Innovations in Photography

Filmmaking wouldn't be around without the invention of photography because it made the concept of capturing an image possible, and it needed photography to come around first because filmmaking is directly based on how different still photos can be portrayed in a sequence to give the illusion of motion. One important innovation in the development of cinema was the dry plate process for photography, which proved that exposure rates could be sped up using different substances like gelatin. This idea helped develop the first moving pictures because they required a sped up exposure time, and the photography process showed it was possible, although it still needed to be shorter. Another innovation that aided the evolution of filmmaking was the flexible roll film invented by George Eastman, which allowed film to be more lightweight and resilient than other alternatives like glass. This type of film was the standard of photography for a century, and it helped contribute to film by serving as a more flexible medium that could pass through the camera rapidly enough to create motion. A final important invention was the Lumière Brothers and their invention of autochrome, which proved that color could be added to photographs to enhance their image, a process that helped pave the way for more sophisticated color processes and eventually, the addition of color in films.    

The Phantasmagoria

The Phantasmagoria was an early spectacle where illusions of spirits and ghosts entertained crowds and terrified them with horror and mysticism. It roughly translates to "a gathering of ghosts", and the show was achieved with a magic lantern on wheels that could not only project layers of images, but also move around to give the illusion that the figures were approaching the audience. The display was accompanied by smoke and eery sounds from a glass harmonica, which altogether helped achieve the unsettling feel. This spectacle helped adopt several elements into the development of movies, as well as heavily influence the realm of horror theater and films that followed. One such element was the incorporation of both audio and visuals to tell a story, which showed that different tones of music could aid to the audience's experience of watching a visual, as well as influence them to feel a certain emotion.    

Early Humans

In the caves, lighting was used used to illuminate different parts of the cave drawings, and to give them an impression of motion with the flickering. These paintings might've been used by primitive man to tell stories about their ancestors, and to honor spiritual beasts like the bison in a way that gave them movement with firelight. The Paleolithic artists who have studied the cave walls have determined that the two techniques used to create the drawings are juxtaposition of successive images and superposition. Juxtaposition refers to putting a similar image side by side to convey action like a comic strip, and superposition is when variations of an image are piled on top of one another to create a sense of motion. In my opinion, I think these images were used as a form of entertainment primarily for the younger population where they could gather by the fire at night, and hear stories from their elders.

Educating Clients

When creating a video for a potential client, it's important to educate them about how the video production process works, as well as the unavoidable costs and what they'll add to the project. In the first meeting you have with a client, it's recommended to learn all the facts about their vision, including the targeted audience and where the video will be used. Sometimes it's best to ask the client for samples of the style of video they're expecting, so you're on the same page and can understand what they're expecting. During that meeting, you should be honest with the client about costs and what you're able to deliver. Based on the meeting, you should use their responses to create a proposal document that reflects the scope and expectations of the project. Once production starts, it's crucial to keep the client up to date so they feel like they have ownership over the project. This can be achieved with a shared production schedule where they can sign off on every milestone reached, and prevent any surprises from arising. Also, one last important topic to discuss with your client is how the video will be delivered, including what codecs and containers will be used, as this information will ensure that there isn't confusion with the video you hand over.

Tips To Pitch

When giving a pitch to a development executive, some important tips are to be prepared, to know your audience, to refrain from overselling, and to be respectful. Preparation is a key proponent of pitching because you need to understand your concept fully, as well as be able to explain it in a way that hits all the key points. Before going into the pitch, it's important to know a little bit about your audience and the past projects they've produced, so you can foresee if your idea will be a fit with their comfort. Although there's not much time to pitch, you don't want to necessarily cram in information, as more is not always better when you risk overselling your idea. In addition, it's always a good reminder to be respectful because you don't want to offend an executive or annoy them, so it's best to keep your opinions to yourself. So far in my personal pitches, I've had difficulties with overselling my idea because sometimes I overload the pitch with every detail in my head, and it only confuses the audience even more.

Script Terms

Scripts rely on certain universal abbreviations as there's no need to write out the whole words, and it makes it easy to have less prose, and still be detailed. For instance, the common shot types all have an abbreviation whether that be LS for Long Shot, MS for Medium Shot, and CU for Close Up. These shots also have variations like an Extreme Long Shot or an Extreme Close Up, and that can be represented by a couple letters like ELS/EXS and ECU/XCU respectively. When regarding the talent and audio sources, the most used abbreviations are VO for a voice over when we don't see the narrator, VOC for a voice over when we do see the narrator, SOT for sound on tape, NATS for natural sound, and SFX, which can either mean special effects on the video portion or sound effects on the audio portion. Since camera movements are already brief, they're usually used by their full name like Pan, Tilt, Zoom, and Dolly, although it's important to note that not all scripts have those descriptions and they're used more in the shot list.  

Spring Semester Goals

Most of the goals I set for myself were focused on the entire year, and so I haven't achieved them yet, but I think I'm on the right track with the work I've done the first semester. My major goal was to complete a professional portfolio that showcased my work, and although I haven't gotten to that yet, I know it's something we focus on during the second semester. With that said, I was able to use some of my work from this class in a creative portfolio for college applications, so I feel like I was able to achieve a subcategory of that goal. In addition, I set a goal to create at least one film that addresses an issue that's close to home, which has been my focus for the public service announcement, and I'll hold myself accountable for getting that done. My final goal entailed broadening my appreciation for genres that I'm less interested in, and I think I'm a step in the right direction because there have been a couple viewings like "It's A Wonderful Life" where I went in skeptical, but stayed open and actually  really enjoyed the film.