Blog #1 Ashlee Scantlebury 620035133

1. White balance, as are all the steps in video production, is very important and must be completed before the start of any video production project. White balance is used in order to establish a starting point for all the colours that will be recording, in a particular project. The purpose of white balance is to ensure that whatever the source of light, the colours of a subject photographed under that light will be reproduced in as realistic a manner as possible.

2. Three camera actions and director instructions used in video production are

Camera Actions:

Panning: This is the horizontal movement of the camera, preferably on a tripod to capture a particular scene. Used mostly to capture a moving object/subject.

Tilting: This is the vertical movement of the camera, preferably on a tripod once again, to capture a particular scene. This is quite similar to panning.

Dolly Shots: These are moving shots, similar to panning shots as the camera follows a horizontal moment to capture a scene. However, in this instance instead of being placed in a stationary position, the camera is placed on a moving vehicle, a trolley for instance, and moves along with the object being captured.

Director Instructions:

Action: This means for the camera person, to start shooting or recording the scene. And for the actors to start repeating their scripted lines.

Cut: This means for the camera person, to stop recording. And for the actor to stop saying their lines.

Standby: This is used to make the crew aware that shooting is about to begin and is usually said five minutes before the director says action.

Camera actions are carried out by the camera person and their crew, they follow the instructions of the director to capture an image/scene. Director’s instructions are dictated an are needed in order to keep some form of organization with in the production setting.

3. AGC or Automatic Gain Control is an adaptive system found in electronic devices, and is used to automatically adjust the volume setting on a device in order to either lower or raise the volume at the right time. This ensures noise reduction when loud sounds are being recorded and allows for extremely soft sounds to be recorded when recording low noises.

4. 16:9 is an aspect ratio with means a width of 16 units and height of 9. It is the most common aspect ratio for televisions and computer monitors and is also the international standard format of HDTV, Full HD, non-HD digital television and analog widescreen televisions. 4:3 is another option for shotting and is now the universal video format for shooting in the 21^st century and is universally used for high definition television.

5. By opening the iris of a camera you allow more light to enter the camera and expose the sensor or film. This makes the image appear brighter as it is exposed to a larger amount of light during the period it is being captured by the camera.

6. Before shooting each scene the director and camera crew, should ensure they check the volume and the focus of each recording device, to ensure good sound and picture quality is being recorded each time.