YouTube Assignment

The video My Key Chain Camera was made specifically for youtube and no other use. It begins with a medium close shot as the narrator is speaking directly to the camera (5 seconds), explaining the situation. While visiting Niagara Falls, he bought a $2 souvenir camera key chain from a gift shop and went around asking people if they would take his picture with it even though when they peer through the viewfinder, they only see a slide show of pictures of Niagara Falls.
While he is explaining all this, the shot changes to another medium close shot (3 sec) of him pretending to use the key chain camera.
"It's cute," he begins. The next shot (6 sec) is a close up of the tiny camera and then both the photographer and the narrator move backward to reveal the narrator holding the camera.
The next shot (9 sec) begins the prank and an innocent jingle starts up. It is a medium shot of the unknowing passersby who were probably just too polite to tell the narrator "no." They begin to laugh uncomfortably and the next shot (11 sec) is practically the same, just with new subjects. Occasionally, the photographer pans the camera left and right to show both the narrator and the passersby.
Then there is an other medium shot (3 sec) of the narrator pretending to take pictures with the key chain. This shot is followed by a medium shot (15 sec) of him turning to his neighbor, gesturing for her to take a picture of him with the Falls in the background. She obliges, and as the music wraps up, the last shot (5 sec) is a point of view still frame of the narrator.

The music works perfectly for this video. Since it is a harmless prank, the almost holiday-sounding song accentuated the feeling of innocent fun.
The most difficult part about the video is that the viewer cannot fully see the prank being played out, but one must take into consideration the photographer who had to be discreet. This was not a professional production, just something fun to do, therefore it was not set up as it would be for a television show. If it were to be redone and planned out, the best way to do it would to set up a couple of hidden cameras around; ones that could catch the reaction more clearly. Audio would also improve the effectiveness and humor of the piece so the audience would be able to hear the conversations that are taking place. The mixture of better audio and video would really draw in the viewer to see exactly what was taking place and they would be able to understand the uncomfortable situation the people are in.

link to this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGc5pOtAwOs&feature=player_profilepage#