Contacting the Cast

Beth Collett - 07738667873
Charley Walters - 07918144919
Amara Lane - 07770899623
Sam Killing - 07581332497

To Do - Music Video

11/12/12 - Complete Animatic 
13/12/12 - Create a table with all props, costumes, and costs
14/12/12 - Test out use of green screen
13/12/12 - Create risk assessments 
19/12/12 - Photograph all locations that are vital in the production*
19/19/12 - Practice lip syncs and dance scene**
20/20/12 - Use edit suites to test out desired effects***


*This can easily be completed as the task is relatively simple in nature and will be done on time.
** As this process would be fairly time consuming, we are planning to do this outside of lesson before we begin filming
*** This can also be done with some sample clips, and should be completed on time

Shot List - Music Video

A rough note of shots!

1. Begins how it ends, Charley in bath drowned, opened eyes 3 seconds 
2. Close up of Charley's eyes, full of make-up, smoky eye effect for 5 seconds
3. Zoom out, to show close up of face - Charley smiles for 3 seconds
4. Pans around to mirror as she looks at herself in the mirror before she goes out, Carl is in the background of the mirror with his guitar 6 seconds
5. Cuts to Charley walking past Carl as if he was a ghost (mid shot) and out of the door 3 seconds
6. Cuts to Charley grabbing her bag and bottle of vodka 3 seconds
7. Cuts to Charley walking into a room full of all her friends pre drinking 10 seconds made up of lots of different little shots
8. Cuts to Carl close up of his face singing 2 seconds
9. Cuts to all the friends taking shots and laughing and having fun 7 seconds
10. Cuts to club scene 20 seconds 
11. Cuts to Carl stood watching over the girls dancing and singing (world passing by, blurred effect) long shot) 5 seconds
12. Quick short takes of Charley necking back loads of different drinks 5 seconds
13. Drug taking in the toilet 10 seconds
14. Weird hand held camera scene to show Charley effected by drugs 6 seconds
15. Cut to Charley passing out in club 4 seconds
16. Cut to morning after, in her bedroom, panning down the bed to show the feet (2 pairs, slept with someone) 4 seconds
17. Boyfriend walking up to door and banging on door 3 seconds
18. Carl watching through the window and singing 5 seconds
19. Boyfriend bangs door down, see's cocaine and empty alcohol bottles 5 seconds
20. Cut to mid shot of 2 pairs of feet sticking out of covers 3 seconds
21. Close up of boyfriends face in anger 2 seconds
22. Boyfriend storms out (long shot) banging door loudly wakes up Charley 2 seconds
23. Charley jumps out of bed and runs out door and down corridor to chase after 4 seconds
24. Cut to Charley running through park (side shot, establishing shot) and past Carl who is sat on bench with guitar singing
25. Charley falls down, cuts knees
26. Cut to Carl singing on bench
27. Cut to Charley walking back through door, searching through fridge for bottle of wine
28. Walks into bedroom and sits down necking bottle
29. Cut into text messages from friends 
30. Close up of face
31. Looks under chair to find drugs from night before
32. Takes drugs
33. Notes
34. Runs bath
35. Downs more wine
36. Drowns herself

Target Audience Research - Dance Scene

We obviously consider the opinion of our target audience highly, so today myself and Beth had an informal meeting with 3 of your target audience, all in their teens to discuss the use of the dance scene within our video.


We showed them the video to the left to see if they thought it was an effective way of showing the distress and life changes that our own actor has to portray.

They said that they thought it worked really well in terms of showing these things, but in a really different, and less obvious way. One member stated it gave the video more of a meaning, and that with the use of this, the video was open to much more interpretation by the viewer.

After these comments, myself and Beth went away and did some more research into the dance, to get a proper feel for what the original intentions of this dance were, and whether they relate to our cause. We found this 'definition' and felt that it genuinely did match the way we wanted to use the dance.

"The beauty of "The Black Swan" lies in the capacity of Aronofsky mind to link schizophrenia to one of the most popular ballet play. This is like linking the ugly side of mind to one of the most beautiful form of art.The constant fight that every one of us is having between wrong and right, good and bad, our white and our black swan. It takes intelligence and au dace to show a struggle that schizophrenia patient go through in a world of- what society sees as pure beauty- ballet dancers. Lonely girl in a route to perfection and success. Wrong mother - daughter relations, very demanding maestro and jealousy  that drives you mad."

Test animatic

Blog Update

Fortunately, Beth's auntie is a make up artist and has agreed to do our main actor Charley's make up for the second half of the video to make sure the make up is professionally done.

Characters within our Music Video - Main Actor/Charley Walters

Our main actor, Charley Walters is playing the main character in our Music Video. In contrast to Sam, Charley requires a lot more focus, as she is obviously our main focus point, and because there are 2 contrasting views of her in the two halves on the video. In our first half, she plays a glamorous young adult, who enjoys life, and is happy with her boyfriend and friends. She is healthy and is the same as any other teenager.

This look is easy to achieve as Beth's auntie is a make up artist herself, and Charley, being a young adult has the suitable look and outfits to fit the role. However, as the video progresses, her character becomes much darker, and in essence a complete contrast to the way she is portrayed in the first half of the video. Due to the drastic drug taking etc, and the drastic change to her life, it is prudent to give her a drastically different look.

Therefore, we have to ensure that we can acquire some make-up and use lighting effectively to ensure that Charley looks completely different, and a much more ill person. We will attempt to show this in our own ways.

Phonecall with Beth

Myself and Beth spoke on the phone last night to discuss test shoots. We have decided to move the park test shoots and bath test shoots to next week, where we will we have more time to to get more of the shots done, rather than doing the shoots quickly and not as well.

Target Audience Research - Use of Mirrors ?

Today I spoke to 3 members of our target audience, and asked them how they felt about the use of mirrors. They came back with the following responses.

Risk Assessment

Risk	Damage	How to combat
Trailing leads loose whilst filming	Tripping over, hazard to actors and directors.	Ensure all leads and cables are out of the way when filming. It may also be necessary to tape the wires down, to avoid them from being kicked, or causing a trip.
Winter	As we will be filming in the winter months, there is potential for snow, and ice. This could cause some serious issues not only for actors but also for equipment too. It will also be very cold	Before every shoot outside, survey the area and highlight any risky area’s, and avoid them at all costs. Ensure actors and directors are wearing appropriate footwear, and make sure that outside filming time actors are kept warm to avoid illness.
Nightclub scene	Damage to equipment and actors	To avoid damage to college equipment, we will be using my own phone with it’s 9 megapixel camera HD camera which we feel will be sufficient for the job. We also feel that it will add to the effect of of the scene. As the areas is likely to be busy we should also ensure we choose the right spot, and ensure that the actors are capable of filming.
Transportation	Damage to equipment	We will be using a number of means to transport equipment and actors from location to location such as Beth’s car, reliable bus services and trains. We feel this is safer than walking, due to the time of year and unpredictability of rain.
‘Drugs’	Morality Issues	We must ensure our viewers know that no actual drugs have been used in our production, as we will be using sherbet and an assortment of confectionary to portray this effect. We will also be using empty bottles. We also feel it is prudent to include a message to clarify this.
Bottles	Breakages and wounding to ac tors and directors.	There is a danger of the bottles we are using to break due to the numerous environments we are filming in. To combat this we will be ensuring that all the bottles will be safely held onto tables to make sure no harm comes to actors or equipment
Taxi Scene	Identity Issues	As one of our scenes is filmed in a taxi, it is imperative we get the taxi drivers permission to film prior to filming, as there are ethical and identity issues. We will do this by filming us asking for permission and then showing this on the blog.
Bath Scene	Potential water threat to equipment and actors	In our first and last scene we portray our actor in the bath. We must ensure that all our efforts go into ensuring the safety of our actors and making the shots as safe as a possible. We will include a message alongside the the drug message ensuring views know that no harm came to the actor. We will also no be filling the bath very high and ensuring the shots are taken quickly as the actors health is a priority. Equipment must also be kept away from water to avoid water damage. To do this, we will be placing newspaper and mats around the area we are working to to avoid any cables, and only be in close proximity with water  on one occasion, the rest of the time we will utilise the zoom feature on the cameras.
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Idea - Music Video

I found this video on-line whilst browsing the other day. In the first 6 seconds of the video, I really like the effect used, with the fast paced filming, with really intense fast flashbacks. I think these sorts of shots and editing would work perfectly with our video, post drug taking, more specifically, when our main character is running after her boyfriend. It works really well on many levels, not only giving the reader an insight into the night before, but also manages to portray her rash thoughts, and how reckless she is being. It manages to show her state of mind on a more semiotic level.

Props/Costume Issues

The following are a list of props and costumes that myself and Beth feel we need for the video itself. We have worked out the source/origin of the prop/costume and if it is not already available to us, how much on average it will cost.

As you can see, the only things that will really be an issue cost wise are Amara's dance scene costume. However if we find that we cannot purchase the costume, Amara, being a dancer has many costumes that are also available,but may not be as suited to the role, therefore we hope to acquire the appropriate costume.

The Props/Costumes	Where can we get it from?	Cost?
Guitar	Sam (friend & singer)	£0
Cigarettes	Newsagents	£4
Wine bottles	Recycling at home	£0
Lipstick	From home	£0
Heels & Dress	Charley	£0
Blaxk Swan Outfit	eBay	£15.99
Postick notes	From home	£0
Black Swan Mask	eBay	£7.99
Scruffy hooded jacket	Dom	£0
Carl’s costume	Sam	£0
Shot glasses	Wilkinson’s, Next	£5
‘Drugs’	Sherbet from shop, paracetomal to act as tablets, rizla and filter tips, lighters and pretend 'drug' bags all from a supermarket or local shop	£5
Fountain Pen	Dom	£0

Characters within our Music Video - Carl Martin/Sam Killing

Sam Killing.


Sam Killing, is playing the role of Carl Martin in our music video. Despite not being the main focus of the video, it is still imperative that we ensure that Sam suits the role of Carl Martin. Being an acoustic, Nu-Folk artist, Carl Martin wears casual looking clothes, which suit his 'relaxed' style music. Fortunately for us, Killing also wears similar clothes to Martin, meaning that costumes and props are not a major issue in regards to Carl.

We also feel that, being the sort of genre and artist that Carl is, a guitar would provide a good effect throughout the video. We feel that in majority of the shots of Carl, he will either be playing the guitar, or have a guitar on him. We feel that this suits the song itself. Sam himself  has a range of guitars that could be used for our video.

Casting - Carl Martin

In our Group, we needed someone to play the role of the main singer, Carl Martin. We feel that as this is a Nu-Folk genre song, with elements of acoustic guitars, that the look for the main character is quite specific and select. Therefore, we needed to pick the right person with the right sort of look for the video. Although they will portray the singer, Martin, they are not the focul point of the video, but it is still important to get every aspect of the video to match the connotations, and semiotics that we hear, and imagine (synaesthesia).

We considered both our print design models, Sam Killing, and Adam Paintin. We looked at both characters, and each had their pro's and con's, and matched the role in different ways. Here are some photo's of the two characters.                                 Sam Killing



Sam Killing



                           Sam Killing

Paintin






      Paintin






Paintin






Conclusively, we decided to use Sam Killing as our primary actor to play Carl Martin. He, unlike Paintin, enjoyed the song, and we thought this was a vital element in ensuring that our actors will enjoy, and perform well during recording. We also felt that he suited the look better, and that the target audience could relate to Killing more than Paintin.

Music Video Planning : Scenes/Props/Costumes/Locations

Scenes	Location	Prop/Costume
Starts off as it ends girl in bath	Bath - House	Bath / Wine bottle/White dress
Cut to carl singing (through window)	Beth’s house - Garden	Guitar /casual indie clothing
Girl in club dancing with friends	Nightclub	Alcohol/cigarettes/extras
Various shots of nightclub	Predrink/bedroom/club	Alcohol/cigarettes/cups/extras/mirrors/makeup Heels/girls bedroom
Taxi Shot/ girl leaving/walking home	Taxi/ outside house	Keys
Enters home/ takes drugs/passes out	House	Sofa/Table/Drugs/
Morning after – boyfriend scene	House	Wine/French doors/ blanket/ sofa/ door
Chasing through park	Park	Guitar/bench/ same costume as night before/heel
Park shot 2 / falling	Park	Fake blood
Drug scene 2	House	Mirror/drug/lipstick/
‘Text Messages’ – the realisation shot	House	Phone/ Cigarettes
Dancing	Hall (Spot light, potential green screen)	‘black swan outfit’ – Leotard, face mask,  dark makeup, Tutu, Tights, Ballet Shoes
Pysco shots/ close ups of her face & eyes/  keep cutting in and out of dancing	House/Hall	Cigarettes/ Black Swan Outfit/Makeup running down face
Walking down road/finds post notes/smoking fag	Rainbow Hill	Cigarettes/ Post  Notes/Bag/Fountain Pen/Lighter
Her running bath / Going to fridge for wine	House	Bath/ Wine/ Fridge/ Notes/ Pen
Drinking Wine/ Getting into bath	Bathroom	Candles/ Wine/ Bath
Drowning scene **health and safety**	Bath	White dress/ wine bottle/ bath
	Rough scenes - not definitive
	Approx. 10 - 20 shots in each scene	Martin will appear in scenes, noticed/unnoticed

test shoot dance

Update

I had a thought the other day about using a rewind effect on the video

Advert

Digipak

Tracklist

1)  i just need a friend
2) swallowed pride
3) broken key
4) skinny little bastard
5) journey
6) 54 council houses
7) the enterprise
8) this road

tracks 2,3 and 5 were my own idea's, where as the others were Carl's own song titles, used for authenticity.

Group Discussion

In our most recent group discussion, we decided that within our video, as well as including elements of dance, and mirrors, that we should include some black and white filter shots, and some colour shots.


This is because that we feel, as the video is likely to be split into, prior and post drug taking. We feel that the use of the filters, will connote the two contrasting connotations received from the meanings within the song.

Digipack plan

DIGIPAK JOURNEY

Digipack locations and ideas

I found this location on my travels, and felt that it was a really good idea for my cover. The isolated tree with a nice foreground, represents a sort of simplistic, and natural feel to the design of the cover. This fits in with the housestyle of other covers from similar artists. As it will be winter during filming, it is likely to be quite muddy, so precautions should be taken to ensure that equipment remains clean and functional.


I have a few idea's about the cover

1) A master shot of the tree with the hills in the back ground, with the artist in a darker filter, with a guitar.
2) A master shot with the artist, and the actor within the song sitting either side of the tree
3) A close up shot of the artists face leaning against the tree, sat down.

Fonts for digipack

These fonts in particular are fonts I am considering for my digipak. I feel that the represent the genre and fit in well with the albums simplistic and natural house style.

Music Video Research

Kid Cudi ft. MGMT - Pursuit of Happiness.

Within this video, by Brody Baker, there are a variety of camera shots. The video opens with a close up on on a record player. When the dial hits the record, this is when the audio actually begins to play, matching the sound to the visual.

As the the songs kicks in, a master shot of the room is shown. Cudi, the artist is shown between 2 sofa's full of people, separated from the rest of the people in the shot. This connotes his physical separation from people, but as the first verse kicks in, everything apart from Cudi in the centre of the shot, is put into slow motion. This connotes Cudi's internal separation, and that although his body is at the, we are to presume party via the mise en scene, his mind is elsewhere. We get the impression that this is a party via the use of props in terms of alcohol, and the lively design set up in the shot. There is also the of a cut away, to a three shot of people dancing.

The use of slow motion is evidence that the video does have aspects of literalness, like Goodwin said. Cudi uses the lyric 'people told me slow my roll, I'm screaming out **** that'. This suggests that although the slow motion could suggest his separation from everyone, it is not necessarily bad. On the contrary it could suggest that everyone is, in effect 'too slow' for him.

As the song enters it's first chorus, there are two master shots. The mise en scene appears to be much more lively, in comparison to the long take in the verse beforehand. This either gives the impression of parallel editing, or ellipsis. As the two shot of Cudi comes at 0:49, we notice that Cudi is still in real time, whilst the rest of the party is in slow motion.






However, in the low angle mid shot of the confetti, as the sharp sound plays on the song, the handheld camera increases it's speed and pans/tilts down onto a higher angle master shot of the party. This is an example of Goodwins Synaesthesia.

Throughout the music video, the star, Cudi is never situated within the crowd. For instance the early master shot I mentioned earlier, as well as the similar master shot on the right. The producer of the video has purposely enhanced this 'isolated' feel to thhe video by ensuring all the people around Cudi are facing away, and in slow motion, whilst he remains in the centre of the screen, and in real time. As he is the centre of the shot, he is obviously the main focus, and as mentioned earlier, his 'isolation' has positive and negative connotations.



 However as we see later within the music video, when the instrumental kicks in, Cudi is surrounded by people, and this, in effect negates the isolation feel to the video. This suggests some relation from the visuals to the audio. When there are vocals present on the verses, there is a sense of isolation directed towards cudi on screen. When the chorus kicks in, he is seen with one other individual, which connotes some sort of connection between the two characters as they are seen together on every chorus. Finally, when the instrumental is played, without vocals, Cudi is seen as a much more enigmatic figure within the shots, interacting with more characters. This suggests some sort of connection to what happens on screen for verse, chorus and instrumental, each with their different connotations. Throughout the video, Cudi appears to change as a person and begins to fit into Claude Levi-Strauss suggestion about Binary Oppositions, in this case - alone vs together. This also ties in with what Sven E Carlsson stated about music videos. He stated that binary oppositons drive music videos forward. This is present in this video, as you can see the gradual change from isolation towards together.

Moving on from that, elements of Goodwins theory about star image are also present within this video. The mix between slow motion and Cudi in real time outlines him as the star. Also, the number of master shots within a group, and when he is in the centre portray him as the main character. This is reinforced by the multiple close ups we have of Cudi between shots.




In regards to redundancy and entropy, the video itself, based around a party is highly redundant. We see elements of alcohol, music and a variety of people. There is nothing out of the ordinary compared to the stereotypical definition of a 'party. However, obviously the use of slow motion, fast forward mixed with real time effects makes the screening of the video entropic, as the mix between Cudi in real time, and everyone around him in slow motion is unexpected. The blend between entropic and redundancy within the video is well used, and clearly identifies and singles out the star from the extra's, allowing for, as mentioned earlier, negative and positive connotations of isolation.