Final Project

Title: Our University and our Department

Medium: 2 Videos (.mov)

Design of movies to showcase the various interesting/distinguished aspects of NUS.

Format:
at least 35 seconds – maximum 3 mins for video 1 (NUS), and
at least 1:30 mins - maximum 6 mins for video 2 (CNM)

Deliverable:
1. NUS Movie (1 low resolution in AVI no lesser than 320*240); 1 high resolution in MOV above 720*480 )
2. CNM Movie (1 low resolution in AVI no lesser than 320*240); 1 high resolution in MOV above720*480)

Deadline: Saturday, 4rd April 2009 (noon 12:00 p.m.). Submit the final project to the server, youtube, and give the URL in IVLE.

For preproduction documentation, the deadline is Saturday, March 14th, 2009 (12 noon) (see here for detail).

Video 2 consists of interviews (randomly drawn).

Style: Narration, Commercial, Footages, and/or Interview (i.e. for Video 2).

• Develop a plot on the theme such as Ken Burns assignment (e.g. something about our university/our CNM programme, why you choose NUS, why you choose CNM, your typical day in the Uni, your typical day in the class, what you enjoy in the uni/campus, your friends, our foodcourt, what do you like to eat in NUS, try to promote and let others see the benefits/advantages of studying in NUS and CNM such as Ken Burns Assignment )
• Movie with NUS and CNM themes can also be events (youth Olympics), People (distinguished professor who created Formula 1 racing car), Faculty (Millie’s University Teaching Award), Parents’ view on University, Motivation from Brothers, Sisters who have graduated, Distinguished Alumni etc.
• The videos can be playful (but do not quote other unversity NTU University.. National Technology Underground University) Microsoft and Mac.

Procedure for Video 2:

• We will provide a list of alumni or faculty from CNM for interview (yet, we need to come out with the story first. Without a good story, our interview will become disorganized, and we may not know what to do with the interview).
• Arrange the interview, plan what to ask during the interview, and go with your crew to shoot the video (preproduction documentation). When we secure an interview, please inform our fellow classmates about the meeting venue in the IVLE forum, and those who are interested please inform others that you would like to join.
• When you are interviewing our alumni and faculty, you may shoot photos/vidoes during your interview or ask our alumni to provide their photos for scanning or pictures of any awards or achievements and so on (examples are endless).
• To celebrate on our CNM's 10th Anniversary, Please ask our alumni or faculty (or yourselves) to say something like "Happy 10th Anniversary CNM".
• Record and edit audio
• Shoot and edit the video
• Compress the video
• Render the video to .mov
• Submit the final product (i.e. mov) to the server (The finish product should be loaded to the server)
• Also upload final production to Youtube.com

For the CNM video, our idea is to do something like a talk show with a video conference interview. At first we were stumped as a plot is required for the interview. However we decided to make it simple and just do a talk show kinda effect for the interview. We were assigned Mr Julian Lim, Head of New Media, Singapore Youth Olympic Games. Sounds pretty daunting at first but he is actually a really friendly guy. We decided that the style of the talk show be quirky, funny and lame and thus at every opportunity, we emphasized the letters CNM in our statement.


For the NUS video, its main idea is to answer the question "Why choose NUS?". This question will be answered by students of NUS while at the same time introduces people to the different faculties and facilities that NUS can offer. The video starts off with people holding up boards that says "Ever Wondered Why NUS?" and intermittently, there will be fast forward effects by filming from a bike that goes around campus. However upon showing the video, the critique is that the fast forward part is a little too Cloverfield version 2 and can be a little uncomfortable viewing. Thus the transition is changed to screenshots of the places instead. Here is the final version!

Assignment 6

Cheers rang out in the classroom in a "Singapore has gotten a gold medal in the Olympics" style when it is announced that Assignment 5 Animation is canceled.


Assignment 6 is all about using video effects in the theme of SUPERHEROES ABILITY. I had been looking forward to this assignment as it sounded really really fun. We were allowed to use any sort of effect, not being limited to time freeze only now. The requirement is that it has to have a plot and the plot has to be believable. Immediately, my ideas run wild. My natural instinct, as always, is to think of doing something funny.

First idea i had was two person fighting, but it turn out that there are actually fighting with rock, paper and scissors(RPS). Not the lame kind where you see them gesturing around menacing before breaking into a session of RPS. It is more of a street fighter kind where they can shoot projectile of RPS (sounds damn geeky i know). It is inspired by this video i saw in youtube.



The 2nd idea i had can be summed up by the title of the video that i have thought out for it - A guy who could freeze time.......for only 3 seconds. Yes, another lame idea. The basic idea is this loser guy who dont really have friends but secretly like this very popular girl(damn cliche i know). Den one day as he was getting bullied, he found out that he could stop time. But only for 3 seconds. Then stuff happens in between and the final scene is of him seeing the girl he like almost being knocked down by a car and he was at least 100 m away from here. He quickly stops time and started running, the scene remains where he last stood. 3 seconds later, the tires screeched and the pedastrians gapsed loudly. The camera den slowly pan to the other side of the street with the guy holding the girl in his arm. So he discovered that he not only can stop time (for 3 seconds) he also have super speed (in that 3 seconds). He then smirks, and the end.


After considering, i decided on my first idea, because well, it is kinda hard to get actors and actresses (exam time!) and it requires a lot different settings for the 2nd idea. The first idea is all shot and delivered at clementi woods with 1 actor (my fren) in 1 hr. However, it is not all smooth sailing. THREE times i arranged to film and THREE times it rained like the earth needs Noah's Ark again. On the Fourth try, i managed to get all the filming done in 1hr and get back to the safety of shelters before it rained like it has never rained before. I feel that this exercise is not only a good exercise in video effects, but also in how one handles the camera. It is unbelievably hard to dolly with the canon HD handheld camera with just your hands. The tons of mosquitoes and exquisite insects flying around doesnt help either. And then i remember the ridiculously funny and creative fake trailers i saw on youtube and i decided to make this a trailer too. In addition to the effects of the projectiles and sort, i also have to use masking (coz i dun have green screen) to "merge" the same person acting as two different person on the same screen. I am quite satisfied with the results as those who viewed it said they cant tell that the fight scene is actually the same person but filmed separately. I will upload the final video when i get to uploading to youtube.

Here is the video that inspired me.

Assignment 4

Group Assignment 4b

Title: Preproduction Documentation
Medium: File -> Submit to to the Server, and Print (duplex)
Planning and Managing Video Production Project
Theme: Preproduction Documentation for Final Project

Description:
To complete the final project within the required time and budget, each group should provide preproduction documents. The documentation should include, but not limited to,

• Project Scope
• Description of the project
• Project Plans & Schedule
• Milestones (Completion of a specified set of activities)
• Budget
• Lyrics (N/A this semester as this is not a MTV assignment)
• Script
• Storyboard
• Resource requirements
• Others (e.g. assumptions, constrains and so on)

Procedure:

• Define your project scope, goal and description of the project (i.e. why do you choose this particular idea to focus on; how to make the idea more interesting; the scope of the project; define your target audience; the motivation to produce this video (i.e. why do you make this video); the objective (i.e. what do you want to achieve after the audience have seen your video) and so on.
• Write project plans (planning your locations, what equipments to bring, shooting and production schedules, schedule for daily call sheets and so on)
• Describe when you need to finish a specified set of activities (i.e. milestone).
• Make a spending plan (i.e. budgeting): financing (money contribution from members, sponsor if applicable); costs/expenditure (of gear, props and others); budgeting procedures (i.e. how do you plan and control the financial resources, and the expenditures of these resources).
• Write your lyrics (n/a this semester) and your script (i.e. explain the meaning of the lyrics; what do you want people to learn or what is the most important idea you want to communicate; specified your dialogue, sciences, setting, time, context and key action (scripting will be briefly covered after recess). Leave as much white space on the page as possible in order to make it easier for actors to read.
• Resource requirement: responsibilities of the personal, hiring personnel (if applicable), casting, location scouting; planning costumes, wardrobe, makeup and hairstyling; planning props, effects, and supplies; equipment rental and purchase where applicable; obtaining rights and permission to shoot, transportations (e.g. renting a van, car), meals and so on.
• Save these documents into one file in a word document.
• Put the cover, write the names of the team members
• Submit through the server ( The finish product should be loaded to the server)

Submission: After Recess (Saturday, March 14th, 2009, 12 noon); the softcopy should be submitted to IVLE which closes sharply at 12:00 p.m..

Presentation: the week following (i.e. March 9 and March 11, 2009; also bring the hardcopy)

• Project Scope
• Description of the project
• Project Plans & Schedule
• Milestones (Completion of a specified set of activities)
• Budget
• Script
• Storyboard
• Resource requirements
• Others (e.g. assumptions, constrains and so on)

A HUGH sigh of relieve spread through the class when Dr Julian announced that the reverse engineering exercise is canceled. This frees up valuable time to complete the final project. I was quite surprised when i opened up the sample file for the preproduction document. There are gazillion tons of information in it and i had no idea there are so much things to be documented in the preproduction document! Lesson learnt : never underestimate any assignments (especially for NM3208). This also goes to show how important the preproduction preparation and documentation is.

Assignment 3: Ken Burns

Title: Motion Photos for CNM and NUS (2 versions)
Medium: “Motion Photograph” /Video

Design of a simple movie using photographs (i.e. still image)

Theme: Promote NUS and CNM with Creative 'Movies' (Create a .mov for a Final Product)

Description:

• Develop a plot on the theme (e.g. something about our university/our CNM programme, why you choose NUS, why you choose CNM, your typical day in the Uni, your typical day in the class, what you enjoy in the uni/campus, your friends, our foodcourt, what do you like to eat in NUS, try to promote and let others see the benefits/advantages of studying in NUS and CNM).
• Follow the procedure described below
• Render the video to .mov
• Submit the final product (i.e. mov) to the server (The finish product should be loaded to the server)

Procedure:

• Take as many pictures as possible (i.e., related to the theme above.....something about our university/our CNM programme, why you choose NUS, why you choose CNM, your typical day in the Uni, your typical day in the class, what you enjoy in the uni/campus, your friends, our foodcourt, what do you like to eat in NUS, try to promote and let others see the benefits/advantages of studying in NUS and CNM).
• Take around 40-70 pictures
• Build a story around the pictures taken.
• Use Microsoft Photo Story, Windows Movie Maker, Premiere or After Effects to do the panning, tilting, scaling, and transition etc.
• Where possible add some animations, rotations and montages.
• Add the title/credit in your movie
• Add voice/a narration/song/background.
• Requirement: minimum 1-minute to maximum 3-minute clip

Stage 1: (Next week)

• Develop two plots for the theme (one is for NUS, the other is for CNM)
• Concept development: Thumbnail sketches of your concepts (i.e., can be a storyboard, pictures, photos or hand-drawn)
• Create 10 images (e.g. thumbnail, drawing or photograph) each for NUS and CNM i.e. total 20 images
• For NUS: The 10 images (above) should consist of 2 images (begin or intro), 4 images (middle or main story), climax 2 images, and 2 images (conclusion)
• For CNM: The 10 images (above) should consist of 2 images (begin or intro), 4 images (middle or main story), climax 2 images and 2 images (conclusion)
• Organize/Put these 10 images/drawing/photograph in A3 paper.
• Present through A3 paper next week
• Feedback: Present concepts to your friends for discussion in the tutorial class.
• Deliverable: Print
• Deadline: Next week

Stage 2: (the week after)

• Insert more images in between these 10 images (no restriction on how many images/pictures could be used)
• Production: Develop the concept into final product using adobe Premiere and/or adobe After Effect (not restricted to these two software. )
• Submit to Youtube and submit the URL through IVLE workbin (Deadline is strictly imposed on IVLE system).
• Deadline: 1 March 2009 - 23:59
• Presentation: Present it to the classroom.

Okay for the CNM video, the idea i had was actually based on a real life story. One very fine day, i was happily playing some game in the library as a reading for NM3216 Game Design (we have to do a weekly critique based on some readings and the game[s]). Out of nowhere, a hand smacked resoundingly onto my head. For a moment, an earthquake of magnitude 9 is happening inside my head. I steadied myself and turned around. Standing there was my friend, looking half bemused, half slightly unhappy. I was given a talking to on how people have no time to even sleep and there i was playing games in library. After i explained that it was for the game design module, the suspicious friend didnt believed until i navigated to the game design ivle.

In a nutshell, what i wanna show through the video? : CNM is different, fun and who knows, perhaps other departments are jsut a little envious of us.



The comments from the class were generally quite favorable, much to my surprise. As this is a promotional video, i thought my video is a tad too childish and playful for it. But it turned out well and the areas to improve were sizing up the pictures to fill up the whole screen. AND to photoshop away the TOSHIBA name on my computer. I hadnt have time to upload the completed video to youtube, but i will update if i got to it.


Next up, the NUS video. I have a very very hard time thinking of what to do with it since my attention is all wrapped up doing the CNM video(which i had fun doing). In the end, i chance upon this facebook group called NUS STANDS FOR NO USE STUDYING, which is created by my friend. Then, an idea on how to approach this struck me. At first there is this common joke in NUS that it actually stands for National University of Stairs. Then it gets to the crowd favorite of No Use Studying. Then i show that NUS is not just about studying, there is also very vibrant campus life. NUS is simply more than just studies.

In a nutshell : What does NUS really stands for? A vibrant and colorful enviroment.





This assignment gave me a HUGE headache. After the tortures of learning CSS from scratch(which i can say i became adequately proficient in), i have to learn After Effects from scratch. Thank goodness for www.videocopilot.net ! The experience gained in using AE for the CNM video is immense. All these are applied when i am doing the NUS video. Where i learn that nearly categorizing your project panel is REALLY REALLY important (It saves a heck lot of time). However all in all, i feel that after effects is really fun, indefinitely better than CSS.I am glad to have the chance to learn AE (the price to pay being a few night's sleep, but that is the norm right?)

Assignment 2

Title: A Day in the Uni
Medium: Web Images (html file with images)

Design of a simple webpage.

Create a web based visual narrative of any simple daily/weekend activity/event in NUS..

Description:

• Select a simple activity (e.g. food court/ library/ reading /discussing / places in NUS / your day in NUS (i.e., any day e.g., monday, saturday), any activities in the uni, highlight something unique about NUS, promote / sell NUS to your friends overseas)
• Take as many pictures as possible
• Build a story around the pictures taken (at least 7 pictures)
• Create a web page using lots of images and a little text (you may use attached template - download the file in zip format)
• The finish product should be loaded to the server

Procedure:

• Pictures: try to keep background of your picture clean.
• Crop images as tightly as possible
• Try to use as few colours as possible
• Take picture in well lit areas. Soft lighting: keep shadows to minimum.(examples of good images) - check links under reference below

Submission: Next week

Objective of the exercise:

• Primary: Image optimization for web delivery
• Should use GIF and JPEG format images
• Use as many images as possible (image size should not be less than 320X240 pixels)
• Important: The page size should not be over 180 KB (including all images and html file)
• Should be visually pleasing

For this assignment, i just wanna portray a typical day in NUS (for me at least). I interpret the title as "A typical day" as opposed to perhaps a physical 24 hr day in NUS. So i have decided to show what can be expected from a day in NUS.


For the first draft, the comment i get from Dr Julian is that perhaps i can consider using photos where i am wearing yellow for all the photos for consistency.



I have given the suggestion some thoughts and instead of changing the pictures to all of me wearing yellow, i have change the 3rd last photo to a picture of me NOT wearing yellow. I also changed the caption of that picture. The reason for that choices is that now my photos are nearly separated to 4 and 3 with the first 4 being sort of the pre official start of university days (Arts camp, orientation week etc) and the last 3 being what is happening during the term time itself.

Assignment 1

Title: Designing for a Web Media
Medium: HTML + CSS

Theme: Revamp the Media Development Lab (MDL) website.

Description:

• Use Principles of Visual Communications (i.e., Design Principle) to modify the existing website.
• Create a theme for your own design (any theme you like).
• Define the typefaces used, the color, the grid and other design elements applied in CSS.
• Design the graphics (images) to suit your theme.
• Upload your design on the server.
• Give your design a brief name (using DNS).

Procedure:

• Look and analyse at the existing systems (the content, the design elements etc). Please find the existing design in your folder.
  • To analyse, please go to \\cnm\web3208\NUS_NET\A1\MDLExistingWeb\ (Please beware it is a backslash \, not a forwardslash /).
  • To browse it online, then go to http://web3208.visualcomms.com\NUS_NET\A1\MDLExistingWeb\ (Please beware it is a forwardslash /, not a backwardslash \).
• Identify elements/contents need to be modified.
• Discuss several themes with your teammate, and make some roughs for the layout, and what you want to put.
• Please be careful that we are not allowed to modify the header and footer. This is the corporate rule from NUS. The rest of the content can be modified (e.g. all html files).
• Follow the final rough that you finally decide, and create a CSS file to match this rough.
• Upload the css, and test these pages live
  • To upload, please go to \\cnm\web3208\NUS_NET, where NUS_NET is your user id (e.g. u6050432). Please beware it is a backslash \, not a forwardslash /.
  • Create a folder name it as modified
  • To test, go to http://web3208.visualcomms.com\NUS_NET\A1\modified
• Choose a free DNS, and give a good and easy-to-remember name
• Present your design in class by elaborating the design elements your team have applied (the project will be marked based on these elements and how these elements interact to make your design look professional)and how it matches your theme. Please point out these elements as many as possible and how they help the website to achieve the professional look. Also elaborate on the enhancement your team have made. The total time for presentation for a team is 12-15 mins.

Right. It is a group project and when i visited the website, the first thought that came to my mind was :"Everything is very Windows 95".

I have a little bit of experience in playing around with html (mainly via blogs) but looking at the source code of the websites made my jaw drop all the way to China. It is messy and the codes are all over the place. In addition we had to use CSS to transform the website. I sat down and stoned. Suddenly this year's CNY becomes CSSNY.

I set out to learn CSS from scratch. I really did, just for this assignment. Not only learning CSS was proving to be a huge challenge, making sense of the website's html code and making it CSS friendly is another HUGE challenge.

However, i am proud to say that i have conqured that all, countless amount of hair and energy were lost on frustrations(at the ever-crushing dreamweaver to the huge mess of a html code). I finally managed to come up with the template using CSS for revamping the whole website.

We decided to keep it simple, with main tags at the top and side tags at the right hand side. There is minimal graphics except for headings and the index page. The background was kept white, the font size and color was slighly altered from the even-a-blind-man-can-see sized font to a smaller but still readable font.

Elements of our design in a few words: Clean, organized and concise.

Our revamped website : http://web3208.visualcomms.com/u0600988/A1/modified/
The original website : http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/MDL/

Just to give a general idea, here are a couple of the main changes.

The old website

The New design

The old menu bar

The New menu bar.