Thursday, 24 February 2011

The Wiped Tape

When uploading the footage of the green screen found that the majority of the material had been scrambled. Although we still had all of the band and all of Ben’s shots, we did not have Alex or Dylan’s shots.

We figured out with Tech Support that this was probably due to the tape coming into contact with a mobile phone or magnet, although the proved reason is still unknown. This made us go back and re-film the two guitarists of the band which, after considering doing it on green screen again, prompted us to use the actual location (see ‘Filming: Band: Battery Point’). It wasn’t a disaster, but it made the schedule tighter than it was and caused havoc with us.

Filming: Narrative: Pick Ups

After uploading the original footage of the narrative shots, we found that the lighting was incredibly poor. Although looking perfect on the day and in the camera, put onto a bigger screen darkened the image and we realized that we had to pick these shots up.

This time we made sure that the set was lit well and that the images were not under exposed and we re-shot. This took shorter than the previous time as we had already started editing and now knew exactly what we needed and roughly how long the shot should be. We also experimented with some shots and eventually got one of feedbacks ‘best shots’ with Sonia and Jack on the sofa with the guitar laughing at the end of the video. This was at the end of the shoot that day and has paid off.

Filming: Narrative 1

We shot the narrative shots for the majority of the video in one day. Here, we dabbled in set design to make Jack’s living room seem more like a bachelor’s pad where he had passed out, as well as did our first bit of outdoor filming down his street. As discovered in previous filming expeditions, cars on a street have to be heavily censored for personal safety issues and thus we were careful not to film and registration plates or cars with people in them when outside as this would mean we would have to blur out the number plates which, although showing off our skills, would also make the shots look bad and poorly planned. Thus we were very aware of this during filming.

The Narrative shots in doors were shot with no script as we knew there would be no sound in the video. This proved interesting as we got genuine emotion and some interesting arguments.

The narrative in our video conforms to Todorov's Equilibrium Theory of Narrative as the shown plot features Jack sleeping (Original Equilibrium) and is then rudely awaken by his friend (Sonia) who then starts a fight (Disequilibrium). The two fight and then ignore each other (Acknowledgement) until Jack apologises with a peace offering of ice cream and a film (attempt to repair the situation) whic leads finally to Sonia accepting this offering and them singing and laughing together (NEW Equilibrium), restoring their relationship.

However, within this, the background story also follows Todorov's theory. Taken into context of the character's lives, we come in the Attempt to Repair stage of these character's life, presuming that they once had a good friendship which would lead to Sonia caring about Jack's habits (Equilibrium), then jack got into drinking and drugs - shown through the initial scenes with close ups of beer bottles and packets of drugs - which Sonia didn't like as Jack changed and was threatening the equilibrium of the friendship and his life (Disequilibrium). Sonia must have acknowledged the situatoin before because it seems that this in the not the first time this has happened - through his reaction to her shouting, again, and also through Sonia's reaction to the situation. The dialougue in the Cut Scene also reinforces this idea. The video then comes in to witness the last two stages of Todorov's theory when the two fight and brood then Jack apologises (Attempt to Repair) and they solidify their friendship again (NEW Equilibrium). However, our narrative is slightly naive as it doesn't address whether or not Jack's character gives up the drugs and the drink. However, looking at the construct of narrative's within videos, especially of this genre, they do not have to be this detailed and thus we didn't feel the need to address this fully, but instead included the shot of the two friends singing and laughing together in Jack's living room in which there once was drugs and alcohol etc, but now is clean. This happy ending should please audiences as a music video is not there to leave a sense of impending doom, nor to depress, and the story line fits into the style of the music; happy and carefree and thus demanding a happy ending.

Filming: Band: Battery Point

Although we could not have the whole band at Battery Point, we did manage to take the two guitarists out to the original location and shoot some individual shots there. This was sparked originally by a fault in the editing process (see ‘The Wiped Tape’), however proved for the better as we got some great shots that were used for a lot of the final product. We shot the guitarists in front of the graffetied wall here as well as on the cliff looking out across the bay.

To our target audience, the graffetti would appeal as it symbolises the rebellion of youth culture as well as the grunge from which the band Feeder take it's roots. It also proves as an interesting background for Mise-En-Scene purposes.

The shots on the cliff looking over the bay were also a homage to old epic rock videos of the 80s as well as providing interesting shots and giving the video range and texture within the mise-en-scene department which wouldplease the target audience as a video is there to illistrate a song as well as be visually spectacular - something these shots add to the otherwise tame locations.

Filming: Bands: Guitar Hero (TM)

In order to stay true the fan idea as well as OK Go styled videos, we decided to have a guitar hero band. This was filmed in the same location as the Female Narrative shots, but featured only two band members. However, on the day, we thought of the idea of a ‘Stig’ band member. As with OK Go’s video in which they feature a load of dogs and one goat in the background, we thought that we could cover the face of player and feature them discreetly in the video. This was played by Jack and was highly successful as when I was playing the drums Jack was filming and when Jack was playing the drums and playing the guitar I was filming. Both of us have distinct filming ways and thus each shot was different and we filmed a wide range of shots and angles in this shoot.

With there only being two band members, we could experiment with shots and framing as we did not have to focus on getting a whole band in. This allowed us to be more creative and stray from conventions of shots and thus conforming to Knight’s theory that it is interesting to defy conventions. Although this is about genre, it could be allied to the shots and frames as genres normally have their own style of shooting material (as we discovered in our initial research).

Filming: Cut Scene

Using the fake quarry band we shot the cut scene in two takes, both long shot. We choreographed where Sonia and Jack (playing female and male) would walk to and certain things they would do (such as Sonia picking up the rock and the mic) and improvised the rest. This turned out to be funnier (the intention) than any script we had prepared. However, it did lend itself to the use of swearing which we will have to censor due to our demographic and the ideas surrounding these things.

We used a simple tri-pod held long shot for the duration of the this shot as it was a contrast to the rest of the video as well as reflected how everything stopped and got distracted by the narrative scenes meeting the performers.

Filming: Bands: Quarry

Pulling together some people that replied to our advertisement we put together a band of people who can’t play instruments. We filmed at sundown (for the light) in Black Rock Quarry and found that the shadows in the quarry created interesting patterns that were great for the piece. As with all the bands we shot the whole band performing the song as well as individual shots and steady cam shots of everyone.

I feel this was the most successful shoot of all as we got the best performances and I have found that a video is made good by a good performance (after comparing amateur videos to good quality ones).

We also filmed the cut scene on this day.

Filming: Bands: Climber (Jack)

As we decided to have the narration being from the perspective of the male, we thought it would be a nice idea to have the male start the song with the opening guitar solo. For this we chose to work with something quirky to follow our ideas of OK Go, as well as work with some of Jack’s skills (as he would be playing the part). Thus, we decided to have him absail down a cliff and play the opening solo then climb back up at the end of the video. For this we chose a sunny day (for good light) and got help from an instructor (Adam Blinman) in order for us to do this. We filmed this part of the video in Black Rock Quarry.

There were no problems and we chose to use an acoustic guitar in order to express homeliness and that he wasn’t actually playing the song.

Green Screen Organising and Emails

In order to get the shots of Terminal Morraine (specifically the drums and Ben) we needed to use a green screen.
Talking to Ian Johnson, the media technician, we found that he did have green screen facilities - all we had to do was find location and organize the event and it would happen. Following this preliminary meeting, we exchanged emails. These add to the schedule as well. (Emails work backwards due to copying):

-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Johnson
Sent: Fri 10/8/2010 9:14 AM
To: jer1503
Subject: RE: Jemma Rowlston Green Screening

Morning,

Well thanks for the email, it was good to see you all working so hard to get the required shots / footage. Please keep me updated with regards to the editing.

Thanks again

Ian

________________________________

From: jer1503
Sent: 08 October 2010 08:53
To: Ian Johnson
Subject: RE: Jemma Rowlston Green Screening


Thank you so much for all your invaluable help yesterday.
Not sure what we would have done without it!

Thank you so much!

Jemma, Jack and Sonia :)

________________________________

From: Ian Johnson
Sent: 07 October 2010 10:40
To: jer1503
Subject: RE: Jemma Rowlston Green Screening


All booked

________________________________

From: jer1503
Sent: 07 October 2010 09:34
To: Ian Johnson
Subject: Jemma Rowlston Green Screening
Importance: High


Hey Sir,

I have booked the old hall for directly after school today. Unfortunately it has been booked period six for a drama group, but Mrs Derrick said that those groups sometimes don't turn up, so if they are not there 15 mins into the lesson then we can have the hall. This being the case, I shall keep an eye on it and if it is free then shall find you.

Otherwise:

OLD hall
3.15 pm
TODAY

The band will be there at this time too so they could help set up if possible and needed.

Thank you so much for your help and letting us use the screen!

Please feel free to contact me if any of this is a problem.

Thank you!!!

Jemma, Jack and Sonia



Drum Kit Emails

-----Original Message-----
From: jer1503
Sent: 05 October 2010 13:49
To: Rebecca Hancock
Subject: RE: Drum Kit

Dear Miss H,

Thank you for your quick reply.

We underestimated the vitality of the drum kit to your department and
are completely understanding of your hesitance to lend it to us for use
outside.

We shall contemplate the chances of using the old kit on site, but for
now we would just like to thank you for taking your time to reply and
consider us.:)

Thank you,

Jemma


-----Original Message-----
From: Rebecca Hancock
Sent: 05 October 2010 09:39
To: jer1503
Subject: RE: Drum Kit

Dear Jemma
The drum kit is not for use outside, I'm afraid. We rely on the kit for
GCSE, A level, and Music tech recordings, for concerts, Jazz band,
luncheon club and for Drum lessons, and I am not prepared to risk it
being used outside. I could consider you using the old kit in a
location away from the music department (still on the school site), but
it would need to be indoors.
Sorry to be disobliging, but the drum kit is a vital part of our music
department equipment.
Miss H


-----Original Message-----
From: jer1503
Sent: 04 October 2010 10:30
To: Rebecca Hancock
Subject: Drum Kit

Mrs Hancock,

This is the media studies group who have recently been talking to you
about borrowing a drum kit to use in the filming of our music video
coursework.

After some deliberation, we have decided to ask you if we could borrow
the drum kit to use by the graffiti outside the back of Sixth Form.

If this is possible, could you please specify some times this week in
which you would be willing to let us borrow it for an hour.

Thank you so much for all your help.

Jemma Rowlston

Drum Kit

With Ben being the only person who would play the drums in the video we needed a kit for filming. This proved difficult as Ben could not move his own kit and the borrowed kit came with strict rules. We could not:

  • Take it outside
  • Take it off school property
  • Have it past 5.00pm

This meant that we could not use our desired location (Battery Point, Portishead) as it was off school property as well as outside. This meant that we had to come up with an alternative.

We decided to shoot the band on green screen. This would allow us to learn a new (unexpected) skill as well as possibly do something interesting in post-production. We borrowed a green screen with lights and shot the band with the borrowed drum kit over one night.

As we could not get hold of a full size green screen it made it difficult to film the band without getting the background in shot; it was a tight squeeze! But it was all possible and brilliant.

Location, Location, Location

We researched a lot of places in which we could film, some we did, some we didn’t. Here they are:

  • Blackrock Quarry (Used)
  • Churchyard /Graveyard
  • Battery Point (used)
  • Our Houses - Living Rooms (used)
  • Jack's Garden (used)
  • Highstreet
  • Graffettied walls (used)
  • Art Walls - Art Department
  • Drama 1 (black out curtains)
  • Seafront

In order to film in some of these locations we had to get permission from owners and authorities. We did this through email, the council, and our own personal contacts. Those that we did not get responsse or permission from were not used. Other locations were not used due to lack of bands to film there/lack of interest

Schedule

Media's group's personal schedule for after school filming
(Click to enlarge image)

Free lessons and Media lesson avalialable film times
Week 1

  • Mon - p1 and 2
  • Weds - p1 and 2 (No Sonia)
  • Thurs p3 and 4

Week 2

  • Mon - p3 and 4
  • Thurs p3 and 4
Project Gantt Chart Schedule
(Click enlarge image)

Getting Bands

For our idea of having multiple bands, we had to get bands, or at least people to be in made up bands. Thus, we put up flyers everywhere with this image:

We thought the iconic image would draw attention, and it did.

We soon got a hold of one already existing band:

Terminal Moraine:

  • Ben Price
  • Alex Bennett
  • Dylan Manners Lolley

For the other bands, we arranged the other people who were interested but had no bands themselves.

Story Board

Proposal Form

Title of Project: FEEDER – ‘Just a Day’


Names of Students Involved and Roles Allocated:
Jack Blinman – Director, Cameraman, NARRATIVE MALE.
Jemma Rowlston – Director, Cameraman, SINGER.
Sonia Wan – Director, Props & Costume, Cameraman, NARRATIVE FEMALE.

(Editorial tasks are also shared out)

Estimated Time Allocated to Production: 3 weeks

Dates of Production:
Friday 1st October – Opening shots
Monday 4th Oct– Narrative Shots
Thurs 7th Oct – Green Screen
Friday 8th Oct – Quarry scene with performers
Thurs 28th Oct (half term) – Pick up shots

Estimated Time Allocated to Post Production: 3 weeks

Dates of Post Production: Monday 11th October onwards

Brief Synopsis of Project:
A music video for the song ‘Just a Day’ by the British band Feeder.
The video will be a combination of performance and narrative footage that will reflect the lyrics of the song.

Performance: The video will pay tribute to the original official video for the song by having multiple bands performing the song. However, unlike the original, these bands will be filmed as if they are the primary band (using proper framing, steady-cam shots, individual performances and a range of interesting locations). This will be integrated with the Narrative.

Narrative: Following the storyline within the lyrics of the song, our video will feature a platonic teenage friendship between MALE and FEMALE where MALE has fallen into a dink and drug addiction that is tearing the friends apart. The narrative will thus link to the lyrics as if the words are the internal thoughts and feelings of MALE.

Equipment Required and Dates required.

01/10/10, 04/10/10, 07/10/10, 08/10/10, 28/10/10
Camera
Tripod
Lighting
Microphone (for camera)

07/10/10
Green Screen
Editing MAC

Locations:
Jacks’ Living room
Jemma’s living room
Jemma’s hall
Outside Jemma’s front door
Street outside Jack’s house
Blackrock quarry
Battery point (behind the open air swimming pool)
Small Hall

Costume and Props:

Costume will be provided by the bands themselves in order for them to promote themselves and their band image. The general consensus will be jeans, t-shirts, possibly leather coats as these fit the genre of Feeder’s work and would thus contribute to the feel that each band is the primary band.
PROPS:
Guitars (provided by the bands)
Microphone
Drum kit
Guitar Hero™ 4 World Tour kit and game (and consequently an xbox™)
Assorted bottles and junk food rappers
Assorted ornaments

Casting (including extras)

TERMINAL MORAINE – Ben Price, Alex Bennett, Dylan Manners Lolley
FAKE QUARRY BAND – Jemma Rowlston, Luke Goodliffe, Simon French
GUITAR HERO™ BAND – Sarah Owen, Jemma Rowlston
FEEDER “STIG” – Jack Blinman
CLIMBER – Jack Blinman
MALE – Jack Blinman
FEMALE – Sonia Wan

Further comments:
Storyboarding shall be rough around the bands as the exact moments and people used shall depend on performance, however the storyboard shall be a main point of reference.
Extra Credit also goes to Adam Blinman for overseeing and partaking in the climbing scenes off camera.

Expanding Our Ideas

To expand our ideas we looked at the original video for this song.

Drawing from our research (specifically Nickleback due to the similarities between this video and the original) we came up with these ideas:

At the time we also considered another Feeder song - 'Come Around', but as seen in these minute note it would be too similar to the music and video concepts of 'Snow Patrol'. These notes show how we thought about dealing with bands for our video. We had been warned about finding a reliable band and, as we aren't connected directly to anyone in or with a band, we decided to take influence from the Nickleback 'Rockstar' video, and from the original video, and have multiple performers. This would give a wide variety of performances to choose from, thus reducing the possibility of having to re-shoot elements of the video, thus relying on the members of the band heavily. We also thought it would be a nice homage to the original video - something that was very popular amongst the fans of the bad at the time of release.