Digital Video
Course Description In this course a student learns how to use a digital video camera (HD) as a professional tool in the creation of content. The cameraʼs relation to light is experienced through exposure, depth of field and focus. Students learn the role of a Lighting Director [LD} and how an LD uses light as a creative tool to enhance what a video camera can capture. Students have practical physical experience putting the principles of cinematography into play. Camera movement takes the form of handheld, tripod, dolly & track, and jib and is known as a Grip. The Grip is also responsible for assisting the Lighting Director with physical set-up, diffusing, gelling, reflecting and reducing light in a scene.
This course is meant to be experienced in conjunction with both post production and audio production. This is not a course that would be easy to do alone. It would be best to have a group of at least 4 people. The equipment and software the group should have would include an HD video camera that records to a storage medium. (internal hard drive, SD card, et al.) 2 lights and a white reflector [cardboard will do, 3 ft x 4 ft] a laptop or computer with video editing software. [your choice on platform and software] The critical grip equipment would be a tripod. The dolly and jib can be constructed inexpensively from plans available online.
Pre requisite knowledge should be Drawing, story development/scriptwriting and a basic understanding of cinematography.
Course Philosophy Each of these areas of production have a technical component which naturally blends into the creative component. In the early stages of instruction. student will be introduced to the processes, software and equipment and itʼs relationship to the production process 720p. There will be additional information that references the courses related to the elective stream. Course Objectives
Course Outcomes/Objectives
1: Experience as a videographer, camera operator & digital cinematographer A videographer is a person who records moving images and sound. On a set, the videographer is usually responsible for the camera, sound, and lighting. As part of a typical field production crew, videographers usually work underneath a producer. However, for smaller productions (e.g. corporate and event videos), a video videographer often works alone or as part of a two or three person team of camera operators and lighting and sound technicians. The camera operator is responsible for physically operating the camera and maintaining composition throughout a given scene or shot. In narrative filmmaking, the camera operator will collaborate with the director, cinematography, actors and crew to make technical and creative decisions. In this setting, a camera operator is part of a camera crew consisting of the director of photography and one or more camera assistants. In documentary filmmaking and news, the camera is often called on to film unfolding, unscripted events. The cinematographer (Director of Photography [DP]) is responsible for the technical aspects of the images (lighting, lens choices, composition, exposure, filtration, film selection), but works closely with the director to ensure that the artistic aesthetics are supporting the director's vision of the story being told. The cinematographers are the heads of the camera, grip and lighting crew on a set, and for this reason they are often called directors of photography or DPs.
2: Experience as a Digital Intermediary Technician [DIT] A digital intermediary technician handled all data from the production process. They work closely with Cameras and Audio to archive and begin the post production process. Duties of a Digital Intermediary Technician, Controls digital workflow on location, during shooting. First point of contact with post production by gathering the appropriate set generated paperwork and generating .dmg files of footage from P2 Cards. The DIT may also pre-log footage on set with the script supervisor in the FCP Log and Transfer window where metadata can be entered. files are saved and archived along with all relevant Video & Sound, as well as any paperwork in electronic form. Any generated paperwork on set will need to be gathered as well.
The DIT is on set during the production and may also include duties of assistant editing and one pass color correction on digital dailies. DITʼs distribute material digitally at the directors request. A DIT also fills the position of Assistant Editor.
3: Experience as a Grip In the U.S. and Canada, grips are lighting and rigging technicians in the film and video industries. They make up their own department on a film set and are led by a key grip. Grips have two main functions. The first is to work closely with the camera department, especially if the camera is mounted to a dolly, crane or other unusual position. Some grips may specialize in operating camera dollies or camera cranes. The second is to work closely with the electrical department to put in the lighting set-ups necessary for a shot. In the UK, Australia and most parts of Europe, grips are not involved in lighting. In the "British System", adopted throughout Europe and the British Commonwealth (excluding Canada), a grip is solely responsible for camera mounting and support. The term 'grip' dates back to the early era of the circus. From there it was used in vaudeville and then in today's film sound stages and sets. Some have suggested the name comes from the 1930s-40s slang term for a tool bag or "grip" that these technicians use to carry their tools to work. Another popular theory states that in the days of hand-cranked cameras, it would be necessary for a few burly men to hang on to the tripod legs to stop excessive movement of the camera. These men became known as the 'good grips'- as they were constantly being instructed to 'keep a good grip on the tripod'.
4: Experience as a Lighting Director [LD] The Lighting Director (LD). The DP/LD is responsible for the overall lighting design, but may give a little or a lot of latitude to the LD on these matters, depending on their working relationship. The LD works with the Grip, who is in charge of some of the equipment related to the lighting. The LD is familiar with using a variety of light sources to mood and tone in a scene. The types of lighting used is natural, fixed and reflected. the LD also is familiar with the use of gels, scrims and flags to shadow a scene.
The projects a student would complete are the following
Moments Capturing moments in time using the principles of cinematography and framing. The student will be practicing the use of manual focus and exposure
Interview a single camera interview shot for editing using several angles and techniques commonly used in broadcast situations.
Lip Sync Music video time... this is fun and can be funny.
Instructable Use video to teach a skill or demonstrate the steps in accomplishing a thing
Demo Reel Edit together a simple demo reel of the work completed in the course.