Difficulties filming by the canal

On Tuesday 26th October, we all met up and decided to film outside near the canal. we had many difficulties filming near the canal, because everytime we set up a shot, there would be people on their bikes passing by. We had a count at first of 23 bikes but then lost count and interest. From this experience we learnt not to shoot at a time where there will be a lot of people on bicycles.

Sabina ( and a little by shamima on behalf of the team)

Thoughts about editing...

As we have delved into filming, we've been considering editing throughout and how we intend to portray our music video and we have already found a video that we've literally fallen in love with and that matches the way we're seeing the video in our heads (below). It's something that we're aspiring for our video to be like - edit wise. We're really considering keeping some shots black and white and others their normal colour, the cuts won't be too fast as the song is quite slow, but we need to find something for the climax of the song when it reaches it's crescendo, so we're still thinking about it. Further, it could be a bit of a risk, and quite ambitious but we're hoping to dabble with it and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out as we hope, then we will reconsider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U4MGdAZwgc&ob=av3n

Nilufa behalf of everyone

Filming outdoors in the rain!

On Tuesday 26th, we the crew, all met up at 9am (that's what you call dedication) and made our way down to Regents Canal to pick the nicest spot we could to do some filming. The reason we wanted a shot by the canal was because we thought this kind of scenery would be ideal for our type of music video and would emphasise on her break up as she was alone, looking out at the water. After we did some shots of Jessica sitting on some stairs and on a bench we moved to the next location - a house in Bow.

The reason we wanted to film at this house is because it fitted in with the genre of our video and we thought that the house was really pretty! And so we wanted to get some shots of Jessica sitting on the steps and leaning on the pillar while singing. The house has been vacant for the last few years but we still thought to double check and be on the safe side and so we knocked on the door a good few times to ask any inhabitants if we could film in front, but there was no one there, so we thought it must be safe to film in front of the house. Can you see why we had to? It's so beautiful.

Nilufa on behalf of everyone

Locations

Already we have filmed footage in four different locations, plus another scene where Jessica is singing in front of a black backdrop (which is actually a big black scarf). The effect this has had is already more than what we were expecting, it looked really efficient and is a trait we imitated from a Kelly Clarkson video we posted previously.

Nilufa

Second day of filming!

On Monday 25th, the crew met up at Nilufa's house to film the Bedroom Scene - in which Jessica reminisces about her lost relationship by looking back at personal belongings and singing. On this day there weren't many difficulties we faced except the issue with lighting. The lighting in the bedroom was poor so we used the big light which illuminated the whole room making the video and photos really clear. Throughout the filming we took a LOT of photos, some that could be potential album covers. We thought that this would be the best thing to do rather than taking photos after filming in case there are problems with locations, costumes, etc.

On this day we realised how important hair and make up was, it literally had to be inch perfect! It took us over an hour to do Jessica's hair and the make up - which we found difficult because we had to use shades that were just right and didn't make Jessica look over done; in a way it had to look natural but subtle because, has she really got the time to paint her face when she's going through a major break up? Most probably not, but it is a music video, so it had to be just right.

Also, we had to rearrange the bedroom, so we moved one bed out of th way and pllaced the other in the middle, replacing the Harry Potter Shrine with candles and vases to give it a more feminine touch(!)
 


















Below are some of the pictures we took during filming:

Nilufa (Behalf of the gang)

Photo shoot

These are just some of the photos that we took on the first day of shooting. Jessica on top of the piano.

This is our make up artist doing Jessica's make up.
We needed Mrs Mayet to do jesse's make up as she knows quite a bit a bout make up and also because we aren't that good.  

Shamima

First day of Shooting!

On Friday 22nd, we started filming the piano scene in the Great Hall. However, it was not as easy as we thought because we faced many difficulties regarding the white net we were gong to use as a background. We were unable to string it up high enough and resulted in leaving it for another day. But, (there's always a but) we did get some excellent footage of Jessica (our actress) playing the piano - SHE LEARNED HOW TO PLAY THE TUNE - BY HERSELF!!! (SHE'S AMAZINGG) so, we got a varied range of shots, slow pans, over the shoulder, cose ups on her hands on the the piano keys, etc.

Below is the epic fail we called a background:

Also, we had a LOT of difficulty shifting the piano, but eventually we got there:

 Nilufa

Costume idea's and Make Up

Here is an idea of what our Artist is going to be wearing, there are number of outfits for different location.

Black long dress


The above outfit is for 'The Great Hall' scene.

The above outfit is for the bedroom and canal side scenes.

Posted by Tamanna

Props for Music Video

The types of props we are going to need for the video:

- Medium size box filled with mens perfume, love notes, t-shirt, small teddy bears, this prop will be seen in the bedroom scene - Tamanna is responsible for this.
- Last week (Wednesday 13th October 2010) Shamima and Nilufa went out and bought 8 yards of white coloured net, this is going to be used for the piano scene hanged up around the piano to make the atmosphere more affective and believable for the audience.

Posted by Tamanna

Meeting - Agenda

Everyone had turned up to this meeting.
During this meeting as a group we discussed about the MUST do before filming.


1) Costume plan
- Black long dress (Glamorous wear) this is for the sector when Jessica is playing the piano which is located at The Great Hall the reason to why we chose to do this, is because the song sets in motion and it creates a calm and affecting atmosphere.In addition it meets the audience’s expectation of the song which helps to draw the audiences attention as they would want to know whether the music video has the expectation they considered the video would represent. As for location we chose to do The Great Hall as this is a large area and took advantage of using it as the facilities are available and easy to access and the whole idea of a women playing a piano alone in a huge room would create the touching affect.
- White tunic top, black leggings, Tan/Black ankle boots (Casual wear) this is when Jessica is in the bedroom, we decided to have the casual wear in the bedroom because in Pop music video’s you do not view singers in their pajamas regardless of the situation whether they are in bed, they always have casual fashionable clothing therefore we have gone with this ideology.
Location bedroom and canal as a group we discussed how we wanted to generate an impression of the character reminiscing and looking back at her love life and also would like to build up the tension with the characters emotion and feelings.
 2) Locations: Thames barrier, Canal, Nilufa's Bedroom
3)Time of filming - Day/Night/Evening
4) Storyboard
5) Weather Forecast
6) Give Jessica the lyrics and song


Posted by Tamanna

Allison Crowe - Lisa's Song Lyrics

The song is about Allison's friend who went missing one night and she hasn't been seen or come home.

These are the key lyrics I took out from the whole lyric, from the brief lyric we wanted to portray a young lady emotionally wrecked and lost without the person she loves in her life, in our video this would be her boyfriend instead of a friend.

And held you in my arms
There’s no reason to be scared anymore.
Took you home
And held you in, held you in, held you in.
Just stay home
Don’t come outside to play
Circumstance beyond control
I feel so helpless.

The key idea we obtained from the lyrics is that in our music video we would have the actress reminiscing about the time she had with her boyfriend this will be portrayed by showing props such as notes and clothings etc.

Nilufa and the gang

Weather Forecast

Whilst planning our Schedule shoots, we also had to think about the forecast for weather by location as it is significant as we don't want too film while it's raining or if its a gloomy weather as it would not fit in well with our music video.

However on later stages there will be an update of the Weather forecast.

Posted by Tamanna

Schedule Shoot List

As a group we decided on the dates we are available to shoot our music video over the half term holiday,
these are the following dates and location we have chosen to do:

- Friday 22nd October 2010 - The Great Hall from 3pm and onwards
- Wednesday 27th October 2010 - Nilufa's Bedroom and Canal - 11am - We will be meeting everyone on a location we are all familiar with and go to Nilufa's house.
- Thames Barrier Park - Friday 19th or Sunday 31st October 2010 - 11am - We have decided on meeting everyone in front of Limehouse station by 11am

We still have not decided on the timing off doing the shoot on 'Bow house' due to because we don't have an accurate time when our actress is free after half term.

Posted by Tamanna on behalf of the gang

Feedback...(from the other class)

The second media class listened to the chosen song and told us what they imagined the video to be like, and this is what they envisaged...

• Female artist
• Fresh faced/innocent
• Kelly Clarkson - ish
• Minimal make-up
• Standing alone throughout the video
• Wind blowing, ruffling hair
• She is at a piano, or at some stage - on the piano
• Under a spotlight, alone on stage
• Props - candles
• Locations: Riverside, looking out a window, and a tragic scene is involved
• At one point, the female artist is racing through a setting but no one can see her, she's invisible to everyone (but us)
• Transitions: slow, mainly fade in and fade out should be used
• Walks towards a camera, singing and facing the camera
• Several flashbacks of a happier time

Nilufa

Jessica York's Target Audience

+ General Age: Early teens to young adults (13 - 23)
+ Sex: Generally female - possibly some males if they find the artist attractive
+ Ethnicity: Broad
+ Interests: manicures, watching Disney Channel - Zac Efron fans - Twi-Hards, Shopping
+ Social Activities: Luncheons with friends, double dates, cinemas, karaoke, shopping
+ Style/clothing: Topshop/New Look - mainstream dress sense; skinny jeans, smock tops, pumps/UGG boots
+ Other artists they'd like: Natasha Bedingfield, Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Fergie, Danity Kane, Cheryl Cole, Beyonce, Nelly Furtado

Nilufa on behalf of the gang

Wordle of Lisa's Song Lyrics

Nilufa behalf of the gang

The main words that immediately stand out clearly are; home, take, hold and held. This shows us that these are the factors that need to be considered the most, therefore in our music video we must consider these aspects and how we intend to portray them. For example, since it is a pop video about romance and all else linked to it, one of the locations of the video will be in a house - which signifies the 'home' part.

Shooting Locations

The definite places:

• The Great Hall in our school (Piano is provided there)

• Nilufa's Bedroom 

• Canal

• Thames Barrier Park

The reasons these are our chosen locations, is because as a group we collectively thought that we should have locations that are similar to locations we have seen in music videos of the same genre. As in the music videos we researched the most popular settings were in a house - bedroom, one setting was within the house at a piano, etc. Therefore, we are also using locations that are according to the generic conventions of the genre of the music video.

The not-so-definite places:

• Big steps in Bow
• Bridge

Nilulfa (Behalf on the gang)

Salena Gomez - A year without rain

This is one of the videos that we really liked as to have "copied" the scene where she is singing into the camera. We had an idea of having our actress (jessica) singing into the camera with her hair blowing. Also us as a group wanted to have a "rain scene" and i personally thought this rain scene looked awesome! (Although it looked a bit fake as they used a machine and not real rain) We want to use real rain.

Shamima and Sabina

Brainstorm - Lisa's Song

Posted by Tamanna (on behalf of the team)

Artist Profile

Name: Jessica York
Age: 20
Image:
1) Casual, modest - bootcut jeans, tunic top, sandals
2) Straight cut black dress, black heels
Physical appearance: Slender, 5"4, black, frizzy shoulder length hair
Music: Lisa's Song is her debut single (wrote own lyrics)
Instrument: Piano
Personality: Sweet natured, innocent, emotional and sensitive, loves hot spicy food (won chicken wing eating contest)
Hair and make up: Straight brown wig
!) casual - nude tones for make up
2) Smokey eyes, full on

Nilufa, Shamima, Tamanna and Sabina

Lisa's Song

Allison Crowe live! :)



Nilufa

Selected song

As a group, we (Shamima, Sabina, Tamanna and Nilufa) have decided to make a music video of the Pop genre. The song we are using is called 'Lisa's Song' written and produced by a canadian un-signed artist on Jamendo.

The music videos below are all an indication of what we are aspiring our music video to be like, consisiting of the typical pop video conventions, for example, each of the music videos below has a section of the female artist in her house, therefore our video will contain the actress in a house, so that it can be identified because of this typical convention - addressing our audience's expectations.

Nilufa on behalf of the team

Delta Goodrem - Lost without you

Delta Goodrem - Lost Without You on MUZU.

Textual Analysis...

>> The video starts with Delta Goodrem coming in from outside and turns on a lamp, which is on a piano. The lightening is very effective, because there's only one light to represent Delta. She's wearing casual but more glamours clothing. As soon as she turns on the lamp she sits down on a stool to take off her shoes; this is done with a close up.
>> After she takes her shoes off, she starts to play the piano. There's some form of panning, long shots and close ups when she's palying the piano.
>> It seems that she is in a roon alone and lonely. The room then contrats to the next shot, because it is like she is reminiscing how her life use to be. In this reminiscing shot it cuts to alot of people and it looks like she is having a party, in this shot Delta's sense of costume shanges from glamours to being very casual.
>> It then cuts to Delta sitting at the end of her staircase upset and hurt emotionally. She looks up at the stairs and the shot cuts to her and her friends messing about and having fun on the staircase. We see a zoom
out as that shot ends; it cuts back to her on the piano.
>>It then shows Delta in her bedroom throwing pop corn on her firends. She lies on her bed happy one minute, then the people around her disappear and she has tears in her eyes.
>> The video finishes with her hands on the piano and then it blacks outs.
We would like to use some elements from this video for our music video, because the song we have chosen has got a piano in the track and we believe that Delta Goodrem (lost with out ytou) is our inspiration. We have to be realistic and pick things out from the music video that we may want to use and implement in our music video. the things we definetly want to use are the piano scene and the lighting. we want to create the mood that is in the music video, which is sadness but at the same time glamarous.


Sabina

Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love

Textual Analysis...

- Immediately the video starts wth voyeurism; through the window of the apartment building showing the different people in their own bedroom.
- Cuts to different women, probably all sharing the same problem (a broken heart), some crying - make up running down their faces - a typical convention.
- Leona in diffent outfits, one extremely glamorous, glitzy dress. The other black one is simple and plain.
- Leona sitting in the hallway shown through medium shots, and close ups.
- Cut of a girl sitting on her bed, bedroom is messy and she's looking at photographs, shown from a birds eye view and long shot.
- Man walking away from the bedroom, through an extreme long shot, emphasises that he's leaving.
- Rolling around on bed, staring at camera, makes it seem like the camera is upside down.
- A different girl looks at the phone to her watch - waiting for the guy.
- Hair pulling/stroking.
- Hand gestures and wind blowing the hair backwards.
- A man brings a girl a bunch of flowers. So all is happy in the end(!)
- Ends with voyeurism again and each light goes off in each apartment.

Nilufa

Kelly Clarkson - Because of you

- Immediately the video begins with an establishing shot of a house, which is setting the scene.
- It then leads to voyeurism; looking through the kitchen window where there is a male and female adults arguing which creates a atmosphere already and grabs the audience's attention.
- Whilst arguing it cuts to a medium shot of the female shouting however this is muted as there is background sound - Piano.
- As she storms off from the kitchen the camera shot is close up there's then a cut of a medium shot of the guy from the back already you can sense some sort of fury argument taking place.
- The camera cuts to a close up of a photo frame which is at an angle, on the passageway, the photo has both characters that are arguing and a child in the middle all smiling, this shows the oppisite of what we have seen so far from the video. 
-  Camera cuts to the female 'Singer' (Kelly Clarkson) walking backwards however the camera is zooming in as she does this...Walking backwards gets the audience thinking? is she Reminiscing, having regrets??
* In this scene she has a black short dress/long top, short sleeve. Black - because it connotes negative, power, death, evil, and mystery. Here Kelly has chest length blonde hair with loose curls with dark eye make up all this helps to appeal to the audience.
- Camera cuts, Boyfriend/Husband snatches the photo frame seen previously, camera gets a close up shot of his face, furious.
- Cut to a close up and a head should shot of Kelly against the staircase
- Camera zoomed out, long shot of Kelly and her partner who is just about to throw the photo frame, erase the memory because they're not a happy family anymore?.
- Boyfriend - Freeze framed.
- Head shoulder shot of Kelly still walking backwards.. Camera zooming in.
- Cut to a point of view shot, what Kelly is looking at
*Kelly's looking into the mirror sees a little young girl as a reflection which most likely could be her as a child.
- Cuts to a room blacked out couple of lights, Kelly's wearing a long black formal dress
*Fades out to a pitch black screen
*Fades in again to the room, reflections of Kelly.. camera is at its Hight angle panning across the room.
- Cuts to a close up shot of Kelly standing against a black background singing into the camera.
* She's wearing the black dress with light silver and brown make up, looks appealing and rich.
- Cuts to Kelly holding hands in the living room with the little girl she saw as her reflection
*Cuts to the kitchen, low angle
*Zooms into the drawing the little girl gave to her dad which is left on top of the sink
* Cuts to the reflective room
*Cuts again to the kitchen, camera zooms into Kelly as she's standing on the doorway
from all the above, it is clear that Kelly is present and observing how her relationship was with her father.
- Cuts to a close up shot of Kelly standing against a black background singing to the camera, this shows the present moment as she is telling a narrative.
- The camera cuts to the dinning room where her mother has set a meal up, her mother gets frustrated and throws the dinner in the bin this is a close up shot.
* low angle of her mother
- Camera cuts between Kelly watching her mother and Kelly in the black room Lip Synching to the camera.
- Cuts to the bedroom where Kelly crouches down to the bed.
- Camera goes from a medium shot to a head shoulder shot of Kelly singing to the camera.
- Cuts to where her mums taking pills camera is up close, shows depression? Voyerism;long shot of her mum on the bed seen by the reflection, Close up of her mum crying.
- Voyerism: Little girl walks off
- Cuts to a close up shot of Kelly standing against a black background singing at the camera
- fades out to a establishing shot of the living room
- Point of view shot as her mother throws a vase
- Cuts between the dark room and the narrative
- Long shot where the father is leaving and the kids following
- Cuts to the dark room, Close up of Kelly's face
- High angle shot of Kelly as she's on the staircase goes back to the close up shot of her


Kelly Clarksons is a pop/rock artist. The narrative of this video is about a troubled women who had a rough childhood when her parents were breaking up this shows as she is looking in the mirror and sees herself as a young girl.
However, this video is rather more pop than rock which differs from rest of her other songs. This is one of my main reason why I chose to write about this video, as the genre and narrative fits in very well and gives me an initial thought of how I want my music video to be.
From this video the idea we took on board was the 'Black room' where she sings to the camera, which I believe hooks the audience therefore we chose to add this idea to our video where we will have a black backdrop with Jessica singing to the camera.


Posted by Tamanna

Taylor Swift - Love Story

Textual Analysis

The music video starts off with an establishing shot, seems like a school because then we see a girl holding books. The costume that she is wearing is a simple black cardigan with jeans and has her hair down in curls. Shes got a long necklace on. We see through her eyeline match that she is looking at a man (probably her crush).
There are switches from one scene to another. The other scene where it seems as though shes up in a castle, the costume is really different. She was wearing a very long, traditional, historical peach gown. Her hair was up in a bun with curls coming out with a tiara headband on her hair and a gold necklace around her neck (looked like a princess).
There were some choreography in the video, a sort of line dance type. It showed romance as the actors were close up but were modest. The other performances included lip Singing.
The sort of sneaking around meeting her boyfriend is something you'd expect to find in an teenage type of music video. Also the use of the props such as the pony makes the video seem magical. There were also many shots of her close ups when she was belting it out, out of the castle's glass less windows. I think that they used the locations to attract the target audiences as it could appeal to them. The location of the castle is sort of a intertexuality of the play 'Romeo and Juliet'.
From this video the ideas that we may take away is the costume change of the highly made up evening gown to the change of the undertone casual ware. 

Shamima