making movies: digital video techniques
DESCRIPTION
Making Movies: Digital Video Techniques. By Troy Carnie. Script/Set Directing/Acting Producing/Editing Presenting/Premiere. Aspects Of Movie Making. From idea and camcorder to film. Script /Set. Ideas Script Writing Finding Location Set Creation - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Making Movies:
Digital Video Techniques
By Troy Carnie
Aspects Of Movie MakingFrom idea and camcorder to film
Script/Set Directing/Acting Producing/Editing Presenting/Premiere
Ideas Script Writing Finding Location Set Creation Costumes Makeup/Masks
Script /Set
DirectingActing - Stunts - Voice, Expression, GestureShooting Video - Equipment - Cameras, Microphones, Lighting -
Directing/Acting
Video Techniques
Editing Film Special Effects Dubbing Sounds Adding Text/Titles Dubbing Music
Producing/Editing
Marketing – Billboards, Posters, Trailer etc. Premiere Box Office Sales
Presenting/ Premiere
The Potential of Movie Making in the Classroom
Basic Video Techniques
1. Using Your Camera Holding
Capturing
Zooming
Focusing
Panning & Tilting
Basic Video Techniques
2. Camera Techniques
Shot Size
Shot Angles
Composition
Visual Flow
Basic Video Techniques
3. Other Elements Sound
Light
Holding Your Camera
Hand-Held vs. Tripod
One skill you will need to master is holding your video camera steady. Whether you hold the camera yourself or use a tripod, there are steps you can take to help make your capture shake-free.
Although the tripod may take longer to set up initially, the disadvantages are fewer by comparison. The tripod is specifically designed for video use and offers distinct
advantages such as a)Take steady shots every time, b) Ensure smooth camera movements, c) Keep the camera level during pan and tilt shots & d) Shooting complex shots
more easilyHand-held
Tripod
When capturing video it is ideal to hold a shot for a 3–10 second duration. This will give you enough video to edit
and allow you to engage the attention of an audience with a lot of short shots instead of long, drawn out single
shots.
Capturing
Zooming
Zoom lenses can vary their angle of view from wide angle to telephoto settings. The main advantage of a zoom is its flexibility in composing a shot with different angles of view from the same perspective. Zooming in and out should be done when the camera is paused. Avoid ‘yo-yo’ shots that zoom in and out again while filming as they have an unsettling effect on the viewer.
FocusingMost video cameras can control the focus manually or automatically. Although auto-focus is sufficient most of the time, it can misread some situations, especially in low light.Manual focusing enables you to focus the lens precisely on the area you want to draw the viewer’s attention to.
When focusing manually, here is a tip to check your focus.
1. Set up the shot2. Zoom in to a close-up of the subject on which you wish to focus3. Adjust the focus until detail is sharp4. Zoom out, then compose the final shot this method of focusing ensures that the subject is sharp and remains in focus throughout any subsequent zoom movement.
Panning The pan shot is a camera movement that involves swivelling the camera
through a gentle arc, left to right vice versa, in one slow, smooth and continuous movement. Care must be taken that the first and last images are held for about 3 seconds each, so the purpose is clear and be careful not to overuse this technique to avoid the movement becoming tedious or confusing to the viewer. Panning is best used for :
• Scanning subjects that are too large to get in one shot, eg coastlines, landscapes or city skylines.
• Showing relationships between things, eg panning from a child’s face, to the object of her attention.
• Following the action of a moving subject, eg a dog running after a ball.
When hand-holding the camera, start with your body twisted in the opposite direction to the panning movement. As you pan, uncurl and move only from the waist up.
Tilting Tilting is pivoting the camera in a smooth, continuous, vertical
movement (a vertical pan). Tilting, as with panning, is effective when the subject justifies it,eg tilting from the bottom to the top of a tall building or mountain. As with panning, the same rules apply with tilting:
1. Think about what you are trying to show and determine the beginning and end images
2. Rehearse the tilt before shooting. 3. Hold the 1st image for about 3 seconds, then tilt slowly and
smoothly, in one direction. 4. End by holding the final image for about 3 seconds; do not
stop abruptly or tilt past the final spot.
More Panning & Tilting Tips
Shot Size
Wide Shot Medium Shot Close-Up Extreme Close-Up Cutaway Two Shot/Three Shot
Wide Shot
Wide shot or Long Shot shows the whole scene and helps to set the stage letting the viewer knows where he/she
is. These shots are also used when a scene involves a lot of movement.
In a Medium Shot the camera seems closer to the subject. You use this shot when you want a closer look at your
subject, or when you need to transition between wide shots
and close up shots.
Medium Shot
A Close-Up Shot shows an even smaller part of the subject or scene. If you were interviewing someone, this shot would
show the person from the top of the chest or shoulders up.
Close-Up Shot
Extreme Close-Up
This extreme close-up shot gives an exaggerated view and shows further details. It is a shot full of impact and drama and for these
reasons should not be overworked.
A cutaway is a shot that's usually of something other than the current action.
It could be a different subject (eg. this carabiner that the subject is hanging from), a close up of a different part of the subject (eg. the subject's hands), or just about anything else. The cutaway is
used as a "buffer" between shots (to help the editing process), or to add
interest/information. Once you cut away from your master shot, you can return to it seconds or minutes later and your
audience will assume what they’ve been watching is in real time.
Cutaway Shot
A two shot has two people in the frame. A three shot has three people in the frame. Because you have to be some distance
from the people to get them all in the frame, this is usually a
medium or wide shot.
Two Shot/Three Shot
Shot AnglesYour shot angle is the level from which you look at your
subject. The relationship between the camera and the object being photographed (i.e. the angle) gives
emotional information to an audience, and guides their judgment about the character or object in shot. The
more extreme the angle (i.e. the further away it is from eye level), the more symbolic and heavily-loaded the
shot. Eye-Level
Low Angle
High Angle
Birds Eye View
Arcing
Others
Eye-level angle is one of the most commonly used shots. The camera is positioned as
though it is a human actually observing a scene. If you're
shooting a person, make sure you shoot at their eye-level, not
yours.
Eye-Level Angle
Example
A Low Angle shot has the camera looking up at the subject, making it seem important or larger than it is to the viewer. An example of this would be you might be sitting on the ground looking up at someone who is standing .The background of a low angle shot will tend to be just sky or ceiling. The seemingly added height of the object may make it inspire fear and insecurity in the viewer, who is psychologically dominated by the figure on the screen.
Low Angle
Example
High Angle has the camera looking down on the subject, making it
seem smaller, and less significant, giving the audience a sense of
power. In this case, the camera is elevated above the action where
you'd be shooting higher than the subject (maybe they're sitting, or maybe you're standing on a desk) looking down at them. The object or character often gets swallowed up by their setting - they become
part of a wider picture.
High Angle
Example
The Bird's-Eye View
This shows a scene from directly overhead, a very unnatural and strange angle. Familiar objects viewed from this angle might seem totally unrecognisable at first (umbrellas in a crowd, dancers' legs). This shot does, however, put the audience in a Godlike position, looking down on the action. People can be made to look insignificant, ant-like, part of a wider scheme of things.
Example
Arcing
When arcing the camera is moved in a left to right curve where the subject remains in the centre. For example: A Point-of-view shot of bullies circling around a young
victim.
Example
Composition
There are many ways to compose a shot, depending on your story and what you want to achieve. You want to be aware of what is in the shot and what isn't. Can you clearly see what you intend for the viewer to see? Here are some things to remember:
Rule of thirds divides the frame into thirds both horizontally and
vertically. The points where the vertical and horizontal lines cross are aesthetically pleasing spots to
place subjects or to have perspective lines converge. It is usually best to avoid placing horizon lines exactly
in the middle of a frame, but to place the horizon either above or below centre, approximately one-
third or two-thirds up the height of
the frame.
Rule Of Thirds
When composing a medium close-up or a
close-up shot, arrange for the eyes to be positioned
about 1/3 of the way down the screen. This gives a comfortable feel within
the frame.
Framing Faces
Talking/Walking Room - If you are interviewing someone or have video of someone talking, you generally do not want them looking
directly at the camera (again, it depends on your goals - certain situations may call for that). Generally you want the person to be looking off to the left or right of the camera a bit. When you do this, frame your shot so that there is some talking room. That is, you want to leave some extra space in front of their face as if you
were going to draw a dialogue box in for them. This space is "talking room." If the person is talking to another person, this
shows space between them. Walking room, if the person in motion, gives them space to walk to. Talking/Walking Room leaves space in
the shot for the action, whether it be words or movement.
Talking/Walking Room
Example
Walking/Talking Room
Visual Flow
Creating visual flow in your movie requires mastering all the aspects previously mentioned
and putting them together so that they flow. This is called sequencing. The key is to think
visually – not in terms of single attractive shots, but in sequences of effective images that
progress the sense or feeling of the subject. This ‘visual literacy’, in time will become
second nature.
For example, a very basic sequence could be a wide shot of a mountain (this establishes to the viewer of the location/conditions), followed by a medium shot of
mountain climber on a cliff face (this shot is a bridging shot from the wide shot to the close-up shot), followed by
a close-up shot of climber from the waist up (this shot shows to the viewer detail and facial expression i.e.,
physical strain of the climber).
Another example of a sequence
SoundAudio can be just as important as the picture in doing a video story. The following are some suggestions for capturing good sound.
1. Pay special attention to the distance from the source audio to your microphone and the background noise. These will be the most important variables in getting good audio2. Use a clip-on microphone or a hand held microphone if possible. The closer the microphone is to the source of sound, the better. If you use the on-camera microphone, the ideal distance is about 3 feet - just far
enough away to focus on a good head and shoulders shot.
Light
Where’s the Light? Shoot away from windows and other forms of intense
background light. If light is intense, use your camera's
backlight feature. The backlight feature allows your camera to
compensate for bright light. If lighting is poor use a portable or camera mounted light. Always light your
subject.
Example
Resources• Lewis, R. (1995). The video makers handbook (Rev.ed).
London: Marshall Edition.
• Parker, S. (1996). Camcorder. London: HarperCollins.
• http://csmp.ucop.edu/tcap/nbpts/tutorials/video.html
• http://accad.osu.edu/~midori/Materials/camera.html
• http://www.tsof.edu.au/research/reports03/bowden.asp
Useable Resources
Useable Resources• Project Pitch• Shots And Angles• Video Log Sheet• Script• Storyboard
Hand-Held
Always use both hands to steady your camera, pulling your elbows into your chest and stand with your feet apart. Alternatively, rest your elbows on an object, kneel, sit or lie down.
Tripod
• The correct stance with a tripod is to position yourself comfortably between its legs. Hold the pan handle firmly with one hand, keeping your elbow close to the body. Use the other hand to adjust the camera’s controls.
• To get high-angle shots make use of the the tripod’s central elevating column. Low-level shots are easy with all the sections of the tripod collapsed to their carrying positions. When tilting, steady the camera even more by placing your hand on the body of the camera.
Pedestal Column
______ Quick Release Platform
Pedestal Crank
Pan Handle Pedestal Column
Legs
Feet
Brace
Leg Locks
Panning & Tilting• Avoid reverse pans or tilts• Pan with the action. Panning against the
flow of traffic, for example, unless done for a specific effect, may disconcert the viewer.
• In the telephoto position (zoomed in) slow down the pan or tilt, since the subject and any movement in the shot will be exaggerated and hard to keep in focus
• As a rule, do not cut during a pan. • A whip or zip pan makes an effective transition between shots by creating, a
deliberate blurring of the image. Make a rapid pan away at the end of a shot and a rapid pan on, in the same direction, to start the next. The briefer the pan whips the more effective, but ensure both movements are made at the same speed.
Other Angles
• Framing – For example shooting through a car window where the subject is framed by the window.
• Mirrors – Shooting into a mirror where the subject is viewed in the mirror.
• Oblique Angle - Sometimes the camera is tilted (i.e. is not placed horizontal to floor level), to suggest imbalance, transition and instability. This technique is used to suggest Point-Of-View shots (ie when the camera becomes the 'eyes' of one particular character,seeing what they see - a hand held camera is often used for this).
Example
Example
Example
A dramatic low angle opens the sequence and
establishes the fairground theme
A medium shot focuses the attention on the activity
that will form the storyline
A wide shot reveals the location and introduces the
two main characters
A cutaway shot continues the action, which can now
be expanded
A shot that allows walking room pans ahead of the
subjects, confirms screen direction
A close-up serves to concentrate interest and
leads the viewer to the next shot
A cutaway, taken as a point-of-view shot, develops the
action
A reaction shot taken from a low angle, dramatises the
moment of success
A cutaway shot of the prizes on the shelf, acts as an
effective link shot
A change of height adds variety to the shots and
helps direct attention
A reverse angle shot concludes the sequence
The Potential of Movie Making in the Classroom
“The potential of computer based digital video in expanding and extending a student’s capability to think, learn, understand and communicate is enormous.Desktop video production is providing students with unique opportunities to enhance their learning in creative ways. Video is a wonderful and affordable medium for students to mix moving images, text, sound, music, still images and dialogue into compelling stories, documentaries and research projects for sharing.With a digital video camera, a computer and user-friendly video editing software teachers and students have an ideal starting point for video making.Video is a versatile and global medium for sharing information. It can be used extensively in all curriculum areas and at all year levels. Imagine a project, a story, a poem, a biography, a news report, an interview, a documentary, collaborative research or a science experiment coming to life through video.Video productions can be compressed and used in web pages, placed on CD ROM or DVD, printed directly to video tape, or embedded into multimedia presentations.Students derive as much of their knowledge from visual texts as they do from printed texts. Just as there is written language there is visual language with many similarities between reading and viewing.Just as it takes a planned approach to write a book or an essay (a structure that links words to sentences to paragraphs), it's also possible to create a video in much the same way using a series of shots, sequences and scenes.In addition to gaining an understanding of the basic mechanics of how to use a video camera and video editing software, students need to develop a greater visual awareness and visual literacy.Classroom video production supported by supplementary viewing, discussion and planning activities not only gives students opportunities to broaden their literacy repertoire and to use creative production tools but it provides a richer understanding of how to create video stories that make sense, create an impact and tell a story.Video production works powerfully in a classroom that encourages exploration, inquiry, investigation, and discovery approaches to learning.There is evidence of improved self-esteem, increased confidence, and the development of leadership skills in students when they are given opportunities to explore visual language and focus on using video as a learning and communication tool. Students are becoming highly creative in harnessing this powerful ICT tool.” - Technology School Of The Future Website: www.tsof.edu.au
The End