Calling it on Vexercise 4

[lola]

 Hi all! So I think we can close the door (leaving a big crack open of course) on this iteration of Vexercise 4. How'd it go? Was it fun/cathartic to focus on a side character? How'd you feel about the lack of structural limits beyond the 1 minute limit?
If you didn't get to this vexercise yet, but still have hopes--maybe write in the comment your vision/idea of your Vexercise 4 to be :) So we can see the vid bunnies for vexercises to come! 

Stay tuned for Vexercise 5! (I'm really excited about this version of Vexercise 5!) 

Vexercise 5 Drops: Aspect Ratios and New Fan Video Formats

[lola]

Hi everyone! So it's time for Vexercise 5, and I have to admit to being really geekily excited for this version. I'm not sure how much energy folks have been having lately for the vexercises (I know I've been totally swamped and have been trouble opening Premiere!) but I hope that this one might get people inspired (and it may get me finally editing again too!)

So, the new version of Vexercise 5 is:

Vexercise 5 Aspect Ratio & Framing: (Up to 1 minute video) Create a new vid or rework a vexercise for instagram or tiktok. Not that you need to post it there, but create it with the appropriate aspect ratio for the platform you choose, and then consider the best framing of each image for that aspect ratio. For TikTok also keep in mind the looping nature of the format. These videos can be shorter than a minute if it feels right to you, since edits on Instagram and TikTok often are quite short.
 

Before I wrote this one up, I tested it out myself to see what was involved. And I found it was really a different way of thinking. I tried to rework bits of previous videos for TikTok and I found that I had to really go back to the drawing board to make it work with the vertical aspect ratio. It's amazing how it narrows your focus and limits what footage you can use. If you want to check out my experiments, here they are: tiktok experiment 1 and tiktok experiment 2.

Here's a quick overview of settings (on Premiere) for TikTok
And here's a video tutorial for Instagram

Have you explored the world of short form fan edits on Instagram, TikTok, or even YouTube? There are SOOO many videos, and they can look really different from "traditional vids" (whatever that means :D) and can be really aesthetically inspiring. Please do share your favorites or any questions you have in the comments!

And of course, if you'd rather do one of the earlier version(s) of Vexercise 5, you totally can. The focus is on Lyrical Play/Lyrics and Typography. The prompt is as follows:

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!) 

Whichever you do, have fun with it and don't worry about perfection -- these are just (v)exercises after all, and meant for experimentation and pushing out of comfort zones!