SPOT ASTEA 2014

Since the day my teacher, Maria, told me about the SPOT ASTEA, I already got excited. Spot Astea is an annual activity organized by our school, Tartanga, wherein in 5 days, the video recording, production documentation, studio recording, editing, viewing and awarding take place. All in all, there were 20 spot entries, 1 per group (I'm not gonna go through the explanation of the production groups and micro groups, 'cause even I might not understand what I'd be saying).

What one's spot should obtain:

• Duration of 25 seconds
• Interior and exterior localizations
• Diegetic and/or non-diegetic sound
• Closing graphic showing the product
• Production photo documentation

In charged work:

• Sound students - diegetic sound, voice over recording and audio postproduction
• Photography students - production photo documentation and the making of photo slideshow
• Audiovisuals students - video recording and video post-production
• Animation students - Closing graphics

We had two associative meetings; the first was the raffle of group members, exchanging of contacts and the initial planning, the second was the pre-production. It kind of pressured us with the fact that february was our 2nd trisem examination month with requirements and stuffs and that there wasn't enough time for us to go further with the planning. Anyway, we all get to surpass it like arriving at school in a day of heavy rain and having your umbrella get wrecked by the strong forces of the wind (true story).

Regarding our spot:

Product advertised: Piattos

Slogan: "Cuando este Piattos, que se quite los demás"

Group 5D: Neda Maramo (RPA), Unai Arteaga (SOIN), Ainara Zarraga (LIM)

Production  and pre-production crew: 

Director: Neda Maramo

Director of Photography: Amaia Pereda

Assistant Director: Ibon Ezcurra

Producer: David Ibañez

Sound Director: Unai Arteaga

Photographer: Ainara Zarraga

Animation: Iker Fano

Editor: Neda Maramo

Actors: Unai Arteaga, Aitziber Villa, Iker Aranaz, Iker Fano

I am nothing but contented and happy with the result of our hardwork. Until now, I still can't get over the joy of getting to work with people I will never know if not because of this activity. 

We were only 3 in our group, but the other groups did not leave us hanging in the air. Say for example, the directorial help from my classmates Amaia, David and Ibon, the actoral part played by Aitziber, Iker and Iker, the closing graphic Iker made for us, the LED lights lent by Marina's group plus the help from Unai's classmates in recording.

I'll admit that at first, I couldn't get to my senses of picturing out how our spot is gonna turn out. But in the process of post-production, one step at a time, I saw them coming together especially when Unai played the songs he got for the spot. It's true that music is like the salt in a dish (just like what my classmate, Asier said). 

In those 5 glorious days, everyone was a busy bee. After those 2 days shoot and 2 days post-production was the viewing and awarding. We, audiovisuals students were also in charge of preparing it. "Gala" or "Clausura" is how they call it here.

It started at 12 noon with the sketches we prepared. Hashtag witches, ballerinas, musicians and mafiosos. The formal emcees were Natalia Sanchez and David Alvarez. Lights: Irati Albizu, Spotlight control: David Ibañez and Asier Marcos, Sound, General lighting and Projector: Maite Tome and Cris Ruano. "Regidores": Javi Matabuena and Neda Maramo.

Awards given were: Best actor, best actress, best direction, best spot, most original, best editing, best sound, best making of, best in special effects and best graphic. Congratulations to everyone who won. :-)

Congratulations Silencio crew!

We watched the spots, making ofs and another video featuring the pictures of people with their hands in their pockets called "bolsillos". I think it turned out pretty good remembering the sound of laughter the audiences gave out. Everyone loved the smoke effect on stage and the humor of the sketches. Good job, guys!

In my opinion, I think this activity is genius considering that there were collaborations between every group and student in the department of Imagen y Sonido. We get to expand our knowledge and explore the world of other courses. We met people whom not only we shared thoughts and ideas with, but also who inspired us to realize that one is capable of doing amazing things even for just a 25 and 40 second video.

"La verdad que ha molado es hacer un anuncio completamente desde cero. Lo de ganar o no da lo mismo. El resultado esta guay y con eso vale. Y no olvidar las risas que nos hemos hechado." ---Unai 

Spot production photo credits to Ainara Zarraga.

P.S. In the end, we did not consider the title "Primer Amor" (as seen in the first picture above) for our video.