YOUR FALL SEMESTER DRAWS TO A CLOSE...

As our semester draws to a close, take some time to reflect on what you've learned. Write down three things that you've learned and how they will improve your video projects in the future. For those that are continuing into next semester, also list three things that you are looking forward to learning in the Spring. Why do you want to learn these things? What do you want to concentrate on doing better? What could you improve? What kind of projects are you looking forward too?

   Throughout the I have learned many video techniques and rules. For example, I know the rule of thirds. This will definitely help me with my future videos. Also, the name of angles and what their meaning is. I've also learned the cameras and how they work. I'm looking forward to learning more about the history of film in the spring. I really want to improve on my camera work.I'm not the best camera man. I'm looking forward to the other films we'll do, like the documentary.

VIDEO EMBED CHALLENGE

Look up a video that you think would be a great idea to show in this class. Embed your video in your blog. Why should I show this video in this class? What does it teach? Why should other students see it?

   I believe you should show this video because it will motivate anyone to watch a film. John Campea gives an excellent speech as to why movies matter. I believe if you show this video to any student who is interested in taking this class they will sign up right away. I feel like it would be worth showing in class because there seems to be some students in this class that aren't so motivated in here. Start the video at 1:50    

LEARNING CHALLENGES

What do you feel was the most difficult part of your experience in this class this semester? What did you have the most challenges learning?

   I feel like the practical parts of the semester was the most difficult. I am not a camera man nor do I want to become one. I do understand that passing the practicals is something that needs to get done and I will get them done. hat's just something I've been struggling with. Also, don't like the book work. I have a short attention span. If you were to give me book and ask me to read it, I would read the first three sentences. That's it. I struggle with it but I am planning on improving. 

PSA PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Reflect on your PSA project. How close was your final product to what you planned in your pitch? How did it change? What were your challenges? What helped you achieve your vision? What held you back? What would you change next time.

  I believe we are pretty close to what we planned. We had a couple of changes. For example, we added a couple of extra shots we first didn't plan on having. Some challenges were having a cop in our film. At first he was available, but he later back out and didn't want to do it. We were able to get a student in our film acting as the cop. Once he arrived on location we got straight to work. I think that to make things better next time we should plan a bit better.

PSA POST PRODUCTION

How did your post production phase go? What are three things that you could improve next time in order to make things flow more evenly. What was your biggest challenge during post production?

   Our post production has not begun. However, we plan on editing today. We will edit the footage and record some audio today. I don't know how long it will take us to record. We plan on finishing that up today and getting it in premiere.

PSA PRODUCTION

What locations are you using for your PSA? How did your production phase go? What are three things that you could improve next time in order to make things flow more evenly. What was your biggest challenge?

   For our PSA we're filming outside, but still on campus. We're still in our production phase and it's going okay. It could definitely be better.  I believe we could improve by planning our production phase better. We could've finished our storyboards faster and had this done sooner. I believe our biggest challenge was figuring out a way to shoot this PSA. We had the basic concept but still didn't know how to tackle this project.

SLATING SHOTS

What is the purpose of slating? Why is it so important? What are three tips from this video that you've learned? How do you plan on implementing them?*

   The purpose of slating is to help the editor sync sound. It is important because this helps the editor visually by seeing the slate close and he can hear the slate close. It's a good idea to name the slate the number of the scene and a letter. The letter should have an easy and simple word for it. Don't slam the slate so close to the talent. This will take the actor out of character. Also, if you don't have a slate you can slap your hands together. Only your hands, not your head, leg, or chest. I've learned plenty from this video. I don't have a slate, however I will use my hands until I get one.

PSA PRE-PRO

What topic did you choose to make your PSA about? Why did you choose this topic? Who is your audience? What is your tagline? What are 3 ways that you plan on making your PSA visual?

   I chose to make my PSA about graffiti. My partner and I chose this topic because it is a common thing here in San Jose. You can find graffiti just about anywhere. We're marketing this PSA towards teenagers and young adults. We came up with a great tagline. "Is graffiti worth a sentence". We plan on making our PSA as visual as possible by having shots of graffiti that make the environment look poor and terrible to live in. We're looking to capture true vandalism that graffiti is. It might take some work to get that message across. I say this because we're thinking about comparing good art to graffiti. However, we can always abandon that idea. 

POST A PSA

Why did you choose this PSA? What are 3 ways that this PSA effectively communicates it's message to the audience?

   I chose this PSA because I feel like it's very strong and emotional. The fact that he has to live the rest of his life knowing he killed three children is horrendous. It's not slow or light. It doesn't take it's time and let you know little by little. It's straight and to the point. It's a slap to the face telling you to put your phone down when you drive. It gives us a brief description of what happened. He says he saw the bodies. It shows us the man it happened to, showing his true emotions to the matter. And it  ends with the classic slogan everybody knows, "It can wait".

3-2-1 CAMERA'S & COMPOSITION

What are three things that you've learned about in the camera and composition unit? What are two things that you still have questions about? What is one thing you want to learn more about?

   One of the things that I've learned from this unit is the balanced composition, which is when the things in the frame are organized and in place. Unbalanced composition is when there is chaos on screen. Lastly, the Hitchcock rule is the importance of an object is represented by the size of it in the frame. 

HITCHCOCK'S RULE

What is the Hitchcock rule? How does it apply to filmmaking? What is one example of when you put a close up of a detail in your film? Why did you choose it?

   The Hitchcock rule is that the size of an object on screen should resemble their importance to the story. If you're a filmmaker this should definitely catch your attention because you ant to make sure that you're framing your shots correctly. I once had an extreme close up of someone in a film and that made their expressions more noticeable to the viewers. I did this because it was important for them to see his reaction to what had happened.