Last of Pre-Production

This week I started my final stages of Pre-production. I focused on the lighting, camera angles, artistic principles of design, and the look I want to convey with this piece.  I decided to take a different approach to my sketchbook page and actually make it in my sketchbook. Above is a screenshot I captured from a youtube video interview and then took into Photoshop to point out how the different lights were affecting the subject. The right backlight adds light to the subjects left shoulder, neck and back of the head. The top light is at an angle so it lights up the back of the right shoulder, and the top of the hair, making a shadow with the bangs of the subject. The last light I think they used was a fill light that was low and pointed up from the viewers right side but the subjects left. I can tell because the face is softly illuminated which indicates a less harsh fill light. Also there is a shadow above the subjects left eye (reversed for viewer) that makes me believe the light is lower and pointed up. 

Below are my sketchbook pages in which I took the ideas I found throughout the week and combined them by drawing each camera set up and perspective out on a different page. Each page has three illustrations. 1, top left, is where the lights will be put based off of this specific camera angle as if I'm in the room and l am seeing the whole picture and not just what the camera sees. The second, bottom left, which shows a black box and inside is what I want the camera to actually capture, cropping out the set design and everything I don't want seen in the film. The third, bottom right, is of a birds eye view using symbols to represent the set camera, subject, lights, etc. each of these drawings is different because the camera that is being drawn and written about on each specific page is circled in blue pen accordingly. Along with the drawings I have written a few notes on the principle of design being used in the shot and other important things that translate to the illustrations. I am not quite sure about camera 3 yet. I was basing some of this from the knowledge off of what we learned last year with multicam editing. However, we did a two person conversation and the use of the right and left cameras were to get the same shot of the different subjects. But I am only using 1 subject and as I watch more interviews I am starting to realize that my 3rd camera angle should still be a zoomed out shot but maybe keep in on the right side with the rest of the camera to not disrupt the flow and switch up the views. I have not decided what I will do and this is probably the last decision I will make before actually filming my interview with Jack.

Worklog:
Monday: Presentations and notes
Tuesday: Presentation and notes
Wednesday: Presentation and notes
Thursday: researched lighting positions for multicam interviews
Friday: Started to plan out camera angles, lights, camera positions, and creative aspects of the interview.

MP2 Presentation Summaries #1

MP2 Presentation Summaries #1

Ariel:

Ariel is working with photoshop to recreate photographs into digital paintings. She uses layers to switch on and off from photograph to painting in order to get the most accurate representation possible without actually copying it. She even switches over and uses the color dropper tool in order to get correct skin tone colors which helps make the process easier since skin is particularly hard to represent. I especially liked an idea Mr. Bomboy brought up after her presentation about taking 12 screen shots every second to get a stop-motion kind of effect (12 fps is usually recommended) and do quicker recreations of these screen shots, lining them back up in Premiere, and playing to get an animated drawing type effect from an actual video. This is definitely something I would like to pursue, even if its not this year. I love drawing and the idea of movement so I can use these to make unique animations. I could also use this technique to make a customized animated logo since I enjoy creating production logos.

Brennan:

Brennan is actually doing stop motion with clay and it looks absolutely phenomenal. He's made a few short videos and I'm hoping he makes a longer one for the arts fest at the end of the year. Once again this plays into what I discussed above with creating a stop motion type of animation from drawings and screenshots. Everything from these two projects ties into what Mr. Bomboy talked about and everything that I would like to do in the future.

MP2 Project

MP2 Final Project by Brice McInroy on Scribd

Job Investigation

Job Investigation

Recently I’ve been extremely curious about the jobs available in the film industry and which one’s interest me and fit what I am looking to do when I’m older. I'll be going to college in a few months so I thought it was important for me to get a general understanding of what is out there. Below are a few of the jobs with descriptions and whether or not I am interested in pursuing them.

 Director- This person is responsible for everything that goes on while on set. Film Directors are at the top of the Production Pyramid and all artistic details are run through him/her. The Director is in charge of translating the script into the film the producer envisions. Directors need to have an in-depth knowledge of the technical aspect of filming and the artistic things including acting, set design, and everything else. This job takes a while to be good at since so much knowledge is needed and some of that knowledge I’m just not that interested in. I feel that Directing could come later in my career but initially I would not like to pursue it since it is so challenging.

Producer- This person has the most important role money making wise. They are in charge of finding a script and turning it into a movie on time and on budget. Some Producers double as a Director as well so the exact job of a Producer varies. They are responsible for all the off-set logistics that goes into bringing a film to life. This is a career I would like to pursue because I am really good with logistics and being a leader. Not only would I be in charge of the movie but I would also be able to share my ideas about what I want without having to have every little piece of knowledge in how to make my ideas come to life.

Set Designer- These people are in charge of blueprinting and constructing every set in a movie. They take rough drawings from producers and Directors and make them into a reality. I am slightly interested in this job because I like to make things and am good at it too. Also, it’s a job that requires a lot of problem solving, so each day is different and I bet I’d rarely get bored. I feel like it would be a good way to start in the industry.

Director of Photography- Also known as the Cinematographer this person is the right hand of the Director and is entrusted in bringing together the ideas and coordinating different departments like lighting, sound, camera operations, and talent. This is another big job but could also be a good starter. I could go to school at Tennessee and study Cinematography which is one of the majors they required and hopefully go right into working. It would also give me a good background of knowledge if I ever want to become a director or Producer.

Movie Editor- After Productions is wrapped, this person works through every shot and tape and formats them into a flowing narrative. They work in teams so they can consult with one another in order to find the best final cut. I have a good background on using editing programs so I would like to pursue this career. I’m not the best at taking the shots and camera settings and that stuff so this would let me use my skills that I already have.


Work Log:
This week I tried to coordinate when Jack and I will be filming and I sketched out a few shots and ideas for what I want to create. I also started another project in After Effects to make an animated production logo to put in before my film.