Motion Graphics: After Effects for Beginners

Hello Students,
Motion Graphics is a technique that is used to bring graphics, animation and 3D content to life. It is used in commercials, production, movies, animation and more. From the most complicated animated feature film to a simple logo animation, motion graphics makes it happen.

Tutorials - After Effects for Beginners:
Read and work through these tutorials to gain an in-depth understanding of the After Effects workflow. Don't skip any steps or skim over the material, read each and every paragraph and try out the steps yourself. Write a 1 paragraph summary of each tutorial and discuss the methods you discovered and techniques that the tutorials demonstrate. Be thorough, you will be calling on these skills for the next assignment, working through an intermediate to advanced AE tutorial.

• Getting Started 
• Effects and Animation
• Advanced Techniques

Motion Graphics can blur the line between video, art and animation

Stop Motion Title Animation

Hello Students,

Your next assignment is to create a stop motion animated title for your scavanger hunt project. You can use a point-and-shoot digital camera, cell phone camera (as long as you can copy off the images) or a video camera if it has a still-image mode.

Stop Motion Animation Project:

• This is an individual project, no teams. Students may assist each other during the animation process.
• Come up with a simple animation idea, stop motion with people, objects, clay, drawings etc, the animation should crescendo into a readable title for your project.
• Image sequences can be compiled with After Effects, Premiere or Photoshop
• Animation should run between 7-10 seconds
• Project is due on Thursday

Attention Young Entrepreneurs!

Hello Students,

Do you have a great idea that could evolve into a new business, industry or service? Apply now to join the 2012 YEP Business Plan Challenge!

STUDENTS:

Do you have a BIG IDEA for starting a business?

Maybe it's an idea for:

• A new or better product?
• A new or better service?
• A new way to help the environment?
• A new way to raise money for an important cause?

Starting a business is a great way to build your skillset while getting one step closer to BEING YOUR OWN BOSS! Don't forget, the Youth Entrepreneurship Program is here to help you every step of the way. Once you've formed your team and applied, you'll receive specialized coaching and mentoring from small business experts to help you succeed!

RULES:

• Deadline to enter is Friday, October 5, 2012
• Teams must consist of 2-5 members
• Members must be current Santa Cruz or Monterey County high school students
• Each Business Plan Challenge! team member must complete this application

To enter follow this link: http://www.southbaybec.org/yepchallenge

New Project: Video Scavenger Hunt

Hello Students,

Congratulations on your freestyle video projects, the results were great, and yet we can always be better, That's where our next assignment comes in.

Your next assignment will be graded on your ability to accomplish 20 specific technical shots or techniques and how creative you can be within those constraints. Minimum video length 2 minute, 4-5 minutes max. We will discuss all these techniques and how to accomplish them in class. You will also be graded on time management and ability to meet the deadlines.

Teams will be chosen by picking numbers. Teamwork is crucial on this project, every one must participate and contribute to the final project. You will work in teams of 3.

20 Video Production Techniques

Project Specifications:

1 Page film proposal/pitch must be approved before production can begin.

Production Schedule:

Oct 1st - Proposal Due

Oct  3rd - Script, Storyboard or Shot List Due

Oct 10th - Preliminary Shooting Complete

Oct 12th - Rough Cut Edit Complete

Oct 17th - Editing Complete

Format: The final format of the video is your choice, it could be a music video, action video, narrative or experimental. You could even make an instructional video about these video production techniques.

Grading: For full credit your video project must contain one example of the 20 shots listed below. Camera work should be smooth and steady. Editing should be well timed and without edit glitches or gaps. Must have titles and tails. All deadlines listed above must be met on time.

Note: Each team member must take turns shooting and acting. No outside actors or camera operators allowed. Teams may help each other for difficult shots. All project storyboard/scripts/shot lists must be approved by me before production can begin.

Each team member is responsible for editing their own final version of the video, no group efforts with editing.

A shotlist and storyboard must be created and the final video must contain 1 example each of the shots or effects listed below:

1. Silhouette Shot - actor or actors must be silhouetted against a background

2. Green Screen Shot - actor or actors shot against green screen, background must be keyed out and replaced with background still image or video

3. Single Source Light Closeup - actor or actors shot closeup with single light source for high contrast

4. Shadow Shot - camera shows shadow only, can pan up to actor after, or show interaction between two characters through shadow only

5. Twins - use static camera and split screen effect to show actor and a "double"

6. Window Illusion - overlay semi-transparent video over actor or actors to simulate window reflection

7. Frame Within A Frame - look for environments or architecture that "frames" your actor or actors

8. Background Slide - use a sideways camera movement to give the impression that the background is moving behind your actor or actors

9. Handheld Dolly Shot - follow the action with a handheld shot, must use a tripod as a counterweight to reduce camera shake, change camera height during shot

10. Fall Away - camera walks backwards from actor or actors

11. Walk In - shot begins on actor 1, in the foreground or background actor 2 steps into frame

12. Camera Flow - shot begins with Handheld Dolly Shot following actor 1 walking to the right, actor 2 passes in foreground going in opposite direction and camera changes direction to follow actor 2. This change in direction can happen 2-3 times

13. Spin Shot - camera spins around actor or actors 360 degrees

14. Motionless Camera - camera is tripod mounted, focus on motion in scene, all actor or actors must be moving. extras can help add energy to a scene

15. Whip Cut - camera quickly sweeps away from scene, edit is made to seem like camera ends on a second scene, also called a sweep cut

16. Slow Motion - Video source is slowed down by 75%. slowing down any more can be done but render time is increased. Ask me how to do extreme slow motion with Adobe After Effects.

17. Pass Through Wall - Camera moves up to wall, fades to second shot inside moving towards center of room. Can also be pass through window, pass through keyhole etc...

18. Extreme Angle - camera angle has extreme foreshortening or perspective

19. Saturated Color Background - actor or actors are shot against a background of mostly a single vivid color, such as a brightly colored wall, green grass, etc...

20. Textured Background - actor or actors shot against textured background, brick wall, fence posts, tree bark, ivy etc...

Extra information about these shots can be researched online... have fun!

- Mr. W

The Art of the Storyboard

Shot Lists:

A shot list is like a storyboard but without visuals. You simply describe the action, lighting, setting, dialogue and camera angle. 

For instance: 

• Fade up on football field, eye level camera
• Low camera level, player runs onto field
• Cut to side shot, track with player

The basic idea is to create a recipe that you can follow when you go out to shoot your project...

The Art Of The Storyboard:

After a concept is established for a film, a script can then be created and storyboards can be executed to visualize the film. A storyboard is meant to represent the framing, action and elements in each shot in a sequence. It is a valuable tool to draw from when actual shooting begins.

Your storyboard should convey essential information:

• What characters are in the frame, are they moving? Seated? Standing?
• What are the characters saying, seeing or experiencing
• How much time is passing, is it a long panning shot? Or a quick succession of shots?
• Where is the camera? High, low? Over the shoulder? Birds-eye view? Is the camera moving or still?

After storyboard creation do not be afraid to change camera angles, dialogue etc... this is all part of the creative process.

Draw your storyboard in pencil so that some shots or text can be reworked. Your artwork does not need to be fancy, use basic shapes, stick figures and simple backgrounds.

Use language to describe camera angles and shot styles:

CLOSE-UP SHOT:   A close range of distance between the camera and the subject.
DISSOVLE: A transition between two shots, where one shot fades away and simultaneously another shot fades in. 
FADE: A transition from a shot to black where the image gradually becomes darker is a Fade Out; or from black where the image gradually becomes brighter is a Fade In. 
HIGH CAMERA ANGLE:  A camera angle which looks down on its subject making it look small, weak or unimportant. 
JUMP CUT: A rapid, jerky transition from one frame to the next, either disrupting the flow of time or movement within a scene or making an abrupt transition from one scene to another. 
LEVEL CAMERA ANGLE:  A camera angle which is even with the subject; it may be used as a neutral shot. 
LONG SHOT:  A long range of distance between the camera and the subject, often providing a broader range of the setting. 
LOW CAMERA ANGLE:  A camera angle which looks up at its subject; it makes the subject seem important and powerful. 
PAN:  A steady, sweeping movement from one point in a scene to another. 
POV (point of view shot): A shot which is understood to be seen from the point of view of a character within the scene. 
REACTION SHOT: A shot of someone looking off screen. 2.: A reaction shot can also be a shot of someone in a conversation where they are not given a line of dialogue but are just listening to the other person speak. 
TILT:  Using a camera on a tripod, the camera moves up or down to follow the action. 
ZOOM:  Use of the camera lens to move closely towards the subject.

Project #2: Freestyle

Todays Agenda:

• Video Pass 
• Professional Conduct 
• Camera Techniques 
• New Assignment: Freestyle Video Project

Freestyle Video Project:

Your new assignment is to create an original 2 minute video. Video concepts must be approved by me, and then proposals must be completed before time can be scheduled for shooting. We have limited camera's so everyone will have to pre-plan a shooting schedule. You will work in teams of two for this project. Your team must follow all phases of the project and meet all requirements. All teams are expected to work during class time, if you aren't shooting video than you should be editing, working on title animations, learning after effects and working through tutorials, creating graphics etc.

Subject matter, style and technique are wide open. Consider that almost anything can be turned into a video. You could make a video about what people eat for lunch, what cars they drive, you could make a short documentary, music video, experimental video etc. Let's discuss your concepts and ideas.

Project Phases:

• Choose team members
• Brainstorm project ideas
• Write a 1 page project proposal
• Upon approval write a shot list or draw a storyboard for your video (pre-production)
• Schedule and begin shooting upon storyboard approval (production)
• Edit and create titles, add audio and music, etc... (post production)

Project requirements:

• Keep TRT (Total Running Time) below 2 minutes
• Video project must match original proposal/storyboard or shot list
• Appropriate content only, including music selects
• Proposal and Storyboards must be approved by me
• Smooth camera work
• Clean editing and titles

Schedule:

• Proposals due Monday the 10th
• Storyboards or Shot lists due Wednesday the 12th
• Videos due at E.O.C. on Wednesday the 19th

Make sure you use class time wisely to stay on task and on schedule, late projects will have points deducted.

- Mr.W

Project #1: Introduction to Editing

Hello Students,

Today we will set up your workstations and begin our introduction to video editing with Adobe Premiere. You will be editing pre-shot footage to create a fun and compelling promotional tourism spot for the city of San Francisco.

Part 1 - Learning Adobe Premiere:

• Launch Adobe Premiere
• Watch videos 1 through 13 in the "Learning Premiere Pro" section of the Adobe TV website
• Practice the steps that you can as you watch the videos
• Find a sample video file to practice editing, color correction, outputting, etc...
• If you can watch all 13 videos you are on your way to being a video editing pro! When complete watch the other videos in that section to learn how to process and distribute your movie files

Part 2 - Editing a Promotional Tourism Video for the City of San Francisco

Project Concept: The City of San Francisco has hired you to edit a promotional tourism video. They have provided you pre-shot footage and your job is to make it sing! Your commercial will play on local television stations coast to coast, so it should have universal appeal. Your commercial should promote the unique sights that the city has to offer.

• Your final video file should be exactly 1 minute long
• Use music that fits the energy of your video
• Edit your video cuts to be timed with the music
• Use color correction to enhance the footage
• Use video transitions to keep the video compelling and interesting, but be careful not to overuse them or repeat them too many times
• Create text titles to create a "call to action" at the end of your video, something like "Visit beautiful San Francisco today!"
• Have fun!

- Mr.Wilson