Lesson 2

Lesson 2: Production

Video Production Process

• Pre-production
• Production
• Post-production

Framing
The frame is the picture you see in the viewfinder (or on a monitor). Composition refers to the layout of everything within a picture frame — what the subject is, where it is in the frame, which way it's facing/looking, the background, the foreground, lighting, etc.

Framing is the technique of drawing attention to the subject of your image by blocking other parts of the image with something in the scene.

Image composition
Composition is a technique/method that visually organizing the elements & details of a scene into the desired arrangement through the viewfinder or LCD display.

Few basic decisions when composing pictures:
What format to use: Horizontal vs. vertical
Subject placement: Rule of thirds
Backgrounds: Plain background will focus attention on your subject
Point of view: Leading the eye to view
Close-ups: Convey a feeling of intimacy & focus attention on your subject

Image composition:

• Horizontal vs vertical format
• Subject placement (rule of thirds)
• Backgrounds
• Point of view
• Close-ups

Basic shot types:

• Extreme wide shot (establishing shot)
• View is so far from the subject. Show subject’s surroundings. Designed to show the audience where the action is taking place.
• Very wide shot
• Closer to the subject. But the emphasis is still on the subject & the environment.
• Wide shot
• Subject takes up the full frame. Subject top & bottom almost close to the frame
• Mid shot
• Shows from top to mid of the subject
• Medium close up
• Show chest & above
• Close up
• Show a certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.
• Extreme close up
• Gets right in and shows extreme detail. Convey emotion.

• Leading room & looking room
• Amount of room in the frame which is strategically left empty.
• Head room
• Space above the subject's head.
• Talking & walking room
• More nature to include some space.

Camera angle

The term camera angle means slightly different things to different people but it always refers to the way a shot is composed. Some people use it to include all camera shot types, others use it to specifically mean the angle between the camera and the subject. We will concentrate on the literal interpretation of camera angles, that is, the angle of the camera relative to the subject.

• Eye level - The talent's eyes should be located one-third from the top of the screen.
• High angle - The camera should be located on a raised platform.. The high-angle shot, which looks down on the subject, can make a person appear smaller and weaker.
• Low angle -  The camera should be low to the ground or the talent on a raised platform. A low-angle shot looks up at the subject, making a person appear larger than life and domineering.
• Extreme overhead - The camera is directly above the talent shooting downward. 

Video formats:

• AVI
• WMV
• MPEG
• QuickTime
• RealVideo
• Shockwave

Videos:

http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/detail.aspx?sid=150

References:

(http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=38/13915/39/6370/425&pq-locale=en_US)

(http://www.mediacollege.com/video/camera/angles/)
Read more: http://www.digital-photography-school.com/framing-your-shots-photography-composition-technique#ixzz1Br8J7l9T

Ref: http://acomp.stanford.edu/tutorials/video_production_basics