Since we always film so much and it feels like it’s stuck in my phone and rotting there I decided to make Reels and put the stuff out there that we do! I was never really a „Reel type of person“ because I don’t actually consume them myself. But I realised that it’s sad that a lot of stuff is rotting on my phone so I stepped out of my comfort zone.
Some things that are important when using and creating Reels:
Keeping it Short and Engaging: Reels are short-form videos (up to 60 seconds), so you need to make every second count.
Using Music and Effects: Instagram provides a library of music tracks and effects that can enhance your Reels. Choose music that fits the mood of your content and use effects creatively to grab attention.
Creating High-Quality Content: Use of good lighting, clear audio, and engaging visuals.
At first I edited a little Reel of our time in Barcelona. That was a funny experience because I used footage from different people because I had no videos ( my phone got stolen) It was interesting to see how others perceived the time in Barcelona and what they felt worth capturing.
A big step for me this semester was to try out in depth cutting with Davinci Resolve. I was always a big fan of Adobe Premiere Pro and used to do everything with this programme. Especially the workflow within the Adobe products (Premiere-AfterEffects) was one of the main reason for that. Like I wrote in my last post, we had a project for the Springfestival where we could do basically everything so there was time to try out new things!
At first I was kind of overwhelmed with the user interface of Resolve. The arrangement of the tabs is totally different than in Premiere and therefore the workflow is totally different. Once I got used to the interface I surprisingly was very fond of this tool! At first glimpse it looks overpowered and complicated but the interface makes more sense than the interface of premiere – at least for me. It feels like in Resolve I have more control over my clips and also I like the arrangement of the tabs much more. In Premiere Pro I hardly ever worked with short cuts or effect control but now that I work in Resolve I am more willing to learn how to use stuff efficient. It really helped my workflow and output when it comes to cutting videos.
Here are some of the differences I have noticed:
Interface: Premiere Pro is often considered easier to learn, especially for those who have experience with other Adobe products. Its interface is customizable and user-friendly. While DaVinci Resolve has a more complex interface, it is highly powerful and comprehensive. The learning curve can be steeper, especially for beginners, but it’s favored by professional colorists and editors for its depth.
Color Grading/Correction: Premiere Pro offers a solid set of color grading tools within the Lumetri Color panel, which is integrated into the editing workflow. Meanwhile DaVinci Resolve is renowned for its advanced color grading capabilities, Resolve originated as a color grading tool and still excels in this area. Its color grading features are considered industry-leading, offering extensive controls and professional-grade tools.
Features: Premiere Pro is integrated with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications like After Effects, Photoshop, and Audition enhances its functionality. DaVinci also offers comprehensive editing features, with the added benefit of a fully integrated suite that includes Fusion (for visual effects), Fairlight (for audio post-production), and its top-notch color grading. This integration allows for a seamless workflow within a single application.
Here is the finished video for the Stage Visuals of the Springfestival Opening 2024. The main video I edited in DaVinci Resolve which I later put into the AfterEffects template, that is divided into different sections that are the same size as the LED walls on the main stage.
Here I especially focused on making cool transitions, which turned out pretty good because we graded everything in a similar color! On the day of the opening we had to look if the faces in the video would look disturbed or if my arrangement for the LED walls was accurat! The front penal at the venue was actually really overlapping the main wall so I had to adjust the video.
This semester we had the task to come up with main stage visuals for the Club opening of Detroit and the Springfestival Graz. First I was really overwhelmed, because I could not imagine how our visuals and everything will come together in the end. From the beginning on it was clear that we wanted to do something with live action film. Then we thought about doing something with inverted colors and just cool visuals. We wanted to do something aestetic and not think about a story like we usually do. Just something fun.
Here you can see a screenshot of our pinterest board!
Luckily we know a lot of creative people so we soon had two male models for our shoot. We decided on doing something with male models, because we usually always tend to work with female people. This semester and for this project we wanted to switch up everything. We also searched for models with tattoos because with an inverted scene it would look really cool! My challenge for this project was definetly to try out Resolve Davinci for cutting. I’ve never really used it in this way so I was kind of scared. The cool thing with free projects like this is that you can just try things out. There is no specific requirement. We had total creative freedom. If it turns out nice – cool, If not – we learned something. Either way it would be a fun project.
So with our ideas and everything it was time to dive into the world of VJing:
VJane is a performer who creates visual experiences that accompany music, typically in live settings like concerts, clubs, and festivals. The role of a VJ involves mixing and manipulating video footage in real-time to synchronize with the music being played by a DJ. This art form, known as visual DJing or VJing, has evolved significantly with the advancement of digital technology and is definetly not dead!
The Key Elements:
Source Material: This can include video footage from cameras, animations created using software like Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects, or pre-recorded clips from various sources (BPM Music). This was the main work part for us.
Playback and Mixing: VJs use software and hardware to play and blend these visual elements. Popular VJ software includes Resolume, Serato Video, and Virtual DJ Video, which allow for real-time video mixing and effects . In our case we worked with Resolume.
Effects and Output: Special effects can be applied to enhance the visuals, and the final output is displayed on screens or projectors, often creating immersive environments for the audience (BPM Music).
