Video & Sound Production | Exercises
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|| 23/4/25 – (Week 1 – Week)
|| Tee Zi Tong, 0366165
|| Video & Sound Production
|| Exercises
Style:
This video blends Zach King's signature visual illusions with light-hearted storytelling, evoking the charm of early silent-era performers like Charlie Chaplin and Georges Méliès. The comedic rhythm and whimsical tone add a nostalgic flair while keeping the content engaging for modern audiences.
Art Direction:
Set in a richly detailed, Hogwarts-inspired environment, the video features carefully crafted props and costumes that ground the fantasy in visual authenticity. Zach's character—a persistent yet accident-prone wizard—adds humor and relatability to the magical setting, inviting viewers to root for his journey.
Visual Effects:
Magic effects are delivered through a perfect mix of hands-on techniques and digital compositing. The transitions rely heavily on frame-accurate cuts where lighting, posture, and object alignment are precisely maintained between takes, making the edits imperceptible.
Subtle slow-motion enhances key magical moments—like spell-casting or vanishing tricks—while masking techniques allow objects and people to disappear or transform in-camera without obvious cuts. This level of precision sells the illusion effortlessly.
Style:
With a cinematic flair, stranded 2 elevates Zach’s content into short film territory. Drawing visual influence from adventure franchises like Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean, the film makes use of high-end gear (e.g., Blackmagic cameras, anamorphic lenses) to achieve a polished, filmic look.
It's warm, desaturated color palette mirrors classic adventure epics from the early 2000s.
Visual Effects:
Teleportation and object manipulation are creatively achieved through clever use of practical tools—like concealed platforms and trapdoors—which are later enhanced with digital finishing.
The editing structure mimics blockbuster pacing: it starts with wide establishing shots, cuts into fast-paced action, and closes in with tight character reactions.
Transitions are cleverly masked by props or movement—such as a splash of water or passing cloth—which covers the visual seam of the cut.
Additional effects like motion blur, shadow overlays, and environmental interaction (e.g., dust displacement or lighting changes) are added in post-production to blend physical actions with CGI enhancements seamlessly.
Style:
Serving as both a performance and a tutorial, this video breaks the fourth wall by exploring how Zach's visual tricks come together in the editing suite. The stripped-down backdrop keeps the viewer's focus on the behind-the-scenes process, showcasing how essential post-production is to his style.
Visual Effects:
A variety of visual illusions are demonstrated and explained—ranging from seamless jump cuts to dynamic masking techniques.
Zach often uses timed movement (like a quick gesture or leap) to misdirect the viewer’s attention, allowing the cut to occur unnoticed.
Objects may stretch, dissolve, or shift in time—sometimes even moving in reverse or fast-forward—challenging the viewer’s sense of continuity and physical logic.
This breakdown highlights how subtle visual manipulation, rather than big-budget CGI, is the real “magic” behind the screen.
Visual Storytelling Tools in Film & Media
1. Shot Size
Refers to how much of the scene is visible within the frame.
Close-up: Focuses on a small area (e.g., face), highlighting emotions or reactions.
Wide shot: Shows a large area, often used to establish setting or context.
Different shot sizes help convey narrative focus and emotional tone.
2. Camera Angle
Describes the position of the camera relative to the subject.
High angle shot: Looks down on the subject → suggests vulnerability or powerlessness.
Low angle shot: Looks up at the subject → suggests power or dominance.
Used to shape audience perspective and character dynamics.
3. Composition
The arrangement of visual elements within the frame.
Involves character/object placement, use of color and lighting, balance, and symmetry.
Purpose: Creates visual interest, directs viewer’s attention, and conveys meaning/emotion.
Conclusion:
Shot size, camera angle, and composition are essential storytelling tools in film and visual media. Used effectively, they guide the audience’s perception and emotional response, enhancing narrative clarity and impact.
1.Exercise: Shooting practice, shoot & editing (add caption: Adobe Premiere Pro CC - Basic Titles for Beginners), post it in your blog under Exercises section.
2.Exercise: Editing Practice 1(Lalin)
3.Report week 2 asynchronous class quiz result and learning experience in blog under Exercises section.
1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only.
Act 1 (Setup):
The film opens by introducing Lalin, a young Thai woman who hides her acne behind a face mask, masking her true appearance out of insecurity. She maintains an idealized online identity by heavily editing her Instagram photos, reflecting a growing gap between how she sees herself and the version she presents to others. This internal conflict is subtly established, laying the groundwork for her emotional journey.
- Act 2 (Confrontation):
- As Lalin continues navigating the pressures of social media, the strain of upholding her curated persona deepens. Her reliance on filters and concealment begins to take a toll, both emotionally and mentally. Through quiet, introspective moments and interactions with others, the film explores her growing discomfort and internal tension as she questions her sense of self.
- Act 3 (Resolution):
- The story reaches its turning point as Lalin takes a brave step toward self-acceptance. In a symbolic act, she removes her mask, shedding both the literal and metaphorical barrier between her authentic self and the world. This final moment captures her quiet courage and marks a powerful shift toward embracing her true identity.
2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?
- Lalin’s carefully crafted reality begins to unravel when a comment on her Instagram photo challenges the authenticity of her image. This moment triggers self-doubt and initiates her journey of reflection.
3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?
- At the heart of the film lies a moment of deep internal conflict—Lalin faces the dissonance between her real self and her digital facade, spiraling into uncertainty about her identity and worth.
4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?
- The emotional climax unfolds as Lalin confronts her own reflection. Overwhelmed by insecurity and societal pressure, she stares into the mirror, battling with self-perception. The scene’s visual composition—lighting, framing, and silence—intensifies the emotional weight, encapsulating her crisis and the stakes of reclaiming her self-worth.
5.What is the theme of the movie?
- "LALIN" explores the theme of self-image and authenticity in the age of social media. It examines the emotional cost of conforming to digital beauty standards and champions the importance of self-acceptance. Through Lalin’s experience, the film critiques the illusions we create online and celebrates the strength it takes to embrace one’s unfiltered identity
1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only.
- Act 1: Setup
- The story begins by introducing Evelyn Wang, a Chinese American woman overwhelmed by the daily grind of managing a struggling laundromat, a strained marriage, a rebellious daughter, and an aging father. Amidst these pressures, her life takes a surreal turn during an IRS audit, where she is approached by Alpha-Waymond—a version of her husband from another universe. He reveals that Evelyn is the only one capable of stopping a looming multiverse threat linked to Jobu Tupaki, a powerful and chaotic being with a mysterious connection to her daughter Joy.
- Act 2: Confrontation
- As Evelyn is thrust deeper into the multiverse, she begins to "verse-jump" into alternate versions of herself, acquiring different abilities and life perspectives. These experiences challenge her understanding of identity, success, and purpose. She discovers that Jobu Tupaki is actually an alternate Joy, who has become emotionally detached after witnessing every possible version of existence. The vast scope of the multiverse forces Evelyn to confront not only external chaos, but also her internal regrets and fractured relationships. Through this, she starts to realize that love and kindness might be the only stable forces amid the madness.
- Act 3: Resolution
- In the final act, Evelyn chooses empathy over resistance. Instead of fighting Jobu Tupaki, she reaches out with love, embracing both her daughter’s pain and the absurdity of life itself. Her decision to accept imperfection and chaos becomes a powerful act of healing, restoring their relationship and bringing balance to the fractured realities. Evelyn emerges transformed—not as a savior of the multiverse in the traditional sense, but as a woman who now values presence, compassion, and connection in her everyday life.
2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?
- The turning point occurs when Alpha-Waymond appears during Evelyn’s IRS meeting and introduces her to the existence of the multiverse, explaining that she plays a pivotal role in an impending cosmic battle. This moment catapults her from her ordinary life into an extraordinary journey.
3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?
- The midpoint arrives when Evelyn is confronted with the existential horror of the "Everything Bagel" created by Jobu Tupaki. This void-like symbol represents the crushing weight of knowing everything and feeling that nothing matters. The encounter plunges Evelyn into a crisis of meaning, marking a turning point in her emotional and philosophical journey.
4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?
- The climax is reached when Evelyn rejects the chaos and meaninglessness of the multiverse, instead choosing to approach Jobu Tupaki with tenderness and understanding. Her decision to extend love rather than engage in combat helps Joy reclaim her humanity. This emotional breakthrough not only saves their relationship but also mends the rifts across universes.
5.What is the theme of the movie?
- At its core, the film grapples with the overwhelming complexity of modern life and the existential dread that can arise from endless possibilities. Yet it ultimately affirms that meaning is not found in answers or outcomes, but in human connection, empathy, and the small moments we share. In a world where everything happens all at once, choosing kindness becomes the most radical act.
For this class activity, we were tasked with capturing a series of short, 5-second shots based on different camera angles around campus. The goal was to explore how varying shot sizes and angles contribute to visual storytelling.
After filming, we imported the clips into Adobe Premiere Pro and compiled them into a single sequence. Each shot demonstrated a specific angle—such as high angle, low angle, over-the-shoulder, and eye-level—and was clearly labeled using captions added during the editing process.
This exercise was a great hands-on way to understand how framing and perspective influence the viewer’s perception of a scene. It also gave us practical experience in basic editing and video composition using professional software.
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