VIDEO AND SOUND PRODUCTION - EXERCISES

Samantha Jizan Amrullah / 0375606

Video and Sound Production / Bachelors of Design (Honors) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

EXERCISES

Shooting Exercise 1

In our second week, we were given another exercise of camera placement shooting. 

1. Low angle wide shot
2. Eye level medium wide shot
3. Frontal medium shot
4. Side angle medium shot
5. 3/4 angle medium close up shot
6. Frontal medium close up shot
7. Close up shot
8. Extreme close up shot

Lalin Editing Practice

For this task, we were asked to rearrange the remake of Lalin using the provided video files from Google Drive. The reference video was also included, so we could follow it as a guide.

I started by cropping the beginning and end of each clip to remove any unnecessary parts, then arranged them in the correct sequence to match the original remake. After that, I added the chat bubble graphics and used the Effect Controls panel to animate the opacity, creating a smooth disappearing effect for each message, making it look like a real-time chat interaction.

Shooting Exercise 2

This week, we were given another task for another shooting. This time we were also given a reference along with the list of shot :

1. Deep shot
2. Tight M.S. side angle
3. Over shoulder shot 1
4. Over shoulder shot 2 (Reverse over shoulder shot)
5. Tight medium shot

 Act Breakdown

I. Everything Everywhere All At Once :

Questions :

1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only.

Act 1 :

Evelyn is overwhelmed by her failing laundry business, her strained relationships, and the stress of an upcoming IRS audit. During a tense visit to the tax office, she is approached by a strange version of her husband from another universe, who reveals that a dangerous force is threatening the multiverse—and she is the only one who can stop it.

Act 2 :

Thrown into chaotic jumps between alternate realities, Evelyn starts to gain the skills and experiences of her other selves. As she struggles to understand her purpose and powers, she discovers the villain she must defeat Jobu Tupaki, is actually a version of her own daughter Joy, which leaves her feeling powerless and emotionally crushed, leading her to consider giving in to Jobu's nihilistic worldview represented by the Everything Bagel.

Act 3 :

With Raymond's gentle encouragement, Evelyn begins to understand the importance of compassion and acceptance. Instead of fighting, she uses her powers to bring understanding and healing to those around her. This emotional breakthrough helps her reach Joy, saving her from the void and allowing Evelyn to finally embrace her life in the present with peace and love.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

The moment Evelyn is contacted by an alternate version of her husband in the IRS building, who asks for her help to save the multiverse.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

When Evelyn comes to the realization that the villain Jobu Tupaki is actually her daughter from another universe.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

When Evelyn stops fighting and starts using empathy and kindness to resolve the chaos around her, ultimately helping her daughter find meaning again.

5. What is the theme of the movie?

The film explores the power of empathy and how choosing kindness, even in the face of overwhelming chaos, can bring healing, connection, and clarity to our lives.

II. Lalin :

Questions :

1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only.

Act 1 :

Lalin, a teenage girl struggling with acne and bullying, decides to leave her home country in search of a fresh start. She reinvents herself online by editing her photos and gains popularity for her beauty. One day, she receives a message from a stranger offering her an opportunity that catches her interest.

Act 2 :

Lalin begins chatting with the man regularly, and over time, their connection deepens. Things take a turn when he asks to meet her in person during his visit. While he waits for her in a cafe, Lalin hides in the restroom, paralyzed by fear that he’ll reject her real appearance.

Act 3 :

After the man leaves, Lalin comes out and notices a book he left behind. As she flips through the pages, she realizes the story inside is about them, proof that he cared about her regardless of her looks. Filled with emotion, she runs out to find him and is met with a warm smile.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

When Lalin receives a message from a stranger who offers her a job, marking the beginning of their connection.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

When the man invites Lalin to meet him in person at a café while he’s visiting her country.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

When Lalin discovers the book he left behind and learns that he’s always cared for her, regardless of how she looks.

5. What is the theme of the movie?

The story highlights the theme of self-acceptance and how true love looks beyond physical appearance, valuing who someone is at their core.

Storyboard 

In Week 5, we shifted our focus to storyboarding techniques, and for that session, we were given a task to create a storyboard from an existing VFX video. The video had already been split into separate shots and scenes, so instead of coming up with a new concept, our job was to analyze the sequence and visually map it out in storyboard form.

This exercise was more about understanding structure—how each shot connects, how transitions are planned, and how a scene is visually broken down before the actual editing starts. It gave me a clearer picture of how important storyboards are in guiding the flow and pacing of a video project.

VFX Exercise

As a final exercise to support our project, we were given one more task to practice some basic VFX editing. After watching the example and tutorial video provided, I followed along step by step to recreate the same effect.

I started by using the Roto Brush Tool to separate the subject from the background in a few shots. Then, I used the Keylight effect to remove the green screen cleanly and make the composition look more natural. Once the green screen was erased, I began arranging all the shots according to the sequence shown in the tutorial so the visuals would match the example.

To enhance the final look, I added an adjustment layer for color grading, where I tweaked the contrast and colors to give the video a more polished, cinematic feel. I also experimented with a few extra effects to improve the overall presentation. This exercise helped me understand the basics of VFX workflow and how to combine multiple tools and layers to create a believable final result.

Unfortunately I did not save it in my personal laptop, as I had done the exercise in the lab during class session, and did not save the result. 

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QUIZ RESULTS

Shot size, camera angle, and composition

These quizzes evaluate your understanding of shot size, camera angles, and composition for better visual storytelling in filmmaking and photography.

Three-act story structure

The three-act story structure is a popular narrative framework in film and literature that divides a story into three distinct parts: the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution.

This week’s quiz focuses on the types of framings that can be used in film making. 

I understood most part, however there were several shots that I had confused with, as it was still difficult for me to tell the difference between one and another that appears to be similar. For example is close up and extreme close up. In one of the short video that was shown, there was a shot of a butterfly perching on a plant. at first i had assumed that it was an extreme close up due to the fact that it has the butterfly shot very up close, shown with the plant. However, because the surrounding (the plant) is still shown, it is still considered to be just a close up. I had initially thought it was an extreme close up because a butterfly is very small and needed extreme zoom to be able to focus on it, hence my initial assumption on extreme close up. But because the plant is still shown in frame, it would be considered to be a close up instead.

Storyboard in Film making

A storyboard is a visual sequence of a film, resembling a comic strip, used in pre-production. It aids in planning shots, narrative flow, and communicating ideas, often including details like camera angles and character movements. Storyboarding helps filmmakers adjust and avoid issues before filming, saving resources.