A Master in the Making

Summary

After completing this course, I feel much more confident in my ability to work with both audio and video. More specifically, this class helped me learn how to quickly overcome challenges that come up during the production process.

Although I started the course with a solid foundation and prior experience in audio and video work, my goal was to polish my skills and gain more confidence overall. I truly feel like I was able to do that, and I am really proud of the work I produced over the past seven weeks.

It is one thing to know how to work with audio and video, but learning how to troubleshoot quickly when things need to get done was something I did not expect to gain from this course. Throughout many of the weeks, I ran into challenges like equipment issues or not having everything I needed to complete a project exactly as planned. However, I learned how to work around those obstacles, whether that meant fixing content during post production or quickly changing locations or subjects. It was not always intended, but I learned how to make things work.

I have to admit that my lack of resources was probably the most difficult part of the class. While I am incredibly grateful for the ability to rent equipment through the school, I often felt limited by scheduling and having to plan production around when the equipment was available. On top of that, there were times when it took much longer than expected to figure out how to make certain equipment work. It was not my first time using a tripod or microphone, but to say I was rusty would be an understatement. There were also moments when I rented the wrong items or realized I was missing important wires that were crucial to the setup.

Moving forward, I would love to continue learning more about advanced editing techniques and how to create more polished, story-driven content. I am especially interested in improving my post-production skills, including audio mixing and color correction, to elevate the overall quality of my work. What I learned in this course will definitely carry into the future, whether I am working on personal creative projects or in a professional setting. Being able to adapt, troubleshoot quickly, and work confidently with audio and video equipment are skills I know I will rely on in future classes, internships, and eventually my career.

Research to Inform

I focused on finding videos that demonstrated strong storytelling, specifically music videos, and looked for clear instances of L cuts and J cuts, noting how audio and visuals were layered to create smooth transitions and maintain engagement. I also included at least one music video that, while generally well produced, had a noticeable issue, an editing or audio choice that could be improved, so I could reflect on how such decisions impact the overall polish and effectiveness of a piece.

1. L-Cut Example — High School Musical (2006)
   • Around 0:20 to 0:24 in the clip, the song starts with the whole group singing in a wide shot, and then the visuals cut to individual Wildcats dancing and reacting while the ensemble’s singing continues uninterrupted. Even though the camera angle changes, the chorus audio carries over smoothly into the new shots. This works well as an L-cut because it preserves the song’s energy and momentum while allowing the editor to highlight different performers and reactions. By letting the audio continue without an abrupt break, the transition feels fluid and keeps the sequence lively and visually engaging.
2. J-Cut Example — Teen Beach Movie (“Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’” Scene)
   • From 0:00 to 0:08, the music and sound effects from the party, including engine revs and the beat, begin before the visuals transition to the fully choreographed performance. The audio starts while the opening shots are still establishing the scene, showing the characters gearing up. This functions as an effective J‑cut because the sound arrives first, setting the tone and building anticipation before the camera moves into the main performance. By hearing the beat ahead of the visuals, the audience is primed for the action that follows, making the transition feel energetic and seamless.

Create

Mini Documentary

Link to Doc: https://youtu.be/0wX04KW_7CQ

If you have read last week’s blog or have talked to me recently, you might have been expecting a documentary linked below about a Quinnipiac D1 athlete. Unfortunately, I had to make some last minute changes after the flu started spreading rapidly.

So instead, I present a documentary about my friend Cristina and her love for baking. Despite the shift in plans, the process of making this documentary actually went pretty well, especially considering it was put together last minute. I also ended up with cookies after filming the b roll, so I really cannot complain too much.

The one area where I will admit I messed up was the audio. I rented a lavalier mic but quickly realized I did not have the correct wires to properly connect it to my T7 Rebel camera, which is definitely not designed with filming in mind. It turns out I needed an additional cable of some sort and without it, the mic was unusable. Because of that, I ended up recording the audio using Voice Memos on my iPhone instead of a Zoom. Again, not intended, but I was able to troubleshoot quickly and make it work.

Overall, this project was a good reminder that flexibility is just as important as planning in production. Even when things do not go exactly as expected, it is still possible to create something meaningful by adapting and staying calm. This experience definitely reinforced how much I have grown throughout the course and how much more confident I feel handling unexpected challenges.