Production-Now.com Media Production Mentoring

Free online film school designed with beginning filmmakers in mind.

12.31.2006

Assignment 1: One Take Wonder

Purpose: To get a feel for filmmaking's roots and a better understanding of the "cut".

Basis: When film first started people shot normal, daily stuff. It was novel and therefore interesting to watch people walk out of a factory. This was before the discovery of the "cut", so everything happened contiguously. At best, it was like watching a stage play.

Directions: Create a video no longer than 1 minute in length with little to no dialog, no camera motion, and no cuts. Example: Push record, do something in front of the camera for 23 seconds, stop recording. Feel free to add music or sound effects if you like. Try to make a compelling story in that short amount of time and space. Compelling, of course, is relative. Somebody flipping a coin ten times where it always lands on heads would be "compelling". Someone sitting by a door would not. However, if the there was a knock at the door and the guy fell out of his chair, that would be good. In short, something needs to happen. This assignment does not mean that you only get one shot at doing your scene. Shoot it as many times as you need to get it right so your short clip makes sense all by itself.

Post your video link in the comments section so everyone can see your work.

Looking Forward: Your next assignment will be to shoot "cut aways" for this very short piece and see how the addition of close ups and other angles helps your story telling (if at all). Do not shoot these bits now. Wait until this project is done.

What to Watch: "Exiting the Factory" Earliest film recorded. The subject: People leaving work at the end of the day. It just goes to show that new technology often starts out gimmicky.

Watch Samples:


Even more Assignment 1 Samples and Student Examples

40 comments :

Lynne Diligent said...

Luke, I made my first film clip and tried to upload it. I did manage to upload it but not to the lesson site. After trying three times, can you help? Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYWRCwFJJVg

Best regards, Lynne

Luke Holzmann said...

Lynne, depending on the size of the video and how busy YouTube's servers are, it can take a long while. It took well over and hour and a half to upload a 30 minute video a few weeks ago and I've got fast internets [smile].

To post a video as a video response, open the video in YouTube, and then click the "Respond to this video" text box. That will pull up a link under the text box that says, "Create a video response or [Post]" click the "create a response" link and then select the video you want from your list.

Hope that helps!

~Luke

Lynne Diligent said...

Thanks, Luke. I didn't realize we had to open the video of YOU on that page FIRST and then go from there. I think I got it working now.

I learned several things from this assignment. I learned how to use the video on my telephone and my small digital camera. I also learned that the telephone video has far superior sound compared to my regular camera. I learned that when something is very close, it's not easy to keep the same camera angle as if I had chosen a subject further away.

I was afraid this course would be too hard for me, but this first assignment seemed just right in order to learn something, yet not be too intimidating! It made me look forward to continuing.

Best regards, Lynne

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Unfortunately I don't have a camera. I wanted to ask that is it suitable to shoot this 1 minute-long video from my I-phone.(4S) I am looking forward to buy a camera but I don't really know what to choose and some of them are really expensive. I would be so glad if you have an advice for me- a novice level student.

Also thank you for such an amazing blog.

Sinem

Luke Holzmann said...

Salvio,

Absolutely! I'm sorry that isn't more clear in my post. You do not need a video camera for this course. A video camera on your phone will do just fine.

~Luke

Unknown said...

Will i receive any critic or suggestions from you on the 1st Assignment?

Luke Holzmann said...

Enoch,

I will be happy to give you some feedback when I get a chance. Unfortunately, I'm working on a project for the next week, and likely won't have time to get back to you until next week. Sorry for the delay!

~Luke

Unknown said...

oh ok i understand, thanks for replying...

Unknown said...

Lynne, first would like to thank you for putting this class together, excellent. Second, wanted to send my link for assignment 1. Hope to hear from someone. not sure if I did process and assignment correctly/right direction. Thank you for your time.
Conkrete

http://youtu.be/czXEGcc_4tw

Anonymous said...

Ethan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzfisgvHino

Unknown said...

Here's my little effort.

Title: Cold War Between Crow and the Birds for the Garden Throne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzWlvW1-2aU

Luke, please have your say

Unknown said...

Hello luke,

Here is my completed assignment clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3ZKVGvvSTc

Unknown said...

Hello Luke,

This is my clip for assignment 1. If I can get any feedback from you that would be great :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnFn81Ybkdk&feature=youtu.be

Thanks,
Elina

ElinaMiyake.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Luke,

Here is the link for my assignment 1 submission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egmq1MLAXvA&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for the feedback,

Best regards,

Noel

Jean said...

Hey Luke, I use my dog for this assignment.

http://youtu.be/6rK1mA3ak7c

Jean said...

Hey Luke,I used my dog for this assignment. Check it out.

http://youtu.be/6rK1mA3ak7c

Unknown said...

Here is my assignment #1.

http://youtu.be/ct-6pHG2yEA

Unknown said...

Here is my assignment #1.

http://youtu.be/lzFAkUU155U

Unknown said...

Here's my take on Assignment 1: One take wonder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5FszCG3GHQ

Unknown said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s817rDgaDIU Heres my try at assignment 1 :)

Anonymous said...

My Lesson 1 link
http://youtu.be/4gT1Bsp4qVs

Dr Rob Sampson said...

First Assignment
https://vimeo.com/117530586

Unknown said...

Hi Luke is this assignment still open. I recently subscribed so not sure if this still exysts as I see the year is 2006

Unknown said...

First Assignment

http://youtu.be/uhmMj_XyHDA

Luke Holzmann said...

Yep. This is still very much going [smile]. I'm really busy -- recently started my second website while still working full-time -- but I do get to this now and again!

~Luke

Unknown said...

Here is my first Assignment: http://youtu.be/1qE9Q2rguKw

Jana said...

here is my assignment 1 :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkSfXB6rZr4

Unknown said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y--jZfjxde0

Link to my First Assignment.

Anonymous said...

Assignment 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBgRmbFMatY

Unknown said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rEFBiUaNoA&feature=youtu.be
My first Assignment :D

K Johnny Varghese said...

Greetings Luke : I finished my first assignment. I am not sure if it would be perfect. This is the link to it :

http://youtu.be/Kw4ZakuUy1w

Title : Worship

Unknown said...

Hi! My name is George, I'm 18 year old wannabe-filmmaker from Russia who lives and studies in the Czech Republic. Here is my first assignment.

https://youtu.be/pR9OhnEniYc

Unknown said...

Hi! My name is Maya, 14 year old filmmaker here's my first assignment! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uutdzLGEwfE Feel free to comment suggestions on how I can make it better! Thanks!

Unknown said...

https://youtu.be/_1zV0rb3w5s

Unknown said...

Hey guys! My name is Luis and I am from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I look forward enjoying this course. Anyways, here's my first assignment. The song is by my friend, chosen at random. Thanks.

https://youtu.be/3n3EEngJ0cM

Unknown said...

Here is my first project! Great course by the way!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNXpyDudvfU&feature=youtu.be

cww said...

https://youtu.be/O7xmd4Ex1Z8
project 1

Anonymous said...

Here is my first assignment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KzqJ2gyTAA

Unknown said...

Hey guys! So I did two different takes for this assignment. I did a first one and had so much fun doing it that I did a second one. I know they are not extremely good...But anyway Here's my first project:
https://youtu.be/Fbju0amMiqE

and the bonus:
https://youtu.be/R47gWvavj_s

Unknown said...

Here is my first one "The Milk Box"! Me and my siblings had a blast making it haha

https://youtu.be/tT6cr7uyQg4