Day 2 Filming

Filming Day 2 in London:

As planned on Sunday the 26th of November we went to London to do the main parts of our filming. 

I stayed over at Alicia's house on Saturday night so that on Sunday morning we could walk to Newington train station which is just down the road from her house. 

We got to the train station in time for our 7:30am train to London Victoria which got in at 8:45. We decided to go to film at Westminster bridge first as it was near London Victoria so we could get to grips with how the tube works. We got the district line and went east for 2 stops to Westminster. This is where we filmed all of the clips on the bridge following our storyboard. From Westminster bridge we walked to Embankment where we filmed the behind the shoulder shot and tracking shot looking out to the river themes and Big Ben.

After going to Westminster Bridge and Embankment we decided to go to Trafalgar. Previously we looked up online the tube route to get to Trafalgar square which we found on London drum website that we used for mostly every route we went to.

At Trafalgar Square we filmed many lip syncing shots infant of the fountain which was really successful as the lighting was very effective. We also did a lot of location shots showing the traffic at Trafalgar Square and the monuments that are there. We tried to follow the storyboard as much as possible but when we saw things that we thought would look good in our music video which we did mostly the whole time we were in London. For example, while we were at Trafalgar Square we saw a man who had painted lots of different flags and quotes from famous people showing courage. We decided that this would look good with the lyric "so the whole world celebrate it" as it looks really effective and when we come to edit it, it will look good.

When we finished at Trafalgar square we decided to go to Tottenham court where we wanted to film some key sequences. 

We walked to Charing Cross where we could get the tube to Tottenham court. When we got to Tottenham court we were a bit disappointed as the equal rights sign that we wanted to film at wasn't there any longer so we decided to go to the Mozart tunnel where we wanted to film. While we were walking along the tube station to find the tunnel we decided to film on the stairs and the escalator as it looks really effective. 

Once we filmed at Tottenham court which went very smoothly we decided to go to New Oxford as it looked really nice and had some good shots that we could get. We decided to stop off to get a drink in a café which we thought again looked effective and we thought would be a good shot. To get to new Oxford street we needed to get on the tube and go west 2 stops.

After going to New Oxford street we decided to go to Notting hill as we wanted to film at the multi coloured houses as we feel that this will be an effective tracking shot.

From Notting Hill we decided to go to Marble Arch we thought would be another good place to film. We didn't end up filming here as it was very busy and we weren't sure we would get a good shot. However, we did get a time lapse of the traffic which we think will look good at a shot.

We decided to go back to Victoria station where we would catch the train home as we felt like we had done a lot of things that looked really good with a variety of shots. From the Marble Arch we took the Victoria line to Victoria station which was less than 4 stops. 

Day 1 Filming and Editing

Day 1 Filming and Editing:


On Tuesday the 14th November at lunch we took videos of 3 people that we are having in the music video as they were the only people available on this day. We set the camera up and the positioning on the wall as we did the previous lesson so that it was easy for the people to know where to stand. We successfully filmed the individual people we had to redo a couple of clips as they were slightly out of frame. While we filmed the part where they had to lip sync the song I played the music in the background so that they could easily know the part of the song that they were singing. We uploaded all of the clips onto final cut pro so that we could see all the clips that we had all together. 

Once we uploaded the clips onto final cut pro we decided to put the clips into the rough place where it fitted the music. On the clips we want to have a black background  to make it look emotional and professional. We decided to look on Google to see how to make a black background and we found a way of putting a filter onto the background of clips by adding a black picture on the timeline and then making the clip black. We noticed that when we added the black ground the picture when very fuzzy so we decided to take the black background off to make it less fuzzy. However, when we made the clips bigger and enlarged them we realised that the clip was out of place and not very clear. We have decided that we are going to re film the clips as it wasn't clear enough and it looked out of focus. 

We have played around with the camera and the focus of the lenses to make a place on the lease where it is clear so that we can use it when we next film. We have texted the people that are doing the music video and they're happy to film on Monday the 19th November at lunch again.

Schedule of filming individual people

Schedule of filming individual people:



Tomorrow, on the 14th of November in our free period and in our media lesson we are going to film people's individual sections with the plain backgrounds. We are going to use the green screen that it is in our media room where we have set up a tripod to be able to have the camera in one place while we are filming. This will also allow us to be able to make sure that every shot is a mid shot to show the alignment of the camera to make it the same overtime. To be able to ensure this when we come to filming we have placed masking tape on the floor and the wall of the place that we want each person to stand. This will make sure that each person that we are filming is in the right shot and alignment so that when we come to editing it is easier to put all the clips together as they're in the same place.

In todays lesson, I also created a schedule of what we need to film of each person so that when we come to filming we know exactly what we need so that we can be more efficient and make it quicker. For the where is the love section we are going to film this more than once to enable us to choose one that we prefer when we come to editing. While the people are singing we are going to have the music playing from the Mac that we have got on iMovie to make it easier for them to know when to sing.

Schedule for filming

Schedule for filming:

Alicia and I are planning to go to London on Sunday the 26th of November to film the majority of our music video. Alicia's dad is going to give us a lift to London Victoria where we are going to get the tube to our chosen locations. We are planning to get to London Victoria at around half past 9 where we will then have the whole day to film.




The places that we want to go to that we need to get to by tube are:


- Embankment
- London bridge
- Westminster
- Tottenham Court
- Grenfell










We are planning to film the individual people singing on Tuesday 14th November in school at break and lunch. If we are unable to film all of the people we will make a date after school where we can film these clips again. We will need to make sure that the people are wearing the same clothes to make sure that it continues.

Previous examples of students work

Analysis of previous students work:

Let her go:

The different shots and storyline that is used in this music video is very cleverly done and makes the audience really connect to the emotion that the song wants to portray. The storyline in particular is a key point of why I liked this music video as it is really well thought out and editing of the shots really show the story well. 

The video starts off with a long shot of a boy walking up to a microphone to suggest that he is singing for an audience as the shot almost suggests a point of view shot of somebody watching. The lighting is very dark to suggest the dull emotions that he may be feeling to suggest what the storyline of the song is like. The shot then cuts to a long shot of a boy walking out of the train to suggest that he is looking for someone. This shot is only on for a couple of seconds then cut to another mid shot of the boy singing in front of the audience. The shot then quickly changes to a close up, point of view shot of the boy looking at his phone to show that he is texting somebody to meet up. The shot is quite shaky to suggest a point of view shot like he is holding the phone filming. The camera is blurred at first to make the audience wonder what he is doing and then an even closer shot is used to show what he is texting to give them more of an idea what is happening. A long shot is then used to show him walking around the train station going to catch the train. The music hasn't yet started which is very effective as it is setting the scene for the audience of what is happening. The shot then blurs from a long shot to an over the shoulder shot of him going down an escalator on his way to the train. The music then starts which is a clear staring point for the audience where they know what is happening and where he is going. The shot is then cut to a small pan of they sitting singing for the audience again. A shot that I really liked is a behind the shoulder shot to show the boy looking at the train coming into the station which then cuts to a tracking shot of him walking onto the train. This shot looks really effective as it is a very well hidden cut that you can't really see as it blends in. This is something that when Alicia and I come to make our music video we will make sure that the cuts are as blended in as possible.  

A 2 person shot is used to show the man and the women walking off the train to give a clear view of the background and to give the audience an idea of their statues in their relationship. A 2 person mid shot is used after the last shot to show the moment which is very stereotypical in most romantic music videos as it shows the moment when the girl drops her bag and they both go to pick it up at the same time and their eyes meet. Following on from this a match on match shot is used to show the camera panning from the train station wall to coming out of a tree. I don't think that this shot was particularly effective as the shot was slightly off with the camera being in a different place and the colours being slightly different. Even though Alicia and I liked the idea of this shot when we use this shot we are going to make sure that it is spot on by moving the pan on from the same object so it flows better. A cross cut is then used to show the boy signing the song to the audience in a room the lighting is dark suggest the theme of dark love and to show that bad things are about to happen. This also links to the song lyrics which are saying about letting go which is a hard subject to talk about whether you are talking about relationships or death. 

The thing about this music video that I really like is that throughout their is a story that runs throughout the whole video. The shots are well thought out and as the music is quite slow the shot changes are also slow which makes it flow better and more effectively. The props and lighting is well thought out also a the shots of the couple are a in daylight and the man singing are in darkness which engages the audience to the dark lyrics that he is singing. Overall, this music is very helpful for Alicia and I as we are looking at doing a story throughout our music video so to see how they thought it out step by step has definitely given us a few ideas.

Love Runs Out:

The second music video that I have looked at is "Love runs out" which really caught my eye as I looked through all of the different music videos to look at. I like the there is a variety of different shots that have been used throughout to create a professional music video feel. Another part of this music video that I think was very effective was that they used the different locations very well as at a different location they had a different costume which created a story, while still walking for the overall narrative of the girl walking and the boy following her. This is very effective as it makes the audience aware of the narrative and follow along with the story as the music video goes on. One thing that struck me about this music video was that the shot changes have been edited in time of the music changes making it look really effective. Furthermore, the pauses in the music they have used to their advantage by changing the shots in the pauses. This is something that I will look at doing when it comes to making my music video as it makes it look really effective and makes the transitions flow better throughout. The character representation throughout the music video is very effective and is really well thought out. In the music video they use a variety of different shots, for example, close ups, tracking shots and mid shots to show the characters signing. For example, they use a mid shot of the boy singing with a black background to emphasise the importance of what he is singing. The tracking shots that are use throughout the music video reinforce the narrative of the music video of the boy following the girl throughout.

The establishing shot that is used at every location is significant as it sets the scene for the audience so they know where they're. Furthermore, a pan is used at the beginning of every location to show the audience the change in costumes and scenery. This makes the audience feel like they're there with the characters wondering where they will go next.

When it comes to making our music video I will take from it that the narrative of the music video is very important. This is because it is what can make an audience engaged in what is happening. With the song that we have chosen to use it creates a very big narrative that we could use as it will be the most important part of our music video.

Andrew Goodwin Theory

Costumes and Props we are using

The costumes we are going to use:

Like the original music video the theme of black we want to use this when the people in our music video sing "Where is the love". We will ask the people that we have interviewed to wear black when we decide a day that we are going to film them to show continuity throughout the music video.

Alicia who is the main person that is going to be in the music video we have decided to use brighter colours with her outfit as we want her to stand out when we film in crowds in London.

Costume and Props Research

Costume Research in the music video:

I have looked at the costumes used in the Where is the love music video to give Alicia and I some ideas of what to include in our music video and the significance of the colours that are used.







I have looked at the Where is the love remake music video where they have chosen to wear dark coloured clothes as it shows the emotion that the song wants to get across to the audience. Black is a plain colour when put infant of black background makes the faces clearer to see which is effective as it enables the audience to see the emotions on their faces. The black clothes is something that we would like the people in our music video to wear as it will look effective to suggest the emotion that the song portrays. Throughout the entire music everything that they wear is black and all the clips are shown in black and white to show the solidarity and pain that the world is in. Some people may think that black and white doesn't stand out but for me it is effective as it stands out to make the message of the song stand out.

Props used in the music video:

Not many props are used in the music video but one that is used that is very effective is a sign that a couple of people throughout the music video hold up showing a red question mark. The colour of the question mark is effective as it is the only colour in the music video which makes it stand out. The significance of a couple of people holding up the question mark is that a child is holding it up. This makes the audience connect to the music video as it shows that children are effected by this and this is the world that they're grown up in and don't have a choice. Alicia and I are thinking about using a sign throughout out music video saying "where is the love" as we feel like the music video it will be very effective.



  

Storyboard

Storyboard:

Alicia and I have created a storyboard where we went through each part of the lyrics using our narrative planning and wrote down the time that each shot is on for and what we are going to have in each shot. Alicia found pictures on the internet of places that we are going to film at for each part of the music video. Furthermore, we used the pictures of the people that we have decided to use from the interview process although they aren't in the exact order that we are going to have we may change it when we come to film it.

Below is our finished storyboard:

Narrative Planning

Narrative Planning:

We have a rough idea of what we want to do in our music video but we were finding it hard to process how we were going to do it all. So, I had the idea of getting the lyrics from the song and underneath each row of the lyric writing down how long the not lasts and a plan of what we are going to show at each lyric. I believe that it will help us to be able to do our storyboard as we will be able to bring of all of our ideas together to make our ideas clearer for us. Here are a few images of us planning what we are going to do roughly in class:

Going through the lyrics of the song really helped us to create a clearer image in our heads of exactly what we wanted to do. For example, we knew that we wanted to film in certain places in London but we wanted to make sure that it fit to the narrative that we had. At the beginning of the planning we knew that we wanted to at the end have Alicia put down some flowers at the London bridge as this will be a dramatic ending. As we started going through the lyrics and adding locations to where we wanted to film, we realised that we were doing each of the locations one after the other. Having looked at previous music videos and analysing them we saw that they mostly got clips from all the locations and mixed them all up to make it flow better. We therefore started to think about how we could change our plan to make it look better and more high quality like a professional music video. Alicia had the idea of making the camera look like it is following Alicia around London trying to find London bridge. This is where at the end of the song she would eventually put down the flowers down to show rounded end of equality and sense of unity of the world that the meaning of the song is trying to get across to the audience.

The overall narrative our music video that we have agreed on is:

1. At the each of the locations that we have chosen to film at we have tried to create a narrative at the different locations to try an make it flow and relate to the lyrics of the song. For example, at Grenfell tower we are going to film putting down some flowers to show the lyric "where is the love?" to relate to what happened. We have also planned to film a shot of the camera panning from Alicia standing at the tree to the sky when the lyric says "send some guidance from above" to show the bad event that happened and us and everyone else asking why such events have happened.
2. We have thought of some of the shots that we are going to use also so it makes it easier for when we come to making our storyboard. Therefore, while we were able to make sure that we were thinking about things that we could do before doing the storyboard.
3. We made sure that we counted with the music video how long each lyric was on so that when we come to filming and doing the storyboard we could easily know exactly the time that we needed to film for.