Final Project Pre-Production Documentation

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

A Communications & New Media (CNM) Advertisement
Our team aims to create a video clip advertisement of CNM by showcasing as many CNM staff (both administrative & teaching) as possible within the context of their normal daily routines, as well as preferably outside of the office environment - this followed by a video portrait and text narrative describing each person and what they do.


The technical aspect of of this video’s success is to incorporate 24fps videography via HD-DSLRs filmed at 720p. This includes the heavy use of natural density (ND) filters and fast open (prime) aperture lenses to create shallow focus (depth of fields) and a cozy environment ambience to gel with a relatively slow paced tempo audio track. The main content and theme of the video is to showcase each person within a living environmental portrait, to project a sense of character across to the viewer. This aim of this video is to ultimately offer a glimpse into the CNM Department and the faces behind it, to create a welcoming sense of familiarity and friendliness to the public.


A website exemplifying the potential of environmental-portraitism via DSLR videography can be viewed at the following URL http://blog.planet5d.com/2009/09/dublins-people-a-new-canon-eos-7d-short-from-philip-bloom/


A video exemplifying the effectiveness DSLR video on a Canon EOS 7D by Philip Bloom can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/4704533 & http://vimeo.com/6475938




A National University of Singapore (NUS) advertisement
Our team aims to create a video clip advertisement of NUS by showcasing as many NUS sports and societies, both categorized under TeamNUS and interest group, as possible within the context of their normal daily routines followed by a video portrait and text narrative describing each person and where are they from.


The technical aspect of this video’s success is to incorporate 24fps videography via HD-DSLRs filmed at 720p. This includes the heavy use of natural density (ND) filters and fast open (prime) aperture lenses to create shallow focus (depth of fields) and a cozy environment ambience to gel with a relatively fast paced tempo audio track. The main content and theme of the video is to showcase each person within a living environmental portrait, to project a sense of character and their activities across to the viewer. This aim of this video is to ultimately offer a glimpse into the NUS student activities and the people in it, to exhibit the wholeness in NUS education to the public and create a sense of welcoming and things to look forward to for prospective students.


A website exemplifying the potential of environmental-portraits via DSLR videography can be viewed at the following URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjzwdKi4B7Y

MILESTONES

Learning the Ropes & Tricks of the Trade!
The following articles by Philip Bloom (URL: http://philipbloom.net/2009/09/07/dublins-people-shot-on-a-canon-7d-in-native-24p/ & http://www.reelseo.com/hd-video-dslr-camera/) meticulously explains the challenges, advises/tips and guides with regards to filming special effects on DSLR systems such as the Canon 5D MK II and Canon 7D with prime lenses. They also explains the challenges and recommendations in the endeavor of DSLR video production as well as showcases behind the scenes production photographs.


More information regarding Philip Bloom, Director of Photography can be found at http://philipbloom.net/

BUDGET

Budgetary Concerns & Consensus
Our team aims to minimize unnecessary expenditure on a personal level to each individual by capitalizing on the assets available to us without (preferably) having to purchase or acquire new assets solely for the production of this video. This is especially our team being at an academic student level as full time undergraduates – bearing in mind the the financial implications/limitations that entails with such an undertaking.


However, we have allocated a total of SGD$150 dollars in total to the production budget as of 28th February 2011. Primary expenses anticipated with this limited budget are expected to pertain to rental of videographic equipment from services such as Camera Rental Singapore.

FORESEEABLE CHALLENGES & REMARKS

A Communications & New Media (CNM) Advertisement
Our team foresees the main difficulty of filming this video to be of 2 main areas. First pertains to the availability and willingness of subjects, more specifically the cast/members/staff of CNM to be included in our video during production. Secondly, the environmental/scene context of which filming is to occur will impose a significant challenge to finding a relatively convenient and effective setting for each subject.


We intend to engage as many CNM staff as possible on 4th of March 2011 during the opening of the department’s annual Random Blends exhibition, being hosted at Old School Gallery this year. Apart from that, we intend to engage them during semester subjective to all parties’ schedules and availability. We feel that by visually showcasing the videos from the links above that exemplifies what we’re striving for on a conceptual level, and by actively seeking their understanding and support, that we can garner support and the resource to make this video a success.


Lastly, we also require the acquisition of a suitable slow tempo/paced audio track for our video (Preferably of the Jazz genre), while not having conflicting issues with relation to legalities and copyrights.




A National University of Singapore (NUS) advertisement.
Our team foresees the main difficulty of filming this video to be of 3 main areas. Firstly, the availability and willingness of all cast, members and staff from the different teams who will be showcased during our filming. Secondly, the environmental/scene context of which filming is to occur will impose a significant challenge in finding a relatively convenient and effective setting for each subject. Third, the large amount of footage that is required due to the speed-up nature of our advert concept. With a scene of a 2 seconds travelling, may mean a 15-20 min of video footage before speeding it up.




We intend to include as many NUS CCAs as possible over the period of filming. We intend to engage them during semester subjective to all parties’ schedules and availability, but we will be restricted to time as CCA usually stop their activities nearing to reading and examination week towards the second half of the semester. We feel that by visually showcasing the videos from the links above that exemplifies what we’re striving for on a conceptual level, and by actively seeking their understanding and support, that we can garner support and the resource to make this video a success.


Lastly, we also require the acquisition of a suitable fast tempo/paced audio track for our video (Preferably of the Jazz genre), while not having conflicting issues with relation to legalities and copyrights.