Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Storyboard and other pre-production planning

Now that you have a rough plan for your video, the next steps are as follows:

1. Storyboard - take a look HERE to see what should be in a typical storyboard. I have left copies of a storyboard template for you to use. You can begin planning each shot and the dialogue/narration/text/sound that would accompany that shot. As well as a written description of any visual fx and the type of shot. I've also left a sample storyboard from a student video.

2. Talent - decide who your "actors" will be and the roles they will play. Make that list and also make sure they are available when you need them.

3. Schedule - When can you shoot? During class, lunchtime, after school. Prepare ahead of time so you know you have everything you need including any props or costumes.

4. Locations - Find appropriate locations for your shoot. For each shot. Write this down. You will end up creating a shot list that will allow your shooting schedule to be more efficient because you can shoot everything you need in a specific location.

5. Equipment/prop list - Make a list of all equipment you will need and any props you will need.

Type up all of these with a cover page and be ready to submit this at the end of the class on Friday. You can divide up these tasks to make it more efficient.

Good luck.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Persuasion in PSAs

  • Some things worth noting: 
Persuasion can be visually created through:
    •  powerful images – video, photographs, artwork
    •  expressions on people’s faces
    •  use of color vs. black and white
    •  use of celebrities
    •  use of regular people
    •  clear calls to action
Persuasion can be created through sound via:
    • play on words
    • repetition
    • humor
    • imperative commands
    • music to create tone
    • lyrics that add to meaning and/or tone
    • tone of actor/narrator’s voices
    • silence
Example Plan
We see
We hear
Text: Imagine your life without an education
No audio
Door slamming shut
Text: Your career
Start of “Better Days” by The Goo Goo Dolls
Text: You’d have no chance.
Song continues
Another door slamming shut.
Text: Your future
Song continues
Text: But everyone deserves a chance.
Song continues
Another door slamming shut
Text: Your life
Song continues
Statistic or fact
Song continues
More doors slamming
Song continues
Text: They need your help.
Song continues
Info about The Inter-Country People’s Aid
Song continues
End with text: It’s so simple.  It’s so SMART.
Song continues

Monday, November 16, 2015

Public Service Announcements

Yesterday we established that some key characteristics of PSAs worth noting are:

Typically, PSAs:

  • are short (usually 60 seconds or less)
  • present one single issue
  • inform the viewer of key, relevant facts
  • have a clear call to action (usually indicated through text on screen)
  • might or might not include people
  • might or might not use music
  • sometimes use voice-overs
  • sometimes use special effects (like black and white)
  • might use transitions/editing to enhance the video
  • aim to leave a lasting impact

Today's task:

Get into groups for this activity
Ms. Silverman's suggestion (unless Magnus or Lance are away - then Cindy, you should go with whoever is present)
Group 1:  Cindy, Beau and Kidus
Group 2: Magnus and Lance



Please go to the following link and view the videos we watched in class PLUS the remainder of the videos on the list.
PSA list (find the videos here if the links do not work below)

While viewing the PSAs consider the following questions in your group. 

1. Where do I see examples of persuasion?
2. How is sound used as a persuasion technique?
3. What specific visual techniques are being used to persuade the viewer?

Appoint one person the secretary and as you discuss your answers, create a comprehensive list to share in a class discussion tomorrow.

Make sure you see the following PSAs - you should be able to click on the links below

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Video Editing Theory - Comm Tech Gr. 10

Go to Digital Overdrive to the chapter on Video Editing.

Read both sections from Chapter 7
Structure of a Scene and Editing Methods. Take the tests at the end of each section and email your results to yourself, then forward them to me at lisa.silverman@tdsb.on.ca.

When you have read and understand both sections, complete the review questions.

Due: Monday November 16.

This is due Monday, so you could do it from home, or the public library. If you need to finish your composition assignment (with your own photos) then finish that first.


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Composition in Photography - Assignment #2 Submission (Thursday) (+CATCHING UP!!)

Let's get back to those photos you took that represent 10 different composition techniques.

1. Select the best photos to represent each of the 10 composition techniques you were aiming for.

2. Edit them enough to enhance them using Photoshop (elements if necessary) - levels, colour balance, contrast etc.

3. Save them as psd files with the composition name in the title as well as your name, AND as jpg files as well.

e.g. Shape_Magnus.psd AND Shape_Magnus.jpg

Make one folder in your Comm Tech folder for Final Composition Photos.
Make one folder called PSD and another called JPG and put your saved photos in the appropriate folder. I'll be marking them from there.

4. Write about your choices. Please check my notes from your powerpoint to see if I gave you feedback. Remember to justify your choices so that you are a) indicating YOUR knowledge and understanding of the composition technique AND b) indicating why that particular photo is a great example of that particular technique.

Note: If you can't remember how to describe the technique, look them up. There's a ton of information on the internet -as well as in the powerpoint you saw (In PickUp folder)

Please complete this today!!

When you are finished, you can go back to sorting through video clips.

SOME OF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE PAST QUIZZES AND REVIEW QUESTIONS!!

Ch. 14 Digital Photography. Ch. 6 Shooting Style and Rules of Cinematography


Next week we will be moving onto video editing (hopefully our software will have arrived by then)

Monday, November 2, 2015

Intro to Cinematography: Rules

Go to Digital Overdrive and log in.

Read through Chapter 6 Intro to Cinematography: Rules of Cinematography.
Take the test at the end of the chapter and email the results to me.

When you have finished this you can go back to viewing the video clips we have for either Halloween or Camp Olympia.

I'd like you to identify some clips that you think would be good to use in a 1 minute long video that would be a good compilation video for our yearbook that covers either event.

When viewing the clips, write down the clip number and then the timecode for the parts you think are effective.

Keep in mind the rules of cinematography as you're viewing them this time.
You can continue this work on Wednesday as you'll probably need more time. We'll move on to editing from here and you will ultimately shoot your own videos on a specific topic. We'll discuss this further on Wednesday.

Write down the clips numbers - the folders they can be found in and the timecodes for each corresponding clip that you think demonstrates a rule of cinematography, or is just something that we could use. Put this list into a word document and place it into the corresponding folder (Olympia or Halloween)
Your word doc should be named BestVidClips_Halloween(orOlympia)_YourName.doc
Saved into either the Halloween or Camp Olympia folders.

At the very least - we're looking for shots that are not shaky, are in focus and decently exposed. If there is camera movement it should be smooth.