This is one of the clips that I applied a vignette effect to in order to darken the edges and make it appear more cinematic:
For the entirety of the music video, I wanted to create a cinematic feel. This was inspired by the analysis that I did on Lucy Spraggan's 'Dear you' music video. The low level lighting in this music video was used to connote the idea of depression and other negative emotions surrounding suicide. Given the nature of my own music video, with the themes of alcoholism, this same lighting can be applied and replicated with the same dramatic effect.
I looked into ways of editing the lighting in PremierePro to create this effect. The most effective method seemed to be to create a vignette effect across all of the shots. I have previously used a vignette effect in Adobe After effects to create the ident for my media AS project. Therefore, I knew how this would work to darken the edges of the shot. I applied this effect in PremierPro using the 'colours' bar, where I found an option to add a vignette effect to any selected shot. I wanted there to be continuity throughout in regards to the colouration of the shots where I was trying to create a certain feeling, so I noted down the various effect controls that I had applied and used these among all of the shots.
Here are the settings that I chose:
These settings gave me the option to make the vignette more or less rounded, darker or lighter and more or less feathered as it reached the central image. I chose not to make the edges too dark as I wanted the shots to look naturally cinematic, rather than obviously disrupted by a visual effect. Overall, a comparison between the shots before and after show how the vignette effect makes the shots appear more dramatic:
I have screen recorded the initial work that I have done towards the sound aspect of my music video. I used 'Quick Time Player' to do this. I uploaded this screen recording to YouTube where I've inserted this above.
For my music video, I needed to obtain music that was legally sourced and of a good quality. I did so using a website called convert2mp3.com. This website allowed me to obtain a link from YouTube to the music that I desired, input it into the website where it converted the document found at the link, into an mp3 format. The website produced a document that I could download and insert into PremierPro. From here, I cut some of the audio and deleted it in order to accompany the other audio that I am using. This other audio, I found at the start of Lucy Spraggan's 'Dear You' music video. I did the same with this audio as I had with Jamie T's 'They Told Me It Rained' video. I inserted this audio (of children playing), into the start and finish of the main music, applying an 'Exponential Fade' audio transition to fade the two audio clips together. I tried to obtain approval for the use of these clips from both Jamie T's and Lucy Spraggan's email links.
I filmed a collection of shots that relate to the first few scenes of my music video. I used my iPhone 7 Plus to record the footage, so the quality doesn't match that of the quality of the camera I will be using for the final footage. In addition, I removed all audio from the clips as this is irrelevant for both the practise shots and the final product (as I will be overlaying music onto the footage). These shots are roughly inspired by the Shot List that I have produced, therefore they aren't in the exact order or style of the final product but as close to these as was possible in the time frame I had to film. These are for my own personal use to develop my ability to film and to create a materialised version of my ideas. Also, this was helpful in giving my actor an idea of how I want to translate my ideas from paper to footage.
We didn't use any of the props or costume that was planned as I wanted to focus this filming time upon the shots and confirm the continuity was correct, as oppose to including these finer details.
Lastly, I edited the footage on PremierePro - the same software that I will be using for my actual production. Doing so gave me a chance to revise the skills that I had learnt in the AS coursework. I then had a go at using some of the special effects features like reverse and time/speed duration alterations - something which I will be using for multiple shots in my final music video. I was skeptical as to whether this would work or not, but doing this confirmed that it would.
An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer,
musician, dancer or other performer. It typically involves the performer
displaying their talent through a previously memorised and rehearsed solo piece
or by performing a work or piece given to the performer at the audition or
shortly before. Actors may be asked
to present a monologue. The audition is a systematic process in which industry
professionals select performers, which is in some ways analogous to a job
interview in the regular job market. In an audition, the employer is testing
the ability of the applicant to meet the needs of the job and assess how well
the individual will take directions and deal with changes. After some
auditions, after the performer has demonstrated their abilities in a given
performance style, the audition panel may ask a few questions that resemble
those used in standard job interviews (e.g., regarding availability).
Auditions
are required for many reasons in the performing arts world. Often, employing
companies or groups use auditions to select performers for upcoming shows or
productions. An audition for a performing opportunity may be for a single
performance (e.g. doing a monologue), for a series or season
of performances (a season of a Broadway play), or for permanent employment with
the performing organisation (e.g., an orchestra or dance troupe).
For the purpose of casting actors to play the various roles in my media project, I will conduct auditions. These auditions will be held after I have distributed a casting call out where actors will be able to view the requirements for the roles, respond and attend the auditions. Prior to the auditions, I will provide the actors with instructions on how the auditions will be structured and what they will be performing. This should help the auditions to run easily, with minimal confusion. Additionally, I will be at the auditions to explain the directions in more depth if any of the actors feel that they need this.
All of the auditions will be recorded so that I can review the footage and decide which actors have the strongest presence and portray the characters in the most accurate way. All of the actors will have given their written permission to be filmed for this purpose, therefore this will not be breaking any filming laws.
Equipment that I will need for the auditions:
Camera
Tripod
Lights & light stands
SD card
Back up SD card
Camera charger
Every actor who auditions for the parts will have to begin by giving their name, age and which part they are auditioning for before starting the audition. I will then combine the footage that I get from this and upload it to YouTube. I will be able to watch this footage and make a decision as to which actors portrayed the character in a way that matches how I have planned.
A variety of actors, both male and female of a variety of ages have been invited to the auditions, as I want to choose an actor who presents the character and their alcoholism well, as opposed to an actor who fits a certain set of characteristics. The narrative that I have chosen would work well to represent both male and female struggles with mental health, as well as the issues encountered by a variety of ages. This means that the main character could be played by anyone as long as they are of an age that means they could be a teacher, or at least look of an age that would qualify them to teach.
Here is a video containing the four actors auditions. These were all performed in a freestyle way with little direction and recorded one after the other, so most of the actors followed suit and performed very similarly. Afterwards, the actors were all given verbal feedback as to how I believed their audition went. I focused the comments on the positive aspects so as not to offend anyone. I held the auditions in classroom similar to one that I would be using in the actual filming process. This allowed for the actors to get an idea of the mise en scene that would be used in the real music video. being submerged in this location, with the props perhaps allowed for the actors to provide a more realistic representation of how they would perform in the filming process. If I were to conduct more auditions, then I would probably consider filming in all of the planned locations with more direction in order to see how the actors would be likely to perform in the real thing. Likewise, I would play the appropriate music whilst they were acting so that they got a feel for the style.
Overall, the actors who attended the auditions were all very good at creating a realistic character. Any of the actors that auditioned would be suitable for my music video, and I'm sure would succeed in portraying the character correctly. Although, there is only one position for an actor. Therefore, I have made the decision to cast Will as he has ample acting experience and seemed to really submerge himself in the role. He showed a variation of emotions; from internalising his negative emotions to using the space to burst out in a rage of anger. With little direction, he managed to achieve characterisation close to what I had in mind. Unlike the other characters, he constantly referred to hand gestures, body posture and facial expressions to display the emotions of the character he was playing. This made his performance very believable, as well as powerfully emotive. For these reasons, I have chosen Will to play the role of the teacher with alcoholism as opposed to the other actors despite the strong performances that each of them gave.
I have had to obtain consent from the actors in order to establish that they understand what I will be doing with the material and for what purpose. I used the official media consent form from my school, which is intended to be given to students under the age of 18 so that the parent or guardian of the individual can give their permission for their young person to be filmed. My main actor is 17, nearly 18, so they had to fill out this form in order to take part in my media project. The actors I am using who are above the age of 18, can give their written consent on behalf of themselves. I have to have media consent forms for all of the actors, despite how much they will be filmed or how large their role is in order to adhere to media production rules and regulations.
This is a photo of one of the consent forms for reference:
Then, I also had to obtain consent from the authority in charge of the locations that I am using to ensure that it is appropriate and confirmed that I can use this space to film. For the school location, I had to obtain permission from the headteacher. I did this by finding her school email on the schools website, where I then wrote her an email explaining what I wanted to do, where and any further information that I deemed relevant.
Here is a copy of the email that I sent to the headteacher:
I have chosen to film in multiple locations for my music video. This is intended to help the audience to explore further into the life of the main character, therefore strengthening the narrative. The audience will be able to see both his work and home life, where there is much variation between the two. The school location is meant to categorise the part of his character that is well co-ordinated and thereby, outwardly very well put together. the school environment embodies the ideology of structure and order; a part of his character that seems to be overcome with his struggles with alcoholism.
The first location that I have chosen is a school - Chenderit School. Here, I will use the corridors, a classroom and the staffroom to capture the narrative in as realist a way as possible. All of the locations that I have chosen are privately owned, therefore I will have to obtain permission from the owners before using the locations to film. For the scenes shot in the school, I will have to email the headteacher to ensure that I am aware of the rules and regulations regarding filming in this area, and that she is happy to consent to the filming. Once I have gained this permission I will have to ask the appropriate staff if I can use the areas that I have planned to use (corridor, classroom and staffroom). For this, I will need to check if there will be any students or staff around who would prevent me obtaining the film material that I need to. In saying this, I will be filming from 4 onwards so the likelihood of encountering staff/students is significantly reduced.
The second location that I will use is a kitchen. This is where a majority of the action will take place. In shots filmed here, the character will be seen in a completely different light in comparison to how he can be perceived in the school environment. I will use the space to show the deterioration of the characters care towards his well-being. The audience will be able to see washing up building in the sink, symbolising the lack of care that he is taking towards looking after himself as a result of being controlled and driven by alcohol. The dirty washing will become worse as the music video progresses, showing the worsening of his mental illness. Likewise, there will be more and more mess accumulating in this location as the video progresses to emphasis this idea. Additionally, this will be the location where we see him smashing up props and becoming distressed. In doing these scenes, I will need to consider damage caused and how I will safely clean this up to restore the location to an appropriate standard.
Another location that I will be using is a bathroom. Here, he will be seen looking at himself in the mirror and washing his face. The symbolism of the mirror will be used to show how his character is changing, the negative feeling he has towards himself and how he looks at who he's become in a negative light. The bathroom seems like an ideal place as it is perceived as quite an intimate place in someones life, often not explored by outsiders. Allowing the audience to view this part of his house should make them feel as though they are exploring part of him that not many others would see; where he is truly himself and untainted by trying to seem put together to the outside world. I will need to consider the space available to me in this location. I had predicted that the space here would be rather limited, therefore I plan to film in a bathroom that has quite a bit of space available for me to set up the camera and lights alongside the space that will be required for the frame.
The main character for my music video will be played by William Peckover. I have chosen to use Will as my main character for a number of reasons. The is that he completed a drama course at GCSE level, achieving a high grade and has gone on to do drama at A level. This confirms to me that he has the ability and skills to be able to play a convincing role. The character that he is playing displays a lot of emotions, from crying to becoming violent. The sensitivity of the characters alcoholism would be best portrayed by a character who can replicate the emotion and struggles in as realistic a way as possible. Given Wills acting experience, I believe that he has the ability to do so.
Additionally, Wills physical appearance matches the idea that I'd initially had for the main character. I wanted to cast somebody with darker hair; around 6ft with glasses, or at least a face that would suit glasses. He has a strong build and could easily be mistaken for a young male teacher. All of these features combined help to create the appearance of a well-put together but all-together ordinary looking male. I want to create and use this look/impression to emphasise how alcoholism can affect even the most ordinary of people.
Lastly, Will has expressed his flexibility and availability. This is helpful for me when filming as I feel he will be reliable. A problem that I have previously encountered when producing my AS media project, was that some of the actors were unavailable on the days that I wanted/needed to film. I believe that confirming the availability of the actor beforehand will enable me to complete the filming stage sooner and easier, therefore allowing me to produce the media product to a higher standard as I will have more time to edit and test it.
I recognise that these classifications relate to films, as opposed to music videos, although I can use these categories as a guide to classifying my video. The classifications for music videos aren't all that different to those of film, therefore these guidelines can be applied to some degree.
In terms of audience classification for my music video, the aged 15 rating would be most appropriate. This is partly due to the use of swearing in the lyrics of the song 'They Told me it Rained' by Jamie T. The swearing here has been used in a non-aggressive way, therefore it can fall into the 15 category as opposed to the 18. There is also some reference to sexual behaviour in the lyrics, perhaps most appropriate for this audience.
Additionally, the visuals of my music video seem to fall most appropriately into the 15 category. In some scenes, the audience will be able to see violent behaviour where the character becomes distressed. This behaviour is justified by the characters suffering and will be presented in a way that does not condone or glamorise violence. Likewise, the characters drinking problem will be presented as what it is: a problem, as opposed to behaviour which the audience should copy. The characters behaviour here could be deemed as dangerous, so I must ensure that the audience is aware of the misuse of alcohol and negativity of violence. I could make the viewer aware of the age restrictions by placing a 'Parental Advisory' tag towards the beginning, or otherwise, make such information clear in the title of the music video.
Overall, the themes that I will be portraying in the music video, as well as the music itself, seem to be appropriate for a 15+ audience.
At the beginning of Lucy Spraggan's 'Dear You' music video, we can hear diegetic sounds of children playing and laughing whilst black screens and titles are shown. Initially, the inclusion of these is ambiguous, but after hearing the lyrics, these seem to be used as a reflection of the characters childhood together. In some ways, this could be adhering to Andrew Goodwin's lyric theory. This theory suggests that we analyse the relationship between lyrics and the visuals and such presented alongside them. Here, the producer has encompassed the idea of childhood memories with a diagetic sound that seems typical of these memories. Additionally, the positive atmosphere that these create contrasts with the other themes of: suicide, depression and grievance in the following narrative. This may have been used to symbolise the naivety of individuals towards the suffering of others.
The first shot that we see is of a dimly lit staircase. A fade from black to the shot is used to introduce the scene, perhaps to create a cinematic feeling, or otherwise connote the fading in and out of peoples lives. The effect of this upon the audience, is that it sets an oppressive feeling to the video. though, simply, this may have been used to create a soft transition between the titles and the main body of the video, where a sharp cut may have dramatised the video in way that would be more suitable for a pop/rock music video. Additionally, the fade from black and to black at the end of the music video could be symbolic of the process of birth and death. This is relevant to the lyrics as they describe childhood and death as a life process. The character is approximately 20/30 in the video, therefore the fade to black at the end suggests that death can come at an earlier date than it naturally should. Again, this symbolism helps to strengthen the narrative/themes and negative feelings that the video aims to create.
The low level shot used here could be symbolic of the low self-esteem, self confidence and self worth of the characters. This is further emphasised in the following shot, where the camera tracks up to meet a mirror, where the protagonist is looking at himself. The use of a mirror is often a symbol of conflict. The conflict that we see here could be his conflicting emotions towards himself; where he wants to be happy but his mental health counteracts this desire. Moreover, the use of a mirror can be used in film to suggest change in a character. This works alongside the change that we see this character go through as the music video progresses. Initially, he appears to be a normal male, acting in typical fashion. Then, as the lyrics reveal the suicide of his friend, we see his emotional state deteriorate. the change here is that he begins emotionally stable, before being heavily effected by the loss of a close friend. The aggressive manner in which he reacts to the news suggests that he feels either: guilt, regret or anger towards his death. Low level lighting from hall in the first shot and throughout could connote these same feelings.
Another shot that I believe is significant in this music video is the close up of the main characters face. The audience is introduced to this shot when the camera tracks forward, up and then stops and tilts upwards to meet his face in the mirror, when it then cuts to this close up. It's notable that his facial expression seems pained. Including this towards the beginning, when we are initially introduced to his character means that we already begin to assume the nature of the content. The content throughout is quite distressing, in that it depicts somebody physically and emotionally struggling. I will use this same technique to set the tone of my own music video. However, I want to use the opposite of this to trick the audience into thinking that the character is trouble-free, to then reveal that his emotional wellbeing is suffering.
