1—4: Descriptions of final assignment
options / criteria
5: Stop motion notes
6: Music video analysis tips
7: Stop motion analysis chart
8—9: Music video analysis chart
IMPORTANT DATES:
é Thursday, DEC 21 – TREATMENTS & either STOP MOTION or MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS due!
é THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 – In-class stop motion or music video due
é FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 – Start editing final project (come prepared with footage to edit!)
é TUESDAY, JAN 16 – Objective Final (covering mostly news/design units, but earlier too)
é THURSDAY, JAN 18 – final video projects due
IMPORTANT NOTES:
§ Everybody will edit AT SCHOOL
§ You are in control of the camera for your movie (not someone else)
§ You will have 6—7 days to edit in class – you may come in during free periods if you let me know ahead of time
now is your chance to be the next director of Beiber, Miley, or Kanye. You will analyze music videos for their design aspects, and then you will put some of the techniques you discussed to your own use. Think about what types of design, music synchronization, themes, editing, mise en scene, concept, etc. you liked most and try to incorporate them into your own creative video. You are encouraged to use original music, such as a friend’s band, etc., but you may also use popular music as long as your video is relevant to the music (see below).
This project is worth 100 points -- You will be graded on the following criteria:
Design: Try to be creative and think differently here… music video is one of the few areas where being completely different is appreciated! Pay attention to the concepts of videos we’ll study…
o Think simple, but different, recognizable stories, such as the Depeche Mode video: “Enjoy the Silence”, or the Death Cab For Cutie video for “I’ll Follow You Into the Dark.”
o Or, think more complex, such as the Go! Team video for “Grip Like a Vice”, (with tons of fast animation / abstract images), hurried pacing.
o Let the mise en scene tell the story
Þ 25 POINTS
Connection to the music: Once you determine what you appreciate most in music videos, plan to have a good amount of:
o Mise en scene that reflects the tone, mood
o Lip-synching
o Instrument-synching
o Edits that are based on the rhythm (drum beats, loud chords, etc.), or:
o Shots that seem to reflect the story or themes presented in the lyrics
Þ 25 POINTS
Editing: your video should contain a mix of the following:
o Advanced editing techniques
o Faster, tighter editing
o Stop-motion animation
o Multi-camera editing
o A lack of shots that feel out of place or that could have been cut sooner.
o Some experimentation with repetition of clips, variations in clip speeds, graphics, etc.
o Photoshop
o Keyframing
Þ 25 POINTS
Cinematography: your video should have:
o Good shot composition (use the rule of thirds)
o A conscious use of different lighting techniques.
o A variety of angles
o Attention to color, contrast, saturation
Þ 25 POINTS
This assignment is to compose a VIDEO DIARY or creative DOCUMENTARY. A Video Diary means yours or someone else’s thoughts and feelings should be reflected through words and images in a personal or poetic way. Consider these prompts for inspiration: explain your theories, describe something weird you noticed, something you regret, ideas on relationships, what it’s like to be you, a day in your life, etc. Use these as a basis for creating a visual poem or visual diary in any style you like: happy, funny, sad, serious, abstract, poetic, strange, etc.
The DOCUMENTARY option requires you to look at an issue, an idea, an event, or a person in depth. Use techniques like stand-ups, voiceovers, b-roll, walk and talks, and most importantly: interviews, to tell your story in a sophisticated and visually interesting way. Try to bring a distinct visual style to this, unlike a news package, which is generally more standard.
Your video should include various techniques such as: voiceover narration, abstract images, on-screen text, a sophisticated use of sound effects and / or music, and clever editing. The final product will be worth 100 points and will be graded on the following criteria:
1. CONCEPT / EXPERIMENTATION
Demonstrates a strong and creative theme that ties together all images, graphics, and audio. 20 POINTS
2. DESIGN
There is a conscious use of color, contrast, saturation, varied shots, and text. All are used imaginatively and in keeping with the established language of the video. 20 POINTS
3. CINEMATOGRAPHY
Original footage should be shot to support the concept and approach to the project. It is well composed, well lit, and visually interesting to experience. 20 POINTS
4. SOUND (or) INTERVIEWS
Natural sound is clear and understandable; it supports what the viewer is seeing. If a voice-over is used, it is clear and understandable. Sound effects and original sound track is a plus. Interviews are interesting, both visually and intellectually, open-ended questions are used.
20 POINTS
5. EDITING / STOP MOTION
Editing is tight and technically well done. There are no shots or scenes that are unnecessary in the movie. There is a nice variety of camera angles and shots. The pacing is varied and interesting. You include more advanced techniques such as stop motion and keyframing. 20 POINTS
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
Þ Just like music videos, take advantage of the freedom you have – almost any theme or idea can be
great if you put enough thought and hard work into it.
What you choose as your subject matter or scene is up to you (though, it must be narrative / scripted in some sense; even movies with no dialogue are scripted). Your finished scene(s) should be between 2-5 minutes long when edited. There will be a greater emphasis placed on criteria like DESIGN and AUDIO this time, which is why you will not have any dialogue. Think about how to effectively tell your story through various shots, mise en scene, and acting. Think back to all we learned about why specific shots are used. Be sure to include pauses, reactions, and great variety. Consider using stop motion and keyframing.
GradinG
ª CINEMATOGRAPHY
o Emphasis on variety of shots
o Shots are controlled and composed well
o Each shot tells a story
o All shots have a distinct purpose
ª EDITING, including
o L-cutting is used
o No unnecessarily long shots are used
o Cutaways cover up jumpcuts, unless they are used stylistically
o Advanced editing techniques—crosscutting, montage, etc.
ª AUDIO:
o Audio is clear and useful—sound effects and music.
o There are no abrupt switches to bad audio or distracting background noise
o Audio is crossfaded between takes
o Music and sound effects are used effectively and not distractingly
ª DESIGN:
o Mise en scene choices are sophisticated & help tell the story
o Conscious attention is paid to lighting, contrast, colors, saturation
o Text, titles, and graphics are used creatively to add to the scene
o Stop motion or keyframing used, adding to story without distracting viewers
TOTAL: 100 POINTS
Stop-Motion Animation Fun!
1) What is Stop motion animation?
2) Some tips for shooting good stop-motion:
a)
b)
c)
What is an armature?
Leftover Design Terms from Narrative Unit: J
Lighting & Contrast Styles:
« 3 Point Lighting
« High Key – there are minimum shadows, the key light is bright and dominant
« Low Key – Lots of shadows, the overall light is grayer and the key light is less bright.
« High Contrast – a strong contrast between bright light and shadow, with a small amount of in-between gray.
FILM NOIR—What is it?