PoRtfolio

What it is: (Independent Project) Create a 1:30-2:00 minute explainer video with music and voiceover on a subject that you are passionate about

What I did: This was a project that involved storyboarding, script writing, building assets, animating, voiceover, and a bit of research. As a regular blood donor it was important to me to help inform others about what an actual donation looks like. Many people think of a giant needle and can’t look past that. But without donors, we wouldn’t have a blood supply. As I mention in the video, the needle plays such a small role. I want to encourage people to face their fears and realize that blood donation is more about eating well and staying hydrated. The whole process takes less than an hour. And while you may briefly suffer some discomfort, you are also helping to save or extend someone’s life. 

How I did it: I created assets in Adobe Illustrator and produced the project in Adobe After Effects. I used the Google Recorder app on my phone to record the voiceover.

What I learned: This project helped me understand the importance of pre-production and planning. All these moving parts are much easier to build out when you have a plan from the beginning - the total run time, how I will transition from screen to screen, what the dialogue will say, and which assets I can reuse. Also, it’s better to have too much content and trim some out than not having enough content and having to force something in.

Where I can improve: Looking back, I would adjust some of the colors. At this point, I hadn’t yet learned about web accessibility and color contrast checkers. The dark blue text on the red, in particular, can be difficult to read. I would also adjust some animations to incorporate more animation principles like squash and stretch, exaggeration, and secondary action.

What it is: (Independent Project) Create a 1:00 minute edit of a nightmare sequence from the stock footage provided. The sequence footage - including dreaming, waking up, pursuit, and conversation with the roommate - could be edited together in any order. 

What I did: I chose to tell the story from the end of the dream and work backward, using the explanation to the roommate as the voiceover. My goal with this project was to build suspense and drive the intensity up to a breaking point where the main character says “And then I woke up,” juxtaposing the action with a hard stop - just like what happens in a real dream - when you abruptly wake up and your heart is racing.

How I did it: The project was edited using Adobe Premiere Pro and used royalty-free audio for the music. 

What I learned: This project helped me understand the importance of reviewing, organizing, and labeling the footage. It can take a while, but once I know what kind of footage I am working with, I can immediately mark or remove the clips that don’t work and begin to make sub clips of scenes I know I will use. It will take more time upfront, but it ultimately speeds up the rest of the editing process.

Where I can improve: I would like to go back and add more sound effects. There are moments where it would help bring the viewer deeper into the space. Secondly, there is a scene where our main character is being chased through the warehouse. I would adjust the speed in the clip itself, but also adjust how I cut from the running around the corner to the fight with the cart. When they go upstairs, I would continue to shorten the intercutting to help increase the intensity. Overall, I think everything could be a little quicker. 

What it is: (Independent Project)Create a 1:00 minute animated video featuring 3 quotes, which all have their own font, motion, and style, but come together with a common theme.

What I did: I chose to incorporate motivational quotes from people in popular culture that I admire for their wisdom and honesty, Oprah, Jay Shetty, and Glennon Doyle. I want my art to inspire and encourage, shining a light on what is good and helping to illuminate the darkness. The quotes I used help to reinforce that message. I kept to a red and blue theme as part of the traditional primary art colors: red, yellow, and blue.

How I did it: This video was made using Adobe After Effects and incorporated royalty-free images and audio. 

What I learned: This was one of my first projects using After Effects. I learned how to use the waveform to align audio and visuals, how to create transitions using opacity, and how to apply animation presets to text.

Where I can improve: I would like to change the image behind the second quote. The first quote features a camera and the last quote features paint. To better fit the theme, the second quote should also incorporate another form of art. And again, I used a dark blue font on a red background which is not the most legible. I would change that as well. I might also play with the speed of the text appearing on the screen to match the energy of the music. 

What it is: (Group Project) Create a short film, approximately 5:00 minutes in length. The subject matter and script was up to the group. We chose to write about two detectives who fight each other for the same job, but ultimately come together to fight a common enemy. The final piece is part drama, part comedy.

What I did: My role in this film was primarily the producer, but I also ended up helping with the script, stepping in to act as the evil boss, and scouting locations. My role as the producer required a lot of organization and communication. We used Slack in addition to in-person meetings to discuss the script and overall vision. I was in charge of scheduling filming dates and times and ensuring everyone on set had something to do: camera, sound, props, PA.

How I did it: As the producer, I was not behind the camera or the computer, so I give credit to my group who used Adobe Premiere Pro for all the editing and post-production. My role was to make sure everyone was ready and equipped for production days, to communicate with my group, but also with my instructor for equipment needs, ensure checkpoints were met, and make sure the final project was turned in on time. 

What I learned: We had a bit of trouble with our audio not recording as cleanly as we would have liked. Through this, I learned that audio and video should be reviewed daily to make sure there are no issues or inconsistencies. We could have re-shot some scenes or captured new audio if I had known there were issues. I learned how important it is for the pre-production team to work with the camera team. I think we would have saved a lot of time during filming if we had better utilized our storyboards. However, due to time constraints and busy student schedules, we had to begin filming before the storyboards were completed. I also learned how agile and flexible to become, as it is only a matter of when, not if, problems will arise. I learned how to keep my cool when tempers flared. And I learned how exhausting yet exhilarating production days are. 

Where I can improve: This was the first time I had made a film and the first time acting as a producer. There was a lot to learn and, certainly, things I would do differently. One of the biggest challenges, especially in a student setting, is getting everyone together physically, but also agreeing to the overall idea and direction of the film. I was learning as I went, but if I could do it over again I would have built a timeline and a production schedule to help reinforce deadlines and keep everyone on track.