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