Camera Work Reflection

Camera Angles and Shots Project:

Prior to the project the notes were structured with the exact definition, and what effect it would have on the audience. For example, I learned a close-up shot depicts a character shoulders up. But most importantly, this shot gets a closer detail of their emotions, body language, and facial expressions. Where the audience can get an in depth look at what the character potrays. I learned these notes through a few different methods. We had our tables sectioned as stations with camera angles, composition of shots, and depth of field. Within each station, we would have notes and a set of pictures that go along with each word. These would then be glued into our journals to have a picture of what each shot looks like. 

One of our projects was on camera angles, using 15 shots in total. However, out of the 15 these shots were required: establishing shot, long shot, mid-shot, close-up shot, point-of-view shot, low angle (used with any shot), high angle (used with any shot). Unlike the camera movement project, we had to do this project on an inanimate object, and still tell a story. We also created a storyboard, but this time there was 15 slots of drawing, explaining, and establishing the type of shot. Our story had inanimate characters of color pencils, markers, and erasers. The protagonist was depicted as a yellow pencil, which later turns black out of sadness, isolation, and rejection. 

I found using an inanimate object was challenging to tell a story without a person. The inanimate object cant show emotion like a person does, so telling a story with no facial expressions was hard. Thats why me and my partner had an idea of the "main character", the color pencil; switching colors from yellow to black to show that change of emotion.

I learned how important it is to first plan out everything before starting. Especially for this project me and my partner had this idea on the pencil becoming the color "black" to show a change of emotion. But, I also had thought of putting a black and white filter on each photo to show emotion as well. Ultimately we both decided on completely changing the color of the pencil. That is why completing your storyboard and establishing your ideas is the first thing that should be done.

Next time I want to be a lot more creative with the settings of my project. Although everything is filmed in school, I could have made my story less surrounded about school and have overall better ideas.

Here is a photo of me and my partners story board:

Camera Movements Project:

Before any projects we had classes where we would go over different vocabulary. Learning camera movements was done through notes; however, we watched a video to physically see the camera movements in work. Which helped me immensely by putting a name to each movement. And with this our knowledge was tested with a quiz on camera movements. Which ultimately prepared me for the project because I had a good understanding of each movement in preperation for the quiz.

Our first project was on camera movements with the prompt "surprise". Me and my partner had to create a storyboard using 6 different camera movements. The storyboard included: a drawing of the "scene", why the movement was being used and a description of what will happen in the "scene". Me and my partners idea on the prompt "surprise" was a student opening up their gradebook and seeing an "F", ultimately surprising the student. My partner decided to be the cinematographer, since it was just the 2 of us and we needed a "main character". Once everything was recorded, I used iMovie to edit and transition the clips together. In the end everything was recorded on a powerpoint, where me and my partner both worked on explaining our story and the reasoning for each movement.

Upon creating the storyboard me and my partner had dissagreements. Which was a challenge at first because we both had an idea in mind. However, these dissagreemnts worked out in the end because we created a story using both of our ideas. 

I learned that editing your clips is important, so your video flows more smoothly. Although at first merging the clips together is important. You also need to make sure there arent any excess unnecessary clips that makes the video harder to watch.

Next time I would try to split my time more efficiently. I felt underpressure when having to turn this in because we had to rush when filming each scene. However, I know next time ill be more prepared knowing more on how a story board works having already done this project.

Here is a photo of me and my partners story board: