During today’s class period we had to begin editing our commercial. To get the footage onto our computer we had to dump the footage. This required us to put our SD card into the SD card reader and then plug this into our computer. Then we had to create a folder on the desktop. From there, you check the DCIM folder for the SD card, which organizes the clips by the date. If you can’t find your footage you go into the private folder, then click on AUCHD, and then stream. Our footage did not pop up in the DCIM folder so we had to to go into the private folder. Once we found our clips we transferred them to the folder on our desktop. This process took quite some time since we had over 50 clips on the SD card. I found the dumping process to be fairly straight forward. The next step was to boot up Pinnacle Studios and import our footage onto there. This was a bit of a learning curve as I had never previously used Pinnacle Studios.
My group tasked me with editing our blog but I needed the footage to edit. To import we had to click import on Pinnacle Studios. Then you had to click import from desktop. The desktop would then scan for compatible files that we could use to edit. Once again this took quite some time as we had over 50 clips to import. When the footage finished importing now the editing process could begin. First, I watched all of the takes we had for each scene to determine which one would be used in the commercial. I would choose 1-2 and move then to the second track on the editing program. The reason I did this was because we had learned the first track was specifically for titles and text and the third was for voice overs, music, and other sound. I did not add titles today or sound because we had limited time to edit. I experimented around with different transitions however. A few of my favorite transitions were the dissolve, wipe, fade in, and fade out. I found these to fit with our commercial theme and tired include them throughout the commercial where I felt necessary. Before class was about to end I made sure to save what I had done. I saved it onto the desktop in a pinnacle studios video format so I could continue editing next class.
Throughout the editing process we ran into many complications. First, the main problem we had was locating our footage. We had dumped at the end of the previous class, but we’re not able to find the footage anywhere on our computer. Our solution to this problem however was we located our SD card and dumped the footage. The second problem we had was the time it took to import and dump. Our group had filmed over 50 clips ranging from 6 to 10 seconds in length. This meant that our footage took up a lot of storage and therefore took a lot of time to import. This was usually about 5-10 minutes and hurt the amount of time we had to edit. The final problem we had was how slow the computers were when having the editing software at times. Clicking too many things at once would cause the computer to overload and it would freeze. At one point the computer even crashed because it was so overloaded. All in all, despite the challenges we faced we were still able to start editing during the class period.
Monday, October 28, 2019
Friday, October 25, 2019
Commercial Filming
We filmed today in AICE Media Studies for our commercial which is on the Nike Brand. When we entered the classroom we were allowed to begin filming immediately, but first we had to follow the classroom procedures for checking out the equipment. We took an equipment form and included information such as the item numbers, phone numbers, group members names, and other information. We then turned this form into our teacher and were able to get our equipment. The camera took a while to learn how to use, but soon we were able to access a lot of the features. The other piece of equipment that took a while to learn how to use was the tripod. Detaching the base and screwing it into the camera was easy, but then reattaching this to the tripod was tricky. We knew the legs could be extended, but did not know there was an adjustable crane to give the camera more height. Before we could leave the classroom we also had to grab an AICE Media hall pass. This ensured that we did not waste time being stopped by security for not having a hall pass.
For the first scene, we had planned to film the Nike shoes at the track. It was very helpful having our storyboard so that we could save time and continue filming other scenes. However, when walking out the track we ran into a complication, the amount of people on track. We were not anticipating other groups filming on the track first as well as other classes being on the track. Our solution to this problem was to film on the baseball field in the outfield. On the baseball field there was no classes and only one other group filming. Additionally, we were able to capture the feeling of athleticism without being on the track. The second scene was the Nike shorts and this was filmed on the patio outside of the media center. We had story boarded this scene to be a tracking shot as the actor walked, but we decided to change this as it was too complicated. Instead we had the camera fixed on the tripod and the actor walk the camera. Then after about 5 seconds we would have the actor turn 90 degrees so the Nike logo was visible on his shorts. The third scene we filmed was for the Nike shirt. During this scene we had the camera once again fixed on the tripod looking down on the actor, also known as a high angle. The actor would be talking to a classmate or working on homework at a table outside of the cafeteria.
Continuing on, the 4th scene we filmed were filmed slightly different the rest of the scenes. On the storyboard we had planned for the actor, me, to walk up the media center stairs with a Nike backpack. The previous scenes I had been directing or adjusting the camera and enjoyed using the tripod as it gave stable footage that wasn't shaking. However, this time my group found that the tripod was not low enough for the low angle to be very apparent. Our solution to this problem was to have the person holding the camera sit on the floor and have the camera facing upward. After a few takes, we felt that we had taken at least one that wouldn't be shaky and good enough for our commercial. The last scene we had to film was all the Nike products together. This scene was tricky because we were not able to find the feature to add delay to when the take started. We wanted all of us to be in the scene but did not have another group member to be the camera man. Our solution was this was for me to start the video and me then go to where I was supposed to be. Then in the editing process we would crop the video to where we wanted it. Finally, for the last 15 minutes of class we dumped all of the footage we had onto a computer so we could begin editing next class.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Storyboarding Blog
First Scene-
During this scene we will be filming the Nike shoes, specifically White Air-forces, for the commercial. The shot will be an extreme close up, and will be tracking the subject. The location for the shot is on the track as well. We wanted to include an aspect of athletics since Nike is mostly athletic apparel.
Second Scene-
The next scene we wanted to include for our commercial is someone walking with Nike shorts. The location for the scene is on the patio outside of the media center, as we wanted to create a social setting. Casual clothing is another major part of Nike’s brand and we wanted to make sure to incorporate that into our commercial. This shot is going to be a medium long shot.
Third Scene-
The third scene we wanted to include in our commercial was someone outside of the cafeteria at our school in a Nike shirt. This would be a medium shot.
Fourth Scene-
The fourth scene will be an actor going up the stairs with a Nike backpack. This scene will include a low angle wide shot. We specifically choose to include a backpack as most kids need one for school and we would be filming at our school.
Fifth Scene-
The fifth scene for our commercial will be all of the Nike apparel combined into once scene. This scene will take place on the senior patio and will include a tilt and will be a wide shot. We want to include every actor, the setting, and the Nike apparel all in this one scene.
Sixth Scene-
The sixth scene will be a black background with a Nike logo. Then a slogan such as “Just do it” or “Preparing student for education and athletics” will fade in.
*Each scene will last about 5 seconds and will have music in the background.
During this scene we will be filming the Nike shoes, specifically White Air-forces, for the commercial. The shot will be an extreme close up, and will be tracking the subject. The location for the shot is on the track as well. We wanted to include an aspect of athletics since Nike is mostly athletic apparel.
Second Scene-
The next scene we wanted to include for our commercial is someone walking with Nike shorts. The location for the scene is on the patio outside of the media center, as we wanted to create a social setting. Casual clothing is another major part of Nike’s brand and we wanted to make sure to incorporate that into our commercial. This shot is going to be a medium long shot.
Third Scene-
The third scene we wanted to include in our commercial was someone outside of the cafeteria at our school in a Nike shirt. This would be a medium shot.
Fourth Scene-
The fourth scene will be an actor going up the stairs with a Nike backpack. This scene will include a low angle wide shot. We specifically choose to include a backpack as most kids need one for school and we would be filming at our school.
Fifth Scene-
The fifth scene for our commercial will be all of the Nike apparel combined into once scene. This scene will take place on the senior patio and will include a tilt and will be a wide shot. We want to include every actor, the setting, and the Nike apparel all in this one scene.
Sixth Scene-
The sixth scene will be a black background with a Nike logo. Then a slogan such as “Just do it” or “Preparing student for education and athletics” will fade in.
*Each scene will last about 5 seconds and will have music in the background.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Editing Lesson Blog
During today’s class we learned about the equipment we would be using to film our blog and how to edit the footage. First of all, there are some simple procedures that we have to do to check out a camera. Every time you check out a camera you must fill out an agreement form and give this to the teacher. This form would have your checkout time, the expected return time, the number of the camera, and your groups phone numbers. From there, the teacher will give you a camera and you must put your agreement in the classes folder. The camera must be returned the next class day. Other things we learned we would need to checkout include the SD card reader and the tripod. Additionally, every time you leave the classroom to film you must have a media studies pass and your ID. Now that we have completed all of these procedures we are now able to film and use the equipment.
The next thing we learned this class period was how to operate the equipment. The camera is fairly straight forward and is started by opening the flap on the side. If the camera does not start by opening the flap, the camera is likely out of battery. The flap has a touch screen LCD panel and can be flipped to show you what you are recording now matter how you film. Another important part of the camera is where the SD card is located. The SD card is a form of portable storage usually used in digital cameras such as the one we are using. Where the SD card goes is located on the end of the camera when the flap is open. The SD is put into the reader by gently pushing on it with the Sony logo facing towards yourself. Likewise, the SD card is ejected by gently pushing on it. Another important part of the camera, is how you record your footage. Recording begins when you push the silver button on top of the camera and paused every time you click the button again. This is known as a take. The last piece of equipment we learned to use was the tripod. The tripod’s height can be adjusted by opening the legs, however, when carrying the tripod it must be kept in the smallest form factor. There is also a crane feature on the tripod that can adjust the height even more. To attach the camera to the tripod, you have to remove the base and then screw it onto the camera. This is then reattached to the tripod. Other things you can do with the tripod include panning and tilting by turning knobs on the tripod.
The last thing we learned this class period was how to dump, import, and export our footage. First, is taking the footage from the camera to computer, also know as dumping. What you have to do is take out the SD card, put it into the SD reader, and plug this into the USB port on your computer. Form there you will open the DCIM folder and find the folder with your time and date of filming. This is moved to the folder you created on your desktop. The SD card read and the SD card can then be returned to the teacher. To import the footage you have to launch Pinnacle Studios. The. You click import, open the folder on your desktop, and click start import. This will take some time, and make sure to import all your footage because you never know what you might need. To edit the footage place the takes you want to use on AV track 2. On there you can detach audio, add transitions, or adjust contrast. When you are satisfied, you click export. You want to make sure it is saved in .mpeg form and the best quality, then click start export. Before shutting down Pinnacle Studios make sure your film is saved to the location where you wanted it.
The next thing we learned this class period was how to operate the equipment. The camera is fairly straight forward and is started by opening the flap on the side. If the camera does not start by opening the flap, the camera is likely out of battery. The flap has a touch screen LCD panel and can be flipped to show you what you are recording now matter how you film. Another important part of the camera is where the SD card is located. The SD card is a form of portable storage usually used in digital cameras such as the one we are using. Where the SD card goes is located on the end of the camera when the flap is open. The SD is put into the reader by gently pushing on it with the Sony logo facing towards yourself. Likewise, the SD card is ejected by gently pushing on it. Another important part of the camera, is how you record your footage. Recording begins when you push the silver button on top of the camera and paused every time you click the button again. This is known as a take. The last piece of equipment we learned to use was the tripod. The tripod’s height can be adjusted by opening the legs, however, when carrying the tripod it must be kept in the smallest form factor. There is also a crane feature on the tripod that can adjust the height even more. To attach the camera to the tripod, you have to remove the base and then screw it onto the camera. This is then reattached to the tripod. Other things you can do with the tripod include panning and tilting by turning knobs on the tripod.
The last thing we learned this class period was how to dump, import, and export our footage. First, is taking the footage from the camera to computer, also know as dumping. What you have to do is take out the SD card, put it into the SD reader, and plug this into the USB port on your computer. Form there you will open the DCIM folder and find the folder with your time and date of filming. This is moved to the folder you created on your desktop. The SD card read and the SD card can then be returned to the teacher. To import the footage you have to launch Pinnacle Studios. The. You click import, open the folder on your desktop, and click start import. This will take some time, and make sure to import all your footage because you never know what you might need. To edit the footage place the takes you want to use on AV track 2. On there you can detach audio, add transitions, or adjust contrast. When you are satisfied, you click export. You want to make sure it is saved in .mpeg form and the best quality, then click start export. Before shutting down Pinnacle Studios make sure your film is saved to the location where you wanted it.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Planning Blog for Nike Commercial
As we have previously learned planning is an important part of the film making industry and process. Today we learned we would be planning our commercial for example the costumes, scenes, settings, and schedule. It is important that we commercial so that we can save time. Working out our shots and scenes in advance will ensure we are able to get everything done the day we have to film. Planning can also save money. For the commercial we need some props and filming equipment, which if we plan out what we need, will save time. Lastly, planning the scenes out won’t cause confusion during the filming process. Planning will allow for all the actors to know what they are doing and when to do it. Overall, planning as many advantages and a good plan for our commercial will save us time and money as well as prevent confusion.
Props- Were going to be using Nike apparel for the commercial. Specifically, we will be using Nike shoes, Nike shorts, a Nike shirt, and a Nike backpack.
Costumes- The costumes for the commercial will nothing intentional except for the Nike apparel. As this commercial is focused on education and taking place at our school, actors will be wearing day to day wear and the Nike apparel. For example, the actor wearing the Nike shorts will wear a non-branded shirt as well as shoes. The same goes for the person wearing the Nike shirt, they will try and wear other non branded clothing.
Schedule-
10/7- We decided the topic for our commercial. This ended up being a Nike commercial, focused on how their apparel is worn at school. We researched about the brand as well as how other Nike commercials were portrayed and filmed. We also blogged about the process.
10/10- Were planning our commercial today. We will discuss how planning will help us in the long run as well as the props well use, costumes well wear, our schedule, locations, and a backup plan. We will also blog about the process (this blog).
10/14- On this day we'll storyboard. Were going to map out the steps we're going to take to produce the scenes. This will save time, money and prevent confusion during the filing process.
10/21- On this day we will film the commercial. The plan is to stick to the storyboard in order to complete the filming and to move on to the editing process. A person will be filming an actor wearing apparel while the others direct the actor to what they have to do. We will also post an individual blog going over what we did.
10/23- On this day we’re going to edit our commercial. We will put all the footage we have into Premiere Pro and edit.
Locations-
Nike Shoes- On school track
Nike Backpack- Going up the media center stairs.
Nike Shorts- The patio outside of the media center aka the “Crop Circles”
Nike Shirt- Outside of Cafeteria
Backup Plan- It is important to have a backup plan for filming process because we only have on day to film. As such, every location that’s outside and could have exposure to rain will be moved to a place with an overhang. For example, the track scene with the Nike shoes, will be moved to the bus loop as if they were jogging out to practice. We want to keep the idea of excessive associated with our commercial. Also, the cafeteria scene would be moved to the senior patio because we want to keep the idea of school and social interaction in the scene. Lastly, if one of our actors is absent and doesn't have the prop with them, we will find someone who in our media studies class with a piece of Nike apparel on to fill the scene.
Props- Were going to be using Nike apparel for the commercial. Specifically, we will be using Nike shoes, Nike shorts, a Nike shirt, and a Nike backpack.
Costumes- The costumes for the commercial will nothing intentional except for the Nike apparel. As this commercial is focused on education and taking place at our school, actors will be wearing day to day wear and the Nike apparel. For example, the actor wearing the Nike shorts will wear a non-branded shirt as well as shoes. The same goes for the person wearing the Nike shirt, they will try and wear other non branded clothing.
Schedule-
10/7- We decided the topic for our commercial. This ended up being a Nike commercial, focused on how their apparel is worn at school. We researched about the brand as well as how other Nike commercials were portrayed and filmed. We also blogged about the process.
10/10- Were planning our commercial today. We will discuss how planning will help us in the long run as well as the props well use, costumes well wear, our schedule, locations, and a backup plan. We will also blog about the process (this blog).
10/14- On this day we'll storyboard. Were going to map out the steps we're going to take to produce the scenes. This will save time, money and prevent confusion during the filing process.
10/21- On this day we will film the commercial. The plan is to stick to the storyboard in order to complete the filming and to move on to the editing process. A person will be filming an actor wearing apparel while the others direct the actor to what they have to do. We will also post an individual blog going over what we did.
10/23- On this day we’re going to edit our commercial. We will put all the footage we have into Premiere Pro and edit.
Locations-
Nike Shoes- On school track
Nike Backpack- Going up the media center stairs.
Nike Shorts- The patio outside of the media center aka the “Crop Circles”
Nike Shirt- Outside of Cafeteria
Backup Plan- It is important to have a backup plan for filming process because we only have on day to film. As such, every location that’s outside and could have exposure to rain will be moved to a place with an overhang. For example, the track scene with the Nike shoes, will be moved to the bus loop as if they were jogging out to practice. We want to keep the idea of excessive associated with our commercial. Also, the cafeteria scene would be moved to the senior patio because we want to keep the idea of school and social interaction in the scene. Lastly, if one of our actors is absent and doesn't have the prop with them, we will find someone who in our media studies class with a piece of Nike apparel on to fill the scene.
Monday, October 7, 2019
Research Conventions and Codes
Today is October 7th, 2019 and today we had to decide the topic for our commercial. The commercial is one of our first projects of the school year and there is a lot criteria we have to meet. For example the commercial has to be 25-30 seconds long, the typical length of an ordinary commercial. Additionally, we learned the commercial would be due October 28th at 11:59pm and emailed to our class email. Lastly we had to pick from a certain set of topics including Nike, Starbucks, Dublin Donuts, etc. Other forms of topics included anti vaping commercials for the county or commercials for our school such as the programs offered there. After much deliberation, our group decided to do a commercial on Nike. We wanted to include various clothing items that kids wear in their day to day school lives.
As previously stated, our group choose to create a Nike commercial for our first project. However this didn’t go without much debate. A pro to doing a Nike commercial is it’s a company everyone is familiarized with. Nike being such a large company, everyone in this day and age has hard of them company and likely has a price of apparel from them. Leading into my next point, props will be easy to find for the commercial. Asking around our group, we found that everyone had at least one piece of Nike apparel they could model for the commercial. Lastly, the group as a whole liked the brand image Nike presents. Nike supports education, equality, youth athletics and other various topics through the selling of their apparel.
Fairly early on in class we had made the division to do Nike as our commercial, so we had extra time to begin planning our commercial. First of all, we researched current Nike commercials and developed an understanding of how they were filmed or produced. Secondly, the group created an idea for how to film the commercial which is to film individual pieces of apparel. The first clip would be someone walking with Nike shoes. The second clip would be someone walking with Nike shorts or pants. The third clip would be someone walking with a Nike shirt. The fourth clip would be someone walking with a Nike backpack. Finally, the last clip would be us all walking together with the Nike apparel which would then fade to a Nike logo and a closing statement. After creating a brief idea, we then assigned each individual with finding the Nike price they would be wearing.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Introductory
Hello, my name is Blake and I am a sophomore at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida. I am currently taking AICE Media Studies and I am very enthusiastic about developing my film making skills, as well as how it is applicable into our day-to-day lives. I was born in June 2003 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and I am currently 16 years old. During 2nd grade I moved to Parker Colorado, where I found I liked playing baseball, snowboarding, hiking, dirt biking, and other various outdoor activities. Due to the cold weather, my parents decided to move back to Fort Lauderdale and we haven’t moved anywhere since.
As previously stated, I am currently attending Fort Lauderdale High School in the 10th grade. My reason for attending is the Cambridge Program which offers students an opportunity to obtain an extra diploma as well as scholarship opportunities. During my freshman year I took AICE General Paper, AICE Marine Science, and AICE Global Perspectives of which I found all to be rigorous courses. Despite their difficulty, I passed all 3 classes and only needed to pass 4 more classes to obtain my Cambridge diploma. I had set a goal for myself to obtain my diploma my sophomore year, and as such, took 4 AICE classes. They include AICE Thinking Skills, AICE European History, AICE English, and AICE Media Studies. The class that interests me the most however is AICE Media Studies because I will learn how to operate camera equipment, film video, and edit film in the post-production process.
Finally, I enjoy many past-time activities such as baseball, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and others. After school I play baseball for the school team, and I am currently the JV Captain. I get a thrill out of playing the sport with my friends and the feeling you get when you make a great play. The position I play is first base which I find to enjoy the most because you are apart of every play. Another favorite of my pastimes is snowboarding. Typically every winter my family and I travel to the Rocky Mountains to go skiing and snowboarding with our cousins. I love being in the outdoors and with family, which snowboarding is able to do for me. Lastly, I love watching films and videos. My favorite series of films is Star Wars and one of my favorite films is A Dog’s Purpose.
As previously stated, I am currently attending Fort Lauderdale High School in the 10th grade. My reason for attending is the Cambridge Program which offers students an opportunity to obtain an extra diploma as well as scholarship opportunities. During my freshman year I took AICE General Paper, AICE Marine Science, and AICE Global Perspectives of which I found all to be rigorous courses. Despite their difficulty, I passed all 3 classes and only needed to pass 4 more classes to obtain my Cambridge diploma. I had set a goal for myself to obtain my diploma my sophomore year, and as such, took 4 AICE classes. They include AICE Thinking Skills, AICE European History, AICE English, and AICE Media Studies. The class that interests me the most however is AICE Media Studies because I will learn how to operate camera equipment, film video, and edit film in the post-production process.
Finally, I enjoy many past-time activities such as baseball, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and others. After school I play baseball for the school team, and I am currently the JV Captain. I get a thrill out of playing the sport with my friends and the feeling you get when you make a great play. The position I play is first base which I find to enjoy the most because you are apart of every play. Another favorite of my pastimes is snowboarding. Typically every winter my family and I travel to the Rocky Mountains to go skiing and snowboarding with our cousins. I love being in the outdoors and with family, which snowboarding is able to do for me. Lastly, I love watching films and videos. My favorite series of films is Star Wars and one of my favorite films is A Dog’s Purpose.
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