About Celtx

Celtx is a good software for script, it is very smart and convenient to us. It is all-in-one pre-production software. we can use it simply to work it and easily to share it. It is worth to mentioning that the basic version is free. Script detail can show very clearly in the Celtx, you do not need to worry about format requirements of screenplay. If you have some ideas you can add some media to the script, such as video or soundtrack. You can more directly to explain what you want feel in the film. In additon, you can generate PDF and different frame structure. Storyboard also can make in the Celtx. Celtx is also useful to me because we can use to make my schedule. I want to record shooting day in 21st February and 13th March. I use it to record my post-rpoduction day. It is a good way to plan my progress. 

Test Canon 6D RAW vs H.264 and practice team work

In the monday, Shirley,Jin and me collect 3 Canon 6D to shoot some footage. Unfortunately, it was rainy day, we cannot take out camera to shoot outdoor. Therefore, we tried to went to Broadway finish it. We cannot get permission from Ella,  because we need to apply in advance. Finally, we have to go to Jin's home. For practice our teamwork, Shirley shot middle shot, Jin shot long shot and I shot close-up shot. Because we did not use equipment make cameras stable, some footage had flutter. I will improve it in the next time. Overall, it is a very useful practice, everyone know his job. 

                                                                 RAW Format

                                                                  H.264 Format

There are two different format, first one is RAW format, second one is H.264 format. Actually, I cannot find some different in monitor of camera. Nevertheless, when we put two footages to the premiere, we noticed there difference, shooting by RAW format, imagine quality more realistic and less noise. The footage detail of high light and dark light are more natural. H.264 format has more noise than RAW format. However, RAW format need to much memory space. Same time to shooting a footage. RAW format is bigger than H.264 non-RAW.

British Cinema

This week Paul introduce British cinema to us. 'A matter of life and death' directed by Powell and Pressburger in 1946. It is a very famous British film that is reflective  World war II influence English and American people life and relationship. June is an American radio operator, Peter try to contact with June because he is a pilot and his airplane will be plane crash. The film storytelling about these two people love story. Director made main actress so beautiful because the shot is blur, June looks like a very elegant woman. Peter is royal air force pilot, he is a tough man so the shot need to sharp style. There are many contrast in the film, sharp shot and soft shot, America and British, colorful and B/W and so on. I like a scene is talk about Dr Frank come to the true world and stop the time, he catch tear of June by rose. It is a hard after effect in that time. Paul told us color film need to cost too much money at that time. The film is very old film as a result it has many special effects looks cheated.

Paul also introduce some Nottingham famous writer Alan Sillitoe. He wrote the famous novel 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' which was adapted into films. It is talk about a story happened in the Raleigh bicycle factory. 

I learned British film has it own style from this time, it is totally different to American film and other countries. For instance, 'This is England', 'Trainspotting', and 'Hooligan' are very typical English film. However, many people said 'Harry Porter' and Star War are also English film. It is not a precise point of view because these films are both present by Warner brothers . Thus it is not real British film.

In my documentary, it has lots of British element, e.g. ton-up boy, leather jacket, cafe racer...

Reference:

IMDb. (1946). A Matter of Life and Death. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038733/?ref_=ttmd_ph_tt1. Last accessed 09 Feb 2016.

IMDb. (1960). Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054269/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1. Last accessed 09 Feb 2016.

About Glide Cam and shoulder rig

Today, Jin and me try to use steadicam and shoulder rig. We all is first time to use it, so we waste too much time on set up time. Unfortunately, stadycam do not have quick release platform, I cannot make camera screw tight very well and keep same weight between front and back. Thus, the gravity of camera always changes. How to make the glide cam balance is our second big problem. I try to make it balance many times but the performance of equipment not satisfied to me . Finally, I make it a little bit stable in my room but it is not perfect.

First video we use shoulder rig to shoot the video. Photographer need to keep camera stabilize. The video show the three parts, the pan and manual focus and shot，track out shot and pan shot. Shoulder rig is a good equipment. If photographer stand one place do not move, the picture will very stable. But when I track out the subject, it will not like glide cam. Thus, stability of shoulder rig better than hand held, weaker than steadicam.

 I can feel steadicam eliminate the up-down movement. It is a good equipment but the equipment less some parts. I need to use shoulder rig and glide cam in my first shooting. Shoulder rig can use focus ring to accurate manual focus and comfortable to hold it. Steady cam will take too much time in balance and hard to control it no focusing while shooting. 

Overall, every equipment has its pro and con. It is depend on what is your purpose. About first shooting, I will use this two equipment to shoot detail of motorcycle. and indoor and out door of Ace cafe. Following riders walk to cafe and briefly to interview some cafe racers. 

‘The Shut Up and Shooting Documentary Guide’ book combine my interview plan

I finish read the book four chapters, preproduction, imagine control and camera work, interview prep and conducting interviews. I directly organize knowledge point to my interview plan. It is a simple way to help me acquire knowledge.

Set the capture date: 21st February and 13th March.
First time, we will shooting indoor and outdoor of Ace cafe. Some riders talk about motorcycle and scenery shots. The second time, the main purpose is to interview Mark Wilsmore and add some footage.

Interview location: Ace café London.

Address: Ace café London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London, NW10 7UD.

Tel: 02089611000

Equipment preparation: 2 DSLR Canon 6D, 2 tripods, and sound equipment（wireless lav mic and Short gun mic）. Reflector. XLR cable. Pistol grip. Dead cat.

enougn battery No 5 & No.7,camera battery, SD cards, glidecam and vocas.  zoom H2n.

The question is opening questions basically. 

Firstly, you need to know your subject’s name and title and spell their name out for you.

Framing and background: try to find a window seat in the daytime and try to find some element of that space that can help visually tell your story and get them in the frame.

Such as: helmet, leather jacket, motorcycle, and poster of rock music.

For the best visual effect, could do a little creative art direction on location.

Subject position

You should generally position your subject facing slightly left or right.

Pay attention to your subject’s ‘eye line’.

The interviewee should look at the interviewer not the camera.

Interview’s eyes are at the same level as the camera.

Check your frame to make sure your subject’s eye line appears natural and too off camera.

Appearance: leather jacket, t-shirt with motorcycle or rock star.

Fixing face: large nose should place key light at same angle/height as camera lens. Adjust to avoid nose shadow. Camera: avoid shooting from low angle. Avoid shooting wide-angle close-ups.

Release form

In addition,  release form need be signed. Try to get a signed release form beforehand when possible. Always get a 'verbal release' on camera.

When you shoot, give your subject instructions that will help you to shoot and edit the interview smoothly. My interview time should be an hour at most. All phone should be off, when the camera rolling.

Tomorrow, I will try to use glide cam and shoulder rig to shoot some video. Talk about how to use it and what problem when I use it.

Reference:

       Anthony Q. A. (2008). The shut up and shoot documentary guide. Oxford: Elsevier’s Science & Technology. 334.

Friday session

This friday we went to Roger's house. That is a artist house in my mind. Roger introduce British culture and history to us. Roger lead us to visit his house that is a really artistic family. Paul sent many kind of lights to us. Roger teach us how set the light and introduce different kind of lights. Such as LED light, precision light and filter. How to choose a good position when you want to interview someone. If the natural light as a main light, the fill light better use LED light, because we try to test precision light and LED light which one is more better. In addition, different people need to consider different set up the camera. If a person who has a big chin, the good way is camera need to higher than the subject. If a person who has a big nose, the good way is  place the key light at same height as camera lens and adjust to avoid nose shadow, camera avoid shooting from low angle. In the afternoon, Roger and his wife prepare a very tasty afternoon tea and delicious for us and we know the afternoon tea come from Duchess of Bedford. We eat cucumber sandwich, home made strawberry cake and finger biscuit. It is really unforgettable afternoon tea. Then Roger give us a task to set up a the light make a mystery and horror feeling in his living room. Firstly, we consider add a green filter make the atmosphere to horror feeling and close the curtain. Secondly, placing the key light in at a higher angle that can increase environment color. Finally, placing the fill light in a low angle that subject's face has a evil shadow in his face. Finally, Roger play the drum for us, he played very well. Everyone take out the phone to record it. Basically, this friday not we learnt to set up the light but also British culture and history. We can benefit a lot from this special friday lesson.  

Apply for interview Ace cafe london

I already sent this email to Ace cafe London.

Hi,

My name is Mark. I’m a student in Nottingham Trent University. My major is MA film practice. I’m very interested in Ace café and café racer, so I want to make a documentary about Ace café and café racer. I really want to go your café and interview the owner of Ace café and some café racers. Because I know Ace café is a very famous café and has a long history. I want to know some history story about Ace café and café racer. I hope we can have a relax conversation. Then I want to record some Ace café events. Simultaneously, My crews start to interview Ace café Beijing; I also want to research the cultural development in China, because motorcycle culture has a huge development in recent year. ‘Café racer’ comes from England and I hope to research what is real café racer?  I sincerely appreciate you can give me this valuable opportunity to know Ace café and café racer. If you feel free you can contact me, I hope we can meet you on 9^th March. I notice calendar of Ace café, it will hold a British bike night with triumph. I think the event is really suitable for my research project. If you wish to know more about me, my project or the MA Film Practice at NTU then please feel free to contact my project supervisor.

Hope to hear from you soon"

Kind regards

Mark

In addition, I also contact Ace cafe Beijing, they accept the interview but now is spring festival holiday, so my crews only interview them after the holiday. I read a book about documentary interview I will finish read next week, I constantly write my notes.

Anthony Q. A. (2008). The shut up and shoot documentary guide. Oxford: Elsevier’s Science & Technology. 334.