pictures of the set just before filming

These pictures and the pictures on the post below and all evidence of us setting up all the lights in the green room and filming the actual shoot. 

Photo evidence of first shoot

First day filming (production)

On the first day of filming we used the green room to shoots close up's of her lip syncing to the song. After filming and watching it back we realised that the lights weren't set up quite right and it was difficult to crop the green out without getting rid it around the outline of her head. We also had to write down the lyrics on paper to make sure the lip sync was perfect and she was familiar with the song. In the end Rachel had to tell us that she couldn't play the part anymore, meaning we had to find someone else, therefore this bit of filming won't be used in final video but was good practice for knowing how to set things up in the green room.

First shoot - Attempt gone wrong

Analyse of pictures and video rehersals below...

On the pictures and video below you can see me Lydia Barrett arranged for a group of dancers to get together and perform a dance routine for our music video. After going through the routine and then watching it back, we decided it didnt really work and that the routine didnt really fit the genre of our music video. The routine was more classic and ballerina style, which didnt go right the genre RnB. After watching it back we also came to the decision that we thought it might work better if the dancers were all the same gender, either all male or all female. After thinking about who we could ask that were capable dancers, we decided it would be easier to get a group of girl performers to do the part, as we knew more female dancers than male.

This obviously did set us back a little bit, as it meant me and Lydia had to ask and organise getting new dancers and making sure they were all committed to doing it for us, then we also had to come up with a new routine and think carefully about it and make sure it fits the genre this time.

Rehersals

Dancing Rehersals

Production Difficulties

Today 30th November, we were meant to be filming some scenes in the Green room with the main artist, our main aim was to get a lot of the close ups filmed with the artist lip syncing. However, the main artist let us down and said she couldnt make it in for filming and asked if we could reschedule for sometime the following week. This is a big problem with asking someone that isn't in college as it's harder to organise times and transport for them to get here and be free the times we are free. Plus when they have other commitments they are not going to be very committed to doing the music video. With this happening it now means that we are going to have to set everything back that we have planned.

Health and Safety

Video Evidence

We interviewed 3 different people to ask them them certain questions about our chosen song and artist. We asked them questions before and after showing them the original music video. Got their views and opinions about the codes and conventions to that typical genre and artist.

Video Evidence

Video Evidence

Video Evidence

Questions for video research evidence

After listening to the song what would you expect to see within the music video?

What type of conventions would you expect to see in this particular genre music video?

Out of these 3 female’s artists, who would you think would be more likely to be in this genre of music video?

What gender and age do you think this music video would appeal to?

Chosen locations for music video!

We have decided to use the threatre for some of scenes where we are having dance performances with the main artist and all the backing dancers. As its a bigger enough space for us to film it and to make sure the dancers have enough room to perform.

We've chosen to use the green room for the scenes with just the main artist in, as its perfect because we want to edit different backgrounds in. Also its big enough for mini dance routines for the main artist to do on her own. We decided that the threatre would be to big for these scenes and wouldnt work because its not the right background setting.

We've also chosen to use a church hall for some of the scene where the main artist is using things such as props and some of the scenes with the backing dancers aswell.

Animatic Screenshot evidence

Animatic (Umbrella - Rihanna)

Codes and Conventions of chosen song - Umbrella

 Umbrella-Rihanna
The song is the genre R'n'B and the video fits the conventions of this. It shows Rihanna in minimal clothing, which is very typical of this genre. It also has a lot of close ups of the artist, giving the audience what they want to see. Rihanna is also shown dancing. This shows she is talented at not only singing and the audience like the see the artist perform.
Rihanna is shown in a dark setting, dressed in all black, this gives off connotations of being 'bad' later in the video she is shown dressed in white ballet dancing, this contrast almost suggests good and bad, angel vs. devil.

The video is all about performance and Rihanna dancing in a way that is attractive and makes her look good. There are lots of long shots to show off her dancing skills but also to show her legs to the audience because she's in very minimal clothing, which is a sex tease to the male audience. Theres medium close ups of Rihanna's legs throughout the video, only showing her legs, moving and dancing quite sexually for the audience. Some parts of the performance Rihanna is dancing with a prop (umbrella), which is quite typical and relevant as the songs narrative is about the rain and an umbrella. Also within the editing there is a scene where a water edit has been used and she's flicking water around, this also reflects the songs narrative.

Story Board for music video (Rihanna- Umbrella)

Cast for music video

Main artist: Rachel Watkinson

Backing dancers: Alex Settle, Ellie Needham, Lydia Kemp, Vicky Snowdon, Olivia Lake, India Brumhead

(Still male artist to represent Jay-Z)

Outfits needed for music video (real one)

·         Black leather hot pants

·         Black hat

·         Black tight top

·         Black hoodies

·         Dancing shoes

·         White dress

·         Umbrella

·         Black gloves (long)

·         Avatar glasses

·         Fishnet tights

Chosen Song and Artist

Rihanna ft Jay-Z - Umbrella

I have chosen the song 'Umbrella' by Rihanna feating Jay-Z because the genre is R'n'B which is my favourite genre of music. I will be recreating a music video with inspiration coming from this particular video. The codes and conventions of the this genre are: 'Bling' , high heels, sexualised women, expensive things (rich people).
I have also chosen this particular video because it includes a wide range of shots of the protagonist, fast editing with the dance routines and dark lighing and settings.

Umbrella Lyrics (chosen song)

Umbrella"

[Jay-Z]
Ahuh Ahuh (Yea Rihanna)
Ahuh Ahuh (Good girl gone bad)
Ahuh Ahuh (Take three... Action)
Ahuh Ahuh

No clouds in my stones
Let it rain, I hydroplane in the bank
Coming down with the Dow Jones
When the clouds come we gone, we Rocafella
We fly higher than weather
In G5's are better, You know me,
In anticipation, for precipitation. Stack chips for the rainy day
Jay, Rain Man is back with little Ms. Sunshine
Rihanna where you at?

[Rihanna]
You have my heart
And we'll never be worlds apart
May be in magazines
But you'll still be my star
Baby cause in the dark
You can't see shiny cars
And that's when you need me there
With you I'll always share
Because

[Chorus]
When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be a friend
Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)

These fancy things, will never come in between
You're part of my entity, here for Infinity
When the war has took it's part
When the world has dealt it's cards
If the hand is hard, together we'll mend your heart
Because

[Chorus]
When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be a friend
Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)

You can run into my arms
It's OK don't be alarmed
Come here to me
There's no distance in between our love
So go on and let the rain pour
I'll be all you need and more
Because

[Chorus]
When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be a friend
Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)

It's raining
Ooh baby it's raining
Baby come here to me
Come here to me
It's raining
Oh baby it's raining

Codes and Conventions of a music video

Remake of Taylor Swift (you belong with me)

Production plan for Taylor swift video

Location: Lydia’s House – Lydia’s room mise-en-scene of a teenage girls bedroom.

Equipment needed:  video camera, tripod, change of outfits for Alicia Baldwin including: geek glasses, big white signed tshirt, checkered pjs,  pen and paper.

Actors: Rob Gibbs and Alicia Baldwin

Time/Date to start filming: Sunday 7th October at 7.00pm – till however long it takes

Audience Key Terms

Qualitative data: This is in-depth data which gathers detailed answers often including the audience’s thoughts and feelings, leading questions.

Quantitative data: This is data which is measured in numbers and groups, answers are often recorded as yes/no type questions which can be put into graphs and easy analysed.

Psychographic Data: This data includes people’s thoughts and feelings, interest’s lifestyles, answers questions with varied opinions and in-depth detailed answers.

Demographic Data: This is ‘pure’ data, for example a question such as “are you male/female?” easy to answer because it is either one or the other, not expectations or different opinions.

30 second music video storyboard

Deconstruction + Reconstruction of a Media text (11th oct deadline)

Taylor Swift: You Belong With Me - this is the one of the songs we have created a storyboard for. We are going to take 30 seconds from the official video and try and recreate it. This will give an idea of how to create a music video and represent the codes and conventions of this genre. The genre for this is contry-pop. The target audience for this genre and video imparticular is young female as the song is quite girlie and cheesy and therefore catchy.

Job Roles:
Cast: Alicia Baldwin as Taylor Swift

Director: Lois England and Alicia Baldwin

Producer: Megan Coggin

Camera/Editor: Lydia Barrett and Sophie Marshall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bKAaKwX5aA

Soap Opera Conventions

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Last year doing AS Media I created a Foundation Portfolio which included creating a college front cover and a music magazine.

 College magazine    

Firstly I started off with researching and looking at some already established magazines, in particular an American college one. I then labelled the magazine with all the conventions that we had learned the previous lesson, things such as ‘mast head’ ‘subtitle’ ‘small feature’ and many more. This really helped with understanding how a magazine front cover is put together and what designs work best. We’d had a lesson to teach us how to work Photoshop and about the basic editing techniques. This was essential for the next part of creating my own college magazine front cover, as I then took several photos for the main image of the front cover, which then I had to edit on Photoshop to make it look more professional and eye-catching to the audience. With the skills I had before the Photoshop lesson I wouldn’t have been able to do this to the level I did, but with the skills I had learned in that lesson I was able to edit a photo to a good standard; which was a crucial part of my front cover been successful. Throughout creating the college magazine my Photoshop knowledge got better and I was a lot more confident when using it, this was extremely helpful for future tasks in the course. For the final part of the college magazine task I wrote an evaluation to sum up and explain my decisions throughout making the front cover.

 

Music magazine

With the experience from the college magazine task I knew the first thing to do was look at existing music magazine’s like ‘NME’ as they are a highly successful music magazine and it ended up influencing me for my own music magazine. I analysed a few music magazines to understand more about the meaning and why they did things in such ways, also about targeting the audience. Doing this helped me analyse my own finish music magazine and help me LIIAR analyse it thoroughly and correctly and explain the conventions.

One important skill I learnt during the process of making my music magazine was how to manipulate a photo on Photoshop. This is where you take an original image and the person in the image, if they have any blemishes on their skin or if you want make the person slightly slimmer than you can by using a few tools on Photoshop. It’s an important skill to have especially with this task because the main image on a music magazine has to be attractive and eye-catching to the audience, and the stereotypical music artist is attractive and has the perfect body. I not only made a music magazine front cover but also a contents page and a double page spread. I had 3 different original images for each of these, my Photoshop skills and knowledge of the music magazines have helped me create a professional looking music magazine that looks similar to those that are bought and sold in the shops. Without having them skills I don’t believe my music magazine would have been to a good of a standard and correctly done, so I think the skills I learnt were highly important.

 

Before I started the AS media course I didn’t really have many skills. I have learnt what planning and research needs to be done before you can start your own task, because like the music magazine you needed know what worked effectively and what didn’t, how to target your audience and what age range for your audience would be appropriate. One big skill I learnt was that planning definitely needs doing before you start the real thing, because you find yourself making it up as you go along and then the final piece doesn’t look as good as it would with thought and planning done before hand. I learnt this when doing the college magazine task, as I only took one original image which I thought I liked and was going to use but then later came to find that the image didn’t really work well with the rest of the design for the cover. Which then meant I had to back track and take more photos which I could experiment with. Learning this lesson then meant I didn’t make the same mistake when doing the music magazine.

I had some skills when it came to creativity as I did ‘Creative and Media’ for GCSE, which involved been very creative to come up with ideas for projects. So when it came to the music magazine I felt like I had quite a few ideas that would look good and work well. I would say my skill to be creative has definitely developed throughout the tasks we have been given.  My Digital Technology skills, I would say have developed massively, I didn’t really know how to use the equipment properly when I first started the course, but with the tasks it meant we had to use them and learn how to use them in the correct way.

I think improving all these skills have benefitted my year during the course and my work definitely. Without the skills I gained last year my work wouldn’t have been to a good standard and I would have really struggled with the course and not enjoyed it half as much.

The Brief

A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with two of the following three options:

- a website homepage for the band
- a cover for its release as part of a digipack (cd/dvd package)
- a magazine advert for the digipak (cd/dvd package)