This workshop was my second YNN workshop. I joined their first ever workshop called The Big One way back in 2011 (that was when I first heard of Adobe Premiere Pro and have always thought that it is the most complicated video editing software ever existed. Well, I did not really get the chance to use APP during the workshop, so that explains my doubts).
I did not go to the next few workshops because the time either clashes with my classes or my exams. Sigh. Finally, the workshop this time was held after my finals so I was free to go! Also a brief description that has the words "studio shoots" was enough to make me drop everything down and sign up immediately - figuratively speaking. The workshop was subsidised by Nikon so I only had to pay RM300 (food, accomodation, and travel expenses included).
This time, my goal was to learn how to use APP.
FIRST DAY (26/11/13)
Registration started at 9am, so I had to leave the house very early in the morning to avoid the jam. It was nostalgic, coming back to the place where I once worked for four months :') There were about 20 participants and the majority of them were Starstruck!-ers, which means they are still in secondary school. Oh wow I suddenly feel old. I was the oldest (yep you guessed that right) participant along with another guy -.-
Ju-Eng, the head of Switchup.TV, gave an introduction about the workshop and explained what exactly are visual stories. Then each of us had to introduce ourselves to everyone *groan*, saying our name (plus other details) and what we hope to learn from this workshop.
After the tea break (which I think everyone was looking forward to, heh), Ian taught us the art of visualising and how to capture it digitally - basically how to create storyboards and scripts. We were separated into three groups, and each group had to come up with an original story idea. It was indeed a time to squeeze our brain juice! My group's story was so crappy and full of nonsense... I do not even want to share.
Anyway, it was just a fun practice. Next, we got to play around with Nikon DSLRs and compact cameras when Andrew talked about working with cameras. Most of the technical stuff that he mentioned was already familiar to me as I have learned about them in BRATs and also in my university. I just wasn't used to handling a Nikon camera because I am a Canon user.
(....I just realised that it is more convenient to switch to video mode on a Nikon DSLR during the workshop. And I also found out that they have a built-in time lapse function, ishhh.)
After lunch, Albert Kwan from Nikon came and gave a presentation about the different types of (Nikon) cameras, their features, and also how to adjust ISO, aperture, and shutter speed in a variety of conditions. I find that especially useful because I always, always cannot remember how to get the optimum result. Well, I guess I just need to practice more.
It was tea time again (they really feed us well), and after that Amir talked about the process of video editing. It was only a short session, and then Ian briefed us on our "homework" - apparently we were required to do a short TV show that consists of three 5-minute segments to raise funds for the Typhoon Haiyan victims, and we had to do some research beforehand aka watching videos. Just by reading the piece of paper that was given to us was enough to make me excited (even though I was mostly confused about the many procedures). It sounded very exhausting but also fun at the same time!
Before we went home, they took us on a tour around Switchup.TV's studio. I think it was my fourth or fifth time in their office HAHA. Since most of them had to leave hurriedly, we agreed to meet at 8 the next morning to discuss the plans for the show.
SECOND DAY (27/11/13)
So, here's how a meeting at 8am looks like.
Not everyone came on time of course. The "meeting" started out pretty slow, since everyone was thinking of their beds at home, but thankfully we managed to sort out everything before 10am. I was one of the videographers for the day! :3 I hesitated at first because I was not too confident recording stable images. But this was exactly the reason I joined the workshop - to get more hands-on experience and learn! Other positions include director, producer, sound crew, lighting crew, floor manager, switcher, and set designer. Two hosts were needed for each segment, as well as one host for the whole programme.
We went up to the studio at 10am sharp. We were told that studio time is very expensive and we'd better not waste our time. Also because Xandria Ooi was scheduled to come into the studio at 10 to shoot her web series You Don't Say.... The recently-elected floor manager, videographers, switcher, and sound crew were required to start working already for this shoot!
This is Nuwairah aka Nunu (as she prefers to be called) the floor manager with Amir teaching her.
A floor manager has to ensure that the studio is perfectly quiet during shooting, besides doing the countdown at the beginning and at the end of every segment while listening to instructions from the director. He or she also needs to point at the camera before the segment starts so that the host will know which camera to look at (there are 3 cameras altogether). In summary, there were a lot of hand gestures involved.
I love the colourful set!
Thank goodness there wasn't much to learn about shooting heh. For the videographers, Andrew basically briefed us on how to focus and zoom, while asking us to keep the rule of thirds in mind. Sounds easy but I was nervous. This was my first time handling such a professional camera, what's more shooting Xandria Ooi's show! The ache in my fingers was prove that I was gripping the handle really hard haha. It was super fun though :D
The rest just sat down in a corner and watch.
Each segment only lasted 5 minutes so we didn't need to wait long for a break :P The video is about 15 minutes, and you can watch it here :)
Heh.
After the shoot, we had nasi lemak for morning tea ;D I know it's very fattening, but it tasted so gooood - especially when you're ravenous! I finished off the whole packet in mere minutes.
Zack then gave a short talk on how to be a good stand-upper.
After that was lunch. As I still felt full, I only ate a small portion. And then Ian had to bring in two dozen of Dunkin' Donuts - which I did not eat coz I was bloated already D: Lunch was quick as we had to set up the studio, while the presenters and performers practiced.
Here are some behind-the-scenes photos: James and Pritivi rehearsing Earth Song by Michael Jackson, for the music segment.
Set designers Esther and Monica preparing the ingredients and utensils for the baking segment. I don't know what's Natasha doing haha!
There were already a few containers filled with ready-made cookies, so the hosts for the baking segment - Yu Hang and Emelyn - only needed to "act" and not really bake. Haha, I wonder if it's the same for all cooking shows? NOW I know :P
Programme hosts Kah Yee and Sheryl. We decided to add one more person for the position as we thought two hosts might make the show more interesting, I guess..?
Chey, like a pro :P
The videographers had to discuss among themselves to know which angle to take from, and who will be doing a close-up shot etc. The director also needs to know how the videographers are going to take a shot, since he or she needs to inform the switcher to switch the cameras. As you can see, a lot of communication and teamwork is needed to make the process flow smoothly.
Unfortunately, we failed in the communication aspect. Well, there are bound to have setbacks here and there when you throw a bunch of inexperienced students to do a 15-minute show (mostly) on their own. Given the time constraint as well, the shoot was literally in chaos - at least, in the beginning. Shooting the hosts' introduction and the music segment was not too bad, despite many repeats.
When we moved into the second segment, which is the baking segment, you could feel the stress level in the studio escalating to the extent where an explosion is on its way. It started when someone - I can't remember if it's Emelyn or Yu Hang - poured flour into the bowl and said that it's sugar. LOL. And, well, it's hard to re-shoot since some of the ingredients were already mixed together.
We did not know whether to continue on or shoot the whole thing again - directions from the control room were super unclear and confusing. So, everyone started raising their voices and hurling questions at each other, from the studio to the control room and vice versa. The situation was really heated. In the end, all of us unanimously said to move on shooting (I don't know how they managed to edit that part later).
Finally, we came to the third and the final segment. This is where Natasha and Kamila show the viewers how to repot plants.
If you notice the TV behind, images of the Typhoon Haiyan destruction and victims were flashing on the screen.
The end result!
Shooting a 15-minute show took about two hours, can you believe it!? This experience taught me that people behind the scenes are very important - more so than the ones on screen - as they are responsible for creating and beautifying the show. Not that I don't know this before, but the personal experience is like an extra reminder for me to always appreciate them. It really is quite unfair that celebrities especially, get all the credits and glory while the crew are swept to a side (except maybe for the director).
I digress.
After we wrapped up, we had to go down to level 3A, the features floor (oh how I miss the place!) , to promote and sell our butter cookies and repotted plants.
... I found out that they had renovated the whole floor D: The previous look was more cosy and homely - they had a round table in front where "all the goodies magically appear". Someone will send out a note saying something like "biscuits from New Zealand at the round table!" and everyone will go and grab some. Hehehe oh the fun :'D
Now the round table is not there anymore :(
While the rest of them went to sell the cookies and plants, James was entertaining the floor with songs.
We sold off EVERYTHING (people were even asking for more cookies) and got a total of RM583!!! The money went to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society. Wow! The money may not be a lot for the victims but it sure felt good to do my part in helping them.
Group picha!
Here is the behind-the-scenes video!
