Blog post 3
Rapid changes in plan
The objective of the project was to produce a trailer that could provoke and let people become aware of the current issues. I have picked water shortage and planned what I would film by making storyboard, Covid-19 was spreading all over the world and everything had to be canceled. We were moved from filming our own trailer to use footages and clips available online. It was a turning point where I had to make another plan. I’m sure that it was something made me work harder because of the time limit and speed up my progression — something I don’t experience much as I’d rather structure everything before I actually make something. I had my lesson this time on how to work quickly and how to get used to rapidly changing environment.
Step by step
First step was to make a storyboard and think about what my trailer would look like. I had a rough plan and vision in my mind so it was not a problem. After that, second step, which is I think most important element in this project, was collecting appropriate footages. It was as if I was trying to find a needle hidden underneath sand on the beach. How can I possibly find something that looks exactly like what I have in mind? It meant that I had to compromise and pick the clips which are roughly similar. Searching by keyword made it easier — more comprehensive it is, more choices I have.
Video editing and scary background music
What I thought was that to make people aware of the fact, ominous music was essential. I have picked background beat from Billie Eilish’s song ‘Ilomilo’ and put that on repeat. As the song doesn’t have instrumental version, I have taken only small part of the beat at the very start of the song, which resulted hardcore work load afterward. Beat was short and it was slightly out of sync when I put it repeat so I had to edit without any relevant knowledge. I have recorded the exact time between each drum sound and edited carefully in terms of microscopic time. I never knew I had to do this and everything I encounter became challenge. But as soon as I learned how to do things, it became more smooth and easier. I think this is a miniature version of life.
Editing
After watching several trailers, the best way to put clips together was to follow the beat when the clip changes. My rough guess is that we unconsciously are aware of the beat and feel uncomfortable when what we see doesn’t follow the music. I usually call those people who are obsessed with this idea ‘sensitivity pervert’. They look minor and insignificant but when things are put together, they look bigger than what I expected them to be. Paying more attention to detail enriches the quality of the contents. This actually applied to everything we do, I realised this time.