UX Journey

Reading & Writing

Introduction

For the third week of DCCS 508: Audio & Video Design, our assigned articles focused on planning a video production and using storyboards to organize visual ideas before filming. Both readings emphasize how important preparation is when creating video content, especially when working with different shots, camera angles, and editing techniques. Since our upcoming project involves creating a video montage that demonstrates proper visual composition, I found these topics particularly relevant to the pre-production process.

1. Video Production Checklist: Planning for Your Shoot

Source: Checklist for Video Production: Your Complete Guide — Pocket Creatives

This article from Pocket Creatives explains the importance of using a production checklist to stay organized throughout the video creation process. One of the main points is that video production involves three major stages: pre production, production, and post production. Each stage has its own responsibilities, and overlooking something during one stage can create problems later. The article emphasizes that pre production is especially important because it involves establishing the project’s goals, identifying the target audience, developing a script, creating a storyboard, and preparing a shot list.

Another important takeaway is the amount of preparation involved in filming. The article discusses the need to scout locations, evaluate lighting and sound conditions, organize equipment, and prepare backup plans in case something goes wrong. It also explains how production checklists help filmmakers stay on schedule and ensure they capture all the necessary footage. I found this interesting because it demonstrates that producing a successful video requires more than simply knowing how to operate a camera. Even smaller projects can benefit from having a clear plan before filming begins.

What stood out to me most was the importance of thinking ahead to the editing process. The article recommends organizing footage, backing up files, selecting the strongest shots, and planning how music and sound effects will support the finished video. Since I’ll be creating a montage for this course, I want to make sure I capture enough footage to demonstrate different composition techniques without having to return to the location repeatedly. I also plan to pay attention to lighting, camera placement, and the variety of shots I record. I think having a detailed checklist will make the production process more manageable and help me avoid unnecessary mistakes.

2. How to Create a Storyboard for a Video

Source: How to Create a Storyboard for a Video — Creately

This article by Amanda Athuraliya explains how storyboarding can help creators visualize a video before they begin filming. A storyboard is essentially a sequence of images or sketches that represents the shots planned for a production. These frames can also include notes about camera angles, movement, dialogue, and transitions. One of the main ideas I took away from the reading is that a storyboard acts as a visual blueprint, making it easier to understand how individual shots will connect to form a complete video.

The article outlines five steps for creating an effective storyboard. These include planning the video, visualizing the script, adding notes, collaborating with others, and refining the final sequence. It also explains that storyboards do not need to contain elaborate drawings to be useful. Simple sketches can communicate important information as long as the intended action and composition are clear. I thought this was particularly helpful because it shows that storyboarding is more about organizing ideas and communicating a visual plan than demonstrating artistic drawing ability.

My biggest takeaway from this reading is that storyboarding can help identify potential problems before filming begins. By planning shots in advance, creators can think about how different camera angles, compositions, and movements will contribute to the overall story. The article also emphasizes the importance of pacing, continuity, and considering the audience’s perspective. For my upcoming montage, I want to use storyboards to experiment with different ways of framing subjects and organizing shots into a logical sequence. I think this will help me make more intentional decisions about visual composition instead of relying entirely on improvisation during filming.

Overall Reflection

After reviewing these two articles, I have a better understanding of how planning contributes to the quality of a video production. The Pocket Creatives article focuses on the practical side of production, including preparation, equipment, scheduling, and editing, while the Creately article emphasizes the visual planning process through storyboarding. Together, they demonstrate how organization and creativity can work together to produce a more effective final project.

As I begin preparing for my video montage, I want to apply these lessons by choosing a suitable location, creating a detailed shot list, and planning how each shot will demonstrate a particular composition guideline. I also want to consider how the visuals will connect through camera movement, editing, narration, and sound. I think taking the time to prepare these elements in advance will help me create a montage that feels cohesive rather than simply presenting a collection of unrelated shots.

Research to Inform

Introduction

For this assignment, I selected four examples from film and animation that demonstrate different principles of visual composition. I wanted to examine how filmmakers use framing, perspective, symmetry, and movement to guide the audience’s attention and communicate information visually. These examples also demonstrate how composition can contribute to storytelling rather than simply making an image look appealing.

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse — Leap of Faith

Source: Leap of Faith — YouTube

Visual Composition Principle: Depth and Perspective

I chose the Leap of Faith scene from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse because of how effectively it uses depth and perspective to communicate the scale of the environment. As Miles Morales jumps from a skyscraper, the surrounding buildings create strong lines that draw the viewer’s attention toward him and emphasize the distance between the character and the ground.

What makes this scene especially interesting to me is how the composition supports the emotional significance of the moment. The enormous cityscape makes Miles appear relatively small, reinforcing the uncertainty and risk involved in his decision. At the same time, the perspective and framing make the moment feel exciting and empowering. I think this is an excellent example of how visual composition can communicate emotion without relying entirely on dialogue.

2. The Grand Budapest Hotel — Interview with Zero

Source: Interview with Zero — Scene Reference

Visual Composition Principle: Symmetry and Centered Framing

I selected this scene from The Grand Budapest Hotel because director Wes Anderson is known for using symmetrical compositions throughout his films. During the interview between Gustave and Zero, the characters and architectural elements are arranged in a way that creates a strong sense of balance within the frame.

I think this approach is effective because the viewer immediately understands where to focus their attention. The symmetrical framing also contributes to the film’s distinctive visual style, making the environment feel carefully organized and almost theatrical. This scene demonstrates that placing a subject directly in the center can be just as intentional as using an off-center composition.

3. Mad Max: Fury Road — Desert Chase

Source: I Live, I Die, I Live Again — Movieclips

Visual Composition Principle: Center Framing and Visual Focus

I chose this sequence from Mad Max: Fury Road because it demonstrates how centered framing can help maintain visual clarity during fast paced action. The scene takes place during an intense vehicle chase, with frequent cuts between characters, vehicles, and the surrounding environment.

One aspect I find particularly interesting is how important subjects are frequently positioned near the center of the frame. This helps the audience follow the action without constantly searching for the main point of interest after each cut. I think this is a useful example of how composition can work together with editing to create an exciting sequence that remains understandable.

4. Seven Samurai — Battle Sequence

Source: Akira Kurosawa: Composing Movement — YouTube

Visual Composition Principles: Depth, Layering, and Movement

I selected the battle sequences from Seven Samurai because of how director Akira Kurosawa uses movement and depth to organize action within the frame. The linked video essay, Akira Kurosawa: Composing Movement, includes examples from his films and discusses how movement can contribute to visual storytelling.

What stands out to me is the way characters, environmental elements, and camera movement can work together to create a dynamic composition. In the battle sequences, movement across different parts of the frame helps establish the environment and communicate the intensity of the action. I think this demonstrates that composition is not limited to how subjects are positioned in a single still image. It also involves how those subjects move and interact within the frame over time.

Overall Reflection

After examining these four examples, I have a better understanding of how different visual composition techniques can influence the way an audience experiences a scene. Depth and perspective can create a sense of scale, symmetry can establish visual balance, centered framing can help maintain clarity, and movement can make a composition feel more dynamic.

One of my biggest takeaways is that there is no single composition technique that works best for every situation. The most effective approach depends on what the filmmaker wants to communicate. As I prepare to create my own video montage, I want to experiment with these principles and consider how each shot contributes to the overall presentation. I also want to pay closer attention to the relationship between composition, camera movement, and editing so that my finished montage feels intentional and visually engaging.