Monday, 2 December 2013

Images from the outset

 Images from the outset 
 These are the pictures taken from when we where recording on one of the days. you can see clearly the place that the scene was taking place and the actors and who was the Cameraperson at the time. All these images were taken with my one phone as my project partner was recording. 
 The images were taken from different angles and different times to ensure that the images would show a lot of different angles so that they would not be taken from the same place.
 This image is a still of the characters, the actors were portraying. you can see that the scene is not a happy scene like some of are other scenes.

Friday, 4 October 2013

Filming Blog

Day 1

Today's filming consisted of getting the lip-syncing scenes that will form the main crux of our music video and basically form our timeline. We tried to get as much as we can in our time we had there and we pretty much got what we needed from the session and we didn't deviate too much from the regular plan. We had no trouble filming in our location, which was a street in the local area, and our actor was quite co-operative with us so there were not many misunderstandings or trouble between crew members , though he did have to improvise some of the lip-synching because he forgot to learn the lyrics of the song. Our angles were limited to a medium handheld shot but they were fine and the lip-synching of our actor wasn't that bad either so we got a pretty solid day of filming done. Next time we shall film our plot scenes for our little story which our music video is going to tell.

Day 2

Today's filming took place in the school with all three of our main actors present. We decided to film within the school foundation the scenes of our couple interacting with each other. Most of the shots were improvised and were somewhat experimental using techniques such as handheld and a variety of tracking shots. We managed to include a dance scene of our two protagonists which will most likely be a big part of our main production since it was quite a interesting concept to use within our production. There were hardly any difficulties during today's filming process, except with the final scenes of the major plot twist when we found out that they were cheating on another man, since the actors got a bit giggly and the crew weren't quite sure how to execute the shot in the best way possible. But other then that there were no problems with todays filming.

Day 3

The final day of filming was used to tie up any loose ends in the production's elements and to reshoot one scene which we weren't quite satisfied with. The scene in question was the revelation scene which troubled us because the actor (also part of the crew) who portrayed the betrayed boyfriend didn't like a hand gesture he made the near the ending of the confrontation so we quickly filmed that and went back to giving our production an ending that would hopefully satisfy. We decided it needed to be brief but poignant with a element of the unknown so he decided to leave it with the face of our protagonist looking sad while the girlfriend walks away. No problems and was overall a good end to our filming process, all we need to do know is complete our main production.

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Locations

There are couple locations we recorded and this Google maps image is one of the locations we visited. The Cope' s Dr street is a good location to record. We wanted a street which is wide and quiet long as the actor needs to walk, on an average pace, from bottom of the street to the top.

Friday, 13 September 2013

Task 10.2: Risk Assessment-Health & Safety

Risk Assessment
Here is a list of the potential hazards and risks for our music video production and the possible solutions we have come up for our problems to prevent such accidents.

What are the hazards?
Who might be harmed and how?
What are you already doing?
Do you need to do anything else to manage this risk?
Action by whom?
Action by when?
Done
Slips and trips
Staff and visitors may be injured if they trip over objects or slip on spillages
We carry out general good housekeeping. All areas are well lit including stairs. There are no trailing leads or cables. Staff keep work areas clear, eg no boxes left in walkways, deliveries stored immediately, offices cleaned each evening
Better housekeeping is needed in staff kitchen, eg on spills
All staff, supervisor to monitor
01/10/2010
01/10/2010
Road Awareness.
The actors and the employees, a car may hit one of us.
All the employees and employers have a very good road awareness so they know enough that they will not get hit or to leave the equipment lying around on the road.
Lastly, The employers and employees are fully briefed on health and safety on and by the road.
Crossing the road when no cars and riding or use the level crossing to cross the roads safely. When recording on the road as soon as a car appears move the equipment and all the employees and employers to move off the road to keep a safe distance.
Lukas Szalbot
3/10/2013
3/10/2013
Equipment used
E.G. Camera and tripod.
Employers, employees and even visitors may be injured by the tripod not being used properly.
employers and fully trained to use the camera and the tripod so that the equipment will not be harmed and other people will not be injured by it.
After a while she should go through all the safety tips with all the employers to make sure that they know how to handle the equipment safely.
Lukas and Callum
11/11/2013
11/11/2013
As you can see our production wasn't plagued by too many hazards since it wasn't high risk.

Task 10.1: Production Schedule

Production Schedule
When
Who
What
How
Which
3/10/2013
Sam - Eric
 1.       Street scene. 
Backward Tracking, horizontal tracking. Multiple camera angles. E.g. close ups extreme long shots. Also, Pans left and right. Zoom in and out.
Full HD camera, tripod with casual wear (costume).
MP3 player with earphones. 


14/10/2013
All three
 2.       Work place 
Horizontal tracking, pans zoom in and out, 

Work clothes (professional costume for all three characters), tripod and full HD camera.
11/11/2013
All Three  
   3.       Fight scene + work place but re-recording one part of scene.  
Pans, forward and backward tracking.
Full HD Camera and Tripod. Professional work clothes for all three characters. 

Task 9: Casting

Casting
Eric - Sam, He is the protagonist which is in love with his friends girlfriend.
He will need professional work clothes, like: a suit with a tie, white shirt and trousers. This will make him look professional. Another costume he will wear casual clothes e.g. Jeans, a t-shirt and a jumper with a hood.   
Steve - Lukas Szalbot, he is the boyfriend of Layla
Also, he will wear the similar professional work clothes like Sam
Layla - Kristy Guy, she is the love interest of Eric who is cheating on her boyfriend with him.
Lastly, she will also wear work clothes as they all go to work together but her boyfriend works on a different floor to her and Sam. 


Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Copyright email

Copyright 
We sent an email to the copyright holders of Criteria Recording studios to get copyright of the song by Eric Clapton and the song's name is Layla. 
This is the letter:


The letter said: Dear Sir/Madame We are A2 students, studying media studies in college and we would like approval of your song by Eric Clapton Layla. This is for non-profit reasons and require for our music video for educational purposes. We hope you approve of our request as this would greatly help with our project. Thank you for your time. Kind regards from Lukas and Callum.

Monday, 9 September 2013

Task 8: Final Proposal


                                                                          Final Proposal
Title 
We decided to do a music video to the song by Eric Clapton called Layla. The song is about someone who has an affair with someone’s girlfriend and he is questioning about their relationship, are they in love or was it just for fun.
George Harrison married Pattie Boyd in 1966, a model he met during the filming of 'A Hard Day's Night. In the 1960s, Clapton and Harrison became close friends. They worked together on couple songs. Their relationship was short lived, after Clapton fell in love with his wife.
Image of Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton, with his band, wrote a song about this situation, it’s called "Layla".  The title, "Layla", was inspired by the story of Layla and Majnun. By the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi. When Eric wrote the song "Layla", Ian Dallas told him of this story. The tale of Nizami is about a moon princess who was married off, by her father, to someone other than the one who was desperately in love with her, resulting in Majnun's madness, and so Eric named the song after her name.



Genre 
The song is blues, rock. Also, the song will be mostly narrative but it will have some concepts of performance based.

Channel of broadcast
We have decided that the channel of broadcast would be on Kerrang because the genre of the song links in with the channel as they would generally show Rock music.


Another broadcasting channel it could be shown is on VH1, as this song is quite old and it is a classic, VH1 show classic songs so they will play this song on their channel.

Target Audience
We think that the target Audience is about 16-40 year old people, as anyone would enjoy listening to this song as it is quiet an old song so the older generation would listen to it when they were teenagers. Also, it can be for teenagers as their parents may show the song to them and they may like it. It may not be a song that came out a week ago but some teenager may still listen to this kind of music.  We think it is for both males and females. The class is unspecified. We think it is mostly mostly for the Western Audience ethnicity.

Style
The main character names is Eric
The females name is Layla
The other males name is George

The idea of are music video is about a man called Eric who has an affair with someones girlfriend. At first, they are having fun but later, Eric wants more from their relationship so he is walking to her house see where they are in their relationship. Is she going to leave her partner and go out with Eric or is she going to stay with George?

A Mastershot of Eric with a very slow zoom in to his face, with cuts in between to two people arguing.
It will show some flash backs of Eric and Layla being together, being happy, while he is walking to her house singing. and also it will have her and her boyfriend being unhappy. There will be shots of  a couple, in shadows, who are arguing and you would expect that the two people arguing are Eric and Layal, but it is actually Layla and George.

 The style of the music video is with a range of camera angles from Long shots to Close ups. The video will include camera movements like pans, Backward & forward tracking with very slow zoom in/out. Also, we may use black and white footage to distinct different footage between them.
In terms of editing we will use dissolves, fades, fast and slow motion footage.  

This is our original plot line but since the production started we changed it as we thought there would be a better way. So we had footage with Eric and Layla being happy, holding while walking and even dancing together. When they sneak into a room and George sees them together, they fight and he leaves. Soon after, Eric and Layla fight as well and she walks away from him.

During these narrative parts we added Eric, just him singing making this our performance based scene. He is wearing casual clothes unlike when he is with her; he is in his professional clothes. This scene we find out at the end to be the future scene while all the other scenes are him reflecting about his relationship with her. 

Friday, 6 September 2013

Task 7 - Role Allocations

Role Allocations
These are the roles we will adapt to make out music video. there are only two of us so all the ntasks will be halved.

Callum Ford - Writer (Storyline), Co - Director and Editor
Lukas Szalbot - Director, Camera person, and Editor


Task 6 - Storyboard

Storyboard
This is our storyboard for our music video: 


Lyrics for the song 'Layla' and The Song itself

Eric Clapton - Layla

What will you do when you get lonely?
No one is waiting by your side?
You've been running and hiding much too long
You know it's just your foolish pride

Layla, you got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging darlin' please
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind?

Tried to give you consolation
Your old man let you down
 Like a fool, I fell in love with you
You turned my whole world upside down

Layla, you got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging darlin' please
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind?

Make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane
Please don't say we'll never find a way
Or tell me all my love's in vain

Layla, you got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging darlin' please
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind?

Layla, you got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging darlin' please

Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind?

Here is the actual performance below on youtube:

Task 4: Music Questionnaire By Lukas Szalbot

                 Music Video Questionnaire

1.    Which type of music video style do you prefer?
A.   Performance (The Artist/band performs the song in the video)
B.   Abstract (A Music video which is unconventional and very creative)
C.   Narrative (There is a story within the music video)

2.    What is your favourite music video?

________________________________________________________

And why?

________________________________________________________

3.    What format do you watch music videos on? (Circle all which you use)  
A.   YouTube
B.   TV Channels (e.g.: MTV)
C.   Mobile
D.   ITunes
E.   Spotify
F.    IPod/Mp3
G.   Other: ______________________________________________

4.    What style of music do you prefer?
A.   Pop
B.   Classic
C.   Rock
D.   Rap/Hip-hop
E.   R’n’B
F.    Other: ________________________________________________

And why do you prefer this?

______________________________________________________

5.    What is you’re favourite music video from the genre you have chosen?

________________________________________________________

And why?

________________________________________________________

6.    Out of all the music channels, which channel is your favourite and why?

________________________________________________________


7.    What makes a good music video?
A.   Lot’s of special effects (CGI, Animation etc.)
B.   Very Little special effects (Real People and real situations)
C.   Lot’s of action (Fast cuts, Fast tempo song)
D.   Slow, Relaxed music
E.   Other: ________________________________________________


Why do you prefer this?

________________________________________________________

8.    Where on you’re preferred music channel do you prefer the channel logo to be positioned? (Please draw where on the TV below where you prefer the logo to be placed?)


9.    Do you prefer?
A.   Parody Music videos (Music videos that mimic an original song by changing the lyrics so they have comical value)  
B.   Deconstructed music videos (Videos which pay respect towards older music videos)
C.   Experimental music videos (Unconventional and abstract videos which are different and have not been done before)
D.   Classic Music videos

And why?

________________________________________________________

10. In you’re opinion, what length is ideal for a music video?
A.   1-3 Minutes
B.   3-5 Minutes
C.   5+ Minutes

11. Do you prefer a serious, straight to the point or a un-serious/comical music video?
A.      Serious music video
B.      Un-Serious music video




Thank you.
_________________________________________________________________________________

The results were:
1.
A - 3 votes/ performance based was second most popular
B - 1
C - 4/ Narrative was the most popular =that is why we will use a narrative based video than the others.

2. Favourite music video: Rudimental - waiting all night has three votes, Carly Rae Jepsen - Call me maybe has two votes, LMFAO-  I am sexy and i know it, Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication - it is a very cool video and it is very Abstract (three votes). Ed Sheeran - Give me love (three votes)

3.
A - 6 votes/YouTube which shows us that most people watch/listen to music videos online as it is easier and quicker to see/hear your favourite music video.
B - 4/ TV Channel is second top which shows there are people that still listen to music using TV
C - 3/Mobile so people also listen to music on the go.
D - 2
E - 0
F - 2
G - 0

4.
A - 4 Votes/ Pop reason for this is because "More fun videos"
B - 0
C - 1/ Rock - It may not be the most popular but we choose to do this as it would be good to do this one.
D - 3/ Rap/Hip-Hop - These two are second popular as currently there are most songs being made into these genres.
E - 3/ R'n'B -
F - Folk (1 vote)

5. Beyoncé - Single ladies/ "It is fun and lots of dancing"
Jay z - Run this town
(These are some videos that people have said)

6.
MTV - 6 votes/ it has a range of different music on.

7.
A - 4 votes/ Lots of special effects. Some people would look to see a lot of special effects, but it is kind of tide, as second most popular is very littler special effects.
B - 3 / very little special effects.
C - 3/ lots of action
D - 0
E - 1/women

8.
4 votes for Top left
3 for top left
3 for right left

9.
A - 3 votes/ parodies
B - 2
C - 4. Abstract/Experimental 
D - 1

10.
A - 4 votes/ 1-3 minutes
B - 5/ 3-5 Minutes
C - 1/

11
A - 5/ Serious
B - 5/ not serious

This is tied so people like to watch both serious and not serious music videos.

Saturday, 27 July 2013

Task 4 Music Video Questionnaire Results by Callum Ford

The audience I am appealing to are the people in the 16-20 year old's range for both sexes. This makes it easy for me, since I am within this age group which makes it easy for me to appeal since I know what the majority of my age group likes and I have no limits to who I can appeal to in gender areas.

People mostly watch their music videos on the internet, probably from the convenience and the availability of the internet to most audiences. Which is why some people voted for phone you can only really get music videos from the internet.
Most of my audience agree that a narrative based music videos are the best out of the three catergories since it technically gives more to the audience, by telling them a story. And I suppose it could make it more personal with the addition of a story.
It seems my target audience prefers Rock music with just pop folling in from behind. This will make me think about what song I should choose for my music video. This is probably due to the amount f sub-genres of rock that I think this type of music was selected rather then just singular rock.
Most people agree that the themes of the song must match or relate to the themes of the music video in this age group. It makes sense since you want consistency in tone with the medium; there is no point in showing a happy story to compliment a sad song.
Most people agree that background noise should be included in music videos even though it was quite close with the votes. This might be because of storytelling or just general reasons but if I want to include other noise in my music video I am not going to get much objection.

Its quite a landslide here that people think that special effects are especially important in music videos which I find suprising. I guess when you have a good director and story it is less then enough for the audience so special effects aren’t particuary necessary.
It seems in the eye of my audience that editing is a key thing in creating a music video which does make sense. Editing if not highly refined can diminish the effect of any visual medium whether in film or television so it should e no less for music videos.
This was quite a shock to me when I saw this result but I guess I should have expected since this is the generation that celebrate individuality and uniqueness and raised in a time where indie is considered king. It seems it’s not about appealing to people; it’s about creating your own identity.

In conclusion these demands given by my audience are doable and somewhat interesting because they have given us a kind of leniency in terms of what I can do so I can be really creative with this medium thankfully.

Friday, 26 July 2013

Task 4 Music Video Questionnaire by Callum Ford

Here is my music video questionnaire which I am going to use to narrow down the audience I am going to try to appeal to and what they want from a music video. The question have been carefully selected so I know what my audience wants and how i should design and create my music video.

Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Task 3: Mind mapping

Phil Collins – In to the air

"I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord

Well if you told me you were drowning, I would not lend a hand
I've seen your face before my friend, but I don't know if you know who I am
Well I was there and I saw what you did, I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord

Well I remember, I remember, don't worry, how could I ever forget
It's the first time, the last time we ever met
But I know the reason why you keep your silence UP, oh no you don't fool me
Well the hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you and me

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
Well been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh lord, oh lord, oh lord
Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh lord, oh lord

I can feel it in the air tonight, oh lord, oh lord, oh lord, oh lord


Well I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh lord, oh lord, oh lord"

This writer wrote this song after his divorce with his wife, he was very angry with this situation. From some of the lyrics we can find out that he may have watched his wife cheating on him. This is very similar to our original idea but this seems to be from the point of view from the one who was cheated on not the one who was the cheater. Phil Collins had a wife and they got a divorce and he wrote this song for this purpose to express his anger for the divorce. From the lyrics we think that he may been cheated on as from the words like, "Well I was there and I saw what you did, I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies" in  this sentence he says that he saw 'her' and what was happening and he knows that she was cheating on him. 

This is a good song and the music video is a bit different than our idea for a music video as we would is the man reflecting on his relationship and it leading to the moment that he sees her with another man. Also, taking an idea from an advert with this song, Cadbury’s advert, when a gorilla is on drums and when the good part of the drumming part starts that is when the gorilla starts. A lot of people remember and like that advert and it is a quiet popular advert so we would incorporate this part in the music video.