Research Into Transition Types

We found a very useful website to help us with our research into transition types.
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/editing/transition/types.html
This website explained a varied range of transition types that we could use to make our music video more refined and professional.

Cut: The most simple and commonly used transition. This is an instant change from one shot to another.

Dissolve/Crossfade: This is where two shots are dissolved from one to the other, hence the name. This type of shot gives a sense of time passing as well as a relaxed, slow paced mood.

Fade: This is where the first shot fades into a solid colour before fading into the second shot. Usually signaling the beginning/end of a scene.

Digital Effects: These sort of effects include colour replacements, pixillation, focus drops and lighting effects. These can all link two shots together in a more advanced way for different effects.

Learning Curves - What I've Learnt From The Pre-Production and Filiming Stage

Having started off a little annoyed and distressed by the lack of diversity of the track options for our music video it was evident that setting aside opinions would be crucial for us all to work effectively as a group and produce a well shot and edited video that would comply to the Goodwins Points of Analysis.
Having done both film and media at AS level I was more than familiar with story-boarding, creating shotlists and health + safetey evaluations, as a group we worked well to create a storyboard that would be the foundations of our video and parallel to this I took it upon myself to step back from my usual control-freak nature and derive the lyrics to the JLS track we have chosen.
The next stage of the process was the hardest for me. Pre filming went smoothly. Howver, having unexpectedly fallen out with the majority of the group for reasons i'm still slightly confused about, stepping back was the right thing to do when stumbling across a situation which was beyond my control for the benefit of the group to prevent further complications or falling outs, which is why my presence is missing from the first filming day. Learining to effectively communicate with each other is definately something i think the whole group has taken away from the process so far from the situation. For myself setting aside differences and getting on with filming is another area i have learnt to deal with while taking part in the second day of filming rather than switching off which is what my response would usually have been.
Hopefully editing will flow much more smoothly.

Jack

Our actor and actress

Actress: Beth MacDonald 

We chose Beth as an actress because she got a good grade at drama GCSE and we needed an actress who could clearly show emotion, she also fitted the personality of what we needed well. We feel Beth had the right look because she looks just like an ordinary girl, so could portray our character easily.

Actor: Ryan Hinchcliffe

We chose Ryan as out actor because he is a good actor and has the right look of someone who would typically appear in a boy band video. He also worked well with Beth and we think that they look like a suited couple.

What we did today... Thursday 13th October

Today, we filmed the actors sequence in the Media Studio, we got good footage but we feel like we still need to film some more as back up.  We uploaded the footage to Final Cut and looked through all the clips and deleted what was unnecessary.

We are planning to do some more filming on Monday of the boy band shots if the rest of the group are here, as they need to be in the shots because we haven't been able to get enough footage so far.

Work for Thursday the 13th

Hi guys, well done on your work from Wednesdays lesson.
If you aren't filming today can you please do the following:
- Complete your past student work analysis.
- Your blog looks good so far but try and add pictures to your posts.
- Complete an analysis of star representation, choose a similar artist from the genre of your song to analyse.          
  How are they sold, look at DVD/CD covers. This will help build ideas for your digipack.

Editing Techniques

We will use only a small amount of editing techniques in comparison to other music videos. This is because almost all of te eidting will be done to focus on emotion.

• Monochrome - We will use black and white in the shots of the actors.
• Fades - Will be used to switch between emotional sots and between shots of the boy band and the actors.
• Slow Motion - Will be used to extend the legth of shots and convey a deep sense of emotion. Will probably be used in conjunction with black and white.
• Colour Corrector - If shots are too dull or bright then we will use this to correct them.

Shots

We will use a variety of shots in the video these include:

• Close-Ups - These will be used to draw into the emotion of the individual band members. Also used to show lip syncing clearly.
• Long Shots - To show the costume and surroundings of the band. Also to show the actions of the actors in the narrative.
• Pan - This is a conventional shot in boy band video's it will be use to show each boy band member closely whilst still retaining them in the same shot.
• Zoom - Used as a conventional shot in boy band videos, draws the audience into the video.
• Low Angle - used to make them look important, makes it makes the audience look up to the band, this is also conventional
• Mid-Shot - Show both emotion and costume as well as some location. Any lip syncing that is slightly out will be less obvious.
• High Angle - Used to show them feeling small because they are upset, usually used in emotional sections of the song.

Actors

We had some difficulty finding a male actor to play along side Holly.
We asked various people but it was hard to find someone on short notice who was free at the times we needed them for filming.
We managed to find someone who will film in lunch time and possibly part of our media lesson, but because this won't give us much time we will have to be prepared before shooting.

Locations

We are filming most of the video at college, this is because all of our group can easily get to this location. For the boy band shots we will film outdoors in places such as the field because it is isolated and clear.

We looked in the refectory for possible filming, however it was too crowded and we wanted our video to look more isolated.

For the shots of the actors we will film at a bus stop close to college as we need a bus for one of the props, and being close to college will allow all of the group to be able to be there.

What we did today.. Thursday 6th October

Today, we did some test filming, we did this because we wanted to get to grips with how much we can shoot in a certain period of time and also so that the performers/band can get to grips with acting in front of the camera.  The beginning of the lesson started out slow because unfortunately we seemed to pick up a dodgey camera, we then returned this and managed to get another one.  Once we had set up the camera, we did some test shooting of the group, Jack, Sam and Sam. We got a variety of shots; close-ups, pans, zooming in and out, high angle shots and wide shots.  We think that doing a test shoot worked very well for us because we got to grips with the camera and how much we can shoot in our hour and a half lesson.  We also got the boys in our group used to acting in front of the camera.  Once we had finished this we then took back our camera and uploaded everything we had done today.. it could come in handy?

Costumes for music video

The boy band members will be wearing similar clothing such as casual low neck t-shirts and jeans and casual trainers. Their hair will be spiked with one member possibly wearing a hat. There will be possible costume changes as this is typical in a boy band music video.

For the actors: The boy will be wearing casual clothing such as jeans and a plain top. The girl will also be wearing casual clothing such as jeans and a hooded top and not too much make-up.

Shot lists

These are our shots lists:

Story Board

These are our story boards:

Call Sheet - Wednesday 11th October

Wednesday 11th October - story-line filming

10.50am: Rendezvous at media classroom to collect camera with actor.
11am: Leave for second day of filming
11.05am: Start filming with the actors.
11:35am: Change locations and film the fight in the narrative.
11.50am: Film the very end shots of sadness
12pm: Return to classroom
12.05pm: Upload footage onto computer
12.20: Uploaded footage completed and ready to edit.

Call Sheet - Monday 10th October

Monday - Filming of the scenes including the whole band.

9am: Whole Band + crew meet at media classroom to obtain camera's.
9.10am: Leave to film in all story-boarded locations.
9.15am: Full band filming against a plain background
9.40am: Individuals filming in isolated corridors and by windows.
10.10am: All band filming should be completed.
10.15am: Return to media classroom to upload our footage.
10.30am: Footage uploaded. Thats a wrap.

Health and Safety Blog

Health and safety is an important aspect of filming as it safeguards the actors and whole production crew. so in order to keep everyone safe we need to analyse ever aspect of our locations and activities in our video.

Location: Outside in isolated areas.
Possible safety issues: Weather dependent it could get reasonably cold so everyone will need appropriate clothing for the weather. This includes if there is a lot of sun, protection will be required. Also, if the weather is against is us and it starts to rain the ground could become slippery which all cast and crew will need to be aware of.

Location: In corridors.
Possible safety issues: Could become congested with too many people preventing gangways should the fire alarm go off.

Activities: Bottle being thrown/smashed
Possible safety issues: Obvious glass smashing leaving shards on the floor and possibilities of being cut. Will need to clear up after this as well so we need to be especially careful.

Activities: over-dramatic acting and singing could lead to muscle strains for actors. Make sure everyone is stretched out and loose.

Our Genre: R&B

Rhythym and Blues often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre often associated with African American music and has been around since the 1940's.  The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a heavy, insistent beat" was becoming more popular.  The term has changed alot since then however, by the 1970s, rhythm and blues was used as a blanket term for soul and funk.  In the 1980s, a newer style of R&B developed, becoming known as contemporary R&B and this is where our song Strange by JLS comes in.  JLS are known for their love R&B songs and the song we chose is simply another one of the classic JLS songs.

Permission Slip To Film Out Of College

I got my parents to sign this sheet, which means we can now film out of college, however, I haven't yet put on the sheet when we are going to be using the camera because our group doesn't know yet and we don't know if we will actually film out of college but I got my parents to sign the sheet incase we decided to film out of college.

Ideas for music video

- Long shot of all of band
- Close ups of band members individually, fades in and out
- Piano?
- Story that cuts between shots of band
- A girl and boy actor for story
-

 We got some inspiration from this Westlife music video. Mainly the idea to use a narrative of a male and a female whilst still taking shots of the band members performing.

JLS - Strange Lyrics

Derived by Jack

Did you think that i would run,
Did you think that i would be the one
Or did you think at all, its your call
You were right and i was wrong
Sounds to me like the same old song
Can you hear me now, wont you take a bow

(Fly) Where it never rains
(so High) To the milky-way
(Goodbye) Is all i have to say

Baby, you don't, know me
I see through you
Love is, more than,
Hollywood stars and an ocean view
All i ever wanted was just to be with you
Is that really so strange?

You've got time in your pocket
but your clock's running out
And its time baby i headed south
For some apple pie, i wont lie
Purple skies and pearly white smiles
Everybody's singing you've got style
So have a toast one me
I hope you find your dreams

(Fly) Where it never rains

(so High) To the milky-way

(Goodbye) Is all i have to say

Baby, you don't (you dont), know me, (know me)

I see through you 

Love is (love is), more than, (more than)

Hollywood stars and an ocean view

All i ever wanted was just to be with you

Is that really so strange?

I gave you everything, all my love

Baby that was never good enough (never good enough)

You bought your ticket to the stars

But somewhere you got off at Mars

And dont worry i just can't breathe,  Sae La Ve

No no no no no! 

Baby, you don't, know me, (know me)

I see ( i see) through you 

Love (Love) is, more than,

Hollywood stars and an ocean view

All i ever wanted (i wanted) was just to be with you

Is that really so strange?