Category: Component 3

To understand where we can improve our video, we have received feedback from our teacher.

What do we need to improve?

• We need to focus more on the narrative and use special effects to emphasise the importance of our stars’ redemption.
• We have a slight continuity error in the beginning. We have used a jump cut of the actor that does not align with the previous clip.
• During the narrative montage, we do not allow enough time for the audience to digest the meanings of the clips, so we should play around with the segment and make it longer.
• As our actor opens the door before the transition, we cut back to our performance. It diminishes the momentum and we should think about swapping around some clips. Not only this, during the transition, we should include some colour correction and special effects to make our star pop. During the transition, we should also dip to white to emphasise the importance of our actor making this step.
• We should attempt to mute the colours before the transition to highlight the boring and unfulfilling life our character had before undertaking the transition to his true self.
• During one of the clips, cars can be seen on the right-hand side. This is distracting, and we should reframe it so that our attention is directly on our performer. 
• We should change some of the clips of our star walking on the path – it becomes repetitive. 
• We should reorder the shot when the performer throws the book, as the performance in between is meaningless. 

Focus Forward

After receiving feedback from our teacher, we can now focus on different aspects of our music video that need working. In particular, we need to focus on our narrative – it took us a while to figure out our performance projector effect, but now that is sorted, we can put all of our efforts into improving the narrative. We will do this by ensuring the sequencing is correct and improving the colour in several of the clips to emphasise meaning. This feedback was very helpful and will allow us to make some needed improvements to our video to make it the best quality before final submission.

Following our last self-assessment and Specsavers’ feedback we have produced an improved draft.

We have solved the issues surrounding our projector effect – by using different blend modes and opacity changes – which has allowed us to see the critical mise-en-scene we lacked in the previous draft. This was extremely important as it allows us to convey our star image more effectively. We improved our video quality by using colour correction and stabilised many of the clips. However, there are still some things for us to work on.

What do we need to work on?

• At the end, we zoom into the ‘how to fit in’ book. However, this is done poorly and removes quality from our video. We will instead use a still clip of the book. 
• We need to slightly alter the scale of the projector on the split screens, they are slightly bigger than our performance shots, and this can be seen and is irritating. 
• We also need to quickly rectify the colour on our pink performers’ split screen – it is currently too dark and lacking quality – this can easily be achieved by using lumetri colour correction. 
• In the performance montage at the end the blue projector is too dark, so we lose some critical mise-en-scene, we will alter this by changing the opacity. 
• In the final narrative montage, there is a clip that slightly goes out of focus, we can fix this by slightly cutting the clip and reordering the montage. 

Focus Forward

We now have specific instructions and tasks to complete within our video. This is useful as it allows us to be efficient and use our remaining time wisely, allowing us to create a video that is of the best quality. In particular, we are focusing on small elements, which allows us to understand there are no big issues remaining in our music video, such as previously struggling with the projector effect. We are also going to receive some formal feedback from our teacher will enable us to put our best foot forward when completing draft 4.

 

 

We were lucky enough to have the opportunity for feedback from professionals at Specsavers.

Feedback

• Ensure that all of our work is organised and colour-coded to be more productive. It will allow us to separate the narrative from the performance and have more control over our workspace. 
• We concluded that we have solved our issue with the projector. After trying many different techniques within the software after effects and different lighting styles, we concluded that using the multiply blend mode will enable the best quality footage and video. We will also have to do some colour correction to ensure our work is of the highest quality and the colours pop.  
• When shooting, we should’ve adjusted the contrast settings on our camera to allow us to have more contrast compared to the projector background – allowing our star to be seen more clearly. 

Tips and Tricks

• We have learnt how to copy and paste effects across our whole video by using the ‘copy and paste attributes’ tool. This will ensure we have the same settings and adjustments across all the required videos. Not only this it will save us a lot of time and enable us to work more efficiently and promptly, allowing us to focus on different aspects of the video. 
• We have learnt how to do a sudden zoom instead of a gradual one, this will help us with video progression and creating variety in our video.

Focus Forward

After been given some advice and new directions we are able to focus on the details within our video. By getting a professional opinion we can understand and learn industry standard techniques to make our work of a better quality. It has given us new ideas and directions which will help development within our video.

To further develop our music videos, we created a draft including the narrative. In this draft, we managed to create a complete music video. However, there are a few things to change and tweak to make it better.

To think critically about the work we have produced, we assessed it against some key conventions of a music video.

What went well?

• Our video’s editing reflects the rhythm of the music. We put an emphasis on our group editing to the beat. This was crucial as it allowed the video and music to work together simultaneously, creating a better atmosphere. It allowed our video to be professional and encouraged a steady pace of progression within the narrative. 
• Our mise-en-scene, particularly in the narrative, was enhanced using colour correction techniques. This allowed us to accentuate our key messages, ideas, and themes, inspiring people to be their true selves. It is bold and brave and works cohesively with the performers. It helped convey the star image and represent some of our target audience members. 
• We found we had a wide variety of different shots and angles to choose from; This allowed us to put together quality footage that had lots of variation and was engaging. This was useful as it allowed us to make a cohesive video that was interesting and appealing to the eye. 
• In the end, we introduced the pin board again, which had become such a key feature within the video – this created a cyclic structure and acted as a reminder to the audience of the story’s humble beginnings. The use of transitions at the end was a nice touch as the video was not cut abruptly.

Targets for Improvement

• We struggled again with our projector effect and getting it right – currently – it is far too light but does, however, show our intricate and detailed makeup looks. To rectify this, we are looking into using a new software called After Effects to layer the two video clips and ensure that no quality is lost. 
• We could add some more transitions into our music video to create a more seamless edit that is not so abrupt. In particular, during the narrative, we can include them in some montages. We must ensure we do not overdo this – otherwise, it’ll look tacky and unprofessional. 
• The majority of our shots are still, and the tripod was set up correctly. However, particularly during a montage, there are a few clips that require stabilising. This is to ensure that our edit is of the highest quality and is easy to watch. 
• Our editing for the narrative is well established but needs some work. In our next draft, I think we should include more clips before the final transition to accentuate how difficult it is to live when you are unable to be yourself. 
• During a clip where the ‘How to Fit In’ book is shown, some black can be seen at the bottom of the clip due to a zoom we added. We will rectify this in the next draft.

Focus Forward

Overall we have made good progress without a music video. By ensuring we completed the song, we can now look at the video as a whole and ensure that everything works together. We have identified some key issues we are facing and how we will address them. The most important thing we learned during this task – was how to ensure that the narrative and performance interacted well and proficiently. We worked well as a team and generated some fun and new ideas, which is crucial when working on a project like this. We will continue to work in this manner and focus on key issues within our music video in draft 3.

 

For our second shoot, we filmed at two different locations. One indoors and one outside – this enabled us to have versatility and variation within in our music video. We used one actor throughout the video to focus on an individuals journey and how impactful it can be.

We curated two unique props for this shoot. We created a scrapbook titled ‘How to Fit In’ which was filled with conventional images of activities the stereotypical teenage boy would like. This prop highlighted entrapment and despair when aiming for an ideological vision in order to fit in and not be seen as an outcast. However, there was positive light shed on the book when the actor threw it, highlighting the message that he was tired of trying to be somebody that he wasn’t and that he was never going to be perfect. This prop added a personal touch and added to the mise-en-scene. Furthermore, we created a bright, positive mood board that provoked the fun transition. We used different techniques to convey this, keeping in mind how we would edit the clips together.

 

 

 

 

Above, are images we took during our shoot. Pictured above is also the pinboard we created.

I felt that overall the shoot went well. We achieved well-lit, focussed shots from a variety of angles and distances. Our mise-en-scene was conveyed extremely well and was bright and colourful. We managed to get a lot of footage to work with, which will enable us to create a well-edited and framed video with the variety of shots we got.

Next time, I would ensure that we had a clearer plan at the second location. Even though we achieved a variety of decent shots, it would have been more time-efficient to have a clear and concise plan, similar to the one we had at our first location. The lights we used were temperamental, so we had to deal with the switching on and off all of the time. Next time we need to ensure that they are fully charged and working.

Focus Forward

This task allowed us to further develop the skills and attributes we acquired whilst previously filming. In particular, directing to convey the narrative as it requires more thought and depth than that of the performance. The shots we got were fantastic and will allow us to convey the narrative well using a variety of different shots. The mise-en-scene was also good, and we can enhance these colours further in post-production.

To ensure that we were safe when filming we created a risk assessment form that was approved by our teacher.

Focus Forward

This task enabled us to think critically about whether we would be safe during our shoot. It will help us be proactive and make us aware of different dangers we may face.

To enable us to be well prepared and equipped for shoot 2, we created a PMA to plan and organise what we needed and where we would be. We focused heavily on the mise-en-scene and different props, hair, and makeup items we would need to convey our key themes and messages. We could focus on details and allocate our various responsibilities.

We established that we wanted our star image to be bright, bold, and colourful. We wanted an eccentric look, and with this plan, it can be achieved. In this shoot, we had a key focus on props, some of which we will be curating ourselves (book and pinboard). This adds to the personal factor of our video, generating the idea that the star made these himself when going on his journey.

Focus Forward

This task allowed my group to be organised and have a clear picture of what we wanted to achieve within the shoot – this will help us when filming – to be concise and accurate. It allowed us to research and generate ideas about costumes and props which would adequately fit our star image and key themes. We could also identify what equipment we had to film with and what we needed to borrow – so it could be arranged in time for our shoot.

 

To begin planning our narrative shoot we created a narrative board to ensure we got all the correct shots for our music video. It will allow us to film to edit and create a successful shoot. It allowed us to decide on the general structure and different locations to film.

Above is our narrative shot list.

To fit with the narrative idea of being your true self, we decided to film in a bedroom as it is seen as a safe, personal space. It is versatile and will allow us to use props (that we have curated) to portray the mise-en-scene well – without this space, we would have struggled to convey our overruling themes.

We decided that for our ‘celebration’ scenes – where we establish that no place is perfect – to shoot in a vast, open, colourful space. We decided on a local area that collates all of these factors. This will allow us to trial different shots and focus on more unique scenes.

Focus Forward

This task has allowed us to plan and prepare for our narrative shoot. It has allowed us to think conventionally about filming and the sequences we would like in our video. We have also developed skills about thinking technically about how we will shoot, allowing us to save time and focus on getting well-lit, quality shots. Without this plan, we would have struggled when filming as we would have no sense of direction or plan with our limited time frame, so doing this allowed us to be equipped and well organised.

After having a successful first shoot, we took to Premiere Pro to begin piecing our clips together, editing to the beat, and ensuring that the video was synced with the music. We aimed to begin creating the key conventions required and making the video interesting with various shots and framing.

Above is our rough edit.

What went well?

• Overall the video is lip-synced successfully, matching the lyrics in the song. Our actors knew the lyrics well – this helped us to achieve our goal. 
• We tested and trialed many different methods to add the projector effect we created on top of our videos. We found that layering the videos and using the opacity tool was most successful. The effect works well and matches the genre and aims of our music video. However, when exporting the video did darken, so this is something we will need to alter. 
• We experimented with different effect tools in Premiere Pro and created some sophisticated cool effects – which added to the mise-en-scene and aesthetic of the video. We will continue to use these adequately but not overdo them so it looks tacky. 
• We had enough footage to enable us to have a variety of shots and angles which worked cohesively together. They worked seamlessly with transitions in a place where necessary so the video isn’t jumpy. 
• We worked together as a group well. When overcoming obstacles, we faced them together ensuring that we made good progress with our music video. 

Targets for Improvement

• As mentioned previously, when exporting, the projector effect was not seamless and made the video look dark and cloudy. This is something we can alter when we continue editing. We can routinely test it and ensure that it works well and effectively. 
• In one particular section with all of the actors on screen, one disappears before another. So to rectify this we can change the transition ensuring that they occur at the same time, at the same location, and for the same duration. 
• We did not manage to finish our rough edit of the entire song – this is something we will need to work on outside of lessons ensuring that we create a full rough cut. 
• Alongside the projector issues we have faced, we have lost crucial mise-en-scene we created on our models through makeup and hair. This reduced the quality of the star image and makes the message to the audience unclear. This is something we will work on. 

Focus Forward

Overall I felt we made good progress with our music video and learned different tips and tricks when using effects. Having this knowledge and tackling any obstacles early on will ensure that in future edits, we are concise and consistent when editing. It enables us to have advanced knowledge on how to use different tools, which will be beneficial in the future. The most important lesson we learned during this task was understanding what the music video will look like when exported. In the future we will regularly export the video making sure that it is of high quality and the projector effect works well.

For our first shoot, we decided to use the White Studio. We chose this location as we found that it would work best for our desired patterns and effects. We took some time beforehand to get ready and into our costumes – these overall created a good effect and worked together cohesively evoking the same message.

Originally we were going to use an overhead projector or a DIY projector to create the images on the white backdrop behind the performer. We created a trialed both and trialed them – however, we found they did not give the desired effect, and by using them, our shoot would not be successful or of the highest quality. Instead, we found a light projector that casts images of wave patterns and lasers without the stroboscopic effect. We were going to use this piece of technology during the shoot but after trialing with a few shots beforehand we found that it worked well but that we would be unable to see crucial pieces of our mise-en-scene, such as the glitter and butterfly stickers. So to combat these issues we decided to shoot a long video of just the light projector on the wall with all the different colours and recorded all of the shoots with a plain white background. We will blend these clips in post-production to create our desired effect.

These are images we took during the shoot and when testing our different ideas and methods of creating our desired backdrop.

I felt that overall our shoot was successful. I found that our mise-en-scene was thoroughly thought out and organized, creating the ‘over the top’ and flamboyant effect. We also got a lot of footage that will be useful when we begin post-production and editing. I think that our forward-thinking and planning of the use of the projector was crucial and allowed us to make the most of the limited time we had available in the studio. All of our performers were familiar with the lyrics which was also helpful.

Next time I would ensure that all of the different shots with different people are taken from the same positions, as I found when looking over the footage some of the clips would not align properly – this can be rectified in post-production. I would also next time make sure that all of the lights are charged and ready to go, as we did find that when shooting some of them would randomly switch off and on.

Focus Forward

Overall, we created some good clips and visuals that will be beneficial for our music video. Doing some practical work with the cameras, planning, and carrying out a performance shoot helped us learn new skills that would help us in future shoots. These were things such as teamwork, organisation, and technical skills. I also felt that we conveyed the star image well and learned what looks appropriate on camera and what colours ‘pop’ and how makeup can really convey meaning. We will also ensure that we do some trials for the narrative as we did here to ensure that everything will work properly and efficiently.