The Basics in Making a New Premiere File

 You always want to keep your files organized, so we’re going to create a folder for your specific project. Our new project goes right here

 Assets ◦ All media involved in making your video  Pictures  Raw video  Music  Output ◦ The final file(s), when done, goes here  Project File ◦ The Premiere file goes here  Premiere also makes “Preview Files” and “Auto-Saves” which you want to all stay in the same place. It’s why your project file stays isolated.

 Click “New Project”

 Click “Browse” to specify that we’re putting it inside our new folder.  (In this case, p5/YourName/Public Service Announcement/Project File)

 Name your project (“Untitled” is a really bad idea) and click OK

 All of our cameras and camcorders are set to record in AVCHD format, 720p, 60fps.  Naturally, our first sequence (timeline) should match.

 There are some filming concepts you should take into consideration for all projects:  Fourth Wall  Camera Angles  Leadroom/Noseroom/Headroom  Rule of Thirds  Pan/Tilt/Zoom

 The ultimate goal is to convince the audience that the camera does not exist.  In order to establish this fourth wall, as it’s called, you need to be able to shoot from multiple angles without making the audience aware that they’re looking through a camera.  The fourth wall is the invisible wall that separates reality from your creation.

 A high angle shows the subject from above ◦ Shows subject from above ◦ Camera is angled down ◦ Makes subject  Less powerful  Less significant  Submissive  James Bond movies actually use this shot often. Bond will be under pressure, via gunfire, and it makes him seem powerless until he gazes up and fires at the villain, equalizing the power struggle between them.

 Camera is low and pointed up  Subject is: ◦ More Powerful ◦ Dominant ◦ “Eyes of the Camera” have been overcome by the subject  Tarantino’s movies are a classic example of using the “trunk shot” which is a low angle shot to show one character has triumphed over another. (Usually, in Tarantino’s world, right before they close the trunk of the car or get murdered)

 The camera is purposely tilted to one side so the horizon is on an angle. This creates an interesting and dramatic effect.  Dutch tilts are also popular in MTV-style video production, where unusual angles and lots of camera movement play a big part.  Slumdog Millionaire uses this shot excessively to show how this world is unfamiliar to us and that something is “upset” in its depiction.

 When it comes to shot composition, the Rule of Thirds is one of the most useful and abuse-able tactics to make interesting shots.  The Rule of Thirds can be summarized thusly: ◦ Completely centered shots tend to be boring ◦ Divide your shot into 9 panels using two horizontal and two vertical lines. ◦ These lines divide your shot into horizontal and vertical thirds as guides for you compose your shots with.

In this picture, the girl’s right eye falls on an intersection of these imaginary lines you’re using to compose your shot. This is called a “crash point” and things that fall on “crash points” tend to be a bit more psychologically interesting to look at as a result.

This shot uses the division of the areas to its advantage. Instead of focusing on crash points, the “weight” of the photo is in the right third of the shot, which is intentionally where the building is closest to the camera. This causes your focus to first start at the closest section, and then scan the rest of the image.

 Leadroom is based off the Rule of Thirds, but accommodates movement.  Psychologically, if your subject is moving to the left, but he/she is in the left third of the frame, the viewer will become aware of the fourth wall because they’re worried they’re going to bump into the edge of the shot, or that if something comes from off-camera moving left to right, he’ll bump straight into it.

 Like leadroom, headroom works much the same way except instead of left to right, we’re working with up and down positioning.  Psychologically, the shot becomes distracting to viewers if the subject’s head has “run off the top of the shot”.  While sometimes unavoidable, it depends on how much of the subject is in the shot. For close-ups and Extreme Closeups, you don’t worry about headroom and instead place focus on crash points for composition.  For mid shots, you ought to have headroom!

 Pan: The framing moves left & right, with no vertical movement.  Tilt: The framing moves up & down, with no horizontal movement.  Zoom: In & out, appearing as if the camera is moving closer to or further away from the subject. ◦ There is a difference between zooming and moving the camera in and out. ◦ When a shot zooms in closer to the subject, it is said to be getting "tighter". As the shot zooms out, it is getting "looser".  Follow: Any sort of shot when you are holding the camera (or have it mounted on your shoulder), and you follow the action whilst walking. Hard to keep steady, but very effective when done well.