Video Production Tutorial 17/03/17

•     3 minute rough cut status: editing taking place but not yet a coherent three minute production. Loads of potential but also plenty to do in order to create something that is unmistakeably arthouse film rather than a music video.
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• ·    Comments on current filming: some great shots – the close-up bleeding nose shots are excellent, great framing and focus. Some of the memory shots are also excellent – the dusk shots etc. However, the question mark regarding whether you have enough footage in total is still there – I would imagine that you will need to go out and film an additional scene… the question is what the scene should be (another memory sequence or the beginning of the rest of the film – 30 second sequence to place at the end of your 3 minute extract).
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• ·   Currently the memory sequences don’t cut fast enough – the shots aren’t quite interesting or dramatic enough to hold on them for 10-15 seconds. If you are lacking footage or a variety of angles then consider breaking up the longer shots by deliberately putting jump cuts in. This will draw attention to the editing but in a memory/dream sequence for arthouse film that is absolutely fine.
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• ·   The voiceover is absolutely crucial and without it you can’t effectively edit the rest of the sequence. Things like the overall timing of the piece depend on the voiceover so it needs to be an urgent priority to record that over the weekend or early next week.
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• ·   Alongside the jump cut suggestion about, I would consider using effects or transitions to make the memory/dream sequences more ‘arty’. Long, slow dissolves may do this or slow motion. You want it to feel like the character is drifting in and out of consciousness a little and effects will help with this.
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• ·   In terms of post-production, you may want to think about colour or effects to differentiate more between present time and memory sequences. You have some vivid colour for the bleeding nose shots – perhaps experiment with effects on the memory sequences that give a slightly sepia tone to it (this will help emphasise the memory/dream aspect).
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• ·   Music is a good choice but I would fade up and down rather than abruptly cutting it (or perhaps experiment with echo when it cuts back to the present day). Having the song choice is helpful but there’s more work to be done in terms of how you use it.
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• ·   You seem to have an odd issue with the sequence settings. Re-build the whole things on Sequence 3 – it will take a few minutes but look SO much better. You can implement suggested improvements as you go.

• ·   Next steps: voiceover and re-building the sequence will be your initial priorities but we also need to deliver a coherent 3 minute narrative sooner rather than later. If you do need to add a new scene to get another 30 seconds we need to know soon!
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• ·   Print – continue to work on this in free periods/after school as required – it’s looking great but I haven’t seen the double page spread text which will be vital to the overall grade.

Video tutorial

·         Current status: roughly 30% of script filmed – potential problems with overall length not reaching 3 mins. Remember it’s a film opening so you can legitimately add things like titles to extend the overall length. The brief states approximately 3 minutes so 2.45 will be fine.

·         Most obvious way to add to the overall length is to offer a clearer picture of where the rest of the full 30 minute film is going… some kind of reverse/flashback/editing trick and perhaps begin the narrative at the true beginning having already established the ending.

·         Filmed grass scenes (present day close-ups) including wound/fake blood. They look brilliant – the close-up is perfect, great framing and focus. Blood looks realistic and effective.

·         Perhaps consider re-shooting the park shots (flashback) – very grainy, perhaps just not enough light. However, with the right editing and music it could potentially work.

·         Voiceover is going to be crucial – get that recorded in the next week or so. Use our Zoom audio recorder – industry standard. Just find a quiet room in school (no computers or air-con) to record lots of takes of the voiceover. So important to get this right!

·         Concert footage shot on phone as planned.

·         Train station, car park, Ealing, Camden still to shoot. Remember the key discussions we had regarding costume etc. You could shoot all in one day but probably preferable to spread them over two days. Arrange a date ASAP with your main actor – ideally this coming weekend but the following can work at a push as long as you start editing what you’ve got.

·         As discussed earlier, you probably need an extra scene in the script to begin the rest of the film… think about how that can work and have a script draft for Friday and we can confirm it then.

·         Print work is going well and can continue in lesson time.

·         Need to establish when and where editing will take place. My advice is to edit in school on Premiere Pro for multiple reasons – backup and support being the main ones.

·         Please note we will start evaluations in three weeks.

         Three things I will do in the following week:

                       

                 1)  Film two locations from script

                 2)  Do voice over for three scenes.

                 3)  Re-shoot park flashback

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