Video & Sound Production - Lectures
20.4.2026 - __._.2026 (Week 1 - Week _)
Cheyenne Liew Khye Yean / 0378330
Video & Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Hons) Creative Media
Lectures
WEEK 1
Shot Sizes
Types of Camera Shot Sizes
1. Extreme Wide Shot (ELS)
- Subject appears small against the location, making the subject feel distant or unfamiliar.
- Used to emphasise location or isolation.
2. Long Shot (LS) / Wide Shot (WS)
- If the subject is a person then their whole body will be clearly in view but not filling the shot.
- Should have a good amount of space above and below the subject.
- Gives the viewer a better idea of how the character fits into an area.
3. Full Shot (FS)
- Camera movement is featured throughout the shot.
- Used to feature multiple characters in a single shot.
4. Medium Long Shot (MLS) / Medium Wide Shot (MWS)- Frames the subject from roughly the knees up.
5. Cowboy Shot- Frames the subject from roughly mid-thighs up.
6. Medium Shot (MS)- Frames the subject from roughly the waist up and through the torso.
- Emphasises more of the subject but keeps their surroundings visible.
- Ideal for two shots where subjects interact closely (e.g. fight scenes).
- Can often be used as a buffer shot for dialogue scenes.
- Frames the subject from roughly the knees up.
- Frames the subject from roughly mid-thighs up.
- Frames the subject from roughly the waist up and through the torso.
- Emphasises more of the subject but keeps their surroundings visible.
- Ideal for two shots where subjects interact closely (e.g. fight scenes).
- Can often be used as a buffer shot for dialogue scenes.
7. Medium Close Up (MCU)- Frames the subject from roughly the chest up.
- Keeps the characters eerily distant even during face-to-face conversations.
8. Close Up (CU)- Reveals a subject's emotions and reactions.
- Fills the frame with part of the subject, usually the face.
- Near enough to register tiny emotions, but not so close that visibility is lost, making it good for important moments.
9. Extreme Close Up (ECU)- The most you can full a frame with a subject (often eyes, mouths, and gun triggers).
- Smaller objects get great detail and are the focal point.
- Frames the subject from roughly the chest up.
- Keeps the characters eerily distant even during face-to-face conversations.
- Reveals a subject's emotions and reactions.
- Fills the frame with part of the subject, usually the face.
- Near enough to register tiny emotions, but not so close that visibility is lost, making it good for important moments.
- The most you can full a frame with a subject (often eyes, mouths, and gun triggers).
- Smaller objects get great detail and are the focal point.
10. Establishing Shot- Shot at the head of a scene that clearly shows the location of the action.
- Used to introduce an audience to a scene.
- Shot at the head of a scene that clearly shows the location of the action.
- Used to introduce an audience to a scene.
Composition
Rules of Shot Composition
1. Rule of Thirds
Figure 1.1 Rule of Thirds, Week 1 (24/4/2026)
- Uses a 3x3 grid, with subjects placed on the intersecting lines.
2. Balance and Symmetry
Figure 1.2 Balance, Week 1 (24/4/2026)
- A perfectly symmetrical shot that directs the viewer's eye to a specific place.
3. Leading Lines
- Actual or imaginary lines in a shot that lead the eye to key elements in a scene.
4. Eye-level Framing- Positions the audience at eye-level with the characters.
5. Depth of Field 
Figure 1.3 Depth of Field, Week 1 (24/4/2026)- The size of the area in an image where objects appear acceptably sharp.
6. Deep Space Composition- Used when significant elements in a scene are positioned both near and far from the camera (doesn't need to be in focus).
- Positions the audience at eye-level with the characters.
Figure 1.3 Depth of Field, Week 1 (24/4/2026)
- The size of the area in an image where objects appear acceptably sharp.
- Used when significant elements in a scene are positioned both near and far from the camera (doesn't need to be in focus).
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 1.4 Week 1 Quiz, Week 1 (24/4/2026)
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 1.4 Week 1 Quiz, Week 1 (24/4/2026)
WEEK 2
Three Act Structure
What is the Three Act Structure?
Figure 2.1 Three Act Structure, Week 2 (30/4/2026)
A narrative Model that divides stories into 3 parts: Act 1 (Setup), Act 2 (Confrontation), and Act 3 (Resolution).
Act 1: Setup
- Introduces the characters, their story world, and an inciting incident.
- Used to kickstart the story, usually the first 20-30 minutes of a film.
Act 2: Confrontation or Build- Main part of the story that often leads to the worst thing that can happen to the character.
- The plot does not have to move in one direction.
Act 3: Resolution or Payoff- Should bring catharsis or resolution.
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 2.2 Week 2 Quiz, Week 2 (2/5/2026)
Act 2: Confrontation or Build
- Main part of the story that often leads to the worst thing that can happen to the character.
- The plot does not have to move in one direction.
Act 3: Resolution or Payoff
- Should bring catharsis or resolution.
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 2.2 Week 2 Quiz, Week 2 (2/5/2026)
WEEK 3
Storyboard
What is a Storyboard?
- Drawings, sketches, reference images or photographs to represent each frame.
- Description of the shot (action, dialogue, or composition)
- Shot specs (shot size, lens length, two-shot, etc.)
- Arrows to indicate camera/character movement or how each shot connects to the next.
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 3.1 Week 3 Quiz, Week 3 (9/5/2026)
WEEK 4
Film Production
What are the Stages of Film Production?
1. Development- Usually handled by a producer, they are responsible for the creatives, financing, general schedule, etc.
- Usually handled by a producer, they are responsible for the creatives, financing, general schedule, etc.
2. Pre-production- Everything that happens between financing being secured and production.
- Everything that happens between financing being secured and production.
3. Production- Starts with a call sheet (who shows up when and where) which is sent out by an assistent director each day before a shoot.
- Preparation with the lighting, sound, makeup, and costumes.
- Ends with the shooting process.
- Starts with a call sheet (who shows up when and where) which is sent out by an assistent director each day before a shoot.
- Preparation with the lighting, sound, makeup, and costumes.
- Ends with the shooting process.
4. Post-production- Includes picture editing, sound editing, additional visuals (VFX/CGI), and colouring.
- Includes picture editing, sound editing, additional visuals (VFX/CGI), and colouring.
5. Distribution- The film marketing process.
Film Crew Positions
- The film marketing process.
Film Crew Positions
1. Producer- Responsible for managing the production from start to finish.
- Develops the project from the initial idea, ensures the script is finalised, arranges the financing and manages the production team.
- Coordinates the filmmaking process to ensure that everyone involved is working on schedule and on budget.
- Responsible for managing the production from start to finish.
- Develops the project from the initial idea, ensures the script is finalised, arranges the financing and manages the production team.
- Coordinates the filmmaking process to ensure that everyone involved is working on schedule and on budget.
2. Director- Responsible for overseeing the shooting and assembly of a film.
- Works at the center of film production but is inextricably linked with dozens of other people who get the job done together.
- Responsible for overseeing the shooting and assembly of a film.
- Works at the center of film production but is inextricably linked with dozens of other people who get the job done together.
3. Screenwriter- Shapes the sequence of events in a film to ensure that one scene transitions to the next so the story will unfold logically and interestingly.
- Shapes the sequence of events in a film to ensure that one scene transitions to the next so the story will unfold logically and interestingly.
4. Production Designer- The first artist to translate the script into visual form by creating storyboards.
- The first artist to translate the script into visual form by creating storyboards.
5. Art Director- Responsible for the film's settings: the buildings, landscapes and interiors that provide the physical context for the characters.
- Also responsible for acquiring props, decorating sets and making the setting believable.
- Responsible for the film's settings: the buildings, landscapes and interiors that provide the physical context for the characters.
- Also responsible for acquiring props, decorating sets and making the setting believable.
6. Costume Designer- Responsible for ensuring the costumes conveys the right setting of the movie and characters (time period, status, etc.).
- Responsible for ensuring the costumes conveys the right setting of the movie and characters (time period, status, etc.).
7. Cinematographer / Director of Photography- Responsible for capturing the script on film or video.
- Must pay attention to the lighting and the camera's technical capabilities.
- Responsible for capturing the script on film or video.
- Must pay attention to the lighting and the camera's technical capabilities.
8. Editor- Organises the footage and arranges individual shots into one continuous sequence.
- Organises the footage and arranges individual shots into one continuous sequence.
9. Actors- Responsible for portraying the characters in a film.
- Works closely with the director and cinematographer.
- Responsible for portraying the characters in a film.
- Works closely with the director and cinematographer.
10. Music Supervisor- Selecting the right music for the film will intensify the story for the audience.
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 4.1 Week 4 Quiz #1, Week 4 (16/5/2026)
Figure 4.2 Week 4 Quiz #2, Week 4 (16/5/2026)
- Selecting the right music for the film will intensify the story for the audience.
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 4.1 Week 4 Quiz #1, Week 4 (16/5/2026)
Figure 4.2 Week 4 Quiz #2, Week 4 (16/5/2026)
WEEK 5
Mise en Scène
What is Mise en Scene?
- The arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play.
- Is a French term that translates literally to "setting the stage".
- Refers to everything in front of the camera, including the set design, lighting, and actors.
- Elements include: sets, props, lighting, costumes, actor blocking, and shot composition.
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 5.1 Week 5 Quiz, Week 5 (23/5/2026)
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 5.1 Week 5 Quiz, Week 5 (23/5/2026)
WEEK 6
No asynchronous class on Week 6.
WEEK 7
Colour Grading vs. Colour Correction
Colour Correction
- Cleaning up in post-production editing.
- Adjusts exposure, white balance, and saturation to maintain consistency across shots.
Colour Grading- Builds on the corrected image to create a deliberate style.
- Adjusts hues, contrasts, and refines saturation to match a specific mood or visual identity.
- Relies on a lookup table (LUT) as a starting point, then adds secondary colour adjustments to skin tones/highlights to maintain a consistent cinematic look.
Colour Grading
- Builds on the corrected image to create a deliberate style.
- Adjusts hues, contrasts, and refines saturation to match a specific mood or visual identity.
- Relies on a lookup table (LUT) as a starting point, then adds secondary colour adjustments to skin tones/highlights to maintain a consistent cinematic look.
Differences Between Colour Correction and Colour Grading
1. Order: Prep vs. Polish- CC: Focuses on technical cleanup: matching cameras, correcting white balance, and adjusting exposure.
- CG: Polishes colour correction by adding a creative element to push the visuals toward a specific mood or stylistic direction.
2. Mindset: Objective vs. Creative- CC: More technical and objective than colour grading. The editors job is to correct technical errors so the image looks natural and clear on the screen.
- CG: Changes how the shot should look and feel by using colour as a storytelling tool.
3. Workflow: Clip by Clip vs. Global- CC: Problems are fixed individually (clip by clip) so they flow together.
- CG: A LUT/stylised curve on an adjustment layer is placed over the whole scene or sequence.
- CC: Focuses on technical cleanup: matching cameras, correcting white balance, and adjusting exposure.
- CG: Polishes colour correction by adding a creative element to push the visuals toward a specific mood or stylistic direction.
- CC: More technical and objective than colour grading. The editors job is to correct technical errors so the image looks natural and clear on the screen.
- CG: Changes how the shot should look and feel by using colour as a storytelling tool.
- CC: Problems are fixed individually (clip by clip) so they flow together.
- CG: A LUT/stylised curve on an adjustment layer is placed over the whole scene or sequence.
4. Tools: Scopes vs. Style Controls- CC: Relies on scopes and calibrated monitoring (waveform and vectorscope readings).
- CG: Uses the same readings with creative control as the primary focus.
5. Visibility: Unnoticed vs. Signature- CC: Frames the subject from roughly mid-thighs up.
- CG: Used to feature multiple characters in a single shot.
- CC: Relies on scopes and calibrated monitoring (waveform and vectorscope readings).
- CG: Uses the same readings with creative control as the primary focus.
- CC: Frames the subject from roughly mid-thighs up.
- CG: Used to feature multiple characters in a single shot.
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 6.1 Week 7 Quiz, Week 7 (6/6/2026)
Asynchronous Study (Quiz)
Figure 6.1 Week 7 Quiz, Week 7 (6/6/2026)
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