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Skill-Builder 3.1: Collaborative Scene – Shoot and Review; Skilled Worker Scenes – Scout

Exercise 1: Collaborative Scene Shoot (2 people, 2 activities, 1 location)

1. Find a location where two people are doing two different but related activities. Examples include: 

    1. Two people in a kitchen doing separate tasks related to preparing a meal. 
    2. Two people working in a farm field, one weeding while the other harvests. 
    3. Two people working in an office, one photocopying and the other working at a computer.  
    4. Two craftspeople – woodworkers, metalworkers, glass blowers, dress makers, manufacturers, construction workers – working on separate but related tasks in one location.

For an example, refer to an excerpt of the film “Out of the Rubble” by Robenson Sanon, where one person breaks up pieces of metal for use on a sculpture, while the other carves the sculpture and eventually applies the pieces.

2. Gather at least 20 Shots and a minimum of 5 minutes of raw footage.

Pay close attention to the following:

  1. Use a variety of Shot types to ensure proper Coverage and Continuity of both people’s activities.
  2. Practice the Zen of Cinematography: Focus, Expose, Compose and Hold.
  3. Remember the 7-second rule and hold your Shots. 
  4. Use a tripod whenever possible. It’s your friend and practice will make it easier. Only handhold the camera when the subject’s position requires that you do so.
  5. Think about each Shot’s composition: 
    1. Angle of View (AOV): high, low or Eyeline. Use it consistently and appropriately throughout your shoot
    2. Framing: apply the Rule of Thirds and decide what should be included or excluded from the frame.
    3. Depth: maximise depth by activating the foreground, midground and background, and by positioning your camera in a way that emphasizes diagonals.
  6. Practice the rules of Coverage by obeying the Stage Line (180-degree) rule and being intentional about whose point of view you want to represent in each Shot.
  7. Manually control your camera’s exposure and focus.

3. Immediately after the shoot:

  1. Backup your footage to your Editing Drive and at least one Backup Drive. 
  2. Log all the footage in your Media Backup Log.
  3. Refer to the “Media Storage” module to review procedures for backing up and logging your footage.

Exercise 2: Scout for a skilled worker to shoot for Project 4

In preparation for Skill-Builder 4.1: Skilled Worker Scene 1, research and identify a skilled worker that you can film for all Project 4 assignments.

You’re looking for:

  1. One person doing their skilled work in one location, and then, at a different location, doing a related activity with a group of people. 
    1. An artist, craftsperson, tradesperson, farmer or similar skilled worker.
    2. Someone with a demonstrable skill who also works in a public setting.

Required Scenes:

  1. Scene 1: the person works alone on one aspect of their skilled work in a single location.
  2. Scene 2: in a second location, the person does their skilled work with other people around.

Example 1:

Scene 1: A farmer works in a field. 
Scene 2: The farmer sells produce from the Scene 1 activity at a market.

Example 2:

Scene 1: An artist or craftsperson works on their art. 
Scene 2: The artist or craftsperson presents their work to a group or teaches their artform.

See the following scenes for reference:

“Seeking Settled Ground” by Mohammad Arifuzzaman (03:17 – 04:37): A man washes before prayers and then attends a prayer session.
“Bearing the Weight” by Mona (00:13 – 02:01): A woman sews, then teaches sewing.

Additional Guidance:

  • You need to have an established relationship with this person to ensure you have access to them over time. 
  • You’ll shoot Scene 1 and 2 at different times: 
    • You’ll shoot Scene 1 for Skill-Builder 4.1: Skilled Worker Scene 1, and
    • Scene 2 for Skill-Builder 4.3: Skilled Worker Scene 2. 
    • At that time, you’ll have to consider whether you need to show the person moving between the two locations.

For Skill-Builder 4.5: Skilled Worker Interview, you’ll shoot an interview with the person and, if necessary, reshoot or gather additional footage for one or both of the scenes above. Tip: It’s best to document someone whose activities repeat regularly, making it easier to return and improve your Coverage over time.

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