Starting
a group project can be terrifying, especially when the group consists of
complete strangers. These strangers goal is to come up with an idea for a video
to be published to the internet. First creating an individual video and then
combining every group member’s individual videos and ideas into one
collaborative theme, achieving all of this on iMovie with a group of three
people who have never used the program before. All group members’ ideas and
input are equal and necessary in completing the project. Having
constant communication with all group members every step of the project is
detrimental to success. Falling behind on individual work or a lack of
communication from one party can be very frustrating for the other members. It
is very easy to fall behind when group members don’t show up or the
unpredictable weather in Buffalo causes most of your groups scheduled work time
to be cancelled. Or even worse, losing a group member in the final stages. When
working in a group it is important to remember the gestalt theory, the
organized whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Though it is important to
have individual reflection of self that must tie in to the overall group
portrait. In order to achieve success in a group it is important to know and
understand group dynamics, as well as communication and dedication among the
members of the group from beginning to end.
Before any work is started the group should
brainstorm together and decide on a common goal, not change
topic ideas a week and a half into the project, it can really slow things down.
Be realistic in selecting the topic choice. Something to abstract will not
properly convey the message and something to detailed will be too hard to accomplish
in the allotted time. As individual work begins the final end goal of the group
project should be kept in mind. Sometimes members will naturally be the Alpha
while others will be the Beta’s but that should not change the fact that there
should be an equal amount of work distributed. Collaborating as a group can
create a much stronger end result if done the right way. With so many
personalities working together it’s more likely to be successful in reaching a
larger demographic than with an individual video.
Video
as a communication tool instead of writing or photographs is much more
instantly gratifying. Sure a picture can tell you a lot about what’s happening
but it can’t do it in real time like a video can, neither can writing. Videos
have their downfalls as well. It can make it harder for the encoder to perceive
the message exactly how the sender wanted it to be interpreted. Especially when
there is no verbal communication in the video only music. In the beginning of
the process there should be a strong knowledge of the subject matter. Knowing
the subject well determines what to shoot. Having strong representations will help
to eliminate any misinterpretation from the encoder. If the topic is time for
example research different ways time can be expressed. Consider that time isn’t
just a number on a clock but rather time can go too slow or too fast, it can
show the passing of time, or impatience of waiting. To argue the opposite of
that say time is just a number or moment in time. How many ways can that be represented?
Clocks, sun dials, military time, hour glasses, and so on and so forth. All of
these can show time without verbally communicating it. Only shooting in
landscape eliminates having the black box around your footage. Being the star
of a movie can be a hard task when you also have to do the filming. Come up
with creative ways of positioning the camera. Prop it up on things like picture
frame holders or find ways to suspend the camera like with Command strips. Incorporating
different types of shots and angles such as close ups and long shots helps to
portray the end message. Distance can also show time.
The
shots alone will not be understood by the encoder without editing. It can be a
long process of deciding how to transition from frame to frame or what filters
to use. These are crucial decisions that will either further or hinder correct interpretation.
If attention is payed to every detail of
the editing process video as a tool of communication can be extremely
effective. Images can be shown as a chronological narrative, or a series of
related images that do not need to be viewed sequentially. If
editing on iMovie be sure to always back everything up to a flash drive.
Occasionally the program can glitch out and work could be lost. Deciding what music to use is also an
important port of the process. Chose a song that represent the subject matter. Using
the example of time again something with birds chirping can help emphasize that
one is waking up. Using techno music or a fast paced beat can show how one
shifts quickly through the obligations of a busy day. Whether it be through
words or tempo the encoder should be able to see a correlation between what
they are viewing and hearing.
Remember
that this video will be posted for the whole world to see. Becoming a part of a
popular site like Youtube or Vimeo can be quite an
experience. Making a video to post to the web is a crucial skill to have when
learning about communication whether it’s independently or in a group. It is
another form of sending a message on a channel to an encoder. The sender is
able to choose what subject matter to focus on. As well as including
self-portrait expressions. Sure there are some struggles along the way,
especially for a beginner who isn’t familiar with the process of shooting,
editing, and posting. But over-all communicating through video is a rewarding experience
that furthers education and is another step in complete interconnectedness.
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