Final Project (CNM) In Progress 8

We are almost done! We included the introduction and the names of our features. We have some trouble with the names design initially.

The reason is because the background is constantly moving and thus the names might not be outstanding enough at certain point of the time. We have several options, we either changed the color of the names according to scene or have background for the names.

In the end, we decide to go with changing colors of the names. However, we keep it 2 colors only. White with black border and dark grey. We feel that is can help to give contrast of the names from the scene and viewers are read them comfortably. In addition, viewers wont notice the changing color so obviously and also wont get distracted as they would have if we were to use colourful fonts.

Assignment 4 In Progress 12

In this iteration, I further pushed the resolution down to 50% and the result came out as I wanted. Not to unclear and not to clear either. Just nice. The coloured and high resolution part in the center help to contrast it.

In this iteration, I soften the sound of the special effects because I wanted to give viewers a more old film feeling. If the special effect sounds are louder than the background music, it seems to give the viewer the feeling that I am trying to show the special effects deliberately rather than in a comical which I intended. In addition, I managed to find the film reel sound online and put it in my clip. I purposely soften the reel sound to give the viewer that they are further from the film projector and nearer to the sound system instead. Another reason is because I am afraid that if the reel sound any louder, it because a irritant rather enhancing the viewing experience as the constant sound can be annoying which listener feels that it is an interference.

Assignment 4 In Progress 11

In this iteration, I pushed the resolution down to 75% of the original for those with film overlay. The result come our better but I feel that I can be more unclear so that I can fit the whole theme.

I also shifted some music changing points so that there will be less noticeable abrupt changes in the music. In addition, I removed a song at the end and let the second last song to play all the way till the end. This help to give an over smoother music experience that feels like jell together rather than so many jazz music cutting here and there.

Assignment 2 In Progress 10

I added the film footage over my footage. The reason is because i wanted to give a old film look since it was being filmed in black and white. On adding the film overlay, I realized that the resolution of the video is too high. The film overlay does not seem to fit with the video. That is something I have to solve.

I also added songs into this iteration. I had 8 songs in my list but I only uses 6 of them. I found some thing about the olden days big swing jazz is that it is very difficult to cut and link with other jazz, unlike the music that I used in my Ken Burns which I managed to link them together appropriately.

Assignment 3 Kinetic Typography 8

In this iteration, I added an introduction to it so that this can help to give people context as to what this video is going to be about.

I changed several fonts from the previous iteration. After not seeing this assignment for weeks, font typefaces for this song seems to have a new perspective. Something the best thing to review a work is to leave it and don't look at it for sometime before reviewing it again. I found out that there are some fonts that really doesn't seems to be in place. I also changed the size of some words to give the words more contrast so that viewer will know which words to focus on.

I didn't add new lines of lyrics in. The reasons are that Julian said before its okay without adding new lyrics and second is because the next line is the second versus, it will be so weird to do just a couple lines in to a new versus.

However, I make a little changes to the ending part. The 3 similar animation at the end, which many people say its repetitive and reflect no effort, which is not the case but done after artistic consideration. I decided to change the fonts for each animation, so that you can see the progressive change of fonts. After doing it, I feel that I had better express "crazy" with the changing fonts.

Assignment 2 In Progress 7

After countless viewing my own video, I still feel something is not right. It looks so different from the Ken Burns shows that I remember watching when I was little.

I decided to make some changes. First I removed the background image because I feel that it is a little distracting since it has design on it. Second, I tried to scale and position some of my pictures so that it will show as little black background as possible. The reason is because I in my impression, Ken Burns is about the panning and zooming of pictures itself and generally do not show the border of the picture itself.



I added an introduction so that people watching it will know the context before watching. I also added my production logo at the back.

Assignment 4 In Progress 9

In this iteration, I decide to change some of the timing of the footage to make the film look more continuous and compact. I am afraid that the video seem draggy especially with so many running footages.

For example, at 1:51 I decide to cut short the book spinning scene because it seems long and loses the fun of looking at it slowing down.

Another example, at 2:04 I decide to zoom in and pause on the scene for a second where I want the view to focus on as it is the funny part.

Assignment 4 In Progress 8

Got another iteration out. This time is with titles, inter-titles and sound.

Addition sound is a challenge. The reason is because the tutorials that I went to do not prove a default sound. I have to go hunt high and low in youtube. I managed to grab four different clips each for each super power but some have background sound other than the effect sound because I am not able to cleanly remove the background sound.

Assignment 4 In Progress 7

I managed to come out with my first iteration of my video. I have seen LIonel's rough version, I am trying to avoid doing what he did because Julian said that he want two separate video even though we worked together.



It is basically just placing the footages back to back in an order that they make since. I have trouble with running footages though. The reason is because we didn't shoot our view in chronologically order. We finished all the required scenes first before we shoot the running footages. The reason is because the running footages are for transition and we have no idea who long it will be after we sped up. Thus the scenes of running footage are difficult to link together.

Assignment 4 In Progress 6

With all the footage, we began our post production.

Initially I was thinking that Lionel work on his flash effect and I work my jumper effects on all videos then later we then see how we can split the videos. After reach reaching his house and dinner, decided to help out each other on finding how to do the two special effects.

After that we decided to each work on entire video footage instead of on individual effect. We set some standard so that we can have consistency and we begin going through all the footages that we need.

It was almost 4am plus already when we were done with all the footages. We spent some time discussing what kind of music would work out for our films before we call it a day.

Assignment 4 In Progress 5

Just finished taking all the scene footage on Sunday. We were at the NUS library on a Sunday morning 10am till 4pm just for the footage itself. Time passed so fast without even noticing. We only realised the time when we got hungry.

Anyway, Lionel is a good man. He went down to rent some shooting equipment and didn't even as a cent from me nor plan with me. I was surprised with his gear last morning.

Lionel's triport and the rented gear, rail.

Lionel and his triport and rail.

Lionel and glide cam

We tried using the glide cam. Lionel spent lots of time trying to balance the glide cam properly but it just does seems right. I feel that the glide cam is not very useful. Maybe is because we didn't managed to use it correctly. I find the glide cam do help to remove the camera shake and blur but because it sways around and we find it difficult to have a very stabilized long take. Its like just changing the shaking problem to swaying problem.

I find the rail useful, however, it is not smooth. The rail that was rented is by slides, I believe a smooth rail will be those with wheels. However this is good enough for our video, we do not need to over kill.

Still thanks Lionel for the equipments! Without it I couldn't have experience all these heavy weighted video gears. =)

Assignment 2 In Progress 6

I have made some changes from the comments previously.



Changes that I have made is the "titles" sections. Previously, there were comments that the titles doesn't make much sense. I decided to scraped the whole "try-to-make-sense" idea and just plainly display the title. I think it turn out well, even though there is no wow factor but at least it remove the confusing factor. Learning from my group project, I at in some shadow for my titles and also try to choose a background that is less distracting. However, for the background, I am not sure if I achieve what I intend. haha!

There were also comments that there are alot of panning up down on screen prints, thus the viewers are unable to focus on a particular point during those sections. I reduced the panning so that viewers can focus on some main points on the pictures. I also decided to let the panning action finish faster so that viewers can have more time to look at the pictures at the end of the panning before it transit to another picture.

I also changed my two sketches because previously there were comments that the scanned pictures are too grey and doesn't really fit into the whole video feel. I changed the pictures to one sketches which I managed to scan to have white background and also included a storyboarding.

Assignment 4 In Progress 4

Lionel and I decide to work together on this assignment. Since all my previous ideas were interpreted by me that Julian doesn't approve, I have to think of new storyline.

To tell the truth, come out with storyline is more difficult part than making superhero power on after effect. The effect, we can follow step by step on youtube, storyline... no.

Since both Lionel and I decide to work together, I not sure is it a good thing or bad thing. Would there be more work or less? Would it complicate stuff for us or not?

Anyway, two heads is better then on to think of a storyline. We roughly came out with a rough is that both Lionel and I have different powers and we would either save something or we would fight it out or something like that.

See how it goes.

Anyway, I was later told be someone else that Julian didn't say that trailer is no go. Apparently, I think I didn't explain my idea clearly in class. Still, since I have decided to work with Lionel on this, no use thinking over spilled milk.

Final Project (NUS) In Progress 11

That is the final! Glad that we finished it! All the rendering is taking so much time!! Especially when we are working on AE and Premiere at the same time.

I am still not very happy with the slow motion part for skating and muay thai. I feel that it should be smoother and this can help to bring out the slow motion impact. As I was reading through the web, I found out that other then the paid plug-in Twixtor, AE itself also have a function that helps to generate smoother motion for parts that we changes the speed of the video.

It is called frame blend. The option can be found the layers section of the interface together with all those vectorize and motion. Use frame blending to enhance the quality of time-altered motion in a layer that contains live-action footage—video, for example. You can apply frame blending to a sequence of still images, but not to a single still image. If you are animating a layer—for example, moving a text layer across the screen—use motion blur. For the frame blend, there are two options. One is frame mix and another is pixel motion. Frame Mix takes less time to render, but Pixel Motion provides much better results, especially for footage that has been drastically slowed down.

Final Project (NUS) In Progress 10

Finally, we are approaching the end of the whole post production process.

We managed to add in the introduction video! It is a quick flash of 7 beat! I am really please with that 7 beats because it is a very good brief insight of what our video is about. It is 7beats of interesting cuts, enough to capture the viewers attention, yet does not away the contents in our video.

In this iteration, we also changed the speed of some of the footage to better fit the beats of the music.

In this iteration, we continue to make some changes in the framing of the footage. For example, at 1:40, initially it the character's face is more zoomed in, but it cuts him at his forehead. We decided to zoom out abit to show his whole head so as to give a better composure of that cut.

After these changes, it comes to be that composure of the camera is not only important for photography, it is also important for videography as these small little changes really helps to change the feel of the scene alot.

Final Project (CNM) In Progress 7

Because we have decide to let it zoom closer to the viewer, we were looking at the below to vid.

Starting very small size

Starting normal size

First video is like starting from very far from the viewer and another is starting form normal distance. The first give viewers a very fast zooming feeling thus making the video feel as if it should be a fast tempo one like a trailer. However, the latter give viewers a slow and almost unnoticeable zooming effect. We feel that this falls in line with the rest of the video being a slow tempo one.

Final Project (CNM) In Progress 6

After slotting in the background bokeh for the spaces in between we decided that the background should not be just so plain, we should use the spaces available to help bring a message across to viewers.

After some thoughts, we think it is best that we just put CNM department. The reason is because if we would to put long messages, there wont be enough time to read. If we put very impactful messages, viewers might see it as hard selling. Thus we decide to go with CNM department consistently.

We also decide that instead of just static text and background, we should give it some motion so that it will flow with the whole video. Thus we decide to enlarge the words and background with each flashes give the viewers a feeling like the CNM department words are zooming in towards them. I think its kind of fun idea to implement, its like ambient advertising.

Final Project (NUS) In Progress 9

Came out with another version of this video.

In this iteration, we also added in an introduction and conclusion words to our video. For the introduction, we hope to able to prepare viewers, what to expect for the video before they see the rest of the video with two negative statements, "Who said varsity life isn't fun? Who said varsity life is all about books?". For the conclusion, we hope to reinforce the idea that NUS is not just a place where people study only with "NUS, where life is not about books".

Initially for the introduction, we tried a to have a set off a more fun tone with "Who said varsity life is fun?" then back space, "Who said varsity life is all about books?" However, it turn out that it doesn't really match with the rest of the video which is light hearted but no much funny moments. Thus we decided to change to the current one.

This time, with some feedback on previous video.

We changed a scene at 1:08, previously it was a guy skating forward. Now we change it to a guy skating around line of cones. The reason is because we feel the previous footage though nice, is too commonly found. In addition, the one that we replace seems to flow with the "follow skates" shoots.

At 1:42, instead of zooming into at the character over that few seconds, we remove the zoom and let it be at the zoomed in position. This is to remove the addition camera movement on this sence with the already action packed video.

In this iteration, we also added in the introduction of the CCA and the name of the person we featured. We decided to use VARSITY font because we feel that it can help to bring out the tertiary feeling from the typeface.

In this iteration, we also changed framing of some footage. For example at 2:11, we decide to remove a girl from our video by removing her from the camera frame so as to give a more close up feel of the rest of the group.

Final Project (CNM) In Progress 5

In our previous iterations, we have these spaces that we cant fill with features. The reason is because of the beats are too short and or the section of beats are too long for the features so we have these spaces that are left out. These spaces are too short to slot in any random videos. We were afraid that it might confuse the viewers if we do that.

We decided to use intertitles to cover for that time. However what kind of intertitles are we going to use? A plain text? What are we going to type? A plain background? What kind of background are we going to use?

At the end, we decided to go with a background with bokeh of colours, since that is what we are trying to achieve when we use very shallow lens. We choose an image with bokeh of colours that is warm in general and comfortable to look at and not distracting for the a few moments that is being flashed out.

Final Project (NUS) In Progress 8

First version of the video is out!



After some experimenting around, we realised that we should only change scene when there is a beat. This will allow the music to have more follow with the video and not give the feeling that the video and music are two separate elements.

Listening to the music, we also have to come up the order of the CCAs which we wanted to follow. After some discussion, we decided that the center part were there is a section which have several change in tone we can use that for muay thai to show case the guys and girls. Other than that, the order does not really matter.

How we work is like that for each CCA.
1) Find out roughly how long we have for this CCA ~20sec
2) Find the beat that we should stop for this CCA
3) Slot in the featured person first and edit the duration of the scene according to beat of the music
4) Look through the videos that we have filtered for this CCA and imagine what we can do with them
5) Cut and link the scenes together as we have imagined/discussed according to beat
6) Gives some feedback on general feeling and make changes
7) Confirm and put all into one layer, then next CCA

I think this is a good work flow. We got faster and faster for each CCA. The reason is that we are getting the hang of the work flow.

Another idea that I tired to kept through out the whole video during this post production is to make use of the unique point that we had during the video. We had 3 cameras during the filming of CCAs, thus we had multiple angles of the same scene. To make use of this unique point, I tired to cut into different angles of the same scene thus making it as though it was they are performing for the viewers.

Final Project (CNM) In Progress 4

We got this out. We managed to finish going through all the staff and to fill the music. However, regrettably, we have to leave out some people because of the time limit. We wanted to squeeze some more people, but time won't allow.



I think in this way, I learnt that in a content project is is important to weight out the options that are important to you even though it may have seen not important at all. This is because, for me, it doesn't matter who is being featured as long as it fills the music, however, this might be the case for people whom we approached for video recording and who is put on to the video for our use.

Final Project (CNM) In Progress 3

We took hours to find a song that we think that it is suitable on freeplaymusic.com. Actually, we have a few music in mind but they are all copyrighted.

After finding the song, we roughly calculated how long each staff can be featured and how many people we can feature. In our initial idea, we wanted to give everyone whom we feature equal timing according to the beat of the music. On times when the song is out of beat, we planned to put in random footages that we took at RandomBlends.

After counting, we roughly decide that if possible, we give each featured person 6seconds on screen including partial transition. That leaves around 4 seconds of full frame on his face. We feel that this will give viewer plentiful time to see the face and have some impression of the face.

We managed to come out with our first iteration, which is partially done of the whole song.

Final Project (NUS) In Progress 7

Finally we managed to find our music. Its "Townies in the Tulies". Click to download.

The music is catchy and has a couple of changes in tempo and tune which we wanted because of the different CCAs feeling that we intend to give the viewers.

The video is our first try. The first 9 seconds are blank because it was reserved for the introduction which we had not thought about it. Using this first iteration, we are also trying to find out what kind of work order we should do so as to be able to fit all the CCAs nicely so that we wont run short or overshot only towards the end of the production.

We used the duration of the music, add some estimate for introduction and conclusion, then we divide the whole duration by 6.5. 6.5 is because we have 6 CCAs that we have full intention to feature and .5 is because of the TableTop interest Group which we have no idea how we can feature them thus giving them lesser "air-time"

Final Project (CNM) In Progress 2

Met up with Lionel earlier on. He told me he managed to get a few more footages from department office. Now that we have 28 staff and personal from CNM department in total, we should would have enough footage for more than a minute.

The next worry is music. What music to use would be suitable and free?