Editing the commercial

   Last class I recorded scenes for our commercial. I then blogged our filming process afterward and dumped the footage. The plan for the next class (today) was to edit and continue filming if necessary. But due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to edit today in class. The computers aren’t allowing us to access pinnacle studios and have it work fully. So instead of editing, I was given the chance to either upload the footage we dumped to a usb, or upload it to google drive. Being that in the beginning of the commercial process I was told to create a google account if we didn’t already have a professional one, this part was easy.

    One of my group members wasn’t present today in class so we had to do this part ourselves. My other group mates and I decided to save the footage on our drives. I reviewed the footage separately and then we logged into our individual accounts and uploaded the files. To ensure that I would be able to access the files later I said we should close all the tabs on the computer. I closed them and then logged back in and searched for the files. They were there and this was proof that we’d successfully uploaded the footage. 

      Pinnacle studios isn’t working for some reason so unfortunately as I stated before, we are unable to edit. I was looking forward to editing today. I was taught so much about it and I took notes on how to do this. We will have to wait until our school upgrades their software or the computers are fixed. Hopefully this process doesn’t take long because I have a dentist appointment I rescheduled because I didn’t want to miss class. Me even missing one class would delay the commercial process and then i’d be behind on a blog. I may just go later this evening. 

Filming the commercial

      My part in this process was to provide my group with the props needed for the assignment.  The camera didn’t have a memory card to I told my partner to just go back and ask what we should do. This was a good thing because I wasn’t aware that we needed one. We got the card and then I started setting up the first scene we were going to shoot. I helped create the story board for the film and although my group members did take part in the idea creating process, it was primarily my job to provide illustrations for the ideas we created for the film. That all came together in this part when we started to get our lines together. I explained the story board to my group mates and then I set up the props to match the pictures I’d drawn on the story board. This part of the process was easier than others because all I had to do was copy the picture exactly. After I set everything up, I was helping them decide which angle to shoot from because of the availability and lighting.

     There wasn’t light in every area and I was playing the part of a crew worker so my identification tag had to show and I wanted them to get both of us in this shot. We had to re shoot certain scenes over because either I was talking to fast or we forgot our lines. That is when the story board came in handy and I went to explain it again to have us match the pictures. Eventually we got it together. I took bloopers on my phone to show my group mates how we look from a different point of view. I brought back all the props and gave them to one of my groom mates to keep until they were needed again. 

    When it came time to dump the footage we were all confused for a bit of time. Being that in the beginning we didn’t have a memory card, I had to show them how to take out the card and get the SD card reader. I put it into the computer and then after my group mate used her login to open the computer to the desk top I opened a new folder. This was to empty the footage onto and review it. We did delete some footage because it was basically unnecessary so we just got rid of it. We were about to leave but I wanted to make sure the footage was properly dumped so I unplugged the USB and then looked for the file. It wasn’t there so I told my group mates to ask another individual in our class for assistance. He came over to us and then he helped us dump the footage properly. I then logged the computer out and we left the class a bit late but it was worth it to complete our first stage of filming.

Storyboard

List:
• Box 1: A jogger walks up and orders an iced coffee, a bagel, and breakfast sandwich. 
Shots: Wide
Movement: Pan
• Box 2: Business woman calls worked to remind her of her order 5 minutes earlier. 
Shots: Medium Close Up
Editing: Split Screen
• Box 3: Business woman is ready to pick up her order, only to find out that the worker gave it away.
Shots: Over the shoulder
Angle: Dutch 
• Box 4: The worker is confronted and agrees to make the food again, quickly.
Shots: Two shot
Angle: High 
• Box 5: Business woman is now happy and satisfied with her order. America runs on Dunkin.
Shots: Close up

Editing Lesson Blog

      Today we learned the basics of editing. It didn’t seem very basic, however, it was very interesting. In order to edit any film or a series of clips, we will be using Pinnacle studios. We were told to use the same computer because all our information will be saved to the desktop. We will go to pinnacle studios and open a new folder, then we were told to look for footage in “DCIM”. If the clips are not in there then they will definitely always be in the stream. In order to get to the stream we have to go to private, click “AVCHD” and click next folder. Everything from the SD card will be on the stream. We have to dump all of our footage, dumping in the process of which we take the footage from the camera and transfer it onto the computer. The footage can be either on a USB or in our Google Drives.
         Importing is the process in which we take the footage from the computer and transfer it onto Pinnacle studios. Every time we film we film, we were told we have to import footage. This is better for security because we can’t promise every time we go on the cameras that our footage will still be there. Everything unedited and untouched is raw footage. Pinnacle studios has everything layered and has AV tracks. AV track 1 is to be left open for titles because if not then the footage will hide it. AV track 2 is footage and AV track 3 is for sound. This application is very delicate so it has lines showing loading and if we rush it, it will crash. To blow up the footage we have to double click and hit the space bar to start it. When we cut we have to hit the razor blade icon and it will split or cut the clip. We were taught various ways to undo an action: hit edit then undo, tap one of the arrows, or highlight something then delete it.
        To add music we are to go into youtube and download the mp3 and export. The sound waves are blue and green. You can also mute the entire clip or just surround where you want to detach the audio and do so. In this project my group will not be doing voice overs but we were still taught how. We were told to delete the video, not the audio, and add it to whichever clip. To add transitions: open effects editor. If a green bar pops up, that is an indication that something was changed within the clip. To save and not lose progress or work, (save to desktop) go to file: save as; then put in folder. When we finish we have to export ( the button is next to import) and go to mp4: video file.

Planning

Planning: 

For this commercial, we are going to film products from Dunkin Donuts. Our products will be a bagel, a sandwich, and an iced coffee. In our scenes, we will roll the cart in with the products on it, the actors will walk up to the cart and start quarreling over the products. We will then have them do a dance off to win the food products. After the person that wins the dance off gets their food, we will film them trying to eat it. A bird will then fly by and steal the food. 

 Props: 

• A bagel
• A sandwich
• An iced coffee
• A chair
• Money 

Costumes:

•  joggers (Actor 1) 
•  business attire (Actor 2)

Schedule:

•  Convection/Codes (10/7): This was an introduction to the product that we'd be filming and background info.
• Planning Blog (10/10): We planned out every aspect of this commercial. We discussed and came to a decision on the props, location and even came up with a backup plan. 
• Storyboard (10/14): This is where we create a short illustration of what we will be filming. 
• Filming Blog (10/21): We will film everything that was in our story board.
• Editing Blog (10/23): We will edit our commercial and get it ready for presentation. 

Location List: 

We will be filming outside on our senior patio at one of the tables with the umbrellas. The cart we'll be using will be on the side of the table. Two people (our actors) will walk up near the gym from the entrance of the patio via the side gate. We are rolling the cart in on the patio(first scene) then we will film the actors walking up from the gate area (second scene). A bird will come in to take the items brought by the customers.

Backup Plan:

Same thing, different location. Building 8 by the corner where there will be no chance of rain ruining our commercial. 

Research blog: commercial conventions

The company that we will be working on in this commercial is Dunkin Donuts. I will be advertising a bagel, a sandwich, and an iced coffee. In most Dunkin Donuts commercials, they use:

• Dialogue between two or more people about the product.
• Usually in a work place.
• Advertises more than one product.
• Seasonal products.

In the picture to the side, it shows one of the many commercials that show three products in the same commercial. Usually, Dunkin Donuts tries to spread the variety of their products, instead of trying to advertise one thing at a time. Advertising more than one products at a time gives the customer a choice on what they should buy or if they want to get more than one thing. Another thing about Dunkin Donuts is that sometimes they convert their products to match the time of the year. For example, in the picture it has a pumpkin spice flavored latte, iced coffee, donut, tea, and muffin. Seasonal products gives the company a hype, it makes people want to go out and get it before that particular season is over. Also, the seasonal products cause more business because the people know they just have to have it.

The locations that the Dunkin Donuts commercials advertise in are usually workplaces. Two or more people are talking or there is a meeting going on and they get off topic of what someone in the room has from Dunkin Donuts. The location is important because the setting may be in a workplace where people do work obviously, but the main focus is really trying to get that product out to the world. Also, for many people who have busy mornings and need something to put in their stomach before work, these commercials would make them want to stop buy to Dunkin Donuts. The dialogue also compels the people watching these commercials because it talks about how good the product is and the price of it. For example, they use deals on bagels and sandwiches, like 2 for 5, to appeal to the customer's attention.

Introductory

    My name is Micahia and I attend Fort Lauderdale High School. I am a Junior with enough credits to graduate with the class of 2020. I thought about it but that's not a very good idea being that I am in the Cambridge program here at school and still need 2 more classes in order to receive my diploma. The diploma I am referring to is for the Bright Futures Scholarship which is pretty important when it comes to me paying for college. I honestly don't want to have to pay for school. I have dreams, goals, and hopes just like any other teenager.

      In terms of my post-high school plans, I obviously want to pursue higher education. I am currently a Police Explorer with the rank of Lieutenant. I am also in honor guard with my department and post. Being in this program is preparing me for what I want to do after high school. I plan on joining the Police Academy and after joining the force, to move up to the S.W.A.T. team. Ultimately, my goal is to join the FBI in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. I was in the Pre-Law program at my school and although it is a great program, I didn't exactly get the information and experience I needed for my career. 

    I am often preoccupied with preparing for my future, however, I do enjoy doing other things like watching sports on tv and listening to music. My favorite football team is the Seattle Seahawks and my favorite artist is Drake. I'm also into poetry but I only write ever so often, when the words come to me. I am trying something new which is this class. I've never been interested in media or even the study of it, (see what I did there) but it's opened my eyes to a lot of things I've been oblivious to in the past and is quite fascinating