As I conclude the final weeks of ICM 508, our final video assignment that we have to complete is a documentary-style video that focuses on telling a story. This video must also include adequate 3-point lighting, proper audio, as well as lower thirds graphics. Including elements that I’ve learned in the course such as J-cuts and L-cuts will also be great to include. This week, I focus primarily on developing a pre-production script and plan. Brainstorming ideas and figuring out what story I want to tell is the most crucial part of this week as I will have next week to focus on Production and Post-Production.
READING & WRITING:
This week’s assigned chapters focus on the importance of lighting and how to just do it (video production). Chapter 7 of The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video explains how the most powerful and common source of light is the sun. However, although the sun is powerful, the sun is also constantly moving which can make it difficult to film compared to a controlled setting. Most exterior shots are made with the subject facing the sun to give ample lighting to the subject’s face. Although, it is possible to have too much shadow depending on the lighting. Many productions use a concept called 3-point lighting which includes a key light, fill light, and back light. The key light is usually placed at a 45 degree angle and brighter than the others. The fill light is the opposite of the subject and placed there to fill in the shadows. The final backlight falls upon the subject’s head to separate them from the background. This 3 point light setup is used everywhere from the outdoors to the interior lighting setups. It is the quintessential base to adequate lighting for film.
In Chapter 9, the book discusses that the first thing to decide when planning a shoot is to figure out what we want the end goal to look like. Making a shooting plan is extremely important as well as staying organized. Many productions use slates which are a piece of identification on a fancy clapboard to record various takes and scenes. Also, if some sequences are easier to shoot out of sequence that is completely fine! Depending on the time alloted, it might make sense to shoot everything on one lens first and then switch when all sequences using that lens are completed.
RESEARCH TO INFORM:
The video production is top notch in this Speed goes Pro episode. I like how the video teases a highlight in the video and then proceeds to give an introduction about the sport of gymnastics and the general concept of the show which is to see if “Speed” can go Pro in this particular sport. The video also does an amazing job in giving context to famous athletes such as Suni Lee (an olympic gold medalist in gymnastics). The quality of b-roll and audio is something that cannot be accomplished without a well organized team behind the scenes. The video’s pacing is spot on with the comedic moments as well as the serious ones when Speed finally accomplishes a feat.
Hot ones is an interview series that I watch pretty often as it has an excellent balance of comedy and seriousness. The video production is always high quality and includes themed motion graphics that go along with the show. The cuts and video effects that they add are great as well. Hot Ones likes to use images a lot with the Ken Burns effect to supplement the interview conversation.
This video about a discussion on pokemon cards is missing a lot of video production elements in my opinion. The lighting is dim and audio could definitely be improved through filming in a less echoey room as well as using better audio equipment. This video was also primarily A-roll and didn’t include much supplementary footage that would help entertain his argument that he was pushing for. Although this creator was very passionate about the topic, I believe the video could’ve used a lot more editing to make the video more entertaining for the viewer. The video also lacked cutting which is essential to getting the viewer to the point.
CREATE:
Thinking about a concept for the final video of this course was difficult. Ultimately, I decided to highlight a topic that has personally resonated with me as of late. Due to the rise and utilization of AI tools, it has become extremely more difficult to distinguish real videos from AI-generated ones.
Once I decided on the final idea, I was able to develop the concept further and plan out a shot list as well as audio + dialogue. For this concept, my plan is to interview two individuals that would struggle with determining which clip would be AI, (specifically from an older generation). Although I wasn’t sure what exact words I would receive from my interviewee. I noted sample answers with my questions to try to prepare for what my interviewee might say. Jotting down the overall theme and notes in the pre-production document helped me structurally organize my thoughts and setup an overall outline for the video. This will come in handy when I begin filming in case I get lost in any point of the process. It’s important to always circle back to the original message.
Chat with Me 
Leave a comment