Brand Identity

For our Brand Identity we didn't choose to design a logo as such, but keep the same theme running through our Video, Website and Digi-pak based on our chosen song 'Windowsill'. Our Video, Website and Digi-pak all include a windowsill in them, there is also the coffee cups, with the purple writing and the flower which is included in all three media products. The coffee cups that feature in the video are in front picture and are carried though the Digi-Pak, the same images are used on the Website. For the Digi-pak i created myself, i have still included the windowsill and the coffee cups. This has kept a brand identity form the song though out both our main products and ancillary texts. The same colours are also used, and in the video the CD they have in the car also has the purple writing on it which keeps a common theme throughout and keeps it so they are easily relate together.

Evaluation Question 4

For our fourth evaluation question we decided to record a video of ourselves covering all aspects of the questions. We have also placed reference images and videos to the left.

Evaluation Question 3

What have you learned from you audience feedback?

Throughout the process of creating our music video we used feedback from audiences to influence the final outcome of our piece. Firstly we discussed our initial ideas between our group. We discussed them in great detail, deciding what would and what wouldn’t work. Taking feedback from each other’s ideas and opinions enabled us to have a concrete idea of what we wanted to create.

After we had constructed our rough cut, we played a viewing and feedback session with the class. Whilst we received plenty of praise for our video, there was some negative points too. First off that the lip-syncing within the video was off. This was due to us recording without sound, making it very difficult to sync the music in time, and as it was very noticeable to everyone that it was off sync it forced us to decide a re-shoot of all the footage was required with sound enabled. Secondly, whilst the scenes where the action plays backwards didn’t seem to be a problem, we received quite a lot of comments on it so based off this feedback we decided to scrap the backwards scenes.

Due to some complications we ended up having to re-film all of the narrative shots too with two new actors. However since the audience feedback had been positive, we kept the scenes the same as the previous cut and only made minor adjustments.

Names and some text blanked for privacy

When we released the first ‘final’ version of our video we received much positive praise, both from youtube comments and facebook.

However having friends/peers viewing it personally with us around school and such we received some comments saying that the lens flares going on might be slightly too intense on the eyes. So we decided based on this feedback to make them less intensive.

When we released our final version of the video we received plenty praise from facebook about the quality of our video so based on this we decided that we was happy with our product and did not make any further changes.

Audience feedback had a great effect on the choices we made; we feel we used the feedback effectively to tailor our product to cater to our audience’s desired music video.


Names and some text blanked for privacy

Evaluation Question 2

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

Throughout the course of creating our main product and ancillary tasks, we have intentionally tried to keep a consistent style. The most noticeable consistency is one of the locations used; the seating in Starbucks located next to a window so of course, involved a windowsill. This location is used in all products and can be seen in the picture above. The website used a photograph of this windowsill as the background, the video featured the location a lot throughout the course of the video and the digipak is completely based around the windowsill.

Another similarity within all three products is the font; Helvetica with slight italics. We decided to keep the font the same to provide consistency through the products and as a way of minor association between the products.

Another aspect we used throughout development of the three products was to make effective use of colour. For example in the photographs featured in the digipak and the website background, through the use ‘bokeh’ we could provide vibrant yet subtle colour at the same time as one another. Colour played a big part in the video, such as clothing, using bright and dull colours to represent different things, de-saturating footage to help the audience understand meaning, etc.

A similarity between the Digi Pak and the video is props. The coffee cups and the lone flower are featured in both. We chose to contain these two props within the digi pak so that they carry association with the video and the audience is immediately able to associate the digi pak with the video just by looking at the image. The props are featured on the website, however on the ‘Gallery’ page as photographs.
The Digi Pak and the website do carry a strong link however in that the background image for the website is the same image as on the back cover of the digi pak. We didn’t include a prop image as we felt it would be too distracting to the eye for viewers of the website.

There is a common theme running through all three products and that is the location of the windowsill featured in all three products. We feel that through the choices we made combining the products together through similarity’s has worked effectively.

Evaluation Question 1

For our first evaluation question we decided to record a video of ourselves covvering all aspects of the questions. We have also placed refrence images and videos to the left.

Digi Pak

Our Digi Pak is based upon the Metallica - Unnamed Felling limited edition CD case (Digi Pak). it consists of three panels and two sides, based upon this layout we had to create 10 photo/images to fill these panels we have used some duplicates; for example the sides of the case (the hinges) are both the same image. this is a simple design a white background with "Mixy Windowsill Limited Edition" wrote in the same font that goes throughout our project, Helvetica italic.

Inside of the Digi Pak Middle-CD Holder

CD design

Left-Middle flap Middle-Back cover Right-Front cover

The inside consists of five panels two sides a middle and then the hinges. however, these panels are sections of the same one image, this gives it a nice consistent horizon going across the whole inside. this has a nice simple look that is interesting to look at but doesn't have too much going on to distract the viewer. we have also included a sample of what it might look like to have some of the lyrics printed on the inside; using the chorus of the song. we have also created a CD that goes along with the internal panels. the CD's image is the same as the image behind it; this is a very common lay out for digi paks. we have also intentionally used an image with the coffee cup, from the front cover; placing the word "Windowsill" in the middle so as it will fit onto the CD.

if i were to improve upon it i would probably take the photo slightly wider so that when the image is cropped, the cup appears in full. i would also remove the white strip around the middle hole and replace it with the rest of the image that is being obscured. this would allow people to read Windowsill better however, if the image was wider this may resolve the issue. i think that wen taking the photos for the: front, back and side i think i would use a tripod. this would allow to get identical looking images whilst only changing the objects in the frame.

Rough Digi Pak

MIXY
THE MMXI MIXTAPE

Reseach and Planning. This is a rough idea of what our digi pak will look like.
INSIDE OF DIGIPAK

This is a image of our finished Digi Pak, the left side is the same image as the front cover which was hand drawn using pen, using photoshop we have erased the writing 'Mixy The MMX mixtape', and we have added the lyrics to the song ‘Windowsill’. We have done the same with the middle image but we have also erased the photograph and mug. The right side is a image of Mixy which we got from the filming, this indicates who the singer of the single is, we have also edited this using photoshop so it fits in with the colours of the drawing.

FRONT COVER OF DIGIPAK

This image shows the front of our Digi Pak. The image is hand drawn, we have then edited the image using photoshop so the back looks like the back of the window, we have added in the bricks so it looks like a picture from the outside looking in. On the side of our Digi Pak using very simple lettering it says 'Mixy Windowsill' we have done this in a dark green so it fits in with the colours already used. On the inside cover we have used the same theme of the windowsill and the green coloured font. This page simply says 'The new MMXI mixtape from Mixy' This is so when people open it up they can instantly relate to the album as being new and they know who its by.

Mixy's Final Website

Above is a screenshot of our final website.

We created this website through a free online service called Wix. They allow you create your own free website which is hosted on their servers. It won't carry a domain name e.g. Www.example.com but instead follows the format; www.wix.com/blackdragon1994/mixy. This is due to it being hosted on their servers so it carries their name.

The Wix method of creating a website is a very user-friendly, sandbox style. To implement anything we desired was clearly labelled and easily accessible. Thanks to this we were able to create a professional, sleek looking website without the hassle of coding, etc!

Our website developed through multiple attempts and rough edits, discussion and audience feedback. We created our initial website from scratch, which was very difficult and looked very unprofessional, bland and basic. We presentated it to Mixy and he approved of the layout but agreed with us that the design required more development. We continued to experiment but unfortunately could not achieve the results we wanted. This is when we switched to Wix.


The choices we made in designing the website however were very well thought out and each object has a specific purpose. For example, we have kept the font used the same throughout our production, both in the video, digi pak and the website. This was to create familiarity and for the products to show resemblance to each other allowing them to be easily associated with one another.
Because the main focus of our production is the featured song, just a single track not an album we made sure the most noticeable title on the website was the name of the track. The name of the artist we made smaller but in bold so it still stands out against the rest of the page. We placed this above the name of the track as it follows codes and conventions to have the artists name first.

We chose a simplistic, clean theme to our website, so it still looks professional and sleek whilst remaining uncluttered and easy to navigate for users. The theme carries meaning to the selected track. The background chosen is of one of the photos from our digi pak (The rear image). Also it is a picture of a windowsill linking into the track, and is from a location within the video. Through the use of this we have successfully linked all three products together. However, we also chose the image as we felt its gentle nature helped create the 'cool' calm look we was going for. We matched the text and overall colour scheme for the website around this to create gentle blending making it look very appealing. The photo is also 'empty' which provides zero distraction to the audience.
The navigation bar also follows the simplistic manner, with the navigation buttons becoming highlighted by blue when you roll your mouse over them, again matching the colour scheme but also provides effective functionality without being 'in your face'.

The website follows the standard codes and conventions of a music/artist's website by featuring the artists name, content directly relevant to them such as pages of 'About' providing information on the artist, a page of their albums, showing off their music and a contact page.

All the links on the website are fully functional, leading to pages with content. Whilst this was not required we went ahead and did it to give our website a more completed feel. One of the buttons leads to a page called "Albums". This provides working download links to each of Mixy's available albums, we also included this on the main page, as an extra touch.

We made our music video production the main feature of the front page, as this is what the website was about and formed around. Having it placed in the centre of the main page makes it the first thing seen by the audience, it is also set to auto-play. This was done to make sure it was the main focus of the audience visiting the page.

Overall, we are very happy with our website and how it has turned out. We feel that through the choices we made in theme, features and functionality that it effectively achieved the intended purpose of being nice to look at, informational and entertaining.

Final Video and Analysis

Above is our final cut of our music video production.

The video opens with a scene of 'The Girl' played by Zarina Rogalla and 'The New Guy' Played by myself meeting up, they then enter a car. This is to establish that they are together/familiar with one another. This also acts as an establishing shot/introduction.
We then cut to a shot of a CD labeled with "Mixy - Windowsill" into a CD Player, and this is where the music starts.
A film burn transition then follows into the introduction sequence of the characters. 'The New Guy' and 'The Girl' are introduced within the same car together, driving. This is to keep continuity as they was previously seen entering the car. The character of 'The Ex' is then introduced. In this shot he is seen smoking and with an angry look on his face, this was done to fit in with the fact he is the ex and is hurt/angry by what has happened. Thanks to these titles and what is contained within the shots, the audience can immediately grasp what the narrative is going to be about.
The track is introduced not by a title but by the name of the song written onto a coffee cup in a location where a lot of the later shots happen. This is because the coffee cup is featured highly throughout the video and carries significance.
We move onto another shot of 'The New Guy' and 'The Girl' together. They are seen smiling walking out of a lift and 'The New Guy' has his arm around 'The Girl' This is to further show that they are together and happy.
We cut into a shot edited with de-saturation to provide a washed out look of 'The Ex' smiling with an un-seen character, this creates enigma. He is also seen to be pointing to the sky, this links the lyrics in with the video due to the lyric saying "There was a time when our limit was the sky". This also provides suggestions as to who the person he is with might be. It then immediately cuts to Mixy to establish that he is the person singing.

The video fades to white here in an attempt to show that the de-saturated footage is memories. We see a shot of 'The Ex' and 'The Girl' together picking out some flowers. This cuts in and out of colour and them being together and the 'The Ex' being on his own. The shot of 'The Ex' purchasing the flowers is there to represent that due to the couple sharing a moment (shown in one of the clips) with these flowers he is longing to go back to that moment.
The footage moves onto 'The New Guy' and 'The Girl' walking together. 'The ex' however is standing in the background and both characters are oblivious to this. He is seen holding the flowers but once the characters walk past he lowers them, representing how his emotions just dropped.
More memory footage occurs of 'The Ex' and 'The Girl' together. The shots are linked in with the lyrics such as “Text your number and you came for a drink call it a date we sat down had a chat and it was great in the quiet little place I grew accustomed to your face” we used footage of ‘The Ex’ and ‘The Girl’ sat together in starbucks, coffee cups visible, talking, smiling and having a nice time. Also for the “grew accustomed to your face” we had a close up on ‘The Girl’s face. All this was done to develop more memory scenes between the two characters and to link the lyrics in with the video. All this is mixed in with shots of Mixy singing to show that Connor playing ‘The Ex’ is symbolising Mixy.

Returning to where ‘The Ex’ saw the other two characters walk by together, we switch to a shot from behind ‘The Ex’ and see him walk away. There is a low down shot of ‘The Ex’ walking away throwing the flowers towards the ground and since the flowers were symbolising a moment between ‘The ex’ and ‘The Girl’, throwing the flowers to the ground represents the rejection and loss he has just experienced.
We now move to a long sequence of clips featuring Mixy rapping. This was to spotlight him as an artist and his talent. It mainly focuses on showing off his ‘flow’ in his words. This is following the codes and conventions of a standard music video by showing off the star.
He also says the lyrics “finger-tips slip on the glass”, for this we had Mixy gently run his fingers across the glass of the window he is sat next too, to link the lyrics in with the video again.

There is a shot of ‘The Ex’ in the same location that him and ‘The Girl’ had been sat in the memory scene only this time he is by himself. This shows how he is reminiscing about the past and how he yearns for them times back. He is seen twiddling a flower. This was placed as we intended for the flower to carry the representation of their relationship. He gently caresses the flower as if it was the girl. This links back to the scene of them together in the coffee shop when he caresses her face. The footage pans up to ‘The Ex’ as he takes a drink of his coffee. This then fades into a shot of Mixy finishing off the exact same action. This is to further show how Connor playing ‘The Ex’ is representing Mixy throughout the video.

The end of the video comes to footage of The Ex’ walking aggressively towards the edge of a roof, suggesting that he’s given up and is going to jump and end his life. When he reaches the railings however, we cut to Mixy in the same position. He twiddles the flower over the edge as the song draws to a close. Diegetic sound fades in as the flower is dropped from the roof, signifying the end of the song and since the flower carried the representation of the relationship, the end of that too. The use of diegetic sound for this part of the clip was to add to the feeling of everything being over.

A title sequence of credits begins whilst the track is re-started to play over them. Since the intro of the track is purely instrumental it was perfect to use. Stereotypically music videos don’t tend to include credits on the end, so by doing this we have challenged the codes and conventions. An influencing factor on challenging the codes and conventions by doing this stemmed from the fact that since our music video was following a narrative throughout that it was going to be treated more like a short film.

Overall all we are very pleased with our final product; by taking into account all feedback we have received we have tailored the video to receive nothing but positive comments!

Storyboard

We developed a story board of scenes we wanted to film after brainstorming ideas between the group, coming up with a series of shots which we hoped will create the quality final product we are aiming to achieve.
We took this with us when we went filming, as a guide line to follow of shots we needed.
This storyboard does obviously not cover all the shots we had in the end, as whilst on-set filming we'd come up with new ideas or new ways to do things.

Risk Assessment

We have decided to post our up a risk assessment, answering the problems that we had and how we prepared for them before the shoot.

Our first area to asses was the location - the way we went about making sure that our location was use able was to call up Starbucks and ask permission in advance. This meant that if they denied us access then we could ask another coffee shop. Luckily they gave us permission and informed us on the lest busy day, this would hope fully allow us to get the seats that we needed to film. we also planed a back up seating location should our ideal seats become occupied. - On arrival to Starbucks (shoot day) our ideal seat were taken, we decide that we would wait for them to become free. this gave us time to set up our gear, talk to the staff about getting filmed, and discuss shot between group members. we then decided an hour and a coffee and a half each later that we would resort to our back up, we ended up finding that the backup seats offered nicer framing, allowing us to use the railings to frame the scenes. it also tied in quite nicely with the song title and lyrics due to there being a window and sill.

The second area was actors/actresses - we had learned from our mistakes last year and decided to come up with a set of substitutes, in the event that one actor or actress was unavailable, ill or otherwise preoccupied. we considered many candidates and the main issue that cropped up was getting a real couple, who looked comfortable together and wouldn't mind kissing when necessary. there was also another issue that we faced, being that we needed to find a couple that didn't look too young. Due to the time restrictions, the only couple that we could find in with that notice that fulfilled the previous requirements, was myself and my girl friend Zarina Rogalla. We stepped into Fran's and Ralph's shoes and kept the rolls and a majority of the shots from the rough cut the same (we still used Liam as the new guy).


Equipment failure - we are highly reliant on the equipment we are using mainly the camera. the worse thing that could happen whilst filming would be a camera error of some sort, for example: battery, memory, technical, damage, etc. We made sure to take all of these possible failures into consideration, one way we made sure that these errors wouldn't happen was by carrying a battery charger with us at all time and a spare fully charged battery. to deal with the memory issue, we carried a box of spare cards, this meant that if we ran out of room on one card we could replace it with a blank card. to cover us in the unlikely, but possible situation that something were to go wrong with the camera, i.e. accidental damage, or even if any of the above precautions were to fail we kept a plan b. this plan b was to take Liam's D90 (a back up camera that shoots film), although not as powerful it would still be a great asset in an emergency.

Camera man - we had to take into consider all possible errors. We also made sure that there would be a secondary camera man at all shoots; whether it were Liam, Cameron or myself. this meant that we could have someone recording behind the scenes, or even have someone to talk to about technical issues and camera settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lens choice). This proved to be a very good risk assessment as we had to activate our substitutes for actors and actresses, this meant that I was unable to film a majority of the narrative; deploying one of our back up camera men to take over.

Weather - we had to take into consideration what the weather might be like on the day of the shoot. unfortunately the weather can never be definite; when we began filming for example the weather was nice, a clear day with sun and few clouds. however, whilst filming through the day the weather took a turn for the worse, as it began to rain. to try and help us avoid being caught of guard we checked the weather schedules, which stated that it was going to be a clear day, with the chance of it becoming overcast later. we deemed this to be good conditions, as the clouds would add a natural soft box, creating soft light for the shots. However, halfway through shooting the havens opened; this would have ruined our filing however, we took it in our stride making it work for us. Filming outside when it was nice weather and shooting inside Starbucks when the rain was too heavy. luckily we filmed most of the present shots in the dry and when it came to the memories we managed to shoot them out in the rain making them look like it was two different day.

Roles and Actors, Costumes

For our video we wanted to have the artist singing the song, with a narrative running through out it, helping to break up the shots. For this we asked the singer to wear his favourite outfit, we also had some friends to act out the narrative. We felt that this gave it a more professional feel, making it appear as if we have hired actors this also allow us to relieve some of the pressure from the artist (as he had a very busy schedule). Below is the list of talent, hands on set and their rolls.

• Fran - Actress
• Ralph - Actor
• Mixy - Artist/Main Talent
• Liam - Actor/Camera Assistant
• Connor - Director/Camera Man
• Cameron - Camera Assistant/General Helper
• Ralph's Friend - Extra

As for costumes we asked everyone involved with filming to wear "causal" clothes, that wouldn't be too in your face. We also asked Fran and Liam to wear some vibrant colours to help differentiate them (The happy couple) from Ralph (the depressed ex); we feel that this was achieved very well.

The rolls of the Actors and Actress:

• Liam's roll was the "New Guy" a.k.a. the girl’s new boy friend. We attempted to keep his roll to a minimum so that he doesn't seem to be a key roll to the narrative.
• Fran's roll was one of the key rolls to the story, as she was the girlfriend linking all of the characters, we have attempted to show this through many shots of her. To make sure she doesn't steal the limelight, we included Ralph in allot of these.
•  Ralph's roll was the most important of all as he was representing Mixy. This is only a representation and he is not suppose to look like Mixy it is almost as if Mixy is singing about Ralph instead of himself. To make sure that this is apparent to the audience we included many shots of Ralph on his own, this accompanied with the Title effect post (http://connora2media.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/editingshot-ideas.html) should help the audience identify him as the main character.

Editing/shot ideas

Both of the videos below have a similar use of shot/editing for their narrative. in Rack City it is at 0:04, 0:09 and 0:20; it uses a slow shot of a character, and then has their name appear, letting the audience understand their relevance.

The video below is Cee Lo Green "Fuck You", this video also has titles. These titles are used in a similar way to Rack City however, they also use the these titles indicate different times, in similar zones. This also helps with the camera work/techniques, because the video appears to be very similar to a one take video. It creates this effect by using shots that are moving around the same area. Here are all of the times for the different titles (0:17-0:19, 0:25-0:27, 1:22-1:25, 1:42-1:46, 2:23-2:26, 2:55-2:57, 3:16-3:20, 3:46-3:50)

We have decided that something like this might add some order to the chaos that is our rough cut. this will help our viewers make sense of the characters; their relevance to the song and video. the way that we could do this is by fusing both of the styles, using the monochrome colours and simple text from Rack City and the zoom/rotation/camera angles from Fuck You. one of the ways we could do this is taking a print screen from the shot that we want, trimming/making minor adjustments. then using photoshop to add the effects and text to the image; once edited placing it into after effects, this will allow us to create the pan/zoom.

Filming

Today we started filming the story sequences for our music video. we want to try and portray a break up from the point of view of the dumpie (person being dumped). we have based this story on the impression the song and lyrics give; matching shots to lyrics. unlike a film there is no chronological order however, we didn't go in guns a blazing; ordering and planing our using a shot list a posed to a storyboard. This let us get a great idea as to which shots we wanted for different stanzas.
Above is an example of one of the shots that we intend to use in our video, in this you see Ralph (our leading character) through a bouquet to the floor. we have taken into consideration use of depth of field, this helps to make the flowers the main focal point. by doing this it lets the views see how important the flowers are to the story, to do this we used a lens with wide aperture. the problem with this is guaranteeing that the flowers were in focus; we used a reasonably low f/stop as to make sure that it is not too restrictive.
The clothing our characters are wearing is very casual, this fits in with the music and the video settings and contents.
We managed to gather a wide range of our shots and have only a few left to record.
We are planning on getting more filming done very soon.

Filming the Story

Yesterday the 2nd of march we started filming the story sequences for our music video. we want to try and portray a break up from the point of view of the dumpie (person being dumped). we have based this story on the impression the song and lyrics give; matching shots to lyrics. unlike a film there is no chronological order however, we didn't go in guns a blazing; ordering and planing our using a shot list a posed to a storyboard. This let us get a great idea as to which shots we wanted for different stanzas.


above is an example of one of the shots that we intend to use in our video, in this you see ralph (our leading character) through a bouquet to the floor. we have taken into consideration use of depth of field, this helps to make the flowers the main focal point. by doing this it lets the views see how important the flowers are to the story, to do this we used a lens with wide aperture. the problem with this is guaranteeing that the flowers were in focus; we used a reasonably low f/stop as to make sure that it is not too restrictive. 


we managed to gather a wide range of our shots with only a few left to record we will create a rough cut soon.

Feedback from the rough cut viewing

This video shows feedback from our rough cut viewing to the class. We are going to take note of what was said and try and implement the improvements ready for our final cut.
One main thing we have decided on from the feedback is to remove the scenes where things are going backwards.
The feedback helped us greatly by recieving other peoples views/opinions on our video, so we could continue to tweak and improve it to make a polished final product.

Lyrics to Chosen Track

There was a time when our limit was the sky we were living in our lives .......... and we thrived but it turned out i was not willing to slide i played the villain when you cried tears spilling from your eyes now why i had you feeling that inside and feeling what i find left conclealing it with lies the feeling i find is feeling the pride cause the don't give the right for me to whinge and whine cause you're with a guy

But i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when I'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real
Cause i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when I'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real

Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real.. (echos)

Back in the day when i met and asked your name text your number and you came for a drink call it a date we sat down had a chat and it was great in the quiet little place i grew accustomed to your face then we grew closer in the way awkward silence never came life was our own little game we got caught in up in the play never thought about the pain and i sought've am to blame maybe i ought to ran away

But i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when I'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real

Cause i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when I'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real
Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real (echos)

winter mornings don't wanna get outta bed water runs down the glass the sky is grey the land is wet the sea is wild the breeze is fresh the air is cold the feelings old the people are depressed the windows condensation is ..... the offices people work in to the houses the people living in the buses and classrooms covered in scribbling mirrors in bathrooms steamed up (mist riddled in?) movement and individuality finger-tips slip on the glass a playful grasp on reality part of the daily loosening grip on sanity portraying crazy mood swings ... and clarity anything to cope with the cold daydreaming waiting for the sun to glow and bring hope wrapped up in jacket scarf rolled round throat fighting the elements till the low feeling goes like the snow

(muffled volume) But i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when I'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real

cause i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when I'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real (muffled volume)

But i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when I'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real

Cause i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when I'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real
Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real (echos)


'...' indicates missing words

Equipment - Nikor 50mm 1.4G AF-S prime lens

This post is to cover the Equipment, in this case the lens being used. The lens that we decided to use is the Nikon - AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G. This is a prime lens meaning that it has a fixed length at 50mm; it also goes down to aperture f/1.4 which means it has an extremely small depth of field. The depth of field in basic terms is what is in and out of focus for example these tow images bellow show the difference in between f/1.4 and f/2.2; instantly the depth of field of lack of is prominent.

Although it says that the length is 50mm it is actually more like a 75mm length. This is because the camera we will be using is a DX meaning that it has a cropped sensor, apposed to a full frame camera. this means we will have to be aware of the distancing in the shots.

Rough Cut

Here is a short teaser trailer (Rough Cut) that i have created using the footage that we recorded on the 2nd.


This was a quick edit to see what the footage looked like and how the song fits the clips. There are some errors that have been picked up upon, the major one being that some of the cuts are out of sync. this was due to deciding not to record the audio; we thought that seeing as we will be placing a song over the footage we might as well save some space and mute the microphone. I realised that this was a mistake when it came to editing, it was very hard to judge where the song fit with the cuts. in future or if we ever rerecord the scenes we will record the audio to stop the same error occurring.

To watch it in HD please click the Youtube logo at the bottom of the video or follow this link to the web page. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NVGfWvPS88

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First Shooting

Yesterday, 02/02/2012, we began filming our project.

We met Mixy in the city centre and headed to our first proposed shot location. However, it was very open on the main street so we decided to relocate around the corner. After a bit of a debate we decided on a shot leaning against the wall. We filmed the artist Mixy lip syncing the entire track so we have plenty of footage to use for this location. We shot this multiple times at different angles/distances with the artist performing different movements throughout so we have much variaty to choose from.

We wanted footage of the artist performing in multiple locations so we could cut to any one at any given time within the final video. So we headed over to the queensgate carpark to film a shot off of the roof. This provided a nice backdrop with bokeh lights and with it being evening time the lighting overall created a mellow feel, to match the song. We did the same here recording a lip sync of the entire track. However our time there was cut short due to security coming and asking us to leave as we require permission to film/photograph up there. We asked the information desk on how to gain permission and our purpose, they provided all the relvant information but unfortunately to gain permission we would have to give a few days notice.

After this, we decided to head on over to another carpark not far from there. We went on the top level, set up and started filming - again, a lip sync of the entire track. This location provided a particually nice backdrop, having the cathedral in the distance, illuminated by orange light. Also seeing many of the city lights, out of focus providing bokeh, which gave the shot a nice feel which matched the track. We also shot this multiple times, different angles and distance.
We also noticed on the top level there was a barrier infront of a gap of two buildings, nicely backlit by a light. We decided to shoot another full lip sync here too.

The day consisted of only full track lip-sync footage, however very varied and provided us with plenty of footage to play with for when it comes to editting. We still have alot to shoot, most of which will be story footage.

In terms of the equiptment, it faired very well, providing us with a much better ability to film stable, smooth panning shots, much better image quality and better lighting abilities.

Fist Day of Filming

 

Yesterday, 02/02/2012, we began filming our project.

We met Mixy in the city centre and headed to our first proposed shot location. However, it was very open on the main street so we decided to relocate around the corner. After a bit of a debate we decided on a shot leaning against the wall. We filmed the artist Mixy lip syncing the entire track so we have plenty of footage to use for this location. We shot this multiple times at different angles/distances with the artist performing different movements throughout so we have much variaty to choose from.

We wanted footage of the artist performing in multiple locations so we could cut to any one at any given time within the final video. So we headed over to the queensgate carpark to film a shot off of the roof. This provided a nice backdrop with bokeh lights and with it being evening time the lighting overall created a mellow feel, to match the song. We did the same here recording a lip sync of the entire track. However our time there was cut short due to security coming and asking us to leave as we require permission to film/photograph up there. We asked the information desk on how to gain permission and our purpose, they provided all the relvant information but unfortunately to gain permission we would have to give a few days notice.

After this, we decided to head on over to another carpark not far from there. We went on the top level, set up and started filming - again, a lip sync of the entire track. This location provided a particually nice backdrop, having the cathedral in the distance, illuminated by orange light. Also seeing many of the city lights, out of focus providing bokeh, which gave the shot a nice feel which matched the track. We also shot this multiple times, different angles and distance.
We also noticed on the top level there was a barrier infront of a gap of two buildings, nicely backlit by a light. We decided to shoot another full lip sync here too.

The day consisted of only full track lip-sync footage, however very varied and provided us with plenty of footage to play with for when it comes to editting. We still have alot to shoot, most of which will be story footage.

In terms of the equiptment, it faired very well, providing us with a much better ability to film stable, smooth panning shots, much better image quality and better lighting abilities.

Meeting with mixy on the 30th of Jan

Liam and myself have had a meeting with Mixy. the agenda for this was as follows:

AGENDA

Update Meeting

30^th January, 2011

12:00 – 1:00

Meeting called by Connor Page

Attendees:      Connor Page

                        Liam Olivier

                        Mixy

Please bring:  Laptop

                        iPod

                        Blog

5 minutes	Introduction Apologise Welcome to meeting	Connor Page
30 minutes	Discussion Talk about  where the project is and what is currently happening, talk about shot ideas and goals for the project.	Connor Page Mixy Liam Olivier
20 minutes	Improvement to be made Mixy can offer any improvement that need to be made to the project: such as changes to backing story, shots or location. Notes to be taken by Liam Olivier	Mixy Liam Olivier
5 minutes	Questions If the client is unsure on any area covered they can air their opinions, worries or quires. Giving feedback on ways the project can be improved. Notes to be taken by Liam Oliver	Connor Page Mixy Liam Olivier

Actions

·         Talk about new ideas

·         Answer and questions to the best of ability

·         Gather feedback from meeting

·         Keep note of any major changes

A copy of this was sent to all Attendees, this explains in detail the subjects that will be brought up in the meeting. we gathered allot of feedback from this meeting, allowing us to make changes to the project where necessary. there were a few Major adjustments to this project:

• Change to Song
• Location
• Story Plot
• Use of Actors

We will be posting these changes in more detail, on following posts.

Location List

here are a list of different locations that we thought might be quite effective for our shooting. I have also attempted to use street view to get some sample shots.

• Starbucks
• City cathedral
• Guild Hall
• Town square
• Queensgate car park
• Market car park
• Shopping underpass
• Inside an average house

We have discussed filming on Queensgate car park with the managers. They then gave us requirements that we had to fulfil to get permission to film on location they included: risk assessments, at least one weeks notice, emails and notification of when the video is online.

 Guild Hall

Starbucks/Cathedral Entrance

Walkway next to the Cathedral

Town Square

The Cathedral

Equipment We Will Use

Below is a list of the new equipment that we will be using for our production, below that there will be more detailed descriptions of what it is and how we will use it.

• Nikon D7000
• 50mm AF-S 1.4G prime lens
• DSLR Rig shoulder Mount
• GGS Perfect Foldable LCD Viewfinder f
• Dolly and Track
• HD Video SD card
• Microphone
• LED Lights
• Tripod

Nikon D7000
where to begin with the D7000, this camera is the newest camera to be released by Nikon (other than the D4 however the D4 is a full frame camera, the difference being the D4 has a bigger sensor amongst other things to the D7000), her are some of the specs of the new camera:

Nikon D7000 Body only

Packing high-end image technologies into a surprisingly portable body, the D7000 marks a new era in creative flexibility. Sturdy enough to travel anywhere and powerful enough to handle any situation, its range of advanced features will satisfy any photographer ready to further their skills.

• 16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor delivers lifelike images with vivid colours, reduced noise and smooth tonal gradations.
• High ISO (100-6400) light sensitivity - manually expendable up to 25600 using the Hi2 setting. Enables faster shutter speeds for finely detailed images with minimal noise when you shoot fast-moving subjects or take pictures in low light. Features an Auto ISO setting.
• EXPEED 2 image processing engine: optimises the camera's technologies for superior performance and maximum image quality, all while consuming minimal energy.
• Durable design: boasts tough, yet light, magnesium alloy top and rear covers, and environmentally-sealed joints that protect the camera from dust and moisture.
• 100% viewfinder coverage with approx. 0.94x magnification for precise composition.
• Durable shutter unit tested to 150,000 cycles. Delivers precise shutter control and exceptional reliability with a shutter speed of up to 1/8000s, and flash synchronisation at up to 1/250s.
• Twin SD memory card slots: for enhanced shooting flexibility. Use the second card when the first is full, or record stills on one and movies on another. SDXC compatible.
• Razor-sharp 39-point Autofocus system with nine cross-type sensors in the centre. Offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame. Four AF-area modes, including 3D-tracking AF, deliver sharp results, whether your subject is off-centre, moving fast or completely unpredictable.
• 2,016 pixel RGB metering sensor delivers highly accurate metering for exact exposures and provides precise data to the camera's Scene Recognition System, which optimises exposure, autofocus and white balance immediately before the shutter is released for sharply defined images.
• 6fps continuous shooting: capture fast-moving action at six frames per second.
Quick response: boasts a near-instant start-up time and approx. 0.052-second shutter-release time lag.
• D-Movie – full HD (1920 x 1080) movie clips: a dedicated record button lets you capture beautiful high-definition (HD) movie clips instantly. AF-F mode keeps everything in focus while you are shooting and the camera supports use of an external microphone so you can record in quality stereo sound. Simple editing functions let you make edits of your clips in-camera.
• Large 3-inch 920k-dot, high-resolution LCD monitor with reinforced glass makes it easy to view essential camera information, and a pleasure to review and edit your photos and movies.

You can find more information about it on this link, http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/78159/show.html if you then go onto features, you can see all of the technical aspects offered by the D7000.

here is a video that reviews in a hands on manner,


for information on the rest of the equipment use the filters to search fro just equipment related posts.

Conventions of Music Videos

Camera Shots: Music videos often tend to make use of many long shots, close up and mid shots. They use to to create emphasis towards the artist, location and emotions. Close ups are also used to show emotions reflected by the lyrics of the song sometimes via the movement of the lips of the artist.

Camera Movement: Movement of the camera(s) is often mainly used to follow and trace the artist and/or band. This movements can include tilts, pans, tracking and crane shots.

Mise-en-scené: This is the arrangement of performers and props within the video. Mise-en-scené places important on the representation of something.
An example of this being shown is the track 'Mad' by Neyo. This mise-en-scené involves the artist 'Neyo' walking alone down a road, being in an isolated room. This relfects the isolation from his lover. Also, props include dark clothes and hats which represents the down mood of the song. The lighting is also kept very dark, black and white; to again represent the angry and depressed mood.

Editing: Jump cuts tend to be the most used editing technique used in music videos. This allows a sudden change from one scene to another and keeps a fast pace. Transistions such as fade and dissolve however are also very common in music videos as they create a different effect to straight cuts. Each is used depending on what type of action/pace/mood the artist is trying to create.

Lighting: You find many music videos that are black and white to help place emphasis on a particular mood. Other videos make use of artifical lighting to create an enhanced look.

Sound: This tends to mainly just consist of vocals of the song. However sometimes produces can include the sound of the enviroment to help create effect/mood/feeling/etc.

Props: These hold a vital role in aiding to add to the scene and they create significance on particular people and/or objects.

Costume: This matches scenes and relfects the genre or the mood thats trying to be created. Costume is a very important factor within the video because it has an influence over viewers as they might want to dress like the artist as they aspire to be like them (role models).

Colour: Colours are normally used to set the mood of the song by creating an atmosphere within the video. E.g. dark colours would be used to create a down more serious mood and bright colours for a more upbeat, lively enviroment.


These conventions go further when looking at the specifics of certain genres. For example:

Indie/Rock: Tend to be black and white, shots of the artist/band are used regularly throughout the video and close ups/long shots are favoured.

HipHop/Rap: Video locations tends to be a party or club location, achohol/drug references are frequent and branded objects appear often. Luxorious homes and cars are a favouriate. Camera shots tend to focus on long and establishing to show off the 'luxury of their lives'.