First 10 Shots Skateboarding Final Edit

First Edit Skateboarding Final Cut

First Edit of Ten Shots

First Edit Ten Shots

using final cut pro and the go pro hero camera I shot a quick skating sequence. here are ten shots from the first edit

low tracking shot moving around the back of the board to the front...heavily stabilized in post production

slow pan around the board with lens flare and green hall in the distance

low behind tracking shot of downhill ride

mounting the camera on a mono pod and help it as far away as possible....fisheye lens gives good depth effect

basic tracking shot of me downhill towards camera

low behind tacking shot of kyle

opening shot....over the head perspective shot using the mono pod as a jib arm of sorts

static shot of camera mounted on board...used a suction cup mount underneath to keep the camera in place

static shot of me and kyle passing the camera on either side...shot against the sun with the intention of casting unique shadows

static shot facing forward, close up on feet

Production Log

We filmed all over campus anywhere from 16-20 hours, often meeting before to eat and discuss the day's goals. Overall the team worked very cohesively in order to bring this project together, and each person had a distinct role. Organization was probably our biggest folly, but it did not bring us down. Post production took the longest, and we pulled an "all nighter" plus several other long editing sessions to finish the project. All in all, we spent about 35 hours editing over the course of 6 days.

Here is an example of our post production process regarding color correction....I've included some before and after shots to compare the footage.

before

after

before color correction

after color correction

after color correction

before color correction

Witness Short Film early storyboard

here is an early storyboard I created for the opening shots....it organizes some of the basic camera movements as well as character interaction

Self-Evaluation/Conclusion

As the project has come to a close, I am happy to say I am proud of the work we have accomplished as a team. As an individual, I had a large number of tasks for this particular short film. Firstly, for the month or so we were filming I rented out the equipment we used from the IMM cage every two days. Next, I supplied the rest of the production equipment (camera, tripod, microphones, etc) and often transported this equipment to and from the shoot. At each shoot I did most of the camera work including the glidecam tracking shots, as well as other cinematography work (lighting, continuity, shutter speed, aperture setting, focus pull, etc). For some shots I directed the actors as well as staging some action sequences. In terms of post production, I edited most of the narrative timeline for the video, and then would replace each special effects shot as it was made available to me. I also did most of the audio for the project with the help of Steve, as well as the color correction. Lastly, the title sequence was created entirely by me with the exception of the small figure in the title shot, which Kyle created in Photoshop.

With regard to my work as the cinematographer, some shots bother me in terms of overall grainy quality, and for the next project I would most likely rent a lighting kit with the knowledge I have now. In addition, some of the continuity of the film is flawed, however considering we shot over the course of several weeks they are not major. The biggest issue with continuity was the misplacement of props used by the group and then the fact that we did not have these props for certain shots again (ie: hat, gun). Overall I am very pleased with the final product and look forward to showing it in class.

IMM Video Final Proposal/Plot Synopsis

The first idea that our group decided on was an action/parkour/free running video. Most of these videos however rarely have a plot line or even dialogue, and we knew a plot line was an essential element we wanted. This idea then transformed into the idea for a chase scene, but once again something was missing, a plot. What was the motive for one person chasing the other? Then the idea transformed again into a pizza delivery boy witnessing a murder, and then, as the only witness, fleeing from the scene to escape the enemy. Therefore the chase and basic story was born. However, we felt another element was missing...sci fi was the go to solution. It was decided to use only one actor as the bad guy and rather than having thugs help him chase down the sole witness, why not clone the bad guy? But why was the enemy cloned and why was he killing a certain person? To this, I had an idea. My concept revolved around a basic idea that would allow enough story to leak through while still leaving a fair amount of plot up to the viewers. I propped the enemy kills a man who has some sort of vial full of DNA or some sort of liquid, presumably what the clones came from and perhaps need to survive. Then, after the movie is over and credits roll, have the clone return for this precious vial. After a few more shots to help incorporate this idea, the story stuck and I proposed the title be "witness."

(As a side note, the sequence for the film title looked slightly boring as just white text reading "witness," so I suggested that the figure of a man be added to replace the "i" in witness and the shot was completed)

IMM Final Video Locations Set #3

Originally the scene of our protagonists death, due to the potential "dangers" that existed on the 6-9 foot rooftop, campus police had us change locations. 

A low shot utilizing forced perspective looking up at the roof, the idea being to create suspense and danger by making the roof look higher. 

Shots of the rooftop where the protagonist was to be cornered and sub sequently killed by the enemy clones.

Another rooftop angle

IMM Final Video Locations Set #2

One key shot of the video, this stairwell provides a unique escape route for the protagonist as he mounts a low hanging pole in oder to kick the enemy down. This shot also proved to be intensive for special effects as two clones of the enemy needed to simultainiously walk down the stairwell and be killed. Much rotoscoping was used in order to give the appearance of blood being spattered on the wall behind each enemy, as well as bullet holes and smoke impacts. 

This location by Roscoe West did not make the final cut of the video, however it's intention was to set extreme angels for the protagonist to escape through.

The parking garage of Eickhoff was another unused location as it did not fit the narrative flow of the video.

                                                    

Final Video Locations Set #1

First location we set on using. The actor was to run down the path being chased and then mount the light in order to kick the enemy down. 

Alternate Angle of the Pole

 

Another location we picked for the main chase sequence. This shot proved to be fairly time consuming considering 3 clones of the enemy were to be composited into one shot. The camera motion follows the pizza boy protagonist sideways and passes behind one of the enemy clones,transitioning into a separate shot giving the effect of one continuous tracking shot.

Midterm Shot 8

Final original shot, left the aperture open to get more light in but I had to use a preset for this technique so it didn't come out as nicely as I would have liked.

Edited shot, brought up the purples and blues as well as the brightness setting

Midterm Shot 7

Original shot, pretty good composition and lighting overall. Hardest part was picking the right time of day to take the actual picture.

Edited shot. Desaturation for dramatic look, some color correction and brightness adjustments.

Midterm Shot 6

Original shot, camera shadow, equipment in the shot. Strange vignetting from the fisheye lens

Edited out camera shadow, brightened and color corrected the shot. Added desaturation and took away some vignetting 

Midterm Shot 5

Original shot, camera equipment/shadowing in the shot.

Edited shot, removed camera equipment with selections and color corrected...also added motion blur to the wheel.

Midterm Shot 4

Original, focus on centered depth of field.

Color correction and brightness adjustments, background of shot could have been picked better.

Midterm Shot 3

Original

Color correction and some brightness adjustments, also focusing on the board with low angle shots.

Midterm Shot 2

Original Shot, taken with the white balance at the wrong setting, a mistake on my part.

After some color correction and more desaturation I achieved a much more dramatic and balanced shot.

Midterm Shot 1

Before color correction. 

After color correction, focus on depth of field.

Pictures 6, 7, and 8 of Narrative

Continuing the narrative, more removal of unwanted shadows/camera equipment. Lots of desaturation and work on the shorts.

Favorite picture of the set. As the end of the narrative draws near we see the sun is lower in the sky. I waited for the sun to be in the right spot between the trees  and messed around with where the sun  glare should be situated in the shot. More desaturation and a little color correction as well.

The final shot of the narrative, the rider is done for the day sitting out watching the day turn to night. Slow shutter speed as well as some color correction for this shot. Moved the colors toward the blue/purple hue for a dramatic look.

Shots 3, 4 and 5 of Narrative

 Outside now, the story continues. Showing the rider looking down a hill, the focus of the movie remaining on the board rather than the nameless and faceless rider Some color correction and desaturation again.

Sharp depth of field, trying to show motion forward down the hill. Added some brightness to the shot.












The rider continues forward. Added some motion blur to the wheel as well as removing a fair amount of unwanted shadows of myself and camera equipment (tripod/camera/etc.)