23rd December filming

After completing the rough cut, I felt that I was running out of solo shots and it got a bit boring after the first chorus. So I did some more filming on 23rd December to do some more solo shots in the graffiti skate park at South Bank in London. I am happy with these shots as they are more dynamic with more movement, which I feel will improve the overall video. 

I also re-filmed the dance with two of the girls in the last chorus as that footage was too dark during night time so I did it again during day time at the same location. 

Bajan Style (Rough cut)

Filming

• Filming Sunday 23rd December - London

9th December filming

Yesterday I filmed all my solo shots. I have looked back on it and I am happy with what I have recorded. Unfortunately, the tripod I was using was broken, therefore all the shots were handheld but I will make sure that it is not obvious in the video when I am editing.
I feel the filming went successful as I managed to film a few different angles e.g low angle, mid-shots, long shots, as well as getting some voyeurism shots. Additionally, movements of camera such as panning.
My main focus now is to import the footage and fit into the timeline and use Color Corrector & Color, this will enhance the colours in the footage to show the bright colours, which is important in my music video.
As said on previous post, my friend was able to do my hair and make-up like the lead singer of Cover Drive, which I was happy with.

However, I may have to re-film a few solo shots.

Lighting & colour in Final Cut Pro

As some video clips I have recorded either came out too dark/dull, I have been adjusting the colours on them. For example one video that came out very dark, I lightened it up using Color Corrector 3-way on Final Cut Pro (as said on previous posts). But there have been some videos where the lighting is too dull and need a bit more colour and a bit more brightness. To resolve this, I have also been using Apple's Color.

I feel that by using this I have brightened up a few of my video clips to fit the song better as my song is a very bright and colourful song, therefore by increasing the saturations and testing with tint colours, I feel I have achieved this better.
I started with adjusting the Shadow, going into the Midtones and then the Highlights. However, increasing the saturation levels was the most important. Additionally, Color achieved more than what I felt Colour Corrector 3-way on Final Cut Pro could do.

Ancillary ideas & editing on Photoshop

Previously, I had written a post about an idea I had for the ancillary for the album artwork. If that does not go to plan then I will most likely use a white backdrop whilst wearing a costume that shows off the genre of the song and represents the idea of the music video for example the bright colours and the Barbados flag. But also edited on Photoshop by possibly using PSDs to enhance the colours or give it a different effect for example:

Original photo

Photo with a PSD

There are many different PSDs that create different effects on photos and if I test around with different PSDs I may find one that I am happy with to use on my album artwork.
I may possibly use Topaz on the photo too as this gives it a more smoother and cleaner finish to it. Also using gradient maps could create an interesting effect and testing with the lighting of it.
For example:

Original photo

Photo with gradient map and PSD

Preparation for 9th December filming

As I am going with one of my friends, she will help me with the filming and lighting. For lighting we are planning to use a large torch but also use a reflector to reflect the light from, therefore this will give it a more professional look and will not create shadows on my face or see the circles from the torch.
Also, for appearance my friend will do my hair and make-up like this photo of Amanda Reifer

Filming

• 9th December - solo shots at Black History mural in Reading

Lighting on Final Cut Pro

After importing some of my footage, the lighting was very poor as I did it in the dark in London, even though there were street lights around me the lighting did not appear right on the video. So to improve this I edited it using Color Correction. However, this has resulted in the footage becoming slightly pixelated as there has not been enough light for the camera to take in.

Color Correction in Final Cut Pro.

Technical skills

Looking at other music videos, I have been observing what camera angles have been used and how they've been effective. For example, after looking at one of Cover Drive's music videos they tend to use a lot of low angle shots. 

There are also side-angle shots that I liked from the video, where they are not facing the camera at all

I like the low angle shots and might try it out during my solo shots when I am against the Black History mural.
I have also noticed that sometimes the camera movements are quite quick in the Cover Drive music video as this goes well with the tempo of the music, as the song I am doing has a similar tempo, I might try that idea too to create that fun, fast-paced impact. Additionally, quick cuts.

25th November filming

Yesterday I was able to film a few solo shots in front of the Black History mural.

I chose to do this as I feel the mural can go quite well with my music video and my song as it is a Caribbean song, there are Caribbean references in the mural. I also got inspiration from one of Cover Drive's music videos as they have a similar mise-en-scene with a mural.

23rd November filming

The filming last night went well as I got the shots I was planning to get, however I was not able to do any solo shots as it got too dark but I have the footage with the two girls I met for a few seconds for my chorus.

Filming

• Filming 25th November - solo shots by the Black History mural

Filming

• Filming on 23rd November in London with two other girls for the Chorus

Filming

• Filming in London for solo shots on Saturday 17th November

Editing theory

In class we did group work to help us understand the theory of editing. We had screen shots from the movie Mad Max 2 and had to place in order. We figured this out by looking at the continuity of the frames and judging by match on action, this helped us figure out where each frame should be.
After this, we were put into two groups, one group had to shrink time and the other and to expand time.

Shrinking Time
Through a series of fast paced cuts we can see things that would take a long time in just a few minutes or seconds. Insted of watching a character get in a car and drive for 20 minutes w see tem get in an then get out, lettin us assume that the journey has taken place.

Expanding Time
The editor can expand time by adding additional details. For example, someone is sitting in a chair waiting for the phone to ring. In real time this might only last half a minute. But the editor can build up tension by including shots of the person's eyes, tapping fingers (to show impatience) etc, drawing the scene out to a minute or more. We are looking at 'film' time, not real time.

Finding Rhythm
Editing sets the rhythm or pace of a scene. This could be dictated by either the music used behind a scene or the mood that the editor trying to create and pace that you edit. To build up tension in a scene you might cut from one shot to another, very quickly. However, in a relaxed scene the editing will progress at a much slower pace, dwelling longer on each shot.

I found this useful as I can apply some of this theory to my music video for example shrinking time. I think that I will be shrinking time in my music video as my song is a bright, happy song and I have shots from day-time and then some from night time.

Location

Another location that I was thinking to use for my solo shots:

This is a local wall so it'll be a lot easier to get to and the painting is very artistic and would be great to show in the video and I think it goes quite well with my song.

Bajan Style storyboard

 

Filming

• 10th November - In London

Solo shots at graffiti wall and Brixton.

Shot list

Shot number	Angle	Shot distance	Description	Location	Cut	Duration (seconds)
0	-	-	-	-	Fade in	1
1	Low angle	Close up	Electric Avenue sign	Brixton, London	Straight cut	3
2	-	-	Video from Barbados (2)	-	Straight cut	3
3	-	-	Solo shot – pan upwards from feet	Reading - Black history mural	Straight cut	3
4	-	Close up	Video from Reading Black history mural	-	Straight cut	3
5	-	-	Video from London - Brixton	-	Straight cut	3
6	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading - Black history mural	Straight cut	4
7	-	Close-up	Solo shot	" "	Straight cut	5
8	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	" "	Straight cut	5
9	-	-	Video from London/Barbados	-	Straight cut	2
10	-	-	Video from London/Barbados	-	Straight cut	2
11	Side angle	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
12	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	3
13	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
14	-	Close up	246 shot	-	Split screen into 3 vertically	1
15	Long shot	-	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	2
16	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
17	-	Close up	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	2
18	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	2
19	-	Wide shot	Teaching people wukkin’ up – different people	-	Straight cut	13
20	-	-	Video from London	-	Straight cut	3
21	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
22	Low angle	-	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	2
23	Side angle	-	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
24	-	-	Video from London (Brixton)	-	Straight cut	5
25	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
26		Wide-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	3
27	-	Long-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	3
28	-	-	Video of Barbados/London	-	Straight cut	5
29	-	-	246	-	Split screen into 3 - horizontal	1
30	Side angle	-	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	2
31	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	2
32	-	Wide-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	2
33	-	Long-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	2
34	-	-	Teaching people wukkin’ up	-	Straight cut	12
35	-	-	Barbados video	-	Straight cut	2
36	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
37		Close up	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	1
38	-	-	Video of London	-	Straight cut	4
39	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Graffiti wall	Straight cut	3
40	-	Close up	Flag	-	-	1
41	-	Long shot	Solo shot		Straight cut	3
42	-	Close up	Solo shot		Straight cut	1
43	-	-	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
44	-	-	Video of London	-	Straight cut	4
45	-	Wide shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	4
46	-	-	2 Videos of Barbados	-	Straight cut	5
47	-	-	Video of London	-	Straight cut	5
48	-	Mid-shot	Solo shot	Reading	Straight cut	3