Discussion - How to improve our music video

The follwing day after the showcase (1st April) we as a group decided to meet for lunch to discuss our feedback from our peers as well as how we could take on this criticism in order to improve our music video overall. First of all we discussed that we would need to mix up the performance with the narrative to create a balance between the two. Another criticism we had to take on board was that there wasn't enough lip syncing involved in the performance. To deal with this we decided that we would gather more footage which includes the lead singer of the band performing more lip syncing. There were two more criticisms that stood out in the feedback sheets and that was that some shots lasted too long in the narrative and that the narrative never lead anywhere. So we came up with suggestions to improve these. One was to incorporate an ending to the music video so that the audience no where the narrative leads, our idea for this was to film an identical piece of footage to the beginning where the main character wakes up but this time he wakes up to a nightmare. The nightmare being the narrative. A solution to other criticism being that some shots lasted too long in the narrative was to add similar footage in a music video Lewis had seen recently called 'Rocker' where it shows repetitive reverse edits of people. We decided to take inspiration from this as we could no gather even more footage to incorporate into our video cutting some of the narrative shots in terms of length. We discussed we would film two of us dressed in morph suits performing robotic movements which wouldn't look out of place in the music video as the band were dressed in these and it would also add to the quirkiness of the music video. These quick reverse repetitive edits should allow a rythmic basis connected to the song through rhythmic editing.



This is the inspiration for our next set of footage we plan to incorporate into our music video.

Discussion on Group Blog so far

On the 7th of January we all felt as a group that we should concentrate on our individual blogs for the next couple of months seeing as we all had to create our ancillary texts being album art as well as either a homepage to the bands website or a magazine advert. Other tasks also had to be completed on our individual blogs such as commenting on the decisions we had made and a showing of the development of our ancillary texts being in another multimedia form.

Meeting - Discussing 'the performance (21st January)

Today on the 21st January we all met up for breakfast at a local cafe in Woodford Green where we thought we would discuss the performance side of the music video. As we had already filmed the majority of out narrative we decided to film some performance if not all of it. We decided we would discuss performance as when it comes to editing the footage we already had, we could incorporate the right balance of narrative and performance. The first decision we had to make was to decide the location of where we were going to film the footage. Lewis kindly said we could film this at his house, this would also allow consistency within the video as the performance would be set in the same setting as the opening scene. This way the audience can identify the link between the performance and the narrative.

The next thing that we discussed involved costumes and props. As the band's name is 'No Name' we thought of how we could relate to this through anonymity. Lewis owned a few Morphsuits which we all thought we could use as the costumes hiding the band's faces relating to the band name 'No Name'.

Example of a Morphsuit

Lastly on the topic of Performance we discussed the props that would be used in the footage, the obvious thing would be the appropriate instruments used in the soundtrack. Lewis already owned all of the instruments that could be heard in the soundtrack which was lucky. These instruments involved a:

• Guitars
• Drum Set 
• Tambourine 

We then discussed further props that would be involved which could create a quirky feel to the footage, this involved lighting and smoke. Lewis luckily had some friends that owned a smoke machine as well as LED lighted balloons which could be used to add quirkiness to the footage. The lighting could also code for the genre of music being electronic. These extra props include:

• A Smoke Machine 

Example of a Smoke Machine 

• LED Lighted Balloons 

Example of LED Lighted Balloons

• Floodlights 

Example of a Flood Light

• Flashing Siren Lights

Example of a Flashing Siren Light

This concluded our discussion on the performance but one last point was made before we finished which was when were we going to film this footage. We had to consult Lewis as it was his house we were using. Lewis decided that we could film this piece of footage a week from now on the 28th January.

Discussion on the 'Gym' Session

Today on the 20th of January we all decided to meet up for lunch to discuss what else we could involve in our music video that also connoted a repetitive theme. We then came up with the idea that the Gym would be a perfect place to film as it connotes repetitive behaviour through the different machines as each machine requires repetitive movements. We then had to come up with where we were going to film the footage, but it was simple, we could use the school gym as we have access during school hours which meant that we could use one of our media lessons during the week. So we planned on filming the footage the very next lesson. All we needed was for Lewis to bring a change of clothing, which is appropriate for the Gym being a sports T-shirt and shorts as well as trainers. We also discussed the shots we could use by imagining what angles of shots we use on some of the machines, which would help for preparation of the filming. To gain access to the gym we would need permission from the P.E Office to borrow the gym for an hour.

Plan For Office Scene

Here we sat down in a group and we looked at our scene we could shoot in a media lesson and set out this scene that would be used as a makeshift office.  We looked at essential things such as the props, like the office wall partitions, piles of paper, phone and the computer to make it look more like an office environment.

We also looked at where our sources of light were coming from as to give a natural lighting effect and try not to use too much lighting from room lights.

Meeting - Discussion on the 'Office' Scene (15th January)

Today we all decided to meet up for lunch at school and discuss the next scene to be used in our music video. As we had so far gathered footage of the main character on his start to his day-to-day routine where he wakes up, gets dressed and footage of his journey to work. Now we thought it would be appropriate to film the main character at work so the audience are aware that the music video is based around a repetitive daily routine. For this we discussed that we would need to create an office mise-en-scene. To create this we discussed we could use the pin boards at school to create a work cubicle (mini office) as well as provide props such as computer screen, hard drive. As it is an office scene we must also provide other props including stationary, paper and pigeon holes. Daniel thought that the idea of using a stamp when stamping papers could add to the repetitive theme of the song as well as give us the chance to create quick edits making the music video a little more quirky. We concluded that we would film the scene the very next day at school where we have access to all of the props discussed above.

Meeting - Discuss the 'Journey to work' Scene (22nd December)

Today we (Lewis and Daniel as Billy was unfortunately still ill) decided to meet up for breakfast at a local cafe where we could discuss the next scene on the agenda being the journey to work for the main character. The important topic in the discussion was where were we going to film this scene as this wouldn't be as easy to find. As the main priority was where we would find such a place with what we were looking for we decided to narrow down places we could film this. Then it hit us, that we needed a place with a prestigious and corporate environment, this being Canary Wharf, the Isle of Dogs.

Canary Wharf would help us capture a corporate vibe where everyone are dressed smart in suits and pencil skirts. As well as the people, the architecture that would be captured within the shot would give that extra corporate feel and would establish the scene which in turn should help make sense to the audience by helping them understand what is happening during the narrative. This being a day-to-day routine.
We also discussed what could be dubbed as repetitive which we could infuse in with our music video to keep consistency among the repetitive theme of the song.

Two main repetitive things came to mind these being revolving doors and escaltors which can be easily accessed in Canary Wharf.

Canary Wharf

We also discussed how we could show the main character going to work, our first thought being transport. We thought that as we have easy access to the London Underground (Public Transport) from where we lived so we thought we should use this to our advantage and capture this footage at Woodford Station in Woodford Green. This would only be a mere establishing shot to give a clear understanding to the audience of the narrative.

Woodford Station

Meeting - Discussing Opening Scene (22nd December)

During the Christmas Holidays on the 22nd of December we all decided it would be best to discuss and plan where we were going to film for our music video, so we all went out to lunch. We had to assign appropriate settings and environments that would be compatible with both our performance and mainly narrative. We first started by discussing the opening scene as we thought it would make more sense planning chronologically to the timeline of the music video. The first scene was simple all we needed was a home environment which consisted of a bedroom and a bathroom. Lewis was more than happy to allow this footage to be taken at his house which was generous. We decided that we would plan each stage of the music video at different meetings allowing us to edit each scene of the music video at a time

Meeting - Prop List/Requirements (16th December)

Today on the 16th of December we as a group met for a calming and relaxing Starbucks to discuss ideas about what we could use in our music video, settling it over a good old cuppa!!!
The main topic of the discussion being the props we were going to use in the music video which will be used to convey certain codes and provide a better understanding for the viewer of what is going on.
One of the most obvious props was first added to our list being an alarm clock as this is an integral part of a daily routine being the object that usually starts everyone's day off through the constant ringing in your ears. Everyone's worst nightmare, that feeling of waking up to that very alarm!!!
As a group we worked fluently coming up with many ideas and after thoroughly discussing what props we would need for both the performance and narrative we came up with this list:

• Perfomance:
• Guitar
• Drum Set
• Keyboard
• Flood Lights
• Red Flashing Light
• Smoke Machine
• Narrative:
• Alarm Clock
• Razor
• Shaving Foam
• Towel
• Keys
• Satchel Bag
• Gym exercise machines

Some of the props above seem unrealistic but with some luck Lewis has contacts allowing us to borrow some of the props such as a smoke machine and Lights from his friends outside of school as well as his brother. We already had access to the rest of the props as Lewis already owns a guitar, drum set and a keyboard luckily for us he's really into his music. Less important props such as the toiletries as we could buy them in local supermarkets. The only props we could have struggled with would have been getting access to the exercise machines but after thorough discussion we decided we could use the school's gym as it is cost beneficial being free and available during school hours where we could film during our media lessons.

Meeting - Costume List/Requirements (15th December)

Today on the 15th of December we had a group discussion on the costume requirements that we will need when filming for our music video and this is what we come up with.........
As we are trying to create a day-to-day routine as our narrative which will include scenes at home when getting up, at work (corporate job) and other scenes such as gym which makes up a typical daily routine we need to assign the different costumes going to be used. We will need a range of costumes as you would find realistically a person changes clothes a fair few times a day and for different purposes. We will need different costumes for different scenes within the music video.
These will include:

• Pyjamas (Boxers) - Beginning of the music video when the main character is awoken by his alarm clock
• Suit (which will include a tie and jumper) - This will be used when the main character is getting dressed for work (corporate job) as well as being used in the office scene itself
• Casual Sports wear (Shorts and T-shirt) - This will be used for the gym scene where many repetitive objects will take place as well as the main characters day-to-day routine
• Morph Suits - These will be used for the performance aspect of the music video and should add more of a quirky feel to the music video.

These are some of the ideas we have come up with and feel these would be the most appropriate for the music video, as all have some purpose in the video coding for different things i.e. the Morph Suits coding for Mysterious and Quirky. This fuses with the name of the band being 'No Name' keeping consistency among the anonymous feel.