web in the plain language: 2011

Friday 19 August 2011

Camera Workshop. Terms and Literature

Atmo (the main atmosphere, or “wild”) — the main sound, bounding the film atmosphere.

Cut — the “cut” or “take” is the most common transition when editing. It is an immediate switch from one shot to the next.

Firewire — a standard for transmission of data between digital equipment. A high-performance standard becoming one of the preferred methods of moving data in the media production world.

Jump Cut — an anomaly of the edited ﬁ lm when two very similar shots of the same subject are cut together and played. A “jump” in space or time appears to have occurred, which often interrupts the viewer’s appreciation for the story being shown.

Perspective — a certain point of view.

Postproduction — the phase of motion picture creation that traditionally happens after all of the live-action ﬁlm or video is shot. Postproduction can include picture and sound editing, title and graphics creation, motion effects rendering, color correction, musical scoring and mixing, etc.

Preproduction — the period of work on a motion picture project that occurs prior to the start of principal photography.

Production — the period of work on a motion picture project that occurs while the scenes are being recorded on ﬁ lm or video. This could be as short as a single day for a commercial or music video or last several months for a feature ﬁ lm.

Scene — a segment of a motion picture that takes place at one location. A scene may be composed of many shots from different camera angles or just one shot from one camera setup.

Sequence — the smallest film particle, combined of several settings.

Shot — one action or event that is recorded by one camera at one time. A shot is the smallest building block used to edit a motion picture.

Storyboards — drawings often done during preproduction of a motion picture that represent the best guess of what the ultimate framing and movement of camera shots will be when the ﬁ lm goes into production. These comic book-like illustrations act as a template for the creative team when principal photography begins.

Take — each action, event, or dialogue delivery recorded in a shot may need to be repeated until its technical and creative aspects are done to the satisfaction of the ﬁlmmakers. Each time the camera rolls to record this repeated event is a “take. ” Takes are traditionally numbered starting at “one”.

Timeline — usually includes multiple tracks of video, audio, and graphics in a nonlinear editing system.

Tripod — a three-legged device, often with telescoping legs, used to support and steady the camera for motion picture shooting. The camera attaches to a device capable of vertical and horizontal axis movements called the tripod head, which sits atop the balancing legs.

Literature:

-- Michail Rabiger. Directing The Documentary. — New York: Focfl Press, 1998.

-- Johannes Kramarek, Rainer Pockrandt, Peter Kerstan - DuMont's Handbuch für praktische Filmgestaltung. – Köln: DuMont Buchverlag, 1986.

-- Dan Rahmel. Nuts and Bolts. Filmmaking. Practical Techniques for the Guerilla Filmmaker. - Focal Press, USA, 2004.

-- Fridhelm Büchele. Digitales Filmen. Verständlich erklärt. Einfach gute Videofilme drehen und nachbearbeiten. - Galileo Design, Bonn, 2005.

-- Roy Thompson, Christopher J. Bowen. Grammar of the Shot. Second Edition. – Focal Press, USA, 2009.

-- Robert B. Musburger. Single Camera Video Production. Fifth Edition. - Focal Press, USA, 2010.

-- Video Production Handbook. Fourth Edition - Gerald Millerson, Jim Owens, Focal Press, USA, 2008.

Practical Part

Getting started:

Write a production statement

At the very beginning of your project, perhaps before the script is even complete, you should write a production statement. This statement is a brief description of what the production is actually about.

It doesn’t even need to contain a plot summary. A production statement might read like one of these: “This 35-mm film will be a claustrophobic psychological murder mystery with gothic overtones”, “This commercial spec will provide a demonstration of the cutting edge compositing technology available from our effects house”, “This DV romantic comedy will be a light, surreal romp through the highways and byways of employee relationships in the banking system”.

Each of these single sentence abstracts tells the reader a great deal about the production.

To do list:

• Get an organizer or project folder for any film, you’ll have a million requests before you shoot one frame.

• Take note of other movies - there are many occasions where something you can use in your own.

• Don’t listen to criticism.

Storyboarding:

Storyboarding tells the story of a film visually in a series of comic-like panels. Storyboarding is a form of planning that enables a filmmaker to understand and recognize exactly what footage needs to be obtained to tell the desired story. Once the storyboards have been created, the panels can be re-arranged and augmented. Time is taken in preproduction to create the storyboards from a shooting script. Like the script, a storyboard is not the movie itself, but instead a blueprint or a guideline from which the movie can be dynamically created.

A storyboard can provide a visual checklist for an accurate idea of how much of the film is in the can. The most difficult estimation problem on a shooting schedule is determining how much can be shot in a single shooting day. Outside of your lead actor refusing

to come out of his trailer, re-lighting for each new shot is probably the most time-consuming process that takes place in a shooting day.

A storyboard can help you determine how many shots you can make. A scene may only take up a single script page, but if you want to shoot it from 18 different angles, a dozen or more lighting set-ups may be required. Since each storyboard panel would show you a different angle, you can more accurately determine what is and isn’t possible in your shooting schedule.

Storyboarding allows you to see what props need to be rented for a shot or what locations can be faked or “cheated” to minimize expensive locations. The storyboards allow for much more accurate time and financial budgeting than a script alone.

You can get started by creating a simple sketch of the frame on the blank side.

Where to get the Camera?

It is not very difficult to find a video camera, even a professional one, if you live in acity or a large town. There always might be a film school or studio, where you could borrow a camera and other equipment for short time without of charge or for a reasonable fare. You could arrange there a studio for cutting and get a piece of advice as well.

Another one solution is a personal camcorder, which might be quite cheap or second hand and not necessary professional to learn the basic shot skills. Different models of cameras are available nowadays.

How to show your films?

After you finished your work, you might let the other people see it. One of the most accessible ways is to do it online. There are several websites, where you could for free upload your videos.

For instance:

Your public will be quite broad then – say it, worldwide. It is also practical, while you could get the feedback from the viewers – it is possible to leave comments on these websites.

Another one solution is to show your film to your friends and beloved ones, consider it as a good reason for the party. There are as well independent cinemas and alternative film projection initiatives in most of the social and cultural centrums, you could contact them and make an event, where not only the friends, but also the critics could come.

If you are reaaly confident that your work is worth to show to the people who are especially interested in film-making, feel free to send your film to one of the numerous local or international film festivals.

Theory Part

Theory part:

- What for?

Film-making is a wonderful activity and lifestyle. There are not so many genres of art which let you to save your memories and to realize your dreams. The film is one of the best. With a video camera you could document everyday life, develop your imagination and share your ideas with the other people. Nowadays you could make a film even using the mobile phone, if it has a built-in one, and upload it online almost at the same time.

A Good Shot. Camera workshop

Participatory camera workshop, aimed at sharing the skills and ideas during 2 hours of the adventurous insight in the shooting techniques. Up to 15 participants with different backgrounds will try to create a friendly atmosphere for the communication, cooperation and learning.

This workshop is for all those who are interested in creating new videos. Fresh ideas are welcome.

If you have a video camera, bring it with. One simple video camera for those who do not have their own will be provided. If you want to share your equipment with other participants, it is wonderful. Please, bring it and share.

Structure of the workshop:

- Timing of the workshop:

45 min. theory/15 min. pause/45 min. practice.

Basic Shots

1. How to construct the shot?

Before the shooting it is important to do:

- to do location scout

- to consider intellectual rights

- to do time planning

- to obtain requisite

- to write the plan of filming.

1. Extreme Long Shot

1. Also referred to as a "very wide shot" or a "very

wide angle shot".

2. Traditionally used in exterior shooting.

3. Encompasses a large field of view.

4. Often used as an establishing shot at the beginning of a motion

picture or at the start of a new sequence within a motion picture.

5. Shows where/ when/ who.

2. Very Long Shot

1. May be used in exterior or interior shooting when enough width and height exist within the studio set or location building.
2. Environment within the film space is still very important.
3. May be used as an establishing shot where movement of character brings the figure closer to the camera.

4. Shows where/ when/ who.

3. Long Shot/ Wide Shot

1. This is usually considered a “full body” shot, wide but in close to a figure with hea d and feet visible in the frame.

2. Interior or exterior shooting.

3. Larger human figure takes attention away from the environment; however, a fair amount of the character’s surroundings is still visible.

4. May not work well for an establishing shot.

5. Shows where/ when/ who.

4. Medium Long Shot

1. Increases magnitude. The bottom of frame cuts off the leg either just below or, more commonly, just above the knee. In the last case it is sometimes referred to as the “Cowboy” because in American Western movies the firearm in the holster strapped to the thigh of a cowboy is shown.

2. May be interior or exterior shot.

3. Human figure is prominent; details in clothing, gender, and facial expressions are visible.

4. Shows who/where/when.

5. Medium Shot

1. Or the “Waist” shot, as the frame cuts off the human figure just below the waist and just above the wrist if arms are down at the side.

2. Interior or exterior.

3. Is most prominent in the frame, eyes and the direction they look clothing, hair color, and style are all plainly visible.

4. Subject movement may become a concern, as the tighter

framing restricts the freedom of gesture - be careful not to break frame.

5. Shows who/where/when.

6. Medium Close-Up

1. Or the “two-button” for the tight bottom frame cutting off at the chest, roughly where you would see the top two buttons on a shirt. Definitely cuts off above the elbow joint.

2. Interior or exterior.

3. Character’s facial features are rather clear — where the eyes look is obvious, as is emotion, hair style and color, make-up, etc. This is one of the most commonly used shots in filmmaking.

4. An audience is supposed to be watching the human face at this point in the framing so actions or objects in the surrounding environment hold little to no importance.

5. Shows where/when.

7. Close-Up

1. Sometimes called a “head shot”, as the framing may cut off the top of the

subject’s hair and the bottom of the frame can begin anywhere just below the chin

or with a little upper shoulder visible.

2. Interior or exterior.

3. A very intimate full face shot of a human subject showing all detail in the eyes and conveys the subtle emotions that play across the eyes, mouth, and facial muscles of an actor.

4. An audience member should be totally focused on the human face with this framing, especially the eyes and/or mouth.

5. Shows who but not so much where/when.

8. Big Close-Up

1. Human face occupies as much of the frame as possible and still shows the key

features of eyes, nose, and mouth at once.

2. Interior or exterior.

3. Such an intimate shot puts the audience directly in the face of the subject - because

every detail of the face is highly visible, facial movements or expressions need to be

subtle - very little head movement can be tolerated before the subject moves out of frame.

4. Shows who and how that “who” feels.

9. Extreme Close-Up

1. Purely a detail shot - framing favors one aspect of a subject such as his/her eyes, mouth, ear, or hand.

2. Lacking any points of reference to the surrounding environment, the audience has no context in which to place this body part detail, so understanding will stem from how or when this shot is edited into the motion picture.

3. This type of extremely magnified imagery can be used in documentaries (medical films or scientific studies), and in fictional and experimental art films.

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Vocabulary

e-mail

Electronic mail or e-mail, is a means to exchange digital letters or messages. Each person could get her or his unique e-mail address to receive and send the messages over the Internet. An e-mail message consists of two parts - the message header with the e-mail address and the letter itself.

search engine

A web search engine searches for information on the Internet. The search results may consist of webpages, images, information and other types of files. Search engines operate automatically.

social network

A social network is an online service or website that connects the people who share the same interests and/or activities. Each user could create a profile and interact with friends over the Internet.

account

Using the Internet services, such as social networks, demands that each user has an account which consists of a username and a password to log into the network, and besides screen name and nickname.

profile

A user profile is a collection of personal data connected with a specific user which represents a person's identity on the Internet.

webpage

A webpage is a document written in the computer language (for example HTML) for the Internet. It can be accessed through a web browser and displayed on a computer monitor or mobile device. This information is usually connected with other webpages through the links.

website

A website is a collection of related web pages, images, and videos with a common address. All publicly accessible websites together are the World Wide Web.

chat

A chat is a means of direct one-on-one communication over the Internet, using special software such as instant messengers. With help of them you can communicate with your friends who are online.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

How to Create a Website or Webblog?

- What is a website?

- Which kinds of websites are there on the Internet?

- How to create a website?

Now, when you learned how to create an e-mail account, how to upload and download files, how to publish images and texts on the Internet, it will be easy for you to make one step further and create your own webpage.

Think about what you will write on your webpage, try to choose a special topic. It could be a webblog or online diary, where you could leave your impressions. Or you could collect links to the articles which seem interesting to you or republish the articles you read somewhere else (it is not so much welcomed). The webpage might not be text-only, pictures, photos and videos will make it more interesting. You could also use the webblog for writing local or private news.

It is easy to create a webpage template. Look up for free HTML tutorials online which will help you to find a way to create your own webpage. A webpage template makes the task of building a website fairly fast and easy. To lay out the website you need to use Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) code, the main computer language of the Internet. It controls everything that you can see on the webpage like colors, boxes, text, and animations. So, it is useful to learn the necessary HTML language tags first, before trying to create a webpage template. It is a simple computer language and you can start working without too much special knowledge.

Here are the steps to create a webpage template:

1. Study how to create HTML tables. This will help you in creating columns for your webpage.

2. Become familiar with HTML color codes. Your colors should be simple and eye-friendly. Coordinate your webpage colors and create a professional look to your viewers.

3. Prepare images and logos to place in your webpage. The files in JPG or GIF format have to be of 800 x 400 pixel size.

4. Configure your webpage width. Set your monitor resolutions to a width of 1024 pixels wide instead of the old fashioned 800 by 600 pixels width setting. It is better to have a fixed width setting.

5. Know the basics parts of the template diagram. Your webpage contents should be split up into different parts or tables to load it faster. Since the webpage is made up of different tables, a template diagram will help you have a better picture of

what your webpage should look like. You could choose a template diagram that will suit your needs. Basically, your template diagram should have tables with the heading, the body and navigation controls, optional navigation tools, and footer.

6. Create sample of the webpages first. Do not settle on just one template. If you create several drafts, you could choose the best afterwards. Consider the layout of your template. It should be user-friendly, and the colors which you use should match to each other. Make sure that the tables do not overlap and webpage loading time does not take too long to irritate your visitors. Once you like what you see, you can move on to creating the content for your webpage.

Used Words:

Website - related web pages, images, and videos with a common address. All publicly accessible websites together are the World Wide Web.

Template - a special Internet tool which helps to create web-sites.

Required Tools:

* Computer with Internet connection.

* Enough understanding of computer security while using online resources.

* Basic knowledge of the HTML.

Useful Links:

How to Publish Images on the Internet?

- Which image formats are suitable for the Internet?

- Where to store the images online?

One of the most popular image formats for the computers is the Joint Photographic Experts Group or JPEG. Many pictures from digital cameras are JPEG files. They are suitable for compression and upload. So, you could easily share the images from your camera or your computer with other people, if you publish them on the Internet.

1. You could send the files via the Inernet if you attach them to the e-mail. When you are writing your e-mail, look for a button "attach files". When the menu appears, click “browse” and select the JPEG files on your computer which you want to upload. Remember, it will now take longer to send your e-mail.

2. Use a free online service to store your files. There are many websites where you could upload your photos for free, for example Photobucket, ImageShack and Picasaweb. Flickr.com is also one of the popular services, but you can only upload there up to a certain file size, if you are using a free account. If you pay for the service, you can upload more images and the bigger images equivalent up to one gigabyte. Photowebsites are a useful way to learn the photo technique, while you could comment on the other people’s photos and discuss them. To use these websites, you need to sign up with your e-mail account, create a password and a user account. Some of the websites become owners of your images, which you upload there. It might be not in your interest as an artist or photographer. So, you should read the “Terms of Service” first to see the rules of the website where you are going to present your photos.

3. You could also send your images through a chat program. In many chat programs (such as AIM, and Yahoo! Messenger) you could show a picture to a person you are talking to. Most of the time, you will see a small button in your chat window that looks like a picture. Click on it and share the file with your friend.

If your file is too big, many websites will resize it to an adequate file size. Sending through the e-mail won't resize it, and the larger the file is, the longer it takes to send and receive it. Consider that some people have electronic mailboxes that are of a certain size, and a large file might just fill them up.

4. You could also upload your images and share them with your friends through the social network.

Required Tools:

* Computer with Internet connection.

* Enough understanding of computer security while using online resources.

* Enough understanding of the copyright policy on the Internet.

Quick Tips:

* Resizing images makes file transfers faster and easier.

Used Words:

JPEG - a method of compression for digital images.

file sharing - allows the access to the information in the digital form, such as computer programs, multi-media (audio, video), documents, or electronic books.

user account - a special registration which allows a user the access to a computer system, or e-mail.

server - a computer program which supports the work of other programs, which may or may not be running on the same computer.

Useful Links:

How to Download/Upload a File Online?

- What is file download/upload?

- Where to find the files to download online?

- How to upload the file?

Internet is a great storage of various files. You could find there almost any kind of files, from music and films to software and audiobooks.

Tips for downloading the file:

Find the file which you need.

- To download the file click on the menu to open and save it.

- Install the file. Usually you download the file in the form of archive, which you have to set going afterwards. When the download is complete, open the downloaded file and start to install the program. You have to locate the folder to save files on your computer.

Tips for uploading the file:

You could not only download the files, but as well upload the files online and make them public and share them.

FTP, or the File Transfer Protocol, is a very popular program, used to copy or download a file from one computer to another. There are following steps to upload files to another computer.

* You need to get a FTP subscription.

* Download and install a FTP client which will allow you to upload the files to your FTP manager. FileZilla is one of the most used FTP clients. Find a to filezilla-project.org with help of your webbrowser. Click the button that says “Download FileZilla Client” and download the program. After the download is complete, start the setting or installing the program.

* Prepare the files you want to upload to your FTP server.

* Get a FTP account ready. In order to upload files to your FTP file manager you have to input the following details: host address, username, password, port number.

* Launch FileZilla and begin uploading the files:

1.) Enter the host address which is your website address as well.

2.) Input the username and password.

3.) Enter the port number which you will get from your web host.

4.) Hit the “Quick connect” button to log on to your FTO manager.

Once logged on using the FTP client find the files you want to upload on your computer and right click on them. Select “upload” from the menu and start the transfer. It will take a few seconds, depending on how big the file sizes are.

Used Words:

download - to receive data to a local system from a remote system.

upload - to send data from a local system to a remote system such as a server or another client.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - a network protocol which is used to copy a file from one computer to another over the Internet.

Useful Links:

http://filezilla-project.org

How to Find the News Online?

- How to find the news on the Internet?

- How to write the news on the Internet yourself?

You can get express news online – it is fast. And the internet news channels are the most flexible one. Here are several top global express news websites:

1. Yahoo.com is one of the most popular express news. There you could find different kind of news: opinion or editorial news, magazine news, business news, world and local news, scientific news, and even automobile news.

2. CNN offers a variety of topics from international, regional to local. They also have a weather service.

3. Msnbc.msn.com is a great website with news, links and articles.

4. Fox News is the online express news website of the Fox Broadcasting Company. They publish international and national news with comments and videos.

5. The New York Times also has an online version with global edition for international news.

6. BBC is a powerful news resource of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

7. News.google.com is a website where you could find the news links to the other websites.

8. Dw-world.de is a respectful news resource of the German Broadcasting Company Deutsche Welle.

Most popular newspapers publish the news online on their websites. Webblogs are a great source of information as well. They are locally and personally oriented. You could use a webblog and publish there the news which has a private importance for you and your friends.

Used Words:

Link - a part of the web page, that is connected with another electronic document on the Internet, which could be loaded in the browser by clicking.

Website - related web pages, images, and videos with a common address. All publicly accessible websites together are the World Wide Web or the Internet.

Webblog - is a type of website or part of a website.

How to Buy and Sell Things on the Internet?

- How to Buy and Sell Things on the Internet?

Tips for buying things on the Internet:

Many people nowadays prefer to buy or sell things on the Internet. If you need to buy something, it is not necessary to go to the shop or supermarket. You could also buy things online. There are several huge internet shops where you could buy various products – from food to the technics. You could find the new one items and secondhand as well. It is more easy and convenient than to do shopping in the supermarket. For instance, some people don’t like shopping at all.

The most popular one worldwide Internet shopping services are Amazon.com and Ebay.com. You can order the products there and they will be delivered to you by post or with a courier. You can pay online with credit card or on arrival. There are thousands other smaller one specialized Internet shops.

Tips for selling things on the Internet:

The Internet proposes an easy-to-handle and client-oriented way to advertise and sell your products. A well-written ad for a product you want to sell on the Internet will interest more buyers. You can write an internet ad for your own product or for another person's or company's product that you intend to resell. Writing an ad takes some skills.

Used Words:

Online shopping allows to buy goods from a seller directly in real-time over the Internet.

Useful Links:

How to Get the Maps Online?

- Where could I find a map online?

- How could I use the map and plan my itinerary on the Internet?

Finding a map on the Internet is quick and easy. Online maps are more up-to-date than traditional maps.

Tips for finding the local map:

1. Mapquest is a very popular website which specializes in maps. It can provide you with maps of almost any location in the U.S., Canada, Europe and most of other countries. You could also find there driving directions, including which roads to take, and even estimate the time and distance of the journey. You have to know exactly your starting point and the point of destination.

2. Expedia is a website that gives you detailed driving instructions and topographical maps for the United States and Europe. This website has the advantage of being a "one-stop shop" for travel plans. There you can book a flight, book a hotel room and rent a car. Both of these websites offer interactive maps. You can zoom in as close as you wish, all the way down to street level. You can also zoom out and see your entire road at once.

3. National Geographic has a very useful tool called MapMachine. At this website you can look up a map for nearly any place on earth and get the population statistics, average rainfall, typical weather for each season and even historical facts.

4. maps.google.com is powerful resource which provides a detailed search of any address worldwide.

If you are traveling to a completely unfamiliar area, it's a good idea to get maps and directions from at least two sources, just in case one source proves to be inaccurate. And you could always stop and ask for directions.

Useful Links:

Tips for finding the World map:

You could find a world map in one of these spots:

1. National Geographic website features fact sheets about every country. There are maps which you could download at its resource MapMachine.

2. At World Maps website you will find classroom-type, roll-up world maps. They can provide you with relief maps, political maps and historical maps, as well as many other formats.

3. Rand McNally. The recourse offer fold-up maps, wall maps and online maps, just like the other sources listed here, but you can also find world atlases and many kinds of globes. And, if you can't find what you need, they offer custom-designed maps, too.

4. maps.google.com - is powerful resource which provides a detailed search of any address worldwide.

5. google.earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program.

Just remember, if you are using a map for travel, always get the most current version available. Political boundaries in some areas of the world change on an almost-daily basis.

Useful Links:

Tips for finding street maps:

If you are driving to an unfamiliar area, or easily getting lost in your own backyard, a street map is very useful.

1. Mapquest is one of the oldest and the best mapping websites. It provides street-level maps of nearly any country in the world. You can zoom in close enough to see each street in detail and zoom out far enough to see several streets at once.

2. Yahoo! also provides interactive maps. However, they also include current traffic conditions with their maps, which can be very useful if you're driving in a large city.

3. Search with the help of search engine for the websites of the local tourist offices in the city to which you are traveling to. They usually display city maps.

4. maps.google.com - is powerful resource which provides a detailed search of any address worldwide.

If you choose to print out an online map for reference when you are traveling, be sure to use as large a piece of paper as possible. An 11" x 17" format is ideal. Street maps contain lots of detail, which you need to know when you're in an unfamiliar area.

Required Tools:

* Computer with Internet connection.

* Enough understanding of computer security while using online resources.

Useful Links:

About Me

Friday 19 August 2011

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Tuesday 1 February 2011