Journal Exercises
Journal Exercise 4: light.
Observe and describe the light falling onto a particular object, or on the objects of a particular space. Try to 1) describe it in 200 words or less. 2) describe it in only one sentence.
Bear in mind all its characteristics: direction, colour, specularity (hard/soft?) and intensity, including contrast, fall-off.
Notice the source of the light. What is it about the source (distance? size?) that makes the light look like it does?
Journal Exercise 3: sound/image
As you go about your daily life, find and make note of the following:
- a sound that evokes an image
- an image that evokes a sound
- a sound that provokes a feeling
- a sound that provokes a thought
Were some easier to find than others? Which were the easiest? Which the hardest? Thoughts on why?
Bring your notes, answers, and thoughts to next class for discussion, and/or post them on your blog. If you get totally stuck bring some thoughts on why some were so hard to find.
Journal Exercise 2: shooting conventions and styles.
Watch 30 minutes of television, with the sound turned off.
Flip through several different ‘kinds’ of programming. For example: sitcom, dramatic movie or series, news documentary, ‘reality’ tv show, cartoon, rock video.
Find an example of each of:
1. An establishing shot
2. A two-shot
3. An over the shoulder shot (OTS)
4. A reverse shot
5. A shot/reverse/shot sequence.
6. A match-on action shot.
7. A cutaway
8. A handheld shot
9. A moving shot that is not handheld
Keep an eye out for:
10. Close-ups (CU)
11. Medium shots (MS)
12. Wide shots (WS)
13. Extreme close ups (ECU)
14. High/low angle shots
15. A low angle shot (shot from below, looking up)
16. Tilts and pans
17. Crane and dolly shots
18. Zoom in or out (if you can find one).
Staying with one program for at least 5 minutes, identify, name and list every shot used. For example: Static establishing WS. 2-shot (MS). High angle reverse CU. MS handheld–tilts and pans to follow.
Take 10 minutes to reflect on the exercise in writing. Did you notice any differences between the editing or shooting styles of different kinds of programmes? Any patterns, conventions, stylistic choices carried over from one kind (eg drama) to another (eg news documentary?). What did you learn or discover in the process of doing the exercise?
Post your reflections on your blog and/or include them in your final journa. INCLUDE YOUR REFLECTIONS ONLY (1-2 PARAGRAPHS).
Journal Exercise 1: three moments.
A. Take a 30 minute walk or break. Look around. Find and describe 3 moments that are somehow related to each other.
B. Review your writing. Find a way to describe the same 3 moments, this time working only with sight or sound, and writing only in the present tense.
Writing for inspiration.
Do 10 minutes of ‘automatic writing’, then quickly list 10 things you are fascinated by or obsessed with. Pick the one you think is most important to you, and write about it for another 10 minutes. Pick the one you think the least important, and write about it for another 10 minutes.
