Today, in our class, pinnacle studios was down. Pinnacle studios is the program we use to edit our videos. It wouldn’t work on any of the computers and we were meant to be getting new ones later on in the week. Because these computers would be gone, we had to take all of our footage that we had dumped and put it back onto a jump drive or in an online cloud. When we had dumped last week, we put our footage on the google cloud already so this step was already done for us. There wasn’t really anything else we could do for editing our footage. We mostly just sat in class doing other homework we had, some people watched Netflix, it was kind of a free day for most. Others went out and filmed more shots. Some were re-filming shots that weren’t good enough and some still had to finish filming. We didn’t have to do this.
Last class, we were given 30-45 minutes to finish any filming we needed. We had finished, but when we were watching it back we weren’t sure if the quality was good enough. So we reshot everything on my iPhone. The quality came out much nicer. We also made the commercial flow better and we changed some of the perspectives of the scenes. When we were reshooting we were also thinking about how we would edit it all together. This also made it easier because we didn’t have to move all the footage that we had taken on the previous day. It was already in my phone and would soon be put in the google cloud for easy access.
For editing, we all had so many ideas. We spent the class brainstorming and coming up with different editing thing we could do. We would have to cut each scene so that it would flow and wasn’t confusing to the audience. We wanted to incorporate fades, different cuts, and blurs. All of the editing would contribute to the focus on the Vans. We want to show how the product is useful and fun. We wanted to put fun music. Of course, the music would have to match the footage and commercial. We were debating on whether to include a voiceover. It could be beneficial, but it could take away from the vibe. The way the footage is edited really makes a big difference. It can make or break how your commercial is viewed by the audience.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Friday, October 25, 2019
Filming Blog
Wednesday we started our first day of filming. For the process to begin, we had to check out a camera, a tripod, and an SD card. We filled out the sign out form and got our materials. I brought in a penny board, which is a small skateboard, in order to capture the culture that Vans mostly advertises for. We all had our costumes, which were basically just shorts or jeans, and a t-shirt, long sleeve, or sweatshirt. For the first shot, I was acting. I had to stand and hold the skateboard and “look into the distance.” We took the shot a couple of times to ensure that at least one of them was usable because there can sometimes be background noises or other things you don’t realize until you get to editing. We shot this from a low angle and another from more of an eye level angle. For the next shot, I was riding the penny board. We had to retake this shot many times because I kept falling off the board or not riding it for long enough. We took this shot riding into and away from the sun; from a low, eye level angle; and from a regular eye level angle.
To transition to a new location, we took shots of me walking and picking up the board. Our next location where we filmed were underneath the bleachers. We wanted to be so that it appeared that I was looking at Savanah’s (one of my group members) shoes through the holes in the bleachers. It was very difficult to position it properly and the lighting wasn’t really working with us so you couldn’t really see it as well as we wanted. We took many takes of this shot trying to get it right. I was sitting on the penny board when i suddenly realize that another girl has the same Vans as me which interests me into becoming friends with her. Another transition shot of me walking towards her was taken as I went to the other side of the bleachers to talk to her. In the last shot, we set up the camera on the tripod, quickly because we were running out of time, and we took a shot of all 3 of us talking and becoming friends. After we were done filming, we dumped all of our footage into a folder on the computer but didn’t look at any of it.
Today, when we looked at all of our footage, we realized that the camera quality wasn’t the best and we wanted to improve it. We also noticed that, although we tried, our scenes didn’t flow together very well. Our last shot was too high up and it had cut off about 75% of our bodies. Because of all this. we decided to reshoot most of our film on my iPhone. We reshot all the scenes of me skating, which were definite much better today. We also reshot all of the transition shots and we decided that because the lighting didn’t really allow it, we didn’t shoot under the bleachers. Instead we shot me on the bleachers away from our group member Kelly. Our shots were much more clear and made more sense to our concept that we were trying to create. Overall, our new shots from today are much more useable than our original shots.
To transition to a new location, we took shots of me walking and picking up the board. Our next location where we filmed were underneath the bleachers. We wanted to be so that it appeared that I was looking at Savanah’s (one of my group members) shoes through the holes in the bleachers. It was very difficult to position it properly and the lighting wasn’t really working with us so you couldn’t really see it as well as we wanted. We took many takes of this shot trying to get it right. I was sitting on the penny board when i suddenly realize that another girl has the same Vans as me which interests me into becoming friends with her. Another transition shot of me walking towards her was taken as I went to the other side of the bleachers to talk to her. In the last shot, we set up the camera on the tripod, quickly because we were running out of time, and we took a shot of all 3 of us talking and becoming friends. After we were done filming, we dumped all of our footage into a folder on the computer but didn’t look at any of it.
Today, when we looked at all of our footage, we realized that the camera quality wasn’t the best and we wanted to improve it. We also noticed that, although we tried, our scenes didn’t flow together very well. Our last shot was too high up and it had cut off about 75% of our bodies. Because of all this. we decided to reshoot most of our film on my iPhone. We reshot all the scenes of me skating, which were definite much better today. We also reshot all of the transition shots and we decided that because the lighting didn’t really allow it, we didn’t shoot under the bleachers. Instead we shot me on the bleachers away from our group member Kelly. Our shots were much more clear and made more sense to our concept that we were trying to create. Overall, our new shots from today are much more useable than our original shots.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Storyboard
Today, in class, we started brainstorming on ideas for our commercial. We infused some of the ideas we had seen in other Vans commercials to create our own creative ideas. We took into consideration the audience of our product such as teens and young adults. We thought about some cool, but also effective, shots we would like to input into our commercial. These included tracking shots, close-ups, and wide shots. We also wanted to make sure the focus was consistent on the Vans products. While thinking about different shots and how they were perceived, we started to figure out our storyline. We thought that it would be relatable to our audience and persuasive if we showed how Vans brought others together. We want the advertisement to seem simplistic but also have small details that contribute to the power of the scene. The setting and props will also play a big part of how the audience sees the Vans products.
Since Vans products are usually veered towards the skating atmosphere, we thought a good prop to use would be a skateboard. The skateboard could also act as a transition between scenes. We thought that using warm, natural lighting would be very realistic and effective. This would help convey the message of being together in an outdoor setting. In our setting, the colors are very neutral with pops of color coming from the Vans clothing. This includes the different colors that Vans’ shoes come in in order to promote individuality. The setting of the bleachers makes the commercial very relatable and realistic to teenagers because it is a familiar place to a variety of areas.
Our storyboard’s first scene is a medium close up and of someone about to ride a skateboard. The second scene is an extreme close up of the person riding the skateboard, but the eye level of the feet. It is going to be done as a pan shot. The third “scene” is going to start with a wide shot of 2 people away from each other sitting on the bleachers. There is going to be an over the shoulder shot of one person realizing both of the people are wearing Vans apparel. In the fourth, it is of a different person looking empowered bully wearing vans. This will be a long shot/ a tracking shot moving upward. The last shot will be a 3 shot of all the people on the bleachers talking and being together. The camera will zoom out and blur as words come across the screen along with the Vans logo.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Editing Lesson Blog
Today in class we had our first lesson on editing. We were taught all about the camera, getting the footage, and editing the footage. The camera has many accessories and we needed to know how to properly use all of them. The camera itself is turned on and off by opening and closing the screen, you don’t have to use the button. To put in the SD card, you simply insert it into the slot and to take it back out u push on it to release it from holding and u pull it out. To record on the camera, you press the button with the red line on it and to end the recording you just press it again. With the camera comes the use of the tripod. The tripod opens up and the legs extend to become taller. You then screw the camera securely to the top of the tripod. There is a handle on the tripod that controls the movement of the camera, but keeps it steady. This can be used to make clean pan and tilt shots. Lastly on the tripod, there is a crank that can move the camera up and down to make the camera taller.
Once your footage is on the camera, you have to get it to the computer so that you can edit it. To do this, you must do what is called “dumping.” This is when you put all the footage that is on the camera onto the desktop. Every time you dump, it must be on the account or else the previous footage will not be there. A folder must be made so that the footage can be organized away from everything else on that desktop. Once the folder is made, you put your SD card into the SD card reader and plug the reader into the computer. You then go to DCIM when the reader screen pops up to get your footage. If your footage is not there, go to AVCHD>BDMV>look for word stream and then all the footage should be there. Once all the footage is in the folder, you can eject the Sd card reader and open Pinnacle Studios. You must import the footage into Pinnacle Studios from the desktop folder with your footage.
Once all of your footage is imported, the raw footage will appear in the top section to the left on the screen. To edit a certain clip, drag it from the top section into track 2. Track 2 is for the footage, Track 1 is for titles, and track 3 is for sound, like music or voice overs. This track is where you can make all your editing decisions. To cut, place the play bar where you want to end/start the clip and then click the split button which has a razor blade icon. If you right click on the mouse you can control the speed of the clip. Also, you can open the effects editor to add special effects and transitions to smoothen your editing. In track 1 the title must be placed where it is not covering an important focus or subject of the shot. You can add a title by clicking the "T", entering the text, then place it above footage and put it where ever you want. In track 3, to detach sound from a certain section of a clip, right click and press "detach audio". If you want to just mute an entire clip, simply click mute.
Once your footage is on the camera, you have to get it to the computer so that you can edit it. To do this, you must do what is called “dumping.” This is when you put all the footage that is on the camera onto the desktop. Every time you dump, it must be on the account or else the previous footage will not be there. A folder must be made so that the footage can be organized away from everything else on that desktop. Once the folder is made, you put your SD card into the SD card reader and plug the reader into the computer. You then go to DCIM when the reader screen pops up to get your footage. If your footage is not there, go to AVCHD>BDMV>look for word stream and then all the footage should be there. Once all the footage is in the folder, you can eject the Sd card reader and open Pinnacle Studios. You must import the footage into Pinnacle Studios from the desktop folder with your footage.
Once all of your footage is imported, the raw footage will appear in the top section to the left on the screen. To edit a certain clip, drag it from the top section into track 2. Track 2 is for the footage, Track 1 is for titles, and track 3 is for sound, like music or voice overs. This track is where you can make all your editing decisions. To cut, place the play bar where you want to end/start the clip and then click the split button which has a razor blade icon. If you right click on the mouse you can control the speed of the clip. Also, you can open the effects editor to add special effects and transitions to smoothen your editing. In track 1 the title must be placed where it is not covering an important focus or subject of the shot. You can add a title by clicking the "T", entering the text, then place it above footage and put it where ever you want. In track 3, to detach sound from a certain section of a clip, right click and press "detach audio". If you want to just mute an entire clip, simply click mute.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Planning For Vans Commercial
Today we are figuring out where we are filming our commercial, what props we will need, our backup plan, and the basic idea for it. We are doing a vans commercial so it has to capture the ideas that vans makes. For this blog, we need to explain our plan for our commercial in detail and make sure we know what are doing so we can start story boarding next class. We need to talk about the props that we are going to use, the costumes we are going to wear, the location, and what we will do if we cannot use our original plan, and make a schedule for our commercial.
~The props that we will be using in our vans commercial are vans shoes and other Vans apparel. Also, we might use skateboards, but we are still unsure of that because we are filming at school.
~Our costumes would be ripped jeans, t-shirts, Vans shoes, beanies, and cool shin high socks.
~The location of our commercial is going to be on the senior patio and around that area of our school. If it rains or we cannot go to that location, we will go to the stairs near the auditorium.
Schedule:
10/15: Editing assignment and story boarding
10/17: Start filming process
10/22: Filming Blog
10/24: Filming and editing blog
10/28: Edit and see if anything needs to be re-filmed
10/30: Re-film shots if needed and continue editing
11/1: Editing
11/5: Review final product
~The props that we will be using in our vans commercial are vans shoes and other Vans apparel. Also, we might use skateboards, but we are still unsure of that because we are filming at school.
~Our costumes would be ripped jeans, t-shirts, Vans shoes, beanies, and cool shin high socks.
~The location of our commercial is going to be on the senior patio and around that area of our school. If it rains or we cannot go to that location, we will go to the stairs near the auditorium.
Schedule:
10/15: Editing assignment and story boarding
10/17: Start filming process
10/22: Filming Blog
10/24: Filming and editing blog
10/28: Edit and see if anything needs to be re-filmed
10/30: Re-film shots if needed and continue editing
11/1: Editing
11/5: Review final product
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Commercial Norms
My group and I are doing our commercial for the brand Vans. Vans' commercials use a variety of music, it can range from instrumental rock to a rhythmic strum on the guitar. The surroundings are normally neutral colored with the shoes capturing the eye by adding a pop of color or striking print. Their advertisements usually depict that their apparel can improve skating performance. The dialogue, if there is any, is done in a voice over which empowers and adds emphasis on the topic of individuality and expression.
The props normally used in a commercial for Vans include skateboards and surfboards. They use these props to relate their brand with a feeling of freedom and adventure. They use their brand's clothing in their commercials which are normally a basic color with a cool design. The people seen in the advertisements are usually wearing beanies, flannels, and/or ripped jeans.
The setting where these commercials take place can range from the beach to a skate park or anywhere else where it will appeal to their audience. The setting is usually never overwhelming or overcrowded. The shot usually contains a lot of negative space for example, a long beach or a clear sky with focus on the subject. Their ads use neutral colors with hints of warm tones. The settings are usually in outdoor settings which allows natural lighting to play a major role in how their brand is portrayed. Their ads create a calming mood for the audience.
The props normally used in a commercial for Vans include skateboards and surfboards. They use these props to relate their brand with a feeling of freedom and adventure. They use their brand's clothing in their commercials which are normally a basic color with a cool design. The people seen in the advertisements are usually wearing beanies, flannels, and/or ripped jeans.
The setting where these commercials take place can range from the beach to a skate park or anywhere else where it will appeal to their audience. The setting is usually never overwhelming or overcrowded. The shot usually contains a lot of negative space for example, a long beach or a clear sky with focus on the subject. Their ads use neutral colors with hints of warm tones. The settings are usually in outdoor settings which allows natural lighting to play a major role in how their brand is portrayed. Their ads create a calming mood for the audience.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
My Life
Hey guys,
My name is Haylie and I'm starting this blog for my AICE Media Studies class. I'm a sophomore in high school and currently enrolled in the Cambridge program at my school. I have 8 periods of classes but we have a block schedule so the first 4 are on A days and the second 4 are on B days. I would say my "harder" classes are on A days which are AICE Psychology, AICE Media Studies, Pre-Calculus Honors, and Chemistry Honors. These classes give me the most homework which is why I describe them as a little bit harder. On B days I have AICE English, study hall, AICE European History, and Spanish 1 Honors. Most students don't like school, but I actually don't mind it. I enjoy math the most because it happens so easily in my brain and it is really interesting to me when you have to solve equations and I love how everything in math is connected.
The one and only hobby that I partake in, is dance. I have been dancing since I was 4 and it has been the best thing to happen to me in my life. It allows me to express myself and leave all of the stress from life behind for a few hours. I do ballet, contemporary, acrobatics, and jazz. I used to not like ballet but recently it has become one of my favorites. Also, I love how it makes your body feel so good and stretched out. It is a lot of hard work but the end.
As a person, I'm pretty chill. I try not to involve myself in drama, with anyone. But in high school, somehow drama always seems to find everyone. My friends describe me as energetic, random, and charismatic. For the most part, I agree. I love to hang out with friends in my free time; we go to the beach, football games, and other typical teen activities. Well, enough about me, it is currently 10:07 pm and I'm going to bed now.
That's all for now folks!
My name is Haylie and I'm starting this blog for my AICE Media Studies class. I'm a sophomore in high school and currently enrolled in the Cambridge program at my school. I have 8 periods of classes but we have a block schedule so the first 4 are on A days and the second 4 are on B days. I would say my "harder" classes are on A days which are AICE Psychology, AICE Media Studies, Pre-Calculus Honors, and Chemistry Honors. These classes give me the most homework which is why I describe them as a little bit harder. On B days I have AICE English, study hall, AICE European History, and Spanish 1 Honors. Most students don't like school, but I actually don't mind it. I enjoy math the most because it happens so easily in my brain and it is really interesting to me when you have to solve equations and I love how everything in math is connected.
The one and only hobby that I partake in, is dance. I have been dancing since I was 4 and it has been the best thing to happen to me in my life. It allows me to express myself and leave all of the stress from life behind for a few hours. I do ballet, contemporary, acrobatics, and jazz. I used to not like ballet but recently it has become one of my favorites. Also, I love how it makes your body feel so good and stretched out. It is a lot of hard work but the end.
As a person, I'm pretty chill. I try not to involve myself in drama, with anyone. But in high school, somehow drama always seems to find everyone. My friends describe me as energetic, random, and charismatic. For the most part, I agree. I love to hang out with friends in my free time; we go to the beach, football games, and other typical teen activities. Well, enough about me, it is currently 10:07 pm and I'm going to bed now.
That's all for now folks!
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