The idea for this video came from a few places. The first was a video I have seen by Casey Niestat, where he engraves with a Dremel his contact information onto his new MacBook. I saw this video years ago and even then it inspired me to do the same. I took my iPhone I had and etched on the back “Use me with Wisdom, Pick me up for a Purpose.” I really liked this visual reminder to use my phone wisely. Finally, 
The Spirited Man “Fix-It” videos have always inspired me. To me they are the best thing on YouTube and I want to try my hand at a video in this style.
The Spirited Man “Fix-It” videos have always inspired me. To me they are the best thing on YouTube and I want to try my hand at a video in this style. 
This project is due on September 2, 2024.
These are things I must do between now and then: Write script.Assign shots to script. Film shots.(Maybe, clean room before filming.)Engrave computer.Print stencils.Cut out stencils with Exacto knife.Trace stencil with pencil onto laptop.Etch the laptop. Edit the video. Create a good voice over. Get shots correct.
Add music.
Color-grade.
Shoot outro.
Explain who I am and what the project is.
Show how they can see the whole process on my website.
Create thumbnail.
Post video to YouTube.
Make a post about it on Instagram.
Years ago, I watched this video by Casey Niestat.
Start the video by having a screen-recording of the Youtube video that I watched by Casey Niestat. Maybe do a digital zoom on the shot. Zoom until the Youtube video fills the screen, which will be a smooth transition into showing clips of the video in the next few shots.
I loved the way in which he recklessly handled a precious object.
Try to find the scene of him cutting a huge mark across the top of the laptop by opening the box carelessly.
I loved the way he made it his own.
In this scene it’s really important that I show the completed etching that he did on his laptop with all of his contact information.
I too wanted to do something similar.
Begin by showing a far away shot of my old iPhone that I engraved.
So, I engraved my phone.
Maybe have an angled shot of phone with camera movement to make it more engaging.
“Use me with Wisdom, Pick Me up for a Purpose.”
Zoomed in shot of the words I engraved. Do my best to have camera movement that follows the words as I read them. Or maybe I will have a zoomed shot that just shows the words. Or maybe it will go back to the establishing shot I had of the phone and digital zoom from there.
I have always hoped to use technology wisely.
Show the “Good Uses” that I engraved on the back of my phone. Maybe have text on the right side of screen that spells out exactly what is on the phone. Maybe use my iPad to trace what is on the phone and have that as a png that I overlay on top of the screen.
Using it only for its good qualities and not falling prey to its bad.
Now do the same thing for this shot as I did in the last. But maybe this time have the text on the left side of screen or visa versa. Depending on which side I decide to position text on I need to properly frame the phone on the other side with rule of thirds and other concepts from cinematography.
My laptop recently got scratched from being in my backpack.
Zoom in on scratch. To make screen more interesting maybe establish the shot by having me typing on my computer. The camera is behind the laptop and it zooms in on the scratch.
Now my once pristine object is damaged, so I guess its time to make this one my own too.
This is where I begin filming and showing the work of me etching my laptop. Maybe in this quick little line I show a montage of me printing out the etching, cutting out the text, pencil-ing in the drawing, and finally beginning to etch out the stencil.
With each scene in the montage be sure to var shot sizes, change camera angle, have continuity, and use different parts of the rule of thirds.
I used to have this Post-it note that I stuck to my pencil box. I carried it around with me everywhere.
Show the Post-it note on the pencil box from an angle.
And this Post-it note, which I always wanted to be reminded of said:
Now establish the next scene by being completely square with the Post-it. Have it tightly zoomed so that everything on the Post-it is legible and symmetrical.
”I will only use my laptop to:
- To facilitate creativity.
- To generate a source of income.
- To further my self-education.”
Now, this scene I am pretty excited about. So, I will have etched the exact text of the Post-it onto a square of my laptop, and the previous scene of the Post-it note will be layered above the exact same shot of the content of the Post-it note engraved on my laptop. As I read each rule, the scene will wipe-off of dissolve the scene of the Post-it revealing the etching on the laptop underneath.
The way I will execute this is by first of all tracing the dimension of a Post-it on to a corner of my laptop. Then, I will write what the Post-it says onto the laptop within the square. After, I will etch out the words. Finally, I will put a Post-it on top of the etching within the outline and erase the outline of the square once done.
Keeping these rules in mind has led me here, to a vision that will hopefully accomplish each of these ends.
Now, show a similar montage of me going about all the steps of engraving my logo onto my laptop.
It has led me to the creation of my website and this channel:
Show a screen recording of my my website. Give as quick of a tour as you can, exposing the most pertinent information you can in the time you have.
Vary shot sizes, etc.
Autodidact.
From scene before zoom in onto the logo in the top left corner of the website. Underneath reveal the logo on the top left corner of my laptop. Do a combination of dissolving the overlay and zooming in at the same time, until “Autodidact” is centered and enlarged on my screen and the website layer is completely dissolved.
Title:
The Only 3 Good Uses of Technology. Thumbnail:
Picture of me holding up the etched laptop smiling.