Vexercises 2.0

[lola]

For 2021, you can choose between the O.G. Vexercises, or these alternates if you want to mix things up (if you did the first versions, or even if you didn't!)

Please don't hesitate to ask any questions in the comments, big or small!! 

Vex 1: Vidding Pechakucha 2 ways. No alternate here--vidding pechakuchas are addictive! 

 

OG Version: Create a video edit of exactly 60 seconds consisting of precisely 10 video clips from your chosen source text, each lasting precisely 6 seconds, assembled with straight cuts. Make two versions of your pechakucha, with 1 minute excerpts from two different songs as audio. Fade in and out on your audio at the beginning and end of the audio clip.

[Word to the wise: Most six second clips that you use are bound to have in-clip cuts--you don't have to go looking only for clips that have no internal cuts. But you can make those internal cuts work for you rhythmically or thematically etc!]

[This exercise is inspired directly by the first of the videographic criticism exercises, but modified here to be vid/fanedit focused with the inclusion of music from an outside source. You can see some examples of the original videographic pechakucha’s here and a more vidlike one Lola made here. !!And now you can see way more wonderful vidding pikachus on this YouTube Playlist (as well as examples of the other O.G. vexercises at the vexercises collection on a03! 

Vex 2: Follow the light. (aka Lightbuilding)

Lim talks about this in Demystifying Vidding. Produce a 1 minute vid where your guiding logic is lightbuilding. Try letting the flow and build of light guide your editing choices throughout. (You can still incorporate match-on-action as well, so this sort of builds on the OG version)

Vex 3: Rhythmic Editing

Produce a 1 minute video edit where you focus especially on rhythmic editing. Try your hand at time remapping at least once in this video. Choose an audio track that has a clear rhythmic pattern or interesting rhythmic progressions to make your editing experience easier. Reference the wave visualization of your audio track to help guide your editing choices. (If you’re up to it, make 2 versions, 1 that cuts primarily on the beat, another where you try syncopated editing (cutting on the *and*) 

Resources:
Example of emphasis on on-the-beat editing
Example of emphasis on syncopated editing (warning for flashing lights)
A short video on syncopated rhythm. 
A short video on time remapping in Premiere. 

Lim on time remapping (or velocity vidding) in Premiere.
Short video on time remapping in Davinci Resolve.
More advanced version for greater flexibility in Resolve.
 

Vex 4: Side Character Vid (This one is worth doing a second time, we think! Side characters need all the love.)

OG Version: Produce a 1 minute video edit from your selected source focusing on a side character, making them the central character of your vid. Audio can be of your choosing.

Inspirations: 
Blackbird (HP fanvid; McGonagall focus)
Insane (Xue Yang, The Untamed)

Vex 5: Lyrical Play with Key Frames & Masking

Follow the guidelines for the OG version, but try using key frames for moving text or text masking. (Links for tutorials and examples coming soon)

OG Version: Produce a 1 minute video edit from your selected source, in which lyrical interpretation ( guides your shot choice. You could interpret the lyrics literally or metaphorically/suggestively. Once you have completed this video, choose selected lyrics to incorporate creatively as text within the video. Then make a version of this video with the text, but substituting the original audio with a different piece of music that has no lyrics.

Inspirations for typography  (a whole playlist!) 

Vex 6: Alternative Narrative

 

1 minute vid where you create an alternative narrative. (I know this is a possibility with the OG version, but it’s hard, and no one really went for it last time!) (links with examples coming soon)

 

Vex 7: Multivid OG again--but try using more sources than you did the first time for your multivid!

OG Version: In a one minute video, put your media source choice in conversation with other media using match on action, graphic matching, audio layering, and lyrical play. 

 

Vex 8: Free vid OG--you’re free! Create the vid of your heart!
 

Deploy any and all of these techniques to make the fan video edit of your heart, including but not limited to your chosen source, length entirely up to you! Try to deploy some combination of the various techniques you explored in the exercises along the way. 

Comments

[actiaslunaris]

I'm trying to wrap my brain around lightbuilding. I can almost grasp what it might be, but if I can be allowed to jump the gun a little bit, would something like this fanvid (here) I made for Festivids one year be an example as well?

[naye]

Sorry to bother you, but could you please add a flashing lights warning for "Example of emphasis on syncopated editing", and for the beginning of "A short video on syncopated rhythm"? ♥ Thank you!

[lola]

oh yes, sorry, done!!

[naye]

Thank you!! ♥ I really didn't want to be a bother, but I don't think of myself as light sensitive and the ice skating vid still triggered a mild headache. So I thought it might be helpful for others to know about it going in.

[thatyourefuse]

... Oh boy do I have a song for Exercise 2.