Lip Syncing Task- Workshop 3

The purpose of this lip syncing task is to learn the skills and importance of miming and matching not only the image, but the composition to the song. We were organised into a small group and were given Taylor Swifts "We are never getting back together" then spent one hour filming the following clips. 

The process of creating this miniature music video begins with choosing 2 back drops, and 3 members of the group singing the lyrics out-loud in both settings. The action of saying the words out-loud ensured the music video would later be well synced and look more realistic. It was important to take forward the skills we learnt during composition and framing tasks, and utilize this through the mise en scene and shot types. 

After filming this, we uploaded the files to Adobe Premier Pro, where we inserted the full length song as the main audio, and layered the videos above.  We used a clip marker to mark important moments in the song, then match to the beat of the video. After matching the videos identically to the song, we un-linked and removed the audio. Next it was necessary to incorporate the shots that were mimed the best and had high quality framing, so this was a precise cutting and choosing process. 

I will later combine this task with the narrative workshop in order to create a full preliminary music video. This task has been important in order to learn the process of making a music video, as it de-constructed each stage. I will use these skills next year to create my final construction. I believe our video was very successful considering it was the first experience we have had with lip syncing, and I hope we can only positively improve. 

Preliminary Task- Workshop 4

Narrative Task- Workshop 2

In order to learn the concepts of building a narrative within a music video, it was vital that we created a short clip with no audio. This allowed us to focus on what we have previously learnt from composition and framing, and incorporate this into video. We collected 9 series of shots to fit the brief "Lovers affair" in which a male 'cheated' on his former girlfriend with another girl. 

Composition and Framing- Workshop 1

Love and Hate Theme

To create these images we focused on composition and framing over mise en scene to reflect the theme in a more technically developed and discreet way.

I learnt camera techniques such as:

Symmetry- point of interest through leading lines to generate audiences questions

Depth of field- Smaller aperture=high F stop e.g. F2.8 (shallow depth of field)

Larger aperture=low F stop e.g. F22 (wide depth of field)

Framing- highlights main point of focus and adds context

Perspective- different POV to create interest 

Space- negative space gives subject breadth

Colour- bright= vibrancy, energy, distracts from focal point

Applying rule of thirds- place point of interest on intersecting lines

Love

To create this successful composition we used symmetry and leading lines to follow the receivers eye line directly to the girl stood in the far middle of the trees. The tree props acted as an alley way. We also used a shallow depth of field to create the focal point as the distant girl in contrast to the out-of-focus male over the shoulder shot. Furthermore the blue and green contrast colours bring the white. The distance between the two creates questions from the audience and curiosity as to their relationship through the two shot facing each other. 

Hate 

This image uses symmetry to replicate the backwards facing body positioning. The male is closer to the camera and more in focus. I would improve this image by zooming in on the manual setting before taking the photograph in order to ensure the boy was in clear focus. The shallow depth of field blurs the background making the female less significant. Directly in between the couple is the leading line pathway of trees creating a dividing line between the two however implying they have the same future path.

Love

This image using contrasting colours with mood and vibrancy to create an energetic atmosphere. The red heart in the bottom left also allows lots of negative space and empty room giving the subject space to breathe. I used a low aperture with a wide depth of field to make everything in equal focus and bring texture to the image. 

Hate

I used a shallow depth of field with a high aperture to create the focal point on the red heart. The colour red connotes love and warmth however the slicing of the metal rod divides the love aspect. The out of focus background is misty with saw dust creates a mysterious atmosphere. The de-saturated colour and high ISO also brings a dull, un-emotive tone reflecting the hate theme. The canted angle and close up shot also has lots of empty negative space.

Claude Levi Strauss

Skills review

Research and Planning:

In the research stage of my AS task I analysed the Gangster genre in depth. This meant dividing the overall genre into sub-genre's (e.g. British Gangster, Film Noir, American Gangster). I watched and analysed existing film openings in order to understand the specific conventions of each sub-genre. I chose British gangster as I was extremely inspired by Long, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and also believed I could use my local area to meet many of the conventions. However, through the planning and construction we adapted the sub-genre to crime due to a storyline change. I continued to combine both sub-genre's to express crime through the British gangster theme.

After choosing British Gangster initially, I used previous films to identify the mise en scene, sound and titles that represented the sub-genre. This increased my understanding and I had the ability to take on conventions but also create something different to existing films. I discovered that British gangster films were limited to smaller budgets than other sub-genres such as Mob. The themes associated with my sub-genre were violence, masculinity and crime. I look at companies responsible for the production and distribution of these films for instance Warner Brothers.

After looking at the genre itself I focused on media theorists such as Levi-Strauss, Todorov and Propp to widen how representations are portrayed in film and the structure of film openings.

Also, I researched the target audience that would view my film opening. I created a survey for students to complete and gave me ideas of what they would expect. I also looked at the film ratings of British Gangster films to understand what existing films are targeted at.

The planning stage allowed me to take on-board my research and begin to create my own film opening. I made many mind maps of initial ideas, planned specific costume and make-up details, thought about realistic locations and created visual mood boards to link all of my ideas together. This gave me a starting point that I could later develop and adjust. I photographed my chosen location to visualise the setting. I also created a script and specific timings and numbers of titles in order to portray exact conventions of the genre.

I considered the risk assessments and possible harms that came with filming in my location, in order to plan in advance and make the actors aware of any danger.

From going through this AS process I have learnt the importance of the initial stages of research and planning, that it is extremely significant to form the base of your construction. Therefore, during my A2 advanced portfolio I will continue to look deeply into sub-sections of the overall topic and attempt to maintain one idea instead of multiple (a problem I previously experienced).

Using conventions from real media tasks:

Sub genre: British Gangster from Niadalton

The most common theme was out-door settings in local, exterior run-down areas such as cities and alleys. This creates a tense crime atmosphere through low level lighting and mystery. Within mise en scene I made sure the character wore typical costumes for the genre. The male character was dressed in casual, dark clothing with a hood to hide his identity. This was important as it established the character as an antagonist in a short period of time.

In terms of music, I used synchronous sound effects to build the atmosphere and work in conjunction with the sorrow, eery non-copyright music.

For the camera work I used a mixture of shot types,  from slow tense scenes with a steady tripod in contrast to the fast pace dramatic moments.

Using these conventions allowed me to create a visually characteristic British gangster opening that a target audience would be engaged with straight away.

Creativity:

I believe my creativity was imaginative and open-minded at the beginning of the project. Through-out the project I learnt to manage and simplify the ideas, making difficult concepts able to achieve. I have learnt that your initial idea will evolve and massively change as the construction comes together. Therefore, when I make my advanced portfolio it will be a less stressful and more peaceful process as I now know this.

Digital technology:

During the development of my British gangster opening I widened my knowledge of camera equipment, learning how to increase the shot quality and adjust the settings to meet my visual expectations. From previous photography experience, I was familiar with the camera, however developed my skills through the process.

To start the construction stage I completed many screenings in which my fellow students watched and fed back improvements of raw footage and initial ideas. These rough cuts show the massive development from my initial screening to my final construction. I learnt the importance of keeping a camera steady, and knew success came out of large amounts of footage to edit and cut down the best pieces. 

Final Construction:

Post-production:

After collecting all of my desired footage, I was able to edit it all together in Adobe Premier Pro, a technology I had never previously used before the process. After discovering the basics and experimenting with my preliminary task it became easier and quicker to construct. My pre-planned titles seemed impossible before I gained experience in creating title sequences and transitions. I will take on all of these new-found skills through my advance portfolio and hope to develop them further.

Composition and Framing

What was your theme?

Love opposing Hate

How does that come through in your photographs?

We used a high aperture and short shutter speed to create a blurred, delicate image of the hearts. The background is tiny wood shavings that create a musky atmosphere. The primary colours, both red and blue that contrast each other connote love and hate due to the warm and cold feelings. The prop of the drill machine was extremely useful as it sits in between the heart dip acting as if love is a risk, and the following image as the metal rod slices the heart represents a broken heart and hate. The "Once upon a time" traditional beginning of a fairy tale implies the start of a new 'perfect' chapter and story. In contrast to "The End" which suggests the finality of a chapter.

What strategies did you take to make your photos seem more visually appealing?

We used close up framing to create an emotional connection with the image and receiver, and also tints to connote feelings through colour.

Evaluating the task:

The students collectively guessed the Love and Hate theme overall, which shows our composition was successful. However other interpretations were; Start and Finish, Beginning and End, Words vs No words. I understand where these estimations come from. I believe we created symbolic images that clearly link to the brief, yet we could have photographed something less obvious and more discreet.