WEEK 5: Loops

sbarclay23

 

The first loop that I chose was one that I saved a long time ago. This is a massive compilation of photos that all have a spherical focal point that changes size but not position as the photos change. The way the post was edited distorts time in a way and also disrupts any form of continuity that isn’t at the center of attention. There is a lot to unpack for this edit so I will let it speak for itself.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTL1veQ61/

The next one is from someone named Caled Wielhouwer on TikTok, I am a huge fan of his camerawork and artistic vision. In this post, he created a montage that loops at the end with a slight matchcut. Each shot is in a different location, time, angle, frame, etc. There is a lot of discontinuity but Caled uses this to his advantage to really capture what he does as a creator.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTL1vbs3m/

The last loop is an infinite loop that uses smooth transitions to restart the sequence flawlessly. This loop makes it feel like no time is passing and is easy to watch multiple times without realizing that it is edited.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTL1v7vsJ/

 

WEEK 4: Time Frames

sbarclay23

I think that the art of cinema already uses many varying comic techniques that alter the passing of time in films. I think that the aspects of what McCloud talks about are already used in cinema. This specific shot from Everything Everywhere All at Once and its framing convey the idea of time passing with no dialogue similarly to McCloud’s techniques, no acting, just rocks and incredible camerawork. Of course, context is required to understand that time is passing but the idea still remains. With these methods, all you really need is the use of cinematography.

Week 8 Blog Post

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Caleb

Hey everyone,

I myself am relatively new to the video essay genre of content. That being said, I’ve seen a fair share of these works over the years. One that I find particularly interesting is a video essay by Jeffiot about finding the creator of the skull trumpet gif.

I believe this video works incredibly well as a video essay. From the editing to voice-over works, graphics, and sound effects, each piece has purpose and creates an overarching flow for the narrative. Narrative is a key word here, the video is structured almost like a feature film or documentary. A prologue is provided followed by an actual introduction with proper credits and calling card of the episode. There are clear sections designated by the narrator, acts if you will or parts, as the video continues.

The structure appears very well thought out, especially for a channel that isn’t insanely well known, but one with over 100k subscribers. Learning from this particular video, I have several key takeaways that I can and will most likely use in my own video essay.

  1. Script: A carefully written script that progresses the narrative effectively and in a logical direction.
  2. Video clips: The creator utilizes a mixture of their own captured footage and clips from various other sources when discussing ideas relevant to the visual imagery.
  3. Clear topic: The idea of this videos essay is clear, from the title to the content of the video, every piece of information correlates or traces back to the skull trumpet origin in some way or form.
  4. Editing: Each transition and cut has a purpose, following the speed of the narration smoothly and making sense with each word spoken.

These are only a few ideas that I feel would work very well in my own work, yet they convey the success of this type of video essay regardless.

Thanks for reading.

-Caleb

Week 7 Blog Post

Andrew Higgins

For this assignment, I used Chat GPT to get a synopsis of a possible AI video short. I got this, but my project took a different direction once I got some inspiration from what Runway ML was giving me. I knew that I wanted to do this in some sort of cartoon/hand drawn style.

 

Title: “The Evergreen’s Gift”

Synopsis: In a quiet park, a majestic evergreen tree holds a special ability to brighten the day of anyone who sits beneath its branches. The story captures the simple magic of finding joy in nature.

Plot: The video begins with a tranquil shot of a local park, focusing on a magnificent evergreen tree. As people walk by, one person, feeling a bit down, decides to take a seat under the tree’s welcoming branches. Instantly, the surroundings transform into a warm and vibrant atmosphere.

The tree showers the person with golden leaves that gently fall, creating a serene and uplifting moment. Birds perched on the branches start singing a cheerful tune. The camera captures the person’s delighted expression as they experience the unexpected joy brought by the evergreen tree.

Using an AI video service, enhance the visuals with soft lighting and subtle animations to emphasize the magical elements of the scene. The video concludes with the person leaving the park with a brightened spirit, highlighting the tree’s unique gift of spreading happiness to those who take a moment to appreciate its simple beauty

Video Essay Blog Post

gkipp23

The thing about Jason’s essay (which I think is fantastic) is that it is not especially insightful or cinematically literate. There are very few discussions of the jargon of the craft, or the outlying context of Playtime, or really any of the deeper disciplines of creating movies. 

But what it does do is use the form of the video essay in such a succinct and absorbing way. Jason’s editing is sharp and gives you the sense that his excitable voice is commanding the images swiftly shifting before you. Take the introduction of the first shot, where Jason uses editing in multiple ways to communicate the atmosphere of the movie. 

We first are shown some rote footage of a few classic films. Then, when we cut to our main subject, it is cropped to the smallest fragment of the screen. Then the cropping retracts, bringing into focus this expansive and bustling frame, accompanied with the sound of a mechanic lens zooming out, and Jason’s commentary on the effect of the shot. The combination of these aspects of the medium, edited in such fast succession, create this immediate effect of understanding. 

A similar effect is achieved at 4:54- Jason’s language becomes breathless as he describes this scene, and these descriptions punctuate cuts of different scenarios, all while the sounds and music grow more frantic. Then, at 4:54, all of that cuts out to emphasize the sudden passage of time. While Jason is not delving into some impenetrable subtext or element of craft, he is invoking the message of the film that is not outright stated to the viewer. The layered editing of the essay keeps the audience invested and, most importantly, following the threads of logic Jason wants them to.

Jason uses the essay to sweep us up in his passion and share with us the boundless ideas Playtime is brimming with that the audience might never have came upon themselves.

Video Essay Writeup

Mailei

For a long while, video essays have been one of my favorite types of media to engage with. It’s fascinating to listen to someone discuss a topic that interests them, while taking full advantage of the affordances the multimedia format of video grants in order to make their case more compelling. Over time I’ve begun to notice that one genre in particular that often overlaps with video essays is that of media review and critique. You might see hours-long video essays dissecting the plot, production, and themes of some obscure TV show, or the investigation into a piece of lost media, or something of that effect. This intersection is what I’m especially interested in.

Two months ago, YouTuber Hbomberguy took the internet by storm with a viral 3-hour video essay titled “Plagiarism and You(Tube)”. In this video he analyzes the culture of plagiarism and intellectual property theft that has been cultivated on platforms such as YouTube, and ended up exposing a handful of other big-named content creators in the process. On top of it garnering 17 million views at the time of writing this, it also produced a lot of memes and internet discussion around the subjects discussed.

 

I’ve been an enjoyer of Hbomberguy’s work for a while now, and this video is no different. Ultimately, I think what makes his video essays so consistently successful is that they’re 1) they’re well-researched, and utilizes the source material effectively; 2) formatted in a cohesive way that allows the viewer to easily follow along by establishing a clear continuity of ideas; 3) has a generous helping of jokes and humor to keep the viewer interested; 4) maintains an easily digestible pace that allows the video to be academic but not boring; and 5) he takes full advantage of the multimedia format to tell a story, using pictures, video, graphic effects, sound design, and his own voice to fully immerse the viewer.

If I were to begin writing my own video essay, I would first want to craft an outline that can allow me to develop the script and graphics in tandem with each other. The script should be written in a way that is conducive to multimedia use, and the multimedia you collect should in some way lend itself to the script. A good video essay ideally develops both visual and script in tandem so as to make the most of its medium.

Video Essay Blog post

cdan24

In this video essay they combine the uses other videos in order to give examples of the topics that they are discussing. They were successful in being able to share and idea then be able to use either a video or image in order to give a visual example of the editing that can be used in video essays and to be able to see that technique used right in front of the viewer. Images and videos also help create the context of what the narrator is saying and helps further give a feeling of creditability to what is being said. When constructing my own video essay, I think that I would first establish a topic then write a script that might have within similar to scene notes ideas of potential video or images that I could use at that moment in order to help the viewer have a clearer understanding of what I am portraying. To plan out what graphics I am going to use will help drive me to make sure that I cam thinking about my audience and how best I can keep what is being said available to them.