the table can be beneficial.

“A lot of us tend to, I think initially be drawn to these types of art forms because they’re very introspective and solitudinous, but I think those that do best are those that actually have the opposite approach” (Wintory). Being quite an introverted person, naturally I can understand Wintory’s point about the reasons a lot of us are drawn to creative arts. Solitude often brings out creativity and I often seek solitude in order to create, but I understand the necessity of being able to converse and construct relationships with others in the industry.

Another thing I wanted to bring up was influences, as they can definitely have a huge impact in determining your life choices/ career pathways. I am studying film, and one filmmaker I have been looking up to is New Zealand filmmaker, Taika Waititi.

Waititi has written, starred in, and directed feature films including Eagle vs Shark (2007), Boy (2010) and What We Do in the Shadows (2014). His 2004 short Two Cars, One Night(2004) was nominated for an Academy Award. The first film of his I saw was Boy, in which I shamelessly went back and rewatched over and over again. I found his ability to write a comedy with sadly awkward characters who led simple lives admirable. I was intrigued by his ability to keep an audience captivated for those ninety or so minutes and watched more of his work.

I think part of what intrigued me with Waititi also, was his story. He has been honest and matter-of-fact in his interests and journey as a filmmaker, stating, “No, I never wanted to be a filmmaker.” (Waititi, 2010). He had always been creative, holding a passion for painting, “My main thing was painting; I was just going to do that”, but had taken interest to filmmaking after having been in a number of New Zealand features.

I came into university unsure of  where I wanted to go. I have found myself warming to telling my own stories through the visual medium, and for now, I think that is ok.

Interesting things from Taika Waititi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL71KhNmnls A TEDx talk… Includes a little more background.

“We sabotaged that opportunity on purpose I suppose” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2742940/EXCLUSIVE-I-wondered-f-I-doing-movie-New-Zealand-filmmaker-Taika-Waititi-reveals-really-like-starring-Ryan-Reynolds-mega-flop-Green-Lantern.html An article talking more about Hollywood and their pitch of the film (along with talk about Green Lantern).

References:

Hubert, C. (2010). Taika Waititi’s Inner Child. Retrieved from http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/taika-waititi-boy#_

Taika Waititi. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0169806/

Wintory, A. CIU101 – The Business of Creative Media – Austin Wintory. [Video file] Retrieved from http://vimeo.com/user21244475/review/85505407/101b0dcd46