DIARY: Saturday 29th October

Town
We have decided to dedicate our own time to film more scenes around Manchester. We have added a few more locations such as the Manchester Wheel, Personage Garden, Deansgate and Manchester Arndale's roof.

We have decided to film in the following locations in town:

Manchester Wheel: Used for a cut away to cut tension




Manchester High Street: -No picture available- ;Used for another performer's location

Personage Garden: Trees were used to give a windy scene, and also performer singing in this location



Deansgate: Used for cut away to add more texture to the video


Manchester Arndale ROOF: Used for another cut away. An overview of Manchester town at night

DIARY: Monday 19th October

Monday 19th October: Studio
We had already got the hang of moving the cameras and knowing the control panel from last lesson, so we didn't have much help from the teacher this time.
We did the same thing as the last lesson, except for this time, each girl had different outfits, and for some of the filming, they were allowed to stop miming so it's not all lip syncing and it's not all the same.
We also did another 15 shots (5 shots each) on this day, so again we had 30 shots already in just 2 days of filming, and 12 shots from the hand held camera, in which we used to get some high angle and low angled shots.

DIARY: Wednesday 17th October

Town
During our Media lesson, we decided to go to Manchester to start filming our outside scenes. Using Google Maps we were able to find our way to the locations that we have decided to film in.

We have decided to film in the following locations in town:

Barton Arcade: Used for one of the performers' location



Manchester High Street: -No picture available- ;Used for another performer's location

Trinity Bridge: All three performers used this bridge to perform as it was modern but still classy

Deansgate: Used for cut away to add more texture to the video

DIARY: Wednesday 12th October

After doing a bit on the blog, we decided to take advantage of being in college and being in a media lesson. We therefore started filming in the media studio to get it out of the way.

Wednesday 12th October: Studio
This was the first day filming in the studio with professional cameras and lightings.
Everyone was nervous and awkward at first, only because we was in a big room and all the spotlights were pointed at us, and you can't see anyone on the other side of the room. This was everyone's first experience being surrounded with professional equipment, and we was scared to move around too much incase we break them.
By the end of the double lesson, we have finished filming everyone and had 15 videos. Each of the three singers had at least 5 shots, so we already had quite a wide variety of videos with different angles, movements and shots.

Use of technologies

●Google Maps: We used Google Maps to help us find the best and appropriate locations around Manchester for our music video. The street viewer and 360 degree angle helped us to widen our search.

●Google: We used Google to search up the lyrics for Set Fire to The Rain and the meaning behind the song, so we could analyze them and help us draft out the scenes.

●YouTube: YouTube helped us alot, especially throug the first stages into the project. It enabled us to research other artists and their own take of their music video. Also, We used much equipment in the making of our music video. On the first day of filming, we were lucky enough to be in the colleges recording studio. The studio contained much professional filming equipment, such as high definition cameras. We took advantage of our time with the cameras as they had perfect quality and were easy to use.

We were also fortunate to have professional lightings, which enabled us to produce different textures on each clip. The lights themselves helped us to get the look we were looking for. The song that we were filming was a ‘broken hearted love song’ and we were looking for low key lightings to emphasize the broken hearted girls.

We were given digital cameras, for it being hand held, it gave us the advantage of filming around Manchester and also it was easy to carry around, the only disadvantage was its battery wise. We also had a tripod given along with the digital camera, this helped us to get still shots while the performer is performing.

To edit all of our finale shots, we used apple Mac’s to edit it all together. The editing software is a program called Final Cut Pro. We found it hard to use a first as this program offers you much to work with. However once we got started we more or less new what we were doing.

Props

In our music video, we hardly used any props as there wasn't no need for them.

However, in the studio, we did use a table for Laura's scene, in which she sat on and walked around. This added more texture to the scene as there was movement and a simple prop. The table that we used was borrowed from college, and it was perfect as it looked almost antique.
It was brown, and had a floral design on top, and had a few scratches on it, making it look more realistic and dramatic.

In one of Sharmaine's studio scenes, we used the red couch which was already in the studio.
This fitted in perfectly as the red symbolizes the heart ache that she's going through, and because of it being in the spotlight in a dark room, it emphasizes her loneliness and anger after the break up.


-The girls in the studio surrounded with the props.
Red sofa (far right)
Table (far left)

Storyboard

1.
Our first scene will three separate videos of each girls fading together to become one

2.
After the three videos fading into one, a close up of one of the performers will be the next shot to show her emotions properly.

3.
A wide shot of the next girl is shown performing

4.
A long shot of the next performer is shown to vary the different shots

5.
A cut away is show to cut the tension the performers are doing

6.
In this scene: Camera focuses on the pop corn, and then a shot of the couple on the couch toy fighting and laughing together. The fun has been interrupted when the guy get a phone call, and then leaves the house

7.
A shot of one of the performer walking around and singing with emotions

8.
In this scene: The camera focuses on the phone vibrating after receiving a text message from another girl. This short scene shows a different couple sleeping, and the girl wakes up and reaches over the guy's phone. A cut then happens and shows the couple arguing, another cut happens and shows the couple sat away from each other looking sad

9.
Another cut away is shown to separate the tension going on in the previous scene

10.
This is a shot of another performer reminiscing the good times that they had in a particular location, and also singing along to the song

11.
In this scene: This scene shows the third girl walking with the same man, and the camera focuses on their hands holding. One of the girls from the other scenes sees the same man, and therefore she decides to walk over to them and shouts at the couple

12.
By the end of the song, the video finally ends with the three girls together walking away in an alleyway. They are together because they have all found out that their previous partner has been cheating- this is our reference to Adele's song (Set Fire To The Rain) where she finds out that his ex lover has been lying to her.

Camera shots, angles and movements.

Camera Shots:

Wide Shot: Wide shot can be used to show our performer’s actions and a bit of the background.

Extreme Close Up: This can be used to show emotions on the three performers. It can be focused on the lips, to show lip-syncing or the eyes to show their heartfelt emotions.

Cut In: This shot can be used to show other part of the performer in detail. E.G. focusing on the feet while walking or focusing on the hands to show the performer’s weakness.

Cutaway: As well as having shots of the performers, cutaways can be used to show different cuts from totally different scenes, however they must be relating to the song and the type of video. E.G. a clip of swaying trees to emphasize their loneliness.

Two- Shot: Two shots can be used for our flashbacks. For when the couples are fighting which then leads onto the present where they’ve finally broke up.

Over the Shoulder Shot: This can also be used on the flashbacks. Fighting scenes between the couples. This can focus on one person getting angry, and the other crying.

Weather Shot: Weather shot can be used to show the landscape of the weather and the scene to emphasize the mood. E.G. Dull grey day to show sadness.

Camera Angles:

Bird’s Eye View: We can use a bird’s eye view with another cut in to add interesting scenes. E.G. a shot of the city at day/ night.

High Angle: This camera angle would be useful for showing action’s from the performers higher than them to show a perfect view of what is going on.

Camera Movements:

Pan: Pans can be used to show the scenes. E.G. it can be used to pan around the city from a high angle.

Dolly Shots: This shot can be used to follow the performer to their destination. E.G. one performer can be walking with the guy, whilst the camera is following them. We can achieve this by walking with the camera, or using a shopping trolley and tying the camera to the trolley.

Location Research

Within our meeting we planned that we are going to film around town, near St Ann's Square (Deansgate) to convey the theme of the song. There are parts of our music video will be taking place in different area's of Deansgate, near waterfalls and gardens to show a variety of shots, that will go along with our chosen song.

As a team we had a focus group meeting where we decided that we also wanted the locations of our music video to be on the Blackpool pleasure beach located in Blackpool, therefore we will have to make our own way there.

In addition to this we will be setting some of the scenes in the studio located at our college for the performance part.

We decided to start with the studio scenes first, as the Studio is very popular and we needed to book it in advance, to be sure to get time to be able to film.

We have booked the studio for Wednesday 12th October and Monday 17th October.

We have decided to film in the following locations in town:

Barton Arcade: Used for one of the performers' location


Manchester Wheel: Used for a cut away to cut tention


St. Anne's Square: Used for another performer's location

Manchester High Street: -No picture available- ;Used for another performer's location


Personage Garden: Trees were used to give a windy scene, and also performer singing in this location



Trinity Bridge: All three performers used this bridge to perform as it was modern but still classy


Deansgate: Used for cut away to add more texture to the video

Manchester Arndale ROOF: Used for another cut away. An overview of Manchester town at night

Shotlist

We have decided to film in the different locations we have decided and film with different camera shots and angles in every location for every performer, this is so we can ensure that when we come to editing and putting the shots together everything will flow together. We will shoot each shot the whole way through the song to ensure we have the best footage to work from.

Studio shots
Laura - Close up, Midshot, Longshot, Moving Camera, Side view
Sasha - Close up, Midshot, Longshot, Moving Camera, Side view
Nadia - Close up, Midshot, Longshot, Moving Camera, Side view

Laura - Midshot, Close up side view
Sasha - Midshot, Close up side view
Nadia - Midshot, Close up side view

we have decided to do less shots within the second studio shots because the first shots will be our main shots.

Town shots

Barton arcade - Shot of Sasha remeniscing from a higher level, close up, midshot and lower level

Urbis/Manchester wheel at night- Cut away shot, shots of both Laura, Sasha and Nadia cose up lip synching, close up with no lip synching, midshot lip syncing, midshot with no lip syncing, longshot of lip synching and longshot with no lip synching.

St Annes Square - longshot of Laura walking around, midshot with moving(tracking) handheld camera of Laura sitting down by the fountain

Manchester High Street - Longshot of Laura walking around

Parsonage Garden - Longshot of Nadia walking up path towards bench, Nadia sitting at bench both posing and lip syncing, Extreme Close up, Nadia walking towards tree, Nadia at tree panning around her and the tree.

Trinity Bridge - Laura in daytime extreme longshot from the bridge looking down lip synching, Laura at night close up both lip syncing and posing, midshot both lip synching and posing, longshot both lip syncing and posing. Sasha at night walking towards the camera extreme longshot and longshot, close up and longshot all both lip synching and posing. Nadia daytime, extreme longshot walking towards the camera, midshot looking over the bridge handheld camera, both lip synching and posing.

Costume Research

In our music video, we're mostly going to be doing at least four scenes.

Because we have different scenes, each performer is going to have different costumes to match each scene. For example, if Sharmaine is going to have the flashback scene, it's going to be set out in a bedroom, therefore her outfit is going to be warm comfortable clothes, perhaps, some knitted wear.

Scene 1: Flashback scene

The performers are going to have knitted wear for their costumes, to associate it with what they once had with their partner (comfort and warmth of each other)

Scene 2: Studio

We're also planning to have a scene in the studio, where our performers are going to be singing the song directly to the audience. For this scene, we have chosen to wear edgy but classic outfits, such as blazers, heels and studio hair and make up. We've chosen to wear blazers to show the performers maturity after the break up.

Scene 3: Town

We're also going to be filming different scenes around town. For this we're just going to be wearing our casual outfits that fit our own style to make it more realistic when roaming around town.

Scene 4: Blackpool
-Still undecided-

Production Treatment

"Adele- Set fire to the rain''
Duration: The duration of the music video is 4 minutes and 1 second.
Song Meaning: Our video is about a relationship, which is coming to an end. Guy meets girl, he is wonderful and she falls for him really quickly. He is a nice guy and he tells her all things great things about her, but really they were all a lie and now she is left with a broken heart. He continually tries playing games with her and no matter how hard she fights, she will never win, therefore there's nothing she can do to fix the relationship. As hard as she doesn't want to let him go, she breaks it off, to save herself from further heartbreak.
Audience: Our target audience will be mostly in the younger generation as they can reflect there own relationships to Adele's song, however this is not certain as other audiences in different age groups would listen to Adele's song which is pop, soul and blues genre. In addition to this we have to make sure that we can attract the younger audience between the ages of 12-30, but we will try and make it appeal to an open age range, as she has a massive cross age group appeal as it is a universal theme, which will reflect a lot of people especially those in a (break up) relationship
Resume: Our video is about a relationship coming to an end.
There is no original video for this song made by the artist so our group will have to make our own original narrative to the song. The lyrics are essential as they reflect the pain of the main protagonist. The male figure is presented as someone who was almost perfect but actually turned out to be a let down as he played games with her, as suggested in the lyrics
"And the games you'd play, you would always win, always win." reflects this.
Therefore in our video, we want to present the sense of bitterness that can be portrayed through actions played by the 3 main characters as well as lyrics. With in the video, there are going to be three main characters (all females) and then a male character in parts of the video to go with the narrative of the video. All three of the girls will still bitter about the break up while siniging and acting. We have ideas such as the ex stalking the new couple and reminiscing of when she was with him and when they did that..

Suggested elements made in our focus meeting:
1) Three young girls who lost themselves in a relationship and are finding it hard to get over, they shall almost narrate the video by being the main story focus and narrating the new relationship. during most of the scenes in the music video the three girls shall be lip syncing.
2) A young male who recently broke up with the same three girls and now there will be flash backs of when he spending time with them individually.
3) We want to use relevant costumes, with the latest clothes that are on the market to be worn. dresses, jackets, blazers, heels, scarfs (when outside) to be worn and the way she dresses has to portray that she feels good about her self, at the fact that she had to break it off in the end, to save herself from further heartbreak.
SFX- we will be making these decision in the post production time
Recording Days:
As a group we have decided to to spend roughly three weeks on recording the music video, therefore that will be leaving us to spend two weeks on doing the post production work, which includes the editing process, insertions of transitions, sound and overall polishing of the piece. However we will be spending to do the cd cover and poster within the post-production time.

The Creative Process

The Creative Process

For our music video, a lot of our group ideas were taken from a number of other music videos as there is no original video for the song made by the artist (Set Fire To The Rain, Adele) so we will need to make our own narrative to the song, therefore this means that the lyrics to the song are essential as they help reflect the main protagonist with the (feelings/emotions she's going through).
In order to achieve this, we looked at music videos from various artists, including Adele herself, of whom the song belongs too. We were trying to take similar ideas from Adele's previous music videos in order to get a similar style of her work (intertexuality), therefore, by looking at a number of her videos such as "Rolling in the Deep", we were influenced by some of the locations in the "studio" to suit the song.
However, our costumes were based on our targeted audience which was between 14-30 years of age in order to keep the style throughout, this style used was casual but wearing some of the latest fashion clothing on the high street.
We developed a number of ideas whilst researching videos by artists Adele, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQl3WQQoQ0 we found the use of narrative and performance aspects of this music video stood out to us along with the tracking shots and the montage of the video to go along with the beat of the music.

Roles In The Group

We have four people working in one group, we try to balance everything out by having experiences in different roles, e.g, directing or editing.

The three girls wanted to all act, and to make it fair, each girl has three different scene locations and three studio shots. Each location has approximately three takes each, in which it includes different camera angles and camera shots, such as, close ups, extreme close ups and wide angles.
The girls and Kyle took turns filming each other and giving ideas for every scene.

Kyle: Kyle doesn't act in the group, instead he chose to be behind the camera and help with the filming, the editing and the directing.

Sharmaine: Actor●Camera Woman●Director

Laura: Actor●Camera Woman●Director

Nadia: Actor●Camera Woman●Director

Initial Planning Meeting

In our first meeting as a production group we looked at different genres of music videos and we analyzed them, we initially wanted to do ‘Whats My Name’- By Rihanna– however we came up with an alternate idea and suggested to do it to Adele- Set fire to the rain as she felt it would be good to take a different incite on the song, and we could make our own interpretations to the song, as there wasn’t a music video on it

However we suggested to involve more narrative as well as performance, and then discussed a range of creative ideas for the video looking at it from only a performance style and then all narrative and then both, coming to the general conclusion that we all wanted to involve narrative and performance into our video. In addition to this, there will be 3 main characters in the music video, but with flashbacks of a young male in some of the scenes.

Furthermore during our focus group we discussed everyone’s interpretation of the song; and it seemed as though everyone had similar ideas to the lyrics of the chosen song so all our ideas seemed to come together as one. We printed off the lyrics and did a detailed analysis at what the words and took our own explanation of the words. We all suggested the possible locations that we could do the music video at we then agreed on locations and discussed appropriate costume that will suit the genre of the song. Then moving on to group roles concluding that all three girls Nadia, Laura and Sharmaine will perform in the video, however we will also be taking equal share in filming the parts when its not our turn and we will be filming the scenes whilst taking note of what went wrong and what went well.

Within our meeting we planned to film around town, near St Ann's Square (Deansgate) to convey the theme of the song. There are parts of our music video will be taking place in different area's of Deansgate, near waterfalls and gardens to show a variety of shots, that will go along with our chosen song. As a team we had a focus group meeting where we decided that we also wanted the locations of our music video to be on the Blackpool pleasure beach located in Blackpool, therefore we will have to make our own way there. In addition to this we will be setting some of the scenes in the studio located at our college.