Shooting the Writing Center

-Hands up!! There is a shooting!
-A What!
-A shooting!
-Where!?
- In the Writing Center!
- What do we do!? Oh, What do we do!?
- We plan the shots, edit our footage, and make the Writing Center look as good as possible!

We are making a short advertisement for the Writing Center. Through class discussion, I have heard some really great ideas as to how this could be shot.

I believe we have a general consciences that the class would like to see a variety of people speaking about the Writing Center: When it is open, where is is, and how it has helped them.

I really like the idea of having many different students speak about the center. However, I would definitely like to see a shot of the Writing Center in the advertisement.

I think that we should film the Center, and at half fade with a warm color, we should have different students speaking about the center. I think that each student should get a different color, to make them each stand out as individuals, but put them over the Center together in a final shot to show that though they are each different they have a common place: the Writing Center.

Block 1 would be an establishing shot, and it could even be a quick pan, over the first voice. Then each person would say a line or two about the center (Block 2 and Block 3) Finally, the very last shot could be everyone saying the final line.

This could even build progressively. Instead of one person at a time it could even have two people in the second shot, three in the third until the screen is filled such as in the 4th Block.

Regardless of our final outcome, we are still shooting the Writing Center. Fortunately, there is no need for bullet proof vests!

My Favorite Roll

You have probably had a brilliant original idea that you were excited to pursue. Perhaps, your brilliant idea has become a reality, or maybe it is still like a clump of snow rolling into a solid base for a handsome snowman. Nonetheless, you are familiar with the excitement of a new idea.

When I think of new camera shots, and new editing ideas, I have a tendency to build upon those exciting ideas. Recently, I have been doing studio production, at first, I was disappointed to realize that my shots could not vary as much as they could in a film, nor is editing as intricate. Then, I discovered a role in studio production that combines the two!

The role as a director in studio production means being able to see shots, and to do live editing!! Although the director is not physically moving the camera, he, or she literally calls the shots. The director speaks to the people behind the cameras, and asks them to shoot the angel they see. The best 'task' about being behind the camera is finding those nice angels, and lining up the shots which is what the director gets to do! Not only does the director call the shots, but he, or she also gets to direct which camera is being used when. An editor might have 10 clips of the same scene, or speech, and they choose which ones are the most appropriate, and how each could be altered to relay a different idea. The director in studio production is doing the same thing as a movie editor would do, except he, or she does it as the camera is recording!

I have learned a tremendous amount about this roll:

• What the duties of this roll entail, as well as how to grow as a director.
• How to communicate with the people working with the cameras, as well the technical director.
• And, how to coordinate shots even if I have to switch cameras twice, or three times.

I think that I have misunderstood this role, communicated poorly with the people I was directing, and made several awkward camera shots; however, I feel like in each of those mistakes, I have been able to find a better way, and improve.
The role as a director was not making be think about handsome snowmen, in fact, I could not even see the heap of snow in front of me, but now, new ideas are rolling really nicely.

Camera 1... Camera 2...Bring on Camera 12!

Have you ever seen a beautiful painting, and felt inspired to paint? Perhaps you've watched someone dance, and said "Ahhh, I want to dance like that?" Then, you found out you did not have any paint brushes, or a room to dance in?

For a long time I have had that "Ahhh, I want to dance like that" desire to do some some multi-camera shooting. Every time I go to film something, I always say to myself, "I really wish I had a few other cameras."

Recently, I have had the opportunity to to do multi-camera shooting in a studio, and it has been like dancing on an open floor for the first time. I have watched some of Hamilton Hamish's work, and can not stop thinking, "Man, when do we get to use that equipment."

Although I am still twirling in circles of excitement, and gratitude, we have not started moving our cameras, or have had to face some of the lighting challenges that someone like Hamilton Hamish would have to face when shooting a concert. Also, the magnitude of his work is on a far greater level than that of which we have experienced. He is probably sometimes working with over ten cameras, where we have only used two.

Nonetheless, this has been an exciting experience, and I hope that anyone inspired by painting is blessed with a paint brush.

Here is a link to some of Hamish's work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45GluwLCvao