Vince The Loveable Stoner

Seperate Blog

Due to the fact that unfortunately most of my blog is now irrelevant to my final product, I've decided to make a seperate blog simply for the final product, so all my work is more easily understood. I'm still going to finish each video, but for my coursework, my final product blog, however a lot of my research will remain on this blog. Hope that's okay! :)

Pre-Evaluation Filming/Questions

Editing with iMovie

Mise-en-scene

Filming Schedule

Media Technologies

Problem

I have a problem. Stereotypical Blues Train are finding it difficult to be available for filming at the same time, so I'm having to try a new approach. Its looking as though I'm going to have to film the video using actors instead of the real band. I'm going to have to use locations on-site at school as well, rather than the ones I'd had planned, as due to the fact I cannot film the band, it decreases my available filming time, so will have to make the best of resources in school. The band still do want me to do the video, so hopefully at some point soon, I can still make the video regardless, and possibly re-submit it in the summer because I'm hating having to make a sub-standard piece due to unfortunate circumstances.

Test screenshots (digipak)

Things I want to include (in this blog)

Music Video Directors

Lumiere bros

 The Lumiere Brothers 

Editing Theories & Compression of Time

Audience Theory

Stereotypical Blues Train have gathered a fan base since the band formed in 200_. To begin with it was mainly friends and family who supported them for the first few gigs at local venues for example Keystone Escape. This was the music scene for teenagers, and was undeniably helpful in getting their name out there. After a while, their girlfriends starting bringing their friends along, and they started getting recommended to play at new venues. 

It became apparent that they didn't just appeal to teenagers, when the Keystone managers and staff showed interest. This led them to gig around pubs with more of an older audience. 

They went on to play bigger venues like Roadmender in Northampton, getting a reputation and making a name for themselves. The likeness between them and their influential bands was being noticed. The generation of Led Zeppelin, The Who, etc became interested by this breath of fresh air breaking into the music scene. 

They entered the Red Bull Bedroom Jam 2011 competition with their song "Can't Carry On" (the one I'm making a music video for) They got to the ____ stage but sadly no further (However this is probably a good thing for me, as it buys me more time to reach my Uni course and be able to sign them!)

Audience Theory

With this varied audience in mind, it makes pitching and branding them both easier and harder. It means I have more scope to keep them the way they are, with no interference in terms of making them commercial, yet it also means that I have to balance the ages out to create an equally appealing impression for the whole audience. As a band, I think they are exactly as they should be; and I won't be changing anything about them to commercialise them. It is literally the love for their music that drives them, with the possibility of fame as a by-product. I wouldn't be happy changing them, just as I'm sure they'd kick up a massive fuss if I even suggested it. They have the right levels of talent, attitude and style to make their way without any fundamental editing.

Uses & Gratifications

Music Video: Pulp - Babies

This video is absolutely genius. Simple but clever [captions] are shown between shots at appropriate moments. The video itself would be so conventional without these, following a narrative, using typical band shots etc, but what makes it so cool is that the captions are used at the most obvious moments and it transforms it into a brilliantly original video. 

Back! :)

Right. I'm back. :) Here's a list of things I've done on holiday (for the coursework!) :

• Decided on 2 possible music videos: "Cancer" (as you knew) and "Heaven Help Us"; both by My Chemical Romance
• Further planned out the "Cancer" video on paper - each scene is now complete, and there will now be an Intro, possibly an Interlude, and an extra ending, with (sort of) original content created from the music.
• Tested mise-en-scene ideas - mainly make up, lighting and costume.
• Planned out "Heaven Help Us", although I'm not sure I'll being doing this one for the main project, maybe just a side project.
• Practiced various shots including shallow focus (and the switchy-inbetween focus - I will find the proper term from my notes and update!)
• Filmed at various locations as a Recce (seaside, park, caves, vintage-style funfair etc.) to get an idea of which locations would work - I found the perfect set for the second verse of "Cancer" - my Grandma's spare room!
• Requested permission to use "Cancer" - I'm awaiting a response :)
• Investigated example coursework including this: FINAL 153
• Began researching digipack structures
• Filming the intro and the second verse for "Cancer" (the overall lip sync I'd filmed previously)
• Been debating making a webiste completely from scratch (as it'll be all my own work) or using a website builder (so it has cool effects) - not got very far with the decision though :/

When I get back to school on tuesday, I will upload and moderate my footage, choosing the most relevant clips to show the shots I've practised and the sections I've filmed. I'll need to use GarageBand to try and edit sections of the song, as for the Intro and Interlude, I want to slow down and repeat the first piano chord, plus a pencil writing sound effect I will create, both playing underneath the voiceover I have scripted. This will all make much more sense once I've uploaded the planning I've done on paper (although, I may have to explain it a bit better, as it's a tad all over the place at the minute!)

Holiday

I'm going to my Nan's for a few weeks, and I'm going to have rehearsals for We Will Rock You (School's version) so I'm probably not going to be writing many posts until after those (I have no Internet at my Nan's house). I'm writing bits on paper here and there that I'll type up, and saving videos in my YouTube favourites to analyse. One good thing is the different scenery opportunities I'll get from my Nan's (in Somerset). I'm going to film various scenes, in a kind of non-commital way, so I can later edit the contrast, filter and sound to create any desired effect (within reason!) I'm going to use my time to practice and plan out my projects.
Back in a few weeks!

Short Film: Prelim Textual Analysis

Here is mine and Sarah's final prelim (I will update with the not-ruined version!) :

We began this idea as a simple "Day In The Life" of an average student. However after covering lessons, friends, common room, and the shop; we ran out of ideas. So we decided to go crazy and have some fun and made our student into a teacher poisoner! After having a lot of fun filming those sections, we thought it could do with a bit of depth rather than mindless killing for the sake of a laugh, so we made Amanda (the student, played by me) into an unfortunate schizophrenic. We aimed to shock the audience with the initial switch from normal to mental, then to confuse and conflict them from their laughter at the either highly comical, or intensely shocking deaths (depending on outlook, and reaction to the music), straight into a sad scene designed to create sympathy for her.

Camerawork: We tried to use a variety of shots to create a visually dynamic experience for our audience (especially important as our film was 5mins30 over the minimum time!)

Sound: The sound was a very important part in creating atmosphere and expressing Amanda's emotions.

Mise-en-scene: We thought about which items to use as part of the mise-en-scene. We debated over the science lab coat, but in the end decided to go with it, as no matter how over the top it looked, we weren't sure everyone would follow the poisoning as well without it.

Editing: I had a lot of fun as the Editor alongside Sarah helping me choose transitions etc :)

tbc XD ...

Film Trailers: Conventions and Uses

Although I doubt I'll be choosing this as my final project, I have investigated some conventions of film trailers, and how they use them to persuade their audience to see the film:

• Titles - although the film title is generally revealed last, alongside the release date, once the audience has formed an opinion and (hopefully!) would want to know the name so they can go see it.
• Credits - all of the famous and rising stars in acting and producing/directing etc will be made apparent, whether through image or captions, to appeal directly to fans of those people. Generally the more well known names, the better the film will do.
• Voiceover - used to introduce the film, usually in a booming male show voice. Often used are generic phrases such as "The Greatest Horror Film...Of Our Time" (quoted from "The Woman In Black" trailer, which I will analyse)
• Montage - gives an idea of what the film will be like, showing the most exciting parts without completely giving away the storyline, will give an impression and a vague understanding with (hopefully!) increased expectation. Includes highlights to give an overview of the film.
• One-liners - to grab the audience with clever lines and funny scenes.
• Cliffhanger - leaves it at a tantalising end so the audience will feel the need to watch it just to see what happens.
• Music soundtracks - gives a film its own identity, creates atmosphere, often repeats theme music so the audience will remember and recognise it, in a hope to grab their attention to then go and see it.
• Editing - edited to fit each genre, lighting, contrast, music, volume, silence etc can all be very valuable tools in creating atmosphere.