Color grading and GoPro color grading LUT.

We study color grading on Wednesday. 'SpeedGrade' is a very useful software for color grading and color correction. A good color of film can promote film storytelling.  Color grading need to adjust saturation, contrast and exposure in the first. Basically, color grading has two parts, the first part is primary correction, the second part is secondary correction. The primary correction is a basic correction for entire picture on layer. LUT( look up table) is a good way to change RGB line and modified color. Then the imagine of color adjust contrast and balance. Making a mask need to build a new layer. It is a easy way to set area. Follow that step, mask should be manual track the area. Finally, it is a secondary correction, a new secondary layer should be set up and manual adjust hue and skin tones. After that, deleting LUT and do primary correction and add LUT. It is a good way to change color correction. I try to use color finale to adjust my footage. I will post it lately.

We use 'Color Finale' is Final Cut' a plug-in for color grading. I find a footage that has a very bad color temperature then I use it to color correction. As you can see I think its better than before. But I am not very satisfied, because the white balance really hard to get it. So I use 1 hour to make the footage more natural. The video is a comparison effect. 

In addition, GoPro color grading has many ways to make it better, someone use GoPro studio but it is not very professional software. Some people teach you how to color grading GoPro footage. For example, saturation+30%, exposure highlight+5%，vibrancy 1.05, hue 355°，sharpness 2.5. The method is a kind of formwork but not suitable for all the footage. I found a video that looks like very professional. The video use Premiere pro to color correction and grading. It is use a lot of shape mask in the footage, coz the footage include many objects to be individual adjustment. 

Editing the footage and short statement

We went to Broadway to edit footage about 'post to China'. Everyone edited footage of other people. I am responsible for Zoey's part. For the tempo of video more coherence, I cut the video from outdoor of tea room to indoor of tea room. Then I tried to combine the introduction part and explanation part. I use 'dip to white' transition effect to explanation of Zoey in the Broadway studio. Next week, we will add English subtitle and background music for the video. Roger also give us some advice about editing sometimes. In the afternoon, Roger revise my statement of my research project. We need to present the statement on next Friday. Roger hope us to express confidence and natural.
My research project is a documentary about café racer culture. My documentary has two parts. The first part will be shot in the Ace Café, London. The second part will be shot in the Mandrill Café and the Ace café in Beijing. I hope to explore the sub culture and language of the café racer in Britain and China.

 We will watch some BAFTA short film on next Friday afternoon. BAFTA is British Academy of Film and Television Arts. This award also call ' British Oscar'.

Ace cafe London shooting day

We have a unforgettable shooting day on last sunday. we arrived on London St pancras station approximately at 10.00am. We took 2 DSLR and 1 GoPro to filming. We arrived Ace cafe London at 10.50am. Then we contact with Mark Wilsmore, the owner of Ace cafe London. We start filming some footage indoor and outdoor. Mark introduce the history of Ace cafe. He is very friendly and enthusiastic. When I editing my footage, I realized many problem in my next shooting. Two cameras got two different color temperature cause the color totally different. Then many shots have not finish because the weather not very well, there are not too much classical motorbike. In addition, the shot stabilize makes me very headache, because close-up shots need to absolutely stable. We had not finish the shot list all the shot, I am not satisfied this shot work. I have to improve sense of team work. For example, when Mark introduce his motorcycle, Jin and me always goofs each others' lens. I need to solve these problems in the next shooting. I make a small trailer for this shooting.  

'Post to China' shooting day

Last friday is shooting day for Broadway session. We based on the shooting plan by  Shirley.  Firstly, Jin went to record store to buy 'Beatles' record. I have to collect wireless microphone in Waverley store. So I had a little bit late for first place. Then Zoey shot at the tea room. Zoey want to make a peaceful and comfortable feeling in the tea room, so we use some tilt up shot and pan shot that can make the scene more  cozy. Thirdly, we went back to Broadway studio to shoot Eric's part. Eric use the mobile phone to check the weather. Thus, we need to use close-up shot on the phone. Then Eric go outside without umbrella. However, weather forecast is inaccuracy, Eric got wet in the rain. He return the room to got the umbrella. Eric had to made his coat wet, he go to toilet splashed water on his coat. Shirley shooting location in the Waverley studio. It is an amazing place. Although, we go to Waverley building but we never known Waverley studio is an incredible place. It is like a Shangri-La of Waverley building. Shirley measured size of head and cut cloth. She wanted to made a British lady's hat. So I shot different angles of shots and different shots. As a cameraman in that day, I felt so special in this environment. In the noon, we had a break to rest. Until 2.30pm, I was shot in Gill's store. Many people went to shop buy stuff, we wasted too much time for wait. Luckily, we finished filmed about 20 minutes. We went back  Broadway cinema at 3.00pm. Roger change the studio plan, everyone sit at chair to introduction. Then others ask four questions stand back to camera. Finally, wrapping the pack and show the object. I know how set up the camera and sound that can help me to finish shooting documentary in last sunday. I gain a lot of filming skills and mise-en-scene. Roger teach me how proficiency to use manual focus and set up white balance. In this friday, we need to edit these footage and add english subtitle. 

After effect session

We studied 'After Effect' session about 4 weeks. We learned many special effects, such as how to make fire, snow and rain. In my documentary, I want to make text follow the movement of motorcycle. Simon patient taught me how to generate the track effect and then he taught me how to export the project to the Premiere. Last week we learn Hollywood film how to work in the green screen. Simon introduce Hollywood 3D animation. This week we learn how make an animated character move and connection their body. Simon use a animated character to change its different mouths, different eyes. In the below, it is how to make the leg movement, it is need to set three points one the leg, one is on the knee, others on the thigh and calf. Then Track the leg movement can make it.

Shot list in Ace cafe 21st February( continuous update)

Equipment: DSLR 6D*2, 24-70mm, 35mm F1.4L, shoulder rig, fig rig, GoPro hero 4. Zoom H2n.

Close up

1.     Poster or newspaper on the wall (change focus)

2.     Detail of jukebox( Process of change the record)

3.     Beer machine in Ace café

4.     Motorcycle brand on the oil box

5.     Pipe of motorcycle

6.     Instrument of motorcycle

7.     Wheel of motorcycle

8.     Café racer’s facial expression

9.     Riders’ tattoo.

10. Rider’s helmet.

11. Rider take on the gloves and helmet (zoom in or dolly shot)

12. Riders start the engine of motorcycle（hand or leg and back）

13. Riders’ boots

14. Rider’s leather jacket (pattern)

15. Rider’s take on/take off the motorcycle

16. Rider talk to each other

17. Put the hand on the table (low angle)

18. Riders drink beer and eat food. (Facial express, smile or enjoy).

19. ‘Ace café’ shop, the name on the window or door.

20. Low angle different car plate

21. Some details of performance

Middle shot

1.     Riders sit at the counter.

2.     Café racer ride on the road.

3.     Rider shake hands each other.

4.     Track the oil box of motorcycle.

5.     The procedure of focus on the detail of motorcycle. (由虚到实)

6.     Performer play instrument.

7.     Pattern of leather jacket.

Long shot

1.     Rider walk to the motorcycle (low angle).

2.     Café racers cross the street.

3.     Shooting motorcycles are parked outside from window.

4.     The procedure of focus on the background to foreground

5.     People talk to each other beside motorcycle.

6.     People squat on the ground and talk about motorcycle.

7.     People perform on the stage.

Wide shot

1.     Overview Ace café shop

2.     Parking in front of the Ace café.

3.     The interior of Ace café.

Camera movement

Dolly shot

Tilt shot

Pan shot

Zoom in/out shot

Track shot

Ask riders some questions:

Why do you come here?

How do you know Ace café?

Do you like this place?

Are you a café racer?

Fig Rig for documentary

Today, Jin and me lend a Fig Rig from Waverley store. Because we have to shoot some footage in Ace cafe London. We get ready for this shoot day. I think Fig Rig is very light and portable. Thus, I decide to use shoulder rig and Fig rig as stability equipments. In addition, I also shoot two footages, one is RAW format, another is H.264 format. I use Premiere cc to do some color grading. I notice RAW is more easily make color more natural and colorful. I change brightness, RGB and saturation of RAW footage at the same time, I also change three terms of H.264 format. However, effect of H.264 format is not better than RAW format. Moreover, many pattern of clothes can clearly to watch it. But H.264 format has a little bit overexposure. No matter I change contrast or brightness, the color still not very satisfied. It is first time to use Fig rig. I went to Youtube to search some video about 'how to use Fig Rig?' These videos give me many help. So I can use it very well.

The Leather Boys

The film is directed by Sidney J. Furie in 1964. It is controversial film in that time because the film include homosexuality and 'Cafe racer.  The film was adapted by a novel. I chosen this film because the film was shot in the Ace cafe London and the film is also involve  'cafe racer'. The film is very old so I cannot find very high definition version. A girl 'Dot' marry his fiance Reggie. Reggie is a cafe racer. However, they had a unsatisfied honeymoon holiday. They start separate lifestyle, Reggie often go out with his biker friends. He start to race with his friends on the street. Reggie and Dot still quarrel all day. He start know Peter is one the biker. Peter is a great guy treat Reggie like a real friend. Reggie start loses interest with Dot. Dot do some rude behavior in Reggie's grandfather at funeral. Reggie have to leave house back to his grandmother's house with Peter. they hang out and find two girls but Reggie notice Peter is not interested in female. His wife with other people go to bed, Reggie discover this so disappointed. He find Pete to have a chat, but they meet in a gay bar. Reggie cannot accept this thing. Final, Reggie leave alone.

Many shots are really good, I can use them in my documentary. Such as cameraman use the track shot to follow racing motorcycle. The space of shot has changed from ambiguous space to deep space. In addition, many shots was shot in the Ace cafe. So it is also give me some advice how to shoot indoor of Ace cafe. The film follow Reggie and Dot life, but they both have some trouble, it is a very special theme. It is a classic kitchen sink drama. It is worth mentioning Reggie and Dot quarrel scene are really realistic. Main characters have great acting skills that can act emotionally. 

Reference:

IMDb. (1964). The Leather Boys. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057244/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1. Last accessed 16th Feb 2016.

Postcard to China

Today, we got a mission for next few week. Every one think about a stuff that related to the British culture. Roger bring a thing to Broadway today, we guess what it is long time. Via ask some questions to get the answer. We need to ask some indirection question, such as what situation will use the stuff? or describe the thing in a sentence. Finally, we almost figure out the thing, it is a telescope，but it is a binoculars. The answer is quiet similar but it is still inaccurate. Our mission is everyone choose an object that can represents British culture. It is like a TV programme about the objects why we choose it. Because the video will present for Chinese people and therefore we need to speak Chinese but with English subtitle.

Every one has their responsibility, Shirley is producer, Jin is Director, Cameraman is me, Sound man is Eric, Zoey is editor. In addition, Every one choose different  objects, Zoey chooses British afternoon tea in the tea room. Eric chooses umbrella in the Broadway indoor/outdoor. Shirley chooses ladies' hat in the Waverley studio. Jin chooses the gramophone record in the music exchange. I choose pound and I will shooting in the small shop.The stuff has some symbol of the British on it. It is has all kinds of connections with Isaac Newton. To some extend, Newton made the first one in the first. It is also will be generated. I notice every British people will use small case to take it. It is looks like very shining. Sometimes it will be a little bit heavy, sometimes it will be very light. The stuff has different value. I chose this stuff, because its appearance is totally different to China. I want show the stuff to my friends. They like to collect stuff is different region culture. Therefore, we will shoot in the next Friday. The week after Friday, we will edit the footage in the Broadway Cinema and add English subtitle.