Assignment 14 – 481 – Video Making Widgets

100 points

Assigned: Tuesday  February 25, 2014

Due:

  • Tuesday, March 18  Edit in class
  • Thursday, March 20 Critique rough cut (one letter grade deduction for not having a rough cut to show)
  • Thursday March 27 – Final video due at start of class

Create your first video – (45 seconds long)

I’m interested in getting you comfortable with the cameras and recorders and making you  think about the relationship between the audio and the images.

Interview plus visuals =story

The widget maker interview

Time to take what you have learned so far about sequencing and shot selection and produce a short video story about someone that does something interesting. It could be an artist, or someone that has an interesting job.  Just make sure to choose someone that does something visual.

There are three components to this assignment.

  1.  Shoot a formal interview with your subject.
  2. Shoot enough b”roll video that relates to what the subject talked about to cover your a”roll  (interview) edits
  3. Edit your video into an interesting narrative.
    • You must include sequences in your B-roll
    • You must include at least one ‘matched action’

How to:

Planning is key. Schedule with your subject.

INTERVIEW

  1. Make sure you do your interview in a quiet room, Use side window light and get the mic as close as possible.
  2. Use a tripod for the camera.
  3. Check the audio levels before the start of the interview.
  4. White balance.
  5. Do a basic interview of 10-30 minutes.
  6. Be prepared with questions to ask, but also ask stuff that comes with the flow of your conversation.
  7. Make sure you ask the “Why do you do what you do” question.
  8. Listen for b”roll ideas and write them down if possible.

VISUALS

  1. Shoot video of subject doing what they do.
  2. Try and be creative.
  3. Remember to shoot lots of wide, medium, tight, tight, tight shots. Action reaction.
  4. Look for moments and for natural sounds opportunities.
  5. Shoot twice as much b”roll than you think you’ll need. Try and shoot things the subject talked about.

Goals:

1. Strong audio – both technically and content – make it interesting. Don’t forget natural sound!

2. visuals – a variety of shots – wide medium and tight and super tight that help tell the story, give a sense of place and keep us engaged.

3. editing – a smooth natural edit of both audio and visuals with natural transitions, rhythm and no jump cuts.

4. interest – MAKE IT INTERESTING, NOT JUST AN EXERCISE, OR ‘HOW-TO’. NO ONE WILL CARE UNLESS IT’S INTERESTING

Name your project folder:

DATE_First_Last_WIDGET_video

Remember to export:

1. Archive version of video

2. Commedia version of video

3. Text file with story and headline

4. jpeg still image to use for poster frame

Name all your files the same
DATE_First_Last_WIDGET

EXAMPLE