Lip-Synching

I had just done some more lip-synching, and feel that it suits the uplifting mood of my music video. During the weekend I am going to try to get shots of my cousin to add a male lead. I feel that their needs to be a more clear narrative.

Last Friday

Last friday, I came in to school, even though the school was closed, and I managed to get a rough-cut completed of my music video. I also had uploaded new footage of me lip-synching so I was working on synching it to the song, and I was surprised on how uncomplicated it was, which made it helpful.
The only thing which really concerns me is a visual metaphor. I could still add a clock saying 2am, or the sunrise. As I predicted, my music video does not exactly follow the story-board I had created. But I have still created an idea of what I had imagined it would end up like. I have created a sense of cross-cutting in the video, which I am proud of, between the narrative and the lip-synching, which is a convention used in professional music videos. In a way, I have established myself as the artist, and my friend as the main character of the narrative base. Furthermore this distinguishes the type of music video as a narrative-based, and not so much performer based, and in a way, this is what I was aiming for. I have been able to include two characters in my music video, which I am glad with.

Editing

At the beginning, I got new sheets for the storyboard to start planning the next filming shoot. I have a narrative performance, but what I really need is lip-syncing which I could get filming done this weekend. I have edited more today, and I have also changed some of the order of my footage, and separating them into different scenes. I need to add the artist singing to be able to connect the song to the target audience. Listening to the lyrics, some of the lines are repeated after each other. And I want her to sing the lines and not the repetition. During the repeating lines, I want to try to create a reminiscent atmosphere. I could also use at least one shot of the boy character, though I don't think his presence in the whole music video is necessary, as I want the focus of the music video to be on the girl and her feelings, more than a relationship, which I feel I have done so far. I have done a new storyboard for my next filming. As a visual metaphor, I think I should use the clock showing the time '2am' to add more of symbolic meaning and to remind the the audience the name of the song. I hope to have my footage by next week. The next thing I need to do is get as many shots as I can of the clock, as well as get my artist to lip-sync the song.

Editing

After cutting some of the music video whilst editing, I am left with 5 minutes and 24 seconds of filming. Due to the weather, I ended up having lots of footage inside, and I feel to improve, I need to do

Editing

I have continued trying to place a music video with the footage I have. I have added the song onto Final Cut Express, and saw how well the music video went. I think I want to get more shots of the singer lip -synching, and I think I can get more shots shown from the singers perspective to create a more nostalgic      
atmosphere. I want to try to get all the filming done by next week. It would also be good if I made the most out of visual metaphors. The footage I have don't quite reflect the vibe the music video fits into with. I need to get more establishing shots, and maybe some angle shots as well to add some more variety. I  feel that the person I am using needs to get a little more familiar with the song. I need to make the music video more girly. I also think cross-cutting would be very good. I have tried to do this with the editing I have so far. I think that if she sings in the place as where the narrative takes place.

Reflection of half term filming, and where to go from there

During the half term filming, my artist and I met up on Friday, we were lucky with the sunny weather which relates to the mood of the song, though it was windy and cold which affected the mode of dress which I had planned. I was able to film parts of the music video, though there are still some parts which we have to film. I want to see what the footage looks like on the computer, and I can see what works and what does not. During the filming, we were referring back to the storyboard, as well as adding in more shots, the narrative evolving, which I expected would happen. I was able to get filming done indoors and outside. Unfortunately,  one of the people that I needed in music video couldn't show up, so I had just to film my artist and try to get different shots as I could; now that I am looking back, I have realized that I haven't got many shots of the artist lip-synching, so that should be resolved the next time we decide to film. We were looking back at previous music videos and comparing what we had done, and what is incorporated in a professional music video, and have come to the conclusion that we needed more shots of the lead singer lip-synching towards the camera. I feel that my lead singer's mood was not exactly fitting the uplifting mood of the song and the lyrics, and what I had imagined before filming did not happen. I wanted to add fast-paced cutting of her doing numerous things in her room such as reading a magazine and listening to music, but am not sure that what I had intended, did not come across. I have also had some technical difficulties with the camera and the stand, and am worried that some of the footage will come out shaky, one of the issues from last year which I wanted to resolve. But overall I am content that I have got some footage to work with so far. I am now going to edit the film coverage I have so far.

Storyboard

Risk Assessment

Possible risks which may occur and how to overcome them:

I will be filming  some of my music video on friday the 2nd November 2012

Weather - I checked the weather for the week before hand, and my artist and I agreed that friday would be a good day, as the forecast promised no rain. Also it my be windy

Location - We decided we would parts of the filming in my house, so that did not have any difficulty in arranging, and outside we had lots of space on the open fields where the shouldn't be many people, which was helpful for filming.

Travel - We have planned that my friend will be taking the bus to borehamwood, where my mum will be able to pick her up, and bring her to the suitable location.

Costume - I told my artist that she should bring two versions of costume, incase, one for the outside and the other for the inside, to symbolise the narrative, and her performing.

Mood board for 2am by Poema

Post it notes storyboard



Target Audience Profile

Gender-girls

Personality - happy, dreamy, ambitious

Ambitions of future -  steady career/ enjoyable

Type of fashion shops - h and m/ new look

Weekend activities - bowling, swimming

Job, subjects at school - art, drama, music, english

Age - 14-19

Food/drink preferences - italian/japanese

Pitch for Final idea

My final idea is having a young teenage girl as the lead character in the song's narrative. I will have parallel editing used between her singing, and the narrative going on at the same time. The narrative will have the events which happened during the day, and she shall be singing and reminiscing. I am going to use aspects of he countryside as it fits the genre. In the narrative I will have her with a boy, mabe they went out.

Peer Feedback

Three ideas I like: Girl wearing skate dress - I like the idea of a retro theme, maybe not too in the present, therefore the costume is a key element in the music video which I would like to get right.

Over dramatic girl rolling around on her bed - When I first heard the song, I imagined this, and I think this fits in well with the genre of the song.

Girl in room watching + waiting for the boy by the window - The anticipation is significant, and I think it would work well with the lyrics.

I like the fact that the mood is humorous yet sad.



Hype Williams

Music videos by Hype Williams


Coldplay Viva La Vida
Released: 25th May 2008

 This music video uses numerous close-ups on the lead singer, establishing him as the main artist. He used a bold backdrop, with a slight variation of colour. There are no banners in this music video, an element Hype Williams is known for. The music video consists of only the group Colplay, and no one else, which brings focus on to them, and their music. There are quick cuts used throughout, which helps to create a fast pace to the music video.

Ke$ha We R Who We R

Released: 22nd October 2010        

 In Ke$ha's music video, Hype Williams uses numerous quick flash cuts on the lead singer, as well as close-ups on her face, and make-up. The music video consists of bold, and bright colours, set in the night, in an urban environment.There are lots of dancers, men and women, as well as the lead singer, which differs to Coldplay's music video.

                           

Kanye West Heartless 

Released: 5th November 2008 

In 'Heartless', Williams uses a cartoon element, instead of people, though he bases the lead cartoon on Kanye West. The colours used here are very bold and bright. There are lots of close-ups of West throughout, at the song is telling a narrative based on his character. There are  numerous dancing girls used, whose bodies heighten voyeurism, as they are made to look very attractive. The song is slower paced. The music video still has a sense of flash within it. This is used through the lighting on the girls.



 

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys Empire State Of Mind

Released: 20th October 2009

Williams uses bald banners at the top and below, which coincide with the black and white theme used at the start and in the middle of the music video. At the end, when Willaims introduces colour, the banners are still used and they mae an effective contrast. There are quick cuts used, when they show the different architecture of New York. Some of the pictures uses over-lap instead of having flash cuts. The music video consists of  two lead singers, taking up the role as dancers as well.Throughout there has been use of close-ups and wide shots on both artists. They are both dressed to look attractive.

Auteur Theory

The auteur theory originates from France, and means author,  which means that the director's film reflects their creative vision.

An auteur is a film maker who's style is reflected within their film, and creates a signature, or distinctive  auteur status for them. They have a personal, signature style, which helps for them to have creative control over their work. They cannot create a whole production on their own, instead they collaborate with others, and team up with writers, cinematographer and actors , but the directors is still an auteur in a way that they control everyone and everything in the production.

Alfred Hitchcock

Hitchcock is regarded as an auteur. In his films, he frequently addresses violence, murder and psychology.  He was concerned with technique through the use of shot size, framing, composition, camera angle, camera movement and focus.

He positioned the camera, so it could mimic a person's gaze, forcing viewers to engage in a form of voyeurism.  He framed shots to manipulate the feelings of the audience and maximise their fear, anxiety and empathy.

He composed his shots to emphasise visual details that were significant to the narrative, or sometimes he would insert false ideas into the audience's mind.

His films include Rear Window, Strangers on a Train and The Birds.

Hype Williams

Harold 'Hype' Williams is an American music video and film director. His signature style used is the fisheye lens, distorting the camera view around the central focus. He also placed shots in regular wide screen ratio while a second shot is split and placed in the upper and lower bars.

Since 2003, he used a new signature style combining a centre camera focus on the artists body from the torso upward, and a solid color background, with a soft color in the centre of the background, giving a sense of illumination of the background by the foreground subject

His music videos include Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alecia Keys,  Viva La Vida by Coldplay and Gold Digger by Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.

Gold digger Kanye West - Goodwin Theory - Case Study

1.Video demonstrates genre characteristics
2. Lyrics need to fit with music
3. Video should be visually represented with lyrics and music
4. Close up of artist, visual/audio motif
5. Motion of looking - voyeuristic to female body
6. Intertextual reference:film, tv programmes, music video, magazines



Gold-digger demonstrates characteristics of an R&B genre music video, combining typical conventions found within that genre. Kanye West is dressed in typical clothes which fit the genre : jeans, subtle jewellery, with parts of his skin showing, as well as a belt, withh 'K.W' inscribed on them. The women are wearing minimal clothing, with their hare and make-up done. Parts of the track, Kanye West wears sunglasses, conveying a sense of coolness, appealing to their target market. There are numerous close-ups on Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.

The video tends to fit in with the lyrics. They use a magazine cover with the title 'Baby by busta', 'Pre Nupt', '18 years', 'white girl' during the lyric being sung, as well as showing a child in the video, when they refer to 'kid' in the lyrics.  This makes the video representative of the kyrics and music.

Theere are numerous close-ups of both Jamie Foxx and Kanye West, establishing themselves as the artists of the song. The Format of the music video is unique. The beginning is presented as the opening of a film. The screen has also been decreased, which also linkes in with the voyeurism,.

There is a lot of voyeurism used with the consequtive women who are dressed in procative clothes. There are various scenes where Kanye looks at the female body instead of the women's face, and this encourages the audience to look at the women.

The intertexual references are magazines, the video showing more than five of them, and each one has a women who is presented in an erocative way. This fits in with the conventions of an R&B genre.

Music Videos that I find inspiring

Music videos which have inspired me:

Coldplay, The Scientist: Released 4th November 2002.

This music video inspires me for the way tey form the narrative. It is a very memorable, and orginal video, which I always remember.  What I admire is the way the video takes us back in time, and ends with the audience finding out about a car crash at the end, which killed the woman Chris Martin (the lead singer) was with. The lyrics 'Oh take me back to the start' fits perfectly with this. I also like the use of a natural environment.






Gary Jules, Mad World: Released 15th December 2003.

This music video inspires me for the simplicity it has. The main shots are the birds eye view, and the shot of the singer of Jules on the roof. The choreography is nostalgic, and highlights youth. I also like how the images coincide with the lyrics. I admire, his use of one location, and how he has still made the music video effective,







 Calvin Harris, I'm Not Alone: Released 6th April 2009.

Usually a music video is filmed showing a lot of sunlight, or rain. I find this music video inspiring through it's use of winter. The video follows a narrative of a boy, who tries to survive the cold. The video uses dance moves, which stand out to me, as they are robotic. It also has a slight melancholic feel to it, which I like.

Andrew Goodwin's Theory

Andrew Goodwin:

Goodwin identified a number of key features in music videos.
They are:
- a relationshi between the lyrics and the visuals, with visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the music.
- genre-related style and inconography present.
- multiple close-up of the main artist or vocalist.
- voyeurism often lays a major part, especially in relation to females.
- intertextual references to other media texts may be present.

Music videos are often constructedby the link between the visuals, songs and artist. A relationship between these is built in the music video, and close-ups of artists gives representation and publicity they require. Voyeurism is often used to increase the attractiveness of the music video, paritcularly to males. Intertexuality is often used in humorous music videos.

Timeline

1902-1917: The phonoscene era - a forerunner of sound film. Combined a chronohone sound recordingwith a film shot of actors lip-synching . It was presetnted by the Gaumont, in France.

1926-1959: Many musical short films were produced, featuring bands, vocalists and dancers. They were typically six minutes in length, with animations and backgrounds combined with the artist singing. They also provided a sing-along concept.

Musical films were another precursor to music videos, and well-known music videos imitated the style of classical musicals, such as Madonna's 'material girl' was closely staged to 'diamonds is a girls best friend' from the musical Gentleman Prefer Blondes.



1960-1967: The Scopotine ( a visual juke box) invented by the French, was where short films were produced to accompany music videos.

1967-1973: Promotional videos were rising in success, such as Bob Dylan's 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'. The videos were aiming to simulate performance or present a narrative.

1974-1980: Top of the Pops was introduced in the United Kingdom. The Artists would hope that it would increase the sales of their single

1981-1991: MTV launched the first music video on television 'video killed the radio star', and commencing a 24-hour tv programme which only showed music videos.

1992-2004: MTV started listing directors with artist and song credits, who brought a unique vision and style to the videos they directed. In 1995, one of the most expensive music videos was released : Janet and Michael Jackson's 'Scream'.



2005-present: Launch of YouTube, where you could gain access to music videos for free

Task

For my A2 coursework, I have been given the task of filming a promotional music video, as well as a cd packaging, and a poster.  I am feeling very excited about committing to this and having the opportunity to create a music video, using a sound track which I had to find. I have to find an artist who's music I shall be working with, and I have the option of them being in the music video.

I enjoy the creative side of media, so giving this task, it will be a new experience for me to fulfill. I hope to learn from this, and to widen my creative knowledge within the media.

The correspondence I have had to get my song

Hi, of course, just download any that take your fancy!

Best regards

Neil Preston

Sent from my HTC

----- Reply message -----
From: "Marie-Nicole Chouvaeva" <marienicole07@live.com>
To: <neil@uniquesongs.com>
Subject: Unique Songs Administration:
Date: Wed, Sep 12, 2012 9:04 pm


This is an enquiry e-mail via http://www.uniquesongs.com from:
Marie-Nicole Chouvaeva <marienicole07@live.com>

Hi, I am studying media studies A2, where they have given me a task to make a music video. I was wondering whether I could use one of your songs. No one will see the music video apart from my class, and the OCR examination board.



and

 

Digital Storyboard

My Coursework Evaluation

Marie-Nicole Chouvaeva

At the beginning, I applied a close-up of the door, to have the main focus relating to the character’s leaving the house. This relates to the typical genre of the drama sector, and relates to the disequilibrium included in my opening. When a character sets out to find the person she is, she begins with leaving the house, and this is one of the reasons why I had named the film ‘The Leaving’, as I feel this is one of the main aspects. I set the opening in more of an open, natural space. I felt that I did not want any shops in the film, as the narrative would not have been as effective. The girl comes across as calm and free, and this is what I was aiming for, a contradictory element you usually find in this specific genre, when the girl is usually running, or rushing, while, she is walking. I feel that it brings out a metaphor, that freedom is peaceful. This engages the audience as they would like to know why she is leaving the house, and where she is going, as they are not familiar with plot, therefore I had to leave the reason of her leaving, so the target audience would watch on and find out. In these types of films, directors usually make the character walk amidst crowds of people to express the isolation she would still feel through their facial expressions, but I did not want to do this. The mise-en-scene is nature orientated, and apart from her bag, no materialism used, which reinforces there is more to life than owning something, or belonging to something or someone.

My main character is mixed-race, half British and half Chinese; she is a teenager within the ages of 16-17. She is of a typical middle-class family. The race of the girl would not affect the audience in any way. There may be those who could feel they could relate to her than others. Though, I feel in our modern day, those from any background could relate to her. The film does appeal to those of a similar age, as the target audience reflects her character. This is not for certain as the audience may not like this particular genre, therefore may not be interested. As well as for men and boys, they do not usually interest in this kind of movie, especially if the main character is a heroine. Her casual wear, is that of modern style, which furthermore, develops the relation between girls of her similar age. It may also be an effective sequence for those who was once that age, as they could still relate to the sought for freedom.  The girl’s vulnerability, allows the audience to be sympathetic towards  her. Through this character, I am able to address my audience.

The film certificate would be a 12. The movie itself is about a girl maturing and becoming her own, so I do think it is suitable for those who are round about that stage in their lives. The younger may also not understand why a girl would want to leave home, and not have an emotional attachment to their family, and due to this, I am making the age higher. It is a psychological movie, therefore I do not think the younger would understand, or appreciate it. The main character is telling her life, being in her mid-teenage years, what she has learnt, and what she seeks to know, and I feel that this unbalanced equilibrium of knowledge, will reflect upon the audience, and allow them to identify with it.

The distribution process will be like those of a similar type. There will be an initial showing at film festivals across the country, as it needs an initial film reaction, and since there are limited places where I could show my film, it will go straight to DVD. This movie will also be accessible from the world-wide website YouTube, this way is global audience will be able to come across on the particular movie, and this way the product will be based upon a wide market. It will also have regular showings on Sky Box Office, making it an efficient way for a majority of my target audience to access it.  It does not have high budget, therefore suitable for those productions which are able to release a low budget movie, and that is why I chose Curzon Cinemas as my production company, as they have good quality films on DVD and television, such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Black Swan and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, so I feel that this company fits well with my film.

I learnt various new programmes, and ways of filming from the process of constructing this product. Before deciding that I was going to do a voice over, I created various soundtracks on Garage Band, which I found highly entertaining and productive, as it showed me the impact music has in a film, and the way it could represent an emotion, or elevate the climax of a movie, in addition, constructing an original piece using the loops was highly rewarding. I had already used Final Cut Express before, but I did find it more challenging this time around, as I had to add my film titles to my opening sequence, and when filming, at the same time plan where I was going to put them. I did find this product more difficult than I had expected, but then again, I think that that was a good element, as it was able to push me to my limits on how far I can go, to make an effective opening sequence. I was content with using Final Cut Express, introducing me to Title Safe, allowing me to move my titles around. I found the razor tool easy to use. It was just the choice of where to place the filming on the timeline. Filming itself was a challenge. I had to pay particular attention to the mise en scene, such as signs saying ‘warning’ for example. Sound did not disturb me that much as I knew I was not going to use the background sound, then I wanted to use a song I made, but felt it did not seem very effective with my titles, so thought I would do a voice over instead, with faint sound heard. I also feel that I have improved my filming abilities, and feel more confident about making decisions on where best to film. I feel that I have progressed, and I have learnt many new useful devices I could use in my future.

Since the continuity exercise, I have learnt much more. The continuity exercise focused on one location, lasting no more than a minute. From this, I had learnt about the shot reverse shot, and the 180 degree rule, which I found useful, and from the knowledge of that experience, I was able to apply it to my opening, which allowed me to use a range of shots. My movie is not all continuity, as it has a range of jump cuts, which function to condense time, as I had a limit to how much of the filming I could use. This has also affected the way I watch various film titles now, and the similarities, and differences they have in common.

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I have edited my Easter filming, and just composing the relevant music. I am much happier with what I have, and I have left room for my film titles.

Evaluation of my film opening

'When I Changed' takes up the form of a media product being a film opening sequence. It follows the forms and conventions of real media products, following the main protagonist post-death journey. I used my titles in a chronological order I thought suited the film. As the focus is on the main protagonist, we sense the isolation of her character, through the use of 'one shot' in a number of the shots used, as well as medium and big close-ups to see the emotion conveyed through the character's facial expression. My media product doesn't represent any particular social groups, though there is a shot of a couple of young teenagers on the playground, could sense that it is quite a middle class environment, though my character, due to what she is wearing looks fits more into the upper class, which could heighten the isolation she comes across. My film opening will go straight to DVD. As it's quite a low-budget film, it won't have the right income to distribute it by cinema, and I have researched numerous film companies, and have concluded with the BBC. For my media product, the audience preferably be aiming towards teenage/ young adult girls, as the main protagonist fits into that description, that way the target audience can relate, but it could be watched by a universal audience.  Through the process of constructing this product, the technologies I have built up my knowledge on is the program final cut express, which I have used previously for my continuity exercise and 'life on mars'. I also worked in a group, so the work was divided amongst us, and I didn't get much use of control of the camera then and I did for this. Through filming I used the stand and the camera, which I had built up through my experience. Through planning the composition of my shots on my storyboard, I found filming easier, because I had a routine of what I was filming, through I didn't film entirely by the plan, I'm still happy with what I have ended up with. Looking back at the preliminary task, I feel that I have improved, especially as this was my second time doing the filming entirely on my own. Adding music and titles was not included in the previous task, and was this task's main general focus. I am really happy with my music, and feel that it has matched up with my sequence, effectively, as well as being a very good effect for enhancing the main genre of the opening. I had used Garage Band for my first time, and I found it very interesting coming up with music which could set the tone of the filming. It took me a couple of projects to come up with the right composition, because several of them fit more of an action sequence, and made my sequence seem comical, but I am now happy with the music, because it allows the audience to be sympathetic along with the melancholic aura towards the protagonist. The jumpiness of the hand-held camera adds to the mood, and builds up the tension, as it is part of the main function of the equipment, unlike if it was all smooth, I feel it would have felt more simple, and I didn't really want that effect placed upon the sequence. I've accomplished not making my opening sequence into a short movie, or a music video. which I had feared. I feared if I added a ready-made song, it wouldn't come out as a opening sequence, though adding the titles, would have made a difference. It's not a movie, because the sequence does not fit the equilibrium. disequilibrium, resolution, and then getting the equilibrium  restored. But I feel that I have accomplished the necessary elements in which an opening sequence needs. Most of all, I had understood the relevant importance of the music in a sequence, and feel that it has been the main participant of making it into what it had become.

Continuation of evaluation

Throughout my sequence, I have used both hand held, and steady cam varieties of filming. The shakiness becomes more relevant at the end of the filming to convey the development of my character's grief. I ended up not re-filming many sequences, and only cutting out very small amounts which I thought did not fit the best it could have.  I feel that the length of my opening film title is considerable enough, counting I have got rid of many aspects of the filming which did not relatively fit editing wise. I have added the 'fade' in some of these cases, as well as dragging out the sequence, to make it's length suitable as an opening sequence. The sound is what makes my sequence effective, which is what I like about it, because I feel it sets the mood of the relevant theme of the genre. The music is created to make the audience feel sympathetic towards the character without knowing what the narrative of the 'movie' is about, which is an element I feel that I have accomplished.  What I had found quite a challenging task is that in many of the titles I have watched online, there is limited filming, and quite simple, many using scenery, or close-ups of one individual. I have focused on one individual throughout, and her journey - in a way.

wed 14.03.12

I have finally made my opening to run for a suitable length of time. Since the start, I have added music, titles, and have edited out unnecessary shots. I chose BBC as my production company, as I have researched their movies that they have produced, and had come to the decision that they would be the film company that would most appropriately for my film. During my free time, I have went into a routine, that whenever I watch a movie, I seem to focus more on the film titles. I have taken into account the order the film titles appear in, and have realized that the film titles appear in different order. I picked my order for my titles, after watching the opening of 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'. I did watch other opening sequences as well on Art Of The Title, mainly focusing on the length of the titles, ad well as the music. But taking all these factors into account, I feel that I have been able to contribute my research into my opening sequence, and feel that my interpretation matches up to a proper film title. I have just listened to all my music, to make sure I have chosen the right track, out of the three that I had created. The other two didn't quite fit with my theme, and felt more suited for an action, or detective sequence, and so I had to create the track I am now using, later after those two tracks, and I feel that the music now fits perfectly, due to the tonal change which has been carried throughout, and fits to the different scenes within my sequence. One of my biggest fears about the music, was when I added it, to not make my film sequence into a music video look-a-like, which I have fortunately failed to do.  I was alright in having pedestrians in my shots, to create a sense of realism in my titles. One of my favorite titles is when my actor is on the swing, and the music changes, and then it says 'music by', which  puts emphasis on that specific title and the music sequence. The effects I have used are 'dip to' and 'additive dissolve', which helps to make the sequence seem longer, as well as make the edits between the cuts seem more effective. Before I had 'starring' in front of the titles of the names, but I thought it looked better without that title, so I got rid off it.

Evaluation of my opening sequence

My opening sequence goes through different shots, edits, scenery and the sound which I have used. I tried to makes these four subjects key in my opening,  to reflect the character. I wanted my character to be dressed the way she is, to make the connotation of the opening sequence as a mourning scene, as if she is about to book the funeral for who was dead. At first, for music, I wanted to use a song which was already created by an artist, but then I couldn't find a track that would fit my opening, without making it seem comical. So it took me to make three tracks on garage band until I had come up with one which had fit with the sequence's atmosphere. I used a range of shots to give a variety to the sequence, with use of long shots, and close ups to experiment with different angles, instead of making the shots of the sequence the same. When I was filming, I made sure I had enough space in my shot for the titles, so I had to take in the area of where I was filming into consideration. I shot my sequence in the same location for all the shots, so it wasn't difficult in that way. The title sequence reflects my genre, mainly because there's no speech used, and the music tone is used to make the audience symphathise with the  character, which was one of my main targets at the beginning of this coursework. Reflecting upon my storyboard, my sequence more or less follows the narrative planned, though there are some aspects which were not used. In my storyboard, I wanted my person to sit on a bench, drop the letter in a pond, walk to the church, and then get on the bus and leave. This turned into my actor walking by the pond, dropping the letter into a puddle, walking from the church, swinging on a swing, and then walking to the funeral store. Otherwise, I more or less used the same setting in which I had planned to use at the beginning, I just didn't quite use the same order. I also added visiting the funeral shop since it was there, so I thought it wouldn't be bad if I used an extra shot for my sequence. In my storyboard,my actor was meant to go on a bus, but this did not happen in the shot, since it took some time to wait for the bus, and then having the person to get on the bus, and go to the next bus stop.

Exploring the theme of my film title sequence

I wanted this sequence be linked to the overwhelming emotion that I had wanted to convey, with the stress of the music. I tried to alter the music through the different shots used to highlight the time passing, to create some sort of chronological narrative. I have used a variety of shots, including a range of close-ups, as well as wide shots, to try to attach the theme to the character. The music doesn't change really through the different locations used, to stress out the character's long mourning time, before she visits the funeral shop, but I have used different volume and tone of the sound, to reflect the roller coaster of a journey that she is having. A lot of my shots are hand held, which I sort of wish I had steadicam, to make more of a linear shot, and so it feels more controlled. I also added some video transitions such as dissolve to show time passing, as well as the music, it helps to show the different places my character went to, and stresses out the long length p the time. I also used fade in and fade out to try and make the audience connect to the piece, I also felt that the editing between the titles was too fast, and I wanted to slow it down, to also to read the titles.

I feel that I have done the best I could with my editing, and that I will soon need to be moving on to the next stage of the course, which I believe, is my self-evaluation/analysis. I decided to get rid of my titles, and to try to make the other titles last longer, so they seem more effective, and that the audience will be able to read them, and find the titles entertaining. The only downfall which still remains is that some of the shots are still jumpy, and are highlighted by placing the titles there, which makes them more visible, so I need to move them. My film fits into the 'tragedy' genre, which is what I had hoped it would be, and I have found that the music more than the actual filming has helped make the theme of the filming more effectively shown. But my opening seems to be really short then I had imagined it would be, because of me taking out the shots which did not make the title sequence.

I feel that my music fits the sequence perfectly, and that all the titles have been used, and in a righteous order. The only downfall, is because the filming is a little bit jumpy, this makes the titles jumpy as well, so I may need to work on placing my titles, but I do like the jumpy effect as it highlights the anxiety of the character, as well as the build of suspense in my title sequence. Overall, I think I'm coming towards a near finish of the editing, and soon I can get on with the other part of my coursework. Now, I just need to make sure that I have done the best I could with this piece of coursework for my media. I have also made sure that my titles come in  with a change of music, to make it seem more effective than it already is, and to create some sort of consistency. Another downfall is my film title is not as long as I would like it to be, because I have edited out some parts which did not fit, or where some unnecessary props got into the shot. After I edit, or cut out my shots, the shots tend to divide and have  a gap between each shot, so I have to make them flow, which causes the reduction of the time length of the film. But, I have stretched some shots to make the title longer, as well as maintaining it's continuity to make the narrative of the story, as well as the order of my titles seem sequential.

I've tried to focus now more on where my titles are positioned in the sequence, to make it look more official. At the beginning of the project, I never thought that I would be able to get this far with my film titles, which makes me feel like I have accomplished something. I really hope I do well. I have used all the title names I had researched, and I was able to come up with my own music, which garage band made very easy and fun. I remember in one of my earlier posts I had mentioned I wanted a metaphorical drama, I feel it is safe to say that I have achieved this. I've come to make the music to emphasis the drama, as well as the emotional element, so the target audience could relate to my film opening, which was one of my main aims. I've used different shots in my sequence, and I have used a number of different settings, to add more of a range to convey my main character's continuity with going through the post-death experience, the last shot showing her about to go in to 'Funeral Directors'. 

Monday 27.02.12

I've added all my titles onto my film sequence, I've made it simple, as I didn't want my titles to be too bright, as it wouldn't have followed the intensive theme of the genre I have chosen towards my sequence. I have used the titles I took note of last week, and have developed my film sequence with the music, forming the emotion of the titles. So far, I feel that I am very near to making progress with finishing my piece, and just to polish up my work.   I've shortened the music to fit with my title sequence.I keep having to move my titles when I add them, because my clip becomes longer than my music, which is a tackling aspect of this assignment. I've taken the background sound, and only have my music I created from garage band in my project.

i've finished adding all my titles to my title sequence, and I am quite happy, now all I have to sort out is adding music onto my sequence. Looking forward to see the results of my work soon.

I feel that I have finished my editing, and putting up all my titles. Now it is the matter of coming up with the right soundtrack that will accompany my sequence, and that will fit the right mode of genre to emphasize the dramatic impact of the opening. I have used garage band to experiment with different instruments and come up with compilations that go with the filming. Now, all I need to do is choose one out of the three, and make sure is the same length as the title sequence.

I created a new project in garage band, and started to come up with new music which may be applicable for my opening sequence,it was so much fun :) But, I feel I still need to work on it, because so far, it does not fit the mood of the title sequence!!!

I have continued to edit today, coming up with different titles to add on to my scenes. I've found spaces within my shots, to make it look more professional. The next thing I need to do is start a new project on garage band, to come up with a soundtrack, and to record my friend's monologue onto the computer. I should be finished before the due date of this coursework.  I've also started to experiment with moving around my titles, trying to make it more appealing towards my target audience.

I've filmed now at the high street in High Barnet, visiting the pond, park, church, and funeral shop. Unfortunately, it was raining lightly on the day, so it had effected my work, but, at the same time, I think it added to the effect of the scene, and the melancholic atmosphere. No risks had come across on the day. I'm continuing adding titles to my project, slowly making progress, but getting there. I'm afraid of re-filming for, the weather may not be the same, and then I'll have to redo a little about of it. I did film in public places, but luckily no one happened to walk past my filming, which I found lucky and thankful for. I can't use my sound, because there are voices heard from others who were just passers by, and use hear some shouting from the teenagers at the park.

Completion of importing my work onto the desktop, so now I need to start editing, and adding some sound to my work. I have definite;y decided that I want to re-shoot some scenes!!!!

3 jan 2012

I have finished my Christmas filming, and have uploaded my work onto the school's desktop. I think I may need to re-do some shots. I may also want to add some low-angle and high angle shots to add some more variety, but so far I am happy with what I have achieved