Media Film 160 – AKatz – Fall 2017

Handheld shooting tips · Use your whole body, not just your hands on the camera and lens. · Keep knees bent and loose. · Spread legs apart for stability...too close together and you wobble. · Keep camera closer to body. Avoid extending your arms...it increases shakiness. · For static shots: Lean against a lamppost, tree, door frame or anything that you can brace your body against, to increase stability. Low angles: rest camera on bag, or lean arm on knee. · Pan using your hips. Avoid bendy wrists.(Smaller cameras) · Stay toward a wide-angle. Move in closer for tighter shots. · Breathe steadily. · Watch horizontals and verticals for composition, especially while moving. · Know where the shot is going (for pans, etc.) · Rehearse and do more than one take · Be aware of your shot & your light /adjust! · Practice, practice, practice!

Key Concepts from Lecture #3 • Shot sizes • Rule of thirds • X,Y, Z axis • Foreground, Midground, Background • Direction: Line and Shapes • Symmetry vs. Asymmetry • Headroom • Avoid cropping at body joints • Lookspace • Leadroom • Open vs. Closed Frames • Scale • Camera Angles:Low vs. High/ Canted angle/ Direct Address/Front>Back • Static shots vs. Camera moves • Pivot shots: pan, tilt • Dynamic Shots: tracking, dolly, boom • Note the difference between pivot and dynamic • Motivated vs. Unmotivated camera movement

Our classroom is free to use outside of our lab time these days and times: Mon: 9am-10am, 9pm-10pm Wed: 9am-10am, 1pm-3pm Fri: 5pm-10am Sat: 9am-11am If you need technical assistance while using the lab, go to room HN 435 off the main hallway near our classroom. The technical assistant there will also be able to tell you which other classrooms have computers with Premiere Pro CC that you can use to edit.

PROJECT #1: DEFINE A SPACE In this exercise students are required to “define a space or location” through visually controlled and expressive shooting. Begin by choosing a location either on campus or close by. Before shooting anything, observe the space for a while. What is happening there? What details exist that can tell a story about the space (signs, activities, objects, etc.)? Now, make a mental “shopping list” of shots. Think about what camera position, shot size and composition will work best for each shot. Try not to move the camera unless your move has a clear beginning and end. Remember that a still frame with movement going on in the frame can be more powerful than a moving shot. Each team member will conceive of and shoot 10 shots and then all the shots will be pooled for editing. Think carefully about what you wish to convey. It could be an emotional tone you feel in the location (claustrophobia, fear, energy); or it could be that you are interested in the q...

Key Concepts from Lecture #2 Camera Obscura Film (silver halides PLUS developing to “fix”) Daguerrotype Short range apparent motion Role of toys in creating illusion of motion (flip book, etc.) DSLR (digital single lens reflex) Mirrorless Basic Film Camera & Video Camera Anatomy The Shutter & Shutter Speed Frame Rate ISO Lens Focal Plane (film stock or sensor) Focus Focal length Prime vs. zoom lenses Depth of Field Perspective

Blog Assignment 1: ARTIST STATEMENT Length: 250 Words Due: Posted on your blog by Wednesday, September 13th, 11am This short statement is to help you and your potential audience get an initial glimpse of the  media maker behind the work. It is an important part both of thinking about yourself as a  creator, a producer of ideas, images and more, and of getting the word out about your  work. You should think about your personal motivation, as well as about the medium in which you work (or in which you hope to work!) and your background. Where do your curiosities lie? What have you studied that interests you? What experiences  have helped shape your worldview? Try to be specific. Questions of memory? Family  relationships? Identity? Music? Theater? Politics?  What about influences? Are there certain artists or filmmakers that you admire or  appreciate? TV Shows? Websites? Games? Most importantly, think not only about “what you’r...