Group Meeting & Filming Decisions

As a group we held a meeting. The initial aim and purpose behind this meeting was to discuss ideas and the processes we would take. We initially wanted to start filming during the holidays, however due to the holidays we could not contact some of our actors and we could not get permission for a studio we needed during the holidays.

 We held a meeting to get back on track due to the interruption of the holidays and decided that the first shoot will be in the college studios. We spoke to the media technicians regarding availability times and found a spot that had not already been taken and where each group member was available to film. We decided to film on Thursday 8th November 2012 for the studio shoot during the afternoon. We have our actor ready for this particular shoot. 

This session for recording is planned to get our female actor to mime her part. We needed these shots and plan to add effects. We had initial ideas set out before hand regarding all the shots we propose to use and how we would later add effects. We want to use a green screen also so we could add in our own backgrounds and effects behind our actor. 

We have also decided that our next set of filming will take place on a Thursday after college time as our location is not within the college. We decided to meet up after college with our filming equipment and actors so that we can all make our way there together causing no delays or possible problems. 

Pre Production task - Recce

StudioThe recce serves a purpose to give us a taste of the atmosphere where we intend to film our final music video. The recce will be used to figure out best filming techniques, best possible camera shots we can get, best views. We will have to look at potential hazards and issues, such as safety, lighting sound - diagetic & non - diagetic etc. We used this opportunity to create and draw up ideas for our music video.

Our first locations is a studio within college. This location was chosen for the acting part in our music video. The only actor in this setting is Fahmida. We propose to use both black and white backdrops for certain close ups and mid shots, we then intend to add specific effects onto these shots using either “Final Cut Pro” or “Adobe After Effects”. We intend to add background effects and lighting to make the shots visually appealing and attractive as well as some color correction (However this will be discussed later). Our actors will be miming the music and certain vocals will be lipped out and synced with the music. The advantage of this location is that we do not have to worry about the natural lighting nor sound; this is as we will adjust the lighting to our comfort and there will not be any wind or any other diagetic sound which could play or tamper with the sound, additionally we do intend to use music so sound will not be a major issue.
There are many problems possible to arise when filming outdoors such as rain etc. However, problems such as weather or getting permission for the location will not be a big issue as we will be indoors meaning the weather will not affect us. Also as we will be getting permission from college for coursework purposes; we are confident of using our ‘Location Release Form’ to get the permission needed. Additionally we will not have to worry about other people interrupting or accidentally or without realizing being in the shot; this is as only our filming crew and actors will be in the studio and in the shots they need to be. Overall no additional natural noise or lighting will affect us as we will add these on ourselves without any interruptions and problems.

Other priorities include the fact that as a group; We need to do a risk chec in case any of our crew members and actors have any medical conditions or are epileptic as lighting could affect their health and condition during and or after filming. We need to ensure there are no dangerous items lying around in case anyone trips or injures themselves on equipment’s such as camera wiring etc. As a group we have to be technically capable of using the equipment and ensure we don’t damage or break any equipment as they are very expensive.

Living Room

Our second location is a lounge located in Ilford. We will be using this location for our second narrative where the argument will happen. We wanted to depict a home type situation where 2 people are arguing about pregnancy and this location allowed us to connote that situation. As it is indoors, sounds will not affect the recording especially the sound of wind which can alter the sound of recording during playback. We have already used our release forms to get permission to record there and this has already been agreed and signed for. The lighting will be edited using “Adobe After Effects” for visual effects engaging the audience to watch the entire video. The location will consist of home furniture such as sofas and tables to give it a home type feel emphasizing on a normal residence. We believe this location adds to realism and professionalism as well as helps the story of the narrative become clear.



Rooftop

Our Main location and final location where we want to do our main parts of the filming is in the rooftop which we discovered in Stratford E15. We decided to choose the rooftop as is connotes freedom and sense of being open. The song is about pregnancy and the rooftop will highlight freedom for the male. Additionally, many young people like to be free and admit to make mistake.  We believe this location represents this. We could possible face problems Diegetic wind sounds will affect the recording but this will be eliminated using our editing software. Release forms will be used to gain access to this location which will be taken of. 


There will be some precautions to consider in mind as being on the rooftop can be very dangerous. We will ensure that the filming will take place at the centre of the rooftop and that all crew members stay of the edge. Depending on weather, the atmosphere and surroundings will be edited to comfort however natural lighting will come in use for certain aspects of the shoot. However there were already many safety barriers covering the rooftop making it safer and feel safer mentally for the crew.

There is a beautiful view from this rooftop and many buiildings can be seen. The buildings in the surroundings allows the audience to depict a sense of making a choice and being alone thinking. This adds to the idelogy of being in a bad situation and making a choice for his future. As the video will be shooted on top of a building, the lighting could affect the scenary depending on weather therefore to shoot in the evening will be a better choice as there is minimum amount of light yet also adds to the idea of the male needing time to think and this usually happens in the evening.

 

Pre Production Task - Risk Assesment

Working together as a group, we had to produce risk assessments for all our 3 locations.
The risk assessments were made so that we could eliminate any possible risks, hazards or potential danger. 

This included safety hazards that would affect us and the actors for the music videos

This is our completed risk assessments that the group produced on all 3 of our locations:

Pre Production Task - Talent Release form

Here are the talent release forms

Complete and Signed

Pre Production Tasks - Release Forms

We had to produce release forms so that we could get permission from senior members to use thier property, such as the Sheesha Lounge, the Rooftop and the Studio we propose to use in our music video. We created a template and handed it out to the main people we needed to sign the forms.

We had to acquire permission to use these settings as some settings are not legally allowed to be used for various reasons. We completed this task by contacting the people we needed to and we gave them the release forms to sign and know exactly what they are signing.

The release forms required names, addresses contact details as well as terms.

Release Forms;

Actors/Performers for music video

We obviously needed actors to play roles in our music video.

As a group for our music video, we as a group decided to get people from the performing arts to perform in our music video. As we were short on time, we did not hold any auditions and instead spoke directly to them. We chose people who look like they could represent the original artists of N Dubz.
We also ask our friends if they would like to take part in our music video.

We initially had plans to hold auditions where the performing arts students can come in and perform in front of us so that we can select the correct actors. The other member of the group created a poster to promote our idea and recruit the actors we require for our music video. He used Adobe Photoshop to create the poster and used vibrant colors which would stand out from others and catch the eyes of performing arts student.

We printed 3 posters out using a color printer with good quality and gave 2 of them to the performing arts office and hung up the 3rd one ourselves where the students walk by. We provided our email address we created for the group and not our personal email addresses. We are currently waiting for the replies of the 2 males and have already found a female to take part.

Research and Planning - Prezi

I started My Prezi which was used to present my planning and the progress and process of how we worked together as a group and individually. 

I created a Prezi which is basically a presentation using the Prezi website (www.prezi.com).

My Prezi was used to show answers to specific questions. I answered the questions to give an insight in the process of the stages I had to go through. I discussed how I had a few personal time management issues and how I overcame these obstacles. Finally I evaluated my groups work and progress as a whole as well as my personal progress.

Prezi Link;

http://prezi.com/q52imsvnkn65/research-and-planning/