Tzvetan Todorov

Andrew Goodwin

Carol Vernallis

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.