Video and Sound Production Final Project

Video and Sound Production Final Project / Visual Effects video

LONG BOJIANG / 0375362
20/5/2025 --- 21/7/2025 (Week5 - Week14)
Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylors University
Final Project / Visual Effects video/ Stop Motion (Animation stream)
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.INSTRUCTIONS

2.FINAL PROJECT

3.REFLECTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS

FINAL PROJECT

Slide (presentation)

Process

At the beginning of our project, we drew Card 6 – The Hanged Man from the tarot deck.

Through research, we learned that it symbolizes pause, reflection, a shift in perspective, and the sacrifice needed for growth.
It reminds us that only by stopping can we truly see ourselves.

Based on this, we defined our project direction:

Theme (Tarot):
The Hanged Man → Slowing down → Seeing the world differently → Finding inner peace

Obstacle:
Trapped in daily routines and phone addiction, disconnected from the real world and the true self.

Synopsis:

A busy office worker walks through the city, focused on his phone. He notices a glowing book on the ground and picks it up.
Suddenly, the world around him freezes. In the silence, he begins to notice the details he used to ignore.
Through this stillness, he finds inner peace. Closing the book and putting away his phone, the world resumes, and he walks on with a quiet smile.

Storyboard Planning:

We broke the story into 8 key shots that clearly show the transformation from numbness to self-awareness.
This helped us plan shot order, framing, and necessary VFX (like time freeze and glow effects), laying a solid foundation for production.

Visual effects reference:

During the initial preparation stage, we accumulated technical knowledge through various After Effects and visual effects tutorials on YouTube. Two videos were particularly helpful to us: one was about object glow, and the other was about time freeze.

MUSIC & VISUAL Reference：

The use of two pieces of pure music occurs before and after the time freeze, that is, when the protagonist awakens. One is relatively soothing, and the other is more exciting. This is a contrast.

SHOT LIST：

Wide Shot

• Shows the relationship between the protagonist and the environment, creating a sense of space and isolation

• Enhances the visual impact of the “frozen world” moment

• Used at the beginning and end for setup and narrative symmetry

Close-up

• Highlights key objects (e.g., the glowing book) or emotional reactions (e.g., surprise)

• Directs the viewer’s attention, builds suspense or reveals inner thoughts

• Strengthens audience engagement and emotional connection

Medium Shot

• Clearly shows character actions (e.g., picking up the book, putting away the phone)

• Balances body language with environmental context

• Smoothly supports storytelling and emotional transitions

SHOOTING PROCESS ：

VISUAL EFFECT PROCESS ：

1. Import Assets

Import the following materials into the After Effects project panel:

• Main footage (actor walking in the street)

• Freeze frame image (exported as JPG or PSD)

• Glowing book layer (PNG or pre-composed layer)

Ensure all assets are similar in size and centered within the composition.

2. Create Freeze Frame Effect

Steps to create the time-freeze illusion:

• Locate the frame where you want the world to freeze (e.g., when the protagonist picks up the book)

• Right-click → Time > Freeze Frame to create a static layer

• Place the static layer on top and trim it to the desired duration

• Optional: Use the Pen Tool to mask out background people and apply feathering to blend smoothly

3. Add Glow Effect to the Book

To make the book glow:

• Select the book layer (or pre-comp)

• Apply the effect: Effect > Stylize > Glow

• Adjust the parameters:

  • Glow Radius: 30–80

  • Glow Intensity: 0.5–1.5

  • Glow Colors: A&B Colors or Original Colors, depending on your look

• Optionally duplicate the Glow effect to intensify the atmosphere

4. Animate the Light / Environment

To enhance the frozen world mood:

• Add an Adjustment Layer and apply effects like Brightness & Contrast or Tint

• Set keyframes at the beginning and end of the freeze:

  • Brightness gradually increases

  • Color tone shifts to cooler or desaturated tones

• For the book:

  • Scale: animate from 90% → 110% (subtle breathing effect)

  • Opacity: animate a soft flicker using keyframes or expressions

5. Resume Time Transition

When time starts again:

• Fade out the freeze frame layer: Opacity 100% → 0%

• Fade in the original video: Opacity 0% → 100%

• Optional: Add a subtle camera shake or motion blur to emphasize the moment time "snaps back"

6. Smoothing & Final Touches

• Select all keyframes → Right-click → Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease

• Open Graph Editor and adjust the speed curves for smoother transitions

• Add Motion Blur for realism

• Apply color grading with Lumetri Color or Curves to unify the overall tone and make the protagonist stand out

VIDEO EDITING ：

When making special effects, I also put all the videos in to facilitate the editing of the final video and export it as a finished product at once. The sound was extracted from the two videos I selected.

OUTCOME ：

REFLECTION

Experience

This project has been one of the most meaningful learning experiences in my design journey so far. Based on the randomly drawn tarot card The Hanged Man, I created a one-minute VFX short film titled Pause, which explores the idea of slowing down, shifting perspective, and reconnecting with the present moment.

I took part in all stages of the production—from concept development and storyboarding to shooting and editing. I carefully planned each shot to reflect the emotional journey of the character. Filming on location taught me how to manage limited space and natural lighting, and how to create visual rhythm using simple compositions. In post-production, I used After Effects to build the time-freeze and glowing object effects. I also learned how to layer sound to support the atmosphere and emotional tone of the film.

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Observation

Through this project, I became more aware of how visuals, sound, and editing work together to tell a story. I discovered that even without dialogue, mood can be created through movement, color, and silence.

For example, the use of a freeze-frame effect combined with a shift in ambient sound helped emphasize the stillness and reflection moment. I also realized how powerful color grading is—I used cool blue tones throughout the video to give it a calm and introspective feel. Timing was another key point I observed: every second matters when it comes to transitions and animation. A smooth fade or delayed cut can greatly affect the overall emotion of the scene.

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Finding

This module gave me a solid foundation in video production. I learned how to:

• Use Premiere Pro for cutting, transitions, and timing

• Design visual effects like time freeze and glowing objects in After Effects

• Plan shots effectively using wide, medium, and close-up angles

• Use ambient sound, silence, and music to support mood

• Apply color grading to unify the tone and style

More importantly, I learned that filmmaking is not just about tools—it’s about observation, patience, and refinement. Every version of the edit taught me something new. I now feel more confident in managing the full creative process, from idea to finished video.

This project has inspired me to explore more storytelling through visuals, and I look forward to continuing this creative path in future projects.