Final Production Diary

During this project, I have learnt new skills within the software Premiere as well as the typical and successful conventions of the products: a music video, a magazine advert and a digipak.

Before I started this project, I had limited knowledge regarding these productions. Although I watched many music videos, I was unaware of what made them so successful. At the beginning of A2 I already started to learn the different approaches directors took when creating these particular videos, which varied from a ‘parallel universe’, a ‘manipulation of narrative time’ to time lapses. Straight away this gave me ideas about my own music video – I took into account the locations and equipment which would be available and the people I could ask to be my actors. Throughout the course, I continued to learn a lot about music videos such as the theorists which comment on the aspects like Andrew Goodwin. By learning about these theories, I was able to use some of the aspects these theorists talk about in my own work such as ‘relation of visuals to song’. This meant I was able to link the lyrics of my chosen song to the footage I filmed for my video.  

The entire process of this particular project did prove to be quite difficult, especially when comparing it to my foundation portfolio. Most of this was due to the new software Premiere and learning about the wide variety of tools I needed to learn and use, especially how to edit the green screen scenes. The whole project was also very time consuming, and if I could do my music video again I would organise my time more efficiently as I didn’t predict how long my entire music video would take me. Filming was also a new activity. Compared to last year where I only had photo shoots, filming needed a lot more preparation. This is something I will consider for the future, if I ever take on any filming projects.

My magazine advert and digipak were also significantly important. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been focusing on these products, particularly my digipak. I found this ancillary task a lot harder than I imagined as in order for it to look professional, a lot of research had to be carried out. I often found myself going over my research tasks and searching for further examples to help me with my work. I also feel the particular genre ‘rock’ is a hard genre to professionally display on a digipak. This is why I also looked at previous albums and digipak examples from The Pretty Reckless for inspiration, and used professional-looking photos from my photo shoot. I also believe the photo of my magazine advert was the main professional aspect and over the past week I have been alternating the fonts to make it more realistic.

Recently, I have also been looking at my blog as a whole. This included using the appropriate labels for each posts and creating any planning posts that would help to show the development of my tasks over time. This is why I made a post displaying the alternations I had made along the way, especially during the editing process, and raw footage. I feel this post in particular would show how important editing was in regards to my video.

The last thing I did before finalising my products was ask my fellow peers and members of my target audience for advice and improvements I could make. I then started to develop my evaluation answers and present them on different platforms. With my audience feedback I was able to add more information to my third evaluation question, and then present this on iMovie – this would be one Software I could use for my final evaluations. For question one and four I used InDesign to present them as a magazine format. I did this as I am now very familiar with the software plus it looks interesting to present questions in this way. For my second question I used Prezi, with appropriate pictures to link to each section of the question. As I had already drafted my questions, making improvements and placing them into a different document was quite easy. This proved how important the drafting stage of the evaluation was.

Overall, I am happy with my products as I feel they all include a similar house style and it is easy to see how they group together to represent one particular artist/band.

Production Diary

This week I have created my first full draft of my music video. During this process I continued to discover a wide range of tools within the programme Premiere, especially the ones regarding the green screen scenes. These proved the most difficult to edit as there was a lot more effects to be added/controls to be adjusted - the process is also much more time consuming however I am hoping the overall look of my video will be worth it.

As you can see from my previous draft, I have focused particularly on the green screen shots as these are the ones I have edited/changed the most by adding black and white effects as well as a vintage look. I feel this way the green screen shoots will fit in more with the overall theme of my video.

As half term is fast approaching, I am also taking this opportunity to film. By filming, I specifically mean any re-shoots as well as a small photo-shoots of images that may appear on my digipak and album poster. I already have strong ideas for both of these products, I simply just have to take some photos to complete my task.

Production Diary

 This week I am happy with my progress as I have managed to complete all my research tasks. I recently looked into the rock genre as well as the influence rock had over the years. It was interesting to learn about how the different styles of rock music came about, as well as the rock icons at the time and the influence it had on society. Now that I have completed these tasks on my blog, I can focus on my music video, digipak and album poster. Then the planning posts should be a lot more easier to complete as I can record my progress and planning as I go along.

 This week I also filmed using the green screen. This is one of the most important aspects that I wanted to include in my video. I generally think the filming went well and I was able to gain some good footage. I also think I took a large amount of footage so I will be able to have a wide choice when it comes down to editing. Having filmed the scenes with the green screen for my music video, means I have completed all my filming - apart from any re-shoots that I may have to do later on.

 I have now started editing in class, which has proved to be difficult already - mostly because it is very time-consuming. I have started by organising all my footage in folders on the left hand side on Adobe Premiere. Now I am going through each clip and selecting the footage I want to be at the beginning of my music video. I am also continuing with my album poster by adding more specific information such as the ratings and reviews.

Behind the scenes photos from the green screen footage: 

Production Diary

 This week my main priority has been filming my music video. The other day I was fortunate enough to film in one of the drama studios at my school. Here I was able to film my artist’s performance of the song. This involved the artist singing to the camera however there was no dancing involved as my song is a slow ballad. I believe the lighting was one of the most important things as by altering the lighting I was able to create different effects. In some shots I was even able to create a silhouette of my artist however in the majority of shots, all the lighting was focused on her so the footage looked high quality and it was clear she was the main focus.

 On Friday, I also went to London to film a time lapse with Vanessa (the artist in my video). It was quite difficult due to it being winter and it getting dark very early however I am happy with the footage I got. The filming was very simple as Vanessa only needed to sit on a bench for a length of time. However, if there does appear to be huge problems with the lighting due to it being dark, I may have to go to London again to re-shoot.

 I have also started to produce my other ancillary task – my magazine advert. In class we looked at previous examples as well as what makes an effective album advert. I found this extremely helpful when I first starting to create the template of my album advert for the The Pretty Reckless album ‘Light Me Up’.he filming was very simple as Vanessa only needed to sit on a bench for a length of time. s a slow ballad. y for the audience.s

Production Diary

 This week I posted the proposal for my music video. This included the ideas behind my video such as the heartbreak story, the props and the different locations. Of course I was aware of these ideas long ago, but by posting my pitch, I can now take on board these ideas for future filming as I am yet to complete all the filming for my video.

 I also analysed the lyrics of my chosen song. I went into a lot of detail as I feel this specific song is very emotional even if the song is quite short and repetitive. By doing this, I will be able to look back at the PowerPoint I created in order to think of more ideas for my music video and to get the message of the lyrics across in a stronger way for the audience.

Production Diary

 During half term I had the time to shoot some of my music video. I was able to plan days so I could film in both my house and in a local field. Some issues I was faced with were things such as the lightning however I worked around this and tried to use as many lights as possible, especially for the footage in my house. I found out the filming was much more time consuming than I thought as I had many ideas and many things needed to be set up. For example, I had to draw the rose beforehand so my artist could then paint it after, and her painting would be included in the video.  Moreover I made sure I used a wide range of shots to make my video look as interesting as possible.  

 This week I also did some research in the band The Pretty Reckless. Some of the information I discovered was quite intriguing including their change of name, as well as other information about the lead singer Taylor Momsen.

Some photos from behind the scenes of the footage I shot over half term:

These photos show the locations where I shot, as well as the props I used and how I tackled the lighting when I was shooting at home.

Production Diary

This week, I have done some research into the equipment I will be using. This includes the camera, the tripod and the software programmes I will use for editing my video and for my other ancillary tasks. I feel as though it is important to know about the equipment before I used it, especially to learn about all the important features and controls so I can achieve the best possible results. I also watched many tutorials in order to prepare myself to use this equipment and software.

 As this week is half term, I have planned to do a lot of filming. Now I know how to use the equipment, I am planning to film some footage at my own house as well as on location (such as in a field or in the local woods). In my house I will record footage of my artist painting as well as other small tasks. The footage in the fields/woods will be the flashbacks of the ‘couple’. 

Production Diary

 As I am close to filming my video, I want to make sure I have all the necessary planning posts completed as I feel as though these will really help me when it comes down to shooting, especially the costume planning and the prop list. When I do begin to film, I will look back at these for guidance.

 The song I have chosen for my music video is ‘You’ by The Pretty Reckless. As The Pretty Reckless are a rock band, I want my artist style to look somewhat like a rock artist. This may include the heavy make-up she wears or the dark clothes. In fact, for this post I also looked at images of Taylor Momsen (the lead singer in the band) for style ideas. She tends to wear rock style clothing and dark black eye make-up. This type of look is something I think is relevant to include in my own video also.

 The props list was also necessary to create. This included all the pieces of clothing I needed for the costumes, the objects I wanted to shot within my video and the vital equipment. As I mentioned before, I will look at this before shooting so I don’t forget any important props for my video.

  My latest post was my moodboard which I created to express the themes I want to portray within my music video. I enjoyed creating it as searching for particular images to go with the song gave me even more ideas for the production of my video. I also used the song I am using in my video in the background to create a stronger sense of what my final music video will look like.

Production Diary

 Recently, I have been doing more research into the music industry. I looked at music directors, music labels and existing music videos. Researching music videos was part of my similar product research and I think this helped me significantly regarding ideas for my own video.

 I now have a good idea of what I want my video to look like and have created a mind-map expressing all possible ideas. Now that I have a very clear narrative and theme, I will be able to start shooting soon. Below are my ideas for my music video:

Production Diary

 This past week I have been working on my blog both in class and at home. Recently, my main focus has been research so I have learnt more about the music industry by finding out about the typical music video conventions as well as the music channels. I think it is important to learn about this type of information if I am creating a music video myself, as it gives me some background knowledge regarding my piece of work. As I am personally interested in music, I found researching this type of information about the industry exciting as it is background information I never knew before. Especially my post regarding the music channels as I learnt about how major and successful music channels like 'MTV' started out and how they have progressed/changed over the years. MTV in particular now airs more reality TV shows and documentaries as well as VIVA yet VIVA is still very music orientated.

 I have also been thinking more about my own music video. Now that I have a basic idea and song for my music video which will be 'You' by the Pretty Reckless I am able to make a start on the planning side of my coursework. I chose this song as is goes with my type of 'heartbreak' theme plus there is a repetitive music sequence and lyrics which I think will be easier to create a music video for.  In my opinion, I think this side of the blog will also be very interesting for me as I will enjoy seeing how my ideas progress and  I like the creative side of the course. Taking this into account, I have made the location reece planning post to discuss the type of locations I will film. These were also discussed in my initial planning ideas post were I spoke about being able to film in a busy city like London as well as a deserted place such as a field or the woods. These locations are very accessible for me plus I have also considered shooting in my house for more of the basic shots and in the studio for the performance part of my video.

 For the rest of this week and next, I would like the continue with more research posts yet I am also going to start focusing on the planning side to get a very specific idea of what I want my final video to look like as I will have to start shooting very soon.

Production Diary

 Since being back at school, I have started to consider more ideas regarding my music video. I have thought about locations, the model I will use and what song.

 Furthermore, I have given myself specific targets on what I will need to complete each week. These targets include certain posts I wish to complete for that week as well as improvements I may need to make on already existing posts. As I have found out, for A2 epecially, I will need to include as much detail in my posts as possible to reach the maximum marks for my coursework. Therefore I am already starting to go back to previous posts in order to improve them. This week, I have also set myself targets to complete certain research tasks. Ones I completed were my post on music video theory and 'what is a digipak?'. It was interesting and useful to research the different theories as these will also come in handy for my media exam.

Production Diary

Regarding my own music videos, I have thought about more concepts and ideas I can include. As I have expressed before, I want my music video to have a narrative approach with perhaps some performance. If possible, I would also like to use a projector to present old video footage of memories and flashbacks in the background. I feel using a projector will give an old/antique feel. I have also started to think about how I will structure my video. Although it is quite early to decide, I think I will start with a symbolic object (such as a heart necklace) in an out of focus shot in black and white which then turns to a deep focus in colour when the video will begin. Other symbolic objects I want to include are a dead rose or a mirror as I think objects like these have lots of connotations attached to them which will be important for my video. I am aware that my ideas may change throughout the course of the project however I feel it is important to include all my initial thoughts in my production diary to see the progress of my work.

 During the summer, I plan to continue with my media project. As I will have more time, I will continue to come up with a suitable idea as well as searching for possible loactions and people I can use. By the time we return to school, I plan to carry out these activities so I know where and who I will be shooting as well as tackling some of the planning and research tasks. These tasks may include presenting my initial ideas and looking at previous existing music videos that inspire me.

 Moreover during this week, I undertook more research tasks. Firstly, I researched the history of music videos. During this task, I found out some interesting facts including how music videos started and what they were produced and shown on in the 1960s etc. It was also important to note the TV coverage of music video including the well-known programmes and channels ‘Top of the Pops’ and ‘MTV’. As ‘MTV’ is such a major and successful channel in today’s society it was intriguing to find out how it came about and the type of shows it used to air, compared to how far it has come today.

 My other research task was to analysis previous A2 work. I chose to analyse Claire’s music video from the previous year as I like her ideas and the way she has shot her footage. I also think the editing looks very professional. As she has only used a simple activity within her video, I thought her work was appropriate to analysis as I also want to include a simple task. By analysing and looking at previous work, it has given me more ideas towards my own and also prepared me for what to expect during this project. 

Production Diary

 This week, I carried out 2 research tasks – one on digipaks and the other on magazine adverts for albums. For the digipaks, I looked at a range of different styles of artists and genres to see if the type of digipak is different for each one. I tried to look at similar digipaks to ones I would later want to create so I could take similar ideas from these existing digipaks. Some had a very direct approach- focusing solely on the artist however others were more creative and symbolic. For the magazine adverts for albums, I decided to look at 3 different adverts to find out about the typical conventions that are included in these types of adverts. I found of that the album’s artwork is undoubtedly essential as well as the album’s name, artist’s name and the release date. Another piece of information that is relevant to include are some of the singles included on the album (another way to be persuasive).

 For my own music video, I believe that I am going to go ahead with a narrative approach. I have also considered other story lines that I could include. Although I am primarily focusing on a type of break-up story, I may also film my artist/model completing a simple task during the duration of the video that will only make sense towards the end. This may be a task such as painting, drawing or decorating. During this time, there will also be flashbacks/memories and the audience will only be able to see the ‘whole picture’ and understand the story when the video comes to a close.

 The types of skills I think I can bring to this project are creativity as well as skills I developed during AS such as organisation and research skills. I think these will be appropriate skills to have during this project in order to come up with original and imaginative ideas, especially if I want to go ahead with a narrative approach for my video. Organisation is also a key skill to have as managing my blog and coursework is essential. I learnt this skill during AS when I had to keep up with any work set. Moreover, I think research skills will again be useful as I will have to research music videos and their conventions and as this is a relatively new topic to me, this skill is vital to have. 

Production Diary

 For my A2 Coursework, I am playing to create a music video along with a digipak and a magazine advert for the digipak. Although I am still unsure about what I am exactly going to do, I have started to look for inspiration by looking at previous videos created by students and of course, already existing music videos by famous musicians and artists. Personally, I would like my music video to have a story behind it and not simply just be a performance as I think this is more interesting and imaginative. Therefore I want my music video to be emotive and intellectual so it can make the viewer think about what the meaning behind it all may be.

 The kind of approach I would like to take would be a narrative plot (this type of idea would perhaps include a slow song about a break-up with memories and flash backs presented in black and white). Some locations I have considered have been Central London, preferably at night however this may prove to be difficult or a field/woods. I also think the manipulation of narrative time is a clever approach - I would carry this out by perhaps changing the story at the end by making the viewer see it in a different way (similar to Oasis' video 'Stand By Me' yet mine would be about a relationship).

 I also like the idea of having a time lapse. This could again be a time lapse of a busy day out in London which could contrast with my artist - giving the illusion that just her surroundings are fast while she is in normal speed. I think this could also suggest in the narrative of the video that the artist is confused and she is simply stuck in one place while everyone is moving on (meaning she can’t get over the break up).

 Moreover, despite what approach I take I would like to include a section in slow motion, some extreme close ups and symbolic objects such as a mirror as I think this all prove to be effective in music videos.  I also like the idea of having video footage play in the background behind my artist. I have seen this in other videos such as ‘You’ by The Pretty Reckless and I think it looks effective as in my opinion; it is a way of the looking at the past. I think this would be more relevant for a narrative plot as it would add to the story. 

Even if I don’t go ahead with this, I may even consider using the song for my video. Other artists I have considered are 'The Fray', 'Imagine Dragons' or a ballad by a pop artist as I want to include a slow song, relating to a relationship.

The Pretty Reckless- 'You' is an example where video footage is played in the background behind the artist.

In the video 'Numb' by Linkin Park, a time lapse is used during some scenes.