Hardware and Software

Hardware

To shoot all the video footage we will be using a canon MD235 Digital video camera that the college has supplied for us. The video camera has 45x advanced zoom which captures more detail than previous other cameras and helps to eliminate camera shake making the overall production run smoother. The true wide high resolution is ideal for playback on a widescreen tv, it also has the option to shoot using wide colour EVF to conserve the battery this will be useful when the camera is running on low battery and there is that little snippet of footage we have to shoot. Quick start will also be useful as we will be able to film the spare of the moment events that may occur that we decide will be effective within our product. LCD video light will be helpful when shooting close up as it illuminates the object even when in poor lighting conditions. All of these features will allow us to make a more professional looking music video.

For both the music video and the ancillary tasks we will take pictures of the locations being used and also of the artist herself and to do this we shall be using a Panasonic lumix digital stills camera, which has also been provided by the college. It is 12 megapixel camera with a 5x optical zoom and a USB connection which allows us to upload the images onto the computer. The advantage of having a 5x optical zoom is the fact that when you zoom in on certain objects the resolution of the camera stays the same so there is no compromise in the quality of the picture. This will become extremely useful whilst performing the ancillary tasks as we can shoot pictures of the artist without making them feeling uncomfortable. Last but definitely not least is the Apple Mac, this will be needed in order to import, edit, store and distribute the footage that has been shot. The computer is fast, large memory and also the graphics on it are better so we can see our project in good quality.

Software

Final cut express is one of the most famous video editing software that Mac has created and because of its success it has gone on to evolve and regenerate. Final cut express allows the user to make professional looking video at ease. It is compatible with the most famous formats used in camcorders, DV, HDV or AVCHD. It has the essential editing for both the video footage and the audio but not only that it has advanced so you can add in titles and graphics, mix your audio tracks and adjust audio and video filters. Apple has also adding in more transitions, filters and effects to give projects a professional touch. For all of these reasons we will be using it to edit our music video. For the ancillary tasks, as it is more physical merchandise we will need to use Photoshop cs3. It is a quick way to make professional photo products such as magazine covers. Some of the main features include:

· Colour correction

· Cloning and healing tools

· Blending layers

· Quick selection

· effects

These features help make the image look pristine and flawless. The errors in the colouring can be altered and corrected.

By Hannah Tabor

Film Plan- 12/12/2009

On Saturday, I will be filming at one of our locations with Hannah (another member of the team) as part as our music video project.

We will be filming in manchester city centre, we will be filming the busy city centre for one hour. We will be using that busy background setting to super-impose onto a green screen then we will film our artist in front of the green screen performing the song. We will be speeding up the background (of people shopping/day to day business) while she is still.

Below is a list of equipment I will be using while on location:

• Video Camera- I will be using the video camera to  film the busy shopping centre and will be filming the manchester carousel which is another location being used in our music video
  
• Still Camera- Hannah will be using the camera to take location shots in manchester to post on our blog
• Tripod- The tripod will be used to hold the camera while I am filming, we are using the tripod so we do not get shaky/hand held camera shots
• Tape- I will be taping to film tapes because we will be recording at least 1 hour and 30 minutes of footage

By Muhammad Patel, Lauren Pollard, Lauren Widdop and Hannah Tabor

Feedback 7.12.09

Well done team. This blog is very thorough. You need to post your plans on here - storyboards, props lists, filming schedule etc. I need to see more from Lauren Pollard and Hannah Tabor so ensure you make equal contributions to the blog. You should be filming this week so add any further research or planning out of lesson time.

Mrs A

Our Artist

This is the model that we will be using to stand for our artist in our music video. We feel that her style is exactly what we are aiming for.
In order to make progress, we have given her a copy of the CD and lyrics for her to familiarise herself with the song, ready for filming.

By Lauren Widdop

Artist Branding

This presentation is showing how an aritist must have a brand identity to be successful and help sell their music. Originally, due to their image, they weren't connecting with audiences and their music was suffering by hitting poor chart positions. Although, they reinvented themselves and 'toned down' their image, aiding their music sales with one of their singles reaching number 2 in the music charts.

Goldfrapp is an artist similar to what we are looking for, with their original look and unique sound. For our coursework we will devise a prominent brand image to help promote our band and ensure that they click with audiences.

By Lauren Widdop

Artist/Model Search...

One thing that we are currently focussing on, is the search for our music artist. We are looking for a quirky, "different" looking female, with something striking about her. We have asked various different people, although no luck as of yet! We will distribute posters (similar to below), advertising our queries and see if we progress.

We know she's out there somewhere..............



















By Lauren Widdop

Narrative

For our coursework, we have decided to create a music video, with an Indie/Folk style genre. We decided upon this because this is where we feel our group will excel the strongest.

The plot for our music video is currently very vague, as we have decided that our video will be experimentally based. Together we have devised a list of locations for the setting(s) of our video, once filmed we will then devise a plot throughout the period of editing.

Originally, we were going to start the video with slow paced editing, showing quick shots of all our locations, although after looking into the lyrics and the meaning behind them, we feel that beginning the video with an abrupt and sudden start will link in a lot better.

A lot of music videos tend to follow the typical narrative theme of a beginning, middle and end. For example, JoJo – Too Little Too Late (see video below), this is a video that starts with the artist telling the story through the lyrics i.e. the girl has been cheated on and messed around, the story then progresses i.e. we find out what happened between the couple and then the video ends i.e. the boy is rejected and the girl gets satisfaction – with the moral being ‘Too Little Too Late’. I recognize this because the video follows the typical narrative structure.



An example of a music video that doesn’t follow the typical narrative structure and is very similar to something that we are looking to create is A & E by Goldfrapp. This video is very strange and doesn’t follow a particular order, or even link in with the lyrics. It is experimental and doesn’t consist of a firm beginning, middle or end.

Goldfrapp - A&E
Uploaded by MuteRecords. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Narrative = the way events are put together to be presented to an audience.

There are various theories that we could potentially follow regarding the narrative structure of our video:

Propp – a formalist scholar who analyzed the basic plot components of texts to identify their simplest irreducible narrative elements. He was a strong believer in that the narrative of most media texts always consist of 8 main characters;

1. The villain — struggles against the hero.
2. The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.
4. The princess and her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.
5. The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
6. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
7. [False hero] — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

Todorov – another whom suggests that all narratives follow a three part structure. They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when equilibrium is restored. This simple formula can be applied to virtually all narratives - it is a more formal way of thinking about the beginning, middle and end, and it takes into account Aristotle's theory that all drama is conflict i.e. there is a disequilibrium at the heart of every narrative.

Barthes' (Enigma Code) – The narrative will establish enigmas or mysteries as it goes along. Essentially, the narrative functions to establish and then solve these mysteries.

Levi-Strauss' (Binary Opposition) – Narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict. This can be as simple as two characters fighting, but more often functions at an ideological level – e.g., in Westerns, what do the cowboys and Indians each represent?

After researching into all the various theorists and types of narrative, we have come to the conclusion that we won’t be following any of these structures, as our video will all be Experimental.

By Lauren Widdop