TGJ4M_MMProduction

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Analysis - [|Clip for discussion] [|Clip for discussion] [|Another clip for discussion - not for the faint-of-heart]

Sometimes simple is powerful: media type="youtube" key="aQzRxGuBn0k" width="560" height="315" =Video Basics= The fields of television broadcasting and film are huge. Salaries can range from an hourly minimum wage to the tens of millions depending on luck, skill, schooling and networking. The first big question is why? Typically we generate TV & film for one of (or several of) 3 reasons: for pure art, for an audience, or for a client.


 * 1) Art - is the most altruistic form of media generation, where the artist isn't inspired by a paycheque, but rather by a sense of publishing content to emphasize/make a point. The artist simply 'does' for the sake of doing, be it to inspire others to think about a topic, or to think about the artist him or herself.
 * 2) Audience - recognizing that a paycheque is a good thing inspires individuals to create content with a mass distribution in mind. Be it TV, film, radio, or print, the artist has to think of the end-user in generating the content and tailors it so that the audience will embrace it. Making content for an audience doesn't necessarily mean it isn't art, but it is much harder to create a work that both completely pleases the artist and the audience. This may pay well, but the artist has to often compromise for the sake of publication.
 * 3) Client - the artist becomes the tool for an individual/group. This type of media is usually generated by individuals for corporations. There is usually good renumeration, but at the cost of the artist feeling like they're really making a statement.

What makes a great piece of film/TV?
 * 1) It is a work of art- from script to cinematography, from sound to acting
 * 2) It is commercially successful - show me the $
 * 3) It stands the test of time - it is as relevant 5 decades after release as it was 5 minutes after release.

Examples of great cinema/TV?
 * 1) Cinema: Laurence of Arabia (1962), American Beauty (1999), When Harry Met Sally (1984), Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Citizen Kane (1941)
 * TV: Sienfeld, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Sopranos, 60 Minutes, The Simpsons

Video Production types
There are 2 basic production types live and canned. Live production is exemplified by the traditional broadcast while canned production is where footage is shot, then edited, then distributed to the user. Canned production far exceeds live production because all aspects of the finished product can be manipulated, while live production is at the mercy of lady chance (i.e. a team can do all they can to minimize errors, but because it's live, errors can result in termination of broadcast).
 * 1) Live Production - not used at SCHS, but programs like those at Sir Will and a few others have sound, lighting and film-work combined to generate live streams watched by audiences.
 * 2) Canned production (coined by the fact that film used to be carried around in 'tin cans' containing the celluloid) is what is done at SC. We have 2 forms of canned production:
 * 3) Film: using Premiere Elements as an editor, footage and sound is mixed in a **post-production environment** to generate a finished product.
 * 4) Broadcast (using Visual Communicator as an assembler): a time-line-based piece of software that ties together live and pre-edited elements to generate a finished product. [[image:http://positivelyatlantaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/mfalconwtbs.jpg width="310" height="235" align="left" caption="Studio Shot"]]All the work is done upfront **BEFORE** the shooting happens.

Types of Filming
> When video is shot in a controlled environment, you can optimize things such as camera placement, lighting and sound. End-product is often of high-quality, but can suffer from authenticity if a desired look from the outside world is wanted. > > Shots in the 'real world' can often be noisy and unpredictable but generally give a truly authentic feel to the piece. Benefits of shooting on-location are that you can get an authentic environment, you can get dialogue that might be unpredictable but valuable, you can capture events or interviews you might not otherwise get and finally, using multiple cameras, you can get 'B-Roll' footage, that can be used to enhance the primary shot.
 * 1) **Studio**
 * 1) **On-location**

Overview of Stages of Video Production
Video Production is typically broken down into the following stages:
 * STAGE ONE:
 * Pre-Production** || Pre-Production is all about **effectively planning the FORMAT and CONTENT** of your production. Although it's EASIER to simply "wing it" and start shooting without planning, experienced producers know that the final **UNPLANNED** product WILL be:
 * Inferior and amateurish
 * Harder to edit, and may require re-shoots
 * Take more time to produce, and
 * Leave the producer with regrets

It's FAR cheaper to plan and "test out" your ideas on paper, before committing to the costly and time consuming process of shooting (production) and editing (post production) your video. Pre-Production requires that you:
 * Identify the "Target Audience"
 * Define the final product, it's format and length
 * Define the concept and specific content
 * **Storyboard** **Storyboard****Storyboard****Storyboard****Storyboard****Storyboard****Storyboard****Storyboard****Storyboard****Storyboard** your shots, and Script your dialogue
 * Assign time-lines, areas of responsibility and identify and book required resources ||
 * STAGE TWO:
 * Production** || Set the stage, and shoot your "footage". If you're skillful at production, you'll be mindful of the things amateur productions don't pay attention to:
 * Lighting
 * Audio
 * Framing
 * Shots and Camera-work
 * Lead In and Lead Out ||
 * STAGE THREE:
 * Post Production** || Editing the footage can be the most time consuming part of the process, and offers the most effective opportunities to enhance the production and give it a "professional" feel by adding:
 * Select or "trimmed" clips from your footage
 * Transitions between clips (be mindful of K.I.S.S.)
 * Audio elements
 * Music
 * Voice Over Dialogue
 * Sound Effects
 * Titles and Credits
 * Text and Graphic overlays
 * Composited clips like green-screened elements or matte elements
 * Special effects and filters that can clean up, or modify the original video clips Post Production also involves rendering and publishing the final product to the desired output format like DVD or web-friendly files ||

SD-Card recorders

 * || Nikon D5100 || HFS200 ||
 * || [[image:NikonD5100.jpg width="240" height="180"]] || [[image:cyberdog/Video_HFS200.jpg caption="Video_HFS200.jpg"]] ||
 * **Approximate $** || $790 || $1290 ||
 * **Image** || SD || HD ||
 * **Microphone** || built-in || built-in ||
 * **Filetype** || MOV (convert using Format factory to regular Mp4) || *.MTS (rename to avi) ||
 * **Quality Settings** || On a 2GB SD Card:
 * 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) or 720p (1,280 x 720) HD recording at 30 / 25 / 24 fps
 * 640 x 424 SD recording at 30 / 25 fps
 * MPEG-4 / H.264 AVC compression, .MOV container || On a 16GB SD Card:
 * LP (6 hrs 5Mbps)
 * SP (5 hrs 7Mbps)
 * XP+ (3 hrs 12Mbps)
 * FXP (2 hrs 17Mbps)
 * MXP (1.5 hrs 24Mbps) ||
 * **Notes** || Be careful not to OVERWRITE previously downloaded files. There are TWO of these cameras, and they use an identical file naming system. If you swich cameras from one day to the next, you CAN be left with two different files with exactly the same name. || This camera shoots ONLY in High Definition mode 1920x1080 resolution.

This footage can be edited down to Standard Definition (720x480) so as not to put a strain on our storage and computer processing capabilities, but beware there MAY be complications. ||
 * **Manual** || [[image:http://c1.wikicdn.com/i/mime/32/application/pdf.png width="32" height="32" link="file:cyberdog/Canon FS200 Camcorder.pdf"]] [|Nikon D5100 User Manual]


 * [|Nikon D7000 Manual] || [[image:http://c1.wikicdn.com/i/mime/32/application/pdf.png width="32" height="32" link="file:cyberdog/Canon HFS20 Camcorder.pdf"]] [[file:cyberdog/Canon HFS20 Camcorder.pdf|Canon HFS20 Camcorder.pdf]] ||

**Mic options**

 * onboard mic on the cameras: poor tinny option. Very low-quality sound
 * hotshoe mics (the slot in the top for the external flash)
 * shotgun mic - slots into the hotshoe and plugs into the mic port on the dslr - good for synch'd sound, but is only good for about 20' and a cone about 30 deg. over that distance.
 * lavaliere mic (lapel mic) - useful to get dialogue in interview style video, but is visible, and if there's movement can pick up clothing noises and changes based on head movement. The base of the lav mic fits in the hotshoe. Problem - wireless mics can also pick up wireless noise.
 * handheld boom pole mic - exceptional sound quality, but requires a person to hold it and orient it to conversation. Also requires syncing with video if you're not using passthrough on the zoom recorders.

**Rules of Conduct**
Also note that there are **rules of conduct** implied with video production:
 * Be Careful handling the equipment
 * Change tapes over a table
 * Use the strap when available
 * Secure and carry the camera when mounted on a tripod carefully
 * Be Respectful when shooting
 * Do not disrupt other classes
 * Don't intentionally record someone without their knowledge or implied consent
 * Never record in washrooms or locker rooms
 * Be Accountable
 * If you are outside of the Comm Tech area, it is to complete your production - not to get food, make calls, chat with friends etc.
 * Get the job done, and return to class ASAP to continue in on the post-production phase.

=Camera Setup=

These settings are easy to overlook, but potentially DISASTROUS to your production if not set properly

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 * ASPECT RATIO**
 * Wide-screen is the new standard - use the menu settings to choose WIDE-SCREEN if appropriate


 * AUTOMATIC SETTINGS**
 * AUTO FOCUS works well in most cases, but changing the setting to MANUAL FOCUS can ensure your shots STAY in focus


 * WHITE BALANCE**
 * As with digital photography, setting white balance ensures proper colours and can pro-actively eliminate "colour casts", manually correcting colour afterwards is a pain.
 * Finding the White Balance settings is a big challenge - Consult the PDF manuals in the handouts folder to set the white balance for specific cameras (in the PDF, use EDIT FIND and search for the word "balance")


 * AUDIO SOURCE**
 * Be sure to MONITOR the sound using headphones, and adjust settings appropriately


 * RESOLUTION**
 * **//Use a STANDARD DEFINITION setting (1280x720) for any projects you do in school//**

NEXT: Pre-Production

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