Showing posts with label Production. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Production. Show all posts

Friday, 15 November 2013

Re-shooting

Today we re-filmed several shots within our music video and found that we could film them all within the same location, just in different positions. We filmed at Rosa-Leigh's house, in her front, side and back garden, using carefully selected framing and mise en scene to ensure there was nothing in the shots that would compromise the quality of the video. The weather, even though cold, stayed dry and sunny, therefore we were able to shoot. Because of the cold however we had to increase the pace of filming and try to film in as few takes as possible, because Rosa-Leigh was cold due to having to wear summery outfits. 



We managed to film all of the shots that we decided to re-shoot and we believe we have captured them and they adhere to the quality and theme of our music video. 
 
We plan to edit at the beginning of next week, so if further improvements to either editing or production are needed, we have over a week to complete them. 

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Filming Schedule (2)

As we feel it is important to plan when and where we are filming our video, we have created another Filming Schedule for the re-shoots we have to film. We have chosen locations that co-inside with the theme of our video, however we are aware that if they don't look good on camera, we can use various other locations to achieve the same effect. It is important we do not choose a location with 'suburban' mise en scene, such as the fence that was included in our first draft. 

We have looked at the weather forecast as we understand that because it is winter our opportunities to film may be limited and we have decided to film on Friday because the forecast is sunny from 9:00-2:00. We plan to use periods 2, 3 and 4 to film, however we have also planned for it running into lunch if it rains or is too cloudy to film. 

Friday 15th November: 

  • 2 x Shots in Rosa-Leigh's side garden 
  • 3 x Shots in exterior locations, possibly a different position in Rosa-Leigh's garden, replacing the attic shots 
  • Re-shoot the replacement shot to her lying down, as bikes feature in the background 
  • 2 x Shots in another location, possibly George's garden
We will ensure that several outfits are brought to the shoot, and when filming at Rosa-Leigh's house we can style her easily. 

Saturday, 2 November 2013

Problems that ocured when filming

When filming on various days and locations, the time constraints added pressure to filming, however even though we managed to stick to filming deadlines, working with Rosa-Leigh there were several incidents of laughing and messing around. This hindered the amount of footage shot in a specific time frame, however whilst having fun on set we also managed to stick to the plan and shoot the video. Even though the distractions meant we were not as focused as we could have been, we feel we got the balance between work and having fun right, meaning that not only was the video enjoyable to film, we managed to get everything done. 

When filming the attic and garden shots, towards the end of the day the camera stopped working. We weren't sure of the reason for its malfunction as the camera had only been recently charged; therefore that eliminated the possibility of the battery having run low. The camera itself had never done anything like that before, therefore it was unusual, and because the screen and settings were still visible, we decided it was more likely the SD card that was faulty. We took the one containing the footage out and swapped it for Holly's camera SD card, and found that we could commence filming. When George got home he found the footage was lost, and after a few hours of trying to regain it back, he managed to restore everything on the SD card. The problem only occurred because it was full. 

After viewing the attic shots on the iMac we decided they needed re-shooting as the lighting wasn't right, causing the footage to be slightly blurred and fuzzy. We re-shot the attic shots using and extra lamp, and found the results were much better. 


When filming at Rosa-Leigh's house in her garden, when in the process of filming, her pet Cat entered the shot, causing all of us to be distracted, as well as ruining what we had filmed. Because the cat was adamant about staying we thought about incorporating the cat, adding more of the 'home-made' style to the video; however, after watching the footage we are not likely to include it. 
 

When creating the shot with bubbles, we were using a hand-held bubble wand, which unfortunately was broken when George stood on it accidentally. Luckily only the handle was broken and it was still able to be used, however when we were almost ready to film our last shot, the bubble wand became disconnected from the handle, meaning we could not remove the wand from the container. To fix the problem we had to pour the bubbles out into a jug to get the wand out. We were then able to film. 

The weather on the day of filming was slightly rainy, meaning the grass was wet. This made it difficult to obtain to shot of Rosa-Leigh lying on the grass. To overcome this, we laid down a blanket so only her head was touching the ground. Also, it was too bright for her to look straight at the camera, so we had to use an umbrella to block out some of the light, allowing Rosa-Leigh to keep her eyes open for the shot. 



Friday, 27 September 2013

Risk Assessment

When filming, it is important to weigh all the risks and calculate how safe it is to film in different locations. When selecting our locations we had safety in mind, however there are still some thing we must be careful of when filming. 

This photo, although not being Holly's actual attic, represents what it looks like, how much space there is and the positioning of the beams. When testing out if the location was good to film in, we placed white sheets on the back of the beams, so the beams were still visible yet the attic was turned into a white landscape. The fact the beams are still visible, and the fact George (who is around 6ft) can stand up straight without hitting his head, means that looking where you are going and being sensible will not cause any head injuries, as the beams are clearly seen. 
Also, to get to the loft there is a hatch in which you climb to using ladders, when filming, we are using the other side of the loft so there is no chance of anyone falling down the hatch and hurting themselves. For extra safety we can put a box that is stored in the attic over it, so no-one can step near it. Because it is a loft, insulation has been used around the edges, just behind the beams. Even though we are filming in the centre (roughly where the carpets are in the image) there may still be a chance that you step on the insulation, however we have thought of that; clearly informing whoever is in the loft that the insulation is there, and telling them not to go beyond a certain point. Holly and her mum use this attic all the time and no injuries have been sustained, meaning that sensibility and common sense will keep anything from happening. 

When filming anything in George's garden, sensible footwear can be worn, and as we don't plan to incorporate long shots into our music video, they can be as stable as possible, possibly running shoes or trainers. This will make sure that when dancing or simply walking round the garden, our artist can remain comfortable and also not tread on anything that may be in the garden, such as thistles, bark or insects. The same can be said for Holly's garden too, as we also plan to film some shots there. For Holly's garden stable shoes to need to be worn for the same reason, as our filming takes place near flower beds and soil, something none of us probably want on our feet. It also means she won't slip if the grass is wet, or if it suddenly starts raining, she can safely run inside. When filming, the weather may be difficult to predict, meaning we will have to set a date to film, and if the weather isn't on our side we can film the interior shots. For some of these scenes outside, because we are doing a patch-work video with different outfits and styles, a raining shot would work nicely. However, we cannot allow our artist to become too cold or wet, so the option of jeans or jumpers need to be available, choosing a different outfit for every outcome of the weather, to ensure she stays safe and doesn't get ill or catch a cold. 

Gilmorton Pavillion is another place we are thinking about filming, and have planned to film. We are using the field at the back to create purely green shots, as only trees can be found in the background. 

For this shot we will need to walk through Gilmorton to get to, however, paths are available to use along the roads, or we can walk from George's house which involves walking through a close. Either way road safety must be taken into account, crossing in appropriate places and ensuring no cars are around when doing so. When we are there shoes must be worn, like in all exterior shots. 


When filming the interior car shot, our artist will be sat in that seat, however as it's an english car, the driver wheel will be just to the left of the camera. When filming we need to make sure we choose a confident and safe driver, such as a parent, as we need to ensure that no crashes occur. The camera cannot obstruct the drivers view or movement, as the most important thing is allowing him or her to drive properly. Rosa-Leigh will be sat in the seat pictured, her hand out of the window and her hair blowing. When filming we must make sure we are in locations that allow for her hand to be out of the window, that aren't too close to road signs or hedges, making sure the shot is safe to take. We can complete this shot down either Ashby Rd. or the road from Bruntingthorpe to Gilmorton. The camera may slide on the dashboard, however someone can lean through, without disrupting the driver as there is enough room. 



Saturday, 31 August 2013

Top Tips - Director of Photography



  • 2 or 3 lights to light an artist
  • More lights for a group or band 
  • Use digital camera graphs to check the exposure of the shot
  • All about timing 
  • Filters can be used
  • Keep it simple, use smaller lights
  • Outside, use the sun

Top Tips - Directors



  • You have to have a clear vision
  • Focus on the set, shot, lighting etc - bring everything together
  • Think about what your strengths are
  • Pay attention to detail

Top Tips - Choreography



  • Work on angles, silhouettes
  • Movement shows a story
  • People who deliver the performance have to look right with the choreography
  • Change something that has been done before
  • Film it then watch it back to see if it looks good on the screen, you see what other people see

Top Tips - Make up & Costume



  • Be observant 
  • Dark lighting means stronger make up so the features of the star stand out 
  • Go for a style e.g. shocking, beautiful, unique
  • Have fun with the styling
  • Plan time carefully
  • Look for references in style e.g. out of magazine
  • Research and develop outfits
  • Simple idea, executed really well

Saturday, 24 August 2013

Top Tips - Art Director



  • When making a music video you can either go to a location and change the way it looks using props etc or build a set in a studio and dress it exactly how you want it
  • Think how it would look on screen when filming and setting up location
  • Have a lot of style references 
  • Have a clear idea of what you want to film 
  • Be realistic within time frames
  • Cast someone you know will give you a good performance and look good in the video

Saturday, 22 June 2013

Production (Prelim Video)



On the day of filming we worked out which bits we would film first based on the weather and who was available to film during their study periods. We decided since the weather asn't too bad we would film the exterior shots, and this worked well as this was the lesson we were all available at the same time. When filming the exterior shots we found that sticking to time limits wasn't too hard, as it only took a few takes to get the right shot. We were focused on filming and didn't mess around, yet we also had fun at the same time whilst dancing and singing along to the music, and I found that it's important to get the right balance as it makes filming smoother and easier. We used a video recorder camera, borrowed for the library, as well as a tripod to ensure that the footage was steady and the scenes were shot in similar positions.

To listen to the music at the same time as filming we used Kelly's phone as she downloaded the song. We used natural light for the outside scenes, and when filming the indoor scenes with the mirror, we used the bathroom lighting, as it was bright enough mixed with the light through the windows.

When filming the sweet shop scene, we went to the Sugar Mouse Sweet Shop in Lutterworth and asked the owner if we could take some photos and film inside. Instead of using the video recorder we used a digital camera, and used the motion capture setting that takes several photos per second.

The vinyl on the record player at the beginning of the video was filmed at a friend’s house, as he was the only person I knew who had a record player and would let me film inside his house. To do this I just went over one morning and took around 10 seconds of footage.

When filming we used generic locations such as getting ready in the mirror, greenery surrounded by trees etc, yet the sweet shop location develops the idea of being in a town centre and shopping. Taking photos in a sequence instead of filming is a developed idea, as several TV shows such as Miranda use it in their opening titles, as it's quirky and fun; something we wanted to make our video.