Assignment 4: Preproduction documentation

Introduction
“I’ll tell you why” is a two minute video promoting NUS. It features various students in different parts of NUS stating why they chose and are happy to study in NUS. The main aim and significance of this video is to motivate future students to choose NUS and inform them as to why NUS is the popular choice in Singapore. The video will be set and shot throughout NUS, with a roaming camera moving from faculty to faculty. It will also include still photographs to provide smooth transitions and relevance in between scenes. Different techniques and effects will be used to bring the video to fruition.

Motivation behind the video
As our team was brainstorming ideas about the concept of the video, we realized that a lot of the common ideas had already been presented in class. We started talking about how we were going to promote NUS in a prestigious yet light-hearted manner. We got to talking about why we and our friends chose NUS as our place of study. It was then that we decided to make a video, featuring different students from different faculties in NUS, telling us why they chose to study here. When asked why they chose NUS, we realized that one common point that resonated from all students was that of the prestige of NUS and its reputable standing among the world’s leading universities. We decided to bank on that point in the video and build our theme around it.

Goals and Objectives
Our main goals were to create a short and informative video about NUS. We also wanted to communicate our message through the use effective videotaping and concise editing, while practicing our skills in video production. Ultimately, we also hoped to make a video that would not only serve to inform and educate, but to persuade and entertain as well.
The objectives we wanted to meet were to create a good quality piece that would be creative and inspiring, and also motivate future undergraduates to consider NUS as their place of study.

Target Audience
Our target audience consists of students who have completed their ‘A’ Levels, obtained their polytechnic diplomas or foreign students who are seeking to study overseas. These are usually young adults seeking to further their education, and who are looking for a recognized and prestigious institution which can provide them with a well rounded and exciting education. We are also targeting older students in their mid-twenties who are seeking to do their postgraduate studies.

Project Milestones

Preproduction - (8 days)
Song acquisition - (1day)
Story - (3 day)
Scouting - (2 days)
Resource Management - Budget, resources : (3 days)
Production - Filming (4 days)
Post Production - Editing (7 days)

Cast Members:

1. Charlyn: From School of Business
2. Hongwei: From School of Science
3. Fazli: From School of Science
4. Phyo: From School of Design and Environment
5. Yuwen: From School of Engineering
6. Yong Teck: From School of FASS

Budget
The crew has set aside a budget of $80 for materials and resources for our production.

Equipment Cost
The crew will be borrowing the camera and video camcorder from MDL. The only cost we have to come up with is the cost of the DV tapes, which is around $12.Transportation CostThe crew will be using a motorcycle for some shoots around the school. Some petrol costs will be incurred and a $10 petrol cost has been set aside within the budget. In an event of rain or inconvenience, the crew will be walking around the school or taking the school shuttle bus for the shooting.

Location
Arts Canteen
Arts Forum
Central Library (FASS)
Business Canteen
Engineering Canteen
SDE

Project - NUS and CNM

Our University and our Department.

This is the final project for this module.

For the cnm video, we conducted an interview with Julian Lim, who is the head of of New Media, Singapore Youth Olympic Games. (wow...! )
He was a very friendly guy and we have captured very good footages of him and his responses.
The idea for the cnm video will be in a 'talk show' style whereby Surya is the host and Julian is being interviewed on the show.

Next for the NUS video, it will be like a tour around the school and showing different faculties and special things in NUS that prospective students can look forward to.
Since its gonna be like a tour around the student, I filmed the 'travelling part' on a motocycle and intended to use FFWD effects to show the motion.
However, after the critique session, there were comments saying that the FFWD travelling part was very unstable and shaky.

And therefore to improve on the 1st version, I decided to use screen shots instead of the video.
The music for this video is composed by my friend, Jon.

2nd version -NUS : Ever wondered why.




The final version, with Joel's singing part as a video is uploading to youtube in progress.

ok here goes, final one!! with amendments -> joel's singing part changed to a real video.


Oh yah, regarding the parts where the pictures suddenly becomes smaller, they are intentionally do so. its not to do with aspect ratio, so do take note! =)

Assignment 6: Hero Effects

After attending several critique sessions with the class, I realized that some of the best videos I have seen have very simple and strong ideas. Thus I decided to just brainstorm very simple ideas that will create some laughter and enjoyment when people view it.

As it is the second time I am using a videocam, I decided to film the video at home for several reasons. For instance, I can take my own time to film and not feel 'paiseh' like in the public (haha).

Thus my idea for this 'hero' video is for the main character to possess special powers to do housework so that she can be spared from her mum's nagging. The main characters are me and my mum (for convenience sake =) ). And the power effects are very simple and easy to do in aftereffects (thats my main motive for this and other videos - simple yet enjoyable to look at).

I'm amazed by my mum's acting skills and I am proud of this video. (*laughs)

Final Version

Assignment 3 - Ken Burn Effect

I used After Effects for the first time to do this assignment. I had a hard time learning how to use the software, thus the first few version of the videos were not at its best.

Let me describe the two ideas first.

For NUS's video, the idea was to portray the feeling of an all-rounded educational experience in NUS. I brainstormed quite a lot of ideas and hope that the idea I have chosen will be unique and simple. At first, I wanted to use alphabets to describe NUS.
For instance, A -> Arts and Social Sciences, B -> Business, C -> Computing and etc. However I think that its too draggy and the idea isnt very good.

And that led me to come up with another idea which was related to alphabets too, but this is way better as it is SHORT and SWEET.

N from NUS refers to 'Nurturing students and Talents'. I will show pictures of students at work and impose Ken Burns effects on them.
Next, US from NUS refers to 'Us savouring fun, food, the little things and friends'.

The video is meant to let future undergrads to feel a sense of home and belonging to NUS. The music and pictures are welcoming and heart lighted too.


This is the first version of the NUS kenburn's video.
Looks laggy and pixelated on youtube (no idea why =( ) I am sorry for the poor quality.

But stay tune to the 2nd version (which is also the final one- hurray!) as I am uploading to youtube now.
I've changed the music, effects, fonts... but the main idea stays put.

Alright, this is the 2nd version, with the last part NUS logo effects changed to a better one.

The final version is similar, with the words 'Nuturing Students, US savouring ....' stay at the bottom of the picture so that viewers will not be confused by the pictures.





Next, for the CNM's video.. I actually thought of a simple and typical idea that most of the students would have thought of. The idea was to show case student's work and activities of CNM. And during that time, I was involved in an exhibition 'Random Blends', which show case cnm students' work like photography, game design,videos and storybooks. I decided to include the element of 'Random Blends' inside the video too.
However comments from the first critique session were that maybe I could use a more unique idea rather than a typical idea. Thus I came up with a totally different story idea.

I shall save you from reading the description here, thus view the following video. =)
This is the 1st version of CNM ken burns video.



And then, during the 2nd critique session, comments were that it wasnt really linked to promote CNM. (*faint*)

I decided to change the whole idea back to the first one I have thought of.
Simple is good at times. =)

After some midnight oils, this is the FINAL version of CNM, a totally changed idea from the first idea. =)
*wipe sweat*