Deadline

The deadline for all Primary construction Planning and Research tasks is the 20th October!

All planning & research for the primary construction and ancillary tasks must be completed by the 3rd November!!

Students must bring footage with them to begin editing on the 3rd November!!!!

Grade Boundaries

Filming Tips

Filming Tips

Before Filming:

Go to your filming location the day before to check out the lighting and surroundings. Think about noise, is there a road nearby that could disrupt your sound?

Use your storyboard to make a complete scene list. Now you are on location look to see if there is anything that you hadn’t thought of using, or an area that is better to use than the one you planned? If filming near or in-front of shops/houses it is polite to ask permission first. If filming inside shops, you must certainly ask permission.

Always take the weather into consideration when filming outside, give yourself enough time incase the weather postpones your filming.

Pack your Camera, Memory Card (and spare) a tripod, a lens cloth, and an extra set of charged batteries.

Lighting:

Before shooting, determine where the light is coming from (front, side, or back), If backlit, add more light so the front of your subject is lit, or move to another location.

If necessary, set your camera mode to match your shooting conditions, (Night, movement modes etc.)

Avoid bright sunlight (making sure your shadow isn’t in the shot).

If you’re filming inside, turn on all of the lights.

Shooting:

Think about the scene you are about to film, refer to your storyboards and how you pictured it in your mind. Then set up your camera in an area you believe will be best. You may not get it right first time, so try multiple shots at different angles and positions.

Think about the where the light is coming from and if there Is any background noise to take into account. If you are filming dialogue try to get close enough to pick up their voice clearly and try to stay on eye level so that the camera is neither looking up or down on your subject.

Perspective

When a camera's lens captures light and reflects it, the light bends in appropriate ways, depending on the angle of the viewer. This is similar to how your eyes work: when you tilt your head up, your eye sees things differently than if you look straight ahead, although you may not notice it because your brain has learned to accommodate for the perspective change. When filming your scenes, think about how you want the images to look to the viewer and what feelings you want the images to convey.

• Try to eliminate background noise as much as possible.
• Check your shots and make sure you are happy with them before moving on.
• Make sure your actors speak loud and clear.
• Make sure you do not have anyone or anything in your shots that should not be there (bags on the ground, things on a table behind etc)

Use a tripod whenever possible.

It is unlikely that there will not be a tripod available but just incase you are unable to get one, or the surface you are on isn’t stable enough for a tripod, hold your bent arm tight against your body or try to lean against a solid surface to stabilize the shot.

Use your camera’s auto focus mode, however check when Zooming and Panning that the shot remains in focus (try not to zoom or pan too quickly)

Remember to press “Record” several seconds before you cue action to begin, allow the camera to actually start recording before your subjects begin to talk, otherwise you may find you miss the first few seconds and you need to do another take. Also recording a few seconds before and after a scene will make it easier to edit.

Try to capture an establishing shot at the beginning of each scene.

Get shots that tell the beginning, middle, and end of your story.

Change locations and take shots from different angles and perspectives for variety.

Look for details or objects within the scene that will help tell your story, or add them as props and explain in your planning/evaluation why you thought they were needed.

The Mis-en-Scene of each shout must be analysed in your blog. If you cannot explain why something is in the shot…then it shouldn’t be there.

Watch your footage back and be critical of your own work. If it doesn’t make sense to you, it certainly won’t make sense to the viewer.

Make sure your footage answers the questions, who? what?, when?, where?, and why?

Change the position your subject or camera sometimes for a more interesting shot.

Make sure there is no unnecessary space around the subject.

Keep the background simple.

Include a few props that will make the shot more interesting, but do not distract from the subject and make sure there are no objects obstructing the camera’s view.

Remember to keep all the crews belongings (coats, scripts, bags, equipment etc) behind the camera

Make your actors feel comfortable and relaxed by talking and interacting with them. It can ruin your movie if it is obvious to the viewer that your actors are nervous.

If filming in public, respect others who are using your workspace and try not to get frustrated about people getting in your way; (they have just as much right to be there as you do) If you feel you need people to move or be quiet simply explain what you are doing and ask politely.

At the end of the review your footage to ensure you have all the shots you need.

If you have to re-shoot on another day, do so at the same time of day so the lighting matches your earlier footage.

Pre Production Tasks

Develop and Write a final 350-500 word Script Treatment (What is your video about?)

Final Storyboard 

·       This means you need to cross reference your Script Treatment and identify all the locations and setting in your film, and organise photo-shoots for each and every one – take more photographs than you need.

·         It also means organising colleagues and friends to agree to pose for photographs in these locations; they do not have to be the actors you would use for the filming if your idea was chosen - it is just a pre production guide as pre production changes to production are common as long as you justify the changes in your Evaluation.

·         On the storyboard, detail types of shot, camera angle and movement, types of edit, length of shot, diegetic and non diegetic sound and all aspects of the mise-en-scene (lighting, colour, weather, location and setting, dress code, objects and props, facial expression and body movement). Timings of the shot are crucial when it comes to filming – many of your shots may be only ½ second in length while lingering close ups may be 2-3 seconds in duration.

Organise a Production Schedule and share relevant documents both as hard copy and uploaded to your Blogs and via email – these include the working Storyboard and daily Call Sheets (see example below).

Music video analysis

Analyse the existing music video for your chosen song (if it exists) and complete some of the below...

After you have done that do an additional post discussing what you are going to do, how is it different? Try to answer the questions below for your proposal

Which video are you analysing, who is it by and, if you know, who directed it?

What genre does the music belong to and what broad characteristics of that genre does the video have?

What is the relationship between lyrics and visuals?

Work through the song and identify ways in which the lyrics are illustrated or amplified or even contradicted by the visuals.

Pick out some specific examples to back up your argument.

Explain the Narrative

Explain Representation of performers

What is the relationship between music and visuals?

Does the video cut to the beat?

Are solo instrumental bits illustrated by the video?

Does the video change pace with the music?

Give examples to support your points

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?

How is the record company looking to sell this track?

What image of the artist/band is being offered?

How does this video relate to previous videos by the artist?

Are there motifs which have been used previously? Or does this video represent a change of image?

Is there reference to the notion of looking?

Do you get the sense that the artist is on sexual display or that other people in the video are used in this way?

Does the camerawork, costume, dance or something else imply sexualised display?

Are there references to 'looking' such as screens within screens or binoculars, cameras etc?

Give examples and consider why these features have been chosen

Are there intertextual references?

Do these relate to other music videos, to aspects of the star's image or to completely separate texts such as programmes or films?

How are they used?

Is the music video perfomance-based, narrative-based or concept-based

How much of each?

Student Work

Student	Blog
AIYEDUN Adewunmi	http://adeaiyedunalevelmedia.blogspot.co.uk/
BAH Sophia	sophiabaha2.blogspot.co.uk
BROWN Emily	http://emilyjbrowna2media.blogspot.co.uk/
BROWN Emily	http://emilybrowna2.blogspot.co.uk/
CUNNINGHAM Claudia	http://ccunninghama2blog.blogspot.co.uk/
DORSETT BEARD Emily	http://emilydorsett-beard.blogspot.co.uk/
ELLIS Bethany	http://bethellisa2media.blogspot.co.uk/
IDEH Ochuko	http://ochukoa2mb.blogspot.co.uk/
LEWIS Jordanna	http://Jordannalewisa2.blogspot.co.uk
O'BOYLE Shauna	http://shaunaa2.blogspot.co.uk/
SHAND Chelsea	http://chelseashandA2.blogspot.co.uk
SMITH Lauren	http://laurensmithA2.blogspot.co.uk
TURELL Lauren	http://laurenturellmediaa2.blogspot.co.uk/
YOUNG Rebekah	http://bekahyounga2.blogspot.co.uk

Research and Planning Checklist

• Intro & Brief explained
• Intro to Production chosen. Including analysis of videos, genre, intertextuality, history, star theory, institutions and evidence of theory etc.
• Ancillary 1 Analysis
• Ancillary 2 Analysis
• Audience Research including – Target Audience analysis, Questionnaires, Focus Groups, Results Analysis and Reflection
• Initial Selection Explanation
• Copyright Letter
• Planning including timelines, moodboards, conventions followed, representation, mise en scene, Theory applied,
• Planning including Storyboards/Scripts/Call Sheets, Organisation of Actors, Props, locations, costumes
• Further Research on initial Planning with Feedback and any Changes
• Time management
• There is use of appropriate digital technology or ICT in the presentation
• Communication skills
• Care taken in presentation of research and planning

Further Research

Before filming you need to do more audience research. Create a focus group or create questionnaires about your Planning and your Idea.

Show the results and any changes you have made as a result of further research.

Examples of successful blogs

Please note that the grades refer to the finished blog (i.e. planning + construction + ancillary tasks + evaluation) - not necessarily the main construction itself. Music video  Music Video Music video   Film trailer - Film trailer   Film trailer

Filming

Filming

Think ahead about what could go wrong:

•           Do you need permission to film in your location?

•           Make sure you have fully chraged cameras, tripods, lighting, props etc (remember to take a still camera with you for the digipak images and behind the scenes shots)

•           Make sure you know how to use the equipment

•           Enusre you dont leave equipment behind on the shoot

•           Make sure you have your storyboard with you

•           Have a task list for everthing you want to achieve during the shoot and in the right order

•           Make sure you get enough footage; it is always better to have too much than too little

•           Make sure all actors/team members know what time they are needed and where as well as what to bring

•           Have a back-up plan for bad weather...this is England!

•           Take time to set up your shots

•           Shoot the same shot from a variety of different angles

•           Consider background noise

•           Playback your rushes/footage

•           Make sure someone is in charge of continuity

Even More Planning....

Mood board

Create moodboards to help visualize the thought process. Consider here your research into similar products and wider media texts such as cinema, fashion and art photography.

Make sure you consider the representation of your actors/artist and Gramsci's hegemony. Are you going to follow gender stereotypes or are you going to challenge the representation of hegemonic gender in music?

For this you could use glogster.

Shooting Script (evidence of drafting is required)

You must create a shooting script for your video. Shooting scripts are scripts used during production to shoot the video. They are written with much more detailed than scripts and may include, among other things, scene numbers, editing transitions, and camera angles and movements.

A shooting schedule cannot just say “filming park scenes”.  It must be broken up into particular shots you know you want to get.  It will normally include the day, time, shot description, location, people involved.  You could organise this in a table and then upload it to your blog.  It might involve something like this (although obviously yours will be much longer!):

DAY / TIME	LOCATON	SHOT DESCRIPTION	PEOPLE NEEDED
Tuesday 4th October AM	Exterior - Park	Long shot of lead singer running through park	Lead singer, all crew
		Long shots of lead singer singing whilst sitting on park bench
		Close Ups of lead singer singing in park on bench
Tuesday 4th October PM	Interior – Teenage bedroom	Tracking shot over messy bedroom floor	Lead Singer plus teenager girl
		Medium Shot of teenage girl lying on bed
		Long shot of lead singer singing to teenage girl on bed

Organisation of Actors

As for your AS C/W you need to show you have organised your actors. Here you can create a call sheet/diary of when they are required. It is always nice to have photos of your actors too.

Also write a detailed crew list explaining who will be involved with your filming and what jobs / tasks they will be responsible for throughout the process of production and editing.

Organisation of Costumes

This should not only show your chosen costumes but it should also justify why they are appropriate, remember to reflect on your genre. Remember you will probably need more than one set of clothing for each scene. Try to be creative; think about using images and/or short sequences with the characters in costume and a verbal explanation.

Organisation of Props

This needs to show you have considered genre specific props and are organised generally for the shoot. This should again be creative with images and written justification of how they suit the genre/characters, help reflect the narrative. Make an extensive list of technical equipment you will need for both the production, and post production part of the process.  Equipment you might need is shown below.  Choose the relevant items, plus any others you might need and make the list, for each one saying what you will use it for:

Digital Video Cameras

Tripods

Microphones

Dolly

Lighting

Digital Audio Recorder

Green Screen

Stands

CD Player / Other audio player

Mobile Phones

Apple Mac computer

Stills Cameras

Location Recce

Try to approach this creatively. You should include photographs of locations considered as well as the chosen ones, again remember that this is a music video and so more than one location is bound to be needed. Here you should also consider access to electricity/lighting demands etc. A written justification is also appropriate here.

•           Pictures / Video clips of the locations from different angles

•           Information about why you want to use it as a location and for what scenes

•           Information about access difficulties, restrictions, rules for using each location (eg lack of power points, lots of members of the public, dangerous hazards etc)

•           Information about how you will overcome any of these problems or ensure against any danger / health & safety issues etc..

Drafting for ancillary tasks

You need to show you have developed your ideas. Gaining audience feedback here would also be effective and get you more marks! Remember these ancillary tasks need to look and behave like the real thing so don't try to challenge conventions.

REPRESENTATION IN YOUR VIDEO

For this entry you need to discuss how you plan on representing people / social groups within your music video.  Obviously only discuss the social groups that are relevant to your video.  Social groups might include: men, women, teens, children, adults, ethnic groups, different classes etc.  For this it might be helpful to remind yourself about how you discussed representation in TV Dramas at AS Level.  

Discus how you will use camera, mise-en-scene, editing and other elements to represent the following in your video:

·          Conventional representations (stereotypes)

·         Representations that challenge stereotypes

·         Positive and negative representations

·         How will these representations appeal to your audience or promote the artist?

MISE-EN-SCENE

For this entry you should discuss how you are planning on using mise-en-scene in your music video.  Remember that mise-en-scene includes costume, props, lighting, colour, location, make-up etc.  You could discuss how these elements will:

·          Attract, appeal to or entertain your audience

·         Represent your band / artist

·         Communicate the genre of your song

·         Communicate a narrative or message

·         Create a mood / atmosphere

It would wise to include pictures to illustrate your ideas.

FURTHER RESEARCH AND PLANNING IDEAS

On top of all of these compulsory research and planning tasks, you could choose to include more tasks to further demonstrate your skills.  Here are some ideas for other tasks you could include:

·         Auditions

·         Rehearsals

·         Lip sync practises

·         Release forms for actors  / extras

·         Health & Safety and Risk Assessment discussions / concerns / forms

·         Moodboards

·         Costume & Make up tests

Applying Theory...

Character Development Evidence

Once you have confirmed the film genre you next need to develop your characters. Remember that this is only a film trailer so you need to make sure that the audience are going to be able to easily identify them and be able to understand their role in the  film. Here you should apply Props character functions. You must know these characters like they are your friends, make a creative character profile for them and be sure you know why they would behave in a certain way; as this will ensure they are well developed and the audience will believe in them.

Todorov Narrative Theory

As well as deciding on ideas for your film trailer you need to consider the narrative for the whole film; students who do this will have a far more successful production. Plot your narrative for the entire film using Todorov's Narrative theory of Equilibrium. 

More Planning

Gannt Chart/Timeline

As for your AS C/W you need to show you are managing your time effectively; you can do this either as a gannt chart, or as a diary, or in another creative way you feel is appropriate. Remember this is for the whole project

Genre Conventions

You need to ensure you have considered if your chosen genre will follow or challenge genre conventions; you must consider which genre conventions you are going to include, justifying your choice and how these meet audience expectations (refer to audience feedback and results here). Remember here you can refer to your research into similar texts.

Consider the following too:

• ·         Codes (Ronald Barthes) such as costume, props and location as well.
• ·         Andrew Goodwin
• ·         Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze - is this an appropriate thoery to apply to your genre?

For /music videos remember that you need to justify your choices and discuss if you are challenging or following genre conventions and how this is appropriate.

• Background of the Song.
• Research into the history of the song. When was it first released? By whom? Any other relevant information you can think of.
• Your Chosen Songs Meaning/Deconstructing Songs

Analysing meaning and the impact of a song is only a small fraction of how meanings are established in popular music as songs are not poems on a page, they are written to be performed. When analysing songs, it is important to begin by addressing the content of the song -

·         What is it about?

·         What is the 'plot' of the story?

·         Describe the 'story' in your own words.

·         The next stage is identifying the how meaning is created through the lyrics/music style/genre and voice. This is achieved by identifying the following:

·         The structure of the song - does it conform to mainstream songs' formulaic verse-chorus-second verse-repeat chorus and so forth?

·         The language used in the lyrics - what words are often repeated and what impact does this have?

·         Consider the relationship between the musical style and the song's lyrics and narrative structure - does it all 'fit' together?

·         How does the song make you feel? How do the lyrics and the music contribute to this?

·         What impact is created by the tone of the voice?

·         What emotions are conveyed int he voice and how does this relate to the lyrics?

·         What words are emphasised - how and why?

·         How does the vocal delivery 'fit' the songs subject matter and music accompaniment?

·         Consider how the vocal delivery assists in our response to the song - what role does it play in creating sympathy/empathy, are we emotionally moved or distanced because of the voice and the delivery of the lyrics?

·