Video and Sound Production Project 1

 

27 April 2024- 3 July 2024

NABIL JULIUS DORN (037978)

(Video and sound production) | Bachelor of Design in Creative Media | Taylor's University

Task 1: Project 1

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List

• LECTURES
• INSTRUCTIONS
• TASK
• FEEDBACK
• REFLECTION

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LECTURES

Week 1

There are 3 stages to video and sound production:

- Pre-production

• Idea development
• Story
• Storyboard
• Visual References
• Location / Props

- Production

• Lighting
• Costume
• Principal Shooting

- Post production

• Offline editing
• Online editing
• Audio editing

Week 2

This week, we were taught about composition, framing and camera angle and composition

Fig 1.1.1 Examples of shot types

Fig 1.1.2 Shot size overview

Composition types:

• Extreme wide shot (EWS) or extreme long shot (ELS)

Makes your subject appear small against their location. Can be used to make your subject feel distant. Also used to showcase scale and environment.

EWS

• Long shot (LS) or wide shot (WS)

Same as EWS/ELS but a bit closer. If your subject is a person, then their body will be in view but not filling the shot. Also can be used to show environment.

WS

• Full shot (FS)

Lets the subject fill the frame while keeping emphasis on scenery. Full shot requires the entire person, from head to toe, to be in the frame.

FS

FS with multiple people

Full shots can also include multiple people in the frame.

• Medium wide shot (MWS)

This shot frames the subject from roughly the knees up. It is in between the FS and MS (see below).

MWS shot

• Cowboy shot (CS)

Frames the subject from roughly mid-thighs up. Its called a Cowboy shot because it is used in Westerns to frame a gunslingers gun or holster on his hip.

CS shot

• Medium shot (MS)

Most common camera shots. Its similar to CS but frames from roughly the waist up and through the torso. It emphasizes more of your subject while keeping their surroundings visible.

MS shot

• Medium close up (MCU)

Frames the subject from roughly the chest up. Favors the face but keeps the subject somewhat distant. It is in between MS and CS (see below)

MCU shot

• Close up (CS)

Used to reveal a subjects emotions and reactions. This shot fills the frame with a part of your subject. It is often their face, from the chin to their forehead/ hairline. 

CS shot

• Extreme close up (ECU)

The most you can fill a frame with your subject. Often shows eyes, mouth and gun triggers. Also can be used for environment B Roll. Smaller objects get great detail and are the focal point. Use to emphasize a specific feature of the subject.

ECU shot

• Establishing shot

An establishing shot is a shot at the head of a scene that clearly shows us the location of the action. This shot often follows an aerial shot and is used to show where everything will happen.

Wide shots or extreme wide shots that showcase the area can be considered an establishing shot.

Depth of field

What is depth of field?

The depth of field (DOF) is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects that are in acceptably sharp focus in an image capture with a camera

Examples: 

Depth of field

180 degree rule (static screen direction)

What is the 180 degree rule?

The 80 dictates that in any scene which contains two or more actors, theres an invisible line. The camera can move anywhere in the scene, provided it stays on one side of this line.

180 degree rule in cinematography

Continuity

What is continuity?

Continuity is the principle of making sure that all details in a film show are consistent from shot to shot and from scene to scene. If a scene upholds the standards of continuity, each shot feels as though it seamlessly flows from the previous shot, reinforcing a sense of realism in the story.

Screen direction

What is dynamic screen direction?

Advanced screen direction employs dynamic movement to convey action, emotion, and narrative progression. This includes tracking shots that follow a character, or complex choreography of actors and camera to create visually captivating sequences.

Camera Framing

Camera shot framing is the art and science of placing subjects in your shots, Its all about composition.

Types of camera shot framing

• Single shot

Can be framed in any shot size, as long as there is only one character featured within the frame.

Single shot featuring iron man

By featured , this is meant by still just having one character in the frame. An OTS shot can still be considered a single shot even though it technically has more than one person in the frame. The subject in the foreground isnt featured.

Dirty single shot

• Two shot

Useful for allowing performances to play out in a single take.

Two shot

• Three shot

Features three characters in the frame.

Three shot

• Over the shoulder (OTS)

OTS shows your subject from behind the shoulder of another character. This emulates perspective and is common in conversation scenes.

OTS shot

Over the hip shots (OTH) are also included in OTS shots. It shows the perspective of the subject in the foreground while keeping the height of the subject  featured in the shot. Is often used to suggest a power imbalance.

OTH shot

• Point of view (POV)

It is a camera shot that shows the viewer exactly what that character sees. Can also be used to break the 4th wall

POV shot

POV with 4th wall broken

Week 3

During this week, we were briefed on the act structures of film. It is known to be broken into three acts. Act one, two and three. We also were given a video to explain it further.

 

•    Act One: The Setup The first act establishes the protagonist, their world, and the situation they find themselves in. This act typically ends with an inciting incident, which sets the story in motion and creates a problem that the protagonist must solve. The inciting incident can be a positive or negative event, but it must be significant enough to disrupt the protagonist's world and force them to take action. 

• Act Two: The Confrontation The second act is the longest and most complex of the three acts. It's where the protagonist faces a series of obstacles and challenges as they work towards their goal. This act is often divided into two parts: the first half, where the protagonist makes progress towards their goal, and the second half, where they encounter setbacks and complications. The second act typically ends with a major turning point, where the protagonist faces a significant setback or crisis that forces them to reevaluate their approach. 

• Act Three: The Resolution The third act is where the story reaches its climax and resolution. The protagonist must confront their final challenge or conflict and overcome it in order to achieve their goal. The climax is the most intense and dramatic part of the story, where the stakes are highest and the tension is at its peak. The resolution, on the other hand, is the denouement, where loose ends are tied up, and the protagonist's journey comes to a satisfying conclusion.

Week 4

Storyboard

Storyboard in filmmaking is a visual representation of a film, animation, or video game, much like a comic strip. It's made up of a series of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence.

Storyboards are used to plan shots, understand the narrative flow, and to communicate ideas to the production team. They can include details such as camera angles, character movements, dialogue, and even notes about special effects or sound. This helps the director, cinematographer, and other crew members visualize the scenes and prepare for the shooting process.

Storyboarding is a crucial part of the pre-production process because it allows filmmakers to experiment with different visual approaches, identify potential problems, and make necessary adjustments before the actual filming begins, saving time and resources.

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INSTRUCTIONS

This is the Module Information Booklet for this module: 

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TASK 1 / Project 1

Week 1

Briefing

During our first class, Mr Martin briefed us on our first task. Task 1 is separated into 2 parts.

Part 1: Audio sound for visual

Choose or record sound clips to be used to create sound effects to bring a video clip to live. The clips provided. Students are required to identify the visual components from the video clip that needs sound

Duration: 2 minutes

Part 2: Sound shaping

Students will be given a choice of scenarios that they have to pick and create a soundscape for the chosen scenario

Requirements

High quality sound files from freesound.org

Part 1 Sound dubbing

We were given 2 muted audio clips and are required to rebuild the entire soundscape for the scenes.

Part 2 Sound Shaping

We were given scenarios and had to pick one and recreate the soundscape for the chosen scenario.

Week 3

Sound dubbing

This week, we were given the files and video that we had to recreate. It is an inciting incident scene from the move "Everything everywhere all at once". 

Fig 1.3.1 Files provided

The files consisted of the muted video as well as the transcript of the dialogue that is going on in the scene. 

Here are the instructions provided by Mr Martin.

Fig 1.3.2 Instructions provided

Instructions breakdown:

• Complete the spreadsheet breakdown
• Record all dialogues with your phone (import to premiere)
• Prepare all hard sound effects (import to premiere)
• Prepare ambient sound (import to premiere)
• Place audio files on timeline and sync it with video. 

Audio track: 

• 3 tracks for dialogue, one character, one track. 
• 4 tracks for sound effects, 
• 3 tracks for ambience sound. 

Reference for sound volume:

Volume: Dialogue: between -6dB & -12dB,
Ambience: below -20dB
Hard sound effects: Depends

I began this project by filling out the excel sheet provided by Mr Martin with the help of my friends. This helped us identify and list out all the sounds in the scene.

Using this scene, I began compiling all the different ambient sounds and hard sounds effects. All sounds found were from Envato Elements

Fig 1.3.3 Files downloaded

Fig 1.3.4 Imported SFX folders into Premier pro

Fig 1.3.5 SFX layers in adobe premier pro

Using the excel sheets, I laid out the all the Hard and Ambient sounds, leaving the first 3 layers at the top for my own voice dubbing of each characters dialogue.

I was especially proud of the sound design during the pipe ripping. There were multiple layers used as the actual action also resulted in multiple sounds.

Pipe rip from concrete > Metal snapping > Gas hissing

I used two sounds for the gas hissing and two sounds for the metal snapping and overlayed all the layers on top of each other, creating a more realistic sound effect.

Fig 1.3.6 Pipe scene audio layers

 I then followed Mr Martins advice on the sound volumes stated above.

I then changed the window layout on Premier Pro to the audio editing window.

Fig 1.3.7 Audio editor

I adjusted the volumes accordingly.

I then proceeded to record my own voice dubbing of each character in the scene. This consisted of the Auditor, Evelyn, and Waymond.

For the different characters, I used the pitch shifter tool from Audio effects and adjusted the Transpose ratio.

Fig 1.3.8 Pitch shifter

After adjusting the sound effects volumes and sound dubbing, I proceeded to add some realism into the sound effects, such as transitions and volume shifting keyframes.

Fig 1.3.9 Footstep volume increase did this for the footsteps of the Auditor as she was walking towards the door in the first frame of the scene.

Fig 1.3.10 Subtle increase in volume of ambient sound

I also adjusted the volume of the crowd to increase in volume slightly as the door was opened by the Auditor.

Fig 1.3.11 Hissing sound of pipe

I tapered the end of the pipe hissing, as the audio clip I used abruptly ended.

Final outcome:

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA3b07ErPjE

Week 7

Audio Shaping

For this task, we were required to record our own voice and edit the sound profile of our audio clip. We're required to make 5 different edits. We were also provided a breakdown on how to make the different effects.

Requirement:

1. Phone call
2. Inside of a closet
3. Toilet/bathroom
4. Underground cave
5. Alien/Orc voice

Initially, I tried following the tutorial provided by Mr Martin, but I decided to make my own edits.

For the phone call effect, I used the Parametric Equalizer effect.

Fig 1.4.1 Parametric Equalizer

For the Inside closet effect, I used the FFT filter with the "Club downstairs" preset and adjusted it a little.

Fig 1.4.2 FFT filter

For the Inside the toilet effect, I added a few more filters to get the right feeling of the sound. I ended up stacking Analog Delay with Convolution Reverb.

Fig 1.4.3 Analog Delay filter

Fig 1.4.4 Convolution Reverb filter

For the Cave effect, all I used was the Analog Delay filter with the "Canyon Echoes" preset.

Fig 1.4.5 Analog Delay filter

I had a tough time trying to get the exact sound for the Alien effect but using four layers of effects, I managed to get a some what satisfying result. I ended up using the FFT filter, Automatic Pitch correction, Distortion, and the Pitch shifter effect.

Fig 1.4.6 FFT filter

Fig 1.4.7 Automatic pitch filter

I used this filter to make my voice sound off pitch even though this is normally used to correct the pitch of the audio.

Fig 1.4.8 Distortion filter

I used a slight distortion to give the audio a bit more edge and texture.

Fig 1.4.9 Pitch shifter filter

I wanted to do the Orc voice effect for fun. I used the Pitch shifter as well as the Parametric Equalizer.

Fig 1.4.10 Pitch shifter filter

Fig 1.4.11 Parametric Equalizer

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REFLECTIONS

I thoroughly enjoyed myself while doing the sound dubbing project. While looking for all the sounds and ambient noises, I had a vision in mind to portray that scene in a comedic sense. I wanted it to feel like a cartoon scene with wacky sound effects. 

The voice over part of the process was the one thing I didnt really enjoy as I didnt like the way I sounded. Besides that, this first project gave me a few good laughs and taught me a lot about sound design.