Changing The Leads Outfit

Originally we envisioned the lead wearing a white skaters dress, a black bowler hat and coat, and a red scarf. 

However, having gone to the pier and started filming we started to find a few issues. 

Above is a picture from out first filming session, as you can see the coat looks too bulky and goes against the sleek, smooth, feminine, angelic look we were going for. Because of this we had to review what we had chosen as clothes. 

Despite the cold weather, we decided to remove the coat while we filmed for the second time as well as changing her shoes from clumpy books to light weight canvas shoes. 

Below is her final look. You can see we have removed the coat and the light weight shoes. We think this really helps us achieve the more feminine look we were aiming for. 

As we are filming outside, on a windy pier in the middle of winter we make sure we always have someone there with extra layers of clothes for the model to warm up in between shots. 

First draft of First Section of Music Video

This is the first draft for our first section of the video. We still need to re-shoot at Hall Place but to get a better idea of where we're going I put this together as a first attempt.

Second time filming at Erith Pier

After the first shoot at Erith Pier we decided we needed to go back and change things while re-shooting. We changed her clothes, her hair, her shoes, we made her make-up more bold and we brought a speaker so we could play the music to the song out loud during the lip-syncing shots. All four of us attended as we filming during the afternoon.





The camera we were using was Cannon Legria FS306. we used a tripod to help up get a steady shot. A advantage of this tripod is that you can turn it around gentle to gain a smoother pan shot.
























This is the outfit we can see her in. We kept the same dress but removed the coat as well as adding the hat. We also changed the shoes and restyled the hair.







It was a freezing cold day but Katie managed to power through in just a summer dress and two pairs of clear tights. We would set up the shots with her in a coat and scarf and then get her to take it off just as we start to film. As soon as that take was done we would then wrap her back up again.



During the sections of filming where Katie was supposed to be lip syncing I had to stand behind her, just out of shot, with my iPod playing the song out loud so that we could fit the song to her lips easier. You can see this in the Gif on the left. You can also see me holding her coat for when we finish the shot so she can warm up as quickly as possible.

First Bits of Filming at Erith

This is the first bits of filming on Erith Pier. These kind of clips will go at the start of the music video, during the first verse. I was unable to attend the filming due to a work commitment but together Hannah, Katie and Danielle used a number of different techniques, such as the rule of thirds and the golden hour filming.

After I edited these clips we got together as a group and reviewed the footage. We have seen a number of improvements we need to take into account when filming next. These are:
- We need Katie (the model) to walk slower.
- We are changing the clothing she is wearing. We think the coat is to heavy and goes against the mood we are trying to create. Further more we think we need to look over what shoes to have her in, her current shoes are black thick boots and it again goes against the mood we are striving for.
- We are also going to try out other methods to pan as the way we are currently using does not work very well as it is bumpy and jumpy.
- Also from edited the pieces I have discovered that we require her to sing along to the music when we want to lip-sync. This is so that her lips move in time perfectly with the music.

First pieces of edited footage

Having had our first bits of filming to play around with I started to play around while editing them. I have then arranged them into different sections so we could each easily write about them.

Section A - Animal Life.
These animal shots were taken in Hall Place. Due to the environment most of the wildlife consists of water birds such a geese. The clips by the river are very shaky as we forgot to bring the tripod. However, we can still see potential in these to be used during the first half of the video. While I was editing these pieces I noticed that just cutting from clip to clip was often harsh on the eye and so added in fades. However, we do not plan to use fades in our final piece. Because of this I think its important to clearly think out the layout of each clip so it is not such a big jump from one clip to another. My favorite clip in this section is of the birds flying, but to be able to sue this kind of shot in our music video we would have to be careful of the surroundings as in this clip we have a lamppost come into shot which we would not want in the final cut.

Section B - Leaves.
This is a short sequence about how we could assemble our different clips and angles within our music video. While filming we shot this single action of dropping a leaf many times from many different angles and here i have tried to utilize that as best as i can to show the journey of the leaf. This kind of clip would fit nicely into the middle and ending section of our video.

Section C - Hugging.
Similarly to Section B, we filmed this actin of hugging from many different angles and I have carefully selected which angle to go in what order so that ti appears the camera is moving around the couple and slowly getting further away from them. You will also notice that on the final transition I have created a  fade. I did this to show that time has passed since the last clip, as a way of explaining why they have moved from a rather still position on the bench to a more animated motion of walking away form the camera. This kind of clip would be used within the first section of our music video.

Section D - Every Day People
This section was hard to shot as we tried to do it with people knowing we were filming them as they would act different. The first clip is of a man shutting down his shop. We thought this important to film as it is a every day activity that you wouldn't normally notice. Next is a man briskly walking along the road in a leather jacket with his hands tucked in the pockets. We thought this would be a good idea to film as it leaves you wondering why he is in a hurry and if he is cold which will add to the melancholy feel of our music video.

Steadicam Research

This is some research that Hannah has done. I have put into a prezi. From this research we now feel that have a found a way around the problem we were having with shaking while filming,

Vlog of the first filming session.

This is a Vlog of our first ever day filming. Many issues occurred during the day but we did our best to carry on, the video follows us around and shows examples of shots we have taken. There will be another video uploaded at a later date where the footage we got has been edited and would be ready to go into our music video if we choose to use it. 

On the day myself, Katie and Hannah were present as Danielle was busy. 

Research about how to film Contemporary Dance

Alleviate.
Alleviate are a dance duo from the show Got to Dance. They did contemporary dance very similar to the type we are going to be doing. Things we have seen from looking at how they have been filmed includes the way that the camera tracks her as she runs across the stage. Furthermore, when they are both moving in the same direction the camera with cut to a shot where the dancers are moving towards them. Another technique we can see being used is having a very close up shot on a intimate moment followed by a shot from a large distance, as if the camera doesn't want to intrude on the moment. 

Billy & Kathryn.
Billy & Kathryn were also on a television show designed o showcase different types of dancing. In there dance the camera started by circling them, this is done because the dance starts with a intimate m moment. In this piece the camera also follows him and has very close up moments during a moments stillness in the dance followed by a much wider shot. During the final sequence of the dance we see the camera cut further and further away from them. I believe this is done to show the camera retracting from watching. 

Natalli and Vincent.
During this dance the main technique used are the way the camera shots to make her seem like the dominant, larger figure over him. This is done by camera shots and clever setting of the dance. Another aspect of filming that is looked at during this dance that it is not looked at in nay of the others we have looked at is the idea that the camera acts as if it can feel what the pair are doing too. For example, when she pushes him the camera tilts to show the dizzy effect he is feeling at the time.

Research for Type of shot

Having done this research we now feel more confident about the types of shots we want to use within our music video. We plan to use Point of views at the beginning of our music video as well as at odd moments within the middle and ending sections. We thing a pan shot would be good but hard to do so if we can find a good way to do it with the resources we have to we hand we will use it during the final sequences. The same goes for tracking shots as we only have certain equipment at our disposal but it would definitely help our look if we could work it in somehow. 

(Research by Katie)

Research about lighting a outside shot

As we plan to film outside having electric lights up would impossible and impractical. Because of this we have looked into the other ways and how to use natural light to our advantage.

Planning our Costumes, Make-up and Props

Ideas about location for our music video

The first part of our music video takes place on a pier. For this, we have decided to use Erith Pier. 

Here there is a nice setting of the water in the background and does not get to busy so would be easier to film on rather than a busy area. 

For the second part of our music video we needed a place with built up plants and greenery as well as stretching fields. We have chosen to seek permission to use Hall Place

Hall Place is a Manor House owned by Bexley Heritage Trust. It has a wide gardens of flowers, wide open spaces and built up forest like areas.

Seeking Permission to film at Hall Place

Here are a series of emails I made with two of the women who are in charge of Hall places events. 

Group Roles

As a group we have looked at what we need to do and who feels more confident doing what. After this discussion we came up with different titles for each of us and a list of things we need to do as a group. 

Hannah:

Hannah felt she has a good steady hand and an eye for good shot ideas. Because of this she choose the role of being the official filming who will be in charge of everything to do with the filming be it the setting or the final say on the type of shot. Hannah, is also very good at reviewing work and checking it for the finer details so she is also having a producer like role, checking all the work we finish to check for errors or ways improving the work we do.  

Rosie:

As the team leader I am responsible for making sure we keep on track and up to date, because of this we I have been given the title of Director. I will over see the work we do and ensure we do not get behind, as well as helping the rest of the group out with general queries and issues as we go along. Furthermore, I am very confident editing footage on a while range of  programs so will also carry the title of editor. This means i will look over and edit any and all footage we take. 

Katie:

Katie is a fast leaner and likes to face a problem full on. Because of this she is in charge of the research, while we will all input into the research she will help sort who is doing what and will do anything we miss out. She will also be in charge of the going back and researching anything we need know after the initial stage of research and planning is over. So if we have a problem with the way we are filming something or lighting the scene she will be in charge of going back finding the solution or a better way of doing it. Katie, having already done a mass of research into lightening, feels very confident about lighting. Therefore she is also taken on the role of the lighting expert. 

Danielle: 

Danielle is very interested in fashion and the look of the music video. She is, by the far, the most confident and skilled at picking out a look and doing make-up. Because of this she is in charge of Mise-en-scene. She will have the final say on all the clothes and props used within the music video, she will also head up the research into the mise-en-scene and will be responsible for doing the make-up of the models we use on the day of filming. 

Asking Permission for filming

This is a email I have sent on behalf of the group to Hall Place & Gardens to ask permission to film there. Below is what was actually said.

Dear Sir/Madam

I am currently in my final year at Wilmington Grammar school for girls. As part of my media A-level course we are required to make a Music video within small groups. My group and I have chosen to do Birdy’s song ‘People Help the People’ and plan on using natural scenery to convey our message. Having been to your establishment many times we feel Hall Place would be a perfect location for our shoot. I am writing to ask your permission, on behalf of my A2 Media Group, to film within your facilities as we understand you are part of the Bexley Heritage Trust. We plan to use a small handheld camera so we will not make a scene and there will be a maximum of 6 people involved, including the crew and myself.

Below is a link to my A2 Media Coursework blog, where any and all filming and work we do on this project is shown.

http://rosieactona2mediacoursework.blogspot.co.uk/

Thank You for your time and consideration on this matter.

Kind Regards,

Rosie Acton

Testing Filming

This is a video of testing using the camera for two types of shots. The first is a pan shot, followed by the sun light shots we plan to use at the start of the music video. Having done this we have decided to look into ways of making the filming more steady and less jumpy.

Depth Of Field Research and Testing

Experimenting with make-up

We have created a video with all the pictures we took while testing our ides for the make up. 

I have also included just photos below.