Course Reflection

TCF 312 has taught me that the old cameras I used to make Youtube videos are crap. I thought the old 1080 HD and 12 megapixels cams were doing something for me. Not that I wasnt aware that I could do better, just the fact that the class has broadened my vision on what a camera is capable of, and that the expensive cameras did more than just give you a pretty picture. From shooting in slow motion, to shooting under water, cameras are very capable of turning the imagination into reality.

Along with all the things cameras can do, I was amazed at the wonders lighting can do. After you figure out the look you are going for, and spending x amount of time, and thats a big x amount of time, to get your look just right, light is a huge assist in telling your story.

Video production as a whole is very time consuming, but fun, and with that being said, one thing I learned about myself is that I love to put all the time and effort into a project and watch the final outcome. During the production of a project, even when it is just still an idea, i get so excited over what this project is going to become.  As an artist I have learned simply that there is a lot more that I need to learn, especially to get into the things I like, which are action and effects. I know I can make it all possible with the knowledge I have now. I can make a legit film right now, I believe. But I know there is a lot of room for improvement for myself as an artist. The will, potential, love, and curiosity is there, i just need to keep building on skill after skill.

Artist Statement.

Dating back to my adolescence, no matter where I was, I would always see these crazy images in my head, images that tell a story, and a lot of action packed images. At a younger age, all I could do was reenact these images, a little further down the road, I drew them, it was then I was recognized as and "artist". Family called that I would be an artist when I grew up. I said know, and that I didn't want to be drawing as a profession.  As I matured a little. I began to write down these images, along with a story, breaking every color, object, and action down to a detail. That is what everyone called Imagination.

I believe it all starts with just having an imagination, and it would be great to have the imagination of a child. I believe the child in me has simply survived up to this day. As a child I saw things in a different reality, and saw ways to potentially turn something flat into something with dimension.  I want to show people visually, the amazing imagination we all had as a child.  My mind is still stuck on seeing crazy fights and explosion, every young boy was. Action movies keep me living, keep me pumped, and motivated, and ultimately, that is what I want to give the world. Action movies that go there. Things that make people go, "Wow, how did you even think of this." Not that I will limit myself to just action, but action just gives you the freedom of doing anything you want visually.  But anything I make, I want people to say the said statement.

What I love about filming it that al it is is Illusion. You can make anyone see whatever you want them to see on the screen. You can make anything reality on that screen. Our imagination is endless, so to me, that means that we have and endless supply of possibility that can go onto that screen.  It is a beauty I love about filming. I want to make things that are unreal and stretch the minds of others through my knowledge of lighting, shooting, and editing...I want to show people what goes on in my mind. The ultimate artist is and artist with the skill and knowledge of and adult, but the imagination of a child.

What am I learning.

My vision of what film making is has expanded in this class. Im learning how so many different tools such the dolly track and glide track can help make a better story. I have learned that a camera shot, whether it is XCU, medium, or CU can be the difference in how the audience perceives a story. I have also picked up that maximum effort is needed no only in production, but in pre-production to make and effective production as a whole.

What I Know About Cameras

The gist of what I kno about cameras is, that it takes more than one good high quality camera to do what you want.  They all have their different sensors, different lens options, complexities, purposes, so you really have to know what you want from your camera, and chances are, theres a camera just for whatever your looking for, thats if you have the wallet to hold the cash for these great cameras. The best camera I used is the Sony FS100, this thing is bad ass. Shoots a great picture, great for over and undercranking, and a great range of dof. Only concern to me is the grain you see in low light from this camera. But the FS100 is definitely a camera i would not mind investing in.

Advantages and disadvantages of DSLR

Granted you can learn your way around such complex cameras as DSLRs, they have great picture quality, especially darker, night shots they dont seem so loud along with that great quality also comes a great price, but you also pay for the wider variety of lenses to choose from, and a broader range of accessories.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Greater lens versatility. Several manufacturers' SLR lens systems offer more than 40 lenses, each optimized for its intended purpose. Sample from a smorgasbord of zooms, ultra-wide-angles, supertelephotos, and specialty optics such as macro and perspective-control lenses.	Generally bigger and heavier. The SLR mirror box and pentaprism add some weight and bulk compared to a point-and-shoot's design. Other factors include heavier, more durable materials and the need for larger batteries to power higher-performance components. That said, many recent entry-level models are about as light and compact as the larger EVF cameras.
Almost always better image quality at a given resolution. In other words, 10 megapixels from a digital SLR beats 10 megapixels from a typical digicam. This advantage is especially dramatic at higher light sensitivities (ISO 400 and greater). (For more on the reason for this, see page 3.)	Increased complexity. Choosing and changing lenses while shooting is an unwelcome chore for some folks. Plus, digital SLRs generally have a plethora of buttons and dials, which can intimidate some users.
Better performance. Typically, digital SLRs have faster autofocus, shorter shutter delay, faster continuous shooting, and a bigger memory buffer.	Higher prices. While the least-expensive digital SLRs are now available at prices that compete with non-SLR cameras, the price range for digital SLRs is generally higher.
Usually a more functional "shooter's" design. Some designs are better than others, but digital SLRs tend to have easily accessible thumb and forefinger wheels for exposure settings, discrete buttons for other critical features (exposure compensation, white balance), vertical position shutter releases, and just less menu surfing overall.	Generally inconvenient to use the LCD for framing. The introduction of Live View mode has made it possible to frame with a dSLR the way you do with a point-and-shoot model, but because dSLRs are signficantly bigger and heavier than your typical snapshot camera, and not really designed to be held at a distance in front of you, the process can be a bit awkward.
Greater flexibility. Access to a much broader range of accessories, including powerful external flashes, alternate power sources, wireless transmitters, and remote triggering devices.	Courtesy of CNET

Top 3 things I learned from the Scene Assignment

1. The #1 thing I learned from this assignment is pre-production is very important, it makes shooting a lot easier, and a bit faster.

2. Check if the equipment works before leaving the equipment room..I took a flickering kino home.

3. Have back up talent for your back up talent. I lost 5 girls for the same role all on the day on the shoot...what were the chances of my last hope's cousin going into labor minutes before my shoot.

Great camera movement