Email Sent To Teachers

"Hi sir, basically me and Amelia have had trouble with our filming, as we filmed on Friday the camera battery run out, we tried to charge it when we got home, but we just cant find anywhere on the camera that fits the charger, therefore we have no battery life, and can not do our filming. This is really frustrating, just wondering if you knew if we were doing anything wrong in terms of trying to charge the camera?"

Collecting The Equipment

This evening I arrange with another Media group to collect the equipment needed for me and Rachel to film. This included a Dolly, (the school only has three therefore we share) a camera (the other group fortunately took out two, therefore they allowed us to borrow it as we the school Media department was closed for half term) and a charger. Regrettably the charger they supplied me with also did not fit the camera they gave me, the same problem we had before. This has meant we have had to cancel our day of filming tomorrow. (Tuesday 26th October) An email is currently in the process of being sent to the head of the Media department.

Tuesday 26th October - Unable to film...

First Stages Of Filming

 Today me and Rachel were fortunate enough to have study periods therefore we were able to begin our first stages of filming, this being using a white background screen. Due to our school not having any form of white screen, blue room, green room etc. we chose to use our main school halls stage as this has a blank white canvas background. As the floor was black we covered this with white sheets. Conveniently Rachel's dad is a painter therefore we had easy access to these materials. We spent 2 and a half hours filming 11.05 - 1.35, straight from here we went to uploading the material on the Apple Macs in our Media Suite as we wanted to ensure we had the material we filmed backed up on the computer in case something were to happen with the SD card whilst on half term. We were able to obtain the backstage key to the changing rooms, so we were able to use mirrors to do makeup to the lead female. Here are some of the pictures from filming. As you can see we used a tripod and dolly during the making, this will be seen in the final product.

Heels borrowed from a friend. White background will appear completely white due to editing.

Our work station, notice the speakers. 'Searching For The Sun In The Dark' was set to repeat.




















Rachel using the dolly to film my movement ("dancing")

Problems we encountered:

1. The white sheets we used on the floor kept on crumpling up.
2. I was unable to jump around and dance in the heels as I had a sprained ankle... This also was the reason for the moving floor sheets.
3. Camera battery running out

After getting home Rachel also went to charge the camera we took out to do filming during half term, unfortunately we have been given the wrong charger...

Development On Permission From London Underground

After sending the previous email to 'London Underground Film Office' they responded with the email below, this shows the details that I filled out for their application form. As you can see a lot of effort is needed when looking into using a location such as this. This is due to large film producers often using this in A list films. Researching and looking at the website we found the costs. For a student production it costs £35 for a day permit, which we felt was acceptable. However, looking in closer detail we found that to publish our final product online (in this case on this blog) it would have cost the minimum of £150, we felt this was too much money for this specific production. Especially as there is only two members in our group and our school was unable to fund us some of the money.

Email from London Underground:














Email to Mr Canning (Media teacher)





















Therefore, we needed to come up with a decision quickly as filming of this particular aspect of our music is meant to be on Tuesday 26th October during half term. Me and Rachel to share our ideas over Facebook, here is what Rachel had to say: "Amelia, thinking about this is more depth, going up to London and getting random people isn't going to work, because one, we need to film it loads of times to get good angles and stuff and we need to be able to boss them about etc, also London's too far to cart people up with us, why don't we use closer places like Harlow which is pretty dodge, and my mum and dad said they'd act out an argument lol, and my mum even suggested she would be up for dressing like a *slag* in an alley lol. I'm just thinking that will be so much more practical. We still may need to go up to London and film the protest place, against the Iraq war etc, and the train setting, but I'm thinking our arrangements to just film and hope we'll find people wont work."

After much deliberation we both agreed using a train station nearer to Saffron Walden would be a more appropriate idea due to convenience.

Sharing Costume Ideas

As previously said Rachel was ill yesterday therefore we were unable to go to charity shops looking for clothing parts that might be suitable for our fashionable, rock chick girl intended to be filmed in front of a white screen. Instead I went looking by myself going into 6 charity shops in the Saffron Walden area. I was looking for black, velvet items of clothing, however this search was unsuccessful. This resulted in me and Rachel both raiding our closets to find clothing that could be suitable. Due to us living far apart from each other we showed our costume ideas over the social networking site of Facebook. Here are some of the costume ideas we had.

Rachel:

Contact With London Underground For Filming Permission

"Hello! I am looking to film on the London Underground next week for my A2 Media Film, this being a music video. As of yet the station we require has not been decided. The time we will be filming has also not been decided either however we would really appreciate it if permission is given to allow us to film. The filming will be done using a tripod on the platform, filming the trains as they go by with a lone figure waiting. There is also the possibility that we will film from the perspective of a security camera. The footage fits into the narrative of the music video as it is a scene of loneliness and desolation, a dolly will also be used to circle the figure on the platform."

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/media/lufilmoffice/student-non-professional-permit/thanks.aspx

Development On Male Costumes

As that male characters playing the members of the band in the music video will purely be performing, singing and playing their instruments it is fairly unnecessary for them to be given a particular outfit. Therefore, the criteria for what they are to wear is Indie, this being skinny jeans, swept hair. Much like 'Lost In Colour's' own fashion sense. (picture seen above) This will fit with the genre of the music as it is pop rock.

Boys Like Girls:

Development On Female Costume

As clothing was only briefly discussed previously, since we have come up with more ideas. The female character is going to have the separate costumes for the various scenes. The first one being simple indie look, white, floaty, lace dress covered with a denim jacket and white converse. This is simple yet relates to the genre and nature of the music and will be worn when in London Underground. The second outfit is a little more artistic and is completely imaginative, this could change on the day of shooting. It will be when the scenes of desolation are being shot, the wear will be 'out there' clothing, fishnets, leotard and killer heels are just a few of the ideas we have come up with. The third and final outfit to be worn in front of a white screen. BIG hair and extreme make-up will be used, along with bright clothing to stand out in front of the white background.

To find the outfits and outfit ideas we plan to hit the charity shops soon. First shopping trip had to be postponed due to Rachel suffering from an illness.

Something potentially like this to contrast with the white background:

Hair & Make-Up

As mine and Rachel's ideas for our music video become more elaborate we have decided to include a simple shot purely of the main female character dancing in lively clothing on a white back drop. Her her and makeup will be done much like this photo to create an atmosphere of despair, hence the use of considerable black eye make up.

The hair will be done by heat curlers the night before and make-up done on the day.

Bright red lipstick?

Storyboard

Date Calender

Here we have a pre made plan for when we are going to film, blog, brainstorm etc. to ensure we manage our time properly. As you can see currently it we are creating out storyboard and our aim is to finish it by the end of the week. However, as we further our way into the project the calender dates may change. This is due to circumstances potentially affecting filming.

Research and Ideas

Before beginning filming of 'Searching For The Sun In The Dark' Rachel and I researched music videos that we liked, some with a similar genre and others that used effects that we would like to consider using in our very oen music video. We came up with the following 5 music videos:

Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) By Beyonce:

We liked this music video due to the simplicity of it, the black and white colour scheme puts a key focus on Beyonce and her two backing dancers, it also puts an emphasis on the lyrics. This has been a very successful music video even though it has one location and the only considered mise-en-scene is the clothing worn.

                                      

This music video my Eminem completely contrasts with Beyonce's 'Single Ladies,' however Rachel and I like the aspects of a couple arguing, fighting and the footage of the house burning down at the end. This realtes to the lyrics of 'Searching For The Sun In The Dark' as they are about desolation and the world being a bad place. Therefore, we might consider burning something in our music video.

Again the black and white effect is used in this music video and also proved a success. Making the still  frames also black and white makes them relate to the moving footage of Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes. The still pictures are a key aspects and regularlly occur. Rachel and I will consider using this technique due to the a theory saying that still images appeals to audiences. The effect of dazzling picture-in-picture is also used which is the overlapping of footage. This proved a successful technique and we hope to use this in our music video. At the end the video also changes to colour making the red steps significantly stand out, we are also debating whether to use this technique in our music video.

Lighting, Characters (potentially) and Clothing

Minimal lighting due to the music video being black and white, however frames with the band in will have spotlights focused on them.

Characters:
Lead female: Amelia De Grandis
Extras: Natasha Duers and Lydia Hodge
The band:
Vocals: Sam Bullock
Drumer: Ross McDermot
Bass: Ryan
Guitar: Ben Barry
Clothing:
Lead male: Pop rock, Indie Clothing
Lead female: White dress, converse, denim jacket

Planning

Rachel Bullock and I have begun brainstorming our ideas for the music video and creating our storyboard. By repeatedly listening to the song we are able to picture the scenes taking place, fitting it with timing and rhythm of the song. We have also created a plan of dates for what has to be done on what days.

Current Logo

Currently this is Lost In Colours logo, we are still in debate whether to continue using it on the album cover and other memorabilia. The issue that we are face with is that the band is already recognised to be using this logo.

'Searching For The Sun In The Dark'

Listen to the sound. Me and my partner have and still are doing this on a regular basis to hear the rhythm of the song and the timings to enable us to fit in the scenes we wish to include.

Evidence Of Permission

Although the picture provided above is not particularly clear, it is showing the email we sent to the band asking for permission. Quite soon after sending this we were fortunate enough to receive a reply saying "of course you have permission!" Thus giving us the go ahead to begin planning.

Lyrics

We'll break it all when you're here
Use your strength to hold me down
I won't cry at all, we know better
So much better than the sky we see today


This mind will never stay
So lets do this again, we'll do this again
And the colour fades away
And it's dark again, and it's dark again


It's all about the air we breathe
And I can't breathe at all, I just can't breathe at all
You will never see everything
So I don't care at all, I just don't care at all
So save yourself


It's where we are I can't see
Going back to change it all
Our brothers gone, left for nothing
Left for nothing than the sky along the way


This mind will never stay
So lets do this again, we'll do this again
And the colour fades away
And it's dark again, and it's dark again


It's all about the air we breathe
And I can't breathe at all, I just can't breathe at all
You will never see everything
So I don't care at all, I just don't care at all
So save yourself


And the colour fades away
And it's dark again, and it's dark again


It's all about the air we breathe
And I can't breathe at all, I just can't breathe at all
You will never see everything
So I don't care at all, I just don't care at all


So save yourself
It's all about the air we breathe
And I can't breathe at all, I just can't breathe at all
(So save yourself)
It's all about the air we breathe
And I can't breathe at all, I just can't breathe at all
(So Save Yourself)
You will never see everything
So I don't care at all, I just don't care at all
So save yourself


[As you can see we were fortunate enough to have the lyrics provided on the bands myspace page, therefore making the task much simpler, especially when making timings whilst creating the storyboard.]

The Beginning

Planning has begun and a band and song has already been decided upon, permission has been given by the band members via Myspace.

The band is called 'Lost In Colour' and they are a local band in the South East, the song that we will be making our music video on is 'Searching For The Sun In The Dark.'

My partner is Rachel Bullock: