student short film
the HIKE
10-minute short film written, directed, acted and cut by Tobias Burghardt and me
English subtitles are available in the subtitle menu of the video.
This is a student short film produced together with Tobias Burghardt as final course project for the seminar Audiovisual Media I (Video editing and camera technique) during my Master studies at the University of Tübingen.
For both of us without any previous filmmaking experience, this was our very first time writing a script, creating a shot list, directing, acting, as well as editing a film. During the process of learning all of these skills from the ground up, we collected much valuable experience about how to plan, produce, edit and act in any film project.
Tobias Burghardt and I completed this project together in a joint team effort. Due to covid restrictions we worked with a DSLR camera and unfortunately could not have any additional people on set. Therefore we had to plan each shot together beforehand, self-directing while acting or operating the camera. You might notice that any shot with both of us in it is recorded as a static shot or has its camera translation added in post production.
We shared the workload equally during this project, the only exception to that are the text / graphic interface overlays created completely by Tobias and sound design being my part. You can read more details about creating the sound scape in post production here.
View the full shot list
Project Characteristics
Time frame
Nov 2020 - Mar 2021, on 50 days, a total of 192 hours for the seminar and short film
Final grade
For the course and final short film 1.0
(equivalent to American A+ / GPA 4.0)
Collaboration / supervision
Tobias Burghardt and I shared the work equally and between us created the script and shot list, operated the camera, acted in front of the camera, directed and edited the film.
The only distinction in workload is that Tobias completely created all text and graphic interface overlays in the film, whereas I took care of the sound design.
Seminar and project supervision with great feedback by Stefanie Molitor
Radio voices in the film by Stefanie Molitor and Dirk Widmann
Amount of raw video material shot
In total, we recorded about 100 GB across approximately 500 shots of source material.
Tools utilized
Canon EOS 700D, Takstar SGC-598, Premiere Pro (editing), DaVinci Resolve (color grading), Google Docs (script), Google Sheets (shot list)
Skills I learned / improved upon through this project
Creative process for art projects, teamwork, film script writing, planning a shot list, theory behind camera angles and movement, different types of shots, creating a dramatic story arc, camera operation, directing and self-directing, acting in front of the camera, video editing, color grading, how to use timing and create suspense, immersive sound design
Screenshot of the timeline during the process of editing the film in Premiere Pro
Timeline explanation / sound design
The film's timeline contains the following distinct tracks:
- Three source video tracks for arranging the video material in a meaningful manner (especially important to keep timing with cutaways)
- A video track for generated text overlays, such as the title, phone message overlay and credits
- Three source audio tracks that belong to their respective video input. These contain the originally captured sound
- A muted audio track, used to quickly disable the captured audio of any shot without deleting it from the timeline
- Radio / Phone ringing is used for the story-critical digital sounds that the protagonist hears himself
- Audio track roomtone / forest to keep a continuous sound ambiance of the environment without harsh cuts in the audio when the shot changes
- Infrasound at 10 Hz aims to further a slowly growing unconscious uneasiness in the viewer - most useful when viewing the film with high-end audio equipment
- Happy music is used to set a good, careless mood in the first half of the film and during the credits
- Two tracks for different horror music, first only as a slight premonition to communicate the emotional distress of the protagonist, later stronger and laid on top of each other to convey his panic
- SFX Atmospheric are any ethereal elements which are laid on top of any horror music to create the final soundscape
- SFX Musical contains all sound effects that have a certain tonality to them
- SFX Heartbeat plays a rapidly beating heart during the running scene, creating tension and greater emotional connection of the viewer to the protagonist
- SFX Panic are any audio clips designed to create dread and fear in the most chilling moments
- SFX Sounds collects all miscellaneous sound effects, like horror stingers or sounds that reflect the action shown in the video
Show the English transcript of the short film
Audiovisual Media I (Video editing and camera technique) winter semester 20/21
A short film by Jannik Hofmann and Tobias Burghardt
Alright, now I'm finally going!
Too bad that you guys have no time today, but then I'll simply go hiking alone.
So that you don't miss anything, I'll send you a few videos from there.
See you later.
Attention drivers, on highway 8 Karlsruhe Munich...
...around 9 o'clock a bank robbery has...
Well, what happened to you?
Do you need help?
I know a bit about cars.
No it's ok, I can do it myself.
Hey, you're planning to go hiking here, too?
Then we can go together.
I'll take care of the engine first!
(He's so annoying).
Hey guys, I don't know when you'll get the video there's no reception here.
But I arrived well.
It's very idyllic here, hardly anyone here today.
Except for me, it's only him.
I'll be on my way.
See you later, bye!
I've changed my mind, I'm coming with you.
Oh perfect, I'm always happy to have company!
It's so beautiful and quiet here.
Don't you think it's nice to be away from the chaos of the city?
Yeah, it's good, but could I borrow your cell phone?
I left mine in the car and I need to make a quick call.
Oh, sure, no problem.
But I don't think it has any reception here.
So, did it work?
No, still no signal.
Oh well, that's what I thought.
I saw your license plate is from Reutlingen.
Do you know the hiking trail here?
I grew up near here, I know every path.
I even buried my hamster here when I was a kid.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that!
How did he die?
It was a funny story.
I locked him in a hamster wheel and cranked it for a very long time.
Holy shit!
How can anyone come up with something like that?
Aren't you out in nature to enjoy the peace and quiet?
What do you need a radio for?
I'll just turn on some relaxing music.
[laughs] Don't you think the knife is a bit too small for the apple?
Maybe, but it's my favorite one.
I do everything with it.
We interrupt our current program for an urgent special announcement!
The unknown man who robbed a Reutlingen bank today around 9 a.m. is still on the run.
Now it has become known that he stabbed a bank employee and subsequently fled in a white compact car with the license plate R T - T B 3 0 1 0.
The man is mentally unstable and extremely dangerous, so avoid any contact with strangers and immediately pass on any information to the police!
We will keep you informed (about the latest developments).
<< IN YOUR VIDEO THAT'S THE BANK ROBBER!!!
<< RUN AWAY THIS GUY IS DANGEROUS.
>> I'm safe. Don't worry about me.
Where are you?
Come back!
Show the original German transcript
Audiovisuellen Medien I (Videoschnitt und Kameratechnik) wintersemester 20/21
Ein Film von Jannik Hofmann und Tobias Burghardt
So, jetzt geht's endlich los!
Schade dass ihr heute doch keine Zeit habt, aber dann gehe ich halt alleine wandern.
Damit ihr nichts verpasst, schicke ich euch aber von unterwegs paar Videos.
Bis später.
Achtung Autofahrer, auf der A8 Karlsruhe München...
...gegen 9 Uhr hat sich ein Bankraub in...
Na, was ist denn bei Ihnen passiert?
Brauchen sie Hilfe?
Ich kenne mich bisschen aus mit Autos.
Ne passt, ich krieg das selber hin.
Hey, Sie haben auch vor hier wandern zu gehen?
Dann können wir doch zusammen los.
Ich kümmer mich jetzt erstmal um den Motor!
(Boah nervt der).
So Leute, ich weiß nicht wann ihr das Video bekommt hier hat's keinen Empfang.
Aber ich bin gut angekommen.
Es ist richtig idyllisch hier, kaum jemand hier heute.
Bis auf mich ist nur noch er da.
Dann mache ich mich mal auf den Weg.
Bis später, tschau!
Hab's mir anders überlegt, ich komm doch mit.
Ah perfekt, ich freue mich immer über Gesellschaft!
Schön ruhig hier.
Findest du's nicht auch schön, mal wieder weg vom Chaos der Stadt zu sein?
Ja ganz schön hier, aber könnte ich mal kurz dein Handy haben?
Ich hab meins im Auto vergessen und müsste noch schnell jemanden anrufen.
Achso klar, kein Problem.
Aber ich glaub nicht dass es hier Empfang hat.
Und, hat's geklappt?
Ne, hat immer noch keinen Empfang.
Dachte ich mir.
Ich hab gesehen dein Kennzeichen ist aus Reutlingen.
Kennst du den Wanderweg hier schon?
Ich bin in der Nähe aufgewachsen, ich kenne jeden Pfad.
Als Kind hab ich hier sogar meinen Hamster vergraben.
Oh das tut mir leid!
Wie ist er denn gestorben?
Das war ne ganz lustige Geschichte.
Ich hab ihn in ein Hamsterrad eingesperrt und ganz lange gekurbelt.
Ach du scheiße!
Wie kommt man denn auf so was?
Ist man nicht in der Natur um die Ruhe zu genießen?
Wozu brauchst du denn jetzt n Radio?
Ich mach doch nur bisschen entspannte Musik an.
[lacht] Meinst du nicht dass das Messer ein bisschen zu klein ist für den Apfel?
Kann schon sein, aber es ist mein Lieblingsmesser.
Damit mach ich alles.
Wir unterbrechen unser aktuelles Programm für eine dringende Sondermeldung!
Der unbekannte Mann der heute gegen 9 Uhr eine Reutlinger Bank ausgeraubt hat ist weiterhin auf der Flucht.
Nun ist bekannt geworden, dass er einen Bankangestellten erstochen hat und im Anschluss in einem weißen Kleinwagen mit dem amtlichen Kennzeichen R T - T B 3 0 1 0 geflüchtet ist.
Der Mann ist psychisch labil und extrem gefährlich, vermeiden sie daher jeglichen Kontakt zu Fremden und geben Sie sämtliche Hinweise sofort an die Polizei weiter!
Wir halten Sie zu den aktuellen Entwicklungen (weiter auf dem Laufenden).
<< IN DEINE VIDEO DAS IST DER BANKRÄUBER!!!
<< RENN WEG DER TYP IST GEFÄHRLICH.
>> Bin in Sicherheit. Mach dir keine Sorgen.
Wo bist du?
Komm zurück!