Matthew, Harriet and Katie
Showing posts with label katie rand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label katie rand. Show all posts
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Media Commentry Essay
1- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Using the ‘alternative folk’ genre gave us the opportunity to incorporate ideas which did not necessarily conform with just the normal ‘folk’ idea. ‘Alternative folk’ is a genre which uses conventional and stereotypical ideas of the countryside and nature such as fields, guitars, love and heartbreak and either adds to, enhances or changes these components to create either a new or slightly more complex image. For example we filmed the singer driving along country lanes, used play park equipment in a field and also wrapped fairy lights around a tree – the typical natural of ‘folk’ in contact with the, not so related, man made materials ‘alternative’.
The mise-en-scene conforms to the genre as it includes many stereotypical elements such as the filming being completely outside and using the country side and a back garden to create the most typical natural feel we could. Using natural colours such as yellow, cream and green, and (apart from the fairy lights) using natural lighting connected all the elements together more thoroughly. Out of the props, the guitar is immediately recognisable as a link to ‘folk’ music and having the yellow car driving thorough the country side along with the fairy lights and using the play park are more our own twist and adds to the theme and the ‘alternative’ aspect.
We conformed to the regular, natural and establishing camera angles and shots which included close-ups, long shots and low-angle mid-shots, while still using tracking shots and point of view shots. The only un-naturalistic camera shot we used was a zoom but this was used in areas of slow moving footage representing memory which sometimes features in real media products.
We created a mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic sound throughout the music video. This both conforms and goes against the stereotypical ‘folk’ music video but is incorporated in the ‘alternative’. We decided to do this to create a connection to the audience when the singing was diegetic and performed and then to continue the connection and add a story mood with non-diegetic over the memory images to create an interest.
2- How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary tasks?
The combination of our music video and ancillary tasks is very effective and works well as it connects visuals, text and genre in a flowing and relaxed manner joined with a happy and fun atmosphere. We decided to integrate certain photos from filming such as playing the guitar in the back of the car and additional group photos such as all three of us out and about together in the college grounds and mould together what we hoped would appear to be a recognisable, friendly product. Our aim was to represent the artist in a non-provocative, stereotypical, friendly way which conformed to the genre and appealed to the target audience.
3- What have you learnt from your audience feedback?The audience feedback throughout the entire project was on the whole very complimentary and helpful. Some of the feedback we were most pleased with was: “The lights are very effective”, “Lip Syncing is effective”, “Has done back and forth from different sections of the video well” and “General pace is good”; We appreciated these comments the most as they pointed out the areas that we took most care with spent the most time on. We were only given a couple constructive criticisms. These were: “More close ups of lead singer” and “Another location, cut to and back from?” we found these to be very helpful as we were able to create more variation in unsung areas by filming more varied footage. We also were asked to add “More dissolves” which would continue the pace of the music video and were commented that we should think about adjusting a couple of grainy shots when they said: “close up on the guitar is 'grainy' needs to be re-shot.”
4- How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages? Throughout the planning and making process of our music video we used a number of different technologies including equipment, internet and computer software. These included Cameras, Itunes, Final Cut Express, Photoshop, Wikipedia, and Google. We used the internet for our research into the specific ‘alternative folk’ genre and what it incorporates, the original artist of the song and what her own views and form of style is and also for our digipack ideas, what it is, how it works and general familiar layouts for maximum audience participation. The camera was vital for filming our music video and we used it to our advantage by being able to use it as hand held which contributed to the ‘home video’ and authentic effect we were looking for and by sitting it on the tripod which allowed us to focus in the artist without moving around and creating a natural frame. Photoshop was another programme which without we would have had to make our ancillary tasks by hand and to a lesser quality as it allowed us to upload, cut fade, change the colour of and move pictures and text around the screen. Final cut was very helpful as well in fields of editing such as cutting, transitions and placement of footage along with colour changes for picture manipulation to create our own stamp and feel to the final products. Finally, we used an online blogging system to keep track of our progress and create updates of our work. Being able to use these technologies as an amateur filmmaker to create a product from concept to consumption has been very helpful and insightful. It has allowed me to have an opportunity to produce a piece of work which I would have otherwise not been able to if they were non-existent or unattainable. It has given me an insight into what kind of procedures, preparations, time limits, equipment and focus is needed to create a product which can be viewed and/or interacted with by or with a target consumer.
Using the ‘alternative folk’ genre gave us the opportunity to incorporate ideas which did not necessarily conform with just the normal ‘folk’ idea. ‘Alternative folk’ is a genre which uses conventional and stereotypical ideas of the countryside and nature such as fields, guitars, love and heartbreak and either adds to, enhances or changes these components to create either a new or slightly more complex image. For example we filmed the singer driving along country lanes, used play park equipment in a field and also wrapped fairy lights around a tree – the typical natural of ‘folk’ in contact with the, not so related, man made materials ‘alternative’.
The mise-en-scene conforms to the genre as it includes many stereotypical elements such as the filming being completely outside and using the country side and a back garden to create the most typical natural feel we could. Using natural colours such as yellow, cream and green, and (apart from the fairy lights) using natural lighting connected all the elements together more thoroughly. Out of the props, the guitar is immediately recognisable as a link to ‘folk’ music and having the yellow car driving thorough the country side along with the fairy lights and using the play park are more our own twist and adds to the theme and the ‘alternative’ aspect.
We conformed to the regular, natural and establishing camera angles and shots which included close-ups, long shots and low-angle mid-shots, while still using tracking shots and point of view shots. The only un-naturalistic camera shot we used was a zoom but this was used in areas of slow moving footage representing memory which sometimes features in real media products.
We created a mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic sound throughout the music video. This both conforms and goes against the stereotypical ‘folk’ music video but is incorporated in the ‘alternative’. We decided to do this to create a connection to the audience when the singing was diegetic and performed and then to continue the connection and add a story mood with non-diegetic over the memory images to create an interest.
2- How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary tasks?
The combination of our music video and ancillary tasks is very effective and works well as it connects visuals, text and genre in a flowing and relaxed manner joined with a happy and fun atmosphere. We decided to integrate certain photos from filming such as playing the guitar in the back of the car and additional group photos such as all three of us out and about together in the college grounds and mould together what we hoped would appear to be a recognisable, friendly product. Our aim was to represent the artist in a non-provocative, stereotypical, friendly way which conformed to the genre and appealed to the target audience.
3- What have you learnt from your audience feedback?The audience feedback throughout the entire project was on the whole very complimentary and helpful. Some of the feedback we were most pleased with was: “The lights are very effective”, “Lip Syncing is effective”, “Has done back and forth from different sections of the video well” and “General pace is good”; We appreciated these comments the most as they pointed out the areas that we took most care with spent the most time on. We were only given a couple constructive criticisms. These were: “More close ups of lead singer” and “Another location, cut to and back from?” we found these to be very helpful as we were able to create more variation in unsung areas by filming more varied footage. We also were asked to add “More dissolves” which would continue the pace of the music video and were commented that we should think about adjusting a couple of grainy shots when they said: “close up on the guitar is 'grainy' needs to be re-shot.”
4- How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages? Throughout the planning and making process of our music video we used a number of different technologies including equipment, internet and computer software. These included Cameras, Itunes, Final Cut Express, Photoshop, Wikipedia, and Google. We used the internet for our research into the specific ‘alternative folk’ genre and what it incorporates, the original artist of the song and what her own views and form of style is and also for our digipack ideas, what it is, how it works and general familiar layouts for maximum audience participation. The camera was vital for filming our music video and we used it to our advantage by being able to use it as hand held which contributed to the ‘home video’ and authentic effect we were looking for and by sitting it on the tripod which allowed us to focus in the artist without moving around and creating a natural frame. Photoshop was another programme which without we would have had to make our ancillary tasks by hand and to a lesser quality as it allowed us to upload, cut fade, change the colour of and move pictures and text around the screen. Final cut was very helpful as well in fields of editing such as cutting, transitions and placement of footage along with colour changes for picture manipulation to create our own stamp and feel to the final products. Finally, we used an online blogging system to keep track of our progress and create updates of our work. Being able to use these technologies as an amateur filmmaker to create a product from concept to consumption has been very helpful and insightful. It has allowed me to have an opportunity to produce a piece of work which I would have otherwise not been able to if they were non-existent or unattainable. It has given me an insight into what kind of procedures, preparations, time limits, equipment and focus is needed to create a product which can be viewed and/or interacted with by or with a target consumer.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Digipaks
These are examples of a couple of digipaks. Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside.
They are often used as covers for CD singles and/or special editions of the album.
We want to make one of these digipaks for our music video
Monday, 2 November 2009
Teacher Feedback
1) Camerawork/ Mise-en-Scene
- The lights are very effective. Atmosphere.
- Quality of the footage differs- excellent of katie but close up on the guitar is 'grainy' needs to be re-shot. (Also it doesn't look like katie's really playing.)
- Lip Syncing is effective.Has back and forth from different sections of the video well. More dissolves?
- General pace is good.
- Well performed- look at 'costume' of lead singer. Fits convention of female vocal driver lead singer.
- More close ups of lead singer. Another location, cut to and back from?
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Rough cut
This is our rough cut. We've used still shots which we took a couple of weeks ago to show what moving image is going to be there.
The close-up shots of the guitar are existing shots zoomed in. However we understand this makes them grainy and that we need to re-shoot these shots at a later date.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
What We Need To Do After the Rough Cut
Here we have composed a list of what happens or will need to happen after the rough cut after half term:
- We will need the extra day of filming to improve/add to our music video sequences. This will include footage of the road and singing while driving.
- Improve and add certain transitions to enhance the mood and atmosphere of the completed music video.
- We will need the extra day of filming to improve/add to our music video sequences. This will include footage of the road and singing while driving.
- Improve and add certain transitions to enhance the mood and atmosphere of the completed music video.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Test Footage
This is some test footage I did while away this weekend to see how the travelling aspect looked visually and whether it would be a good method to use in our video.
1. This is on the Metro Line in Newcastle, it was to test how footage from a side window would appear.
2. This clip is of the car journey on the way home and to see how footage looking forward out of the windscreen would look.
up to date props/costumes
basic props.
- yellow car(traveling experience)
- guitar
- torch
- fairy lights
- road trip(music)
- picnic blankets
- picnic basket
- sunglasses (weather depending...)
- use of clocks (to show the times through out the day)
costumes.
- white dress
- blue tights
- Brown Boots
-Blue scarf and hat
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
response to feedback
really good constructive criticism, helpful for future blog work.
we can use some of the feedback to develop our blog into more visual and appealing pages that consist of various bold images and videos.
we intend to extend our blog and improve our quality and quantity of visual i.e. videos and images fro the internet that relate to similar artists and genres.
our result, we are pleased with the feedback and understand that constructive criticism was needed, we now know what is expected and can fulfill that before we end up to far behind.
we can use some of the feedback to develop our blog into more visual and appealing pages that consist of various bold images and videos.
we intend to extend our blog and improve our quality and quantity of visual i.e. videos and images fro the internet that relate to similar artists and genres.
our result, we are pleased with the feedback and understand that constructive criticism was needed, we now know what is expected and can fulfill that before we end up to far behind.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Early storyboard ideas
We wanted a performance based video where a story is also incorporated.
Here are some examples of this and videos that have inspired us:
We also looked at the way animation can be put into a video with live footage.
We like the way this was done, but decided aainst it as we thought it would be extremely challenging.
Here are some examples of this and videos that have inspired us:
We also looked at the way animation can be put into a video with live footage.
We like the way this was done, but decided aainst it as we thought it would be extremely challenging.
Reply from Charlene Soraia, the Artist of Daffodils.
yeah that would be fine! would you like a full quality version of the song?
what's the video? id love to have a look once it's done!!!
much love x x x x x
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
First ideas for Storyboard
Here are our first ideas for the music video.
We would like a performance based video with a story being told. We would aso like an element of fairies and a fairytale land.
Here are some of our ideas for the performance part of the video:
Story ideas
We would like a performance based video with a story being told. We would aso like an element of fairies and a fairytale land.
Here are some of our ideas for the performance part of the video:
- Close-up shots of fingers plucking the guitar strings
- Mid-shots of Katie playing the guitar, with face and guitar both in shot
- Close up shots of katies' face when singing, for example at 37 seconds when you hear the first like lyrics of the song.
Story ideas
- Shots of Katie not singing while lyrics are still going on in the background
- Packing up the car
- Driving
- Shots of the countryside e.g view out the car window (point of view shot)
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Music Video Pitch Ideas
We decided as a group on a 'home video'/solo road trip theme which ties in with the delicate, progressive style and genre of the 'alternative' music. We would create a story based video with elements of performance tied in to create contrast and variation making the video more intersting for viewing; for example like in the Sixpence None The Richer video for 'Kiss Me'.
Technical Choices
For our video, we will add faded video transactions to create a fairy tale/dream like effect. Also we will use a sepia filter on some clips which adds and amplifies the 'home video' theme and maybe use a 'bad tv' (or similar) effect which will also help. For example in Torchwood-Small worlds, they use a sepia filter to reflect the fact that it's in the past and so the red would show up better. There is also "fairy-cam" -A high angle, point of view shot with blurred edges, which gives a mysterious feel.
Setting and Location
As for the settings and locations we have decided on using natural and spacious places which links in with the title of the song 'Daffodils', flowers which tend to grow out in the country side; going to places such as Milton Country Park, our back gardens and using the fields and roads around the village of Hildersham will help tremendously with what we want to achieve. Also because the music gives the impression of moving along, we will also be filming a lot of the road while traveling from one place to the next to amplify and reflect this element within the music.
Props
For the props, we will be using objects that can help explain the story and help the audience to better relate to whats happening while also having interesting twists on certain props for example, fairy-lights wrapped around the tree we will be using in a backdrop which will create interest. Other props we intend to use are flowers, a car for the footage of the traveling, an acoustic guitar for the performance side to the video, torches for added light and effect, clocks to immitate time moving and a car cd player to help start the music from the story point of view.
For the props, we will be using objects that can help explain the story and help the audience to better relate to whats happening while also having interesting twists on certain props for example, fairy-lights wrapped around the tree we will be using in a backdrop which will create interest. Other props we intend to use are flowers, a car for the footage of the traveling, an acoustic guitar for the performance side to the video, torches for added light and effect, clocks to immitate time moving and a car cd player to help start the music from the story point of view.
Technical Choices
For our video, we will add faded video transactions to create a fairy tale/dream like effect. Also we will use a sepia filter on some clips which adds and amplifies the 'home video' theme and maybe use a 'bad tv' (or similar) effect which will also help. For example in Torchwood-Small worlds, they use a sepia filter to reflect the fact that it's in the past and so the red would show up better. There is also "fairy-cam" -A high angle, point of view shot with blurred edges, which gives a mysterious feel.