Hot desking

Hot desking is the activity when your colleagues who are at the same level of expertise as you review your work which is still in progress and comment on it. This helps you find the pros and cons of your current work, moreover see the areas which need improvement. It also helps you to establish whether you need to work more on something specific, if audience is able to catch the meaning of your video especially if you have a complex idea.

Hot Desking

Those are the answers I got back from my hot desking activity.

My biggest concern was whether my visuals actually represent the genre of music I have chosen (deep house). As when I have researched deep house videos usually had a narrative story going on, I have decided to base my video on narrative and match visuals with the sound (beat) as Goodwin stated. As I understood from the answers I have got, audience thinks that visuals more like contrast the genre of music rather than portray it. It still works well, especially as it becomes postmodern (postmodernism is all about whether something is real or surreal. It also states that visuals no longer portray music, as well as it has a different meaning).

I took the advice from my colleagues and shortened the videos where the actress is tearing the photos of the wall, gave more of the emotions shots (close ups) to give out the expression of how she feels better.

I am very happy that my colleagues liked the filter I have used for the bedroom shots, this shows that most importantly my audience will catch the meaning of the different coloured shots. Also they have noticed my shots go with the beat (Goodwin's theory), as well as it is narrative based.

The last question I have asked in order to establish whether black and white would work well with my kinda video, or is it better to have coloured as I already have a natural filter made with lighting on the set in the videos inside. From the answers I have understood that it does not really matter if I have black and white or not. Therefore I will probably leave the first videos in colour, have the ones in the room with the original filter and the next videos which will be on top of the hill (new location, 3rd in a row) make it black and white as it has happened in the past. However one more hot desking will be needed to establish whether colleagues can catch the whole narrative through the use of colours, filters, pace and editing.

Overall I am happy with the outcome as it has shown my work is going the right way.

The choice of costumes

I have chosen and picked out every single outfit for every single actor in my music video. As I have changed my main actress I am not going to show the outfit of the actress who is no longer taking a part in my video (for the Mousehold Hill filming on a sunny day she was wearing brown boots, black trousers and grey jumper - colours, but still blending in with the surroundings)

Now my main actress in the beginning of the video (running down the street and back to the hill) she was wearing a black jumper, black beanie hat (did not show the hat in the pic), black trousers and black shoes as a connotation of being very unhappy, not caring what she was wearing. This also shows that the character trying to overcome some big stuff in her head as wearing black, and not asking for help but more like trying to blend into the surroundings).

I have not mentioned the outfit used inside the room, as she wears the same stuff, just another shirt which is the colour of power. It all shows how much she does not care.

Also in the beginning of the video the male actor was wearing tracksuit bottoms, a navy coat, white running shoes and a full cap (the hat became like a representative thing of this man, he does not go without the hat). As she comes back to the hill, she sees like a silhouette of the same man dressed in those clothes. I have chosen to put him in dark clothes just so he would blend in with the surroundings better, therefore the main actress would question even more, was he actually there or was it just her imagination?

For the videos up on Mousehold hill, main actress is wearing like dark red - burgundy colour trousers, black coat and black shoes. I have chosen a colourful trousers to show that she was happy at that point of time. She was there and colours show she was happy. As a coat is not a thing you would buy every day, it shows that the girl genuinely likes black colour, but she was so happy up there that she was wearing colour.  

While the male actor was wearing mostly navy stuff, and the same hat (representation again). Just to show that the atmosphere and the time has changed/passed from the other day. The guy is wearing more casual but good looking stuff. As this maybe reduces the possibility of him being just her dream. 

And in the end of the day, the baby is dressed quite colourful. This is the true portrait of happiness. All together they look good, they match with Autumn colours purposely. They look perfect as a family, but again it is an unresolved issue, as we are not too sure whether the guy exists in general. 

On set photographs

As I am re shooting the whole video, I really hope to catch the light like this on Thursday (12/11/15).

When I took those pictures in the first place, originally I was thinking to use those for promotional package. However I am changing the actress.

Even though what I have filmed will have to be deleted (unless cut in small pieces and still used), this gave me more organisational skills, also skills to manage people, skills how to use camera with a tripod efficiently and how to get a lens flare. 

First shooting (location number 1 - Mousehold Hill, Norwich)

I have started filming on 25th of October and my main idea was to use Lucy Cox, her son Harrison Turner and my friend Dominic Uppiah as the actors I need. So the shots I have taken were on that day, up on the Mousehold hill for the representation of the 'happy' part in this girl's life. Everything did not go the way I wanted, because the first thing what happened, my camera's battery have died. On the set, I gave my crew 20min break while I was reading how to take a good video with the iPhone 6. Those are the results. Below. I still got a beautiful magical light around the main character, you can see pure happiness.



However my friend unfortunately is unable to take part anymore because of health issues she is facing at the moment. In my last post I mentioned that I will use double body, however my double body is now my main actress.

I am not changing anything in the story line, just one actress.


I am going to film the bits inside the building tonight 9th of November, and hoping to re film the shots from Mousehold hill on Thursday 12th of November.
This is the weather forecast for Thursday (as I need sunny day again)

It seems like Thursday is the only sunny day in a week. However I am leaving Sunday 15th of November as the extra day for filming, for unfinished scenes.

Weather forecast

One of my crew members (the main actress) got really ill, therefore I couldn't film for two weeks, and because of her medical condition I still cannot film her in any 'motion shots'. Therefore I am going to use a body double for doing the motion scenes. This also brings down my project, as health & safety will be harder to work with. 

However my body double agreed to help me, this time I need a cloudy day. I am choosing this Sunday, during the day I am going to film up on the  Mousehold hill and in the street with my body double. Then in the evening I will film with my main actress. The more cloudy and 'sad' the sky during the day is, the better.

Time lapse trial

This is the video we have done in the very beginning of the course, in order get warm up before doing our big videos.
This video was a trial of a new thing we have learnt - how to use time lapse.
In this video I was just an actress, therefore it gave me such skills, as understanding how time lapse actually works, what to do and what not to do in order to get the reality feeling. For example, I have learnt to never cross my legs, also all the movements whilst filming should be slow, not only the actual walk, but also the neck movements and etc.

We have tried to edit it to music, however there are a few places where the sound does not sound music, as editing in small chunks it is hard to match with music. However doing this video was a good reminder how to use Adobe Premiere Pro again, moreover this was an updated version of the application we have used.

As the lightning was not perfect, the main actress which should catch audience's eye, does not stand out too much, but in the end of the day, this was just a trial.

Participant release forms & parent agreement form

Dominic Uppiah is an actor who is taking part in my video, in the scenes from the Mousehold Hill.

Harrison Turner is the toddler who is in my video, up on Mousehold Hill.

Lucy Cox is the main actress I am using through the whole video. However because of her health condition, I have used another woman to fill in parts of the video that Lucy was unable to do (participant form to be added)

Call sheets (both locations)

Risk assessment sheets (both locations)

Risk Assessment Form

Risk_assessment_form Location Number 2

Story board

Weather forecast

As the filming of my video requires sunshine (whilst filming outside), weather forecast are essential to look at.
I am planning to film during the half term (between 23rd and the 2nd), however weather forecast is not looking good.
The only day I could film is a Sunday (25th) however the sun will be up just between 9 and 12 o'clock, whilst I need the light of sun when it's already going down. Between 2pm and sunset. However all of my house shots and the shots running in the forest and the street can be perfectly done at any day, as I need cloudy or even rainy weather.

However if I look at different websites for weather forecast, it looks like there might be sun quite a couple of days, which mainly means I have to be prepared and prepare my crew to film at any time.

Moodboard for my music video

This is my mood board for my music video I am going to do. I use images to illustrate some of the shots, or important details in my music video which will represent my target audiences' interests, therefore through genre conventions it will be recognised as a narrative based music video for deep house music.

I use two of my own images of the field, also establishing the kind of light I will try to get. The picture of the girl, is mainly showing what my character will be wearing in the first part of the video, I have chosen very dark colours (black, also the shoes will be black) as a representation of not caring anymore, and misery that the girl is going through. Also I will use the close ups of my actress face to show the make up stains and tears of sadness (also shots of hands as it shows make up stains too).
The image of the forest establishes the fact that I will film her running through the dark forest (dark colours used, no warm summery shades) again in representation of sadness, trying to run away from problems surrounding. Such pictures as a mother and a child will also be used on the set (as other pictures shows on the wall), as a big memory of a different side of her life - having a baby. Light colours and shades are used as it juxtaposes and sets the binary opposites by showing how happy she was during this period of her life, although this is a problem which is not solved yet - what have happened in her life, to make her so sad if she has a baby? This interacts with my target audience, drags them to watch the video till the end in order to find the answer.
Some pictures of a man's silhouette I have put on, because I will use an actor to be blindly in the background, although not as noticeable till the end of the video, when I will layer two different videos to show it as a flashback or more like what the main character sees in front of her eyes - no matter where she is at, his face is always in front of her.
Pictures of candles, dropping the phone and the stairs are used simply to show that there will be shots of those, playing a big part in the video.
A lot of close ups and blurred shots will be used, also over the shoulder shots, or even extra close ups in order to make it more interesting for the TA. Establishing shots for showing how lonely the main character is - those you can see on my mood board too.

My mood board mostly is for showing how I am going to use conventions in order to let my target audience familiarise themselves with the story, which  makes them feel as if they know her personally, therefore TA is interested more, starts to get the feelings of sadness and wanting to help, which encourages them to finish watching the video.

Target Audience profile

Music video production treatment

Music Video Production Treatment

Survey for TA

This is the link to my survey, in order to understand my target audience a little bit better I have created this short survey online.


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JRGPPF6

My music video proposal draft number 1

Music Video Proposal(1) (2)

Location trial number 2. (videos)

On the 1st of October I was doing some primary research, learning how to make lens flare in the videos.




This is the overview of the actual location I have chosen to use in my video (not through the whole video). As I think I am going to use some establishing shots like this in my video too, just to show how empty it is around, showing the freedom of the character, enjoying being on their own, just in their litter world.





Now this is just simply trying the over the shoulder shot with the lens flare. However I did it wrong, as the actor was too tall for this, especially considering the fact that the actor who will be filmed here will be a 3 year old toddler. Although I am happy I tried this pano shot, however I know I will use more of the shaky camera, more blurred shots with my cast, as it connotes how time is passing by, and happiness with joy, also using the laugh of the child, showing the smiles.




Again the use of this kind of shots, just showing the environment. The sun creates a very warm Autumn evening feeling, which is perfect for my video, even though in the reality it was freezing. Shots over the bushes lets me to show what kind of season it is (brown leaves, etc), moreover creating lens flare but the camera is not blinded of the direct sun, therefore TA still can see the nature around.


This is another establishing shot, showing the nature and the city behind it. As if this location was a get away for the main character, even though they are clearly in the mid of the city. A pretty shaky camera, therefore doesn't look very professional, lets the TA familiarize themselves with the characters when using the shaking camera, as it looks like they are taking the video themselves.




This is the last video I took. Directly the establishing shot of the city, used just to show how big is the city and how small is the character, how lonely it can be,

The location numb. 1

One of the most important things in the music video is the choice of the location. As my idea includes some locations with wide fields, as the connotation of freedom. The use of sunshine and warm tones also is a connotation of happiness. As I will use a lot of slow motion and blurred shots, the mix of those two connotes it is most likely a memory that TA is looking at.

I have done some primary research into the location.
On the 1st of October I went on the prison hill, to see if I can get lens flare around 5pm.
Those are the results of the trial. Also showing the actual area around.

I have chosen it not just because the sun will reach the hill and give a perfect light even over the trees, but also it is empty, green and looks different. Makes an impression of freedom, the beauty of nature and also the city buildings in the background. Being so close to civilization and humanity but at the same time in your own, 'happy place'. Spaciousness also gives me the ability to film from different angles, move the camera widely to create lens flare and to show the beauty of the place.

Although I am planning to do lens flare, over the shoulder shots with the toddler, however I still wanted to try it out to look what would be the result. 

As the child will be much shorter than a grown up man, this means my camera will be angled much lower down, which is exactly what I have tried here.

Empty frame shots, just nature here, connotation of freedom and happiness again.

Also planning to show some shots of the city, in order to emphasize how being up here is like being in another world, that my main character was into while had her toddler with her.

Dapa Deep permission to use their soundtrack!

To begin with, even though I have listened to their music from the day they released their first song (in 2012), I was not sure whether they are signed to any record labels whatsoever, so I decided to message them directly over Facebook in order to ask permission to use their soundtrack.



Official Dapa Deep Facebook account :
https://www.facebook.com/DapaDeep/timeline

The prove of permission :
(*translation underneath)

*

'Evelina Kotryna Vysniauskaite (me) : Hey guys! :) I started listening to your music so many years ago, way before I have moved to the UK. This is my last year in college before going to uni, and this is one of the last work I have to present - using the piece of music that I like, and the artist which preferably is not signed to any record label, make a music video, also all the footage has to be original. The song I would love to work with is Dapa Deep - Mine. The only thing I need now is your permission to use your track? And of course the final piece will be on YouTube with all of your names, official sites and copyrights. What do you think? Thank You!

Dapa Deep : Hey! It is very nice to hear, there is absolutely no problem, we definitely give you the permission and we are waiting for results!

Evelina Kotryna Vysniauskaite (me) : Thank you so much!'

This was a very exciting and happy day to get the permission from those talented guys.

A little bit about my musicians who I will make music video for

Here they are, Dj producer Dou from Lithuania : Darius Beinoravicius and Paulius Bukauskas, started working together as one, by collaborating two different music styles and decided to work towards deep house music.
Darius was also known as melodic progressive trance music producer under the artist name : M&D Substance. Worked together with artists like : Above & Beyond, Andy Moor, John Digweed and etc. However Paulius was more a fan of groovy house sounds... Through working together at gigs, they found their own unique taste and style of music, therefore decided to start working together as Dapa Deep!
The music they create now has progressive house elements, also some trancy pads or plucks.

What is a music video?

Music video is a piece of art work, a piece of visuals put together in order to either illustrate, amplify or contract the music (based on Goodwin's theory) which is used to attract the audience. So therefore the music usually goes together with visuals (including when images/shots are changing to the beat). There is usually some kind of relationship between lyrics of the music and the visuals.
Usually when it comes to the music video, it is either narrative, performance or concept based, which simply means if it is performance based it is usually rock genre music where you can see the band performing on the stage, you can see the crowd and other genre conventions. Narrative based videos now became pretty 'fashionable' to do, in order to sell the music, the artist chooses the direct which could create a video like a small TV film, and in the end there is a concept video which means the visuals might have no relation to the lyrics of the music at all, it might simply be just landscapes matching the change of shots to to the beat (Goodwin). This music video is usually used with house or electro dance music. Pop music videos usually are song and dance number based such as Britney Spears - Hit me baby one more time, where the music video is purely based on the main vocalist and the dance group (according to Gow's theory). In such videos usually there is a lot of voyarism (seeing people through reflections on water, mirror, through another camera or window). Well known artists even have their own iconography that they are recognized through, for example Britney Spears is always expected to be seen with the group of dancers, always teasing and having a lot of close-ups to her face, the use of sexuality in the video.

Music video analysis - (Disciples - They Don't Know) & (Disclosure - You&Me (Flume remix)

So to begin with, in order to analyse the video you must watch it. I have chosen to analyse two quite different videos, although featuring similar music in order to see how it works.

The first video Disclosure - You&Me is based mostly in concepts, as there is no clear narrative or performance (based on the theory of Lynch 1984).

Camera is always stable, eye level of the two main characters, therefore we feel like we are equal with them. Director also picked two very 'normal' looking characters, so therefore target audience would be able to relate to this, rather than see them as role models.
Director mostly used mid close ups, however when the music get quicker, there are a lot of extreme close ups used, in order for target audience to give the feeling that there is no one else around them, they feel like it's just him and her in the world, therefore basing it on three words used as lyrics 'You and Me'. Background colour was also picked accordingly to the main idea that it is about young love and passion, it is all about the pink world when you are in love and nothing else exists.
To make sure target audience understands the meaning, main characters worn no visible clothes, so when audience is watching the video, that would not distract them. And also it has been used to show the intimacy of those two individuals.
Lightning always bright enough to show how they look at each other, or how they touch each other (moreover you can notice they mirror each other's actions which simply connotes they love each other, and that was the main idea director wanted to show), also lightning bright when we get the close up of characters face, however lighting changes, flashing lights used to show the importance of the change in music. When the music reaches it's peak the pace of visuals changed by getting quicker, connoting passion rising between two characters. Also in order to show the rising passion director uses the open mouth close up, the guy touching girls jaw line close up, also lots of close ups of them kissing.
No significant use of any special or visual effects, however everything done with the change into lightning, focusing the camera on different parts of their body, or just their head. This again connotes the closeness of the two characters. Visuals always matching the music (based on Goodwin's theory) illustrating changes in music by changes in camera angles, and length of actual shots. However slow motion used at all times so audience would focus on exact things the direct was trying to encode into the visuals, and decode them in the way director wanted audience to do so. When it comes to Gow's theory, the video would be found as anti-performance video. The video also did not have it's artist's style or iconography, however the first thing we see is the icon of Disclosure which is a small face. This helps to build brand identity and kind of makes it as an expectation for the audience to always see the icon in the beginning of their music.


The other video I have chosen is the same video I uploaded on Director's study, just because his work, this exact video really made me think I want to make something like this.



So the first thing we see the same in this video as it was in Disclosure video is the icon of Disciples. Therefore audience is aware who made this song even if did not read the name of it before starting to listen.
The biggest difference of the two videos I am analyzing is that this video is purely based on narrative (based on Lynch theory), they use different beautiful locations to make it feel as if it is a short movie rather than music video (based on Goodwin's theory of inter-textual references to TV films).
Director also used a lot of diegetic (in the shot) and non-diegetic (out of the shot) sounds which also connotes it is made like a small movie. The main similarity is the use of slow motion in order to show as if it happened long time ago, and to make the target audience more aware of surroundings and the storyline.
They have used a variety of different shots starting with the establishing panning shots to show the landscapes (connotation of mini film again), but also used close-ups when the drug dealer was forcing himself on the local girl, in order to show the reaction of the girl, so target audience would understand what is happening. Mostly used empty frame shots, to show that there is no one and nothing else around them, just fields, horses and the sea. Loneliness and freedom connotation. Not all of the visuals goes together with music, which again shows that the visuals go more like a movie than an illustration for those, however in some places visuals do match the music very well, together with changing shots to the beat (in relation to Goodwin's theory).
When it comes to lighting, director wanted as natural lightning as possible, so audience would feel like they are on the scene, therefore used the light of the moon and the light of the car (fake moon, just the impression). All the colours used in the video were more dark and sad, although the whole video had like a greyish - blueish filter on it, connotation of the cold weather and freedom again.
More of the shaking camera was used to connote the action within the shot, so the audience would feel like they are actually there, like it has been filmed with a mobile phone or so. Makes the audience feel more related to the characters.
The change between the day and night (as the guy is much more protective over the girl, the day looks sunny and much warmer) gives us the feeling they know each other better, also because of slow motion it connotes that there was a period of time that actually passed before the drug dealer came for the bag that local girl took out of his car on purpose. Again shaking camera, and focusing on to the point not straight away makes audience thing like they are there filming it themselves.
In the very end when the drug dealer has been drugged by the same local girl he tried to force himself on, the angle of the shot changes, at this time its no longer the lower angle or eye level. Now the camera is looking down at the drug dealer which connotes that he lost the power in here, he cannot do anything to those kids.
When it comes to editing director have used a continues editing, so therefore we understand the story better, we together with the audience are not aware of how it has been edited. Mostly cutting from one shot to another, no disolves used, but focusing from the main character to blur has been used quite a long.
When it comes to Gow's theory, the video is anti-performance piece once more.

The genre of both songs is the same - house / electronic dance music. The reason I have chosen to analyse two different video (narrative and conceptual) is in order to see how many different things with the same or similar piece of music it is possible to make. Both following the genre expectations such as a slow motion video being used, a lot of mid close-ups and close-ups, the appearance of the icon of the Dj/ artist in the beginning of the video, matching beat with lyrics or at least visual to music. Usually at least partially matching lyrics with me visuals as well.

Music Video Director

For the music video director's research I have chosen the song Disciples - They Don't know. This song was directed by Luke Jacobs. This is one of his debut directed videos, he also worked towards the well known Rundamental song Not Giving In.




When it comes to visual style, comparing both of the videos Luke worked towards, it is obvious videos are directed by the same director. 
Editing techniques usually used the same, trying to match visuals with the audio and the pace gets quicker when coming to the chorus bit, same in both videos.

Use of camera shots, like establishing shot plays a big role in both videos, as in Disciples video one of the most important things showing the surroundings, the use of empty fields and horses running around connotes that it's a very suburban, relaxed and calm area, moreover the views are amazing. Empty frame shots showing that there is nothing just them, giving the target audience the feeling of loneliness. However this is being contradicted by the drug dealer coming into action.
In Rundamental song the environment is complete different but just as important. Showing how big are the crowds, so many people, but still feeling lonely and left out. Also the use of over the shoulder shots lets us familiarize ourselves with the characters much more, we feel like watching a small film. Also so many things happening at the same time as the population in the area is so high, but at the same time two kids always stays in the centre of attention. 

Coming back to the director I am interested in, Luke Jacobs works mostly with the well known music, however no specific genre. Drum N Base, EDM, also working mainly with mainstream videos.

When it comes to his stylistic influences, talking about Disciples video, as it was his first real video where he actually directed it from the beginning to the end, he was happy to be able to film at his home town, as it was easier to make everything happen having a small budget, but good connections, also he was familiar with the surroundings. 

As a director he likes to do something different, purely based on good narrative, as music is EDM, it doesn't really have many lyrics, therefore it is hard to get the target audience right. But having a well directed narrative based video always helps. Writing a good narrative was the first thing to do.

I like his job because firstly I like electronic dance music, but also because the narrative of the music video really takes you in, you want to know more. The use of establishing shots gives you amazing views, sunset was a great time for shooting. Using slow motion gives us the feeling everything happened quite long time ago, but also represents what the actual song is about: 

'It's a gripping story - filmed on Luke's home turf, the beautiful, very cinematic Pembrokeshire coast of West Wales. Two teenage boys shooting rabbits on the cliffs interrupt a drug dealer forcing himself on a local girl, and that encounter, ending with the girl stealing the dealer's bag,ignites a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.'

Transition video

The video starts with the pan shot of the paper doll close-up as a connotation that the doll will be very important in the video, as in it is being sang about the doll (use of props). The genre we have chosen for a song was pop, as it is a well known and widely liked music genre, it is easier to meet the genre conventions.

So the first thing we have learnt is that knowing lyrics from the beginning to the end is vital. Lip-syncing is always based on primary things like knowing lyrics to the shortest words. As it is noticeable not every member of the group knew lyrics as well as the main character which brought our video a little bit down.

When it comes to editing we tried to edit it very strictly shots going to the beat. As there is a strong beat going through the whole song, making it easier to edit. Also the pace of shots is just the same as music, making it more enjoyable to watch, easier to understand, matching the genre conventions. (Pop genre music videos usually either have some story line, but a very vague or doesn't have one at all, can be just dance based for example Britney Spears - Baby one more time). Adding onto that, pace gets quicker when coming to chorus bit, which just gives the feeling to the audience that music is about to reach its peak.

We  haven't used a big variety of different shots, because me mostly had shots changing very quickly. The ones we have used represented the genre such as tilt and pan shots following the main character or the doll (as the doll was considered the most important thing in the video), some of the over the shoulder shots used in order to see the reaction from other person's point of view (in this case doll's) Camera usually kept steady, to make it look more professional, however sometimes followed one of the main characters (e.g. when dancing with the doll.)
Our video was shown more like a performance based - no story kind of video, as we had a girl dancing hip-hop which matched very well with the instrumental in the mid of the song.

Talking about mise-en-scene first thing is the choice of the colour of the whole video. Did not use too many effects on the video, but turning it into more greyish - blue with white colour made it look more professional, more retro, but actually fitting the song and looking pretty serious. We tried to centralise our video around the use of props, therefore the doll was the centre of attention all the time. Others used props such as a beard, hat, the mask and the crown. This mostly can be seen as being able to cover your real identity with props but at the same time showing your crazy face, the one living inside every one of us.

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