Video & Sound Production Lectures

We were introduced to the module by our module leader, Mr Martin, and since it was our first time using Premiere Pro, we were given clips to use as our starter towards the module.

WEEK 2

[Week 2 Lecture - Framing & Storyboard]

Additional Files:

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Lecture Recap

Shot sizes:

Extreme wide shot(E.W.S):

A broad view of the surroundings around the character/ where the character is used to convey the scale, distance and geographical location.

Wide shot(W.S):

Includes the entire subject/important objects in the immediate surroundings, also called 'establishing shot'.

Medium wide shot(M.W.S):

Usually shows characters shot above the knees, this helps show the physical setting of the characters.
It also helps with balancing the figure and surroundings.

Medium shot(M.S):

Shows the characters that are important to understanding.
Gestures and expressions are usually shot from the waist up.

Medium close-up shot(M.C.U):

Typically, characters are shot from the forehead to the waist.

Close-up shot(C.U):

Used to isolate the most important part of the subject.
It emphasises the facial expressions or the details of an object.

Extreme close-up shot(E.C.U):

Used to magnify details of a character or object.
It's used to dramatise or give impact towards a situation which can help convey a message towards the viewers.

Over the shoulder shot(O.S):

Shot behind the shoulder of a character.
Mostly to depict the main character focusing on a person or object.

Camera Angles:

Rule of Thirds:

Dividing the frame into thirds using horizontal and vertical lines. The points where they intersect are aesthetically pleasing spots to put subjects in/ have perspective lines converge.

Subject Height:

As important as camera distance & angle but often disregarded.
Adjusting the height of the camera can help storytelling in a more artistic, dramatic and psychological way.
Eye level angle films from the eye level of the subject.
Low Angle Shot films from a tilted upward camera; It's to make the subject look bigger or stronger, giving the impression of height.
High Angle Shot films from a tilted downward camera; It's to make the subject look smaller or younger, giving the impression of them being scared, confused or even weaker

Subject Angle:

Composition:

Facial modelling: best when the subject is turned 45º (¾ angling) to the camera.
When properly lit, the front and side of the face will appear round and eyes when displayed fully.

3 Dimensional solidity:

Most pronounced when 2 or more surfaces are photographed.
Angling the camera concerning the subject so that two sides of the objects are viewed, results in the most effective rendition.

Screen Direction:

Dynamic Screen Direction:

Constant screen travel shows the movement of a character, usually in a single direction to keep consistency and show progression.

Static Screen Direction:

When planning to film 2 characters, it's best to understand camera movement about the 180-degree rule.
Enforcing the camera angle on a horizontal axis where there are no cross-sections to disorientate the viewer; is called the Line of Action.

180-degree rule:

If cameras 2 and 3 are being used, the audience will stay on one side of the line of action; this is called the Reverse Angle Shot.
If cameras 2 and 4 are being used, the audience crosses the line of action, making it disorientating and confusing.

WEEK 3

[Week 3 Lecture - Storytelling in Film]

Additional Files:

_______________

Lecture Recap

Story:

The set of all events that relate in a cause-effect relationship occurring in time and space, where it's both explicitly told for the viewers to see.
Story = What happened?

Plot:

Everything is visually and audibly shown in the film and the materials that are extraneous to the story world.
Plot = Why do they happen? And how?

Plot segmentation:

The best method for understanding a film's narrative system is to create plot segments, a scene-by-scene outline of the entire film.

Story Structure - 3 Act Structure:

Fig 1.1, 3 Act Structure

Plot Point 1(The plot thickens):

The "inciting incident"
Turns the story in a new direction
Sets up for Act 2 & raises the stakes
Reminds viewers of the narrative enigma where there's a possibility of change

Plot Point 2(The longest mile):

The "Climatic Turning Point"
Protagonist's quest to reach the critical mass
A possible solution is presented, giving us the biggest cliffhanger(Will the protagonist win or lose?)

Beginning/Setup:

To introduce the world, and main characters and establish the dramatic situation.
This all leads to an incident that complicates the story(PLOT POINT 1).

Middle/Confrontation:

The 'Rising Action'
To develop obstacles/ complications that can lead to the climax of the story(PLOT POINT 2).

End/Resolution:

Ending of climax
Answers to all obstacles/ complications and ties up loose ends.

Film Sounds:

Footsteps can be around -15 db
The ambience should be -20 db at minimum
Dialogue should be between -6 to -12 db
Add fade-ins and outs for all the audio.

WEEK 4

[Week 4 Lecture - Mise En Scene]

Additional Files:

_______________

Lecture Recap

Mise En Scene:

Literally just means Putting(Mise) On(En) Stage(Scene)
Refers to what we see onscreen: visuals, meanings, elements and their arrangements.
Everything in the frame can carry a meaning.

Composition:

Deliberate selection of frames and camera angles that make up the shots.
Manipulating composition can carry emotional scenes further and help communicate a sense/lack of meaning towards the audience.

Fig 2.1, Composition, 9/18/2023

Set Design:

Everything that is seen within the scene.

Fig 2.2, Set Design, 9/18/2023

Lighting:

Often a tool that helps convey mood.
High-key lighting is often used in musicals or romantic scenes while low-key lighting is often used in horror movies.

Fig 2.3, High-key & Low-key lighting, 9/18/2023

Costume and Props:

One of the most useful tools to convey a character's thoughts & journey.
An object with functions that serve to drive the main narrative of a story.

Fig 2.4, Costume & props, 9/18/2023

Depth of Space:

Determined by the distances between objects, people & scenery.
Influenced by their placement within a scene.

Fig 2.5, Depth of Space, 9/18/2023

WEEK 6

[Week 6 Lecture - Colour Correction]

Additional Files:

_______________

Lecture Recap

Colour Correction:

The process where each clip is altered to match the colour temperature to stay consistent throughout the whole scene.
Balancing out colours (white is white, black is black, everything in between is nice and even)

CC in Premiere Pro:

Nothing under 0 and over 100
Because the program can't read the information over or underexposes the lighting of the scene.

RGB:

An additive colour model where red, green and blue are added together to create various other colours.
Based on the human's perception of colour, it's a way to sense, represent and display images on electronic systems like computers and TVs.

Colour Grading:

Taking colour correction one step further by altering an image for aesthetic & communicative purposes.
Can empower a normal video by manipulating colour for a new visual tone.

Objectives:

Increase contrast & saturation
Apply a new tinge of colour

WEEK 7

[Week 7 Lecture - Audio Editing: Sound Shaping with EQ]

[VSP AUG20 Sound Shaping Lecture]

Additional Files:

_______________

Lecture Recap

Frequency Range:

Hertz (Hz):

Human hearing around 20 Hz to 20000 Hz

7 subsets of frequencies to help define ranges:

Fig 3.1, 7 subset frequencies, 9/10/2023

Dynamic Range:

Decibels (dB):

The threshold of human hearing is 0 dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level) to the pain threshold of 130 dB SPL.

Fig 3.2, Threshold of human hearing, 9/10/2023

Space:

Mono VS Stereo:

Mono sounds are recorded using a single audio channel.
Stereo sounds are recorded using 2 audio channels.

WEEK 9

[Week 9 Lecture - Stop Motion]

Additional Files:

[Stop Motion Test]

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Lecture Recap

Stop Motion:

Filmed one frame at a time.

Shooting Stop Motion:

Pre-production:

Prepare Storyboard
Clock every shots(8 - 10 fps)
Start collecting sound clips
Prepare materials to build characters and sets.
Set the camera on a tripod.
Use manual exposure & focus.
Shoot during the day, but use artificial lighting.

Camera Settings & Setup:

Shooting with DSLR = Select jpeg L/Fine, Resolution 5k-6k
DSLR default aspect ratio is 3:2, change to 16:9
If you're using a phone, make sure to use an app or export it into a drive to edit it.

Editing Stop Motion:

Premiere Pro:

Separate sequences into different files if there are a lot of scenes.
When creating a new project, set it to 1920x1080, 24-25 fps.

Fig 9.1, New Project Settings

Before importing the pictures, make sure change the settings to = Premiere Pro CC > Preferences > Timeline (Windows = Edit >Preferences > Timeline)
Change "Still Image Default Duration" from 5 seconds to 2-5 frames(Play the sequence and see if it's too slow or fast, trial and error)
After deciding the speed, create a new sequence within the new item button and toggle on "Insert and overwrite sequences as nests or individual clips".
If there's a photo sequence, make a sequence in Premiere Pro.

After Effects:

Before importing, go into preferences and change to 24 frames per second.
Adjust Speed - Right-click on composition > Time > Time Stretch
Create one composition for everything, make sure it's long enough.

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Seh Zi Qi (0355872)

Video & Sound Production Lectures

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