Editing

Today in my AICE media studies class, we were supposed to finish filming, then start our editing. When we got to class we started the process of checking out our filming materials: camera, tripod, Sd card, pass, etc. We got all of our planed scenes and shots and more last class, but we did not think that it would be enough to meet our time requirement. So, we went out and filmed different shots of our school, to use as fillers just in case. We first went to the bus loop to get a shot of building five, which says our school name. We then moved our gear to the football/track field, where we thought we could get some good shots. We tried our best to get a good shot, but it just didn’t seem to work out. So we moved onto the baseball bleachers, where there was a sign saying “Welcome” to our school. I don’t think that this came out as well as we thought. So we went back to our classroom to begin editing.

We came back to our classroom and checked our gear in. We saw that someone was using the computer that had our previous footage on it. So we had to wait a few minutes before they were done. While we were waiting we checked out our Sd card reader. The other group left the computer and my group member began to log in. This took extremely long for (at the time) an unknown reason. We began our process of dumping what we filmed today. The dumping process went as usual, but we went a step further. After dumping the footage on the computer, I decided it would be best to put it with the rest of the files, in my google drive. When I tried to open google to login, it took forever for the computer to load.

This was not the only computer problems we experienced. After chrome finally loaded, the computer had trouble loading each step through uploading onto my google drive. Many minutes have gone by and finally all of our files were uploaded. So we proceed to try and start the true editing process. We began by looking for the pinnacle studios icon. After spending 10 minutes trying to find the icon, we realized that our computer did not have this program. Which meant, that we would not be able to edit our footage today. The lack of access to good technology that our school has given us, has prevented my group and my class from continuing our lesson in my class. Bringing my education in this class to a pause.

Filming

Yesterday my group and I got to film for the first time. We were filming for our FLHS commercial. We finally got a chance to bring our storyboard to life. We started this process in the classroom where we were distributed our filming gear: Cameras, tripods, bags, passes, etc. I carried the tripod and props to our first filming location. Which was the main stairs of building 5. This is where we shot our first two scenes. For the first scene that we shot I was the actor. I had to put face paint in a close up. For our next scene, we stayed in the same spot, because we thought that the scenes would flow together, or be inner changeable. My teammate Montana and I were the subjects. We had to do a medium close up, two shot. In the scene we put blue confetti in our hands and then blew them into the camera. This scene was one of my favorite that we did. After we shot this a couple times we decided it was time to move to the next scene. Our next scene was shot in the same location we just centered ourselves with the staircase. We did this instead of filming in the bus loop, out of mm convenience. It helped us save time and we felt it would be a better transition. For this scene we had one of our classmates to film my group and two other volunteers from our class. We all stood in a line. I had the idea to film a few of takes while holding up our L’s.

We moved to our next location and I carried the tripod and camera. This location, was the high top tables outside of our cafeteria. When we got to this location I had set up the tripod and placed where I thought it would fulfill our scene. However, after my teammate looked at the placement and lighting, she thought it would be a better idea to move the camera to the other side to get better lighting for the scene. For this scene, we didn’t have someone to record so I pressed record and ran over to the table where my teammates were waiting. We decided we were going to just edit out the part where I’m running. In this scene we were pretending to eat lunch, as a group. This scene was an easy one to film unlike our next scene.

Our next location was at the mural at the front of the school. I only carried the props to this location, because my teammate wanted to carry the camera and tripod, but had some trouble doing so. At this location we all took turns being in the scene and filming. We did this because it was a very hard shot to shoot. So we tried to get the shot as best as we could. This shot was of two students walking by. We tried to get this as a low angle tracking shot, but we had some difficulty with that.

We grabbed our gear and moved onto the next place. We then got a bunch of our classmates to be in this next scene. It was at a small patio type area by a stair case. All of the subjects stood in the patio, while I stood on the stairs with the camera and tripod. I directed them into forming an L. I then took the shot of them holding their L’s up and then waving at the camera. This scene was a lot easier then I thought it would be.

We were going to shoot a scene where we jump on the golf cart as we tell the viewers that we “Hope to see you next school year.” We ran out of time and had to get back to class to dump. When we got back to class Montana and I dumped all of our footage and saved it into a file on the computer. I then went a step further and saved the videos to my google drive, so I had access to them at anytime.

Storyboard

Today in AICE Media Studies, we storyboarded for our current commercial project. In our storyboard we have our project plans, our different scenes, angles, shots, camera movements, and edits. We felt that it was important to make a storyboard so that we could write down all of our thoughts and ideas for this project and I have a flexible plan when filming and editing. This way we stay organized and limit the amount of mistakes we make during this project. Below you can see our storyboard with our commercial details.

Editing lesson

Today, in my media studies class we learned our varied camera procedures and had our lesson in editing. Our camera procedures are quite simple, every time we wish to check out a camera we must fill out an equipment agreement. We must have that completed before we receive any filming or editing equipment. We were taught how to use our cameras and tripods, not just the basics like how to turn on and off and how to charge. We also learned the different angles and types of shots that we could  do with the tripod. Knowing these things prior to our filming day, will help keep things going smoothly. While she was explaining the different things we can do with the tripod, my head started to fill with ideas for our commercial. Thoughts of possible scenes that we could use to help “sell” the school flooded my head. I tried to start and jot some of them down like, using the pan feature to get a cool shot of the school. But, before I knew it we had moved onto editing.

The first thing we learned with editing was how to dump. Dumping is when you take all your footage and you put it on the computer. The first step in dumping is to place your SD card into the SD card reader. Create a folder on you desk top for you to keep all you footage in. You should name this folder commercial or project1, etc., this will help you identify the file later. Next, plug the reader into the USB port of the computer, gently. Once you have done these step you are going to want to open your files icon, and click on the reader to view the content. Then, you should select ALL of YOUR footage and download it into the file you had previously made. Once all of your footage has downloaded you can then take the reader out of the computer and the SD card out of the reader. Place your SD card, back in your camera or camera bag. Congratulations you now know how to dump too!

The rest of the editing process is easy to understand. First, you  want to click on the pinnacle studios icon, then click on import. Select all videos, to select all videos click one then press the shift key and click on the last clip. Once imported, you must wait until the yellow bar turns green otherwise the computer will crash. Start editing, as soon as you wish. My group will most likely start editing on the class day after the 22nd of October. This is because we are filming on this day. I am excited and looking forward to editing our footage and proud to have this skill to create these transitions and edits for films.

Planning Blog for FLHS Commercial

Today my group members and I planned our commercial project. This process was overall a helpful assignment, it helped my group and I, have a good understanding of what we want in our commercial. We planned put our list of props, costumes, schedule, locations, and our back-up plan. It is important that we plan whenever we have a new film project, because it helps us stay organized. Staying organized throughout this process will help us limit our mistakes and make the most of our time spent on the project. Planning out our props and costumes ahead of time insures that we have them the day we film. Our location list and back-up plan helps us later, when we have to storyboard. Writing out our schedule will help us stay on task. 

• Props: Id’s, backpacks, and lunch. These props will help accentuate that we are on school campus.
• Costumes: FLHS merchandise, blue, black, and white clothes, blue accessories, and blue and white face paint. Our costumes emphasize our school colors, showing school spirit.
• Schedule: 10/10 Planing, 10/14 storyboard, 10/22 filming, 10/24 editing. 
• Location list: FLHS, building 5 stair case, senior patio, bus loop. This are prime locations in our school, making it sensible to express them in our commercial. 
• Back-Up plan: In the event that it rains, instead of filming at the senior patio. We will extend our scene at the stair case instead of filming at the bus loop. In the event that one of our group members are absent we will have another student in our class step in and play there part(s). 

Commercial Project

Today in my Aice Media Studies class, we picked our groups and did research for our commercial project. My group members are Montana and Amanda. I think that we will be a good team because we all share the trait of creativity. I think that having all this creativity in our group will help our assignment in the long run. However, I do think that it may cause some bumps along the road. When deciding which topic to do our commercial on we had narrowed it down to two topics, anti-vaping or a FLHS commercial. We decided on doing a commercial for the school, advertising to persuade 8th graders to attend Fort Lauderdale High School, for the next school year. 

In a commercial there are many aspects relating to conventions and codes. They can be described as techniques, props, and people that are used to enhance a scene. In our particular theme, we focus on an academic and friendly environment at the school. We will provide information on what makes our school unique, from expressing details on our many clubs and activities to the great education you can receive at our school. We could possibly incorporate opinions from other students and talk about the positives of the school’s overall atmosphere.

We chose this topic of FLHS for a few reasons such as, the possibility of our video being shown to the class of 2024, to persuade them to attend Fort Lauderdale high school for their upcoming freshmen year. It is also a good project to start with due to its simplicity, since we have firsthand experience of what would draw in these students. Lastly, this topic was ideal over the others because our designated filming location, is the perfect scenery for the scenes of the commercial. Making this the ideal topic for my group to choose.

Intro

Hello my name is Reese and I attend Fort Lauderdale High School. My favorite subject in school is math. I like math because of it's simplicity, the way there is always an explanation and set steps to get the correct answer. While in other subjects like reading there are a thousand different ways to interpret the text. I guess this shows a personality trait for me, saying that I like more structured things. I must say that I am somewhat good at math and that might be another reason that I like it so much. It always came easy to me, so I never really needed to try super hard. That was until I got to pre calculus, it was a little bit of a change for me.

Some other classes that I am taking are Communications Technology 2 honors, Aice European History, Aice English Language, Aice Marine Science, Dance 3 Honors, and of course Aice Media Studies. So far in Aice Media studies we have learned terms used in Editing, shots, camera movements, etc. As a group a few friends and I completed a PowerPoint on Epic genres. We are about to start working on our first commercial. I am super excited, to begin this journey.

Outside of school I play softball, travel and for the school. It is currently travel season and I am on the Pompano Beach Riptides. Right now we are preparing for our next tournament that is in a few weeks. Only a few weeks ago my team hosted our very own home tournament. It was a lot of fun and we definitely got the home team advantage. I also play for FLHS varsity and JV. I am a utility player, this means that I can play any position they need me too.

This is all about me stay tuned for more updates on my adventures through my Aice Media studies class.