Video & Sound Production: Exercises

Anggia Tsani Rachmadiyanti, (0368487)
Video & Sound Production VSP60104 / Bachelor in Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Exercises and Notes



 CONTENT LIST 

  • Module brief
  • Exercises 
  • Final Reflection



 Week 1... 

Week 1 task reminder:

- Finish “mints” and “Doritos” editing exercise and post it in blog under “Exercises”  
- Watch Zach King’s videos / Animation short (Animation stream students) 
- Watch 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once 
- Purchase Tripod. 

- Watch Zach King videos/ stop motion shorts 
- Shortlist 3 Zach King videos/ stop motion shorts 
- Explain reasons being chosen (style, art direction, character design, visual effects etc)

In class editing exercise


- Create NEW Premiere Pro Project 
- Import footage into Premiere Pro 
- Arrange shots on timeline with proper order 
- Export video


Here in this first class, mr.Martin taught us how to use Adobe Premiere Pro first, uploading the clip files and how to rearrange the clips in proper order in the timeline. We had to order all the given clips in order and combine it to make the final completed video.

Final edited video:


Independent learning editing exercise


- Create NEW Premiere Pro Project 
- Import footage into Premiere Pro 
- Arrange shots on timeline with proper order 
- Export video


Final edited video:

3 Zach King Videos:

1. "Becoming a Wizard Despite Hogwarts" 

Style: This video showcases Zach's magic and humor, drawing inspiration from classic silent film comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Georges Méliès. 

Art Direction: The Hogwarts-inspired setting is meticulously designed, with attention to detail in costumes and props, creating an immersive magical world. Zach's portrayal of a determined yet clumsy wizard resonates with audiences, adding a layer of relatability to the fantastical elements. 

Visual Effects: Seamless integration of practical effects and digital editing creates convincing magical transformations, enhancing the storytelling. Zach uses frame-perfect cuts where the position, lighting, and motion of objects or characters are consistent across shots, creating an illusion of continuous action for "magical" effects. 

He subtly slows down footage to enhance the moment of transformation (e.g., wand movements or teleportation) and uses masking to "hide" one version of the shot behind another, so objects appear or disappear instantly.The edits are clean and invisible viewers don’t see the cut, which is key to the believability of his wizard-like abilities.

2. "Stranded 2" Why it's chosen:

Style: This short film adopts a cinematic approach, reminiscent of adventure films like Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones, elevating Zach's usual content to a blockbuster level. The use of Blackmagic cameras and anamorphic lenses contributes to a rich, textured visual style, with a color palette inspired by mid-2000s adventure films.

Visual Effects: Innovative techniques, such as using a raised platform with a trapdoor for teleportation scenes, demonstrate creative problem-solving in practical effects. This short film-style video uses a more traditional editing rhythm, with wide establishing shots, quick action cuts, and close-ups, giving it a big-budget feel. 

Invisible transitions: When Zach teleports or passes through objects, clever editing hides the moment of switch, he often uses props or camera wipes (like a cloth, dust, or water splash) to cover the cut.

Integrated VFX layers: Practical effects are enhanced with After Effects or similar software, adding shadows, motion blur, and interaction with the environment to sell the illusion.

3. "The Magic of Editing" Why it's chosen:

Style: This video serves as a meta-commentary on Zach's editing process, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how his illusions are crafted. The minimalist set design focuses attention on the editing process, highlighting the importance of post-production in creating illusions. 

Visual Effects: The video showcases various editing techniques, emphasizing the role of digital sleight of hand in producing seamless illusions. ​This video deconstructs his process, showing how transitions are made using jump cuts, masks.

He times movement so that the viewer’s eye is distracted during a cut—like a sweeping hand or a jump, wwhich hides the transition point. Objects can stretch or morph, and scenes reverse or fast-forward—tools used to play with viewer perception of time and space.

Week 1 quiz result:


 LECTURE NOTES 

  • Shot size, camera angle, and composition are all elements of visual storytelling used in film, television, and other visual media. 
  • Shot size : the amount of space that is visible within a single shot or frame. 
  • Different shot sizes can be used to convey different types of information or create different emotional effects. For example, a close-up shot shows a small area of the scene in great detail and is often used to emphasise a character's emotions or reactions, while a wide shot shows a larger area of the scene and is often used to establish the setting or context. 
  • Camera angle - position of the camera in relation to the subject being filmed. Different camera angles is used to create different perspectives and convey different types of information. High-angle shot looks down on the subject from above and can create a sense of vulnerability or powerlessness, while a low-angle shot looks up at the subject from below and can create a sense of power or dominance. 
  • Composition = the arrangement of visual elements within a shot or frame. This can include the placement of characters or objects within the frame, the use of colour and lighting, and the balance and symmetry of the overall image. 
  • Composition create visual interest, guide the viewer's eye, and convey meaning or emotion. 
  •  Together, shot size, camera angle, and composition are all important tools that filmmakers and other visual storytellers use to convey ideas to their audience.


 Week 2... 

Week 2 task reminder:

- 1: Shooting practice exercise in campus + captions (5 seconds per shot)
- 2: Lalin Editing practise (35 seconds sharp) post under Project 2 blog.
- Week 2 class quiz result:


Exercise: Give your knowledge on 3-act structure a run for the money. Watch Lalin, and Everything, everywhere, all at once movies both. 

"LALIN" short movie 

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

  • Act 1: Setup - The film introduces Lalin, a young woman in Thailand who conceals her acne with a face mask, reflecting her deep insecurities about her appearance. She curates a flawless online persona on Instagram, editing her photos to project an idealized image. The narrative establishes her internal conflict between her real self and the persona she presents to the world
  • Act 2: Confrontation - Lalin's duality intensifies as she continues to hide behind her mask and digital edits. The pressure to maintain her online image grows, leading to moments of vulnerability and self-doubt. Her interactions with others and her reflection on her own image highlight the emotional toll of living a double life.
  • Act 3: Resolution - The film culminates in a moment of self-realization for Lalin. She confronts her insecurities, symbolized by her decision to remove the mask and embrace her true self. This act of courage signifies a step toward self-acceptance and authenticity.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

  • The inciting incident occurs when Lalin receives a comment on her Instagram post that challenges her edited image, prompting her to question the authenticity of her online persona.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

  • The midpoint is marked by Lalin's internal struggle as she contemplates the disparity between her real self and her online image, leading to a moment of introspection and self-doubt.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

  • the climax occurs when Lalin, overwhelmed by societal pressures and personal insecurities, confronts her reflection in a mirror. This pivotal moment symbolizes her internal struggle with body image and self-acceptance. The film's narrative builds up to this scene, highlighting Lalin's journey through self-doubt and the impact of societal standards on her self-esteem. In this climactic scene, Lalin's hesitation and emotional turmoil are palpable as she faces the mirror, representing the culmination of her internal conflict. The visual focus on her reflection emphasizes the theme of self-perception and the societal pressures that shape it. The lighting and cinematography further underscore the gravity of this moment, drawing the audience into Lalin's emotional state. This scene serves as a turning point in the film, where Lalin must decide whether to succumb to societal expectations or embrace her true self. It encapsulates the film's exploration of body image, self-worth, and the courage required to confront and challenge societal norms.

5.What is the theme of the movie?

  • The main theme of the short film "Lalin" revolves around self-acceptance and embracing authenticity, even amidst societal pressures and expectations, particularly in the context of beauty standards and social media. Lalin's journey highlights the struggle of hiding one's true self to conform to an ideal image, and ultimately, her quest for self-love and self-discovery. The central theme of Lalin revolves around the exploration of self-image, the impact of social media on personal identity, and the journey toward self-acceptance.


"Everything, everywhere, all at once"  movie 

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

  • Act 1: Setup The first act introduces Evelyn Wang, a Chinese-American laundromat owner who is struggling with her family relationships, her failing business, and a lack of fulfillment in her life. We meet her husband Waymond, her daughter Joy, and her father Gong Gong, all of whom contribute to Evelyn’s sense of pressure and disconnection. The inciting incident occurs during a meeting at the IRS office, where Evelyn is suddenly thrust into a multiverse conflict. Alpha-Waymond, a version of her husband from another universe, explains that she is the key to saving the multiverse from the villain Jobu Tupaki, who is connected to her daughter Joy.
  • Act 2: Confrontation In the second act, Evelyn learns to navigate the multiverse, jumping between alternate versions of herself to acquire skills and fight Jobu Tupaki’s chaotic forces. She comes to understand that Jobu Tupaki is her daughter Joy from another universe, who has become disillusioned with existence after experiencing the infinite possibilities of the multiverse. As Evelyn journeys through various universes, her relationships with her family are tested, and she confronts her own regrets and the vast meaninglessness of existence. Evelyn also begins to grasp the power of kindness and love, which becomes her tool in dealing with the overwhelming chaos.
  • Act 3: Resolution In the final act, Evelyn embraces the chaotic nature of the multiverse, choosing to confront Jobu Tupaki with love and empathy instead of fighting her. Through an act of compassion, Evelyn saves her daughter from nihilism, and they reconcile their strained relationship. Evelyn’s newfound understanding of the importance of connection and love brings peace and resolution, not only to her family but to the multiverse as well. The film concludes with a sense of reconciliation and acceptance as Evelyn becomes a more mindful and present mother and wife.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

  • The inciting incident occurs when Evelyn is introduced to Alpha-Waymond, who pulls her into the multiverse conflict during a meeting at the IRS office. This event disrupts her ordinary life and sets her on a path to becoming the key to saving the multiverse.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

  • The midpoint occurs when Evelyn experiences a profound realization about the multiverse's chaos and its potential to lead to nihilism. She is exposed to Jobu Tupaki's "Everything Bagel" — a symbol of despair and the overwhelming sense of meaninglessness that comes with experiencing infinite possibilities. This revelation forces Evelyn into a moment of crisis, where she questions her existence and the value of everything.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

  • The climax happens when Evelyn decides to face Jobu Tupaki (her daughter Joy) with compassion and love, choosing to embrace the messiness of life rather than surrendering to nihilism. Evelyn’s act of kindness and empathy pulls her daughter out of her destructive spiral, saving not just her own universe, but the multiverse as well. This decision represents a shift from chaos to emotional clarity and unity.

5.What is the theme of the movie?

  • The central theme of Everything Everywhere All at Once is the search for meaning in an infinite and chaotic universe. The film explores existential questions, the tension between nihilism and the value of love, and the importance of connection. Ultimately, it emphasizes that kindness, empathy, and human relationships are what give life meaning, even in the face of overwhelming uncertainty.

Class shooting exercise video:

 Here we had to do a short simple class exercise based on shooting angles in campus, then we had to compile each of the 5 second shots into one video in Adobe Premier pro and add captions:



  Week 3... 

Week 3 exercise:

- Shooting Exercise 2:


- Quiz week 3 result:




 Week 4... 

- Quiz week 4 results:



  Week 5... 

Week 5 quiz result:


Week 5 exercise:

- We did a practise shoot in our group for the production shoot at the photo studio in preparation for next week's real shooting.



- In class, Mr.Martin gave us an exercise to sketch story boards based on the content scenario he gave which was about a guy who makes orange juice:



Week 5 Lecture Notes:

Mise en scène is a French term that translates literally to "placing on stage." In the realms of theater, film, and other visual storytelling mediums, it refers to the overall visual arrangement and presentation of a scene. This concept encompasses everything that appears within the frame or on stage and how these elements are organized to convey meaning, emotion, and narrative to the audience.

Key Components of Mise en Scène

  1. Setting and Location:
    • Physical Space: The environment where the action takes place, whether it's a realistic setting like a living room or an abstract, symbolic space.
    • Time Period: The era in which the story is set, influencing costumes, props, and set design.
  2. Props and Objects:
    • Items used by characters or present in the scene that can symbolize themes, indicate character traits, or advance the plot.
  3. Costume and Makeup:
    • Clothing and makeup that reflect a character’s personality, social status, occupation, or psychological state.
  4. Lighting:
    • The use of light and shadow to create mood, highlight specific elements, and guide the audience’s focus. For example, high-contrast lighting can create a dramatic or tense atmosphere.
  5. Composition and Framing:
    • How elements are arranged within the frame or on stage, including camera angles in film or the positioning of actors in theater. This affects how the audience perceives relationships and power dynamics.
  6. Performance and Acting:
    • The actors’ physical movements, facial expressions, and interactions contribute significantly to the mise en scène, conveying emotions and subtext.
  7. Color Palette:
    • The selection of colors used in costumes, sets, and lighting can evoke specific emotions or symbolize thematic elements.
  8. Spatial Relationships:
    • The distance and arrangement between characters and objects, which can indicate intimacy, conflict, or hierarchy.


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