David’s discussion on doing the experiments
David’s discussion on experiments has given me an idea on what experiment I should do for my project. Click the youtube video down below to view what I have done and I have also written some information on process, problems I encountered, how I can improve and I feedback that received on my experiment.
Tracking Shots
For this experiment, I read over my script and decided to film a few tracking shots from behind and in front of my subject so that I can get an idea of the type of tracking shot I wanted to use and see if the shots that I want are achievable. Now I know that they are achievable and successful. In addition, practice my tracking methods so that when it comes to filming the final product, I am prepared.
How did I do it?
I assembled my shoulder rig and then I attached my camera to the shoulder rig. After that, I asked my mother to be the subject and I asked her to walk towards and away from me so that I could follow her movements. One tracking shot was up and down a steep hill because I have scenes that involve a road that is of a hill structure that is not a steep so I want to test out to see if I could keep the camera steady. Another tracking shot was on the street, I wanted to practice steadiness as well as seeing if it is a good shot to use for my final major project.
What problems did I come across?
It was a bit shaky.
How can I improve?
I can improve by adjusting the shoulder rig a bit more and finding a way to walk without shaking the camera as well. I thought that the tracking shots towards the end were better than the ones at the beginning, with a bit more practice, I think that I will have improved and the shakiness wouldn’t be as bad.
Feedback on the experiment:
I think that the tracking shots were quite shaky. – Hollie
I agree with this statement, however, I am going to practice and trying to make sure that on the day of filming the final product that I don’t shake as much.
Close up of my character’s facial features
In this experiment, I filmed different facial features on my face such as my eyes, nose and mouth, this is because I need to see how this part the scene would look. This composition was produced using the script that I have for the film, I needed to see if the shots would look appealing to my audience as well as myself.
How did I do it?
I imported the videos in Adobe Premiere pro and then I deciphered the videos I am going to use and the videos I don’t need. Then, I used the in and out tool so that I could pick where I wanted the clip to start and end, dragged it onto the timeline. Once that was done, I used the motion tool to zoom and move the footage around so that it looks appealing to the eye because one eye was smaller than the other. After that, I exported the composition.
What problems did I come across?
One eye was smaller and further away from the other because they were two different pieces of footage and distances.
How can I improve?
To get rid of that problem I had above, I used the motion tool and I enlarged and repositioned the smaller eye.
Feedback on the experiment
- I think that the shots are clear and the timing is good but it could be longer because it was a bit quick to me. Other than that I really like. – Joshua
Joshua’s feedback was insightful, I think that I will make the clips longer to see what it looks like. I am glad that he thought it was clear I used my Canon 550D and the standard lens 18-55mm zoomed in. Joshua’s feedback was positive and help, I will use the same lens that I used for this experiment when filming the actual project.
Colour grading of closeup of those facial features
The video is based on the colour grading/colour correction that I may be using in my final product. These shots were taken based off of the script this part is when Kelly is love struck and looks at each of Aaron’s facial features. I did this experiment because I wanted to know what kind of would look good for this scene and if the colour grading I had done looked good. Also, I did this experiment because I think that finding out what I want now won’t delay the editing process, once I start editing the final product.
How did I do it?
First of all, I imported and used my close up experiment video (scroll up to watch close up of my characters facial features) to do this experiment. Once I imported the file, I started to add effects such as the RGB curve tool. I lowered the red a little bit, then the blue and finally the green before raising the master curve.
After that, I used the Three-Way Colour Corrector because I didn’t feel it looked cinematic and appealing to me so I tried this tool and I feel that it look much better. I added a bit of yellow, red and finally yellowish-orange colours and I thought it look okay but then it still looked a bit flat to me so I add some contrast and I exported it.
Feedback on the experiment:
The green colour made me feel relaxed and reminds me of a peace place and it doesn’t evoke danger, it evokes calmness in me. Also, it makes the shots look natural. – Marcia
Marcia’s feedback is positive and has told me what emotion I was conveying which was good because it has informed as to how other people may feel I could use this to improve my work by using these colours when I edit the real film, I feel that it has reassured me a little bit as to what colours I should use.
Colour grading of closeup of those facial features
This experiment is similar to the other one that I had done however, I had changed the colour and extended the time that the clips are played a little bit, which in my opinion makes the clips look smoother and it flows better.
How did I do it?
I used to file the did in the first experiment and extended the clips and then I just changed the RGB curve tool settings to make it look pinker.
Feedback on the experiment:
The colour grading for the video is romantic and sweet, the pink is like a pink rose colour that makes the shots look better. – Carla
Carla’s feedback is positive and exactly what I was trying to produce, I trying to portray a romance, love-struck atmosphere and make my viewers think that it looks cute and ‘sweet’. This piece of feedback was useful because I’m getting better a colour grading and conveying the right mood which was romances.
Over the Shoulder Shot
This experiment is an over the shoulder shot, I did this shot because I was thinking of using this type of shot in my final major project, in my opinion, I think it looks superb and I would definitely use this for my project.
How did I do it?
I used my camera that I attached to the shoulder rig to, then, I asked my mother to be the subject and I asked her to pretend as if she is talking so I could do this shot. Once I was set up I put the shoulder rig close to my body and then I tip toed so I could see over her shoulder and pressed record.
Feedback on the experiment:
I think that the over the shoulder shot was good, however, I felt that it was a tad too close. – Hung
I think that his opinion is a valid opinion, however, I disagree with this comment because I showed the subject as well as the rail that she was talking towards so I think that I did it quite well. But, I could move back a bit and I will take that into consideration if I use it in my movie.
Intro ident
I was initially going to use my ident that I created in Unit 10 of the criteria which I did however, I felt that it was too plain for the film that I have created. So I experimented with it and I used Adobe Premiere Pro to update this ident.
How did I do it?
First, I imported the video into Adobe Premiere Pro then I dragged it onto the timeline. Once that was done I used the RGB tool and raised the red aspect of the tool so it looked more red and gory. Then, I used the scissor tool to cut the video in half and got rid of the effects of the beginning half of the video. This is the outcome of my experiment, I will be using this for my film and I will be adding scary music to it to add intensity.
Feedback on the experiment:
It looks cool, I like the way it changes colour and displays your name. – Kevin
Kevin’s feedback is positive and I think the change added that cool factor to the ident. This piece of feedback is reassuring because it shows me that I am making the decision to add it to my creative media project film.
Stephanie Corr-Amajor 