BLOG QUESTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSITIONS

What are three key new things about transitions that you learned from this video? Why did you find each of these interesting?

From the text, I've learned the following about transitions in filmmaking:

1.Transitions are crucial for moving between scenes and moments, as they have an effect on audience engagement and the overall flow of the story.

2. Edgar Wright is highlighted as a master of transitions, known for his fluid techniques that maintain a good pace.

3. Various types of transitions, such as fades, cuts, and sound bridges, serve different purposes and should be carefully chosen to fit the scene, as improper use can lead to a cheesy effect or disrupt the continuity of the story.

I found these facts interesting because they explain the importance of transitions and what effect they can have on a story. They also gives us background on some notable directors and the techniques they use that make their story flow better, which I personally found helpful.

BLOG QUESTION: NATURAL TRANSITIONS

What is a natural transition? What are the three different techniques that this video mentions? What would each of them add to a scene?

A natural transition is usually used to show the passing of time or the change of a location. To show change of location, you can objects (cars, doors, people, trees, bushes, grass, and pavement). To show passing of time, you can use shadows, sunrise/sunset, sky, and clouds. You can also use objects that have similar shapes in natural transitions. The movement of your camera can also be used in natural transitions (zoom, pan, swish pans). While editing, using fades and dissolves can also make the natural transition more smooth and it can also hide certain mistakes. These transitions help keep the audience engaged in the story line while also bringing attention the cut so they are aware of a change in time/location.

BLOG QUESTION: PREMIERE PRO SHORTCUTS

Summarized three of the shortcuts from this video that you plan on using going forward. What are each one's functions? How can they save you time going forward

I plan on using the backslash shortcut because it allows you to see your entire timeline. This allows you to see the entire project timeline in one click instead of having you drag your timeline. I also will start to use Shift + R because it allows you to find the clip your viewing in the source in the program. This will save me time from rewatching the entire video just to find a certain clip. Lastly, i plan on using the Shift + Delete (ripple tool) as it closes the gaps between clips when deleting them. This will save me time as I won't have to select everything and manually move the clips to fill the gap.

BLOG QUESTION: EDITING WITH J & L CUTS

What is a J or L cut? What do they do? How can they improve your edit?

A J cut is when a portion of the audio from a following shot overlaps with the visuals from the previous shot before the visuals of the next shot are introduced. A L cut is similar to a J cut, but instead a portion of the audio from the previous shot plays into the visuals of the next shot. J/L cuts help your edit flow smoothly, and they can also add more emotion to your edit (commonly intensity). It can also help the audience anticipate what might come next, and it's helpful when you're introducing a new location/character, as it makes the transition less abrupt.

BLOG QUESTIONS: EXPORTING YOUR PROJECT

What are the key factors to keep in mind when exporting your project on Premiere Pro? What are some mistakes that you've made so far that you can fix?

When exporting your project on Premiere Pro it is important to remember these important steps:

1) Make sure your export settings align with the project requirements (If you're doing a personal project, choose the settings that best fit your video)

2) Make sure your video is fully rendered

 - Close any apps that might hinder the rendering process to make it faster

3) Choose your sequence settings

- To determine what settings you want, consider what platform you plan on uploading your video on, if you want to compress your video to share it someone, and/or if you want higher resolution for a presentation

- You can also use presets 

4) Select a format, codec, bitrate, and fine-tune your settings
- Codec: The best codec for the web is H.264
- Format: Select a preset that matches your sequence and desired output
- Bitrate:Small file size = trim down your bitrate to minimize size.
master copy = export at a high bitrate to have the best copy you can export.

5) Finish export in premiere and save Your Settings for Future Exports

Some mistakes I've made are not checking the bitrate and exporting before I render my video. I can fix these easily by making sure I double check all my export settings before I export my video.

BLOG QUESTION: SAN JOSE STATE FIELD TRIP

After touring California State University San Jose's film production facilities, what aspects of their program or resources stood out to you, and how do you think these could influence your approach to future film projects?

After touring SJSU, an aspect of the film production facility that stood out to me was the radio station. I think it would be really cool to be involved in their radio/television programs or clubs as they seem to be very collaborative with other departments. Being involved in their radio station would help me network with other people as there seems to be students from different departments who work on it. It would be easier to find people who might want to get involved in my film projects, and I could meet like-minded people.

BLOG QUESTION: CODECS VS CONTAINERS

 What is a codec? What is the difference between a codec and a container?

A codec is a software that compresses the information of a video and audio signal when being saved, and then decompresses the data for viewing, transferring, saving, etc. A container is the type of file format that stores video, audio, subtitles, etc. which determines how your compressed video data is stored and transmitted. Some examples of codecs are H. 264 (video) and MP3 (audio). Popular containers include OGG, Matroska, AVI, and MPEG.

BLOG QUESTION: UNDERSTANDING TIMECODE

 In your own words, explain what timecode is to someone who has no idea. What is it? Why is it so important for editing video?

A time code is an address code that tells you the total length of a video. It marks each video frame with a specific number, whether that be in hours, minutes, seconds, and/or frames. Time code is very important when editing video because it allows you to line up and match video and audio, it helps save you time when choosing specific scenes, and it helps you identify specific moments or timestamps in your project. The SMPTE timecode is used universally when editing and its an important took in the editing process.

BLOG QUESTIONS: RESOLUTIONS

What is resolution? What is the difference between each of the different resolutions mentioned in this video? What is the presenter's advice for using different resolutions?

Resolution is the number of pixels in a video frame, which determines the video's quality, aspect ratio, and file size. The 720 x 480 SD (standard definition) 4-3 aspect ratio, was usually used in DVDs and digital TVs. The 1280 x 720 HD (high definition) 16-9 aspect ratio, is used for televisions and computer displays. 1920 x 1080 Full HD (also with 16-9 aspect ratio), is also used for televisions and computer displays, as well as cameras. The 3840 x 2160 4k UHD (16-9), is what has been adopted for the time being. Just like the last 2 resolutions, they are used on modern tvs and displays. The presenter tells beginning filmmakers to not get wrapped up on what resolution they're filming with, whether that be 720 or 1080. Don't get caught up on the gear that you don't have, focus on making videos and gaining experience.

BLOG QUESTION: ANALOG VS. DIGITAL

What is the difference between analog and digital? What are the benefits of digital?

Analog signals uses waves that change in frequency and amplitude Analog tech is more prone to interference (such as noise/static) since the waves that encode analog data are small. Digital technology solves this by encoding and transmitting data as clear cut and discrete units, such as 1's and 0's instead of changing wave forms.

BLOG QUESTION: EDITING FIRST STEPS

You've just begun your journey into editing! How does it feel to take your first baby steps? What are three things that surprise you? What are you finding difficult?

It feels a bit overwhelming and I feel a bit slow because I haven't memorized the shortcuts yet. However, I'm really excited to grow my skills and the overall process (choosing clips, re-ordering them, adding music, etc.) isn't totally new to me, so I'm looking forward to expanding my skills on them and experimenting with my style. One thing that surprised me was all the resources we have to make a good edit. From SFX, music, and visual effects, there's many things you can add to enhance your edit.  Another thing that surprised me is how relaxing it is to edit. I already edited videos in my free-time for fun, so I know it can be entertaining and keep you busy, but I thought editing on an actual program would be a lot more stressful. Finally, the last thing that surprised me was how detailed you can get when editing. I found it helpful that you could move from frame to frame to choose the exact time you wanted to cut your shot, which is really helpful. Right now, I'm having difficulty working fast while editing as I haven't memorized all the shortcuts, and I want to as soon as possible so I can spend less time manually dragging/clicking stuff.

BLOG QUESTION: EDITING TOOLS

Pick three of the different tools covered in this video and explain how they work in detail. Why are these tools important to learn to edit video in premiere?

The first tool the video covered was the Razor tool. The razor tool can be used to make regular cuts in an

edit. Another editing tool that helps with cutting is the Ripple edit tool, which deletes the footage in

between where you cut and moves the rest of the clips to fill in the gap (so there’s no black screen in the

middle of your edit). The third tool they discussed was the Rolling edit tool, which allows you to move

the cut to either shorten or lengthen the previous shot. For example, if you want to make the previous shot

shorter and the one after it longer, you can drag the cut left, and the clips will follow the drag. These tools

are important to learn because they save you crucial time and make the editing process overall easier. 

BLOG QUESTION: MONTAGE TECHNIQUES

What are three concepts from this article that you can incorporate into your future montage edit? Why did you pick these three? How can you apply them in the edit?

Three concepts from this article that I can incorporate into my future montage edit are cutting on action, linking two scenes together by using the previous scene to connect to the storyline of a next scene,  and L cutting. I picked these three because I feel like they're either less noticeable cuts or they make transitions from one scene to another more cohesive rather than abrupt. I can apply cutting on action on scenes that may be particularly fast paced with objects in motion (such as a chase scene), I can link two scenes to introduce another storyline (cross-cutting) without having it seem to abrupt, and I can use L cutting for the same reason, but preferably to transition from a quieter scene to a louder scene (or a scene that has a distinct sound).

BLOG QUESTION: PUDOVKIN AND MONTAGE

Summarize one of Pudovkin's techniques outlined in this video essay that interests you. How does it contribute to the storytelling in the modern movie clip that the narrator talks about? Why do you find this interesting?

One of Pudovkin's editing techniques that interested me was symbolism. Essentially, a symbolic cut is when you transition from one shot to another, but the connection between the shots have a symbolic connection. For example, in Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock uses a shot of a bloody drain and transitions it to a shot of the lifeless character's eye, symbolizing the loss of life (As water goes down the drain it is considered a "loss", think "A life down the drain"). This contributes to the storytelling by communicating messages visually, rather than having to explicitly explain (through acting/dialogue) the message of the story/scene . I find this interesting because a symbolic cut isn't as noticeable to the viewer as most are, unless the audience has a deep understanding of the plot. It's definitely something you only seem to notice on your 2nd or 3rd watch of a movie, which makes it fascinating to me as it allows for movies to be interpreted in unique ways.

BLOG QUESTION: CUTTING ON ACTION

What is cutting on action? How does it seamlessly blend two shots together? What are two things that you must keep in mind when cutting on action in your films?

Cutting on action is when you cut a shot while an object/person is motion in order to make a smoother transition between shots. It seamlessly blends shots by drawing our attention to the action rather than the actual angle change of the next shot. When cutting on action, you should consider the timing of when you cut to the next shot. You shouldn't wait until the action is nearly over, as the transition won't be as continuous. You should also match on action, which means that you need to make sure that whatever is in motion is at the same place at the end of one cut and the beginning of the next shot. 

BLOG QUESTION: MISE EN SCENE

What is mise-en-scene? How is the term used in the film industry? What are two reasons that it is so important?

Mise-en-scene translates to "Placing on stage". This term is used to describe the collection of visuals that go into creating a scene that is in your style, and a scene that makes sense to the audience watching it. Some things you have to consider are camera angles, object placement, lighting, sound pacing, and emotion/tone from the actors. You also have to consider how 2 shots are edited together and that everything in frame matches from one shot to the other (checking for continuity). It's important because you want to make sure that the scene logically makes sense to the audience, and that you're able to tell your story effectively in your own personal style.

BLOG QUESTION: GRIFFITH AND CONTINUITY EDITING - Sept. 6th

What was the significance of Birth of a Nation? What was its terrible legacy?

Birth of a Nation was significant because it's considered the first blockbuster Hollywood hit, and it influenced the American film industry. The terrible part of its legacy is the blatant racist propaganda in the movie. It portrays black people terribly and makes the KKK seem like the "heroes" in the story. It pushes the message that Black and White people shouldn't be integrated together by using harmful stereotypes about black people.

Blog Question - Sept. 5

What are the steps in editing a rough cut? Why is a rough cut so important?

The steps in editing a rough cut are:
1. Lay out the basics of your sequence on the timeline

2. Check for continuity (does the story make sense, do the cuts make sense?)

3. Start fine-tuning frames and audio

4. Start refining scenes, adding music and effects

It is important to create a rough cut because it allows you watch the entire story early to ensure it makes sense, it allows you to make adjustments to your edit and trim things to make your video more shorter/concise/smoother, it makes scene selection easier (helps you choose what scene to refine first, gives your team an idea of what tone you're going for, and allows you to be able to receive feedback from a different source) and it allows you to have a backup (aka just in case) version of your video if you're unable to produce the full edited video in time.

Blog Question - Sept. 4th

What was significant about the great train robbery in editing?

The great train robbery was significant to the development of editing in movies as it was the first movie to use techniques such as continuity cut and cross-cutting. They also used filming techniques such as close-ups and panning shots that followed action. These techniques would become the basis for many films and would inspire many notorious filmmakers.

Blog Question - Sept. 3

Why is organizing your footage so important to editing? What are two things you found really helpful that you learned in this video?

Organizing your footage is important to editing because it speeds up the editing process and makes the editing processing easier as you're spending less time finding clips .What I found really helpful was the explanation on how to make bins and how to add metadata descriptions to the bins/files to make the clips easier to find and work with. I also found the label coloring really helpful because for me personally, it is easier to associate materials based on colors. I will definitely be using the tips he explained in the video to edit my videos from now on, as it makes the editing process a lot smoother.