the extra mile productions
Plushie Unit
plushie #1
This plushie film was both fun and difficult. It was fun because I got to play around and use a camera for the first time but difficult because I didn't plan out any shots and then had to try to make a story out of it later. The biggest thing I struggled with was the focus of the camera. Even though Mary showed me how to manually adjust the focus, I was trying to zoom and focus at the same time which was something I was not ready for. I tried to recover some of the blurry shots using editing, like the fade out at the end, but I didn't give myself time to edit before I started the shot and after I ended it. This made it difficult to edit and so the pace of the film isn't exactly like I want it but it's something to improve on for next time. I like the way the music works in with it and overall I am happy with how I pieced the random shots together to something that sort of resembles a story. Even though there are definitely some rough spots and weird cuts, I think my plushie film is a decent first attempt and it taught me what to improve on.
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plushie #2
Technically speaking, this film was an improvement. First of all, I was using autofocus and while the film wasn't completely in focus all the time, it was much, much better. This time I had to develop a story. I spent two classes filming and a half of a class editing because I had to leave for Model UN on Thursday, so it was a rush to put together so what I have is not my best work. The cuts are less awkward because I planned out my shots beforehand, but I gave myself the freedom to make decisions on the spot. I shot most of the shots out of order because half of the shots were inside and the first day it was too windy. My biggest struggle was trying to get the plushie to stand up. A lint roller and a roll of tape were heavily involved. I had to experiment with editing, music, and the actual shots to create a story out of the plushie I was filming. Given the time constraints and the fact that I am still very new to the camera, I think this was a solid second attempt.