The first few lessons we had with our video production specialist taught us of the different camera techniques. This includes: angles - low angle to enhance character, high angle to diminish the character.
Shot types - establishing shots, mid shots, long shots etc.
Distance - Pull focus where foreground begins out of focus but becomes sharp
and Depth of field.
We also learned about simple things to remember when using the camera's, such as using tripods, always taking the camera off the tripod when in transit, remembering to take the tripod plate off the camera when finished, labeling the tapes, and just general care.
We then learnt about the white balance and how to set it.We now know that we have to set the white balance whenever we go from indoors to outside, or vise versa and how to set it - whether it as automatic (AWB) or manual.
The final important thing we learned within the first few lessons, is how to handle manual exposure. This meant we had to learn about how shutter speeds, aperture, and gain affected how the final image would look.
Later on, we learned some directing skills. This includes the use of clapper boards, preperation of the cast, and communication between the director, camera operator, and the actors. From actually being on set and filming, we learn't from trial and error, things that worked and things that didn't. For example we found it was best to use a tripod when filming someone walking towards the camera, because the camera operator could not hold it completely still.
Apart from being on set and putting this knowledge into practice, we learned how to edit in Final Cut Pro, and how to use an Apple Macintosh. We learned about Non-Linear editing - which is acheved through digital editing, the assembly edit ( just to look at the footage), rough edit ( more refined, no effects), and the final edit ( tweaking all the cuts and adding effects)
We had to copy an existing music video in order to practice for the real one. In our case, this video was Teenage Dirtbag, by Wheatus
Copying an exsisting music video
I have been working towards re-creating some of the music video Wheatus- Teenage Dirtbag. The experience I have been given by taking part in this task is being able to develop using production equipment, in order to be able to film at a good standard, when it comes to me filming my own music video. I will also be developing skills to be able to plan well, how shots will be filmed, also staging in a shot.
Storyboard
In lesson I was given a storyboard, which was of the Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag video. It features the opening ten frames of the video, giving a analysis of the shot type, camera movement, description of action, also if there is a lyric or audio in the background, when a shot is shown.
Shooting Script and Clapperboard
The shooting script was given of six shots, which we filmed in two groups, it shows an enlarged image of the shot which we had to copy and film. It had a similar layout to the storyboard, as it had the details about camera shots and movements, also write notes about how successful each shot was, each shot has to be logged, to see where each group might be struggling with a type of shot. While learning how to use the shooting script, I also learnt how to successfully use a clapperboard. A clapperboard was shown in front of the camera, before each shot was filmed. There is a procedure, that takes place for each shot. The cameraman has to say "speed" when they are ready to film, so the director knows when starts off the film. Also the director says for example "Shot 4 take 2, action", then the filming can start, and the background actions start.Also after a shot is filmed the director shouts "cut" to notify the cast the shot is finished. Also the clapperboard is useful when editing as you can determine a beginning of a shot, and hear "cut" when a shot has finished.
Communication on Set
Camera health and safety.
Keep the camera steady when holding it.
It is hard to keep just main character in focus and the extras out of focus.
Lighting- had to reposition into the natural light.
Always think about the final edits.
Always take off the plate off of the camera and back on the tripod. Use white balance when inside with artifical light, so on the camera use the AWB automatic white balance. When filming outside, using the sun shaped symbol, and the light bulb button when filming inside. Also put on the manual setting via the message shaped button.
I was shown how to direct a shot, it is important that to keep the production running smoothly, you need to clearly let the participants know of what is going on. In our exercise the director worked with the camera operator to set up each shot, they set up each actor and extra in position. After checking the shot is how it should be is essiental before able to film. Then the clapperboard is shown in front of the lens and the filming begins.
Setting up the Camera
Mounting to the tripod
Mounting the camera to the tripod can give you stability when filming. It is particularly useful for zooming, panning and tilting the camera. The tripods at college have a spirit level on them which enables you to position the camera to an exact horizontal.
Setting the White Balance:
The white balance has to be set before shooting can begin due to the different conditions. The camera reacts differently to varying light conditions. When outside it should be set to "Daytime Filming" otherwise footage could have a blue tinge to it. Likewise when you film outside the white balance should be set to artifical light. Once the camera knows the conditions it can then calibrate the rest of the colours, which should give even results.
Adjusting the exposure:
When using our Canon XM2 cameras, you should get into a habit of using the manual settings to adjust the exposure and not let the camera run on auto. Usual manual settings will give you control over how light or dark the footage is. You can change the exposure using a combination of the Shutter speed, Aperture and Gain.
Camera Techniques
Composition:
You can change the frame size to be like a widescreen film. This is called a 16:9 ratio. Normally the camera is set to a standard frame size of a ratio of 4:3. Which ever ratio used you can apply the rule of thirds to help you compose the frame.
Depth of Field:
This refers to the focal range of the camera. You can use depth of field to centre the audience attention on a particular part of the frame by having it in focus while the rest of the shot is blurred. This is called a 'Shallow or Narrow Depth of Field'. Conversely, if all the frame is in focus that is called a 'Wide Depth of Field'. Shifting the focus from one part of the frame to another is called a 'Pull Focus'.
This is the link to our copying of an exsisting video which is Wheatus- Teenage Dirtbag
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7qMb6ynzP5WMTA4NzIxZDktMjNjYS00Mjg2LTkxMjYtMTBiN2Y2YzIzZjU0&hl=en_GB
This studio will be in the East Sussex Academy of Music block. This is where the main character starts to sing at the beginning of the song and has a flash back to when she was younger. We chose a recording studio because it seems more authentic to the audience, as the song contains instruments that would have been recorded there.
