Yesterday's Shoot Problems

Yesterday's Shoot Problems

Yesterday I got to Durham with Callum at three o'clock, the time I had arranged to meet Charlotte. However, when I rang Charlotte she was having food in a restaurant with her mum so we were delayed slightly. While we waited decided to get food too. Once Charlotte had finished and met up with us Callum was still eating so we were delayed slightly again. By then it was already starting to get dark slowly and it was still foggy. So filming by the river and on the bridge was not a good idea. So improvised and decided to film them as a couple walking through the park but when I have reviewed the shots you can see just how quickly it was getting dark but I can hopefully save this by altering the brightness and contrast.

I this scene the couple are walking through the park. It was getting dark quite quickly which limited the amount of filming we could do.

Filming in Durham Today

Filming in Durham Today

Today I am filming with Charlotte and Callum in Durham. Callum finishes work earlier than usual at 2 pm and we are heading into town to finally film in the daylight! However, it is looking quite foggy outside so I hope it clears as the shot I really want to get is the sun setting over the bridge. Hopefully it will all go to plan.

Photo's from the Shoot

Photo's from the Shoot

Today I filmed a short section of my music video with both Charlotte and Callum. Again we got together straight from school so that we could get a few shots before the sun set completely. We were filming on a bench on the way to Durham City through the fields behind my house. We were held up a couple of times by a few dog walkers and people walking home from school but that was only briefly and I managed to shoot what I needed to before it got dark. Here are a few screenshots from the footage that I filmed today.

Rescheduling Shoot

Rescheduling Shoot

I had organised to film with Charlotte and Callum this morning before Callum had to go to work at 12. However, we have had to reschedule to tomorrow night after school as Charlotte's phone ran out of battery over night and resulted in her alarm not going off and she slept in. Here is a weather update for tomorrow night and the sunset times:

Problems During the Shoot

Problems During the Shoot

Yesterday whilst filming one thing that delayed the shoot slightly was that Charlotte kept forgetting the words to the song as soon as the camera started recording. The section of the song which was particularly troublesome to film was the part where it says:

Jotting down the lyrics for me to hold up next to the camera helped her to get through this part of the song more easily.

Performance Shoot: Bloopers

Performance Shoot: Bloopers

I compiled some clips from yesterday's shoot which did not go to plan but did make me giggle. I created a short video of bloopers from yesterday's shoot to show what went wrong and that I re-shot everything to ensure it was perfect. Take a look at the not so perfect clips below:

Kiera Black Shoot Preparation

Kiera Black Shoot Preparation

After getting some great advice on how to make a successful music video from the A - Z of Music Video masterclass at ASFF I learned that it is important to do a little hair and beauty so that the artist feels comfortable and confident to be on camera. So yesterday before I began the shoot I did a little bit of Kiera Black beauty prep.

Kiera Black's style is slightly edgy but still pretty. I chose tartan leggings to show her edgy more going style and to show the darker side for her personality and the white crop drop show a section of her stomach this represents her youth and shows she is trendy and also connotes the fact that she is revealing how she really feels in the song. White is associated with purity and innocence and shows the audience that she is not to blame in the couples 'toxic' relationship.

I painted her nails a blue colour which is fun and youthful as only younger people can get away with wearing a colour like this. It also goes with her leggings and the background.

I curled her hair with a large barrel curling wand to create a more natural and effortless curl to her hair. I think this look is girly and creates a more softer look for her. I also applied a deep red lipstick to her to represent her love and passion.

Shooting Performance Clips

Shooting Performance Clips

Today I am filming the performance element of my music video with Charlotte as Keira Black. I will be filming in my bedroom against one of my walls as they are painted blue. Blue is represents her understanding of the relationship and also connotes softness which represents her characteristics as she is innocent in the relationship. Also blue connotes calmness which represents the fact that even though they drive each other crazy she is happy and comfortable with their relationship. Hopefully everything will go to plan and I'll update my blog later with photos and clips from the shoot.

Shoot Cancellation

Shoot Cancellation

I had organise to shoot my the performance shots for my music video tonight but Charlotte is ill with a sickness bug and we have organise to shoot on Saturday lunch time. I will also maximize this opportunity and also complete a photoshoot for my Digipack.

Reshoot

Reshoot

 

 

Today I began editing the footage I have recorded over the past few weeks. However I have been using a Praktica camera which does not produce good quality imagery in low light. I thought that I may have been able to save the footage which was slightly grainy by editing with effects to make it look a lot better. This was unsuccessful and I have made the decision to re film the scene in Charlottes bedroom where the lighting was poor and resulted in the quality of the footage being reduced.

 

 

The clip on the left shows how grainy and unprofessional the footage looks. When I refilm this scene I will light the room better and I am going to borrow a better camera from the school tomorrow.

 

Questionnaire Results So Far

Questionnaire Results So Far

I have been collecting a number of responses to the questionnaire that I created in order to gain a better insight into who likes particular genres of music and what that demographic would like to see within a music video. I chose to create my questionnaire on SurveyMonkey.com as it was a more efficient way to collect responses as I was able to email the link out to my peers and family without having to see them in person to give them a physical copy of my questionnaire so it saved a lot of time and allowed me to get a higher response rate. However, not everyone that I emailed participated in the survey whereas they may have if I was there. This is a clear negative side to using a website rather than physical copies of my survey.

Here is an example of me emailing a selection of the people in my friendship group using the school's internal emailing system. Each of my friends completed the survey despite sarcastic replies from Hannah:

Another way I gathered results is by posting my survey on social media. I posted a link on Facebook.com to my friends. The aim was to reach a wider audience than my immediate friendship group and family. 

Using these two methods my survey was completed by 26 participants however I did not feel that this was enough responses to base my audience research on. The majority of the responses were from participants from the age group 15 - 18 and I needed to get a representation of the favourable genres of all ages.

                             

To collect a wider range of results from older audiences I got in touch with my older brother who is 28 and asked him if he would complete the questionnaire and if he could ask a few of his friends to complete the survey too. He agreed and said he would forward my email including the link around his office. I also rang my Dad and asked if he would ask people he knows to complete the survey too. This really boosted the amount of responses and so far I have 35 responses.

Here are the results so far:

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Screenshots From Last Nights Shoot

Screenshots From Last Nights Shoot

Last night I filmed a scene for my music video with Charlotte and Callum where the couple are arguing. This scene was inspired by multiple scenes in the music videos for We Found Love by Calvin Harris and Rihanna and also Sweet Nothing by Calvin Harris and Florence Welch.

The scene is set in the couples bedroom. Here it is just them and they can be themselves. Their characters clash over small things and a big argument evolves. The camera captures the scene like a fly on the wall. In this scene the couple get into an aggressive fight and push and shove each other around.

On the day of the shoot the two characters had fallen out in real life and this work in my favour as they took their anger out on each other and were often actually arguing so they weren't lost for words when I asked them to pretend to argue.

I dressed Charlotte's character Keira Black in green to represent the characters jealousy and cowardice.  Callum's character Marc Atlanta is dressed in black to connote power and evil.

Filmed Footage - Rough Edit and Storyboard Evidence

Filmed Footage - Rough Edit and Storyboard Evidence

I created a short very rough edit to see how my footage will look when it comes to editing. I wanted to show I followed my storyboards and used them effectively and it shows that I can plan a satisfactory music video. The problem with the footage is that is quite 'wobbly' as I did not have a tripod. However, many videos are shot without the use of a tripod. Also I may have to zoom he frames in slightly so make the shots more centered. I like the big close ups that I have used as they show the emotion. The shot of Callum really captures his anger, straight away the audience is aware that Callum is perhaps violent and aggressive, this is connoted through the expression in his eyes. Charlotte's eyes are sad which connotes she has been hurt by Callum.

Scheduling Issues

Scheduling Issues

I am still struggling to find an ideal time to shoot my media as I need daylight for multiple shots for my video. As Callum works all day on a Saturday and Sunday it is proving difficult to organise times to shoot in daylight hours. Now my only option is to film early in the morning before he has to go to work. Then I can get around two hours of filming in the daylight. I am going to suggest filming with Charlotte and Callum on Sunday 16th November at 8:am. Here is a look at the weather for sunday. There is a chance of rain but I could make this work with the mood of the video.

In terms of the continuity within my music video linked to the weather it is not a major concern as my video aims to show a relationship over a long period of time and obviously the weather is not the same everyday, especially not in England. So as the weather changes over the days I film it could work well after all.

Asthetica Short Film Festival

Asthetica Short Film Festival

Today I attended the Asthetica Short Film Festival in York. We had the opportunity to learn new things about film making, music videos, a chance to look around York St Johns university and to explore the beautiful city.

Here was today's itinerary: 

We firstly had a chance to watch numerous short films that were shown as part of the festival. We had time to watch a documentary about Zima's Winter, a comedy about job interviews and a fashion clip for River Island. I enjoyed each video in a different way. The documentary shot amazing footage of the extreme weather conditions faced in Zima and how the local people survive and get on with their lives. I really enjoyed the Job Interview as it was hilarious it showed that people will do anything to get a job. The Fashion film shot four men modeling River Island clothing and walking around an urban area.

We then had the took part in a university taster session at York St. Johns. This was really interesting as they discussed the different things you could do with film making and showed us a well examples of under graduate pieces which was amazing. We then had a chance for a quick Q & A with the lecturers.

We then went to a master class on the ' A - Z of Music Video' I found this extremely interesting and gave us some great advise on the over all creation of music videos including the shooting, keeping the artist happy and editing. We learnt that it is vital to create a good vibe on set and this helps to create the best possible piece of work. Grading and adding colour to the music video is important as it brings the footage to life. They also gave out sweets which was great. Here is a picture from the master class.

Possible New Narrative Arrangement Idea

Possible New Narrative Arrangement Idea

In lesson today I addressed my worries about the lack of direction in my narrative. I knew that I wanted to have a storyline of a love/hate relationship but I did not feel it had enough depth and really I would like to create a video that people would talk about and people would take interest in. I discussed with my teacher the different ways to allow my video to stand out from a typical 'boy meets girl' video. He suggested I could film each location twice and have one positive situation and a negative in the same place to identify the way feelings have changes between the couple and that there would be a pivital point in the video when you see why it all changed. I then suggested a video I watched recently for Wicked Games by Parra for Civa featuring Anna Naklab. The video shows the couple when they were children and then their relationships as adults through the good times and the bad.

I then suggested that I could edit my footage to tell the story in reverse to show the decline in the relationship at the beginning, the climatic moment when the relationship goes wrong in the middle of the narrative and then the end of the music video shows the start of the relationship.

However, if this does not work I could just rearrange the footage and organise it in a way which may work better in that circumstance.

Official Permission to Use 'Clarity'

Official Permission to Use 'Clarity'

 

I recieved an email from Jamie Elliot form Kobalt Records with official permission to use the track. After being worried about not getting permission to use the track or having to pay a nominal fee of £50, I am actually pleased that I got a response as I now have official documentation allowing me to use the track Clarity.

 

 

In hindsight, the outcome was exactly what I needed as I got a responce from the artist's publisher with permission to use the track.

 

 

 

Filming

Filming

 Earlier this evening I went out with my actors Charlotte Greaves and Callum Lincoln to film a short scene at the very beginning of the video. The scene was inspired by the music video for We Found Love by Calvin Harris and Rihanna as it is set in a field. The weather was dark and atmospheric and added to the negativity of the scene. Here are a few screenshots from the shoot today.

First Day of Shooting

First Day of Shooting

I have organinsed with my actors to meet straight after sixth form to film for 45 minutes. It is a short shoot but is usefull to get a scene shot. I am filming the scene in the fields behind our estate. This shouldn't take too long so I have taken this opportunity to get some work done. I will upload screenshots from the footage I get onto my blog this evening.

Planning Ahead for Problems

Planning Ahead for Problems

I created a video were I discuss a few of the things that could go wrong when it comes to shooting my music video and I talk about what I have organised and put in place to ensure these issues do not occur. 

(Planning Ahead for Problems from Zoe Crick on Vimeo.)

Storyboards

Storyboards

Here are my storyboards in their simplest form. I have not yet finished storyboarding as I ran out of storyboards and will print some more when at school tomorrow morning. When I have completed my storyboards I will scan them in and edit them into an animated storyboard. This post is to simple track my progress.

Song Request Issue

Song Request Issue

 

Jamie Elliott suggested a nominal fee of £50. I was worried that I would have to change songs after planning to use Clarity as I could not afford to spend that amount of money on a song. I was not sure what to do so I emailed my teacher to see if he knew what I could do to resolve this problem. He then offered to email the owner himself. This really helped as they agreed to let me use the track for free as long as I password protect the video when I publish it to limit who may see the video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Script

Script

I am not finished my script yet as I am working on it as I complete my storyboard. I have posted the script on Prezi.com to present it well however I am also completing a standard written copy of the script that I can print off and hand to my actors.

The concept for the video is a love/hate relationship. The video aims to show the good sides and the bad sides of the relationship. The video will follow the couple through various situations such as arguing at home, being loved up in public.

The video is not chronological and cuts between different times constantly.

(Before the music begins. Possibly the sound of the wind blowing in a field) the opening shot is of the couple standing in a field. An extreme long shot is used to capture the scene. Callum is stood in the foreground with his back to the camera. He is dressed in black jeans and a grey hoodie with the hood up. I have chosen this as the outfit links to Marc Atlanta's young and casual brand identity and also as black has negative connotations of evil and power. Grey is associated with emptiness and lack of emotion. The audience is instantly aware that the character has a dark side. In the background positioned to the left of Callum is Charlotte. She covers her face with her hands, tilts her head back, elbows to the sky. She is angry. 

The second shot before the music begins is a over the shoulder shot of Charlotte. The camera is positioned behind her as she faces the setting sun. Her figure is shadowed as the focus is on the light provided by the sun behind her. She is stood arms crossed and the lifts up hands and covers her face slowly as if she is stressed.

The next shot is a close up version of this shot. However is is still being shot from behind and slightly to the right of Charlotte. She then removes her hands from her face and stares ahead.

It then cuts to Callum who is stood the right of Charlotte. With a close up over his left shoulder it captures him slowly turning his head to look contently at her as the sun sets around them.

The next shot is a performance clip.  Charlotte is stood in front of a blue background which connotes loyalty and trust which signifies to the audience that she is faithful in the relationship. The lyrics open with 'High dive into frozen waves where...' Charlotte looks up from the ground looking emotional and lip sings to the track.

Then, a tracking shot moves backward along an old bumpy road. This represents their relationship  as it shows their long term relationship and their journey through the ups and downs as a couple. It then cuts to further down the road where Charlotte is walking carelessly and moody. (inspired by a scene in the music video for Ella Henderson's song Ghost and the tracking of the car in the original video for clarity)

The camera then cuts back to the opening scene and shows a close up of Charlotte running both hands through her hair.

After that a low angle shot will capture Callum looking at Charlotte angrily. This signifies to the audience that he has the power as a low angle looks up at the character and gives them authority. It also shows the negative side of the character.

The next scene shows the couple looking lovingly at each other stood inches apart. The room is dark and there are people moving around in the background but the couple do not acknowledge them. The camera pans slowly around them anticlockwise. The pair lift up their arms, holding hands and look and their interlocked hands. It then cuts to a close up of their interlocked hands when they were stood on the bridge with the sun shining onto them. 

The following shots are two big close ups focusing on firstly Callum's nose and eyes and followed by a big close up of Charlotte's nose and eyes. Callums character looks angry and distressed. Charlotte looks up from the ground and looks directly down the camera with sad eyes.  

A long shot captures the couple stood holding hands at a bus stop in the dark they do not talk. This shot allows the young audience to relate to the couple.

The next scene is set in the couples bedroom. Charlotte is stood on the left of the shot and Callum is stood facing her on the right. Their is tension between them and they look at each other with hate in their eyes.

Location Scouting

Location Scouting

Here are the images I took today. I am uploading them later than expected as I had a few technical difficulties when importing the images onto my laptop. Better late than ever, here is the locations that I will be filming at over the next few weeks.

Technical Difficulties

Technical Difficulties

Earlier in the week I sent my computer away to be fixed as it was broken in every possible way. When I got it back it still would not turn on so that was extremely annoying. Nobody else at home has a computer that works properly so I've been trying to upload when I could get my hands on a computer. As my previous post said I went out to do some location scouting today and took photographs of all the places I will be filming at within the next few weeks. I then hurried home so I could get them uploaded and get on with more work whilst I had the opertunity as I was able to turn on my computer today. However when I plugged my phone into the computer my phone broke somehow. My iphone got a black screen with a faded white circle in the middle which was getting smaller and smaller and I am now left with a completely black screen. I googled how to fix it and the responses said to reset the phone however to do so you need to hold down the home button and the lock button but neither of these buttons work on my phone so I have lost all of my photos. I am so gutted that I have lost all my data and the photos of my locations. I am sorry about this. Technology hates me.

Plan for Today

Plan for Today

Today I am going off to do some location scouting around Durham for my upcoming music video for Clarity. I will take photos of the locations and post them on my blog this afternoon. I will then upload my storyboards and my script later this evening.