After effect Practice and opening title 2D and 3D

I try to use After effect to make opening title. I make 2 kind of title in the test, 2D and 3D track text. 2D is easily than 3D, because 3D need to parallel with your object of picture. 

As you can see the video, the first shot is 3D text track camera. Text follow Ace cafe building. The text has a parallel with the direction of building. The difficulty of point is you need to adjust the text make it in the same flat. The second one use 2D track camera. I make a track point on the green motorbike. For text more natural, I adjust pellucidity of text. Final one also use 2D track camera but it is hard to make your text stable with moving object. Your track point need to correct adjustment in moving object. Jin help me to know how to use after effect and we watch Youtube tutorial video. When I finish this three test, I do not know how to export it. First, I try to export to Premiere but it is display dynamic link problem. Then I transform to project file but Final cut pro cannot identification. Finally, I notice render external I use it to generate video format.

I also start to edit interview in Mandrill cafe. I  taping all the Chinese subtitle, then I translate them which I think I will use them in my documentary. 

Writing, Directing and Producing Documentary Films and Videos

This week I read this book. Specially, I read the postproduction part, because I start to edit my documentary. Rosenthal introduce how to start documentary. 

The editing process has three steps,  assembly cut, the rough cut and the fine cut(Rosenthal, 2007). The assembly cut means try to put them roughly in order according your audio and video script. At this stage, you also need to evaluating shots. Editor should use different shots to make the same point. You can deciding which you prefer.Your interview shots will go in with the corresponding sync sound track, but apart from that, you will not bother with sound at this stage(Rosenthal, 2007). It could be two or three times its final length. The real work begin on the rough cut. Here is talk about proper structure, climaxes, pace, and rhythm.

 You need to check your character whether come over well and the film has punch. In the rough cut, you need to consider your structure of documentary whether smooth. I think climaxes of last term documentary in the wrong place. To some extend, I think climaxes should be put in the fit place. If not in right place, Climaxes will be disappeared.Some contents in the documentary should be removed. Audience cannot absorb too much information. Rosenthal(2007) said:" documentary films tend to use less music, since it can break the illusion of reality. However, when used well, music can lift a film tremendously. During the fine cut, you make the picture more better, adding music and effects and color grading. You need to repeated deliberation effects, music and narration. This becomes a see-saw process. 

In my documentary, I also want to use After effect to make opening title in start and end. So I try to make 3D and 2D track text. 

Reference: Rosenthal, A. (2007) Writing, directing, and producing documentary films and videos. 4th edn. United States: Southern Illinois University Press.

Casting and recce checklist

This week Broadway offer many excellent actor/actress for us. Roger and Paul help us to choose actor/actress who are suitable for us short film. They give me lots of advice. Because my main character is a nerdy guy. So it is hard to choose one. Roger decide to help me send a message to Facebook. I decided to shoot in Eric's studio. The studio include open kitchen and table and I need else equipments. Roger also help me to revise my script and he also ask me some questions.

Is it a comedy?

The short film is romantic comedy film. It is not a pure comedy.

If it is a comedy, will the humour be in the script or the performance?

Humour will appear in the performance. Because the main character is a introvert person. So detail of performance has a big effect in the film.

Is it a drama about Forest?

Yes. Forest is main character in the film. It is talk about a loser how to successful.

Is this really the most realistic way that people make relationships?

Yes. It is based on a true story about myself. So I want to produce it.

Should short films be rooted in reality?

True story can help us to make logical and more realistic story. Almost short film I think are based on the true things.

Can short film be more than a cartoon?

Cartoon is more virtual than short film. Good or bad is more aggressive in cartoon. But film is more complicated.

Is Forest a good man?

Yes. He is a simple and kind guy. He like Forest Gump to some extend.

Is Quintus a good man?

Quintus can become a bad guy. Because it can make dramatic conflict. Quintus wants to laugh at Forest in next date. However, Forest still looks like nerdy, Forest impressed Julie with his sincerity.

Is Julie a realistic character?

No. Julie is virtual character. But she is a absolute godness. 

I go to Eric studio to finish my recee checklist.

First, there are three plants as props in my short film.

This a open kitchen in the studio, it has a little bit dark so I need some light to make it better. Toplight can increase luminance but the light looks like too weird.

This picture shows the table and laptop position. it can show actor/actress their position before we shoot the film.

This is my recce checklist. There are dress code and some props need to prepare. Others props already require in this studio.

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing is a 2004 documentary film directed by filmmaker Wendy Apple. The film is about the art of film editing. Firstly, the film is talk about history of editing. Lumiere Brothers invented cinematography in France. However, as time goes on audiences want to watch imagine is moved, they do not want to watch static shot. Why they pay money for real on the screen. Many people thought cinema is no future. Nevertheless, editing changes the situation of cinema. Edwin S. Porter used footage to tell a different story unrelated to what the footage originally was meant to portray. In the 1908, D.W Griffiths was a first editor in the history. He produced first American feature film and discovery of the close up. 

Walter Murch is a film editor in American, He work on The Godfather I, II, and III, The English Patient, with three Academy Award win six nominations for editing and three sound mixing. He has been referred to as "the most respected film editor and sound designer in the modern cinema.  He introduce two principles, first he will not go on the set. He will not to see the actors out of costume. In addition, a major Hollywood production shoot almost 200 hours. Walter thought every shot connect them need to reason enough, the goal of cut let them forget watch movie. This is a invisible art. Picture composition need to be consider deeply. Editor need to developing where is audience attention.   

In the documentary, Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino said two frame has a big different in the film. Therefore, almost film editors are female because they have more patient and they could consider others thoughts. 

When I watch this documentary, I should consider time and space problem and how to get new possibility  to storytelling. One of thing I need to development where is audience attention. The documentary talk about why editing is important in modern movie and meaning of editing.   I will read some books to cultivate my editing skills and art of cutting.

Reference: IMDb. (2004). The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428441/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1. Last accessed 18th April 2016.