2. Soundtrack choice
I chose Koan Sound’s Trouble in the West as my
soundtrack for the promotional video. I chose this
soundtrack because it has a strong, definite beat
that laid good ground for my video. I thought that
the strong soundtrack also made for a stronger
impact, as well as easier timing for the ‘blackouts’
later seen in the video.
3. Step #1
Explanation What has been done…
This is my opening shot of my promotional video. I filmed the
first few seconds of this shot unfocused, then used manual focus
to gradually focus on the subject. I used the text effect ‘zoom’
on iMovie to write ‘crossroads foundation’.
WHY?
I purposely shot the first few seconds of this clip unfocused
keeping in mind that I was going to put a title over the footage.
This is why I used manual focus, as it makes it alot easier to
control when and where you want to focus on. I used the same
font in my posters, Helvetica Neue Ultralight to give the whole
campaign a sense of cohesiveness.
4. Step #2
Explanation What has been done…
The next couple shots are a compilation of me and Rachel
putting up the posters around school. I used different shots,
such as medium shots, zoomed out shots and close up shots.
WHY?
I used several different shots and cinematography choices to
make the video look more interesting and to vary the style for
the audience.
5. Step #3
Explanation What has been done…
This shot was a pan view from left to right of some of the
posters we put around school.
WHY?
I used a pan technique for this shot as I wanted the audience to
see both posters put up together, for a stronger visual impact. I
also used the pan to differentiate my shot from the previous
shots, and to make this footage stand out.
6. Step #4
Explanation What has been done…
This is a close up shot zoom out, where the footage shows us
stapling the poster and then zooms out to show the product.
WHY?
I used a zoom out shot for this scene as it added variety to my
video, and also because I thought it fit well with the soundtrack
at this point. The soundtrack changes to a stronger beat from
this shot, and I thought that the zoom out served a good
turning point for the change in mood.
7. Step #5
Explanation What has been done…
I used a pan down up > down technique for this shot. This was
also a close up shot on the information poster.
WHY?
I used a pan down technique for this shot as I felt that it clearly
showed the poster, and made it very easy for the audience to
read the information. I also thought that the vertical pan was
more effective, as the poster itself is in portrait format. I
thought this different take on the filming also fit well with the
soundtrack, as at this point the music reaches its rhythmic
climax.
8. Step #6
Explanation What has been done…
I used the ‘cutaway’ tool in iMovie to get a flickering blackout
effect. I tried to time this to the beat of the soundtrack.
WHY?
I used this blackout effect because I felt that it broke up the
footage nicely, and made the video much more dynamic. I also
timed the blackouts to the beat of the music, each blackout 0.2
seconds.
9. Step #7
Explanation What has been done…
In the next clip, which was a zoom in close up shot of the two
posters, I again used the black out effect.
WHY?
I chose to continue the blackout effect from my previous clip as
again, the soundtrack has a very heavy beat here and it tied in
well with the dynamic nature of the music. I also used it to
break up the same clip, so it was visually more impacting.
10. Step #8
Explanation What has been done…
I used photoshop to make my ‘battle against hunger’ text slide. I
filled a widescreen 16:9 canvas with black, and wrote on it with
white text. I saved an image for each stage of the buildup.
WHY?
I chose to make my own slides on photoshop than to use a
preset text slide on iMovie, as I wanted a more sudden
appearing effect than an animated gradual entrance.
WHAT have you learned from doing it?
I learnt how to use the film & tv option when selecting canvas
size on photoshop.
11. Step #9
Explanation What has been done…
I finished my video with more text slides, this time using the
‘zoom’ preset on iMovie.
WHY?
I added text to my video because I needed a way to offer more
information about the food drive, and also to urge the audience
to take action. I used a preset for these 3 slides as I felt it
contrasted nicely with the sudden nature of my previous text
slide.
