Assignment 5: Single Camera Techniques

Assessor: Keith Lawler
Deadline: ? 2017
Unit: 22 - Single Camera Techniques
Scenario: You have been asked as a researcher on a new TV project about making TV productions. You will look at the format, narrative and technical aspects of three single camera productions.

TASK 1 - FORMAT

What is meant by the format of a TV show? Analyze 3 single camera TV productions and explain:

• What is the format? Series, serial or single drama?
• What is the genre? Period, docudrama, crime, soap opera, comedy? 
• What makes you identify it? Costumes, locations, music?

TASK 2 - NARRATIVE

What is meant by the narrative structure of a TV show? Analyze 3 single camera TV productions and explain:

• Narrative structure of the production; is it linear, non-linear, flashback, realist or anti-realist?
• Does it have an open/closed ending? Explain why.

TASK 3 - TECHNICAL

Looking at the technical aspects of production:

• Compare multi-cam techniques to single cam techniques. Give pros and cons.
• Examine the technical aspect of the use of the camera, lighting, sound, editing, scripting, building a scene and story.
• How do producers disguise the fact that they are using only the one camera? Consider camera and editing techniques.

- Give examples and explain comprehensively -

TASK 1

Everybody Hates Chris

Format: series. The narrative follows the character of Chris and his family, who are based-off of comedian Chris Rock's family and his childhood upbringing. Starting off as a social pariah, Chris' fortune seems to get better as the serious progresses, but not without him being chided along the way.

Genre: period sitcom. Set in a predominately black neighborhood filled with bullies, gangster and thieves, this ghetto of what is presumably New York is home to characters that represent the past of Rock's childhood. 

Identification: a humorous narrator (voiced by Chris Rock himself) accompanies the story along much like The Wonder Years had done. The over exaggerated childhood yet humor brings in the comedic effect, yet never really fails to teach us though-provoking lessons. Chris, our protagonist, is an ambitious, normal, responsible, kindhearted, but unlucky, unpopular, untalented, nonathletic, nonacademic, hapless, awkward, nerdy, vulnerable and mischievous child. his youngest brother is more handsome and popular than him and he is constantly stressed by his parents. However, through it all, his luck gets better and the characters retain an almost self-aware and over-the-top humor to themselves, at the extent of Chris' suffering and punishment. 

Single camera in Everybody Hates Chris sees a lot of close-ups on the individual characters in the show, mostly that of Chris himself or his family. This is usually accompanied by narration by Rock that offers some sort of context or background. In addition, you get to see the character's expressions and get a feel as to what they are feeling or going through.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Format: series. It follows a team of detectives and police officers within a New York police department. Antics ensure as the group of detectives fool around and complete crimes. 

Genre: police sitcom. The show is set in a police department and follows several characters portraying police officers. Hilarity ensures down the road. 

Identification: the setting is that of the NYPD which follows numerous, zany and often times wacky characters. Most are in appropriated uniform and hold a badge indicating their allegiance as detectives. The stern Captain of the team is a serious, stone-faced homosexual African-American who does not understand humor. The lead is a good yet smart ass detective accompanied by an equally naive yet enthusiastic female partner, with supporting roles being offered by the leads clumsy and nerdy best friend as well as an exercise freak detective and humorless, hard ass, Latino woman.

Single camera in Brooklyn Nine-Nine mostly has the camera pan between the characters in order to see their individual reaction to the ongoing events. It makes sure to differentiate the characters and see how they feel about the events around them, often resulting in comedic moments for those watching, which also helps to ground the characters in bizarre fashion. These shots are predominately taken from the same angle and only change when panning between two corners of the scene. They always remain mostly at mid-close up and contain themselves within the scene.

My Name Is Earl

Format: series. Earl Hickey attempts to make amends with the past and ensure he does good by the people he did bad beforehand. Each episode follows his journey towards becoming a better person. 

Genre: sitcom. Earl is accompanied by his not-so-bright brother Randy in a effort towards becoming a better person and making amends with those he did bad by in the past. 

Identification: the main lead is a well intent yet dimwitted individual, accompanied by his even more dimwitted brother. A lot of what occurs can sometimes baffle the viewer and may even escape reality, like the episode where a man builds a space ship to leave Earth after coming to the conclusion that human beings are mean people. Something this ridiculous is triggered by the theft of his car by the main character in the past.

Single camera in My Name Is Earl focuses on not only characters but the establishment of the surrounding setting, long enough to know that you know where you are in the world of the story, and that the narrative is comfortable with letting you know that. However, the camera, as with mostly any TV show or film, is character-oriented and focuses on their expressions and mannerisms, as well as motivations and goals moving forward with the story. 

TASK 2

Everybody Hates Chris

What is the narrative structure?

The structure appears linear yet switches to different shenanigans either in the present or back to the past, mostly for comedic effect. Single camera ensures the scenes often remain the same with a focus on mid-close ups and and a tendency to switch back and forth comedic fantasy moments. The show does continue to progress with expository flashbacks being given to the audience, in order to given explanation to things when moving forward with the linear narrative. 

Does it have an open or closed ending?

The show has somewhat a closed ending, with season four ending with Chris dropping out of high school in order to become a comedian, which paralleled the real life situation of Chris Rock dropping out in order to pursue his career. This makes it a somewhat satisfactory ending as the audience is aware things worked out well for Chris in the end. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

What is the narrative structure?

The story appears linear, with episodes appearing to follow a day-by-day routine at the department and the investigations carried out by the characters out in the big, bad world. Often times the story cuts to random, hysterical scenes that may or may not have occurred in the past, usually to add visual shenanigans for jokes made by the characters that reference something that has already happened. 

Does it have an open or closed ending?

The show is ongoing; however, each season at least ends in a somewhat open way, usually left to the imagination for comedic purposes and leave the audience with a smile. The series has been renewed for a fourth season. 

My Name Is Earl

What is the narrative structure?

The narrative is linear with parts of the story given exposition flashbacks for the characters of Earl's past. However, the story is almost entirely linear, with a specific goal being traveled towards. Earl wants to finish his 'karma list' and follows through on numerous efforts; however, he and his brother and friends also face numerous challenges and obstacles along the way. 

Does it have an open or closed ending?

The series abruptly ended after having ran four seasons. Show creator Greg Garcia commented on an AMA the following, concerning the desired ending of the show:


We never really got the chance to fully figure it out but the talk in the writers room was that Earl Jr’s Dad was going to be someone famous. Like Dave Chappelle or Lil John. Someone that came to town on tour and Joy slept with. But when we got canceled we never got the chance to figure it out. I was worried about doing a cliffhanger but I asked NBC if it was safe to do one at the end of the season and they told me it was. I guess it wasn’t.

I had always had an ending to Earl and I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to see it happen. You’ve got a show about a guy with a list so not seeing him finish it is a bummer. But the truth is, he wasn’t ever going to finish the list. The basic idea of the ending was that while he was stuck on a really hard list item he was going to start to get frustrated that he was never going to finish it. Then he runs into someone who had a list of their own and Earl was on it. They needed to make up for something bad they had done to Earl. He asks them where they got the idea of making a list and they tell him that someone came to them with a list and that person got the idea from someone else. Earl eventually realizes that his list started a chain reaction of people with list and that he’s finally put more good into the world than bad. So at that point he was going to tear up his list and go live his life. Walk into the sunset a free man. With good karma.

It seems that the ending was designed to be a closed one, offering fans and audiences of the show a happy conclusion to Earl's story. Unfortunately, the cancellation of the show came when the creators could not come to the terms of their creative liberties being limited by 20th Century Fox Television. Thus, it ended with a 'To be continued' caption.

TASK 3

Multi-Camera Productions: Pros & Cons

• reduces risks of continuity errors
• multiple shots can be incorporated without the movement of the camera
• higher production values 
• two cameras mean that if one breaks then at least you have the other
• reduces the time of shooting and may not require multiple start and stop re-shoots
• could prove expensive
• bigger crew may be necessary
• two cameras could increase risk of catching one another in a shot
• two cameramen or more required
• small scale settings could prove cumbersome 

Single Camera Productions: Pros & Cons

• cheaper to make
• simpler to film
• small-scale setting need only apply
• only a small crew is needed
• with only one camera, it reduces the risk of catching other cameras in a shot
• only one cameraman required 
• continuity errors may occur
• possibly low production values
• requires a change of angles and space between scenes
• it is a long process and movement of camera between shots is necessary
• one camera means that if it breaks then it requires another
• can put a strain on actors as well as the rest of the cast and crew

Technical Aspects

• Camera - use of a camera when filming ensures footage is stored safely and securely. As for its importance to story and purpose, it helps use catch shots that the human eye may not be capable of doing or even storing. These moments in time, acted out or not, are captured like lightning in a jar. This makes films and TV something else, something far more different then any other entertainment medium. It can notice things that we don't and make them just as important as all else going on around us.
• Lighting - be it light or dark, lighting can affect the mood of a scene, change the atmosphere and switch tones for the environment, characters or story being told. Darkness is often associated with evil or fear, a sense of this shroud blanketing you in its fog. Light tends to be used as a motif of good. Light shines where there is shadow and brings hope. Often times they can be used to contrast one another, but lighting can also simply used for the technical importance of making show a room on set is not too bright or dimly-lit. 
• Sound - this is the diegetic (what the characters hear i.e. radio or voice) or non-diegetic (the sound that only the viewer hears i.e. soundtrack) sound a viewer hears when watching a TV show or film. 
• Editing - the art form of putting together or even ripping apart pieces of footage and placing the pieces back together, in order to unlock the desired direction of a scene and movie. Editing involves the snipping of different scenes together and the appropriate time in which scenes cut back and forth. Whether it is a change in scenery or the cut in camera angles, this is all done with the magic of editing. It serves as the true back bone when finalizing a production for release.
• Scripting - when it comes to scripting, it must always follow and outline, keep the audience in mind, remember past story details and, ultimately, reward the viewer for their participation, be it though entertainment or information. A good script often contains dialogue that develops characters you can invest in emotionally and gradually build them along the way with the story. This makes it so that obstacles become more challenging and you feel like this could be it for the characters.
• Building a scene - stagecraft is often the definition used to describe 'building a scene'. It includes constructing and rigging scenery; hanging and focusing of lighting; design and procurement of costumes; make-up; stage management; audio engineering; and procurement of props. All these pieces are meant to come together in order to make a functioning, appropriate scene desired by director. 
• Building a story - a story requires purpose first and foremost. Why tell this story? What does it mean to you? What will it mean to others? How are you going to tell it? When are you going to tell it? Who will tell it? Second after this should come the world-building and then the characters involved in your story. Building a story requires an over-arching sense of purpose and fulfillment by the end, so that there is at least a conclusion for the characters and the audience. 

Producers Using Single Camera

A producer can use multiple techniques in order to disguise the fact they have just the one camera in production. Most of the time, cuts between characters when using only the one character can be both cumbersome and troubling, as continuity errors are a constant fear. As such, actors must maintain their pose and posture while wearing the same clothes and maintain the same mannerisms. In addition, props must be appropriated and made to ensure they are in the same position as they were when cutting back and forth.

Because of single camera and the potential errors that could occur, some scenes being shot during production could take multiple re-shoots in order to perfect, which may span for days, weeks or even months. Single camera also means a director can take his time in constructing a scene suitable for the film's direction, tone or atmosphere.

Single camera production is ideal for short movies or cheap productions, which usually have shorter scripts and less expensive casts and crew, due to a minimum of people needed. A small budget would be the only appropriate approach.

When it comes to editing and cutting down footage, an editor can choose which scenes that wish to include and not to include, as well as snip out certain parts from a scene and put together others in order to successfully construct a scene. Any bloops and errors can also been cut out. 

Single Camera Productions

A film or TV of other footage made production that is filmed with a single camera is simply known as a single camera production. This could be a fiction or factual piece. In addition, cast and crew members need only to focus on a single set piece or scene at a time.

Pros:

• cheaper to make
• simpler to film
• small-scale setting need only apply
• only a small crew is needed
• with only one camera, it reduces the risk of catching other cameras in a shot
• only one cameraman required 

Cons:

• continuity errors may occur
• possibly low production values
• requires a change of angles and space between scenes
• it is a long process and movement of camera between shots is necessary
• one camera means that if it breaks then it requires another
• can put a strain on actors as well as the rest of the cast and crew

Raging Bull's breakfast scene with actors Robert de Niro and Joe Pesci sees the use of a single camera take, with both individuals being filmed with a single, lasting camera.

Directed by Martin Scorsese. It makes the impression that multiple cameras were used; however, this was entirely single camera, and still managed to use overlapping dialogue, as well as adding different shots.

In a single camera production, each scene is filmed from one particular angle, with multiple angles requiring the set to be reassessed and repeated, as well as sequenced correctly in order to avoid continuity errors. 

TASK

Our task is to recreate the following scene from Ex Machina. 

The crew consists of I, Brandon, Kevin and Al. Our two talents are Al and Kevin, with Al playing the role of Oscar Issac and Kevin as Dornhnall Gleeson's character. Brandon will serve as director and storyboarded, as well as producer. Meanwhile, I will be cameraman and production scholar. 

Assignment 4: Music Video Production

Assessor: Keith Lawler
Hand-in deadline: 9th March 2017
Unit: 29 - Music Video Production
Scenario: After demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of music video production, and completed all pre-production tasks and planning tasks, you can now film and edit your music video production. Complete your music video production working within appropriate video conventions. 

TASK

Work as a team to complete your music video production to a near professional standard.

Managing Production:

• Produce a production file to help with the production.
• Create a production schedule and update where necessary.
• Ensure all members of the team exchange roles.
• Ensure everything is documented.
• Maintain professional behavior and health and safety requirements at all times. 

Editing:

• Each member of the team will edit their own section of the footage.

EVIDENCE REQUIRED: Individually edit and export the music video, as well as document a team production file.

MANAGING PRODUCTION 

01/19/17: On this day we have begun the animation of our lyric music video for The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men". So far so good, as everyone has pitched in on editing footage, albeit in different ways and by their own accord. With this beginning we have the groundwork to move forward on creating our very own animated music video. 

01/20/17: Thus far we have produced our team production file and completed all of the necessary paperwork for our documentation. All members of the team have exchanged roles as editors and we are working well together. Today is just a bit of self reflection. Moving forward we need only focus on the editing of our music video and updating our process.

02/02/17: Today, we have allocated our separate clips among our five team mates (including myself). The song has been split in five parts for each individual to work on and edit to their desire. We first encountered problems in exchanging the sound file for the song across computers, trying various ways to sent it to team mates. We resorted to sending each individuals spliced audio to them to edit how they see fit. A continuity of sorts will take place, with the background going from dark to light blue (resembling the sky). As for me I will be working on the second to last clip of audio.

02/09/17: Jodie is on a trip to Paris, thus delaying her part of the editing. Nothing to worry about however, as we have all made good progress. I have sorted all my lyrics into the correct arrangement, now all that remains is editing them into a way that is not boring or mundane like any other typical lyric video. Rebecca has made good progress on on making transitions between lyrics, and it has helped us a ton, as she has shared this knowledge with the group. Mattie has made strides, sorting through the background and lyrics. As for Annie, she has also made efforts in her production.

02/16/17: as of now, Jodie and Annie have begun adding in their lyrics and are making an effort to complete their respective works. Mattie is continuing editing while Rebecca is almost done. Meanwhile, I need to add in animations for my lyrics to make them more flashy and appealing, and less plain and mundane.

02/17/17: thus far Rebecca has pretty much completed her part, with Mattie still behind, and Annie and Jodie getting on with help from Rebecca. As for me I am carefully trying to apply animations, and finish off the project. Rebecca has confirmed that her part of the music video editing is complete.

03/02/17: the original deadline. As of now, I Rebecca and Mattie have completed our part of the production. We will be assisting both Annie and Jodie in finishing theirs.

03/09/17: this is our deadline. Still awaiting Jodie and Annie's work to be finished. Jodie is confident it will be done and dusted; however, in contrast, Annie is not so certain. Help will be required. 

EDITING

Annie, Becca and Jodie have all pitched in and made efforts on our primary music video production, adding ideas and features to the product. Mattie and I have tried our hand at our very own music videos via Adobe Premiere, using the same song. I personally have been able to develop my thoughts and skills while working on my own project, and has helped me to time my edits right. I keep a little Word not journal to help document my edits, according to the time signatures.

As of now we have split the music track into 5 separate parts among our team mates. Each shall individually work on their own part and then come together to collaborate and put together our lyric video. The end result should see all individual's edits come together to make a full-fledged lyric video.

Internet Safety for IT Users

Glossary of Terms

1. Spam - electronic junk mail.
2. Chatroom - a location online that allows multiple users to communicate electronically with each other in real time, as opposed to delayed time as with e-mail.
3. Adware - a form of malicious code that displays unsolicited advertising on your computer.
4. Piracy - the practice of using the internet to illegally copy software and pass it on to other people.
5. Spyware - a general term for a program that secretly monitors your actions. While they are sometimes sinister, like a remote-control program used by a hacker, software companies have been known to use spyware to gather data about customers.
6. Cyberbullying - when someone is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another teen or person using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones.
7. Phishing - a type of online fraud, where someone tries to trick the victim into revealing sensitive details, such as a username, password, or credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in electronic communication.
8. Social networking - a website where one connects with those sharing personal or professional interests.
9. Cookie - a piece of information about your visit to a website that some websites record automatically on your computer. By using a cookie, a website operator can determine a lot of information about you and your computer. cookies are not always bad. For example, a cookie remembers that you prefer aisle seats in the front of the plane.
10. Discussion boards - also called Internet forums, message boards, and bulletin boards. These are online sites that allow users to post comments on a particular issue.
11. Scam - a dishonest scheme; a fraud.
12. Identity theft - in this crime, someone obtains the vital information (e.g., credit card, social security number, bank account numbers) of another person, usually to steal money. E-mail scams, spyware, and viruses are among the most typical methods for stealing someone’s identity.
13. Malware - stands for malicious software or code, which includes any harmful code—trojans, worms, spyware, adware, etc.—that is designed to damage the computer or collect information.
14. Twitter - a social media site that lets its users send short messages (or “tweets”) to a network of connected users online. Twitter is similar in form to features on other social networking and instant messaging sites that allow users to update their “status” or leave an “away message” to let their friends know what they are up to in real-time, all the time. On Twitter, this is also called “micro-blogging”; individuals have 140 characters to let the world know what’s on their mind or to send a tweet about something they care about.
15. Firewall - a security system usually made up of hardware and software used to block hackers, viruses, and other malicious threats to your computer.
16. Flaming - a hostile, strongly worded message that may contain obscene language.
17. Patching - a patch is a piece of software designed to update a computer program or its supporting data, to fix or improve it. This includes fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs, with such patches usually called bugfixes or bug fixes, and improving the usability or performance.
18. Pharming - pronounced ‘farming’, this is a method by which scammers try to get personal/private information from users by directing them to false – or ‘spoof’ – websites which look legitimate in your browser.
19. Pop-up - pop-up ads or pop-ups are often forms of online advertising on the World Wide Web intended to attract web traffic or capture email addresses.
20. Trojan - type of malware that gives an unauthorized user access to a computer.
21. Virus - a self-replicating software program that typically arrives through e-mail attachments and which multiplies on the hard drive, quickly exhausting the computer’s memory. A trojan is a variation that allows unauthorized users access to the computer, from which they can send infected e-mails or spam.
22. Troll - Internet slang, a troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion, often for the troll's amusement.
23. Encryption - the conversion of digital information into a format unreadable to anyone except those possessing a “key” through which the encrypted information is converted back into its original form (decryption), making it readable again.
24. Worms - an internet worm is a program that spreads across the internet by replicating itself on computers via their network connections. In the 1980s, researchers were seeking ways of managing the growing internet remotely, using programs that could distribute themselves automatically across it.

Sources:

• https://quizlet.com/23011627/internet-safety-vocabulary-terms-flash-cards/
• https://internetsafety101.org/glossaryofterms
• https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/glossary/
• https://sites.google.com/a/ocss-va.org/internet-safety/glossary-of-common-terms

www.learnmyway.com - Internet Safety course must be completed and evidence file submitted.

Online Dating

Websites: match.com, plentyoffish.com and elitesingles.co.uk

Dangers: individuals may be prone to harassment, sexual assault or threats made either online or in the real world. Harassment experiences can be reported to various online forums or even the dating sites themselves. Police can be brought into the situation as well for additional investigation.

Examples of online horror stories: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/2jzpgh/okcupid_plenty_of_fish_tinder_users_what_have/ - cried about stolen jewelry; ruined date. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1x6i6r/whats_your_online_dating_disaster_story/ - boy cuts himself after rejection for 2^nd date.

Grooming

How does it happen?

Usually occurs within social media forums or platforms, often an older individual enticing an underage child with gifts in exchange for personal affection or sexual desire.

Five devices a child might use: phone, tablet, laptop, computer and consoles

Five games/apps where they may experience grooming: Xbox live, Facebook, PSN, Twitter and Watsapp.

Signs of child grooming?

Constant messages, usually checking up on the individual and requiring favors or perhaps even exchanges or meet-ups, in return for gifts. Usual or susceptive behavior, perhaps even consistent or harassing tone would apply.

How can child grooming be avoided?

Online safety measures such as privacy and security settings should be checked, as well as inform a parent or guardian, so that they may contact services or the police.

Sexting

Who partakes?

Two individuals, usually sexually activate, curious and excited teens who are in a relationship.

What are the dangers?

Dangers of sexting could be one of the individuals being underage and thus not legal to partake. In addition, these private messages may leak and cause public embarrassment.

Impacts on relationships?

Sexting can initially be a positive way of two courting individuals to engage in talk of sexual activates, so long as they are both comfortable with the subject. However, should they ever be leaked or one of the individuals be underage, it would raise emotional and legal concern, respectively.

The law concerning sexting?

An individual under the age of 16 is considered unsuited to be engaging or partaking in sexting.

Revenge Porn

Famous cases: 

Tula Paulina "Tulisa" Contostavlos - in March 2012, a six-minute sex tape of Tulisa and her former lover Justin Edwards emerged on the internet.

Bria Michelle Kam - in June 2015 it was reported that the YouTube star from the United States, was pursuing a civil suit against her British ex-boyfriend who posted sexually-explicit videos taken without her knowledge or consent to Facebook where they were repeatedly shared.

The law concerning revenge porn?

In February 2015 it was announced that the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, which has a specific amendment dealing with such actions, had received Royal Assent. Section 33 of the Act makes it an offence in England and Wales to disclose private sexual photographs and films without the consent of the individual depicted and with the intent to cause distress. There is a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment.

Actions to be take in case of the victim?

A legal lawsuit may be made on the case of the victim, such as taking the perpetrator to court over the leak of the tapes without consent.

How to avoid victimization?

Do not take or send nudes or even videos highlighting one in an overtly sexual manner.

Personal Information Online

56% off adults surveyed do not actively think about the consequences of their online activities. 14% have experienced negative consequences as a result of others during their online activities. These are the list of privacy settings on Facebook:

Selecting an Audience for Stuff You Share

Manage Settings for How You Connect

Reviewing Stuff Others Tag You In

Research conducted by Microsoft found the following:

“research.. suggests adults and children may want to be more mindful of how their digital activities impact their online reputations. Only 44% of adults and children aged 8 – 17 years old surveyed think about the long-term impact of their online activities on their personal reputation, and only 38% of adults and 39% of children think about the long-term impact of their online activities on the reputations of others. The research also indicates those who don’t think about the consequences of their online activities are less likely to actively manage their online reputations or create positive influences on their reputations through their online activities. It’s possible that people who don’t actively think about the consequences of their activities also might underestimate how much they can impact their own online reputations and those of others.”

They continue:

“Less than half (43%) of parents surveyed help their children manage their online reputations. Children 8-14 years old are twice as likely to receive parental help as children 15-17 years old (66% vs. 33%). It may be risky to assume that older children need less help – especially since the reported incidence of harm from online information is higher for the older group (19%) than for younger children (16%).”

LIBEL

In terms of law, libel is defined as “a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation OR defame (someone) by publishing a libel.” It can be viewed as the written version of slander, which is the “action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation OR make false and damaging statements about (someone).” These can be both difficult to prove and be taken out of context.

In the UK, defamation is the expression of an untrue insinuation against a person's reputation. Defamation is split into two legal bases that a person can sue for: slander and libel. Slander is defamation of a person through a transient form of communication, generally speech. Libel can be a tort, which is a civil wrong and so not a criminal offense  So, defamatory statements can be dealt with in the civil courts whilst in fact libel can occur in two criminal forms: defamatory libel and seditious and obscene libel.

If you meet the requirements for a civil action, you can sue someone for defamation, whether libel or slander, if they have written or said something bad about you. However, you must be able to prove the necessary elements of a defamation suit if you wish to collect damages.

Assignment 3: Film & Video Editing Techniques

Assessor: Keith Lawler
Hand-in Deadline: 17th February 2017
Unit: 16/22 - Film & Video Editing Techniques
Scenario: You have to demonstrate your knowledge of film and video editing techniques, as you will come to producing a film for a small production company. You are to produce a report in the development, purpose and conventions of film and video editing techniques. 

TASK(s)

All three of these sections of the assignment must be completed. One task, three sections:

• Development - in-camera editing; following the action; multiple points of view; shot variation; manipulation of diegetic time and space; film, video; analogue; digital.
• Purpose - storytelling, e.g. engaging the viewer, development of drama, relationship to genre, creating motivation; combining shots into sequences; creating pace.
• Conventions and techniques - seamless; continuity; motivated; montage; jump-cutting; parallel editing; 180 degree rule; splicing; transitions, e.g. cut, dissolve, fade, wipe; cutaways; point of view shot; shot-reverse-shot; providing and withholding information; editing rhythm; crosscutting; cutting to soundtrack.

- Include examples and explain thoroughly -

DEVELOPMENT

• In-camera editing - involves the cinematographer taking a strict approach that involves scenes following a strict order of shots. Thus, the edit is already complete, as the shots are already accomplished. Here is an example found on YouTube. 

• Following the action - an example of such would be Mr. & Mrs. Smith's couple showdown. This is basically where the camera follows wherever the action is going, and helps build up tension where a director may want some to be made, in order to entice viewers and engage the audience into something exciting. 

• Multiple points of view - sees a scene in a film from the various perspectives of multiple characters, with shots usually focusing on them and transitioning between the characters and action. It allows audiences to see the characters differing, or somewhat similar, reactions to the events taking place. An example of this can be seen in Magnolia.

• Shot variation - where a shot can be filmed static, with no cuts throughout to show a piece of film, or where many different film shots are put together to also create a piece of film. 10 Things I Hate About You is a mainstream example of this.

• Manipulation of diegetic sound and space - this involves the editor editing the speed within any shooting of a scene or a set of scenes, whether it be in TV or film. This is done to perhaps skip time and pick up the pace, so the audience do not get bored so easily, as well as to hurry the story along. This can be seen in The Karate Kid training montage. 

• Film - by definition, this is a thin flexible strip of plastic or other material coated with light-sensitive emulsion for exposure in a camera, used to produce photographs or motion pictures, usually composing a story or event recorded by a camera as a set of moving images and shown in a cinema or on television.

• Video - the recording, reproducing, or broadcasting of moving visual images. Of course, this is the basis of film on all media outlets. It involves making creative video editing decision in the post-production of film making and video production.

• Analogue - the name given to traditional tape-based video post-production, to contrast it with digital editing, which uses mate- rials stored in a computer. Tape-based editing is linear because you cannot jump instantly to any point in a videotape.

• Digital - a non-linear editing system (NLE) is a video (NLVE) or audio editing (NLAE) digital audio workstation (DAW) system that performs non-destructive editing on source material. This is an example of digital. Non-destructive editing is a form of audio, video or image editing where the original content is not modified in the course of editing – instead the edits themselves are specified and modified by specialized software. 

PURPOSE

By engaging the viewer with storytelling and developing drama, one can grab a viewers attention and, further, the mainstream masses. Keeping the audience interested is key, but then this leaves to question: which shot to use with which line of dialogue? These are the questions that will be brought up. Where precisely do I place transitions from each shot to the other, or when I want the audience to feel clam, excited or scared? Telling stories is a universally shared problem among editors in the media industry - to craft a story is to make art, but art must offer meaning. This meaning can be brought about in differing ways and opinions, be it through dialogue, filming of certain shots or through other means.

The role of the editor is to make the audience understand what is happening with the filmed footage, as well as maintain the pace of footage, be it slow or fast. Footage must be edited in a way not to confuse the audience, so you do not distract away from meaning. By keeping it interesting, you keep the audience involved, whether it is by withholding information from the audience, or to let them know before even our characters do. This of course is done through a combination of shots, and is the means to achieve either one of these end goals.

Take, for example, this perfectly illustrated video by YouTuber Nerdwriter1, who makes the case that Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban is the best Harry Potter film of the franchise. He makes his argument by taking notice of director Alfonso Cuaron's direction of the film, tone, as well as the choice in cinematography by Michael Seresin, whom both sought to bring upon the coming of age for the Potter franchise. The use of certain shots and camera angles, as well as the directing, pacing and acting of the film, all point towards Harry coming to terms with growing responsibilities as he grows from teenager to young adult. He finds himself alone yet also finds the strength to persevere.

This is the simple story of a young boy coming to terms with the realities he faces. It is both beautiful, tragic yet endearing and somewhat reletable. We can all relate to the character of Potter in this film on some level, given that we have all been in a position where we face loneliness and isolation, and feeling as if something is out there to get us. A story like this can both entertain and inspire, perhaps even reassure the audience.

Stories such as these, however, are not just limited to film. They can be found across all forms of medium, such as music, music videos, video games, radio and TV. Of course keeping with actual video and film, as well as the cinematography that comes with it (featuring techniques such as shots and angles), the purpose of a the various conventions and techniques used in filming and editing tend to have a varied meaning, depending on who you are looking at.

For example, many films tend to use the famous shot-reverse-shot to depict two individuals engaging in a discussion, and this shows each individual's reaction to one another. Every Frame a Painting however, argues that the renowned Coen Brothers (Joel & Ethan) having taken this form of art and made it their own. Considering the Coen Bros. films focus on complex characters and contain heavy dialogue segments, this comes to no surprise.

The purpose of this shot, argued by E.F.a.P., is that they [the Coen Bros.] want their audiences to be humored by their expressions, yet also level and sympathize with their characters, in order for them to grow to care for them, and thus get attached. This is what grabs a viewers attention and keeps their eyes on the screen. An audience will not care for a character should they not feel compelled to react to them, or whether they find them boring or annoying. 

CONVENTIONS & TECHNIQUES

• Seamless - where you put two different pieces of film together to create a neat, smooth piece of film that runs into each piece of each other easily. An example here can be found from an episode of The Walking Dead. 

• Continuity - combining more-or-less related shots, or different components cut from a single shot, into a sequence so as to direct the viewer's attention to a pre-existing consistency of story across both time and physical location. This is clearly seen in Children of Men. 

• Motivated - a way of helping to suspend the audiences disbelief when watching a production, where shots are carefully chosen to push a story along and make the audience believe what they are seeing. The Hot Fuzz intro is a perfect example of this. 

• Montage - the technique of selecting, editing, and piecing together separate sections of film to form a continuous whole, famously used in the Rocky franchise.

• Jump-cutting - to make an abrupt transition from one scene to another, an example shown here in The Royal Tenenbaums. 

• Parallel editing - the technique of alternating two or more scenes that often happen simultaneously but in different locations. If the scenes are simultaneous, they occasionally culminate in a single place, where the relevant parties confront each other. This can be seen in Shrek 2. 

• 180 degree rule - a cinematography guideline that states that two characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another. When the camera passes over the invisible axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line and the shot becomes what is called a reverse angle. This is shown in The Shining's toilet room scene. 

• Splicing - a film splicer is a device which can be used to physically join together lengths of photographic film. It is mostly used in film motion pictures. This is used in the majority of most modern made films and TV. 

• Transitions - e.g. cut, dissolve, fade, wipe. They make for a sudden or an abrupt change in scene and or scenery. The Star Wars franchise are well known for this, particularly the "prequels".

• Cutaways - the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else. Here is an example of the cutaway shot.

• Point of view shot - also known as POV shot, first-person shot or a subjective camera, it is a short film scene that shows what a character (the subject) is looking at (represented through the camera). Here are numerous examples of the POV shot. 

• Shot-reverse-shot - a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character, using the same shot as the first character. Here is a rather complex example from Spiderman, where Willam Dafoe's character confronts his split "Goblin" personality. 

• Providing and withholding information - this is the use of filming and camera angles by an editor of film director in order to either keep the audience guessing of what is occurring or what is about to occur. However, it could also mean the audience knows something before even the characters on scene even know. An example of withholding information from the audience and one of its characters is perfectly illustrated in this scene from Se7en.

• Editing rhythm - describes an assembling of shots and/or sequences according to a rhythmic pattern of some kind, usually dictated by music. Here is an example from Sucker Punch. 

• Crosscutting - used in films to establish action occurring at the same time in two different locations. In a cross-cut, the camera will cut away from one action to another action, which can suggest the simultaneity of these two actions but this is not always the case. Inception offers a great example of a crosscutting scene.

• Cutting to soundtrack - when the pace of the cuts are motivated by how fast the song is OR referring to when scenes and shots are cut to the film or TV's soundtrack. An example would be the Reservoir Dogs intro. 

Assignment 2: Music Video Pre-Production

TASK(s)

In a report, discuss the development of the project and present the research of the production. Production details are required involving the origination of ideas, project research and any production documentation. 

This assignment has been split into 3 separate TASKs and thus make it easier to section off.

In TASK 1 include the following:

• The music track - how/why was it chosen?
• Analysis of the music track and the performer's style.
• Discussion of ideas for music video.
• Initial creative concept.

In TASK 2 include the following:

• Location details for shooting.
• Discussion of possible copyright issues and waivers required for a potential public performance (if necessary). 

In TASK 3 include the following:

• Plan and production - details required prior to full production.
• Script/Lyrics.
• Storyboard.
• Shooting script (camera movements, takes, angles, continuity).
• Selection of technical and performance crew, including team roles/responsibilities.
• Location recess.
• Risk assessments.
• Permissions to film.
• Clearances.

- Production details on origination of ideas, project research and production documentation required -

TASK 1 - Origination of Ideas

Production Team Name: Record Storm - 'Storming the Nation'.

Members: Rebecca Eastwood, Jodie Surtees, Annie Swanson, Mattie Orr and Matthew Tulip

Song: "It's Raining Men" - The Weather Girls

Lyrics: genius.com 

Our track was chosen as part of a classroom activity that involved brown envelopes being selected at random. The first try saw us get Slipknot's Duality, before settling for our final selection, The Weather Girls one hit wonder, It's Raining Men. Here are the lyrics to the song:

Hi - Hi! We're your Weather Girls - Ah-huh -
And have we got news for you - You better listen!
Get ready, all you lonely girls
And leave those umbrellas at home. - Alright! -

Humidity is rising - Barometer's getting low
According to all sources, the street's the place to go
Cause tonight for the first time
Just about half-past ten
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men.

It's Raining Men! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Men! Amen!
I'm gonna go out to run and let myself get
Absolutely soaking wet!
It's Raining Men! Hallelujah!
It's Raining Men! Every Specimen!
Tall, blonde, dark and lean
Rough and tough and strong and mean

God bless Mother Nature, she's a single woman too
She took off to heaven and she did what she had to do
She taught every angel to rearrange the sky
So that each and every woman could find her perfect guy
It's Raining Men! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Men! Amen!
It's Raining Men! Hallelujah!
It's Raining Men! Ame-nnnn!

I feel stormy weather / Moving in about to begin
Hear the thunder / Don't you lose your head
Rip off the roof and stay in bed

God bless Mother Nature, she's a single woman too
She took off to heaven and she did what she had to do
She taught every angel to rearrange the sky
So that each and every woman could find her perfect guy
It's Raining Men! Yeah!

Humidity is rising - Barometer's getting low
According to all sources, the street's the place to go
Cause tonight for the first time
Just about half-past ten
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men.

It's Raining Men! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Men! Amen!
It's Raining Men! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Men!

Imagery includes bright, vibrant colors which has connotations of womanhood and femininity, coming out in the night on the hunt for men. This is because the men in the video are shown to wear rather darker colors, as well as getting half-naked. The lyrics are rather easy to interpret, the narrative following how it is now raining men and how every woman can now find their perfect guy from an abundance of men. It tends to have a theme of a hunt; a hunt for men. 

Both performers (Paul Jabara, Paul Shaffer) are big women, making for minimum movement and instead sees both rely on their vocal power. Semiotics see symbols such as cardboard cut-outs of buildings and darkly lite lights, giving off a city street like feel, mixed with an allusion to imagery of "hooking up" on a night out. The duration of the video is at 4:54 and includes a rather moderate pace in the movements of both performers, with their image being maintained as the same throughout. 

Ideas for the music video and initial concepts include discussion about animation or a combination of live performances from various locations. Still, this is pre-production, and we are still undecided on what we will be following through on. Animation would be a tough task considering this is our first year doing BTEC Media, so a live shooting of a performance would perhaps be preferred. 

TASK 2 - Research of Project

As of now, location details have not been discussed as in-depth as we would have hoped. Considering this we fall back on initial ideas of potential animation or live performance; however, the location remains undecided. Still, the location is expected to be very local to the area i.e. Sunderland.

Possible copyright issues could include getting a permit in order to gain permission in order to shoot in the desired location, should it be necessary. Public performances require consented clearance as well as safety risk assessments.

Research of the project itself has already been covered in Task 1; nevertheless, this section of the assignment intends to seek and secure potential filming locations where necessary. This would include scouting out and getting a slip of permission in order to film at a specific location. However, since we have settled for a lyric video, some of this paperwork will be ill-refute to the process of our music video production. 

TASK 3 - Plan for Production 

Upon further discussion with the production team, we have concluded that we will be opting for an animated music video, preferably a lyric version of the song. This is due to the limitations we have found when coming up with ideas for our track, as its simple narrative and interpretive style makes it far more difficult to pin down into a conclusive music video. However this does present other problems as well, as it limits the number of roles among the production team. There are five members of our team, if we do conclude that we will go through with an animated lyric video, then certain roles will be rendered unnecessary i.e. cameraman, director etc.

The following are the production team's roles:

1. Administrator - Matthew Tulip: ensure everyone else is following through on their roles and contributing to the team, as well as keep everything documented and up to date.
2. Editor - Jodie Surtees: while we shall all be participating in editing, Jodie will oversee the majority and supervise the technical side of things. 
3. Paperwork Supervisor - Annie Swanson: responsible for filling out the risk and safety assessments, as well as location recess and permission slips, including other necessary paperwork.
4. Scriptwriter - Rebecca Eastwood: responsible for the scriptwriting and assessing of the lyrics, as well as their interpretation into video. 
5. Story-boarder - Mattie Orr: storyboard designer for the initial concept of our music video. 

All members will be participating in editing of the music video itself.

Both Rebecca (Scriptwriter) and Mattie (Story-boarder) will be colluding with one another on their individual tasks in an effort to create a formula that will befit the narrative we wish to form for our final product. Although the team will, of course, come together to work on every aspect of our project, there will come times where each and everyone of us will have to work individually and independently in order to gain a credit of contribution. Meanwhile, Annie and Jodie have sorted through and completed the necessary paperwork i.e. recess, permission forms, location bill etc. So far the team is sorting through their own individual pieces of work and thus it has been (so far) unnecessary for the crew as a whole to collaborate. (08/12/16)

A majority of the team tasks have been accomplished. Now all that remains is that each individual complete tasks 1 to 3 and print off their material, in order to be compiled together within a music video production team folder. As for me, I will be continuing to update the progress until all work is complete and all materials printed. Task 3 has befallen to me in order to help operate and administer the planning and pre-production for our music video; however, this has been with the additional help of all team members. As of now we have successfully printed off all materials and are ready to file and collect our materials for submission. (15/12/16)