Here are some stills taken from the actual shoot rather than the behind-the-scenes. We should be wrapping up post-production soon and posting the video for all to see.
Enjoy…
Category Archives: Film shoot
Behind the Scenes Stills
As we work on the post production of our latest promotional video for NOVA Woodbridge, I wish to share some stills from student Megan Robertson.
You get a chance to see our two wonderful actors, Shea Davies and Rick Kain, as they prepare for their roles and, then, make the parts come alive. They were both sensational in their talent but, also, both very professional.
You will also see our wonderful makeup artist, Tiffany Roop, of TDR Artistry as she preps our actors.
I would also like to thank Sabrina Chandler of Center Stage LLC in Occoquan, Virginia, for working with us on the wardrobe. She is an excellent resource for those in the area in need of wardrobe.
Most of all, in these photos you will see a collaboration of students and faculty members working together to make art. You can also see the set construction of the detective’s office, including the light reflecting his name through the glass of the door. And the fake windows were used as our main lighting source, with the exception of a mood setting practical lamp on the table of his desk.
Some of the photos show the set while the house lights are on and others give more of an idea of the richness (though simplicity) of the lighting design.
Enjoy a look behind the scenes while you wait for the final product to come alive in post production.
Free advertising
Rick Kain as the PI
Shea preps her hat
Tiffany makes the femme fetale come alive
Studying lines
Rick on set
Shea takes her mark
Actors rehearse
One view of the set
second view of the set
Students work behind the set
wardrobe adjustment
Our detective discusses his character
The detective enters his office
Getting the floor image to work
Paige hard at work
Still at it
Reviewing the shot
Kelly and Jonathan share a laugh on set
Jonathan planning the shot
Getting the lighting correct
Fish eye view of Demetrius hard at work
Still at it
Chris explains the shot
Jonathan and Demetrius plan the next set up
Coaching the actors
Shea enters the scene
Chris watches on (the bald head is the give away)
Getting it right
Discussing the best way
Aaron doing audio
Prepping audio for the next shot
NOVA Woodbridge Film
Promo Teaser
We finished the interior shoot of our 2014 promotional video for the NOVA Woodbridge Film Program.
We will be showing more stills in the future and, of course, we will premiere the finished promotional video upon its completion from post-production but, in the meanwhile, please enjoy this still taken by film student Aaron Kimmel.
You can get a good idea of the set (a 1940s film noir private investigator’s office) from this overhead shot. Please notice the set construction, including false walls, false windows, and even the fake image of the name plate from the detective’s door, shining on the floor of his office.
I would also like to thank these people for their assistance on Monday’s shoot, as well as, the exterior shoot as well:
Kelly Cochran
Bryan Brown
Erin Devine
Demetrius Oatis
Jonathan Balsamo
Meghan Olney
Paige Fischer
Aaron Kimmel
*I will thank our actors and non-NOVA support staff in the next post.
Classes are starting soon
Just to let everyone know that classes are starting soon (August 20th). The Intro to Video class (PHT 130) is filling up and I don’t know if it will be taught in the spring, so I would recommend signing up now. It is Thursday mornings.
Students will get to see the new RED Epic camera used for a music video shoot and a promotional video for the film program.
Also, I would highly recommend ENG 279 (Film and Literature) with Professor Cochran and CST 151 (Film Appreciation I) with Professor Brown. Also, look at all the theatre classes, including Acting for the Camera.
In addition, the Filmmaking Club will be starting up again in the fall, so be on the lookout for this great student-led club.
As always, if you have questions, let us know.
NOVA Woodbridge Promotional Video
Here you go…
Here is the promotional video that was created for AMC theaters that debuts today (make sure you chose to watch in HD to take advantage of the intended quality).
Since we also had the actors and equipment and time, we did a quickly shot series of three “behind the scenes” videos of our actors pretending to be characters that were actors. Do you follow?
It all helps set up the promotional video.
Check back for future versions of the promotional video as we will put at least one extended version of the promo and one special edition version too. We will be posting them in the video section of this blog too.
We would like to create more of these in the future, so check back to this site often and remember you could be a part of the excitement by taking film classes at community college prices. Yes, we love an underdog!
Importance of Color Correction/Grading
Since I am teaching color correction/grading in my Digital Editing class (PHT 274), I thought I would show a few stills from the forthcoming behind-the-scenes video series to accompany the NOVA Woodbridge film program promotional video (due in Woodbridge theaters after Thanksgiving).
These are the baseline expectation for any film student because these stills only received primary adjustments (no secondary adjustments, effects, or filters performed/applied).
These stills are examples of the most basic form of correction in balancing colors and adding contrast to taste. Granted, these might be more over saturated than most would like but I enjoy my colors to pop.
From here, the next step is to perform secondary corrections to get the look you want. For example, do we want to further smooth out the skin of our actors to remove any blemishes, or add a sun-kissed look to their skin tone, or give a little punch to their hair color, or even blur the edges of the frame to place emphasis on the center of frame? There are many secondary decisions to be made while color grading and each is specific to the style the filmmaker envisions.
However, we spent more time on the actual promotional video rather than these behind-the-scenes shots, so we are leaving it at the primary adjustment level and just ensuring the colors are balanced and we added an appropriate level of contrast.
Keep checking back for the videos to be on this site. We will also be promoting them on our new Facebook and Twitter pages: NOVAFilmExposed.
Tease from the NOVA Promo Video
As we inch closer to the release of our promotional video for the NOVA Woodbridge film program, here are some of the stills a student took while on set:
Rojit and Jesus prep for audio
Dressing a set from this…
…to this…
…to create this!
Faculty members discuss the shot 
Theatre director Eric Trumball in makeup
Some of our students and faculty 
Bryan Brown applauds last shot
Our actors rehearse
Using a RED Epic camera
Kelly Cochran breaks down the script
Watch New Student Videos
The main purpose of this blog is to display the talent and hard work of our current students, as well as, demonstrate to future students some of the things they could expect in our film/video courses.
As such, some new student videos have been uploaded to the video page of this site. Though I would love to add more, I can only host seven videos in the manner in which I do it. I have included three student videos from the fall 2012 PHT 130 class and the class documentary. In addition, below – embedded here-, you can view music videos completed by the PHT 130 class in both the fall 2012 and spring 2012 classes and the one completed by the Filmmaking Club in summer 2012:
Fall 2012 Music Video (Eyes Closed)
Spring 2012 Music Video (Dangerous Girl)
Summer 2012 Music Video (Good Life)
Newest Class Music Video
Here is the latest music video created by the PHT 130 (Video I) class:
It was a project completed by the students for the local band, WorstKase Scenario.
In addition, please continue to check back because I will be posting some of the other work by these students in the near future.
It’s Been Awhile
Just an update of the busy semester that has been:
The campus theatre department just wrapped on their production of “Bus Stop.” It was a fun time with some notable acting talent. Hats off to Dr. Eric Trumball for his creative direction.
PHT 130 students finished principal photography on their class music video project. We enter post production now and everyone is anxious to see the final outcome. Also, these same students are working on their final video projects and their class documentary. They are keeping busy but, hopefully, getting a great experience in the process.
Kelly Cochran, English faculty, is leading her dramatic writing students through the steps needed to write a script. One lucky student will have his or her work created into a short movie in the spring by the students in the PHT 131 (Video II) class. We are excited about this collaborative process. I will just have to contain my enthusiasm until the semester starts.
The Filmmaking Club has been working on their own projects, both as individuals and an entire group. They finished auditions this past week for the main roles of their group project. I won’t reveal any plot details until the production is completed. Just keep checking back to find out the status on this project.
And what about Professor Bryan Brown, you may ask? He has been involved in just about everything to do with film on this campus. In fact, he has planned a big event for November 30th, but you will have to read the other blog post to find out what he has cooking…