I'm Technically Rather Good!

Because I wasn't one of the cast in our DiVA Viral Marketing Campaign, my role was very-much more of a hands-on process, particularly when it came to shooting the actual video.

Though the video was a team effort, we all had to direct ourselves at some point, and as the first person on the camera, I think I managed myself fairly well in getting all the opening shots we needed, (up until the point when there is a close-up of Jemel, who then says his first line.)

I had to make sure the white balance, the framing and the lighting was on-point for the shots we needed to take, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to capture the vision we had on paper and relay them to the screen.

In the editing room, the opening, I believe, is the strongest part of the video. The cutaway clips that are in our final cut, work really well thanks to the editing of Robert, and the shots that we managed to film.

Along with shooting the first few shots that include several cutaways of Jemel, I also handled the sound, and made sure that the sound was pitch-perfect for the video, as, in particular for the beginning where the paper is being thrown, it was vital this was the only sound that could be heard.


Later on in the editing room, this same sound was continued for when Robert jumps into view, and without this attention to detail with the design of the sound, we wouldn't have been able to use this for the video, and there would have been lack of continuitity without this sound. 

On top of this, because Robert was the director of the video, I made sure that he was happy with the shots I was taking, but also gave my own opinion on certain sections.

While the rest of the team carried out the final shots of the video, Deri and I, with suggestions made by the group on the choice of music, then found the appropriate free of copyright soundtrack for the short, which included the flushing of a toilet noise, and a superhero theme for Apprentice Man.  

Then, we gathered the team to listen to these suggestions,and as a group, we decided what music would make the final cut from the list that Deri and I presented. 

Through this experience, I have gathered the basic knowledge of shooting, lighting, and editing a video, in a short period of time. 

Looking forward to putting all this knowledge back into action!

Unit 6, 2 and 2.1 - Video Production

For our DiVA Viral Marketing Campaign, in a short amount of time, we went through the stages of Pre, Post, and the Production itself to create our Viral Marketing Video.

Here are some of the stages we underwent...

A group 'Mind Map' on what apprentices do.

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The Whiteboard that Joy and I wrote out

Robert's designs for the Apprentice Man.

The DiVA Viral Marketing Campaign crew, with me on Camera.

Some of the team, including myself, editing away.

I was able to both contribute in a technical capacity and undertake a technical role in the creation of a video product, by being set a number of different jobs within the filming and post, such as working on camera and also editing. 

As camera operator on the shoot, I conversed with our assigned director, Robert, on how to frame each of the shots - what would work best, etc.- most of which the final video product was filmed by myself. 

While on camera, I was also in charge of sound, making sure that our actors were heard at all times, otherwise the scenes would have to be re-shot in order for the sound to sync in with the visuals. 

On top of being the main-go to person for the sound on set, I - along with fellow classmate Deri - sourced out plenty of free copyright sounds online to add to the video, which were included in the final product to create more of a professional affect. 

As for editing, the whole team took turns to splice up all the footage, and make it into a smooth running video. We conversed with one another as separate people took on the editing role, to make sure that we were all heading in the right direction.

I also assisted in setting up the lighting for wherever we were intending to film, understanding that, if the lighting in a shot was off, we would have to either convert it in post or re-take the shot, which would have pushed us back further from our deadline.