In this blog post I will discuss the camera techniques and production ideas for my advert. When creating my visual effects experiments and storyboards I was also thinking about how I would utilise the filming techniques in the filmed video clips to create a good advert.
The first issue that I came across was trying to find ways to film myself without it being obvious that I was doing so and still creating the desired affect. For example, in the storyboarded panels below I have decided that at this point in the advert I will try to create a birds eye view effect and mimic the effect of a dolly zoom to show the character having a breakthrough moment whilst using the app. I chose to ‘dolly’ zoom at this point so that the audience can “feel a certain intimacy with (the) character” (Renee, 2017) I wanted to bring the focus to the character and the phone and take the focus away from the illustrated creatures: symbolising the refocusing and grounding properties of the app I am advertising. To do this, I might need to ask someone to help me film it, if I do go down this route I will credit the person filming in credits at the end of the advert.
I have also chosen to use panning shots to show the creatures following the main character through the streets and in daily life. The panning shots will illustrate that the main focal point is the character but will also show that she is being constantly followed. The basic idea is that the camera will follow the character and show the creatures lingering behind. The pan zoom is used mainly to follow movement and can also be utilised to “evoke the idea of space and confinement to create an unsettling psychological impact on viewers.” (Dyksterhouse, 2021). I chose to try and incorporate this shot into the advert as I thought it would symbolise how anxiety can follow us around and make us feel confined. Again this shot should be simple enough to capture, but in order to create the effect of being followed I may need to enlist the help of someone else.
By incorporating a variety of different camera techniques I can evoke a variety of different emotions within the audience and visually illustrate what it feels like to have anxiety and suffer with mental illness. Overall I am confident that this combination of camera techniques and visual effects will create an inspirational and persuasive advert.
REFERENCES:
Dyksterhouse, L. (2021) Why the pan shot is so valuable. Available online: https://www.videomaker.com/how-to/shooting/camera-movement/why-the-pan-shot-is-so-valuable/ [Accessed 7/1/2023].
Renee, V. (2017) The Visual and Emotional Effects of Using Dolly and Zoom Shots in Your Film. Available online: https://nofilmschool.com/2017/02/visual-and-emotional-effects-using-dolly-and-zoom-shots-your-film [Accessed 7/1/2023].