Editing the Commercial

    Today was our last day to film. We finished both scenes two and scene four. I did both acting and filming for today. For scene two it was me showing off the NIKE slides. For scene four I was filming my group with the help of someone in another group showing off the NIKE Air Forces. Once we finished filming we actually stayed out and helped another group by acting in their film. After getting all the filming done for the day we went back to class to edit. Unfortunately, all of the groups using the school laptops were not able to edit. This caused a huge issue due to the fact that today was the day we had to start editing and also because we had to blog about it. Since the laptops were not allowing groups to edit we are left with explaining why as our blog.

    Our class laptops are extremely old. It is always a struggle to get things done on these laptops. Today, for example, the editing program on these laptops just shut down. This caused almost all of the groups to be stuck just dumping their footage and not being able to edit. So at this point, they were left with only being able to write a blog on how they weren’t able to edit today. I knew prior to even starting this class that the laptops were slow. This was because we had experienced something very similar to this last year in AICE Global Perspectives. Fortunately, since my group and I was aware of the issues with the laptops that was a factor as to why we are using our own laptop. So we were able to start the editing process. When we got back to class it was a completely different process than the rest of the groups.

   We didn’t get too far with editing today, but we did start. Once we got back to class we started by dumping the footage on to the laptop. Once we dumped the footage onto the laptop we moved it to iMovie in "my media". Once we put all onto media which is considered the raw footage, we went through and selected the best footage and placed it into the section to be edited. We then muted all of the footage because we will be doing voice-overs for all of them. We then cut down the footage to the length we wanted it to be and so that it would all add up to 30 seconds when we were done. After that, we were done editing for the day because of thats what we could do with the footage we had. We still have more footage to film so we couldn't edit too much. Also, some of the editings will be done at home because for example, we need no background noises when recording the voice-overs. So overall we had a productive day in class and were able to get some editing done to make up for not getting everything filmed today.

Filming the Commercial

    Yesterday was the first day of filming for my group. My role was to film, which was interesting because it was my first time filming with a nice camera. It was very easy for me to figure out how everything worked, from the camera to the tripod. I spent the whole time working the camera and filming for our first scene. The scene is very short and very simple so as I was filming I had to make sure it was just right. I would film it and if it wasn’t perfect I would have my group-mate get in position for us to re-film it. I had us re-filmed it many times so that we had a lot of options to chose from.

    I figured things out as I was going. Like what I thought looked best for the scene and which angle looked better than we had initially thought. I did have some problems during the process. One of the problems that I faced was that people kept getting in the way of the shot so I had to wait or move spots. Another problem that I faced was that the sun kept going away so I had to wait until it came back before I could start filming him again.

   

    Despite the problems faced during filming, I was able to get my part done efficiently. Once we finished everything we had to do to get scene 1 done we went back to class. Once I got home that day I went through the footage and deleted all the bad footage. I then dumped the footage on to my laptop that could be used. That was the last thing that I needed to do until our next time filming.

Storyboard

•Scene 1: starts off with a close up of NIKE running shoes and then zooms out to show action going along with the shoes specific purpose. (close up, long shot, zoom)
•Scene 2: starts off with a close up of NIKE slides and then zooms out to show action going along with the shoes specific purpose. (close up, wide shot, zoom)
•Scene 3: starts off with a close up of NIKE flysteppers and then zooms out to show action going along with the shoes specific purpose. (close up, long shot, zoom)
•Scene 4: starts off with a close up of NIKE Air force 1s and then zooms out to show action going alone with the shoes specific purpose. (close up, track, zoom)
•Scene 5: this scene just shows every person with a NIKE pair of shoes on all walking up to the same place.
•Scene 6: This will be a screen with words.

Editing Lesson Blog

    Today I learned how to check out the camera for when my group and I are going to film. I also learned how to sign out when my group and I are planning to go out of class for filming. I then learned the procedures of how we get our footage from the camera, to the computer, to the editing program, and finally to viewing. This was a simple, yet detailed process. My teacher showed us this process through a dell computer and the pinnacle studios program, but my group and I plan on using a Mac computer and the iMovie program. Although we are using different programs for the procedure of getting the footage all the way to viewing, I still learned valuable information that I will be able to use when we starting the process. She gave us instructions that no matter what you are using to edit your footage, it will apply to you. For example, terms that will be used, like raw footage, dumping, importing, track, exporting, etc. These were certain aspects of the footage to view the procedure.

  In this procedure, you start with the process of dumping. Dumping is when you get the footage off of your camera and onto your computer. So we start to buy putting the SD card into the reader and finding our footage. We then make a folder to put the footage in and it is now on our computer. Next, we go through the process of importing. Importing is getting the footage of the computer to the editing program. Through pinnacle studios, this is done by clicking the “+” icon next to the word desktop, and then simply just going to your folder and importing all the footage onto the program. Since my group and I will be using iMovie the process of importing will be done somewhat differently. Once we finish dumping, which will be the same process for us regardless of our computer, we would just click on the arrow icon and then simply just going to our folder and importing all our footage to “My Media”. The footage in “My Media” is called the raw footage because it is untouched that will soon be altered in editing.

    Once dumping the procedures of dumping and importing our finished we move onto the editing process. The majority of this process is done differently through iMovie compared to pinnacle studios. In pinnacle studios we will separate the different aspects of editing through tracks. Track 1 will be for titles, track 2 will be for footage, and track 3 will be for sound. In iMovie sound, footage, and titles are already separated for you, so you just simply move them where you want them to be. In pinnacle studios, the process of transitions and adding things is quite similar. To add titles and transitions in pinnacle studios you click on the icons for that addition, and the same thing goes for iMovie. Lastly, once finishing editing normally if you were using pinnacle studios you would put it on your desktop for viewing. With iMovie, you cannot download it onto your desktop for viewing until you have completed your entire project, but you may still view the project in a preview mode allowing you to watch it on full screen. It was good to learn both processes to compare both of them and see the better options, but after going over pinnacle studios, my group and I believe that both programs work well and iMovie allows us more flexibility with editing.

 

Planning Blog: Scripts, Costume, Props, Schedule

    My group and I plan on doing a Nike commercial. The plot of our commercial is that there is a Nike shoe for everything. Our script will have few words, and the dialogue will most likely be all voice overs. The purpose of the script will be to describe the shoe and how it pertains to a specific person or action. As we show each shoe a new action will be taking place to show how Nike has a variety. The majority of the commercial will consist of background music rather than dialogue. The idea is that each scene will show off the shoes, then, in the end, we will include dialogue to give our message and to show the connections of each scene and to tie the commercial together.

    

    As far as the costumes and props we will be using in the commercial go, there will be multiple types of Nike shoes and outfits to go along with them as well as props to go along with each scene. We will have an athletic scene in which the actor will be wearing an athletic outfit along with Nike running shoes. A prop for that scene would possibly be a water bottle and/or an athletic bag. Another scene would consist of a teenager wearing a casual pair of Nike shoes with a casual school outfit, along with a prop such as a book bag. The purpose of these particular costumes and props is to portray our message. Since our message is that Nike has shoes for everything, each costume will depict the different varieties.

    We plan on having different schedules for the different stages of the filming process. The first on our schedule is developing our story and getting through the pre-production process. During the pre-production process, we will formulate our script, create our storyboard, and secure our actors and locations.  Next on our schedule is to film and record all the things needed in the commercial. This will include the footage and voice-overs. After this, we will edit all footage, recordings, and special effects. During this part of the schedule, we will review all footage, and should there be anything we need to reshoot, we will do so. Our schedule will be broken down into the stages of the filming process so that we can efficiently complete the tasks in a timely manner during each class period. 

Commercial Conventions

    In a Nike commercial, there are certain codes and conventions. When you think of a Nike commercial, what comes to mind? Sports, athletes, apparel, and some sort of hydration. Each of these factors is usually used in making of a Nike commercial, and that’s what makes them codes and conventions. 

    

    Usually, in a Nike commercial, you will see the action through the form of a sport: running, hiking, basketball, dance, football, etc. They use this in all of their commercials to target their audience and stick to their brand. Nike is a sports apparel brand, so using sports in their commercials is essential. They always have apparel in their commercials because that is their product. The easiest way to accentuate their apparel is by using athletes to show it off. That is why athletes are most commonly modeling apparel in their commercials. Generally, you will see a famous athlete as the model for the apparel so that they can do their sport in sportswear apparel. This is also used as an appeal to authority towards the audience (if someone sees a famous and respected athlete wearing the brand they are more likely to buy the product). 

    Something that is not as common, but still an aspect of Nike commercials is a form of hydration used by the athlete or model. Usually, you will see someone drinking water or Gatorade, before or after the sport in the commercial. This is usually done as an addition to the idea of sports taking place. If an athlete were to be tired after a game they will usually take a sip of a refreshing and hydrating drink. So it just adds another element to the commercial and the story/concept.

 

Introductory

    Hello, my name is Jada. I would describe myself as cool, calm, and collected. I can be all three of those things, and majority of the time I am, but sometimes I can have very high energy and very sprightly. I am outgoing and shy at the same time, and this is due to the mixture of introversion and extroversion within my personality. I am an emotional person and try to be caring and loving in everything I do. I am also an extreme over-thinker and perfectionist at times. All of these characteristics I have build a strong personality which I know is a good thing as long as I use it for the right things. 

    I enjoy a lot of things because I try to find beauty in everything. First things first, I enjoy the company of those who make me happy because it surrounds me with good and positive energy. Something else I enjoy a lot is music. Music has always had a special place in my heart and always will. My love for music developed through my time spent dancing over the years. I have been a dancer for a very long time and it is also something special to me. Both dance and music are ways for me to escape problems and just let go. Dance and music to me are both forms of art. Art is also something that I developed a strong liking for. I enjoy things that please my aesthetic and art is one of those things. When I speak of art I mean many things, not just visual arts, but dance, music, film, photography, modeling, writing/poetry, and truly anything I see beauty in.

    Along with all the things I like things there many things I dislike. I have a passion for justice, and activism. So I have a huge dislike for injustice. Whether it is injustice within the black community, women, the environment, or anyone/anything for that matter, if injustice occurs I will not like it. I dislike negative energy. I try my hardest to be the most positive I can and block out negativity. With blocking out negativity comes positivity, so even though there are many things I dislike I try to not focus on them. I have come to the realization that you are going to dislike things, but if it is in no way beneficial to you then you shouldn't focus on it and so that's what I try to  do. Something I do focus on is my classes. I am currently taking Law class, Marine Biology, Chemistry, Us History, Media Studies, AP English, and Algebra 2. I often get overwhelmed with school and classes, but I take them seriously and use them as a way to help me mature and grow to get ready for college.