Investigation 2/9: Aspect Ratio Transition

One of the ideas that I have for my next film involves a transition that switches between aspect ratios. The context of the transition involves the first scene with it's 4:3 aspect ratio to slowly zoom out to reveal the second scene which uses a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Effect In Movies

The changing of aspect ratios during the middle of a film is not entirely uncommon. The choice of aspect ratio can impact a scene and what it is trying to portray. The first example I have included is from the The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. In this clip, as the elevator in the scene rises up, the aspect ratio expands to fill the whole screen. This effect results in the audience feeling more engaged in the new surrounding of the next scene. The second example I have included is from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. The first clip in this example has the aspect ratio shrink smaller in order to create a claustrophobic effect within the dream sequence. The aspect ratio then grows larger and returns to normal as the dream sequence ends, telling the audience that the world has returned back to normal.

Creation Of Effect

As for creating this effect within Premiere Pro, I could not find a definitive guide to help me do what I am attempting to. However, I do have a plan on how I intend on achieving this effect. My plan is to artificially add black bars onto the sides of the original clip, re-framing it to the desired aspect ratio. Then, as the scene begins to transition, I will animate the black bars to smoothly move off-screen. I tested to see if my plan would work by using footage from my previous project. The results of my test show that I believe this effect will functionally work and that once used with the proper footage, will create the effect I am intending.

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Investigation 3/1: The Tools Of Camera Stability

One of the most important aspects of cinematography that goes commonly unnoticed is having the camera steady. Even a slight amount of movement within a shot can pull the audience away from the film, so it is important to attempt to have shots. There are multiple different ways that you can use to stabilize your camera, some of which are more effective than others. Tripod Using a tripod is the easiest way to stabilize the camera while filming. By having three points of contact with the ground, a tripod keeps the camera extremely stable. The camera would likely only move due to very large movements on the ground or strong winds. The one downside to using a tripod is that it has to remain stationary. If the required shot involves moving around, a tripod can likely not be used. Overall, the tripod is the easiest, simplest, and cheapest way to keep your camera steady. (Image Source) Shoulder Rig A shoulder mount is one way to keep the camera stable while also being able to mov...

Elements and Principles of Cinematography

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Investigation 5/10: My Brief Introduction To After Effects

Learning to use After Effects is something that I always planned on eventually doing. I still do intend on learning everything I would need to know about After Effects, but I have already experienced a brief introduction to using after effects. Background The reason that I started using After Effects was to create a meme. The meme that I wished to create my own interpretation of the video "Patrick on a seahorse listening to fly me to the moon". The original video is a modified version of the ending credit sequence of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion in which the character Patrick Star of the children's television show Spongebob Squarepants rides atop of a seahorse while the song Fly Me To The Moon (originally sung by Frank Sinatra) plays in the background. After coming across this meme, I felt that I wanted to create my own version of it using a video that had previously been recorded. The problem that I encountered however, was that the video was not record...

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