On techinques: A reflective commentary on moving image production

This is extracted from my module essay on moving image production.  I decided to share this to get feedback from colleagues and people for re-evaluation. Production details are removed as the video contains my friends’ appearance.  🙂

 

In practice, the most important and challenging part for tutors and students would be the operation of equipment. I have used shooting and editing devices for years but other students that lacked experience seemed apprehensive from the start.

• Camera
  It is widely acknowledged that technology allows for a range of expression. On the other hand, the features and capacity of the device also constrain creativity. Thus, cinematographic skill is considered to be the most important in image making. The assigned camera, SONY PD-170, has auto features which helps people without much knowledge on camera operation. It also has several user-customized features such as a manual iris, focus, XLR audio inputs and simple mixing controls. However, those with better knowledge of video making would prefer cameras with higher resolution (HD), the 16:9 ratio and 24P, which PD-170 doesn’t support. Video makers with less experience tend to choose a camera which saves images directly to the memory card rather than PD-170, as it records the footage on 6mm DV tape, which needs to be converted additionally to data. However, in some occasions (such as in-camera editing), a DV format may be preferred due to its linear way of recording. As such, each device has its pros and cons; it is important to know the capabilities and limits of the device as it directly influences the boundaries of representation.

 

• Editing
  In terms of post-production, a number of additional ways of expression exist apart from shooting. A few shots of our film were adjusted for brightness, magnified and modified during post-production. For example, in the final shot, we added remarkable zoom-in, which we didn’t have on the raw footage, to strengthen the message by implying a hidden intention through the stare and the facial expression of the second figure. The resizing feature of Adobe Premiere Pro made this possible, and helped us retrospectively remedy the footage.
  Indeed, digital software such as Premiere Pro allows cropping and modification of the original shots, which broadens the scope of editing from what was traditionally considered as simply combining of a series of different shots or disposing unnecessary footage such as NG cuts (Bordwell and Thompson, 2010a). The constant development of higher resolutions (e.g. 4K) will allow the cropping process to become more and more common, without raising concerns over reducing the image resolution.

 

• Sound
  As explained above, continuous diegetic sound is important for continuity. Sound shapes our perception and affects our concentration as it occupies our auditory senses, which makes it one of the most influential film making tools (Bordwell and Thompson, 2010b). Though the clip we made does not contain verbal dialogue, sound (such as score or ambient noise) was required for the smooth integration of different shots (Bordwell and Thompson, 2010b). However, as the given devices and the environment were not appropriate for locale recording, we overlapped three different music clips afterwards, which were gathered free-of-charge from online sources. The various musical tracks allowed us to apply different sounds that were appropriate for each part of the storyline. Indeed, according to Bordwell and Thompson, music is the most common type of non-diegetic sound (Bordwell and Thompson, 2010b), which can enhance the mood by, for example, constructing tension.
  After completing the group work, I re-edited the clip with sound effects and diegetic sound to match the visual action. This clearly changed the mood, making it seem more genuine and relevant to the image. Some films aim to blur the distinction between diegetic and non-diegetic sound by mixing up the sound effects and the musical effects. This is another way of cinematic experience, as expressed in several Hollywood films (Bordwell and Thompson, 2010b). During the film making process, by combining different type of sound tracks, students can appreciate how sound effects can enhance the impact of the filmed footage.