Project description:(Inc: general description and personal role)
For this production, a video was required for Valhalla an axe-throwing place. I assisted with equipment set up which was fast and effective as I was proficient with the equipment. For this production my roles were camera operator and lighting, I was effective at framing, recording footage and assisting with lighting set up. However, I could improve further upon this by listening more effectively as I hit record once without checking which required another record as the camera was still in slow motion mode rather than normal. The director/ Camera operator who I was helping on this project was happy with my contribution and I agree the only thing I need to improve upon is checking settings before recording in the future.
Project description:(Inc: general description and personal role)
For this production, a multi-cam video of the client singing was required with separate audio for voice and guitar. For this production, I Assisted with setting up equipment. This required cameras to be set up moved and framed, as well as microphone, stands, microphones and wires to be set up and positioned correctly. I did this well however in the future should I need to use/ set up these cameras in the studio I will practise first more as I had a problem with raising the cameras up due to not being as familiar with the equipment as I could have been. Through problem-solving the issue was resolve however in the future if I know I am going to be using equipment I’m not 100percent sure of I will practise / research into using the equipment beforehand. For this production, my role was as a sound recordist in this role I recorded through two tracks the gitaur and the person singing, in this role, I was effective at recording and altering the sound levels.
Client: Salvation Army – Linda Foster – Personal Role: Videographer – Deadline: Multiple deadlines. (Caroling advert – One Week Deadline(advertising for an event on the 20th of December), End of January/ beginning of February, Christmas Fair – December(2019 Christmas Fair)
I already knew Linda Foster and she talked to me about wanting to get more people to come to events to promote the Mosborough salvation army corps. As a videographer, I suggested a promotional video. I had a basic draft of ideas and questions I talked to the client about a few ideas I had for the video. This went well and I picked up a basic idea to go and build upon to produce a creative response of ideas from other videos of how the video might go, I expanded upon the draft and turned it into a brief after speaking to the client more. This went well although in the future It would be more effective to start off with more questions that have more depth to them. Although I had an idea of what to create I didn’t really get a specific idea from them and had to use my skills as a videographer to visualise what it was that the client wanted in the form of a promotional video. This is important because it gets across ideas from clients and to professional standards getting all the information is necessary as if it were a paid client it could mean a breach of contract if the client has said something and it hasn’t been done by the videographer. I also discussed the duration of the video and suggested that a minute to a minute and a half would be a good length because anything longer would drag too much and it would suit the laid back calm feel of the piece, which the client agreed with. The client wants mostly all ages – I responded to this by telling her that It isn’t possible to target all ages and that I can go for the general basic feel of a promotional video than aiming at a niche audience with a narrative story about a character.
I suggested reaction shots, smooth slider shots and variety of shots as well as the use of a prism as a transition, I also spoke to the client about what events need to be promoted/filming dates, target audience and other factors which are important for a professional production to make sure the final product created is what the client wants. This was also necessary for me to create a schedule of dates when filming could occur as well as to develop a visualisation of how the video would go throughout knowledge of the different events. I then asked the client about an idea I had for making the Christmas fair a separate video. I discussed with the client how it may be more effective to have a separate video to promote the Christmas fair as it would time set the introduction to Mosborough corps. I discussed my ideas for a classic promotional video with product shots, reaction shots and some motion graphics which could be implemented. I talked to the client about going for the same kind of feel like the introduction for the Christmas fair but to have more shots of products introduced. The client was happy with this idea and for the video to have the same sort of duration.
I created a minutes meeting because it’s important to professionally have they key points from a meeting with the client as a videographer to make sure things aren’t misunderstood and are useful for going through ideas one key point at a time in the visualisation process. I created a schedule to get down filming dates available after speaking with the client, it’s important to create a schedule in a professional production to back up fees in a budget as well as keeping to deadlines of getting footage on the set date. I didn’t create a schedule for editing time as well as other things that changed as it seemed like it would have been not time effective, however in a professional paid production it would be necessary to make sure payment is made for all work done not just seen work such as filming but everything it takes to make a video through all stages. I created a shot-list to visualise and have something to remember the shots to get, this is useful to do in a professional production as well because it assists the communication of shots to get to other crew members. I didn’t use a log sheet because I was on my own although had it been a different event/had the crew been more than one it could have been done which would have made the editing sequence more effective. Although it still wasn’t much of a problem as soon as I had filmed an event I ordered/evaluated clips(Putting useable footage into key folders) and preset times for the clips to start and stop. I did this to make the final editing process faster and more effective and because it is something that is done in professional production and is necessary for the editor to have.
Production Stage
I filmed using a 77d with a 17-55mm(2.8) because of the small space I needed a wide lens but still wanted a softer look rather than everything being in focus and to create a little separation of the subjects from the background. This went well however it would have been more effective to use a 50mm for a more blurry background. At the time I didn’t have a flat profile installed so I decreased the contrast in camera to make it a little less aggressive so I could add a bit of different colour in post. I had to adjust my shutter speed to be a little slower than usual according to the fps to shutter speed conversion, which turned out alright because I didn’t need to speed up shots, which would have made them jumpy. I did this because the fluorescent lighting was creating a flickering issue changing the shutter speed fixed this, I had not foreseen this issue happening but solved it on location, although I did try using a two lights I had brought with me to try an outside shot it didn’t work and the lights needed to be on for the people at the event and it was more of a run a gun type of thing.
This shot wasn’t appropriate as the piece was more about the people, friendliness and warmth than the place. It was also not very appropriate being that the video is meant to be bright and soft looking whereas this night shot isn’t.
I did a recce of the location and then added to the H&s I had already done for the previous location them being the same. This was useful because it allowed me to come up with potential problems as well as evaluate the location for risks. I then created a shot-list to visualise and have something to remember the shots to get, this is useful to do in a professional production as well because it assists the communication of shots to get to other crew members. I got verbal permission to film the people at the events, I did this because it’s important to get permission to film, however I didn’t get anyone to sign a release form, this worked for what it was as the people were fine with being filmed although in a professional production it would be necessary to get these forms because people may change their mind and not want to be filmed and it could cause a lot of problems in post-production. especially in a professional production with money involved and the client expecting a product which could be derailed by people changing their mind about being in the video.
Production Stage
Whilst filming on the various days I got good footage of interesting movement in shots such as slider shots as well as reaction shots of people having a good time. Whilst on set I came up with an idea and altered it from just a normal shot of people having a good time on a slider to a shot coming from a blurred foreground revealing to the people having a good time. I came up with this shot using objects I found on a table to create some foregrounding. Although most of the filming went well a problem I encountered whilst filming the event was insufficient lighting inside. Couldn’t really prepare for the lighting issue, because the lighting was necessary in the place and adding light wouldn’t really have elevated the flickering of the lights much. I elevated this issue through exposure settings, I lowered the shutter which stopped the camera from seeing fast enough to see the flickering in the lights. For this production ahead of time I managed to find a more flat picture profile online CineStyle and installed it in order to give the footage an even softer look as well as give me the ability to grade the footage a little better. This was useful for doing this and worked because I managed to keep the iso at 100 to 400 ish but had I needed to push it higher it may have maybe the noise worse as it ups the shadows.
I had decided to start walking in shot after the title screen to welcome the audience in with a walk in the shot. I used a stabiliser to do this to make the movement smooth and flowing as it’s about being friendly and welcoming a handheld shot wouldn’t be suitable. To do this shot I had brought along some lights to try and appropriately light the inside to match the outside lighting so I wouldn’t have to adjust, however, this didn’t work and so I had to adjust the aperture whilst walking in which created a clicking to the exposure. This didn’t completely ruin the shot although from a professional standard wasn’t as good as it could have been. I then had to edit together footage and film the other events and when I had the time I took an a7iii with manual exposure to adjust so it wouldn’t be so much like lights flickering on. This went reasonably well although due to my time management is a little poor in this aspect the scene was time-stamped as Christmas decorations were up although something I hadn’t seen on the camera screen but had when loading up the footage there appeared to be something on the lens which because of the lighting is distracting. I decided, in the end, to go with the shot as the client was happy with it although in the future I will manage my time better and either use manual exposure straight off for a shot like this or find a way to match the inside exposure with the outside by bringing a more substantial lighting kit.
Post-Production Stage
I loaded up, reviewed footage from both events and ordered it into useable shots as well as been thinking about which shots were absolutely necessary and which weren’t due to the video length needing to be 1:50 as any longer might drag a bit too much.I then took the useable footage and edited some of the footage together into a rough edit nothing too substantial manly just so I had something to show the client of what I had done. I added in some warm colours in yellows and oranges to add a warm and welcoming feel to the shots. I wanted to do this as most clients would not really see how much work is being put in and in a professional production would be important to ensure that the vision they want to happen is on the right tracks. I also wanted to show the client a beginning motion graphics matte track using a slider and to get their opinion on it.
After creating the brief, I created a written visualisation of how the introduction to Mosborough corps would go. I met with the client and the communications officer(CO) from Salvation Army HQ Leeds and showed them a rough edit of footage I had from two events a coffee morning and a harvest festival meal. Whilst showing the edit I paused and talked about why I used the shots and asked about possible titles after showing them various matte tracks. I did this to make sure the client was happy with how the video would end up looking and it wouldn’t get to the video being finished and the client not wanting it which is important in a professional paid production as it could mean not getting paid if the videographer didn’t ask and make sure with the client throughout what exactly it was they wanted. I also talked to the client through a written visualisation of how the video would go as well as referencing them to my creative response to the brief after showing it to them and making sure I had all the information and so that I wouldn’t end up creating a video the client wouldn’t want. This involved showing the client some videos that had been done in the past for the salvation army as well as one done for a Methodist church that I thought the overall theme would best fit what the client wanted the video to promote a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Its important in a professional production to do this as it could mean not getting paid if the video provided isn’t what the client said they wanted.
Communications officer – Feedback Client feedback
I think this is brilliant. I would like maybe to put up a new notice with the shield on in the notice board and maybe you could have a picture of this before people are entering the church. At the moment Elim Church is very prominent at that point. But you have captured such a joy and laughter in this it is very good. – Linda Foster(Client). I agree with the client although at this point I feel the video needs a lot more structure and cutting until it will be at a good point where it invokes a happy, warm and welcoming mood.
Whilst on location I took a picture of the board, I explained to the client on location about how this wouldn’t really work that well and that the video would be more effective and if needed the added information could be added to the facebook page and that having it might take the audience’s attention away from the video. I did this after getting contacted by the client about showing it in the video. (See in the appendix.)
Production
At the craft club, I filmed various reaction shots, close up medium shots of people having a good time, as well as shots of people crafting, colouring and eating and drinking. This went well and I got some good footage from this, which I had planned to get through the use of a shot list. I came up with an idea on location when a person started playing the piano and someone started singing so I decided to go and film that happening to show people having a good time as well as show another thing that may happen at the event music and singing. Whilst on set I used a prism going past the camera as an in camera transition to add interest and transition to another shot. Whilst on set I used a flat picture profile as I did on the previous event to add a softer feel, I didn’t have to alter the shutter speed on this one as the day was sunny and the lightning didn’t need to be on so I was able to follow the shutter to fps rule.
Post-production
I took the footage, ordered it and began the final edit. I edited with footage from the craft club and added colour grades to add warmth, as well as adding in motion graphics and integrating them. I also added In a potential soundtrack royalty free music. I didn’t plan on doing this which went well in this case however in a professional production every aspect about the video would need to be thought out ahead of time as well as making sure the client liked the idea ahead of time. At each stage of change, I showed the client what I had done and asked their opinion on it to make sure they were happy with the final product. (See in appendix). Throughout the process of distribution, I spoke to the communications officer and the digital team about getting it put on the main website for the client(see in appendix). This process required me to export the file and upload it to google drive, however, this didn’t work and in the end, I sent a youtube like to the digital team and they embedded it into the main website. In the future, I need to be more informative in my questioning to make sure I know the format to use from the start to be more effective.
I didn’t create a storyboard and instead talked to the client and described shots and how the video would end up going its narrative through the use of a descriptive shot list, this worked for me being on my own. However in the future, it is to a more professional standard to use a storyboard to visualise a video, I will also use a storyboard in the future because not having one made it more difficult to visualise and communicate the video. I created a recce and H&S which wasn’t all that useful for me in this case although in a professional production of more than one person it would be.
I was contacted by the client(See in appendix) to film someone playing an Accordion to advertise for carolling coming up a week later. I went for a medium close up moving shot on a stabiliser and enhanced the audio in post. this went well however in the future rather than using audio from the camera I will have more than me on the crew and record separate audio using a directional mic. However, it wasn’t as successful as it could have been because it didn’t get that many views, interactions with an audience this was because there wasn’t enough time to prepare. I discussed with the client that in the future it could be made more successful by following the Certain steps as discussed in the minutes meeting which was discussed over the phone I did this because I was already calling the client to discuss the facebook page I created for her. I didn’t create any pre-production as I had already created an H&S for the location as well as a recce and didn’t need them as I only needed a basic medium/close up shot, however, if it were a professional production with a crew of more than one it would need more production documents such as a shot list. This video was not on the original brief, in this case, it didn’t change anything that much although if the client was paying me professionally it would have changed the contract of the amount of video I needed to create. This is because it would mean reappraising budget cost would either need to be rethought, a separate brief to be created or not do it at all because it wasn’t in the original brief. Creating the video, I edited it to improve the sound in logic pro and then set it up for the client to be shared on the Mosborough corps facebooks page. Although It went on the facebook page originally the idea was for it to be advertised by the star after getting feedback from the communications officer although this didn’t work out as they never got back to the client(see in the appendix.)
Production
At times I got a few pull and push focus shots, these went well and in reflection, I could have done with doing this in more shots to add more interest. I got various shots in a variety of slider and half parallax shots around the products the night I went before the Christmas fair, I did this because I knew there would be a lot of people around in the morning and didn’t want to rush the shots so I did them the night before. Both this and the filming on the day went reasonably well I got some good reaction shots of people buying things, eating having a good time. The slider shots were most effective at presenting the productions in an aesthetic and interesting way, although in a few shots a problem that occurred was shadow casting in the shot due to the lighting in the place. I had to get a lower shot and be wary of the light direction casting, although some shots had a shadow at points, which meant they would need to be reviewed, cut and scrapped if it was too obvious in the post-production stage. I got most shots I needed I didn’t manage to really get any close-ups of people in time because not as many people were going to actually buy things from the stalls and I had to be quick to get a shot, this was partially an issue due to the fact it was just me on the crew in the future for something like this I will bring along at least one other person so I’m not so overwhelmed. During filming, I used an A7iii in conjunction with a g80(Inbuilt stabiliser allowed me to get quick reaction shots and move around without the need for a stabiliser/tripod). This went reasonably well although the focal distance of the full frame was a little troublesome as I opened the aperture too far thus the focusing area I had in focus was difficult to tell on the camera screen it also meant I had to get really close which made some people uncomfortable which made the reaction shots mostly unstable because they were uncomfortable and didn’t look like they were having a good time. I could have solved this problem by using a higher peaking setting. In this event, at times I had to use a slower shutter because the fluorescent lights created a slight flickering again and that was at the time the only solution I had as I couldn’t really properly light the scene as it was more of a run and gun approach. This will mean that footage can’t be speeded up or slowed down without becoming choppy in post. I decided to use a slog profile which would allow me room to colour grade as much as I wanted, in this case, it was useful as I didn’t have to push my Iso high although if I had had to do that it may have caused excessive noise.
Post-production
The Editing process went well, I reviewed and ordered footage for a more efficient editing process. I got rid of some of the footage due to obvious shadow cast because of the lighting situation, in other cases, I just edited as much footage as was clear of obvious shadows being cast and used the rest of the footage. This couldn’t be avoided because of the lighting situation although perhaps in the future it would be a good idea to ahead of time set up products in a separate room where lighting could be controlled better. Using my more in-depth shotlist was useful in more effectively creating a finished edit. During the edit I chose a similar more Christmasy soundtrack like the main video and cut it rhythmically to the video, this went well although in the future it may be more useful to try and contact a musician to craft music to finished edit. During this process, I didn’t talk as much to the client about the edit as I had a more solid visualisation of how the video would go, this went well although in the future I need to improve upon my time management to finish an edit beforehand and make sure the client likes it ahead of time although in this case, the deadline for the Christmas fair wasn’t until 2019 December on which it will be delivered on the facebook page for advertisement.
I think this video was successful in that it is on the main website and gained views and comments on the facebook video. The client likes the video see in apendix and above. However I didn’t visualise it well enough and some shots aren’t necessary such as shots of coffee, and the pacing is off near the end where the slider shots are too fast. Although overall it is a well framed and put together a video which suits the mood the client wanted. It was also effective at promoting the events available in a fun and welcoming way.
This video wasn’t as successful as it could have been because of time restraints and poor planning. In the future to make the video more effective at advertising the event, it would be a good idea to post it on a facebook page with more views and potential be a paid advertisement. It also was a little grainy because of underexposure and went out of focus at one point. I think the video is okay but not brilliant.
Christmas Fair
Contact with the client(Emails – Appendix)
Client Feedback – I think this is absolutely lovely. The music is great as well. – My response. I agree with the client, I think the video is effective at promoting the salvation army Christmas fair and has some interesting shots in it, it has a welcoming and laid back feel which works. However, the shot of the accordion goes on a little too long and the Santa shot is out of focus. I think in the future as well even though this worked for the feel of a salvation army video it might have been an even better promotional video if it had a narrative to it following a character or two to make it appeal to a younger audience.
Dale 