Final Version - In the Sun

Above is my groups final version of 'In the Sun', and I am going to mention what has been successful and what areas can be improved on.

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Overall, I believe that the video does replicate the actual music video really, as firstly I feel that the costumes worked, each member of the cats had their costume and it was almost exactly like the real video. Also, with the dancers in their costumes worked well with the performance, as each dancer knew all their moves and when they had to come in, which made it look more believable. Also, I feel that some of the camera shots and compositions look really good in our version of 'In the Sun', because there is a variation of shot types and angles, and each frame almost looks like a well thought out picture. Lastly, the editing went well as it flows really well and looks realistic like it was the actual music video.

EBI:

Firstly, some of the shots throughout the video were a bit wobbly, and they were mainly on the tracking shots, but that could have been due to the fact we didn't have access to a track where we could place the camera on and get a smooth shot. Also, some shots weren't like the actual video, and thats just because we didn't have the footage to use it and it can improved maybe by having a longer time limit to film the project.

However, I feel that the remake of 'In the Sun' went successfully and that the main reason the video does look is because the lip-synching was perfect.

Developing My Skills on Final Cut Express

To edit the whole class music video, the program used was called 'Final Cut Express' and this was a program I had never used before. The first I had to do was obviously upload all the footage and save it to a document that I could access when using the Final Cut program. 
Once I had opened Final Cut I went to File, Log and Transfer to upload all the footage, but when uploading to cut off access film you would look at the middle box for a preview, and then click "I" for in and "O" for out points, then you convert all the clips needed.
After that I had to download the actually song into iTunes and then when back to Final Cut to Import, Audio and chose the song. When the music was placed in I started to edit to the music, and if a clip was too long or short you could drag the clip to make it right to fit to the music. Also, if you wanted to make a quick sharp cut, you could use the Razor Tool, so you just select and then delete it. 
When it is all edited you then exported via Quick Time Conversion, so it was saved as a Quick Time Movie, and then I uploaded it to Youtube.


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When using Final Cut Express I felt that uploading all the footage was a lot easier then IMovie and I felt that during the editing it went well. I felt that the editing went well as the Razor Tool helped a lot it was very precise when cutting the clips to make the film go with the music on time and that the lip synching was very good.   






EBI:
I felt that as it was a new program that I had never used, I wasn't that confident when using it and sometimes made mistakes when cutting the clips meaning I had to re-cut them. Also, there were some black screens, which meant that there were gaps on the timeline, so we had to edit them to lose the gaps and the black screens, which took time. 

My Progress From Year 12 to 13

From the beginning of year 12 to beginning of year 13, I believe that I have made a great progress in media, especially when it comes to filming and editing my pieces of work, and from this I feel I am ready for the work of year 13.       

At the beginning of year 12 we were given a Preliminary Task where in groups we had to film someone walking through a door and then having conservation with another person. When I first got the task my group didn’t plan what we was going to film, we just went straight onto filming and while we were filming we discussed what the conversation would be about. However, I felt while we were filming us did focus on different shot types and angles to vary within this task. After filming the group had trouble uploading the footage but we did overcome this and started to edit, and I felt that the editing went well as I did use I Movie in year 11, so I knew what I was doing. Overall, doing this task helped me a lot for when I started to plan my Thriller Opening Sequence as it made me realise I had to plan all the shots and what would happen in each one, and also I knew once we had filmed I knew how to upload the footage so that there would be no difficulty.  

After the Preliminary Task we had started to focus on our coursework which was to produce a two minute Thriller Opening Sequence. Before we actually started filming we had done a lot of research into many thriller openings, like Brick and Kiss Me Deadly, and we had done questionnaires to see what the audience likes about thrillers, like the settings and clues within an opening. After finding out the results my group started to plan the storyboard and what was going to happen in each shot. I feel that all the planning and research helped as it made focus a lot more my film and it had made me more organised for when I actually started to film. Also, during the filming I had become more confident as I felt I had more knowledge on camera shots and angles to the film could be more successful and I felt more confident when editing due the preliminary task. Also, throughtout this task I began to use new programmes like Blogger and LIvetype, and this made me confident in the technical department as I began to use it a lot I really got the hang og each programmes. However, if I could improve from the filming of my coursework I would focus on being more confident in front of the camera as I don’t like being filmed and I felt I could improve there and become more confident. 

After the works of year 12 I felt that I had developed a lot and that I had become more confident with using all the equipment, and editing had become a lot more easier for me to do, so I felt that going into year 13 would be ok for me and I was ready for all the work as I felt more organised. At the beginning of year 13 we were told that we were going to produce music video, so to plan for this we began to look at other school’s music videos and we had to look at what actually makes a good music video. I really like a group of boys that produced a music video to ‘Just got Paid’, as they changed their costumes throughout and changed location which had avoided viewer fatigue. To help with the lip synching part we had to make a film in groups of us lip synching to the ‘In the Sun’ by She & Him, during the task I felt more confident using the equipment and programmes to make the film, however I didn’t have much confidence to perform in front of the camera. Although, at the end of the task I was pleased with myself as I had performed in front of the camera and I felt that I looked ok and that the editing of the song to the lip synching went well, but if I could improve this I would change the types of camera shots/angles and personally I would perform on a larger scale.   

Lastly, as a whole a class we have to recreate the music video of ‘In the Sun’ by She & Him, and for this task I was given the role of being in charge of costumes and also on the actual day of filming I had some shots which I was filming and also was given the job of taking pictures of the cast doing their own roles. On the build up to the day of filming I felt that I was really organised in getting each cast members costume, and I done this by watching the video many times and locating each person and seeing what they were wearing, and I produced this information in a table. After that I had emailed the whole class to see they had their costumes and if there were any problems. I felt confident as I almost took charge but I knew that if I didn’t on the day of filming it would have been chaos, so I got the costumes in advanced. Overall, during this task I felt that I had become very confident and that I know that when I film my own music video I will very organised and the planning will be thought out carefully.   

So, over the year I feel that I have progressed largely and I am confident that I will be successful through the year of year 13 media.

Class Music Video - My Role

As a class we were asked to recreate the music video, 'In the Sun' by She & Him, and my role in this task was being in charge of Costumes. I was glad to take on this role, as I see myself as an organised person and I felt that I was precise with each of the costumes, which lead to a successful day of filming. 


When I got the role of being in charge of costumes, I knew the first thing to do was to watch the music video quite a few times to see every member in the video and to see what they were wearing. After everyone in my class got their roles, I then went back to the music video and wrote a list of the names and characters with what costumes they were wearing and what costumes were needed for each cast member. 


Once, I had created the list as you can see to the left, I sent round an email to the whole class to make sure that people would check what they needed and if they couldn't get something I needed to try and locate these items. 

When it actually came to the day of filming I had to check that everyone had their right costumes, so I went to each person and checked if they did have the correct costumes. Also, I made that each cast member in each shot was wearing the correct costume, this make it a easier to recreate the music video and look exactly like the music video.

However, on the day of filming as I was organised with all the costume I was asked to be the photographer on set, taking pictures of all the people in their roles and also started to assist the Production Managers, as things got a bit chaotic on set and I felt that i could be there for them if they needed anything done. I felt that taking on these extra jobs showed that I was an organised person and that I always got the job done. 

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Firstly, I felt that I took my role of being in charge of costumes seriously as all cast members looked like their parts and I believe that this made the filming more successful. Also, I felt that taking on the role of assisting the Production Managers helped a lot as it shows that I was organised and that I could be trusted with any tasks they set me. Lastly, I felt that the parts I filmed were successful as they were different shot types and it almost challenged me and I felt that it had me more confident in using the camera, and prepared me for when I film my own music video.

EBI:I know for a fact that I can improve on my performance in front of the camera, as during this video I didn't want to be in front of the camera, but I know when I film my own video I will have to perform, so I could improve in my confidence. Also, I feel that I could do better in the storyboarding as my one wasn't that detailed and I felt that when I do film my own one I do want to be a lot more ogranised.

What makes a good Music Video?

The most important reason in what makes a good music video is to avoid 'viewer fatigue', and there are a number of ways of doing, firstly by the lip synching to being absolutely perfect and that the person performing is full of confidence, to engross the viewer into watching the music video. 

One way to defiantly avoid 'viewer fatigue' is by using varied shot types and angles. For example in, Katy Perry's T.G.I.F, there are a number of different shots in the video, from an establishing at the beginning to almost set the scene for the viewer and to an over-the-shoulder shot showing that a conversation is occurring, making it a lot more interesting. Also, there are the basic shots of a close-up and a long shot keeping the video simple. Although, there are a few long shots that are very interesting as in the background it is full of people and then in  the foreground it has Katy Perry as the main subject, as it looks like a perfect picture making it more exciting for the viewer. 

Another way that makes a music video good is by the change in costume and location, and the example of Lady GaGa's Judas does this very well. From beginning to the end there are a number of costume changes like the motor bike style in leather to her dancing in a red bikini. Also, Lady GaGa links some of her costumes to her song, because as the song is called Judas she wears a vicar style top and a cross necklace linking to the song. She also changes locations throughout the music video, keeping it more interesting for the viewer and she largely avoids 'viewer fatigue' in this video. 


So overall, what makes a good music video is to change the music video throughout, even if it's by changing the mise-en-scene, the lighting, the costumes and camera angles/movements. Also, having a confident performer and good lip synching is vital to make a good music video that avoids viewer fatigue.