VIDEO & SOUND PRODUCTION - EXERCISES

VIDEO & SOUND PRODUCTION - EXERCISES

25.09.2025 - 16.10.2025 / Week 1 - Week 3

Dave Christian Moniaga / 0385630

Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

Exercises

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Table of Contents

1. Lectures
2. Instructions
3. Exercises
4. Reflection

Lectures

Week 1:

In my week 1 of asynchronous study, I read and watched several articles given by Mr. Kannan which explains into detail about shot size, framing, camera angle, and composition as elements of visual storytelling. 

A camera shot is a series of uninterrupted frames that are shot from the moment cameras are rolling until it stops. They are an essential aspect of filmmaking and video productions.

Camera shots are determined on how much of the subject and scene is visible by the frame. Distance between camera and the subject also plays a role in determining the difference.

Types of Camera Shot Sizes:

1. Extreme Wide Shot (ELS)
2. Long Shot (LS) / Wide Shot (WS)
3. Full Shot (FS)
4. Medium Long Shot (MLS) / Medium Wide Shot (MWS)
5. Cowboy Shot
6. Medium Shot (MS)
7. Medium Close Up (MCU)
8. Close Up (CU)
9. Extreme Close Up (ECU)
10. Establishing Shot 

Fig 1.1 Types of camera shots by size

Camera shot framing is the art of placing the subject into the shot. It is about the composition and position of your subject, the idea of composing an image.

Types of Camera Shot Framing:

1. Single Shot
2. Two Shot
3. Three Shot
4. Over-the-Shoulder Shot (OTS)
5. Point-of-View Shot (POV)

Fig 1.2 Camera shot framing examples

The camera shot angle refers to the location where the camera is placed for that shot. The placement can affect the way viewers perceive the subject and the scene.

Types of Camera Shot Angle:

1. Eye Level Shot
2. Low Angle Shot
3. High Angle Shot
4. Hip Level Shot
5. Knee Level Shot
6. Ground Level Shot
7. Shoulder Level Shot
8. Dutch Angle / Dutch Tilt Shot
9. Bird's Eye View / Overhead Shot
10. Aerial Shot

Fig 1.3 Camera shot angle examples

Composition is also important in filmmaking. Composition refers to how elements of a scene are arranged in the frame, a way for the director to convey his intended message.  

Rules in shot composition:

1. Rule of Thirds
2. Balance and symmetry
3. Leading lines
4. Eye-level framing
5. Depth of field
6. Deep space composition

Fig 1.4 Composition rule examples

With the help of the articles, I was able to score a 14/15 in the quiz given. 

Quiz:

Reflecting on the question that I got wrong, it was based of an establishing shot question. The reason I made this mistake was because the video, Ultimate Guide to Camera Shots: Every Shot Size Explained [The Shot List, Ep 1], implied that establishing shot is wider and different than a normal wide shot, yet the quiz & the short written document implies that they are the same. 

Fig 1.5 Incorrect establishing shot answer

Week 2:

In week 2, Mr. Kannan introduces us to the Three-Act Story structure. The articles given explains what the structure is used for, the basic idea of each three parts, and why it works.

A three act structure is a narrative model that divides story into Act 1, 2, and 3 (beginning, middle, end). It was a guide made by Syd Field in his 1978 book called Screenplay for screenwriters like him. He labels them as setup, confrontation, and resolution.

1. Act 1 - Setup
   Starts with exposition that establish the characters and the story world. Then an inciting incident should occur that pulls the protagonist out of their normal life into the action of the story. The act ends when a turning point launches the story into act two.
   
   
2. Act 2 - Confrontation
   This middle act consists of the rising action, leading to a midpoint. This part of the story also devolves into crisis, raising the stakes for the protagonist's journey. The act ends with another turning point that makes it seem the protagonist will fail.
   
   
3. Act 3 - Resolution
   The last act begins with a pre-climax, the point of no return. This launches the protagonist into the actual climax. Then the story finally de-escalates into denouement, there should be a catharsis or resolution to the story.

Fig 2.1 Detailed three act structure diagram

The most important point is understanding that each event must lead to another, giving unity of action into meaning and creating a semblance of a story

By reviewing and understand the three story structure, I was able to score a perfect mark on the quiz.

Quiz: 

To practice my understanding on the three act structure, I will be analyzing and implementing this structure for the movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Fig 2.2 Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) 

1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only. 

Act 1: The story introduces Evelyn who is currently facing problems with her business and her family relationships. Her miserable life makes her yearn for a chance to make the right choice. Suddenly, an alternate universe version of her husband, Waymond, asks for her help in saving the universe from an evil entity called Jobu Tupaki.

Act 2: With hesitation, Evelyn finally agrees to help while trying to master her multiversal powers. She finally meets Jobu who turns out to be her daughter, convincing her that everything is meaningless. She slowly believe's Jobu's words and distance herself more from her family. Waymond reminds her of kindness and love.

Act 3: Evelyn slowly understands and chooses to believe in love and acceptance. In the climax, Evelyn uses her powers for good and help to save Jobu from her nihilistic doom. Evelyn finally reconciles with Joy and Waymond. She goes back to her old life, but now with more understanding, acceptance, and care.

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?

The inciting incident happens early on when Evelyn is visited by alternate universe Waymond during their visit to the IRS as she is told about her importance in stopping a multiversal threat.

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?

In Evelyn's attempt in mastering her multiversal powers, she is confronted by Jobu Tupaki who is revealed to be her evil alternate universe daughter. We also see that she is powerless and unable to stop Jobu.

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?

In the climax, Evelyn learns to be empathetic and kind by stopping Jobu from ending everything. In her universe, Evelyn also chooses to accept her flaws and reconciles with her daughter, Joy.

5.What is the theme of the movie?

The theme can simply be that even if everything seems meaningless and miserable, we can all go through it together through empathy, kindness, and love.

Week 3:

Storyboard is a visual representation of film, animation, or videogame sequence into panels. It's made up of a series of illustrations / images that is use for pre-visualization. 

A storyboard can be:

• drawings, sketches, images/photographs 
• a description of a shot (action, dialogue, composition)
• shot specs - shot size, length, camera angles etc
• arrows that indicate movement 
• notes about special effects and sound

It is a crucial part of the pre-production process as it is used to plan shots and communicate those ideas to the production team, making it beneficial for filmmakers to experiment, identify problems, make adjustment, ultimately saving time & resources.

Fig 3.1 Example of a storyboard from Austin Powers 3 (2002)

There are two versions of storyboard,

• Traditional storyboards include sketches alongside detailed information (arrows for camera movement, characters, props)
• Thumbnail storyboards don't have any writing. 

Fig 3.2 A thumbnail storyboard from Psycho (1960)

In the process of storyboard making they usually match with the script, but they can also be deeply tied to the storytelling process.

They become fundamental steps especially in animation as they become the basis for story beats and character behavior. 

How to create a storyboard: 

1. Identify key scenes from the script 
• break up the script or narrative.
• highlight key parts of the story such as action, location, wardrobe, staging, plot points.
  
  
2. Map out the key scenes
• key scenes are mapped out in order and given relevant title.
  
  
3. Add images or sketches
• brainstorm visual features in the form of sketches / reference photography, screenshots, location, or motion (idea landscaping).
  
  
4. Describe what happens each frame
• communicate how each frame move as a sequence.
• describe details such as; composition & framing, transitions, character blocking, emotion & expression, annotations, dynamic action.
  
  
5. Share it with your team
• discuss and review the storyboard with your team for feedback.
  
  
6. Reference it on the day
• prepare the storyboard for viewing (print/digital)

Quiz:

Week 4:

Before going into production a movie would go through a development process, where a screenwriter / producer puts together an idea into a package that has goo sell-ability.

They would also need to finance the movie through pre-sales, loans, investments, and even the filmmaker's own money.

The Stages of Film Production:

• Pre-Production
• The planning / preparation stage of a movie such as; writing the script, budgeting, storyboards, casting actors, scouting locations, designing sets & costumes, and hiring crew members. 
  
  
• Production
• The team will work together to set up necessary steps before filming (lighting, camera, makeup, costume). 
• Capturing all of the needed footage for the film using the plans from pre-production.
• It is important to note that managing a big team with complex schedule is logistically and physically challenging 
  
  
• Post-Production
• The footage goes through a few editing stages; cutting & arranging scenes, adding music & sound effects, color grading, and visual effects.
• This process requires attention to detail & keen eye for storytelling.

After post-production, the film now will be marketed to the public. The movie would also need to secure distribution through major studios, multiple firms, film festivals, and even the internet

Quiz:

In a production team, there are many important roles that make up a filmmaking process. They each have a set of responsibilities that are essential to the success of the production. Here are some the most important ones:

• Producer
• The person responsible at managing the logistics and financial of production. They coordinate schedule, location, crew, and ensure everything is completed on time and within the budget
  
  
• Director 
• Oversees the production on shooting & assembly. They ensure their creative vision is realized and works closely with the cast and crew; direct scenes and creative decisions for the look and feel of the film. 
  
  
• Screenwriter
• Through dialogue and the script, they shape the sequence of events in film, and ensure the story transitions in a logical and interesting way.
  
  
• Production Designer
• The head of the art department. They are responsible for the visual design of the film; sets, location, and costume. They work with the director and cinematographer to create a cohesive and immersive visual world. 
  
  
• Art Director
• They work alongside production designer and are responsible for the film's settings: buildings, landscapes & interiors. They are also responsible for acquiring props & decorating the set.
  
  
• Costume Designer
• AS the name suggests, the costumes are important at conveying the film's theme, time period, & the character who wear them. 
  
  
• Cinematographer
• DOP/DP is responsible for capturing the visual aesthetic of film/video. They must pay attention on choosing the right lighting, camera, and lenses for each scene.
  
  
• Editor
• They organize & arrange the footages into a continuous sequence, choosing from hundreds of feet of film. They work with the sound designer to shape pacing, tone, & structure of the film.
  
  
• Sound Designer
• Is responsible for the audio aspects of film; dialogues, sound effects, and music. They work with the director and editor to ensure sound is seamlessly integrated.
  
  
• Actors
• Portrays the characters as they work closely with the director and cinematographer.
  

There are many other roles such as grips, gaffers, make up artists, stunt coordinators, and so on. 

I noticed that with so many roles in the production of a film, the responsibility and the roles tend to blend based on the production budget and quality. Many of these articles including the explanation written by the lecturer have slight variation and can even confuse people, especially during the quiz section. 

Roles like production designer with the art director, or even the visual aesthetics of a director and a cinematographer. 

Quiz:

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Instructions

Week 1 Exercise: Editing 

Today in class, our exercise consists of learning the basics controls of Premiere Pro. The exercise also instructs us to bring a compilation of short clips and export it into one continuous video.

Fig 4.1 List of short clips for exercise 1.1

The first list of clips are all ordered and named properly that it arranges into a single continuous video already once imported to Premiere Pro.

In Premiere Pro, we were also instructed to utilize the Mark In & Mark Out feature. Which is used when trying to mark a specific part of a clip to use, insert, edit, export, etc.

• Mark In shortcut: "I"
• Mark Out shortcut: "O"

Fig 4.2 Mark in & Mark out

Fig 4.3 Exercise 1.1 Video

We continued another exercise where we similarly compile short clips and export it, though this time the order of the clips are randomized and we have to put them back in a correct chronological way that explains the story. 

Fig 4.3 List of short clips for exercise 1.2 

Fig 4.4 Exercise 1.2 Video

Week 2 Exercise: Framing

This week, Mr. Kannan instructed us to take different short clips with a classmate to practice our understanding of shot size, shot angle, and framing. 

Here are the list of shots that need to be taken:

• Low angle Wide shot
• Frontal MCU
• Frontal MS
• ECU
• Side angle MS
• 3/4 angling MCU
• CU
• Eye Level Medium Wide

I tried to take the shots by framing a scene that tells either an emotion or situation to make it less boring. The taken shots are then compiled in Premiere Pro with captions as shown in this video. The intro title itself is done by placing a Color Matte layer before the rest of the cut clips.

Fig 5.1 Text captions are placed on top of video

Fig 5.2 Exercise 2.1 Framing

Week 2 Exercise: Trimming

This week we are doing our second editing practice where we arrange scenes based on the storyboard provided and trimming the video based on the director's calls in the shot. The original scenes are based on a Thai advertisement film called Lalin.

This practice should introduce and teach us the basics on how it is normally done in the industry.

Fig 6.1 List of footage, graphic, and storyboard

We were provided the footage, storyboard, and graphics that will be used in the edit. The footage consists of a scene replication made by our lecturer and seniors.

Fig 6.2 Storyboard Guide 1

Fig 6.3 Storyboard Guide 2

With the help of the tutorial video given by Mr. Kannan, the final outcome of the editing is presented below.

As I arrange the scenes and cut them to match the storyboard, I also placed a few addition such as a Dip to Black effect during the start and end of the video sequence to make the scene less abrupt.

Similarly, I placed a cross dissolve between the shot when character "Nut" disappears from the scene. This way, the transition between each shot is more smooth.

Fig 6.4 Cross Dissolve between shots

Fig 6.5 Exercise 2.2 Trimming

Week 3 Exercise: Trimming

As a continuation from last week, I will be shortening the Lalin video to 35 seconds sharp using the Ripple Edit tool as instructed. 

From this video, I learned that the tool is used to adjust the duration of clips while also removing the unnecessary gaps that is usually created when manually cutting clips as it shifts all subsequent clips along. This way, it is easier to know overall timeline length when editing.

Using this tool, I managed to cut down the Lalin clip from 59 second to the 35 seconds that was requested.

Fig 7.1 Ripple Edit Tool

Fig 7.2 Exercise 3.1 Trimming 35 seconds

Week 3 Exercise: Shooting

Aside from starting our audio dubbing project, this week we are doing another quick shooting exercise based on last week's topic of framing. 

Here are the list of shots needed to take:

• Deep Focus - FG: MCU, BG: Full Body
• O.S on M.S
• O.S on M.W.S
• Tight M.S
• Tight M.S Side Angle 

As the list suggest, this time I needed two classmates to help me in achieving these shots. The shots taken are then edited and trimmed in Premiere Pro.

Fig 8.1 Exercise 3.1 Shooting

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Reflection