Thursday, March 12, 2020

Friday, March 6, 2020

Photo Assignment #4, Agarwal

This is the Training Studio at the Eppley Recreation Center. I teach a fitness class here.

The class is called Kettlebell Conditioning. These are kettlebells. The phrase "ESCAPE YOUR LIMITS" is engraved on them.

Three class participants in action. They rotate through a circuit of exercises. 

Here they are again, each doing a different exercise this time.

Cool down stretch towards the end of the class lead by my Co-Trainer, Cheyenne.

Pre Video Assignment- Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHcjF9lrBoc

Good:

This video was well put together and extremely engaging. The audio was very clear and the music in the background was loud enough to be heard, but not overpowering. The transitions and sequencing was extremely smooth and the flow of the video was awesome. The topic was also interesting, however the way the video was edited and put together is what made me continue to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8feU9AVfw

Bad:

This multimedia example definitely needed some work. There are multiple transitions that have long periods of black screen with no audio or logical information. The audio is also not clear, and the overall message behind the video is difficult to understand. The interviews were conducted with good intention, however the individuals being interviewed were not looking across the screen at the interviewer.

Pre-Video Assignment, Gilligan



Good example: https://youtu.be/F8aVfqDKx1U

This project was unique and really well done. The audio was clean, the transitions were exciting, the B-roll was really unique, the framing was perfect, and the colors popped on the screen.



Bad example: https://youtu.be/BF4iriMX4U0

This project has a really good message but it was poorly made. The transitions were weird, the audio was bad, the background music was distracting, and the framing for the interviews was poor.

Pre Video Assignment-Nijjar

Pre Video Assignment | Shawn Nijjar


Bad example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aacHWoB7cmY

This post is good because it highlights how tornadoes can be captured up close, without harming the cameraman. In addition it shows sounds very well too, something a typical user may need to practice. The steady hand of the recorder was important to me and this was done to perfection, as there was no noticeable wobble or shaking. I liked the variety of media types because this allowed for my focus to be constantly on the video. There was also fantastic angles used having me see the view and the focus properly. The sequence really tied it all in together as it seemed like a logical flow from start to finish. With all these elements we discussed in class and beyond in class, there is no doubt this example is a good multimedia example


Good example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QmF_trN8B4

This is an example of a poor example because the quality is grainy, and it is difficult to follow along with. In addition, some of the camera angle and transitions are poor. They often run into each other and seem cut and forced. The audio is a bit poor, which I find to be important because I do not want to watch something that I cannot hear. Based on what we discussed in class, the headspace is too plentiful in the latter, and that takes away from the project. Lastly, the end frame has many microphones seen which seems almost like a rough draft rather than a polished copy. Having all these elements that take away from the film, it leaves no doubt that this is a bad multimedia example.

Pre-video Assignment Gray

Bad Example

I feel like this video had a good ideas but poor execution. The whole idea of the video centered around him being lonely in different isolated locations, but the video quality just was not very good. A lot of times it look like many sections of the video were rushed and had been poorly edited to make him look like he was in places he was not. Sometimes, the music was not in sync with the musicians mouth.  Also, I feel like at times the footage detracted from the message of his song.

Good Example

I really liked this video because it told the story of LSU and how much a championship was worth to them. It had very clear audio with a nice music to add to the video. The footage in the video was captured with good lighting and good angles. Also, it clearly showed just how hard LSU was working to achieve their goal as a football to win a national title. The narration told the story just much as each visual showed the story and I feel like it was very cohesive.

Pre-Video Assignment, Toro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADd3DxBuXvY

This multimedia project is forgettable. It is simply visuals with music in the background, and poem lyrics displayed on the screen. It did not present any ideas that were creative or innovative, and the pictures connected with the lyrics in an all-too-literal, cheesy kind of way. Because it lacks impactful elements, or even a diversity of elements, I would characterize it as bland video.

https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2019/08/15/738445244/video-why-do-irish-pubs-work-so-well-theres-a-formula-to-it

This video was more captivating, as it included overall shots, medium shots, and close-up shots to give the viewer better perspective. In terms of content, it begins by relating the topic (Irish Pubs) to the viewer, and then delves into the history of them. It also included some still photographs, and eventually some in rapid succession to emphasize how many Irish Pubs there are in the world. The audio over the visuals was clean and easy to understand as it narrated what was going on.

Pre-Video Assignment - Tantry

Good Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGh_sYBVDM0

This video (one in which I am featured!) is an example of a good multi-media project. The interview style is taken in a natural setting, with the angle of the camera making it seem as though the viewer is watching an interview take place from afar as an audience. The sound is clear for the most part and is easy to hear. Clips are placed together in a meaningful and professional manner. Overall, it is a compelling video to watch that is not only informative but well executed.


Bad Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwvVVeHKG7g

Although scenes themselves are executed well, some scenes are taken at weird angles that are not as purposeful. Further, those that are taken outside have a lot of background noise that takes away from the dialogue between the people. The transitions between clips do not flow as well together, either, serving to not provide a cohesive story line that is easy to follow. 

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Pre-video assignment, Grant

Good multimedia project:

This video does a good job of integrating the music in the background with the sound picked up at the scene. Also, the structure of the video — flashing in between clips of students protesting in their own ways — was an interesting way to keep the video moving along. I also thought the text was done well. The words were up on screen long enough for viewers to read them and they provided the necessary context for the visuals, reducing the need for formal interviews.

Bad multimedia project:


This multimedia project isn't all bad, but there are a lot of elements that could be improved. To start, it's really hard to hear some of the interviews and narration. Using a microphone would have helped that issue. The interview subjects were also often out of focus. Another thing that really stood out to me was their opening sequence. The jaunty background music paired with the bouncing effect on the photos seemed pretty tone deaf for the serious topic at hand.

Pre-Video Assignment Padilla

Jake Padilla

Good multi-media project - https://www.nytimes.com/video/style/100000005806771/japan-chicano-culture.html?playlistId=video/Most-Viewed

I think this is a very good multi-media. There are a lot of interesting shots of the various areas/events/people the host covers. The background music fits the environments shown throughout the video but is also cut in appropriate times where the dialogue has more emphasis. I also think transitions between footage and different shots were done very well. The story was concise, interesting, and enjoyable throughout.


Bad multi-media project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwvAgDCOdU4

This is just a very bad commercial. I'm sure most people are probably familiar with this and the backlash that Pepsi received, which I think was well deserved. For the most part, the commercial makes no sense. I believe it came across as extremely transparent, and an obvious ploy for Pepsi to try and capitalize on social issues of the time. The commercial has nothing to do with Pepsi, and the thought that a can of Pepsi would cause the civil distress shown in the commercial to instantly dissipate is absurd and does not accomplish anything that those behind it were going for.

Pre-Video Assignment: Lena





Fantastic example of a multi-media project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

The reason that this is a good multi-media project is because it is very persuasive and shot well. It includes interviews and many different dynamics of media to portray its message.

Example of a poor multimedia project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmVYBdN-SRA&t=350s

The reason that this is a bad multi-media project is because the shots are constantly shaky. The audio is fuzzy and the lighting throughout the video isn't appealing.

Pre-Video Assignment, Kakarla

Good Video Project
I thought this was a very great way of implementing the techniques we used in class from close ups to mediums. I also liked how they set her up for the interview. They did not do a close up like most interviews, they took the angle a little farther away to show all the green around her. I thought this was a good way of emphasizing that she has a lot of green in her life. I also liked how they did not judge her, and let her tell her own story instead of putting judgement in it. I think understanding angles and subjects is important for making a good multimedia project.

Bad Video Project
I thought this was a good one, but it just looked like not much thought was put into it. The pictures just looked like it was randomly put and some of the pictures did not fit the screen. I think to make it better, there should be a better transition and same sized pictures. I also think that the pictures should have like the same filter or something or same color scheme so it can match with the them of the videomaker. It came off as just some random pictures put together.

Pre Video Assignment, Eklund


Good Multimedia Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwjrrViBsQ&list=WL&index=20&t=44s

This video is very well made and edited. The camera shows various shots of the action and is going towards it. It has some detailed shots, medium, and a nice overall clip that shows the hills. The music isn't overpowering and it keeps the viewer captivated. When the shot focuses on just the girls looking directly into the camera, it emphasizes the message and creates something personal. Visually its very interesting and colorful, and the camera is kept very steady.

Bad Multimedia Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm3JodBR-vs

This video is very comedic because it was so badly made. The beginning ten seconds starts out well, until the transition comes along with multiple clips of them in nature. In this transition stage the audio lines up awkwardly with the video itself. For example the mouth is moving before the audio begins. The camera is a little shaky and it is cropped so that his head is at the very top of the screen, making it seem a little congested. Addition of the music at transitions is distracting, but also adds to the comedic value of the video. Overall its one of those bad videos that you end up enjoying.

Pre-Video Assignment, Agarwal

Good Multi-Media Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhNUjg9X4g8&t=11s

This video tells the story of a special, top-tier brand of chalk. It sounds boring but it's actually very interesting. The video consists of a series of interviews that have been cut and intertwined to seamlessly explain the story. The video also contains a wide array of camera shots. Finally, the music fits the tone of the video very well.

Bad Multi-Media Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgAjjuqZM

This is a Cleveland tourism video. It is a sarcastically made video and is intentionally made poorly but I figured it would be a solid example to use. The video consists of various shots around Cleveland with a song to match playing in the background. The camerawork is super shaky and the quality of the video is very poor. Also, the song is not very pleasant to listen to.

Pre-Video Assignment, Gill

Bad Multimedia:

https://youtu.be/lQKr2mFrJws

This first video is a commercial made by Sony to advertise the PS3 and the technology that was in tech system. This commercial is not that great because, for starters, it does not really make sense. The features of the system only are shown once in big black lettering and there is no real example of the features in action. Additionally, the commercial is very creepy, especially the baby at the beginning. This would not help the PS3 attract consumers as it is not directed to anyone and does not invite an audience.

Good Multimedia:

https://youtu.be/84WIaK3bl_s


This video is a vlog filmed by Casey Neistat called "The $21,000 First Class Airplane Seat." This is a good example of multimedia project because it is very well done. This one of the highest viewed videos on his channel and for good reason. The transitions between cuts are really good. Also, he balances the text with the background so that it is easy to read and gives the viewer enough time to read. Also, he also has good volume. The video is not too loud that it is annoying but it isn't too low of a volume that we cannot hear him. He also has some cool shots of the environment which adds to video a lot.

Pre Video Assignment: Ladas

https://vimeo.com/393253445

This first video, called "Be A Lady, They Said" has SO many wonderful multimedia components. The framing of each of the speakers was incredible because it was head on and full of eye contact. As the viewer, I could not stop looking at the speaker because the eye contact made it feel intimate and personal. The transitions were flawless and blended to match the words as they came out of the speakers mouths; it was SO cool that each scenario was a play on words and was accompanied by a "scene change" with a new person in frame. In addition, the subtle music in the background was perfect for this project. It was not overwhelming and only added to the piece. The elegance of the instruments contrasted with the urgency in the narrators voice, only adding to the piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjb627Kov1o

I honestly don't know where to start. The b-roll clips are blurry, and the lighting was very poor. I also have NO idea what it is about. What's the point? I think it was just a group of bored high school kids. Every once in a while the subject makes awkward eye contact with the camera and it's bizarre. I hope no one except me ever has to watch this.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Pre-Video Assignment - Mitchell

An example of a bad multi-media project:


This is a bad multi-media project because of one reason and one reason only: how cheesy it is. The footage looks subpar (and a bit over-graded), the editing is all over the place, and the acting makes The Room look like an Oscar-winning film. The music choices are odd, as some are the songs don't fit too well in the scenes they are put in (also the use of a Christina Perri song is quite odd since the song is written from Perri's perspective while the main character in the video is a boy). I think the actors had to re-record their lines in some scenes since the camera wasn't able to pick them up clearly (a solution would be to use an external "boom" mic). Also, during the basketball sequence, the shots were filmed in different days (or at least different parts of the day), as shown by the inconsistent lighting and the changing of cars in the background. I understand the message that the students were trying to tell, but the overall plot is kinda confusing. I mean, a hat that grants you superpowers to help you beat your bully in a basketball match? That's just absurd.

An example of a good multi-media project:


This is a good multi-media project because it looks like something I would want to do myself. I like collecting vinyl records (especially ones from Japan), and going to record stores has always been a favorite pastime of mine. The footage is graded nicely and the B-roll footage is wonderfully shot. I also like how there is also a side shot of the store representative so that the same one isn't used for too long. The music choices are excellent, as the songs fit perfectly for each segment of the video, and the voice of the store representative is nice and clear. I really like how there is a shot for each genre of music that is mentioned (rock, jazz, and city pop). Overall, this video is (almost) a perfect example of a multi-media project. The only complaint that I do have is that the subtitles look somewhat plain and don't have proper punctuation (i.e. periods) at the end.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Pre-Video Assignment, Shin



HONR 239V Pre-Video Assignment

Example of a good multimedia project:



How Nike Designs for an N.B.A. Athlete | In the Studio

This is an example of a good multimedia project. The video introduces us to our main character John Hoke, a chief designer for Nike. This video focuses Nike’s N.B.A project to redesign the league’s uniforms for the 2017-2018 season. The audience gets to experience the sequences needed to design a uniform: research on the athlete’s body, material/cut design, then accents/character design. The video does a good job of showing how the athlete and Nike researchers and designers work together. There are three main repetitive shots in the video, one focusing on the athlete training, another of a researcher/designer analyzing the athlete’s movement, and one where both are included to give an idea of how the two work together. I really liked how there was variety in the scenes, and visually interesting angles to document each step. In addition, there are text blurbs throughout the video, so you know exactly what is happening at each step. Plus, the pulse-like music in the background adds to the immersion. This video makes the audience feel like they invested in the designing process, especially with the conversational snippets with other researchers/designers they sprinkle throughout the video. It was a very interesting video that kept me wanting to learn more about what happens behind the scenes at Nike.



Example of a not-so-good project:



The Nitrogen Cycle

This is an example of a not-so-good multimedia project. The video starts off with a star-wars themed intro, which was an interesting start. However, the rest of the video was not quite as interesting as the beginning. Initially, text was used to help the audience follow the steps in the nitrogen cycle. However, the text blurbs stopped appearing later in the video, and the audience was left with the speaker talking at them. In addition, the rock music in the background was distracting and made it hard to listen to the speaker. Finally, the images/videos were not very interesting and did not have a cohesive structure. The pictures were also not very related to what the speaker was saying at some points in the video.


Pre-Video Assignment, Gloekler


Bad Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuAhDtI39lc

This is an example of a bad multimedia video because there is a lot of sound going on in the video. There is the sound of the wind and other background noise that makes the sound of the voices harder to hear. Also, when the people are interviewed, they are placed in the center of the screen and look directly at the camera. For interview purposes, it would be better for them to be in the left or right third and look across the screen.

Good Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xSxXiHwMrg

This is an example of a good multimedia video. It combines still photos, videos, and typed words to tell a powerful story. The music played in the background is not overpowering and adds to the mood of the video. I think that it is simple, which makes you focus more on the story being told than the actual video being played, but it does well at advertising the product because it plays to the emotional side of the customer.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Pre-Video Assignment, Wen

Bad multimedia project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2nadEX0_ik
This project has three main bad points. Firstly, the audio is not very clear, it would be useful to buy a microphone/ borrow a microphone from the teacher in order to be able to hear things more clearly. The second, worst part, is that the camera moves a lot, which makes me feel a little dizzy. It would be better to have someone holding the camera just staying in one spot, and then resetting to a different location, rather than following the actor. The third problem with the project is that the music being used seems to cut off too suddenly when switching to the natural sound/ acting parts. Some people might think the music is not necessary, but it is funny since when the guy gets rejected its a sad song, and then a cool song when the cool guy walks in, so it is a funny method to make the mood/message really obvious and clear. So I think the music is fine, however the transitions of how the music is included could be improved.

Good multimedia project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6J3MeRGbzQ
Three good points of this project are first that the interview setup is good. For one, the interviewee is looking across the screen, and his head is high enough in the screen that he doesn't look like he's falling out. Also the subtext has his name in a bigger font, and the description in a smaller font below it, as is standard, so it's not distracting. The background of the interview is also relevant because it has a football poster in it. A second strong point of this project is that the layering of the narration audio from the interviewee and the natural sound from the B-roll footage seems to be appropriately tuned so I can hear the person talking clearly, but also have the additional sounds in the background. Thirdly the camera motion is also good, because the camera mostly doesn't move. The only time the camera moves is when it is showing the football being punted across the field into the bleachers, which is okay, because if the camera didn't move that time, you wouldn't be able to capture the full range of the football.