Dramatic clip “Not Like the Other Girls”

Here is a narrative, drama clip, taken from an experimental film I wrote/shot and directed. I edited the clip using both Avid and Final Cut with colour grading and look distinction using Magic Bullet Suite.

Updated Film, Video and Television Reel

Here is the updated demo reel

Ad -Beat of My iPad Drum

Here is a recent Apple Ad that I created using music video footage from Nicola Roberts’ “Beat of My Drum” as well as several Apple videos. I basically superimposed the music video onto the iPad 2 screen. See below to see the partial video before the superimposition and the AE magic.The password for the video is ipad2.

I basically applied a mask over the original footage on the iPad in the first superimposition scene.Then converted the video layer of the music video to 3D and worked with its coordinates to have it turn. See & click on image below.

For the second superimposition scene, I not only used a mask for the original Apple footage again,I had to create other masks to preserve the video player buttons and progress bar. See and click on image below

Next, I used the compositing mode ‘Travel Matte Alpha’ within Final Cut to create moving letters with embedded video. See and click the example below.

The final result is embedded below.

Second Music Video Experiment

I’ve decided to do a post on another music video experiment because it showcases different skills. I’ve recently attained Adobe After Effects CS5 and I used this program for my video interpretation (as well as Final Cut) of Janelle Monae’s “Cold War”. I basically used historical footage to show the civil rights struggle and race relations in America in the 1960s. The titles and split screen effect were created in After Effects. Due to the split screen, I also had to nest compositions. For the mid-section with the banned cartoons, I utilised a “Scratchy Film Effect” via real 8mm film in AE to convert the animations and the pictures to scratchy film. In addition, the black and white effect and the fast blur effect added authenticity. See the results below

Music Video Experiment

As promised, here is my video experiment I concocted using Final Cut Pro as well as documentary footage from several sources. In this experiment, I relied on manipulating the speed of clips whether speeding them up or reversing them. I also employed jump cuts as well as quick cuts to simulate flash frames. Click on the embedded video below to view.

Editing Experiments

I have attained a new Mac-based editing system complete with Final Cut. So, I will be further developing and exercising my Final Cut editing  and Adobe After Effects skills and posting the results on my Youtube and Vimeo channel. Click here for the Youtube channel and a href=”http://www.vimeo.com/aijalonfilms”>here for the Vimeo channel. Thus far, I have re-imagined an Ipod Ad as well as a Chanel ad . The Ipod ad used footage from two separate iPod ads and I used a brand new soundtrack and different video effects. In terms of the Chanel ad, I used music video footage, photo shoots and a music track. Both ads required fiddling with the colour corrector tool in Final Cut. Next on the agenda, is experimental editing for a music video.

Writing and Producing

As, I mentioned in a previous post, I worked as a Research Assistant on a show called, “Island Style”. Simultaneously, I was assisting with the organization, marketing and setting up of a grass-roots film festival called COMMFEST. I mentioned the festival to the “Island Style” Producer in hopes of covering the recently expanded Brampton festival site on the program. Anthony Hutchinson, head of the Brampton Neighbourhood Resources Center, was the organizer of the Brampton site, as well as a featured director. I researched his work extensively and wrote the backgrounder, contributing to the writing of the episode segment. I also secured an interview with Anthony and set up the interview time. Here is the resulting episode segment.

Writing Reel

This is a different type of reel, one that demonstrates my writing skills in terms of their translation to the screen. I had the opportunity to assist in research for the television program, “Island Style”. The show focuses on outstanding members of the Caribbean community as well as events related to the diaspora. The clip features two episode segments, I researched on as well as formulated questions for the hosts.

Graphics Editing Reel

Here is a reel that demonstrates my graphics editing skills, which I used for a cable television show, Osler Health Connection. It is a live and pre-taped discussion show about health-related issues. I was responsible for editing the titles of guests, the topic of discussion, the titles of reporters and interviewees in vignettes as well as sequencing the end credits using the program, Inscriber.

Sound Editing and Colour Correction Clip

For my last university short film, “Fracture”, I had to do quite a bit of sound editing- adding sounds such as a ringing phone and editing dialogue. In terms of the dialogue, I had to make it as clean as possible and remove background din as well as convert spoken dialogue into a voice coming from a phone.