The Carrot
Director & Editor
Materials
Canon 60D; 24-105 lens; Tripod
Adobe Premiere
Context
In this short video, you will get to know the story of a carrot, a symbol of love and sharing, in Alma College. As a director and editor of this project, I realized the importance of preparation and scheduling before starting to shoot.
Things like food were shared among people, which means that although we are different races, it is possible for us to share happiness and bring people together. On this little campus, things can be very different from the outside world and simple.
Thoughts
NO. 341
Director & Editor
Material
Cannon C300; 24-105 mm lens; Tripod
Adobe Premiere
Context
One day, I was listening to the podcast “60 Minutes.” In that episode, it talked about how the prisoners in Germany are treated. The prison officers not only take care of the living conditions but also improve their morale. Prisoners are respected and equal. For example, people who want to enter their room need to knock on the door, no matter if they are officers or not. Women are everywhere: yoga teachers, officials, and counselors. The reason for that is in a normal world, women’s population is mostly as much as men. They feel it is really important for males to interact with women so when they get out, it will not be as much of a shock. They try to make a normal scene, which is called normalization.
It was also mentioned that prisons in America are tense and depressing. However, I think most countries’ prison conditions are not good enough.
In this 8 minute video, I will show you, under surveillance, how the daily routine of a prisoner who committed harassment in a pub would be in 2023, as a warning to humanity about prisoners.
Thoughts
It is a question about punishment. One of the reasons that I made this movie is that I wanted to convey the same idea by a different way to make more people aware of this problem. We think prisoners did something wrong in the past, so they deserve the punishment. Sadly, they already lose their freedom in a prison, but they still should have the right to read, to exercise and to all other things normal people will do in their life. Otherwise, they will become aliens who knowing nothing about this fast changing world when they come out of the prison.
Director & Editor
Ski Trip
Materials
Iphone 6S
Final Cut Pro
Context
This video was taken when my friends and I were on the way to a ski site. There are two parts in this video. One was taken on the way to that site; one was taken when we came back during the sunset. I was astonished how different the view can be between noon and sunset on the same day. I also picked a song to go with the scene.
Thoughts
The video switches back and forth with the view and the person. What I wanted to convey was a person's whole life. On the way down the hill, there can be a lot happiness and sorrows, but no matter what happens, once he gets the bottom, once he is mature enough, everything will be fine and beautiful.
Photographer & Editor
Them
Materials
Samsung S6
Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
Context
Using only one picture to create a one-minute video, I really like this idea that less is more. I found a spot in the picture, zoomed in on it( it totally looks like a ghost), and then combined the image with the sound. Here is the story: a woman and a man get into a happy marriage, and then they have a child; things get worse one rainy night, and he kills his wife and son; at last, he commits suicide.
Thoughts
Less is more. Dealing with arts, doing one thing excellently is better than doing everything in a rush. Based on one picture and trying to figure out how to tell a story in a different way(compared with shooting multiple videos) challenges our creativity.
On the Way
Editor
Materials
Canon C300; prime lenses & zoom lenses
Adobe Premiere & Photoshop
Context
One Chinese girl and one Brazilian boy are in a bus stop. They don't know each other's language, and both speak poor English. What will happen between them?
Although the characters speak different languages, they can still communicate by some gestures and facial expressions. Nothing can stop people from communicating if they want to if they have love.
Thoughts
Just Have a Rest
Editor
Materials
Adobe After Effect
Context
It's my first time making an animation using Adobe After Effect. It is about a person who is stressed by the work he needs to do. Finally, he puts all the work aside and decides to have a rest outside.
Like the title said, "just have a rest" when you think you need to. It is good to have a great goal to keep ourselves motivated. But we, as humans, also have the need of relaxing and refreshing. Leaving some time for friends and family is also important for us to be happier and do things better.
Thoughts
Intersection
Photographer & Editor
Materials
Canon 60 D; 24-105 mm lens
Adobe Premiere
Context
In the first video, the photographer was at the intersection of Superior Street and Wright Avenue. With the sound of the crosswalk in the background and the cars sometimes blocking out the sun, things look beautiful and harmonious.
In the second one, the video was shot beside the train track. There is a crossing road, and I did not find it until I was recording this video and saw two guys showing up in this video.
Thoughts
We all have a lot of blind spots in our daily life. We sometimes take beauty for granted and never find that there are so many beautiful things around us. Like Augeuste Rodin said," Beauty is everywhere. It is not that she is lacking to our eyes, but our eyes which fail to perceive her." Beauty is in our blind spots.
Cross
The Girl
Actor & Editor
Materials
Canon C300; 24-105 lens; Tripod
Adobe Premiere
Context
After learning some camera moves, such as long lens pan, background revealing, window push and pivot on characters, I couldn't wait to practice them. Then I collaborated with my friends and chose pivot on characters and background revealing to see how things would work out based on what I had learned.
Thoughts
Contradiction seems everywhere. If there are someone extremely rich, there must be someone extremely poor. In this video, there are two happy students, and there is a single person who wants friendship looking at them sadly.
Small Little Girl
Director & Editor
Materials
Canon C300, 24-105 mm lens; DJI electronic stabilizer
Adobe Premiere
Context
Long shot is becoming more popular in today's film making industry. One thing important here is how can a story be told by designing a series of camera movements and using electronic stabilizer to keep the scene smooth. I also realized that for a scary movie, sound is even more important comparing with other kinds of movies. I must choose sound tracks carefully when I was editing.
Even there was only one girl showed up in the scene, using carefully designed camera movements and sounds, we successfully created a scary and intensive atmosphere.
Thoughts
Actor & Editor
Blue is the Funniest Colour
Materials
Canon 70 D; Tripod
Adobe Premiere
Context
After my bike was stolen by a stranger who wore red cloth, red shoes, and red backpack(my bike is red, too), I decided to shoot a video of it when I watched Shown of the dead, which is a comedy that made me laugh. In this video, we will have three actors to try our best to tell a real story.
Bike stealing is a serious topic around our campus. I, at first, believed Alma people(no, I am kidding. I'm just too lazy to lock my bike everyday), but after losing two bikes, I start taking this problem seriously.
There is many ways to express an idea, and I chose comedy. Hope when people watch this video, they will not only get the sense of humor, but also understand the bike owner's feeling--the more bikes they lost, the angrier and more disappointed they will be considering the people of the city where they live in.
Thoughts
PSA of Cultural Tolerance
Director & Photographer & Editor
Materials
Canon 60 D; Tripod
Adobe Premiere
Context
This video is submitted to the MAB (Michigan Association of Broadcasters) for their college television awards. The topic is about cultural tolerance.
Moving half way around the world can be a hard thing for Chinese. There are bug cultural difference between China and America. These three girls came Alma two years ago. No matter where you come from, we all should be more open to other culture and give others respect.
Thoughts
Alma College Commercial
Director & Photographer & Editor
Materials
Canon C300; Tripod
Adobe Premiere
Context
We air this video as a commercial during Alma College's live broadcasts. In this video, we have international students talking about their experience in Alma, or America.
Through this video, I want to give international students a way to speak up their thoughts about things in Alma. This project gives me a chance to interview people and reminds me that I want to be a great journalist in the future.