Test Shots: Slow Mo with the Go Pro

After completing some test shots with the attachable camera and tint screens, we realized that we wanted to explore more advanced techniques and effects in preparation for our music video as we didn't initially think of them, and we want to improve the standard of our final project. 

 Here, we have experimented with the Go Pro camera by creating slow motion shots, we have done this by setting the Go Pro to 100 frames per second and 720p. After shooting, we went onto Adobe Premiere Pro to slow down the shots. 

We feel that this experimentation went well as we were able to achieve some really interesting effects by mixing the slow motion with the normal footage. Although we haven't originally planned to incorporate this into our music video, we feel that the slow motion technique could help to add effect and emphasis as less typical shots and effects are conventional for the indie genre. Also, as we feature a lot of tracking shots of the artist walking, sometimes focusing on the feet, and the slow motion effect could help to add effect and match the tone/pace of the music. Additionally, this effect could add atmosphere for the video which will show the audience that the artist is exploring the different settings, and emphasis the background/costume/etc.

Test shots: Light and Tints

 For some of the performance shots in our video, we were thinking about using tints with a light that attaches to the top of the camera. To test this, we used blue, orange and red tints;

 

We feel this went well as each tint adds a new emotion and atmosphere within the shot. For the blue, this creates quite a cold, rebellious atmosphere which fits in with our graffiti shots, it also relates to our genre well as it diffuses some of the background colour. For the orange and red, this relates well to both characters as they are both warm shades that create converse effects from the blue - we could use this tint in the shots within the church as it creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere, which will contrast from the blue.  It also creates warm colours in relation to the stain glass windows, as these are featured in many of our shots.

Learning how to use the GoPro & Development of test shots

As one of our feature shots in the video, we are planning to do a tracking shot off the artists feet walking through the church. We really like this idea as it is quite a different shot, and will add atmosphere as the framing is quite unconventional. 
We have tested this shot before, however we weren't able to access the Go Pro, so the shot looked messy and the movement was jagged.
To test this again, we have used the Go Pro camera on a dolly and pushed it across the floor.

This was our first attempt of creating the tracking shot with the Go Pro, we are quite happy with how it turned out as the speed is relative to the walking, and the movement is much smoother than our first attempt. However, towards the end of the clip the movement becomes much more jagged as we struggled to keep the speed steady.

To try and make the movement smoother, we tried to push the dolly down a slope as this meant we didnt have to push it. Although this worked well as we didn't need to touch it: the movement did become too fast and we lost the atmosphere that we want to create.

This was our final attempt at a smaller slope, however we did have to push it and battle with stronger winds. This made the movement a bit more jagged and uncontrolled. 

To improve, we will will attach a string to the dolly as this means that we can pull it across the floor without having to physically push it which will create smooth movements.

Our groups feedback

In order to get feedback on our animatic, we asked our class to answer some questions on what they thought of our animatic/video.

In this edit, we have shown the classes response to the animatic, as well as our own response and interpretation to what they have said.




When watching back the feedback from the classes response, there are a few things that we need to ensure that we work upon, in order to make our music video to the highest standard. To do this we have to make sure that we do not make the shots too long, if this is done it will then take away the narrative as there will be pauses when there should be continuous flow within the music video and can also make the video a bit boring.
We then have to make sure that we do not repeat the same shots too many times, as this will make the  music video  a bit too samey and therefore could lead to the audience to be disinterested .
 Lastly we have to make sure that the editing is on the beat, this key for any music video as its the conventional way to edit. Further more making sure the editing is on the right beat will mean it will not disorientate the audience as it will not distract them from the narrative and/or the song.

Reflecting on 2013 year 13 adivce

This post is purely based on the advice that that the year 13 from last year gave us in response to our music video and the way we undertake this project.

From this we have learnt:

• Not to waste any of our class time and own time. To make sure that we are constantly focused and working on relevant tasks appropriate to our project.
• To make sure that everyone in our group has an even role within our project and to have a balanced work load.
• Also we have taken into consideration that we should film nearer to us to make re shoots easier, however we are shooting some of our shots further away to go above and beyond. We also like the places better and feel it is more suitable for our music video in these places we have chosen.
• We have already finalized our costumes, so this advice just justifies our thoughts on our project and will make the costume much more professional. This will also look much better in the setting we are shooting in.

Record label permission

This is the emails that were sent to the managers of Meg Mac. This was just asking permission to use her song: Grandmas Hands for our media course.

 

Props

For our music video, we do not feature many props as we want to keep the main focus on the artist and the setting, as this will help to show the narrative. The only prop that we mainly use is the candle within the church, as this helps to push the narrative with the artist lighting the candle at the beginning, it burning in the middle of the video and then the artist blowing it out at the end.