Recent Posts

Documentary Exercise 1: Confessions

Matthew Lee

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2016 - 08:00:04 pm

@ Matthew Lee

Here’s a simple edit of the first exercise!

Categories: Process
0 comments.

Thoughts on The English Surgeon

Alexander Lim

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2016 - 10:43:23 am

@ LimSiYuanAlexander

Opening – A lot of polished shots Interviews – Seem to be from light topics to dark topics Use of music very manipulative and on cue There are a lot of reenactments used Archive footage used effectively Main characters are interesting Transportation of medical equipment was not explained at the start but brought to light later Intercut between church and surgery room was effectively done, showed the Read more →
Categories: Research
0 comments.

Reflection on "The English Surgeon" Documentary

Ken Ng

Monday, Sep 19, 2016 - 06:32:42 pm

@ Ken Ng

Hearing the title, “The English Surgeon”, I didn’t expect to find our characters in cold, unglamorous Ukraine. I thought of tea and biscuits and little old ladies that looked like the Queen. I noticed the main patient, Marian, living in the desolate-looking country where nothing is growing, walking past what seems to be a graveyard. I don’t think rich people live near run-down overgrown graveyards. That’s Read more →
Categories: Research
0 comments.

LIONCITY THROWDOWN

Rachops [Rachel]

Monday, Sep 19, 2016 - 11:53:37 am

@ RACHOPS [Rachel]

Part of my documentary required me to film for Lion City Throwdown. An international dance event that is organized by Flair Brothers , one of Singapore’s most well known dance crew. This is the 6th and the last LCT and by far the biggest of it series.  I had the privilege of filming alongside RP productions for this and am Read more →

Categories: Process
0 comments.

Are you Happy?

Matthew Lee

Friday, Sep 09, 2016 - 04:12:46 pm

@ Matthew Lee

Here’s my short and simple edit on Are you happy? Simple question, but tells a lot about Singaporeans as we know it.

Youtube Link Are you happy Voxpops

Categories: Research
Hi Matthew, this is generally decently cut together. You don't cut every thing too short and give people the chance to talk a bit. I like the first guy who is like a rabbit in the headlights! Still there are shots that don't pass the quality test - and these you should lose. Again, not enough establishers and perhaps some of the stories could have been encouraged to go longer/deeper. Take a look at the sequence as shot in "Chronicle of a Summer" and see the differences. Good exercise work overall however. Best wishes, Paul.

Dance Lesson @ Recognize Studio

Rachops [Rachel]

Thursday, Sep 08, 2016 - 08:12:47 am

@ RACHOPS [Rachel]

Recently interviewed Xiao Mei who has street dance experience of about 9 years. I ended up not only interviewing her but taking shots for two of her classes and joined her kakis for supper later on! Total of 4 hours spent! This are some of the raw clips I took of her [ Interview , dance segment and supper conversations Read more →

Categories: Process
Hi Rachel, good start.  I'm hoping you got some mirror shots also !  Could be nice to see the class reflected/doubled.  Let's discuss when you have a line together at class.  Best wishes, Paul.

KAKAK

Rachops [Rachel]

Thursday, Sep 08, 2016 - 06:43:43 am

@ RACHOPS [Rachel]

A short documentary I put together for practise. Stories are everywhere,so  I might as well kill 2 birds with one stone.  I’m still in the midst of setting it up the context and subtitle for this film!

In Singapore , it is common for the locals to have “maids” and unlike a term overseas , being labelled a maid is not an offensive Read more →

Categories: Process
Hi Rachel, this is a good start, very emotional and quite charming.  It needs a couple of more passes, and probably some additional shots to make it work more strongly.  Do get some exterior and interior establishers of the place you live.  Nicely composed still shots.   Let's discuss in class regarding how to improve the balance between your visuals and her interview.  Well done!  Best wishes, Paul.

Superstar

Chou

Thursday, Sep 08, 2016 - 12:12:30 am

@ Ting Chou

Find out his motivation and passion in singing. Has been joining singing competitions since 16.

He has been singing for 8 years but he is not trying to venture into the scene.

Doesn’t like direct interaction, through music, he experiences the power that connects people. Singing gives him the ability to communicate in ways that he would never be able to normally. Read more →

Categories: Process
Hi Ting Chou, As per my email this is much better and more achievable than your previous idea, so well done on that.  Looking forward to seeing some of your rushes in a timeline on Thursday next.  Best wishes, Paul.

Are You Happy?

Lauren Teo

Wednesday, Sep 07, 2016 - 01:22:01 am

@ Existential Trashbin

This is my attempt to edit the vox pops conducted in school.

There were many interesting answers and reactions (i.e. those who gave a ‘no,’ and those who gave more personal answers rather than politically correct/safe ones), so I thought I’d group all their general answers together first before moving on to their reasoning to make it more digestible for viewers.

Read more →

Categories: Research
Hi Lauren,  too much of this material is what would be classified as "NG" or unusable for broadcast - backgrounds over exposed, foregrounds underlit, some edits just too quick to be decent/meaningful.  This is not only your issue of course since roles were switched in the exercise.  What I would suggest is revisit the edit and make a) establishers of the location spaces and b) exclude the NG material and c) take more time with people.  There are good moments in this, but you also need  to make more of them and not rush the cuts.   Your choice of title is very nice but the edit needs revisiting.  Best wishes, Paul

Are You Happy?

Ken Ng

Monday, Sep 05, 2016 - 11:19:29 pm

@ Ken Ng

That was the question a group of asked people at Canteen 2 of NTU.

Here are some of their responses.

Please note that the video is ‘unlisted’ and only those with the link can view it.

Categories: Research
Hi Ken, thanks for posting this.  It is a good edit that makes the most of material that was at times (due to variety of camera people, some not at all experienced) not too well shot!  I like that you establish the space of the canteen.  You also don't make the mistake of cutting every response too tightly except for that funny moment when the Scottish guy pauses long before answering.  You also leave out those shots that were simply NG (no good) due to over exposure etc.  It seems to me that you adjusted some of the faces that were too dark in other edits and this helped also.  Good exercise, well done.  Best wishes, Paul.