Piano Shots

Screen shots from our test footage of the piano in the Music block at Long road, these pictures are all different shots giving our test footage alot more angles for the audience to see.
Most of the piano is during the intro of the song and then little clips throughout the Video so different types of shots keeps the audience interested in the piano as well as the characters

Filmining experience....

Yesterday we spent the day filming our rough cut footage. We began by filming in the music block for shots of the piano and some lip syncing with Callum and Sheridan. We then went into town to get some different shots of the characters walking down the street, sitting at the bus stop/bench, in a cafe etc. We tried to get lots of different angles and scenes in our footage and made sure we got lots of footage overall just in case. We decided to change some of our ideas for example Sheridan dropped some books instead of her purse. We tried to follow our first ideas as best we could but it was quite a challenge so we have made some improvises and changes. Our heart symbols idea was harder than we thought to achieve but we have done our best! We also had a couple of issues with location as we needed permission to film in shops or the Grand Arcade, which we didn't have so couldn't do so, and we should have thought a little more about lighting as by the time we got home to film the 'waking up' scenes it was dark!! :( But overall we are happy with the footage we have managed to get and have decided Wednesday is a good day for any extra filming as it was very helpful as we had all day.

p.s. Thanks Callum for all your help in our music video :)

Deadlines

• Music Video Shooting Deadline: Monday 19th October 9am
• Music Video Rough Cut Deadline: Last lesson of week ending 23rd October
• Music Video Final Deadline: Last lesson of week ending 13th November

• Ancillary Products Deadline: Last lesson of week ending 27th November

• Evaluative Writing Interim Deadline: 9am to Moodle Monday 7th December
• Evaluative Writing Final Deadline: 9am to Moodle Monday 14th December

Overall....

Characters:
Sheridan Goff =Female character
Callum Hughes =Male character
Hannah Deeks =Piano player

Props:
Small, unique heart symbols to be in background -Drawing/graffiti on hand/neck or wall/mirror
Makeup -eye shadow, foundation, lipstick etc =for Sheridan to apply at the beginning
Toast/toaster? For beginning =girl and boy eating breakfast
= Introduce Callum
Purse
Note with heart on
Ipod =sheridan to wear when walking around
Books =for sheridan to carry

Location:
Town/street =Cambridge
Studio/piano=Long road
Bedroom =Haverhill (Callum's house)
Kitchen =Haverhill (Callum's house)
Bathroom =Haverhill (Callum's house)

Shots (simplified):
Woman playing a piano -Beginning and throughout when appropriate
- Only shots of hands and from behind
Beginning -Shots of female character =putting on makeup, getting out of bed
= Singing
Introduce male character = putting toast in toaster/eating toast
Both characters leave =singing together
Shots walking down the street, on the bus, sitting on bench etc
Hearts in the background as signs/recognizable symbols
Female character drops her purse, male picks it up
Later gives the purse back, she looks inside ta-da a little heart on a piece of paper from the man
Meet in the Studio together = sing together, with the piano player in the background

Editing:
Lots of split screens
Realistic shots
Different angles
Cut to rhythm of music when possible
Bright contrast
Use of slow motion

New idea

Our song is very romantic and revolves around love so we have decided to create a recurring theme in the video by using a heart symbol. Our original idea was to use signs pointing towards 'love' however we decided that it would be too hard to find and film signs. We have now decided to make sure that we use a heart symbol in every scene for example on the mirror, graffiti on the bus, on the hand, on the wall, in the clouds, in coffee and objects in the shape of a heart for example a heart shaped locket. We don't want these to look to obvious we just want them to appear in the background so that we have a video that is recognisable.

Props

Prop List

A list of our props we will be using:

• A guy holding a sign
  
• Bags (when they pick them up)
• Ipod
  
• Toaster
• Piece of paper
• Piano
• Purse

Costumes

A list of the costumes we are using:

• Normal, casual winter wear- everyday clothing
• The same costumes will appear throughout the video
• The man holding the sign will be dressed in rags etc..
• People who will walk around town will be in their normal clothes as we cannot change this!!

Locations

We will first film in two different houses, mainly in the bedroom and the kitchen:

The next shots will be done in town, in the street..



The shots that will occur and flick back tpo throughout the music video will be a piano in the studio room.

Filming

We are picking up the camera at 8.45am on Wednesday morning and returning the camera at 9.00am on Thursday.
We are taking the camera out early on Wednesday so we have all day to film and then have it over night also.
Dan is not available on Wednesday to film, therefore the rest of us will film in college hours on Wednesday and then to the chosen house on Wednesday evening.
We don't have much time to film, which means that we are going to have carefully decide exactly what we are going to film and how.

Locations

A list of the locations being used:

• For the piano shots, we will be using the piano that is in the studio
  
• Town to shoot when the two meet and bump into each other
• Two different houses to film the split screens between the two characters

Prop List

A list of our props we will be using:

• A guy holding a sign
• Bags (when they pick them up)
• Ipod
• Toaster
• Piece of paper
• Piano
• Purse

Costumes

A list of the costumes we are using:

• Normal, casual winter wear- everyday clothing
• The same costumes will appear throughout the video
• The man holding the sign will be dressed in rags etc..
• People who will walk around town will be in their normal clothes as we cannot change this!!

Test Footage two

This is some more test footage we tried this out so that we would know whether or not it would be possible to make two separate screens line up to make an effective split screen. This did not really work for us as the camera seemed to have moved, from this test footage we learnt that if we were to use two separate pieces of footage we would have to keep the camera very still. alternatively we could use the same shot and split it in two to give the ilusion that it was film at two different times.

Test Footage 1

This is our first attempt at using final cut to split the screen into more than one different shots, this was quite complicated to do as you need a lot of shots and it gets very confusing because there are lots of tracks because of the amount of different shots. We have decided to use this in our music video because we think that is a good way of showing that time has gone past without the video dragging on.

Ed Lovelace

Yesterday Ed Lovelace, an ex-long road (2000-2002) student, visited our college to talk about his career in making music videos. Ed attended Bournemouth University for three years, he explained how this was a great experience and he was taught by some real practitioners in the industry. He also met his partner at Bournemouth, they work together directing music videos. He started working for a record label, for free, making low budget videos he did this for a year. For example Gallows video 'abandon ship' is just one of the music videos he directed.



He then went on to get a job at Pulse films which is a production company in Soho. This company creates feature films and documentaries. Ed Lovelace showed us some of his work for example he worked with Cage the Elephant and directed two of their videos, 'In one ear' and 'Aint no rest for the wicked'. I think that these videos are very interesting I especially liked 'in one ear' becuase it has a very interesting concept, he is mental patient I think this works well with the song and with the main singer. Ed explained that he used this idea because the main singer just wanted to go crazy. Ed Lovelace gave us some useful advice for our music video, he had experienced being at Long Road and creating a music video so he told us to make sure that we plan everything and know what our idea is before going out and filming, he also told us that you do not need good equipment to make a good music video. We can use this advice and make sure that we plan everything before we film and that we make the best of the equipment that we have to use.

Timeline

This timeline sheet will help us during editing and filming stages of our music video, it will give a rough idea of filming as well as knowing how much the shots length is so we will be able too fit all shots with the time of the music.

Story Board

Four pages containing 6 shots each helping cinematography, so the right angle is used for the shot their is also rough information for each shot in case the pictures drawn isn't detailed enough.

Shotlist

Here is a photograph of the shotlist we are using during filming stages of the music video. This will help editing stages so we can find the cut footage and place them in order to the shotlist

Signs of love......

In our music video we want to follow the lyrics of the song especially when it says 'I can't see the signs' so we want lots of signs to do with love that the character will pass without noticing:

Singing Intervals

Here is a list of the time intervals that each person sings:

Beginning-20 seconds : Piano introduction
20 seconds-40 seconds : Female singing
40 seconds-1 Minute : Male singing
1 minute-1 minute 20 seconds : Both singing
1 minute 22 seconds-1 minute 40 seconds : Female singing
1 minute 42 seconds-1 minute 59seconds : Male singing
2 minutes 1 seconds-2 minutes 30 seconds : Both singing
2 minutes 45 seconds-3 minutes 7 seconds : Female singing
3 minutes 8 seconds-3 minutes 45 seconds : Both singing

Quick link to Song...

We couldn't find an official video for this song so this one will have to do, it will be useful as it has the lyrics!!

Shot List

Here is the order of our shots:

1. A male will be playing the piano for the 20 second introduction to the song
2. The second shot will include close ups and different angles of the male playing the piano.
   
3. There will be shots in between the introduction to show the female getting out of bed. The first shot of the female will be a close up of her face whilst laying asleep. A second shot will appear next to this one of the male character in bed.
   
4. A side view of the male playing the piano without seeing the face of him to keep the spectator unaware of his appearance.
5. A split screen of the two characters getting up in bed.
6. The female looking in the mirror brushing her hair and getting ready
7. The male also looking into a mirror getting ready.
8. The toaster popping up to make a split screen and they both butter their toast at the same time.
9. Medium shot/close up of them buttering toast, the males cue to start singing.
   
10. They're in a rush so only a bite out of the toast-close up shot
    
11. Grabbing their bags and leaving the house
12. Split screen of the two walking down the street, on opposite sides of the road.. but have no idea of who each other are.
13. Piano playing once again
14. She will be walking down the street and be seeing signs
15. She bumps into him after seeing a sign, this will be in slow motion as they look at each other and carrying on.
16. The female drops her purse and walks off
17. The male picks it up and runs after her
18. She checks her purse and finds a note inside, the note is kept hidden so the spectator doesn't know what it says.
19. The male is standing next to the piano, singing.
20. Different shots of 19.
21. Female opens door.
22. Female walks in and starts to sing.
23. Male and female singing to each other.

Bad Day

This video is a real inspiration to our video because this is what our original idea was like and this will be helpful for padding out our idea. We really like the shoots in this video of both the girl and boy in split screens. Our idea was to have the characters going about their daily routine and slowly coming together like in this video! We want to incorporate the shots and different locations into our video with our own twist to it and own ideas. This video shows us how we can use/shoot our ideas in a way that wont be cheesy!!

No Air

Pitch feedack

When explaining our pitch to the class, they gave us this feedback:

*Video to look at = Daniel Powter 'Bad Day'
*Think of something more unique to put in the video
*Lots of different shots needed
*Make it look realistic and be careful not to make it to cheesey!
*Pad out ideas more, be helpful when shooting

Mood Board

Here are just a few pictures that come to mind when considering this song. The pictures represent the genre of the song and help us to have an idea of what the song contains. The song makes us think of love and people being reunited or meeting for the first time. The initial idea for our music video is love at first sight and these images represent this.

Way Back into Love Lyrics

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need em again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night

I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Draft Email to Haley Bennett

Dear Haley
We are doing our Media A-level at Long Road Sixth Form college, in Cambridge, England. We have a coursework task of creating a video to a chosen song, our group of four has chosen to produce a video for your song, Way Back into Love, we are really inspired and would love to hear from you.
Sheridan, Hannah, Cassie and Dan
Thanks x

Dvd Cover - Way Back Into Love

The DVD cover is simplistic, straight to the point and contains a picture of the artist and a sunset background which can be associated with Love and beauty, this goes with the songs title Way Back Into Love giving the cover meaning towards the song, the picture of Haley Bennett looking into the distance creating the idea that she is looking at some think or some one, which also can be associated with Love because she could be looking and at the man of her dreams.
The duet gives the idea that they are both perfect for each other backing up the idea of Haley Bennett is looking at her perfect man.

Dvd Cover - Way Back Into Love

DVD Advertisement

The image that I chose is simple it is the artist by herself looking into the camera which involves and entices the people viewing the magazine advert. I chose no other images because I didn't think they were needed, I just wanted to keep it plain and not too busy.
I chose this design because the song that our group has chosen, Way Back Into Love, is a romantic love song. The design is simple and I would say it is quite romantic, I chose to use italics because bold seems slightly harsh and unromantic. The picture that I chose for the artist, Haley Bennett, is also simple like the design, she is wearing nude colours for her make-up and jewlery, you can't see any clothes so the design is kept simple.
I think that this connects to the video ideas that we have chosen because we want our video to represent love and romance, the colours and images are similar to ones that we would like to create in our video.

Magazine poster

.Pitch. Track 01 -Way Back To Love /2

Other Idea's include:
*Locations
*Props
*Representation of artist


1> Locations would include a more urban area, like Cambridge which includes the busy streets as well as the empty park area's with the concrete pathways, which is the only locations we need for the video, as the story is a continuous movement through out the video, the women would be sitting on a bench in the park area then walking slowly down along pathway, the man possibly walking out of a shop in the street then noticing the women who has walked out of the park into the street, he follows her within the street finally meeting ever in a different park or in the street.

2> Props would be winter clothes such as coats and scarfs possibly umbrella's if it is raining, and maybe a cup of tea of coffee all creating the feeling that it would a cold day, a kind of music video like the film Love Actually.

3> The representation of the artist in the music video would be a lovely women who believes in the true love, is totally down to earth and just wants to find that special someone.

.Pitch. Track 01 -Way Back To Love

Idea's:
Our first idea for this track would be a slow paced introduction possibly of a women walking alone whilst she is singing by herself, which cuts to a completely different shot of a man who is on his way to a destination, when the duet starts it could possibly become that the man decides to follow the women through out the video, finally meeting at the end of the song and singing the last chorus together.
Track 01 is a love song so the convention of the man interested in the women and because normally in love films two character who don't really know each other sing the same song at the same time creating the feeling that they are meant for each other.

As the man follows the women, it would be busy possibly in a street which is a completely different scene from the beginning which could be a concrete pathway in a park with loads of green area's around her with tree's.
It would be a cold windy day and our characters are dressed up in coats and scarves, leaves would be floating around creating an alone feeling.

When the two meet it could either be in a open space or a more crowed area both being pretty effective because it camera would be focused on them creating the sense of love,
It could finish with the slow lean in with a kiss and then fade out or both leaning in the looking into the camera.

Chosen Tracks

Track 01 - Way Back Into Love - Hayley Bennett.

Track 08 - More Than Life - Whitley.

Track 04 - Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger.

Analysis of Jennifer lopez The Real Me

Jennifer Lopez's DVD music video album is very simple and modern, the album front cover is just her in a mid shot looking into the audience with fancy writing of her name and the album, this is simple and shows the audience that it is the real Jennifer, inside there are more mid shots of her looking into the camera also giving the audience a feel that she is looking at them, also their is a booklet with more pictures of her as well as lyrics.
As the DVD music video only shows the artist the audience can't get side tracked from other images in the DVD, making the artist the main focus.
This is effective for making the artist more memorable to the audience instead of a colourful and mysterious cover although it could work in some cases such as Gorillaz who keep their audience guessing because they use cartoon characters for video's and gigs but Jennifer Lopez and Gorillaz are completely different, for her style of music her DVD cover is very effective.

Group Photo

Publish Post

Goodwin Analysis

Katy Perry - You're So Gay

1.Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
The genre pop is represented in this video by Katy Perry the singer being surrounded by a coulourful background, pop is usually associated with happiness and I think the colours portrait happiness well. However there is also an element of humour against the pop genre, it is almost too happy and barbies are usually associated with little girls. The mise-en-scene leads you to believe that the video could be aimed at teenagers because of the intertextual reference to facebook and myspace. The theme of the barbie dolls would also lead you to believe this because the doll was around when teenagers now-a-days were children.

2.There is a relationship between music and visuals
The music has a slow pace which matched by the visuals which is edited for the pace of the music, although the colour of the video shows happiness and the genre of the song is pop the music is more depressing for pop because Katy Perry shown as the barbie wants to impress a guy shown as Ken but is gay, the barbie changes her appearance to make Ken realise her more.

3.There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals
The lyric's match the story of the visuals for example she sings about Myspace and the Barbie / Ken use Myspace, the Lyrics are slighty depressive and the Barbie who wants Ken.
Their could be a link between Katy Perry being in her own world show when she is telling the story that their is a essence of happyness shown as the clouds are smiling but the link between this and the lyrics is that she wants the boy who is gay to like her instead of being gay, then at the end of the video the clouds are frowning possibly showing that as hard as she tries he is not going to change for her.

4.The demand of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the Artist and the Artist may develop lots of motifs which reocur across their work.
Katy Perry always appears on her vidoes and her music videos are usally telling a story for an example we have chosen the song Your So Gay, which is a story about her show as Barbie trying to get a boy shown as Ken to notice her more. In the vidoe their are lots of mid shot's and close ups of Katy Perry with a guitar.

5.There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
In this music video Katy Perry is looking into the camera when she sings showing she is telling the story to the audience watching, but also in the story we can see that Ken looks in the mirror, Barbie also looks into a mirror she then cuts and dyes her hair trying to change too impress Ken.

6.There is often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).
Katy Perry uses Barbie dolls in her video referring to most girls who own when they were young used to own barbie dolls this is very humourous and could keep them intrested in Katy Perry's music videos, Barbies are a wide known brand because of the Doll, Films and Telvision shows making it very recognisable.

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