Still Image Sequence Assignment

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Description: For this assignment, you will edit a sequence of still images, taken from the internet, into a story (narrative). For a theme, choose an issue–local, national or international–that you care about. It can be personal as well as political. Choose music to edit to, that can speak to your theme in terms of lyrics, mood or both. You will learn the basics of Final Cut Pro–image placement, trimming and effects–in order to create your sequence.

Steps:

  1. Pick a theme (or come up with several ideas from which to choose)
  2. Choose a piece of music (or several possibilities) to go with your theme
  3. Create 5 folders for 5 different types of images for your video (these will become your chapters)
  4. Save at least 100 images (20 per folder) from the web for your video that support your theme. Images should be LARGE: 1080×1920 pixels (the size of an HD screen) or above is ideal.
  5. Using Final Cut Pro, create a project. Over the course of two weeks, you will lay down your music, edit your images into place to the music, trim and refine your edit based on ongoing class critique, add effects and transitions, as well as titles and credits, then “share” your video as a high resolution quicktime movie.
  6. We will watch your videos in class.

Examples: Go to the “Video Student Work” category on this blog to see a variety of high quality past student Still Image Sequences. (Scroll down and follow the links). Past Student Films

Pre-Production: We will workshop your ideas in class using the following form–

one page Still Image Sequence Pre Production worksheet

Still Image Sequence (Video Production 1, Mr. Gooder) – Pre-Production Workshop

Filmmaker: ______________________ Commenter: ____________________

Title (can be temporary):___________________________________________

Comments or suggestions on…

Theme:

Plot (progression and variety of images):

Soundtrack (supports theme? Mood? Pacing?)

Any other questions or ideas for this sequence?

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Identity Project / Studio Portraits

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“Steve” by Matt Hoyle, from his book “Comic Genius”
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“Tina” by Matt Hoyle, from the book “Comic Genius”

Essential Questions:

  • What defines you as a person? Is it: Culture? Personality? History? Gender? Your interests or activities?
  • How can the visual medium of photography be used to represent these aspects of identity?
  • What do you wish to share about yourself? What do you wish to keep private? How much can a photographic portrait show about a person?

Directions for Shooting this Assignment:

  • With a partner, shoot one portrait in the studio (our classroom). You will photograph them, and they will photograph you. Others can join in and help, but you and your partner will have a plan and will direct the crew.
  • For this image, think about one specific theme in your life (rather than every aspect of your life–that might be impossible to capture in one image!) You need to bring one prop or clothing item that shows a theme in your life. The quality of the light (direction, intensity, hardness or softness, color) can also help express your personality.
  • You are trying to get one great shot to print large that defines you (or apart of your life). Work until you get it!
  • You will spend 15 or 20 minutes setting up, 20 or so minutes shooting, and the remaining time in class putting the equipment (lights, backdrop, camera, tripod) away.

Directions for your Identity blog post:

  1. Include three images from your photo shoot. You may have a main image and two alternates… 
  2. Write about your identity, and how you expressed it through these images. One 5-7 sentence paragraph minimum. Look back at the essential questions, at the top of this assignment. In your paragraph, answer the following:
    1. What are you showing about yourself in this image?
    2. Why did you make the decisions you did as a photographer for these images?
    3. What was the experience of making these images like for you?
    4. What did you learn about photography and yourself through this project?
    5. Do you like studio portraiture? If so why?

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    Zach by Matt Hoyle, from the book “Comic Genius” (130 portraits of comedians)

Production Packet

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Greta Gerwig directs Timothee Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan on the set of “Ladybird”

For your production to be successful, you need to plan the whole production, as well as each shoot. The more questions you answer before you start, the more organized and efficient you will be. For example, do you know exactly what equipment you need? Can all of your crew members and actors make it to your shoot dates? Do you have all important props or costume items with you for each shoot? Which scenes and which shots do you need to get on which days? By writing it all down, you, your crew, and your teacher will be confident that your production will go as well as it possibly can. 

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Writer/Director Greta Gerwig working with her cinematographer on the set of “Ladybird”

The film’s Producer turns in bulk of the the information listed below, and is in charge of gathering and writing up all the production information in it. The Writer/Director turns in the treatment and screenplay. The Director of Photography turns in the shot list (written in collaboration with the Director) and storyboard. All of these elements are combined to create the production packet. 

The packet must be bound in a binder or organized in a folder. The production packet itself needs to be typed, clean and professional. 

Your production packet should include:

  • Treatment: a paragraph or two describing your film from start to end. Your treatment should describe the theme, subjects (and their motivations), the story (place, time frame, events), and style. *

  • The most current draft of your screenplay. *

  • List of locations (with any relevant information: transportation to and from, hours you can shoot there, permissions needed or granted, and so on)

  • List of actors (cast, and to be cast)

  • List of props and costumes (be as specific as possible)

  • Equipment list (be as specific as possible–camera, sound, camera mounts, special rigs)

  • Shooting schedule (which scenes are you shooting when; start by breaking down your script into scenes–each new location is a scene)

  • Contact information for all cast and crew; also include their availability (ie “Abby, Director of Photography, available all weekends except first weekend in March, no after school”)

  • Complete shot list for each scene. *

  • Storyboards for at least three scenes (choose the scenes that are the most complex visually and show the style of the film).*

* The writer can add the treatment and current draft of the screenplay to the packet on the due date. The DP  can add the shot list and storyboard to the packet on the due date.

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Writer / Director Wes Anderson shooting a scene from “Moonrise Kingdom”

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Film Analysis

 

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Essential Question: What makes a movie “good?” What are the pieces of a “good” movie?

Directions: 

  1. Choose one or two 3-5 minute clips from a movie, TV show, or short film –something you feel the class needs to see. Think carefully about which film and which clip(s) you choose to show. Th clip(s) should represent the film you are showing (ie give us a good idea of the style of the film, and what the filmmaker is doing. You will be encouraged to choose something the majority of the students in class have not seen. Look for something classic or independent.
  2. Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) about each of the elements of cinema, below. This is one of two parts to this assignment, which you will turn in on our Google Classroom.
  3. You have two options as to how you want to present your analysis:
    • Create a montage explaining your clip. You may make this in Adobe Premiere or a google slideshow (see example). Put your clip in context of the longer movie (etc) that it comes from–where does it fit? Overall, tell us why you chose this piece of media and why WE should see it too. OR…
    • Present the film clip to class. Plan, rehearse and deliver your thoughts on the clip. Delivering your presentation, you have some choices:
      1. You may choose to introduce the film to put the clip into context for the class, then let the clip show in it’s entirely before delivering your analysis.
      2. You can talk while your clip is playing, starting and stopping at times to point things out to us.
      3. After your introduction, you can play the clip through once, then play it through a second time, pointing out elements of the film you want us to notice (this works better with a shorter clip, say 3 minutes).

Analyze the following elements of cinema in your presentation:

  • Storytelling (The Script / Writing: Plot, Beginning / middle/end – structure; Dialog; Characters; the IDEA)
  • Acting & Directing
  • Mise En Scene (‘What you see’ – Locations; props, costumes; makeup)
  • Cinematography (Shots: Composition, Lighting, Viewpoint / Perspective / Angle; Movement)
  • Soundtrack (Music score; Mix; Compliments visuals and story;
  • Editing (Tells the story; special effects; continuity; pacing)

The PSA (Public Service Announcement)

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OBJECTIVES:

  • Communicate a message that’s important to you: First, identify problems in the school and give students the opportunity to come up with their own issues to tackle. In class, we will brainstorm areas of concern (no matter how big or small). Some suggestions:
    • ‘Don’t text and drive”
    • “Eat healthy”
    • “Get enough sleep”
    • “Get more exercise”
    • “Stand up to bullies; cyberbullying – see something, say something”
    • “Stand up to sexism/racism/etc”
    • “Help a student who needs it (ie suicide or drug addiction)”
    • “Get involved in politics/protest — speak your mind”
    • “Protect freedom of speech”
    • “Positive body image – Eating Disorders (raise awareness)”
  • Identify audience. Is it fellow students? Teachers? The community? The world that needs to know?
  • Find a visual way to convey this message, that is creative—think outside the box—don’t just stand there and say it. Show it! Tell us a story or create a scenario that cleverly relays this message.
  • During pre-production, you will storyboard this project and get more creative with camerawork (shots, angles) and editing (cuts, transitions, effects and graphics)

Creating a Photo Blog

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Every student in Digital Photography class will post work to personalized photo blog they make themselves. The blogs are free and easy to create through WordPress.com. Follow these steps:

  1. Sign into http://www.wordpress.com (create a free account). You must  remember which email you use and your password–write it down somewhere!
  2. Create a free blog. Title your blog (something other than your name), that has to do with photography (think hard about this–once you choose it, you will be using it for the rest of the semester and beyond!)
  3. Choose a template for your blog. A template controls the design–how the images and words appear. Choose one from the Subject category “Art.” Make sure it’s free. https://wordpress.com/themes/free/filter/art OR filter for “photography”  https://wordpress.com/themes/free/filter/photography Here are some that would work well for photography, but you can choose others. :
    1. https://wordpress.com/theme/pictorico
    2. https://wordpress.com/theme/visual
    3. https://wordpress.com/theme/dyad-2
    4. https://wordpress.com/theme/cubic
    5. https://wordpress.com/theme/altofocus
    6. https://wordpress.com/theme/snaps
    7. https://wordpress.com/theme/orvis
    8. https://wordpress.com/theme/baskerville-2
  4. Customize your site (we will demonstrate / work through this in class).
    1. Give your site a “Site Title”
    2. Edit your “Primary Menu” to add or subtract menus. You need to add a “About the Photographer”
    3. Add one of your photos as a “Header Image” (if applicable to your site template)
    4. …and so on! Note that you may alter your site after adding posts / content–that shouldn’t change or erase your content, but it may move things around. You can even apply a NEW template after you’ve started your blog, if you decide later that the template isn’t working for you.

Looking at Color Photography

Asylum: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals

Here is a assortment of some of my favorite contemporary photographers working in color, and web links to their work.

ASSIGNMENT: Visit all the photographer’s websites. Pick three photos from three different websites that interest or excite you. Create a google doc. Write a short paragraph (minimum 5, maximum 7) sentences describing what you see in the photo. For each, be sure to comment on what you see (what’s happening in the photo? What’s the subject? Where are we? Why is it important?), AND how composition and color are used by the photographer to enhance the image. Add the image to your description, so I can see what you are talking about. 

Add a fourth photographer–one you find yourself. Your teacher can point you in the right direction if you like, but I recommend finding an area of interest and doing a web search to find photography you are interested in. Copy or screenshot an image for your google doc, and write about it. Be sure to write the name of the photographer and include a link to their website. 

Christopher Payne  (“Asylum”)  http://www.chrispaynephoto.com/asylum/

Cig Harvey (“You Look At Me Like an Emergency” and “Gardening at Night”) http://www.cigharvey.com/you-look-at-me-like-an-emergency/

Rania Matar http://www.raniamatar.com/portfolio/girl-and-her-room.php

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Edward Burtynski  http://www.edwardburtynsky.com

and http://ideas.ted.com/2006/10/31/gallery-edward-burtynskys-extraordinary-images-of-manufactured-landscapes/

Alec Soth (“Sleeping by the Mississippi”) http://alecsoth.com/photography/?page_id=14

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Laura McPhee  http://www.lauramcphee.com

Alex and Rebecca Norris Webb http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/10/alex-webb-rebecca-norris-webb-violet-isle/

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First Assignment: On Campus Interviews

0823-ron-burgundy-1For your first shooting and editing assignment, your crew will film interviews with ten people in the hallways and common spaces around the school! Half can be fellow students; the rest must be staff members (adults).

We will shoot for two or three days. You will need a camera, handheld microphone, XLR cable, and headphones. You will rotate positions (interviewer, camera operator, and if you have three crew members, producer). You need to get steady, well-framed medium shots of interviewer and interviewee, and record your subjects names and positions. All shooting will take place during class time. You will learn a bit of digital editing to import and cut your shots together, and add lower thirds and titles to your piece.

Before you go out to shoot you and your crew needs to plan (or “pre-produce”), by researching and writing questions. The planning is a graded part of your assignment. Download the planning sheet here as a Word Doc, so you can type right into it: Street Interview Assignment.

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