Deadline

The 1st deadline for our roughcut was on Thursday 17th November 2011. This deadline created an increase in performance from all A2 media students, lunchtime workshops were full of working students editing their videos, equipment was taken out so final shots could be filmed in order for the full completion of footage. We were one of the groups who had to rush out to do some last minute filming so we had enough footage for the video and the right type of footage, which we did but some were not suitable for the level of professionalism we required. Whilst going out to film last minute we had our chief editor hard at work in the editing suite. The heat was definitely on and we had to work really hard as to reach the deadline and return back to college with the footage etc. I was under immense pressure as to perform at the best of my ability although I was unwell(if you watch the vid properly you'll closely see that I look quite pale and ghost like).

All in all we did prove ourselves and did reach both deadlines. Our final video was completed a couple of days before its actual deadline and this allowed us to make some small alterations to what we felt needed a nit of tweaking.

Camerawork AS - A2

The camera shot is the basic building block of film and TV. Knowing this, during AS we understood that when using an specific sequence in our thrillers we had to consider the type of shot used and also the information that the specific shot is aiming to portray and its effect on viewers.

During AS we learnt some fairly new shot types these were:
* Extreme long shots(ELS)
* Extreme close up(ECU)
* Medium close up(MCU)
* Close up(CU)
* Big close up(BCU)
* Medium shot(MS)
* Long shot(LS)

All these shots have an intended effect, for example a close up in the situation of an music video would intend on the viewer being able to connect with his/her audience and in the case of a thriller it would allow viewers to closely empathise with the scary situation that the actor is currently in. Using these kind of shots in different media genres have different effects(usually).

There are four ways in which a camera can be moved. These are panning, tracking, tilting and handheld.
For the production process of shooting a music video we did not have to follow all the stereotypical conventions of a filming a thriller trailer. For example with a thriller you are most likely to pan, which allows you to use the camera on the base whilst still moving left or right. This was used in the beginning of our thriller to establish the location setting(this the camera slowly revealed in the start of the thriller). Tracking is regularly used in the making of a music video. This because the camera base allows the camera to move side by side and constructively follow the action. The camera moved from a set of rails or on a dolly. This camera movement is definitely used in nearly every music video that has ever been created! Tilting! Tilting can be used for both genres, music video and thriller. We used this camera movement during AS and now in the A2 year. Our reasons for using this was basically for the same reason we used it last year, to showcase the sexual attraction seen through the physical of a woman. Although last year we showed the woman as an object(negative) this year we used the same technique but with the hope of showcasing a different after effect, this was to portray the woman as powerful and in control. Say yes to female empowerment! We ensured that our artist "Emine Parker" broke the conventions of societies steretypes. No Riri's, no Gaga's BUT... more of an artist that is stylish, sexy and at the same time respected remarkably for her outstanding musical talents like maybe Beyonce or so(you'd most probably not agree with me on this one for various reasons). One of the movements that we did use a lot and even only use was handheld camera movement. We used this so the action on camera was carefully and realistically filmed and to be able to show the events that were on camera from the performers point of view. This movement is occasionally used by programme makers who set out to make the viewer feel uneasy when they shake the camera when held, this also portrays distress. This was used last year in my thriller, however not in my music video this year as the performer this year is in a positive place.

In AS and now in A2 we ensured that the way in which we used the cameras positioning made an significant effect on the audience, and the way in which they perceived the communicated meaning. Familiar camera positions are eye level shots, low/high angle shots, point of view shots, shot composition and framing. Last year(AS) we used eye level shots which allowed the actress to use her eyes to create a sense of reality and to also tell a short/brief narrative through her eyes. For this to be done the camera was positioned at eye level. The same camera position was done for our music video and the same sort of effect was what we seeked; to create a sense of reality of the performer being somewhat 'normal'. High angle shots were used last year to portray the actress as vulnerable and a victim. High angle shots are regularly used to create a sense that the person on camera is being looked down upon. Low angle shots were used in our music video though, this to allow the performer to have a sense of power. Point of view shots were used both in he AS year and A2, we did this because in both genres we wanted the characters to have a visual voice of what they were seeing at their state to be seen also by the audience. The shot composition and framing used this year was basically to celebrate the London vibe and this we did with the different footage taken from our four locations. Last year we used the framing of a busy part in Liverpool street and a very claustrophobic alley way this conveyed the idea that the actress was under the influence of something as she swayed and turned when walking.

We were also aware of using a great deal of establishing shots in our music video and thriller trailer as our concepts for both genres had a great impact on the location used(especially for the music video). Wwe use the establishing shot for both genres at the opening of our footage and these were a long shot of the location to allow the audience to get a sense of understanding on the enviroment of the characters. Place conveys character. No cutaway shots were used this year in our music video however, we did use them in our thriller trailer. We had shots of our actress then cutaways of the people around her and their reaction to her "out of control" behaviour.

The camerawork for the thriller trailer and music video were quite contrasting, for the simple fact that in thrillers you able to use a range of dramatic camerwork to convey an reaction from the audience to what is being shown on screen. However though, with music videos your aim is quite different you either want to promote something(for example in the Black Eyed Pea's 'I got a feeling' they promoted Beats headphones) and the artist. This promotion gives the video a connection and bond between the artist and the audience.

Skills development: AS - A2 editing skills

During AS Media we used a great deal of linear editing. Linear editing consists of editing and using one clip after another, However, A2 media is more base track edited(a lot), we use markers to edit beat and lip synching(AS media did not require diagetic sound as we created our own instrumental).

This year during our editing we used contrast and sharpen. Sharpen was used to create a more vivid feature for the performer. For example our chief editor Ryan Cameron used this effect to make the look more aware and focused in the shots we filmed that did not appear too good. The pic above should give you an brief visual idea of what I mean.

Contrast was also used as an effect to brighten the footage and give it a more professional and flawless type of appearance. Like the style in which the image above is edited as.
                                                   

Skills development: AS - A2 planning process(production work)

During AS Media we constructed a storyboard, this allowed us to chronologically order how we would film our thriller. However, this year has been totally different for many reasons. One main reason for this different is because we had to consider the fact that we were to select an British song and a matching video. This concept limited what we could show as the British music industry have a stereotypical theme of being raw & edgy.

This was not an easy task as we had to(individually) select our top 5 tunes & bring it forward to the group with debatable reasons that could be competed against. After this process we elaborated upon ideas, themes and concepts that would give us an successful music video.

Back to AS Media now, we took a great deal of focus in the representation of our performer in our thriller trailer and this included the four key technical areas of mise en scene, camera, sound & editing. This was an important factor for our trailer as we were trying to get an particular idea across; female being desirable(sexual assett). This "desire" was portrayed through the performers physical appearance, she was a very skimpy outfit that got even more skimpier after her turbulent night out. Compared to this year where we did'nt focus too much on representation we more or less put our focus on the narrative thread that we wanted to showcase in our video.

AS we had to do a great deal of research on our task as a whole as we are all familiar with thrillers and stuff but not too aware of the rules that follow there making. This was quite different to the task of this year because I feel that young people in this day and age take a good likeness in music and visuals and with the combination of the two there is a enthusiasm to produce something that will not only attract your age group but others also.

Photo collage

This is a photo collage I made on Photovisi, these our a few picture from our production process:

MUSIC VIDEO - FINAL EDIT

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!

GROUP 11'S FINAL EDIT OF THE MUSIC VIDEO BY EMINE PARKER - HEAVEN!!!

ENJOY :D

Fitting the bill; Artist

We decided as a group to create an British artist as the brief of the task was to (only) remake an British bands/artists song. We brainstormed on a couple of names then the name 'Emine Parker' came to mind. We did'nt want the new performers name to differ too much from the original artists; Emeli Sande. We wanted a little link between the two artists as they both (in a way) lead the same artistic musical talents, Emeli is a "new" outstanding songstress.

Ok! So the artist is British through & through! We wanted her to replicate the whole grimey East London vibe. We understood as a group the passion and love we all had for our very own organic artists stemmed from the fact that they donned this vibe that was true, realistic and modern in relation to the British attitude at the moment. Emine is seen wearing a range of retro-vintage-chic outfits which also develop on the stereotypical East London style. London, in fact the whole of the UK is formally known for its street style so this was something I as the performer wanted to properly illustrate in my performance. Ordinary life is the core theme that runs through the moral of a lot of British music videos(or even British inspired vids) so this we 'sort of' encompassed and then added in a twang of class. Emine is dressed elegantly(Audrea Hepburn style) however her location in which the video footage is taken from is very much down town GRIMEY & RAW.

Here are examples of British or British inspired music vids that I personally loveee!

Hope you enjoyed your time! LOL!

Well by taking a sneak peak of these vids you'd get an idea of a range of vibes that young people don in London today.

Performers style: