• Reflect on the findings from class exercises. There should be be some moment of discovery, an epiphany – If you didn’t have one that was naturally occurring, then you haven’t reflected enough. (minimum 300 words)

I really like the class exercises that made me know more about the basis of controlling camera and audio. I haven’t learnt about the exposure, focus, white balance before. I found these exercises are very useful. I’ve got some important tips of shooting. To get the sharpest focus, zoom into subject’s eyes, focus, and zoom out to compose the shot. Keep the camera handy with blank tape and batteries charged. Set white balance at every location. Keep the shot steady and use a tripod or other camera stabilization.

The audio exercises is also useful. I thought that the sound was being recorded at the same time with the images, or created after the shooting, but actually, most of the time directors tend to record the sound before hand. I was a little bit surprised by this. I think it helps me to think about filmmaking from a new way. I start to pay attention to the sound of anything in my life, which may inspires me. The sound of chewing, typing, dressing and so on. It becomes more and more interesting to do this. After hearing these sound, I begin to think of a scene that includes these sound. However, I find it difficult to match the sound with the shot I took perfectly if I didn’t record them at the same time. Is it editing the only way to match them perfectly? Or there will be other tips to do it better when recording audio?

I am looking forward to the editing exercise next week. I hope I can learn how to cut my shots to make it more cinematic and creative, and how to match shots and audio appropriately.