Video and Sound Production: Exercises

In this exercise, we had to edit and compile clips of 30 second ads. Ensuring the video clips and audio are seamless, I added transitions to smoothen the cuts between the clips.

Fig. 2.1: Editing Mints Ad Process 2

Fig. 2.0: Editing Mints Ad Process 1

Mints Video Output

Video Editing Practice: Doritos

The same is done with the Dorito's ad, except the footage given was not in order, so we had to find out the order of the scenes and rearrange them.

Fig. 2.3: Editing Doritos Ad Process 1

Doritos Video Output

Shooting Practice

In this exercise, we were instructed to shoot different frame shots during class with good lighting and accurate composition. After shooting, we had to compile the shots and add titles to them.

I think due to the high quality and big size of the files, my adobe premier kept freezing and crashing while editing this. I'm worried how this would affect future projects, but I'll keep in mind the quality and sizes of my files.

Fig. 2.4: Editing Shooting Practice

Fig. 2.5: Compiling Shooting Practice

Final Shooting Practice Video Output

Editing Practice (Lalin)

In this exercise, we had to edit video clips of a scene in Lalin remake by Taylor's students and compile them together. However this time, the clips weren't ready; it had the clapper loader and the director in it. So before compiling, I had to trim all the scenes.

Fig. 2.6: Trimming Scenes on Adobe Premier

After trimming all the clips, I had to refer to the storyboard for the order of the scenes and place them in the timeline.

Fig. 2.6: Placing Scenes on Timeline on Adobe Premier

After compiling all the scenes together, I noticed the total video length was too long, so I tried shortening it a bit more by cutting more of each scene.

Fig. 2.6: More Trimming Scenes on Adobe Premier

Here is the final cut and edited version of the video.

Fig. 2.6: Final cut on Adobe Premier

Final Lalin Video Output

Asynchronous class materials: Understanding Storytelling

Everything, everywhere, all at once:

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

Act 1, Everything: introduces us to the protagonist, a Chinese-American woman named Evelyn Wang. The beginning of the movie starts off by showing us our protagonists' mundane life and her struggles to get by as an Chinese woman living in America with her family.

Act 2, Everywhere: begins when Evelyn is dragged into a mission, discovering that there's a multiverse and how she's connected to alternate versions of herself from different dimensions, each with unique skills and experiences. She faces danger as her daughter from another dimension started to attack her to stop her mission, but she utilizes the skills she has from other dimensions.

Act 3, All at once: is concluded with Evelyn confronting her fears and reconciling with her mundane life and her relationship with her daughter.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

It is when Evelyn is visited by another version of her husband, who reveals to her the existence of the multiverse and her role within it. This revelation disrupts Evelyn's boring reality and sets her on a path of adventure that will challenge her perceptions of reality and her own capabilities.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

The midpoint scene is when Evelyn stares into the Bagel and feels the meaninglessness that Jobu feels as she starts to fall into the nihilism that Jobu was trying to convince her of.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

The climax of the movie is when Evelyn and Waymond have their final stand against Jobu through acts of kindness after the speech Waymond gives her.

5.What is the theme of the movie?

Evelyn's adventure across different universes in "Everything Everywhere All at Once" is really about her learning who she truly is, how connected everything is, and how important our choices are. As she travels through these different realities, she discovers how complex each person is and how the things we decide can affect everything around us. The story shows that by accepting and being true to ourselves, we can change not just our lives but the entire world.

My Name is Lalin:

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

Act 1: introduces us to the main character Lalin, who is dissatisfied with her life in Thailand due to being bullied all her life because of her physical appearance, so she moves to Japan to restart her life as an online model.

Act 2: Lalin reinvented herself as a social media beauty idol in Japan, as she hides her insecurities behind beauty filters and her online persona. She receives a message from a Thai author, Nut, that requests her to translate his graphic novel from Thai to Japanese, she accepts the request. In this act, Lalin and Nut begin to become romantically interested in each other as they spend more time talking together online. Nut then surprises her with a visit in Japan, but she refuses to meet with him due to her insecurities.

Act 3: In this act, it is revealed that Nut knew Lalin from childhood, and he dedicated his graphic novel to her, as she was the one who changed his life. Lalin realizes this and began to chase after him before he goes back to Thailand.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

The inciting incident in the movie is when Lalin receives a message from an author, Nut, who requests her to translate his graphic novel. Everything after that event is caused by it.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

The midpoint scene of the movie is when Nut decides to surprise visit Lalin in Japan, but she wasn't mentally prepared for him to see her face, so she tells him to leave.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

The climax scene in the movie is when Lalin finishes reading his graphic novel and remembers Nut from her childhood, so she starts chasing after him before he goes back to Thailand.

5.What is the theme of the movie?

The theme of the movie is about our relationship with our self, physical appearance, and insecurities. It talks about accepting ourselves despite our physical flaws.

Week 1: Asynchronous Class Quiz 1 Results

Fig. 2.7: Asynchronous Class Quiz 1 Results

Week 2: Asynchronous Class Quiz 2 Results

Fig. 2.8: Asynchronous Class Quiz 2 Results

Week 3: Asynchronous Class Quiz 3 Results

Fig. 2.9: Asynchronous Class Quiz 3 Results

Week 4: Asynchronous Class Quiz 4 Results

Fig. 2.10: Asynchronous Class Quiz 4 Results

3. Asynchronous Class Reflections

Week 1

This class introduced me to the basics of Cinematography, which used to seem complex, but now it feels more approachable after being broken down into topics to be studied. By using different shot sizes, like wide shots to show the whole picture and close-ups to focus on details, I can control what the audience sees and how they feel.

And even camera angle adds other layers to it; filming someone in eye level things neutral, filming from below makes them seem powerful, and filming from above can make them seem small. By changing the camera angles I can control how the character feels and their impact on the viewer.

Now that I understand the basics of cinematography makes shooting videos much more meaningful and with intention; I can choose the perfect camera position to show what's important and evoke emotions in the audience. I'm looking forward to put these skills to the test in my own projects.

Week 2

In this week's class materials, we learned about the main structure of films: The 3 act structure. It's a basically a guideline for stories that grab viewers. Act One introduces characters, setting, and conflict. Strong visuals and sound design are key here to hook the audience.

Act Two throws challenges at the protagonist. The tension builds as the characters fight the conflict. Typically, the second act is the longest act because all the conflict is introduced and struggled with here.

And finally, Act Three brings everything to a satisfying conclusion. The climax is arguably the most interesting part of the film. In this act, sound and visuals become even more critical. Powerful music, clear dialogue, and impactful editing elevate the climax and leave a lasting impression. I believe I always recognized the structure of movies, but I couldn't really put it into words. However, now that I've learnt it, it solidified the information and I can confidently tell which act the film is at when I'm watching one.

Week 3

Before this class, I thought storyboards were just comic strip versions of a video, but their role is really essential to the production of videos. They visually map scenes, including camera angles, character movement, and sound. It is sort of the blueprint that the storyboarder visualizes that is used as a guide for the director to follow. It also saves time for the video editor when it comes to compiling the shots and editing them.

It's a powerful tool that makes the production of film more seamless and easier to collaborate with different roles of production. Even though storyboards aren't meant to be detailed illustrations, I still find it very interesting to work on storyboards because it's like watching your imagination come to life.

Week 4

Pre-production, like writing a blueprint, sets the stage for everything. Script-writing and story-boarding fall under the pre-production stage. Filming or recording (production) is where the action happens and seeing the vision come to life. Although it can deviate from the storyboards, it still heavily depends on the pre-production stage. Editing (post-production) is like rendering a digital painting, it takes the raw sketch (or, in this case, footage) and turns it into something finished and a work of art. It requires attention to detail and the visuals and sounds are edited on editing software, such as adobe premier.

Every role in the production stage is as important as the other, without it, the production won't be complete.

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Links you may want to visit

Video and Sound Production: Project 1

Video and Sound Production: Project 2

Video and Sound Production: Final Project