Saturday, 25 February 2017

The Ideas Process

We began to debate and brainstorm ideas back in September, spending a week or two creating storyboards, researching into existing videos and gaining inspiration and concepts from them. We looked at various artists, including The Weekend, Panic! At The Disco, K.A.R.D and Incubus. From looking into the work of these artists we became particularly interested in the idea of creating a very artsy, contemporary video, with a mix of narrative and performance. During the first week of our project, we began to look at songs, however struggled at first to find one that we were hugely inspired by. Then, we were listening to All Time Low and stumbled across 'Dancing with a wolf'. What we found particularly exciting about the song was the mixture of pitch change, as well as the rhythm and the lyrics in the song. Originally, we were really interested in incorporating a fairy-tale narrative into our music video; this song facilitated this perfectly as we were able to adapt the story of red riding hood.

We looked at various bands online and tried to get into contact however the one that we had hoped would agree to let us film had just split and we realised that we would not be able to transport instruments as well as a professional band around easily. Unfortunately we had to abandon the idea however now I think it was for the best as it may have confused the narrative.

Our idea to start off with was to have our male character, in a studio with a band where he would step forward and leaves would start falling. It would then fade into a shot of him in the same position but in a forest. He would have to complete or face a number of 'challenges'. One of which being him walking through water falling onto him, then we wanted to include a shot underwater, with roses falling onto him etc. We would see flashes of red however never would we get to see the females face. A rose would simply fall into his grasp to symbolise her presence. She would remain a mystery. From time to time, the shots would fade back to the studio, bringing us back to reality.

After researching into props and location and assessing overall costs and time schedules, we decided that this idea was slightly too complex and optimistic. Therefore, we decided to simplify it to make it more realistic and achievable. We got rid of the elements such as the roses falling as we would need so many as well as the water as this would require a much more powerful camera as well as water and props that would take a lot of time to prepare and the risk of not working anyway. However other than these elements, we rolled with the idea and we managed to portray it well.

Once we had begun filming, our ideas started to develop more as we could see our idea coming to life and imagine how it would all look when edited together. After filming Charlie, we realised that in order to portray emotion and enhance the significance of the lyrics in relation with the narrative, we would need to take more footage of Meghan. We would need to include her and Charlie together as well, in order to give the story a backbone and help the audience to understand their relationship and in turn the story as a whole. I feel like it may not have been clear to them if we had stuck with the original plan. We took shots of them arguing and put them together at the start of the music video before the music even starts to introduce the narrative and engage the audience. Flashback shots were then inserted throughout to allow for continuity.

Evaluation Plans



 
 

1) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?


2) How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

3) What have you learned from your audience feedback?

4) How did you use media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?

Friday, 24 February 2017

The Editing Process


We began the editing process as soon as we had completed our first day of filming. We found this quite useful as were able to clearly see what needed adding and what footage we needed. We were also able to assess our methods of filming as we went along, improving upon our skills each time.

Throughout the process we have become more and more confident in using Adobe Premiere Pro as well Adobe After Effects. One obstacle that we were particularly invested in perfecting was the colour change of Meghan's coat. During the first few weeks of the course, we made prop decisions, one of which was to find a red cape. We managed to get hold of one however it did not look that great on camera as looked cheap and velvety. It also may have looked like we were trying too hard to relate it to red riding hood rather than just adding a subtle link. Therefore, in watching YouTube tutorials online and experimenting in Premiere Pro, we had the idea to use Meghan's coat and make it red.



We did this in the effect controls panel, experimenting with colour change and tolerance to change the colour from green to red. Once we had mastered this once, it gradually became easier. It was, however slightly frustrating at times when hues of the same colour of Meghan's coat were caught and turned red as well. We edited this by adjusting the tolerance which was successful the majority of the time.

Another element of editing that we found quite complex was matching the backing track up with the footage of Charlie lip syncing. We were lucky in the sense that we had casted an actor capable of lip syncing successfully as well as confident on camera during the narrative scenes. This made our job a lot less tedious as we only had to cut them down slightly for them to fit to the music. We didn't have to mess around with speed duration etc.

The process started to get even more enjoyable as we added in footage of Meghan, we saw how the addition of another character really helps to enhance the narrative and create a storyline. Originally, we had not planned on doing too many shots of Meghan and Charlie together however found that for the narrative to work well and for the viewer to understand, we would need to do this. After filming with them both, we were able to really build upon the story and fill in the gaps. We used a variety of transitions throughout our music video, mainly the cross dissolve however when changing from a memory stage (B&W) to lip synching, we incorporated a flash dissolve. This really gave the impression that he was having a flashback and added to the overall outcome. In addition to this we learnt how to cross fade from colour to black and white,



 this also proved to be quite simple in the end despite watching a very complicated tutorial on how to do it on YouTube. We simply cut the shot in two, made the second half black and white and added a cross fade between the two.





We also experimented with speed duration throughout the video, especially during the flash back shots where the two characters are arguing. Here we decided to slow down the duration in order to create a more powerful and emotive impact on the viewer. The way in which his facial expressions are slowed down creates a sense of fear and empathy with the female character. It also helps us to get a closer look into the narrative and learn more about the characters and their relationship. It all depended on the rhythm and beat of the song at the time as well as the feelings we wanted to portray when we were adjusting the speed duration. During the louder, more energetic parts of the song, we tried to speed the shots up so that they would match the beat of the music. For example the 360 degree shot of Meghan, it created the impression that she was being circled like an animal.



The speed of the song encouraged us to experiment with cutting different shots. In the really fast paced parts, we created a flashing effect by cutting up shots of Meghan and Charlie and mixing them up.

What I found especially effective was the decision to make the flashback shots black and white. This created a separation between the two narratives happening at the same time as well as continuity throughout the music video. It also made the shots look more professional and added to the theme of black, white and red as we still managed to pick out the red of the rose and the cape. Some parts of this proved to be quite difficult as like before, some hues of red such as on his face and on the bench stayed slightly pink when everything else turned black and white. We were able to adjust this slightly however it is one element that we would say could do with improvement. Given the timescale we were just not able to be too picky.



 
During the course of this project we have also learnt how to group clips or 'nest' them in order to be able to move them all as one collective shot and edit them together.
 

 

 
 

 
Overall, we have used a variety of effects, we also added sound effects downloaded from YouTube to add to the start of our music video to introduce it. We used a YouTube converter in order to open it as an mp4 file in Adobe Premiere Pro.










Evaluation Question 1

 
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Our music video both challenges and complies with music videos and media products in industry. Our main focus was to try and create an original, minimalistic and stylized piece of work inspired by the lyrics in the song, using them as a platform for our narrative. This artistic approach allowed us to experiment with camera angles, props and effects during the filming and editing process.

The main element of our product which challenges forms and conventions of typical music videos would be our narrative style. We took the risky decision to incorporate both lip syncing as well as narrative ( Which is not often done in the industry as we found out through research). We wanted to make something which would create an impression. From the start of the project, a fundamental part of the process was to experiment and explore a range of different filming techniques and styles in order to broaden our skills and apply them to our video. I found that by using both lip syncing and narrative, we were able to learn a lot more about the character through the lyrics as well as through the acting. This created a sense of empathy. This is a technique used in conventional music videos as it draws the audience in and allows for narrative and character development.

Our initial idea challenges forms and conventions in itself. The majority of music videos produced in industry have a simple narrative and genre behind them, ours leans towards the short film category in that there is so much going on within it. There are several themes as well as an underlying narrative, a relationship and a mystery.  We have an element of romance within the genre which complies with conventions; these days the majority of music videos do consist of romance, documenting the relationship of a male and female and the development of their relationship reflected through the lyrics in the song. I feel like although ours does incorporate bits and pieces of this, we have gone about the idea in a completely different way. First of all, the narrative behind the lyrics in the song is ambiguous, we looked at them and manipulated their meaning in order to create a romance/mystery music video. What I like about this is that the lyrics don't tell you everything, allowing the audience/viewer to perceive it as they want.  The ambiguity of it is what we hope will draw the audience in, we do not really delve deep into the personality and feelings of the characters, only a vague relationship between the two and the effects they have on each other which can be suggested through the lyrics of the song. This all helps to maintain the mystery element of the genre that we wanted to create.

Location wise we opted for a range of different areas. The ongoing idea was to shoot in forests and wood like areas in order to link in with the underlying theme of red riding hood and the fact that his emotions reflect the characteristics of a wolf. However in contrast with these dense, outdoor locations we decided to opt for a cleaner much more artistic space in order to really highlight the importance of his abstract feelings and emotions. We filmed him in a large white studio space called Butterfly Studios which provided us with great lighting and effects creating professional shots and footage. The contrast in colour as well as costume and location is quite stylistic and snappy. Conventional videos would stick to a theme throughout so as not to confuse the viewer however I feel that the way in which we have executed the filming (colour theme of red, same actors and continuity) has allowed for this. The contrast between the clean white walls of butterfly studios and the messy, foliage and trees where the narrative takes place creates a separation between the two scene changes. It allows for continuity as well as audience understanding.  

However we have also taken inspiration and ideas from other music videos such as those of 'Panic! At the Disco' and more contemporary bands like that. The montage was one of the things that we showed particular interest in during the initial stages however as we progressed we decided that we wanted to go for the more contemporary approach. What we enjoyed particularly about their videos were the fast shots used for effect and the way in which they used props and other actors body parts to create impression. Movement is a key element to the way in which it comes across. It all syncs with the music which is fast paced and we wanted to make sure that we really made sure that the movement and shots within our own video matched to the beat and timing of the music. (Especially after understanding how key it was to the overall consumption).  We had also watched various music videos where props had been incorporated to add effect, water, leaves, flowers, coffins etc. Our original idea was going to involve many more props however we found that that would just be too expensive and time consuming. We did however incorporate leaves into it in order to make it abstract as well as face paint and the rose. We did experiment with hands and body movement pulling and pushing Charlie however we did not have the numbers to make it as effective.

Our choice of casting also complies with conventional forms of media. The decision to cast a male and female actor for our music video with the genre of love and conflict is a typical choice that most artists make. This is because it is an ideal way to portray emotion and causes the audience to empathize with the characters as they can relate to them. However it is not obvious in the lyrics that it is about a relationship, this is only how we decided to present it. The lyrics could imply the gradual deterioration of their relationship or the way I which 'Red' has left the wolf. One idea we took from the lyrics could be that she is having an affair or has just stopped taking interest in him. This would challenge forms of media as it is usually the male who ends up hurting the female. I think that it is important to challenge as it shows that people should be more open about the way media is perceived.  

 The fact that we have linked our narrative to the lyrics in the song also develops conventions of real media products, we have, so to speak, based our idea on the song that we had decided to use at the start of the project. This means that we have had to really try and reflect the lyrics and the emotions of the song through our camera work and the actors. This makes it seem almost like a short film as everything ties together.

Overall I feel like we have both challenged and complied with conventional media products, probably challenged more so in that we have really tried to make it original and artistic rather than a normal narrative linking subtly to the lyrics in the song. From the start of the process, we have placed an emphasis on originality and have used subtle props such as the rose, the mic, costume such as the coat, the suit so that we could enhance the overall effect on the audience and maintain the professional quality of the video.

Thursday, 23 February 2017

Final Steps in Editing Process

  • Find a background sound effect for prologue
  • Story Plot Shots (fillers0
  • Ensure all lip syncing is in sync
  • Shot transitions should match the beat of the music
  • Make second verse more interesting (Variety of different shots)

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Ancillary Task 2- Poster



    FINAL POSTER

 
After receiving audience feedback for our 'final' poster we made a few slight changes in order to gain as high a mark as possible. This adjustments included adding a release date as well as a production company to show who had given us the 5 star review.

Audience feedback on inital idea and ancillary products


Audience Feedback Questions


http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HEB58/

1) What are your initial thoughts on our idea?
2) How original do you think it is?
3) What interests you the most about it?
4) What type of audience do you think our music video would appeal to?
5) From what you've heard, would you want to watch the final music video?
6) Are there are any changes or improvements you might make?



Instead of creating a video, we will hand out these feedback sheets and upload the evidence that we collect











Monday, 20 February 2017

Audience feedback of rough cut

 
We showed our rough cut to our peers and they gave us feedback and commentary on the sheets of paper below:
 
 

 
 
 



















Here is some of the audience feedback we received. We will take their ideas and advice on board in order to improve it - making the narrative clearer to the viewer and working on the finer details. I feel like we have the main shots however just need to work on capturing the attention of the viewer. We found from the feedback that it is quite repetitive so will try and improve the way in which the shots are delivered.  



Here are some of the key elements we intend on improving in order to create the most effective outcome ( music video) from the footage and ideas that we have.

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Location research and evaluation

Final Locations used:

  • Mousehold Heath
  • Ketts Park Wymondham
  • Foresty areas around Wymondham
  • Butterfly Studios Norwich
  • Thetford
1) Have you thought about weather conditions, availability etc.?

During the organisation process of each filming day, we had to look at weather forecasts as well as bus timetables, cast availability and planning ahead. Thankfully, we ended up planning pretty well and did not get delayed due to weather conditions. During the last few filming days, the weather did get significantly colder which meant that the filming got harder as we could not stay outside for long periods of time. For the filming in Butterfly Studios, we had to arrange transport however it was easy other than that. We used Facebook messenger as means of communication and kept in touch throughout the filming and locations process.  We prepared for the worst by taking umbrellas, jumpers and gloves, we also made sure to take snacks and water so as not to get too tired, cold or hungry.

2) Why are these locations so good for what you want to achieve?

I feel like due to our in depth location research and use of trial and error, we were able to choose the most effective locations for what we wanted to achieve. The forestry areas were dense and there were sparse areas as well which made the shots more varied. These areas were also in Wymondham so therefore practical as we did not have to worry about transport or any other costs. Butterfly Studios was perfect as it was cheap, within driving distance and extremely well equipped. It had great lighting, backdrop and allowed us to achieve the outcome we'd set out to create.

3) Do you have back-ups?

We were not able to find any backups for Butterfly Studios really however if it had not worked out we would have used the drama school at school. It would not have looked anywhere near as professional but that is what we would have done. For the other scenes it was not as difficult as we did not have to book or pre plan, we could just turn up if the weather forecast looked okay.

4) Can your cast get there?

We arranged transport and timings on social media

5) Are you using interior/exterior locations? Why?

Filming Day 4

 
 
Final Day of filming - Plan
 
 
In order to improve the narrative and help the audience to understand the storyline, we decided to take a few shots of both Meghan and Charlie to show the link between the two characters.
 





 

Saturday, 4 February 2017

Target Audience

1) Who is the target audience for your music video?

I would say that our music video covers quite a large proportion of age groups. It is both professional and modern because it is quite arty and stylized therefore I feel it would appeal to the 18-25 age group and the fantasy/fairy-tale twist may attract younger audiences and even older people because everyone is aware of the story. The romance aspect may appeal to teenagers between the ages of 13-16 so I feel like we can confidently say that the majority of people would enjoy watching it.

2) How does your music video engage with this audience?

We have purposely used short, effective shots (camera angles) in order to engage and capture the attention of our audience. In the studios for example, there is a feel of professionalism which will really help to keep the audience interested. The introduction of context will then allow for them to become immersed further and the same with the introduction of red riding hood and the theme of love. The cross cutting will help with the continuity element and make sure the audience doesn't get bored, keeping them on edge and engaged.


3) How will your ancillary tasks help attract your target audience?

Our ancillary products both contain the main character on the front in order to lure our audience in and give them an idea of what the video might be about. Our ancillary products are simple yet effective and eye catching. The images work and we have made sure to use a simple, 3 colour scheme, keeping font to a minimum of 3 as well. We decided to make these decisions after looking at previous ancillary products which did work because of these things. The black and white also makes it look more professional and the theme of red is continued through our ancillary products as well.