VIDEO & SOUND PRODUCTION - FINAL PROJECT
21/05/25 - 23/07/25 (Week 5 - Week 14)
Michelle (0373843)
Video & Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Final Project: Visual Effects
Michelle (0373843)
Video & Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Final Project: Visual Effects
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
We were encouraged to pair up and create a visual effects video from
scratch, starting with idea, story, breakdown, visual board, shooting, until
editing, then publicize. This final project is a challenge for us to
transform our creativity into reality with proper techniques learnt from
this module and self-explorations.
PROCESS WORK
Week 7 - Forming Pair
A brief mention of our final project was brought in class. We're
told to pair up for our final project. I partnered up with
Muthiah Salsabila Harsono (0360613).
Week 9 - VFX Tutorial & Ideation
In class, we leant to
edit a VFX video from direct tutorial from Sir Martin using
Adobe After Effects.
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| Figure 1.1 VFX Editing Exercise |
Below is the result of my VFX edit by following Sir Martin's
step-by-step tutorial in class.
After the tutorial, we determined the topic for each of us by
randomly choosing a tarot card from 6 options. Me and Muthiah chooses
number 3 and received the topic "strength".
|
| Figure 1.2 Tarot Card Topic |
After lots of scrolling and exploring, Muthiah and I ended up agreeing on 2 VFX to do.
- Angel vs. Devil (metaphorical visualization of our positive and negative thinking, talking on the shoulders) - to express a person's desire vs. fear.
- Mirror Reflection Shot (where the mirrored person does a different action than the person) - to express the transformation of fear into strength.
Week 10 - Practice Shooting & Editing
In the beginning of class, we were given some
briefing for final project:
- Story is made from creating an objective/goal for the character.
- Introduction to the story is important to gain viewer's interest.
Then, we got an opportunity to
shoot content for VFX practice, to ensure we will be
able to do our chosen VFX. Week 10 VFX Practice
|
| Figure 2.1 Me & Muthiah Shooting Practice Documentation |
After, we consulted our story idea & breakdown
according to the tarot theme. Me and Muthiah's storyline and VFX
concept is good already, just need to change the inciting incident
to be more exciting. Initially we made a story about the fearful of a freshman in joining a club at university (might be boring and inattractive to people). But then, we change it to a fear of a girl in approaching her crush (more thrilling and engaging).
Lastly, in class we watched a short movie titled "Murdered" by
Dick Chua, one way to portray how writers usually get immersed
into the story they're writing, like they really experienced
it.
Me and Muthiah attempted to edit our VFX video outside of class.
We also meet up to discuss and finalize our story breakdown and
shot list to create a story board.
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| Figure 2.2 Storyboard meeting - Muthiah from Michelle's POV |
Week 11 - Story Board & Proposal
This week, in class we started with watching a short movie of
"The piano tuner" (L'accourdeur), a French short film. The insight
gained from the movie was that the ending of a story is sometimes
already hinted from the beginning of the video (if we pay enough
attention to notice it).
After the movie, Sir Martin reminded us again on the process of
creating a story board: Synopsis > story breakdown > shot
list > story board. Then, we had a consultation time to show
our story board.
Me and Muthiah's story concept is good already. We just needed to
slip in bits of extra shots of imagination scene for the best (desire) and worst scenario (fear) in to add interest and impact to
audience. The two of us
finished our
final project proposal
in class.
Week 12 - Shooting
On week 12 we don't have class, instead we are given the chance to
record the clips needed for our final project. Muthiah and I meet up
in Syopz Mall and shoot all of our contents. We ended up shooting at
Taylor's University block E level 5 (hallway, classroom, toilet) with a few walking scenes around campus.
Week 12 - Shooting (Recorded Video Clips)
|
| Figure 3.1 Andrew & Audrey Couple |
Week 13 - Editing
After we've recorded all necessary clips, Muthiah and I started
to edit our video. We compiled all of the clips recorded and
trimmed the unnecessary parts. For the visual effects, we split
the task, so I'm in charge of editing the inner debate of desire
vs. fear, while Muthiah edited the mirror reflection. After, we adjusted the timings and inserted our main background
music. Then, we do a trial video dubbing to envision the end result
for consultation.
Week 14 - Revision & Finalization
In the final week, Muthiah and I rewatched the video and make
tiny improvements where needed. Details for the improvements
we did are:
- Improved dubbing/voice over to better express the emotion and suit the scene.
- Altered position of desire vs. fear character in the inner debate to match the shoulder's movement.
- Pitch shift Tya's voice to sound like a guy for "Andrew".
- Color correct a few clips to look cohesive and continuous.
- Color grade the video to look more "Wes Anderson" style.
- Add caption for credit scene.
FEEDBACKS
Week 9
Editing VFX can be complicated and since we're still first-year students, we
are suggested to select and do visual effects that already have tutorials on
the internet. We are also encouraged to work in pairs to decrease the
difficulties of the whole process.
Week 10
The storyline & VFX chosen is good already. Just need to have a more
exciting inciting incident to capture viewers interest.
Week 11
- Story breakdown is too straightforward. Needs more drama/excitement, can add an imagination scene to emphasize the contrast between the character's desire and expectations with her doubts and fears.
- Then amplify the tension by inserting a shot where the guy makes eye contact and looked confused/weirded out.
- At the ending part where she confesses her feelings, a twist is needed, for example the guy turns out to like her back. So, happy ending!
- Looping is unnecessary because it could symbolize the protagonist becoming alone again after confessing.
Week 12
- Looks good. But, try to edit first to really know how it really is.
Week 13
- No consultation.
Week 14
- For the VFX of inner debate between desire and fear, edit the position for a few frames of the clips to adjust with the shoulder movement of the main character.
- Everything is there already, no problem, just need finishing.
REFLECTION
Experience
I had so much fun doing this project! I'm grateful that we're allowed to team
up, it helps took some of the pressure off and allows me to enjoy the work
more. From ideating, writing, planning, preparing to shooting and editing
everything is a joyful roller coaster ride. The process isn't a straight line
from start to finish, they're fluctuating, but even the setbacks are
pleasurable. Having a partner/pair allows me to not feel stressed. Instead, it
offers new POV and enables more possibilities I that might not be possible if
I work individually. Constructing and encouraging feedbacks from Sir Martin
also take a major part in making the process easier, as it helps guide our
path and prevent us from doing mistakes. So thank you so much, Sir! The whole process was hassle free because all we need to know has been taught from the beginning of class. So we only need to apply them accordingly now.
Observation
Pairing up into teams of 2 to work on the project seems to be perfect for me,
though I usually prefers to work on my on. I realized that working alone to do
something I'm new at, while having a trait to always aim to produce the
best result could be really draining. But teaming up with too much people to collab
with would also be confusing, since many different heads
need to come to one. So I'm grateful that for this project we got to pair
up. It gives the right amount of challenge to collaborate without being
overwhelming. Turns out, I working in a team could be a breeze, if the scale and quality is suitable.
Findings
From consuming many short contents these days, and seeing the struggle content creators share behind their videos, I've known that video making isn't as
easy as it seems. Behind a one minute video could be many days of hard work, with many people coming together. It's no surprise that the credits at the end of movies are always super long. However, I didn't realize the role and
importance of pre-production in film making. I've always just imagined that the hard and long part in
film making is shooting and editing, which it not wrong. Nevertheless, the pre-production (planning) plays the most decisive role, as it defines foundation for everything else that comes after.
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