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vexercises2020-03-19 01:08 pm
lola) wrote in vexercises2020-03-19 01:08 pm
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What's the deal with these pikachus?
We thought it would be worthwhile to talk about the origins and reasoning behind the pechakuchas (and to some degree, all of the exercises).
So, pechakuchas originated as a still image presentation format--where you present 20 images, each for twenty seconds. https://www.pechakucha.com/
The folks who created the videographic criticism exercises (which were in turn the inspiration for these vidding exercises) adapted the pechakucha for video rather than still images. The pechakucha is the first of the videographic exercises, and it's designed to be an accessible way into editing for newbies. The constraints are there to make it possible to focus on learning the tech skills, but also because it's fascinating to see what creativity can come from those limits.
I feel like it's the constraints that also make these fun to do for ppl who already know their way around editing tools; it takes certain choices away and so we have to dig deeper and differently and the results are surprising and sometimes reveal something about the media we're working with that we wouldn't get at otherwise, if we were just doing our usual thing.
Adapting these for vidding, I thought it was an opportunity to think about the impact of music in vids--the same set of shots can have such a different effect with musical choice! And the six second clip is a really challenge for vidders, when our edits are usually faster than that, and we don't usually use internal edits. I feel like that makes this an especially interesting exercise for folks who have already made some vids, because we have to learn to work with our media in a new way, finding ways to make the internal edits work for us instead of just dismantling them completely.
If you've already started the pechakuchas, how have you found the seemingly arbitrary limits? Frustrating? Creatively stimulating? A bit of both? And how about the notion of applying the different music to the same clips? Personally, I find it kind of crazy how a second piece of music that I didn't plan can totally change the feel of my vid but still work!
So, pechakuchas originated as a still image presentation format--where you present 20 images, each for twenty seconds. https://www.pechakucha.com/
The folks who created the videographic criticism exercises (which were in turn the inspiration for these vidding exercises) adapted the pechakucha for video rather than still images. The pechakucha is the first of the videographic exercises, and it's designed to be an accessible way into editing for newbies. The constraints are there to make it possible to focus on learning the tech skills, but also because it's fascinating to see what creativity can come from those limits.
I feel like it's the constraints that also make these fun to do for ppl who already know their way around editing tools; it takes certain choices away and so we have to dig deeper and differently and the results are surprising and sometimes reveal something about the media we're working with that we wouldn't get at otherwise, if we were just doing our usual thing.
Adapting these for vidding, I thought it was an opportunity to think about the impact of music in vids--the same set of shots can have such a different effect with musical choice! And the six second clip is a really challenge for vidders, when our edits are usually faster than that, and we don't usually use internal edits. I feel like that makes this an especially interesting exercise for folks who have already made some vids, because we have to learn to work with our media in a new way, finding ways to make the internal edits work for us instead of just dismantling them completely.
If you've already started the pechakuchas, how have you found the seemingly arbitrary limits? Frustrating? Creatively stimulating? A bit of both? And how about the notion of applying the different music to the same clips? Personally, I find it kind of crazy how a second piece of music that I didn't plan can totally change the feel of my vid but still work!
no subject
So, I finished my two pechakuchas, uploaded them to YouTube, played them back a few times and...
Yeah, so I went back to the drawing board.
The directions seemed simple enough. I don't tend to use internal edits, so most of my 6 sec. clips were of the type I usually clip - longer single shots with internal motion. However....urg, they weren't particularly interesting.
Now, on my second go-round, I'm looking to make the pechakuchas things that I wouldn't mind adding to Ao3, versus "exercises" that I'd only intended to upload unlisted, for practice purposes.
The biggest change is switching to a different source. My first drafts used a new-to-me source that I've been anxious to get on a cutting timeline. The two episode restriction was fine by me because I have a limited number of eps onhand. One reason I think the first draft didn't work is that I'm not nearly literate enough in the new source material. Like, I can see that I want "this shot, and this shot, and this shot" but I don't know the source well enough yet to even know if I have "those shots" at my disposal.
So, I've moved to an older source that I've cut before and have a deep mental catalog of what shots are available.
The second change is that I'd picked my first draft music as a lark. Basically, two audios that were extremely different, while still relevant to the footage. I ended up spending most of today re-auditioning music.
no subject
no subject
I've been using BTS for mine, and I've never really worked with this kind of source before, so I feel like mine are very messy and me sort of sorting things out and learning what the footage feels like. But that's good!! That said, I'm thinking of taking another source thats more traditional and making a set of the exercises with those as well, so that I can have both sides of the experience.
If you're up for it, maybe you could share both the rougher ones and the more polished ones here in the comm? It could be interesting to think about the differences!