Assignment: Documentary Style Portrait

You received a handout in class that details this assignment. This post is ADDITIONAL information, reminders, and examples to help you think through this assignment.

REMINDER:

RESERVE YOUR EQ at least 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE! Email your eq reserves.

Your email should include the following:

TCF 312

Your Name

Pickup Date:

Return Date:

Detailed list of EQ desired (BE SPECIFIC!)

ASSIGNMENT EXAMPLES:

Please know that this is not one way to do this project. It is about you, as the director, conceiving an idea, developing a visual strategy (shot list, style of filming and editing, etc), working with a camera operator/DP, and editing together this video.

When you watch the following examples, consider:

• THE "GIFT" OF THE STORY - what is the director trying to say? What do you think is the filmmaker's message, moral, lessor or aim? What do you take from his/her piece? 

• AESTHETICS/STYLE/FORM -  How is the story told visually?What how are technical elements such as handheld or tripod (still/moving), color, camera work, framing, composition, shot to shot relationship, pacing, music/soundtrack, etc... being deployed to work in service of the media message?

• "DOC" STYLE doesn't mean that it has to be real or a documentary at all. Think about style/form as "realistic" or appearing to be "real," if this makes sense. 

• STRUCTURE - Is there a structuring track such as an interview (or voice-over) or a piece of music, that the piece is edited to? 

Some (hopefully) inspiring examples:

Uptopia #3

D-Nice's "Experiencing the Dream"

Brian B+ Cross "KEEPINTOKYO" and "TEEBS"

Noisemaker Media's:
Spanish Harlem Hop Park Jam
True School Park Jam Series 2010 Trailer

pouringdown.tv - "of all the things that can happen" and "the skies uptown"

And my FAVORITE(!), the Intro/Title Sequence to DEXTER:
http://youtu.be/ESicykvHUyk

EXAMPLES, LOOSELY ORGANIZED BY CATEGORY:

Here are examples of a portrait of a PERSON:
But please note: they use "talking head" interviews, which this assignment discourages. Instead, I urge you to use only tiny bits of interviews (if and only if it is necessary), and use the edited interview audio as a STRUCTURING TRACK (which is acceptable and encouraged).

  
Harlem Elvis from John X. Carey on Vimeo.

Kickflip from I Am Los Angeles on Vimeo.

Maxwell The Barber (Short Documentary) from Stephen Potter on Vimeo.

Here are examples of a portrait of a PLACE:

Look Up at the Stars, Portugal! from Matthew Brown (Matty Brown) on Vimeo.

Utopia, Part 3: The World's Largest Shopping Mall


Here are examples of a portrait of a PERSON and/in a PLACE:

  
Shelter from the Storm from John X. Carey on Vimeo.

The Guardian from Carly Palmour on Vimeo.

Here is an example of a portrait of an event:

D-Nice Presents: Experiencing The Dream from D-Nice on Vimeo.

2012 True School Park Jam Series Trailer from Noisemaker Media on Vimeo.


Here are a few examples of past 312 projects:

Portait of a Place from Jana Patton on Vimeo.

TCF 312 Portrait of a Place from Henry Busby on Vimeo.


The 15th Lake from Xavier Burgin on Vimeo.

Group Project 1 - Hollywood vs. Auteur

The group made up of Tater, Courtney Kaderbek, Jay Paige, and Morgan Kendrick produced these examples of Hollywood and Auteur style compositions. 

Hollywood Style - https://vimeo.com/58505306
     Director - Morgan Kendrick
     DP - Jay Paige
     Actor #1 - Tater
     Actor #2 - Courtney Kaderbek

Auteur Style - https://vimeo.com/58505307
     Director - Courtney Kaderbek
     DP - Tater
     Actor #1 - Jay Paige
     Actor #2 - Morgan Kendrick

This is a picture I took on a music video shoot I worked on last semester. I just like this picture because of the natural lighting. I snapped it right as the sun was going down and it was perfect. Katie and Garrett are dating and they were just messing around as I was snapping random pictures. I took the picture on my personal camera.

 I chose to put this picture up because I think it is precious. I love puppies, and I love fall, and this is just a mixture of both to me, with the orange flowers. I think the message would appeal to all audiences. Who doesn't like puppies?

 I love this picture! This is from my best friend's wedding this past December. The "look" has an old-timey, classic feel to it. I love the red from the car. It just adds a lot to the picture. 

 This is another picture from my friend's wedding. I love what the photographer did with the car lights and how they captured the road and area ahead of them. This also has the old, classic style to it. This was on their way to the reception.

I love this picture simply because of Alabama Football. This is a picture that was taken after the team realized they would win the National Championship in Miami. This picture was taken to show the excitement of the players as they poured the gatorade on Coach Saban.

This is the famous "Rocky Block" picture from Alabama's famous win against Tennessee, taken by a sports photographer. This captures the exact moment when the field goal was blocked. It was the second time this had happened in the game. This photo appeals to all fans and lovers of the Crimson Tide.

I love this photo. I think that having the couple stand within the black frame adds so much to the content and message of the photo. It is almost like you are looking at two pictures. It looks like the children are holding up a picture of the couple that is already framed.

I chose this photo because I love Italy. This is a picture of the Italian coastline. I have been to Italy and I took a picture almost identical to this one. This photo really shows people what the coast looks like and shows how colorful and unique the houses are in Italy.

This is a really cool picture because when you first look at it, you think that the guy is holding the girl in his hand. The couple is actually laying on the ground at the bottom of some stairs. This would appeal to couples for engagement photos, or just any type of fun shoot. This would be a cute wedding announcement.

I love the eery feel of this photo. I like the black and white. I think the picture has a hidden message, but it allows everyone to interpret it however they choose to. With me, it makes me think of my childhood church and how it did not always have the brightest of times and there were some dark days.

New Course, Old Blog

Welcome to the spring 2013 TCF 312 Advanced Videography class!

This blog is where you will post GROUP exercises or items of interest for the entire class.

You will create your own personal blog for your 10 required blog posts.


Please take note of the right sidebar -------->
all of these folks' blogs and assignments are there to help and hopefully inspire you