Week 4

10 Nov 2014

Hello everyone , is back to Monday so it means more exciting stuff coming up. This week I am task to refine a edit by a previous editor. This edit is for Thanksgiving 2014 . What I was tasked to do was to refine this editor's edit and make sure it looks good and understandable from a audience point of view due to the fact I wasn't on the production for this shoot and I have no idea what was the story about.

So I started off by tidying up the previous editor's workspace, after scrubbing through his timeline. I realize that his edits lacks of handles, so I extended some of his shots and hold it. I also make changes in a dialogue scene because Mr Harry prefer lesser cuts and lesser Wideshot.

Some notes for the cuts by Mr Harry

After finishing the offline edit I then through the server past Ed the VFX shot for him to finish up, while Nicholas tidy up the audio.

While they were busy the other touches, I went out with Phi to pick up some cutaways for the short film. We went to a quiet bus stop to film. Took us quite awhile to get the shot but when we bring it back to post we realized it look weird so we didnt use it, instead we only use the audio track. 

This was the only shot that was used in the film 

Due to the fact that the frequency of the bus in SF is 30 to 45 minutes and rather inconsistent, I have to constantly be alert on the road to see of any oncoming bus. 

After finishing shooting the cutaways I then bring it back to my edit. After finishing adding in the cutaways I then went in to set up the greenscreen for a shoot coming this week. It is a similar set up as the Thanksgiving video. 

After setting up, I went for dinner and went back to studio to further refine the cut while Nicholas translate the dialogue for subtitle. 

Here is Nicholas working on the subtitle. *I just cant fix this rotation problem. 

Here is a rough schedule of what we will be doing for the next 2 months.  I really cant wait for it. 

11 Nov 2014

Is a holiday today, but since there is hiccups in our trip to the rifle range. We stay in to refine the edits. I make more changes after the new comments by Mr Harry .

After refining the edit, Harry then give a lesson on Audio mixing for films and the use of different filters and effects to make a film sound sound more complete. 

Here are some notes that I took down. 

After Harry left, I together with Ed tidy up the studio and make sure everything is lay properly for the shoot. We check the mic and fix up the XLR cables. 

12 Nov 2014

Good morning everyone , is a new day. In the morning, I color graded the film. After color grading it I add in the subtitle from the word file that Nicholas translated . There is a total of 79 Subs title. I was really having a tough time with premiere pro because it just keep clashing on me non stop . I rebooted the whole software at least 10 times. It just hang after awhile. 

Here is a little sample of the before and after of the color grade. 

After  color grading and finishing putting in place the subs, I then went down to the sanctuary to test out the files that I and Ed converted in the morning for thanksgiving . 

It works perfectly but it glitches and the aspect ratio was off on the projector. So we have to recalibrate it on friday during our set up.   

After finishing the set up we then went down to the workshop to fix up a frame for christmassing. This is a props, so we actually make a frame for it so that the artist can paint onto it. 

We have to staple the canvas cloth onto the frame that Phi build the other week. In order for the frame to work we have to stretch it and make sure the edges are tight.  

Here is the end product. 

Because the frame was too big , about 15 foot. We were unable to carry it out of the door, so Phi guided us on building a cloth hinge. ( It was his own personal method he created) We were all shocked when we heard a cloth hinge. 

So basically it works like this we have to staple a thicker cloth at the joints and then it work the same as a normal hinge just that the material is make from cloth.

Here is a sample that Phi did. 

Here is my version, very untidy arrangement due to the fact i lost grip on the staple gun. Probably because I have a small palm size. 

After building the cloth hinge we call it a day. 

13 Nov 2014

Good morning everyone. Started off the day shooting the Thanksgiving Message Video for the mandarin section. Have alot of hiccups at first due to the lighting of the greenscreen. The shadows on Pastor Moses have a harsh on his face, so Harry have to relight the whole scene to tone down and cut the shadows hitting his faces. But overall it went well. 

For this shoot I was again the Logger / Slate . Basically I have to record down which takes is good and bad and also clap before every take as a safety for the sound sync, in case of anything go wrong with the camera or genlock and the audio got off sync or something. 

After the shoot I finish up the color grading with Harry comments and critic making sure I dont miss out on any small details. We make sure everything on the waveform before locking it down. 

While I was working on the color grade the rest were working on the Thanksgiving video that we just shoot in the morning. Ed and Nicholas edited the sequence. After they finish editing the sequence Nicholas went to edit the audio while Ed key the green off. 

Ed was teaching me a different method of cleaning a green spill in After Effects.  

After Ed finish the keying and replacing the background we call it a day. 

14 Nov 2014

Good morning everyone. I started the day by refining the final edit. We did a mini screening to various people and the result was people dont get the story on the first try based on the director vision. The whole team then decided for the film to have a new cut. 

With the various comments and inputs I received I did a new cut. Thankfully the new cut was much easier for people to digest. After locking on the final cut. I then pass it to the audio team to fixed the sound . 

During the process of the edits, I experience alot problems especially the crashes in the software. CC 2014 Premiere Pro is not stable at all on the new mac operating software. Hence, I was restoring files on and off. 

After I finish the offline cut, I then went to help Alex to unload equipment for Thanksgiving setup. The whole team then unload the stuff needed for the Thanksgiving live event shoot to the cafeteria.

Basically we tear down some equipment from the control room and bring it to the cafeteria for set up. I set up the camera together with Harry and all and make sure that there is feeds on the vision mixer, also we make sure the intercom set is working.  

After setting up the camera and laying the live production feed, I then went to help with the tech crew in setting up the lighting. 

I went up the scaffolding with Harry to set up the pulley system to hook the stage lighting grids. We also set up the projector on the false ceiling. 

After setting up the lights, I was the stand in on the stage with Harry to make sure all their lights is in focus and that is no hot spot on the background . After pre lighting the whole set. We call it a day.

I cant fixed the rotation problem on this photo too 

17 Nov 2014

Its Thanksgiving Mandarin session today. We did rehearsal and run some final test before the big event that start at 6pm. I was the camera 2 of the day. Together with Ed we cover the angles. Nicholas was the vision mixer of the day.  

Despite a relatively set up, is a 2 camera production. We manage to cover quite a fair bit of good shots.  

After wrapping up the production, we tear down everything and keep it in the studio. There is still 2 more Dinners to cover next week cant wait for it. 

18 Nov 2014

Good morning everyone. I directed my first live production here. A church service. 6 cameras.  Bag of nerves man. 

Here is the link : http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/55514069 

It wasn't great in the first 10 minutes but i felt that I get the hang after it . Thank you Mr Harry for giving me the chance. Having work with a crew that is not familiar with me I was worried at first, but soon I manage to overcome it especially with the support from Harry.   

Hopefully I get to direct again . 

Thank you whoever that supported me and assisted me because I really wanna pursue a career in the future in directing.