Production Log

I have already given my experience when actually filming, but there are a few key things to point out about editing. Most of my cuts were for one of three reasons; I was speaking immediately after or before, The sequence was far too long and I wanted to keep the action going, and I needed to time everything to music.

I used group choreography from my first shoot, but I cropped many of the shots and eliminated their music and/or their choreographer Johnathan yelling at all. I wanted initially to have the jump be four freeze frame images and then to continue in real time after the last freeze. Yet the music made it much better to have motion-then a freeze frame at the top.

I was really only playing around at fist with it, but I would say I adopted a style of every cropped shot fitting into rectangles that traveled around the screen with each shot. I sped up the second group choreography sequence to keep with the music and then ended with a dramatic slow shot for the "calypso jump"

My weakness in this project was definitely trying to match the sound and db of the song "Black and Gold" with Alexa's narration. In all, I did not have the best equipment (microphone or camcorder) because of the time constraints with my actor not matching up with when I wanted to sign out equipment. However, I had a clear vision-with a story I was both connected to and knowledgeable about and feel that I executed it to the best of my ability.
My rough cut #1 and final are also on the playlist!
Final Cut Playlist

Raw Footage #2

I went back and worked exclusively with Alexa in the TW fitness Center, because I wanted to get some more turns, jumps and dialogue for a voice over and for her on camera. The lighting was very different from my first night, not necessarily worse, just different. In addition she borrowed the pink shirt which I thought became her signature, so her shirt is different too. However, I knew exactly how I wanted the shots to look this time around and worked like a choreographer. I had a full script written out for Alexa, but I wanted this to feel less like her acting and reciting lines, and more just as if she was telling her story.
Therefore, we took a minute to just talk, I explained the rising conflict and what my message was and we had a conversation about what dance means to someone who has devoted so many years to it. As a result, while the core message of each line stayed the same, the phrasing was rearranged. I think that it gave for a more genuine and satisfying performance from Alexa because her movements where obviously going to be second nature, so I wanted the speaking to match as well. She was very professional, I on the other hand would speak almost immediately after she finished her lines-which was a serious mistake in regard to editing.
Again, everything is on my youtube channel-this time under Raw Footage #2.

YouTube raw footage #2

Storyboard

I understand many people did a reverse-engineered storyboard. But this one was created before I started putting all of my footage together, or even went back to shoot more stuff for that matter. This was drawn and then scanned in on my computer.

Proposal

Proposal:
So I found that I very much enjoyed shooting the dance footage, and after talking to Professor Sanders I finally have a direction to go in. I don't want this to just essentially to be a dance recital film where my goal is to get every dancer seen. We discussed making it a narrative and story of one girl-specifically my friend Alexa Abraham who was for the most part in the front wearing a pink shirt which definitely stood out. The conflict is the perception that dance is a pretty princess activity filled with tutus and fluff. Alexa is going to help me tell a story of the intensity dance has to offer. I know that I want to add different music to the roughly one minute montage-which provide its own challenges because it must remain musical and to the beat. However, I am a musician and a choreographer so I think that if anyone is up to this musical and aesthetic challenge, it would be me.

From my raw footage I was most satisfied with the lighting and acoustics the Travers-Wolfe Fitness Center had to offer. I understand I will have to go back and shoot more, but fingers crossed that the lighting works in my favor!

Raw Footage #1

This is my first set of footage that I shot with a simple point and shoot, free-hand. It is a typical dance rehearsal for the Synergy Dance Company on campus. As a dancer myself I was drawn to the action and skill of this type of time media-although I did not have a clear direction yet for the project. The choreography was by Jonathan Velez and all dancers in the room gave their ok.

Blogger seems to be cranky about uploading videos at the moment so the link below takes you to my youtube channel. These shots are under Raw footage #1. Enjoy!

Final Cut Footage