Continuity and Montage - Essay Example

Arabic coffee Insert name Insert module title Insert module instructor Insert date Contents Introduction 3 Recipe of Arabic coffee 4 Method 4 Video design and editing 5 Lighting 6 Types of shots 6 Continuity and Montage 7 Sounds 8 Texts and titles 8 Genre 9 Conclusion 9 Reference list 11 Introduction The making of Arabic coffee is a tradition that is cherished all over the Arabian Desert. From the sand dunes in Yemen to the skyscrapers of Dubai, coffee lovers still hold close to their hearts the flavor of Arabic coffee and the companionship provided by the coffee cups. Coffee in the Arabian Desert was shared among friends or used to create bonds among new friends while transacting businesses or sharing stories of the great trek across the desert. Despite the variance in location, the coffee berries are still the same the world over and ground coffee found in any supermarket can be used to brew Arabian coffee. The mocha beans from Yemen are preferred because of their rich aroma while the coffee beans from Brazil have a distinctively rich flavor. The distinction of Arabian coffee from the rest of the world is in its method of preparation and serving. Traditionally the coffee beans were ground immediately before preparation of the coffee and the flavor extracted to the individual’s preference. Sugar is stirred in the coffee while it is still being brewed and not the conventional way of serving sugar with the coffee at the table. The amount of sugar added depends on the ceremony, for happier ceremonies a lot of sugar is added while in sorrowful ceremonies such as funerals the coffee is made with no sugar. Arabic coffee is brewed in aluminum kettle with a long arm which only holds less than a dozen cups of coffee as the coffee is served in small quantities. The peak of enjoying Arabic coffee comes when it is being served. The cups used in serving only hold a few sips of coffee; only one quarter of the standard cup in volume. Other Arabian countries have cups lack handles and are held in brass cups with handles which come with matching tray and serving pots. The host will hand the coffee cups directly to the guest and may be assisted by a maid whose work is only to hold the tray of coffee cups. The eldest or the most important guest is served first. Traditionally in presence of both genders, the males were always served first. Recipe of Arabic coffee In preparation of Arabic coffee one will need: Freshly ground coffee Tea spoonful of sugar Water Method Pour the water in an aluminum kettle and heat until it comes to a boil, add the sugar and allow continuing boiling until all the sugar has dissolved. Add the ground coffee into the boiling water let boil until the foam rises to the top of the pot. The pot is then removed from the fire and struck on the side to reduce the foaming. The pot is then returned to fire and allowed to boil while stirring. The coffee is then removed from the fire and served into cups before the grounds settle at the bottom of the pot. Arabic coffee can be served with dates, sweets, or with orange blossom for flavor. How to make arabic coffee (2009), is a more comprehensible video refference on how to make arabic coffee. Video design and editing The video demonstration of preparation of Arabic coffee was inspired by the need to share the diverse culture of the coffee in Arabia with the rest of the world. This video shows a step by step procedure of preparation using locally available pack of ground coffee. The traditional utensil with which the coffee is prepared was not used during the demonstration but the flavor and aroma of the coffee is nevertheless maintained. The coffee is served with dates and sweets in a less colorful ceremony not befitting the importance attached to drinking of coffee in Arabia. The demonstration video is created in accordance to video graphic rules and is not just a free shot. The elements are placed along vertical and horizontal lines dividing the frame into thirds as is stipulated by the rule of thirds. The broad coffee pack is placed in the top third of the screen while small objects such as the coffee cups are place in the center. In the placement of the kettle in the shot where the water is heated, the kettle is centrally placed in the frame and not marginalized to any one corner; the focus is put on the kettle and not the surrounding cooker or cupboards. The amount of space allocated to the video also shows sufficiency in headroom allocation. The shooting did not let the objects in the video to appear sinking but they are made the focus of the shot. There is sufficiency of space above all objects on which focus is made. Distracting background elements are totally avoided, the viewers’ attention is maintained on the procedure of preparation and the objects involved. The shot is made in a kitchen with walls and cupboards of low toned colors not to distract the viewers’ attention. The camera positioning is away from windows or doors which could also distract the viewers. Lighting In lighting the video, exposure of the camera to the window was avoided since window light is far much brighter than the light in the house and will blacken out the objects in focus (Frost, 2009). Further lighting enhancement is done using video light and not architectural light. This is because the architectural light would have cast shadows on the objects as it has a bird’s eye view perspective. The video light used is aimed across the objects and not directly down on them thereby eliminating the shadowy effect. This is also useful in lighting darker corners of the room such as in the scene with the cooker which was poorly lit by the architectural light. Besides using the camera mounted light, the shots were made by positioning the objects in front of a window but not including the window in the shot. Camera lighting mode was set to indoor or tungsten. Types of shots The camera shots used are such as Point Of View shot (P.O.V) and Over the Shoulder Shots (O.S.S.). The point of view shots are used to create the effect of the audience being directly in front of the demonstration as it is being done (Frost, 2009). It is taken at near the eye level and shows all that may be seen when physically present and observant in the room. Over the shoulder shot is used in the heating shot where the frame cuts off the demonstrator from behind and focuses on the heating kettle. The demonstrator is facing the subject and is cut out with only a third of his body shown. All the shots were made using the medium shot which allowed for hand gestures to pin point the objects used in the demonstration. Continuity and Montage Editing is what brings the video to life, it is where the different shots are put together to achieve a continuous flow of events. The sudden shift from one scene to the next is hidden by the editing and the different cuts made as transparent as possible. Continuity and montage is used to achieve a good flow of scenes. To achieve continuity in this demonstration video, Match on Action Cuts are used in the shift from the preparation table to the cooker were the coffee is being heated. The line of action (180 degree rule) is maintained to bring the effect that the action takes place in the same location and during the same short period of time (Cherrier, 2011). Further continuity is achieved by making sure that the camera never crosses the line of action. Montage is evident in the video as the shift from the cooker to the scene where coffee is put in the thermos; the two scenes have a dialectical involvement which makes the montage effective. Montage ensures that the audience gets the impression of the two different scenes becoming one scene. The sequencing of the video compresses the whole process of coffee preparation from a half an hour in to a three minute movie. Shorter scenes which take the process from one point to the other are used instead of long and boring scenes. The short scenes which lead to one another only show the action and the reaction, avoiding the jump action of scenes which look the same and become confusing to the audience(Cherrier, 2011).. Sounds Sounds used in the video include spoken monologue to explain the procedure of coffee preparation and a background music which bridges gaps between two successive voices. Despite the expressive nature of monologue its use is limited and a lot of emphasis is placed on the visual demonstration of how the coffee is prepared. The background music is used to direct the audience’s attention and also to create an impression of place and time. The coffee is Arabic so the music used is an Arabic instrumental that has a low tempo at the beginning as it introduces the audience to the preparation and once started, the music becomes louder symbolizing the start of the action. During editing of the sound, a loop of the instrumental part of the song was made so as to avoid the words in the song overlapping with the narration. The volume in the gaps between narrations was also increased to keep the audience attentive for the next narration. Texts and titles The use of text in the video was important in creating an Arabic culture effect. The font style used is eccentric which resembles Arabic writings to create the picture of Arabian culture in the audiences’ mind. The font color varies from brown to dark brown which is synonymous with the color of coffee and the color of the Arabian Desert to reiterate the culture in which the coffee belongs. Texts are also used to diversify the mode of communication from verbal to visual and thereby engaging the audience even more. The texts are only displayed long enough for the audience to see and not to drag and waste the video time. The title of the video introduces the audience to the video and has a sub title that entices the audience. The last title concludes the video and has a comical effect on the audience. It uses the term espresso instead of express to integrate the coffee lovers’ type of coffee and the need to express the Arabian diversity through the video. Genre According to De-luca (1991), this demonstration video can be classified as an instructional video as, it expects the audience to actively make use of the information received. The video uses step by step instructions to demonstrate how to make Arabic coffee. The instructions are given both verbally and visually to reinforce how the instructions are performed. The video maintains the main theme and does not deviate as it is made with a plan and a definitive aim in mind. It is short and does not give all the instructions at once allowing the audience to comprehend the instructions given. To heighten the quality of video the same color background is used but with different camera angles and lighting techniques. The instructions are given by a narrator who is on screen and leads the audience through the procedure. Conclusion In conclusion, the video can be said to share the value held by the Arabians of the Arabian coffee. The coffee is prepared by locally available ground coffee and utensils and not the traditional brass utensils which have now become antiques. In the video a step by step procedure of preparation of Arabian coffee is given starting by identifying the ingredients and ending with how the coffee is served. The shooting of the video is done in accordance with all video graphic rules resulting in a high quality video which promises to maintain the audience attention till the end. The use of lighting ensures the objects in the video are all visible and not obscured or blacked out. Continuity is maintained throughout the video just as well as the observation of proper sound and video integration to give a video that not only captivates but clearly instructs its audience. Reference list Cherrier, M, H. (2011) Voice and Vision: A Creative Approach to Narrative Film and DV Production. 2ND ed. Australia: Focal Press, DeLuca, S. M. (1991) Instructional video. 3RD ed. Michigan: Focal Press. Frost, J. B. (2009) Cinematography for Directors: A Guide for Creative Collaboration. 1ST ed. New Jersey: Michael Wiese Turki alkhalifa 2009, How to make arabic coffee, online video accessed, 21 January 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLWnqufX4Fo Read More