Lansing Media Video Production Class

Welcome to Lansing Media. After this class you will be able to check out equipment and be on the way to tell your story.

The most important things to remember are:

• Know your technical skills. Practice, and become an expert on the equipment. You can have the best story to tell, but if no one can hear it, or see it, it will not work. • Tell a story. Forget all the special effects, the fancy equipment, the story is what matters most. • Watch good films and take notes. • Keep it simple. If you can’t tell a person what your film is about in under one minute. It is too complicated. • Have fun and be creative. • Spend time making each shot perfect and beautiful.

Brian Town Michigan Creative Class Schedule

Class 1 Learning Objectives Students will become familiar with basic video terminology. Students will understand creative shooting techniques. Student will learn set up and operation of the cameras.

Key Points Shots and Terminology. Composition Creativity Basic Camera set up and instruction Camera operation

Class 2 Learning Objectives Students will understand the proper technical aspects of the camera. Students will become familiar with composition and creative shooting techniques.

Key Points Review of camera set up Shooting practice and review

Class 3 Learning Objectives Students will understand the use and importance of storyboarding and storytelling.

Key Points Storyboarding and writing. Write a 1:30 second news piece

Class 4 Learning Objectives Students will know how to write and shoot a news piece Students will learn how to set up and use light kits Students will learn how to use external microphones.

Key Points Shoot Practice News Piece Class 5 Shoot Practice News Piece

Class 6 Learning Objectives Students will learn the proper set up for Final Cut Pro Students will learn basic FXCP Shortcuts

Key Points Final Cut Pro X instruction Digitizing Footage

Class 7 Editing and Exporting

Class 8 Review Check out procedures Rules

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Video Production Terms Chapter 2 - Camera Shots, Movements, and Transitions. Chapter 3 - Camera Tips and Tricks Chapter 4 - Final Cut Pro X Chapter 5 - Story Telling and Planning

Appendix

FCPX Shortcuts Character Worksheet Lighting set up Blank Scripts Blank Storyboard Chapter 1 Video Production Terms

Entropy - the tendency for disorder and chaos

Time code - assigns each frame of video with a number.

Chroma Key - The Green Screen. Chroma = Color (blue or green) Key = Take Away

Titles - graphic information superimposed onto video.

Full page - Open graphic, name of show Lower third - talent names Bug - Station or show name (CBS eye) Credits - Crew list

Aperture - A variable opening inside a lens that regulates the amount of light reaching the image plane. Also known as an iris.

Shutter speed - also known as “exposure time”, stands for the length of time a camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera sensor. If the shutter speed is fast, it can help to freeze action completely. If the shutter speed is slow, it can create an effect called “motion blur”, where moving objects appear blurred along the direction of the motion.

Focus - To make picture clearer (auto/manual)

White Balance - telling the camera what color white is in the light that you are in

Gain - boosting the light on the camera, can make the image grainy

Neutral Density Filter - a filter that the camera is for outside light

STORYBOARD - A graphic and text depicting each scene

Continuity - creating time reality in video. Making it look like everything things is happening now and in order. Cut is the best transition to do this. Depth of Field - Depth of field refers to the range of distance that appears acceptably sharp. It varies depending on camera type, aperture and focusing distance, although viewing distance can also influence our perception of depth of field.

News Terms

Broll - Video over Nat sound or VO News Package -1-3 min News Story. Usually shot in the field and edited together Nat Sound - Natural Sound, puts the viewer there VO - Voice Over Teleprompter - rolls the script for the anchors Anchor - Sits at news desk and reads the stories Stand Up and Close - Beginning and end of news package Reporter - Shoots and edits packages for play back on news Chapter 2 Camera Shots, Movements, and Transitions.

Camera Shots

MS - Medium Shot. Used for interviews and general action.

CU - Close up shot (takes in head and shoulders)

ECU - Extreme close up (takes in full face, or even closer)

FADE - To get from black to light (fade-in) or light to black (fade out)

WS - wide shot, establishes location

MCU - Medium close up (to take in 3/4 of scene or person)

Talk space - the space you leave in front of the frame in the direction that the person is talking.

HEADROOM - to frame person in picture with space above head (not cut off)

Nat Sound - The natural sound around you.

Camera Movements

ZOOM - moving in/out with the lens T=tight W=wide PAN - left/right on the tripod head TILT - up/down on the tripod head DOLLY - In/Out on the tripod wheels TRUCK - Left/Right on the tripod wheels PEDESTAL - Up/Down in place on a tripod ARC - arc around the subject with tripod or crane

Transitions

FADE - from black or to black. DISSOLVE - mixing between 2 or more images. Used to pass time. CUT - one image to another. For continuity WIPE - an effect that looks like one video source is pushing another off screen. SFX WIPE or DVE wipe - a special effect wipe where a object or animation pushed the video off the screen

Chapter 3 Camera Tips and Tricks

Besides what you will go over in your camera exercise and scavenger hunt, here are a few more camera techniques.

POV shot-point of view shot. This is a shot from the characters point of view. The camera becomes their eyes and we see what they see.

Pre and Post Roll- the amount of time you should leave before and after each shot for editing and so you don’t cut of the front or back end of your shots. The camera need time to actually begin to record.

Pre - after you get your shot set, and your talent is ready to go, hit record and count to three, then say “action.” Post - when the shot or scene is over, count to three in your head then hit stop record.

Walk Through- this may be over-used, but is a neat effect nonetheless. Have a person walk at the camera until he is right up against the lens and it goes black, wait for post roll. Then, turn the camera around, have the subject stand directly in front of the lens so it is black, hit record, wait for pre roll, then have him walk away from the camera. In editing you would clean up the black some, but if you can’t edit it, just shorten your post and pre. This shot would look like they are “walking through” the camera.

Whip Pan - whip the camera around in a pan so that the image is blurred. This is used to get from one place to another.

For example: You are doing an interview with a member from the girls soccer team, you want to transition to an interview with a member of a boys baseball team, what you can so is do a few whip pans outside on one of the fields, creating a blurred image and place that between the two interviews.

Zoom or Pan to Black (or other color)- this is a good way to transition from scene to scene. The best way to explain this is to talk about two vintage Hitchcock films, Psycho and Rope. Video Camera Tips

1) The camera is an awesome extension of the eye, use it that way.

2) Shoot what the eye can’t.

3) Visualize the scene and tell the story.

4) Tripod-use it-enough said.

5) Natural sound-hear it-record it.

6) Practice and know your technical skills, don’t blind or impair the camera.

7) Shoot more than you need, but don’t shoot slop.

8) Lighting is good: remember, without light, TV is radio.

9) Shoot to edit. Post and pre roll.

10) Again, work hard, have fun and be creative!

11) Take care of the equipment. We love it! Depth of field tips

Depth of Field: the area in front of your camera where everything looks sharp and in focus.

1) Your depth of field decreases as you increase your focal length. (telephoto lens-less in focus) (zoom in-less in focus)

2) Your depth of field increases as you decrease your focal length. (Wide angle lens- more in focus) (zoom out-more in focus)

3) Your depth of field increases as you close down your aperture. (less light-more in focus)

4) Your depth of field decreases as you open up your aperture. (more light-less in focus)

5) Your depth of field increases as your subject gets farther from the camera.

6) Your depth of field decreases as your subject gets closer to the camera. Camera Exercise

1) Shoot a 3 different shots or angles of a hallway.

2) Shoot a MS, CU, and ECU, of a person standing. Leave talk space and head room.

3) Pick apart an object by getting at least 5 different shots of it. Get an establishing shot first, then break the object down.

4) Do a zoom out from a close up to a wide shot. Remember to record the start and stop points.

7) Tape somebody talking to the camera. Do it again and hook up an external mic.

8) Go outside. Re-white balance! Shoot a couple WS’s a building.

9) Put the camera on your shoulder. Zoom in all the way on something and try to steady your shot on the object.

10) Get the most creative shot you can come up with.

SECOND TIME 5 Nature Shots 2 Arc shots around person or object 2 rack focus 1 zoom or pan to black 1 whip pan 1 in camera edit Video Camera Rules

1) Treat them with care! You are leaving with $2000-$10,000 worth of equipment. Don’t be careless unless you can leave the cash.

2) Don’t leave them in your car.

3) Camera good, rain bad. One drop is too much.

4) Never leave unattended.

5) Unlock tripods before using.

6) Note any and all problems and report it immediately. Warning lights mean something is wrong.

7) Cold temperature reduce battery power, be aware of this.

8) Always fill out equipment check out form before you leave.

9) Be responsible, and professional. It will serve you well.

10) Work hard, have fun, be creative. Practice News Package

1) Set up a camera in the studio and re-familiarize your self with all of the controls. 2) Hook up and external mic and check levels. Record someone talking to the camera and check your tape on a deck to be sure you got levels. 3) Put together a 2-3 min news package that includes the following: Reporter Stand Up, break in and close. Reporter VO. Two Interviews. B-Roll. Nat Sound. Outstanding Shots. Chapter 4 Final Cut Pro X

Steps to Start A New Project

1) Open FCPX

2) Select your hard drive from the Event Library

3) Go to the FILE menu and create a new event on your hard drive. Name it something that is related to your project

4) Import files from camera. You can do this by going to the file menu, or clicking on the icon in the new event.

5) Find your card and files.

6) Look at the check box options.

7) Deselect: Copy files, proxy and all the audio box’s

8) Select: Import folders as keyword collections, create optimized media, and all the Video boxes

9) Make sure when before you click import, you have the right event selected.

10) Go to the FILE menu and create a new project. Name it specific to the project you are working on.

11) EDIT! Chapter 5 Story Telling and Planning - Film notes and Tips

Research your subject. Know the story so you can tell it effectively to others with your camera.

Avoid shooting randomly. Avoid being birthday Mom and Dad. What they do is hit record and let it go. You, being the filmmaker that you are will record in sections. You will get ten different shots, close ups, and good natural sound and really tell the story.

When Interviewing someone, have a conversation with them. Don’t just hit record and yell go, talk to them, and have them talk to you like there is no camera there.

Identify the story and prove the main points visually.

GIVE THE STORY A BEGINNING MIDDLE AND END!

FILM NOTES and TIPS

Story has taken a backseat to technical wizardry.

A good film is made by listening and writing what is closest to you and what you are most familiar with.

One really good tip is just to listen to people. Listen to the way that conversations work in real life and how people actually use words when they speak. You don’t want to make your characters sound like they are making speeches. Scripted exchanges can often seem a bit forced and unrealistic. People don’t talk at each other they talk to each other. By taking notice of how the real world works you can help yourself to overcome that. Public transport is great for eavesdropping on other people. Pubs are another good source of inspiration. Don’t make it too obvious that you’re paying attention to what people are saying or you’re liable to get into trouble. "I’m researching for a script" isn’t an excuse that most people are sympathetic with.

Another good habit to get into is to read your scripts aloud. It is all very easy to sit at a desk and write stuff that sounds good in your head but if an actor cannot say it aloud then the line is no good. Always bear in mind that a script is intended to be performed.

What is a short film?

At the heart of all the short films in this collection is a character's story, which is first fully realized in a screenplay, and it is with this in mind that this tour seeks to answer:

Six key questions about writing a good short film screenplay:

Who is the protagonist?

What is the active question, which is the basis of the action in film?

Who or what opposes the protagonist?

From whose point of view is the audience being shown the story?

What is it about? What is the theme? ‘

Every film has relationships that connect between parts and the whole. Relationships can be intertwined throughout the whole film, can be connected during the film, or at the end, both sometimes with the characters understand the connection, Crash, and where they don’t Babel. Every film has a beginning middle and end. But they do not have to be that order. Pulp Fiction, Memento. Main Character Worksheet

Name:

Gender:

Age:

HT/WT:

Color Hair/Eyes:

Skin Color:

Likes:

Dislikes:

History:

Future:

Love Interests:

Problems and Issues:

Current Problem working on in life due to your film:

People he will interact with in film:

Name 1______Quick Highlight:

Name 2______Quick Highlight:

What do you most want your audience to understand about your character at the end of your film? Michigan Final Cut X Short Cuts The best in Certified Final Cut Pro and Apple training in Michigan. “Helping you create your own vision....”

Insert Edit w An Insert Edit will insert the selected clip at the location of the skimmer or playhead. All downstream clips will shuffle down to accommodate the edit.

Append Edit e An Append Edit will add the selected clip to the end of the storyline.

Connect to Primary Storyline q The Connect to Primary Storylinecommand will connect the selected clip to the primary storyline (above or below) at the location of the skimmer or playhead.

Select (Arrow) Tool a The Select Tool allows you to grab clips and move them around within the magnetic timeline.

Trim Tool t The Trim Tool allows you to perform rolls, slip edits and slide edits. Position Mode p The Position Tool overrides the magnetic timeline and allows you to grab clips and move them around within gaps.

Range Selector r The Range Selector allows you to select a range that spans a portion of a clip or multiple clips. You can mark these ranges with ratings and keywords, apply effects to them and modify them in other ways.

Blade Tool b The Blade Tool allows you to split a selected clip in half.

Import Media - Command+i The Import Media command will open the Camera Import window, which will allow you to capture or import media.

Import Files - Command+Shift+i The Import Files command will open the Import Files window, which allows you to navigate to the desired files for import. Storyboards Storyboards Storyboards