Dakota Williams Capstone Blog

Editing Rough Cut & Reshoots  During the rough editing phase, my main objective was to assemble the shots in a sequence. This helped me get an initial   sense  of how the footage flows together and enables you to make initial   decision  about the pacing.  Using the right music is crucial in setting the tone and evoking emotions in a project. The uplifting and inspiring qualities of "Snowfall" are likely to resonate with the audience, adding an extra layer of engagement to my VFX work. I was hopping this enhances  my visuals. I have considered the overall flow and dynamics of the project,  ensuring that the music aligns with the desired pacing and energy. I also stabilised  all my shots  so al the unnecessary  shaking has been eliminated.

Editing This week I managed to start editing and sequencing all of my clips for a reasonable first rough edit. I'm using Davinci Resolve I still need to film the introduction shot where the protagonist enters the arcade, I also need to start shooting the shot of the protagonist's reaction within the car and the character roaming around in the game environment.  Rough Edit: Onwards I need to finish all shots and form a second rough edit by next week with colour grading and sound fx before starting editing with effects in Houdini 

Filming & New Ideas  I realized whilst filming that there need to be some altercations that needed to be changed this will take place in between 8-9 shots from the animatic when the protagonist gets sucked into the game.  New Alterations: Shot 8: I thought came mind of a CG car chase when it transitions from the real world to in-game where we see the car driving recklessly this will be done in blender or unreal.  Inspiration shots:  Shot 9 This shot will be a medium shot but we get to see the protagonist in shock sitting in the car. The protagonist will have a nervous/anxious experience wondering where he is.  Shots from first filming session:

Call Sheet, Timeline & Testing Gimbal This week I loaned out a hand-held tracking gimbal that I will be using for filming in the coming week. It consists of a motorized gimbal that holds your phone and allows it to move smoothly while filming. The footage is essentially free from all shaky movements, this was helpful as it allowed my movement shots to be stable.  I also made a Call sheet that outlined a schedule for all the key information done each week. When creating this comprehensive call sheet helped me ensure that everyone involved in the project is on the same page and that shoots can run smoothly. 

Animatic Shot 1:  consists of a wide-angle shot that establishes the setting of the film - an arcade that I would like to use an unreal engine for (kitbash package) This shot can be seen as very colorful and blinking lights, giving the audience a sense of excitement and energy of the arcade.  Shot 2:  Walking up to the arcade (the actor enters the side entrance) and hears arcade noises. This shot is a medium shot that shows the protagonist approaching the arcade. As they get closer, they can hear the sounds of the arcade games and the chatter of the people inside. This shot could also establish the protagonist's curiosity and desire to explore the arcade.  Shot 3:  Ambient Music Enters Arcade. This shot is a back shot and shows the transition of entering the arcade. This shows the protagonist as they are enveloped by the sounds of the games and the added use of ambient inspiring music. This shot can be used to show their fascination with the arcade and their exc...

 Ideas/Concepts This week I started off revising my narrative and focused on how I should start my short film. I considered narrative as the essential part where I want to keep it as simple as possible and make it a more visual experience. I want it to have a clear story arc and to make elements that will make it stand out. I want to create somewhat of an emotional connection with the audience.  The film style for this project is key and I want to help create a grain atmosphere in editing to give a gloomy effect. I was considering the game itself using a retro-inspired pixel art style that reflects the aesthetics of classic arcade games. But alternatively, I could use a more modern style that gives the world a fresh updated look.  I have taken into account that the soundtrack will set the tone for the short film. I'm considering using classic Arcade game sound effects, such as coin sounds or power-up noises, to give that authentic feel. However relating back to the: gloom...

Pipeline & Shot List (Pre-production) I essentially broke down my script into shots. Each shot was a specific angle in order to give off-set emotion. I started to identify the different scenes and locations. I had to think about the different shots I needed to capture to tell the story effectively. I had to consider factors of camera angles, shot size, movement, and lighting. I then created a document for my shot list as it had a brief description of camera angles and relevant details this was very helpful that I was specific with detail so when its time for the production phase it was easier to shoot. I created a pipeline as well this included everything from pre-production to post-production. This had planning ideas, designing, filming, modeling, editing, and distribution. I have decided to make each task into smaller subtasks and assign deadlines to ensure the completion of each task. I made sure that this pipeline was flexible and adaptable to changes during production. I also ...