Show Reel | Michelle C. Dunlap

Twain Intro. 00:19

Thu, 07 May 2009 12:09:05 -0400

Twain Intro. from Michelle Dunlap on Vimeo.

This video was also made for my Media Concepts class in the Spring 2009 semester. It marks my first time using Adobe AfterEffects. Thankfully, my experience with Final Cut Pro and Motion meant that it wasn't hard to create this assignment. While it is not my favorite, stylistically, it does fulfill the assignment I was given, to use at least 3 pieces of media and 3 effects to create a motion graphic. Ideally, Twain's photo would have faded in, and a better transition would have been applied to the text. However, I don't feel it is bad for 20 minutes of work in a program I'd never touched before.

Greenway Photo-documentary 2:28

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:57:28 -0400

Peter's Brook Greenway from Michelle Dunlap on Vimeo.

This video was made for my Media Practices: Concepts class at the New School in the Spring 2009 semseter. It's the first time I've ever tried my hand and photo-documenting a place. The pictures were shot on my old Olympus FE-100. It may not have the resolution that my Vixia does in still mode, but it's smaller, and excellent for macro and supermacro photographs. I'll be doing a second round of photos from this locale - part of a large, winding park throughout my town - in the late spring or early summer to compare it to now. The Peter's Brook Greenway is a park that follow Peter's Brook through Somerville. As such, it pretty much cuts through the middle of the town. It's wonderful for walking, jogging, or biking. And I'm lucky enough to live next door to part of it.

Unlike most of my videos, the Greenway Photo-doc is in SD. My Olympus is not good enough to offer up HD imagery. I still love it anyway, though.

Issues PSA: Donations 00:31

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:38:57 -0400

Issues Donation PSA from Michelle Dunlap on Vimeo.

This was shot right after getting my Canon Vixia HF-10. I handheld the camera for the shots, and edited using iMove '09. The clip stabilization feature took out the shakiness of my camera work, and the template just fits with the theme of the show. It will be featured on our site has we work to raise money for our second season.

SouT - Act III Opener 3:53

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:03:09 -0500

Skin of Our Teeth, Act. III Opener from Michelle Dunlap on Vimeo.

This montage of still images was made to open the third act of Shakespeare 70 production of Thorton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth. The third act opens after a war, and given the play's enormous expanse of time, the director wanted to invoke images of as many major conflicts from human history as possible. Due to cultural differences in the way war is represented, the slideshow is left with a Western angle until the modern age, when photography became a common way to document war. The images were gathered from Google and the Ken Burns effect was applied manually for each clip. I can not attest to the source of the music, which was burned onto a CD and given to me by director Brian Bara. This piece was done on a voluntary basis.

Zeke's Promo 1:36

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:01:55 -0500

Zeke's promo was the final character feature created for Issues: The Series. I was given spectacular footage to work with in this promo. Our DP, Mike Rinkunas partnered up with Zeke (Noah Rothman) to give this spot a reality show feel. We didn't want Zeke to just break the 4th wall, we wanted him to shatter it. The quick jump cuts and Noah's perfect sense of timing combined to create my favorite promo of the series.

Issues Trailer 2:00

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:01:01 -0500

I was able to exercise a great deal of freedom in creating the Issues trailer. Having followed the script, and gotten a 4:00 trailer, I was able to cut the trailer down to 2 minutes, without the input of the director. This is because as the trailer was being made, director Scott Napolitano was spending some much needed time with his family. This is the result. Music provided by composer Denise Barbarita.

Sound Montage - A Passing Afternoon 1:21

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:00:03 -0500

Sound Montage - A Passing Afternoon from Michelle Dunlap on Vimeo.

This sound montage was created by working with CJ Maldonado on his short film, A Passing Afternoon. The montage invokes the image of a hospital, and manages to focus your attention on one particular patient, through no picture. Sounds were leveled and mixed in Final Cut Pro. The title cards at the end of the clip were also make in Final Cut Pro, and given a film look using a subtle Gaussian blur.