My Me Vid

Me-Vid Evaluation

Pre-Production

During my Pre-Production i had made out plans of what i will include in me video. First I listed what the main thing I would put down in my photo montage. This was to get me ready to gather up any images that I would need for my video. It also helped as some images would have had to been scanned in. After I listed my photos that I would include, I then done a rough list of what is going to be in my video and what music I would include. this was lastly put into order in which I wanted it to be based around music and effects. When I had the rough lists I then put the whole thing onto a shooting script. This lays out every individual scene which will be included in the video. at the top it shows location, duration, actors, graphics and many more. This makes it a lot easier to see the lay out of my plan because it includes every detail that is needed. It also makes it easy to go through as I was able to print out a copy and cross off the parts that had been done.

Production

Filming my video took a decent amount of time. I like to organise my recording in a way in which I can get as much filming done in one day. I planned to do the parts that were close together on the same day such as recording myself play piano and recording people speeches on me. This was able to be recorded on the same day because it was during school times so there was a music room available and there was the people needed to be recorded there and then. The easiest part to record must have been for my green screen as it was only a few short sentences that had to be said. The hardest part to record was when I was riding. This was because I had to make sure I got the right angle and made sure that the horse was doing it correctly. When I was filming parts which had more than one person in it also took quite a while. This was because we would either get the wrong shot, you couldn't hear us or we would start laughing. I also made sure that I over recorded everything so that when it came to editing things could be cut if needed.

Post production

When I had all the footage that I needed I transferred it onto the computer. I also had the images scanned onto it and downloaded the music which I needed. I then used a program called Final Cut Express to edit my whole video and put it together. Once I had used it for one day I got the hang of it which then made it familiar to use throughout the rest of the video. I cropped each video to the way I wanted it. This took a while as I wanted it to fit perfectly without any over or under running footage. When I cut everything to the way I wanted it, I then put it in the order in which I wanted it to be. When it was all in order I went onto Live Type to create my graphics which would be over images, between shots and as credits. These were then imported into Final Cut Express and placed in between the shots allocated. The graphics that had to be over images were placed on the same time as them just underneath the image so it showed on top as it played. The last thing I done was add transactions between shots to make the whole video flow nicely. Without these transactions, the video would look as if it is jumping randomly. Once I was finished with my final video, I then uploaded it to my YouTube account and onto my blog.

The skills i have learned (skills i learnt / improve on to help with music video)

The skills that I have learned are from using Final Cut Express and Live Type. I learned how to edit numerous amounts of footage together to create one video. Throughout this I had also learned how to add in transactions and crop individual clips to hot I wan it. On Live Type I learned how to add a background to a part of text as well as an effect. I then learned how to import this onto Final Cut Express and place it over images etc. The last thing that I learned what to do was to edit a piece of footage from a green screen to a background of my choice. The thing that I would need to improve on mostly to help with my music video would be making the green screen look more realistic.

Shooting Script

The Evaluation

The 180 degree rule had been used mostly during mine and Monique's talking scene. I made sure that the camera never went past me or Monique so that i was always on the left and she was always on the right. This is to make the video look better without confusing the audience. The rule of thirds has been kept throughout the whole video. I made sure that our eyes were a third down the screen at all times. The only times it wasn't necessary was when there was neither of our faces in the image. Match on action had been done at the door. This is when i answered and Monique rushed it. I don't this by having a close up of me opening the door and stopped it at 4-5 inches open. Then from Monique's point of view, i had started it from the same place as the door should be opened which was then again 4-5 inches.


During production i found that it was quite hard to get the lighting right. We was fine outside as there was natural light but when we came inside and i was sat in front of the window, it was really hard to see my face. We then shut the blind but it was too dark for the both of us. If i was to film this over again, i would shut the blinds and have a light inside the living room that is bright enough to see but wouldn't wash anything out.


During post-production i found that there wasn't enough footage to make the final video look to the standard that i expected it to be. Some parts of the video jump straight away therefore it looks a bit sudden. I was to re edit the video over again, i would make sure that there was enough footage before hand. If there was no way of getting extra footage, i would make the scene link together more better by adding effects or linking them in a way which makes sense.

My overall strengths of this production are spread out through ability. The creativity has been exploited in a way where I have added a flash back to make it more interesting to the viewer and wants them to view more. Planning and research had been organised well as I made sure that all recording had been done in set ways e.g. the conversation scene was filmed all at once so when it came to editing the cuts would look the same in each scene. For digital technology, i wasn't the one operating it. Even though i was in from on the camera, I directed where to camera should go and what angle it should be at so that it will make the scene look better. My post production went really well. I used all the techniques that was shown to me and i tried to put it in a way which made the video look as good as i could get it, although there were some parts that had jumped because there wasn't enough footage.

There were a few weaknesses throughout this production. The creativity was good but i could have made it better by thinking of something that no one else would have come up with. Planning and research could have also come in with the creativity as it would have helped with better ideas. For digital technology, i could have had a bit more corporation with it to get a better understatement of what it is like to work behind the camera. Post production would have been better if there was enough footage. Without this footage the editing had been kept to a minimum and i wasn't able to get it perfect between each scene.

The overall improvements that i would make to this production is to make sure that there is enough footage and make it extend a little longer so that it will fit in with the effects. I would also make sure that the actors seem a little more realistic so that it will be more believable to the viewer.

Video Draft

This is the final video which I and Monique had completed. We also included Kori as an extra to take part in the flashback scenes. This is my version of a draft edit in which i had participated in an editing class to learn some skills. It includes a shot reverse shot, match on action and the 180 degree rule. Each part has been edited to an extent in which looks good enough to the viewer. There are also transitions included to add effect throughout the video.

Explanation of my idea

Idea
Mine and Monique's idea was to have her running away to my house. When she is in my house i try having a conversation with her but she gets caught up in these flashbacks of the real story to what had happened. What happened was, she was walking and someone came and put a knife to her throat. Then as they were out of sight Monique retaliated and attacked the random person. It was unintentional but it was to protect herself. This is why she ran over to my house. At the end on the final flashback, there are loud bangs on the door which then we both are standing and staring at the door. This is to make it seem a bit mysterious to the audience because you wouldn't know who is at the door.

Camera
The camera is always places on a tripod. This is to make sure it is held steadily in place. Even when there is a pan, the camera is still on the tripod, it is just adjusted along by hand. We attempted the pan without the tripod to see how it would look. It looked okay but you was able to tell that it had been held by someone. All close ups were direct by camera which meant that we didn't use the zoom on the camera itself but moved it to the specific place where we wanted it to be.

Editing
Throughout our little video, the camera shots are mainly cuts. There is one pan to the side and a tilt down. Other than that, the camera is steady. There are over the shoulder shots on the shot reverse shot scene and a match on action. This was to make it look more realistic. At the flashback scene, there is a high view shot of when the random person catches Monique. This is to add emphasis onto the situation. On the 108 degree rule, we made sure that the camera didnt go past my point or moniques point so that we stayed on the same side throughout the video. This was to make sure that is wasnt confusing to the viewer. Shot reverse shot was used when me and monique were having our conversation in the living room. Every time the image changed we were still in the same position and the previous one. We done this by recording all of our lines in one shot and then cut it where it changed to the next person. Match on action was used Where mnique came through the door. We recorded me opening the door fully and done the same from moniques side. We then edited it so when i opened the door to a certain point we matched it from where it would look like from moniques point of view.

Hobbies and Interests

Storyboards

 This is the whole storyboard put together in order. On this first page it shows Monique running along a road. Firstly there is a pan from left to right then it cuts to a shot of her running around the corner. It then cuts straight to where she is knocking on my door. The pan where she is running is a long shot, the running around the corner is a close up and the knocking on the door is a mid shot. All of these shots have natural lighting which means that it will get the light from natural sources e.g. the sun instead of adding extra lighting via lamp etc.

 This is the second page to the storyboard which starts off with a close up of me opening the front door. It then cuts to a back view of Monique running in past me then cuts back to a view from the front of Monique running in past me. This on the final film would have a match on action which will make it flow together and not look out of context. These shots also have natural light as it is still set outside.

This page has a shot reverse shot of me and Monique having a conversation. To make sure that the positioning was in the same place at all times, we shot everything that I had to say through this part and then doe the same with Monique. The camera view is an over the shoulder shot and the lighting is artificial as we had a light on inside to make it have that inside effect. the last cut on this page is a close up on Monique to her starting to have a flashback of what had happened.





This page has a long shot, mid shot and two close ups. This is because it connects with the flashback then comes back to reality. The long shot is of a stranger walking behind Monique then it cuts into the mid shot of the stranger close behind her. The first close up is the reaction of Monique's face when the stranger pulls her around then the second close up is her reaction when she snaps out of the flashback. This is the first flashback to to whole video. This means that it has to be good enough to lure the viewer to want to watch the rest.

After the flashback and Monique's frozen expression, this is where i ask her what is wrong but then it cuts back into the flask back. This part of the flashback show what actually happened. It shows someone holding a knife up to Monique then it goes to a tilt down. After the tilt down, there is a close up on a knife dropping with blood on it. There is a close up on the knife because it gives it a better effect and a mystery to it.

 This last page starts with a close up of me shouting Monique's name. This was to bring her back out of the flashback he seemed to be stuck in. It then cuts to a mid shot of Monique freaking out about the situation. This is to show the uncomfortable atmosphere and it adds emphasis to her expressions. The last shot is of a banging at the door then i stand up and we both freeze looking towards the door. This gives a lot of emphasis as it is the end of the video and it leaves a slight mystery to the whole thing.

My Media Summer

Lucy was a recent film that had been released this year. I went to see it as the story line had appealed to me. It is based upon using up to 100% of your brain and what would occur when you reach the full 100% of your brains capacity. So first i went to see if for the story but as the film progressed, the effects that were used caught my attention even more. When it comes to a certain point of the film, there is a change from where she almost dies due to the over use of a new drug. She is on a plane and is starting to disappear. The effects that are used are highly advanced. Instead of going for the more common "melting" way of disappearing, they made her look as if she was turning into dust. As there are parts of her skin starting to come away from her skin, you get another effect of the flesh underneath which starts to show up. There are many more effects throughout this movie which makes it so appealing to the viewer but this was to part that appealed to me the most.

When a fire starts to burn by "Disclosure" is a recent song that i have been listening to a lot lately. This is due to the fact that i like the majority of their songs and the meaning of the songs that is portrayed to the listeners. Each song has a strong meaning behind it and is a symbol to be yourself and never hold back. This song in particular, is about letting loose and spreading it to the next person just like how a fire would spread. This is telling the viewer a contagious way of letting go is upon them in which they should decide whether to take part or not. I like this about Disclosure as it is a positive message to everyone in which would help them to not hide and fade into the background.


As Geordie Shore is a common TV program, a new series had been released during the summer. I find that it is interesting as there is so much drama in the house where they all live. This builds the tension between them all whether it is between two people or gender against gender. The reason why i watch Geordie Shore is because it shows a group of "so called friends" trying to live together with no complications. Although they try not the get into any complications, there is always something that occurs. This program is meant to show what a life of a Geordie is really about. To me i think that it is just cheap entertainment with lots of drama just to keep an audience amused. To me, all the characters take a good part in the creation of this program yet some stand out more than others. Marnie is one who stands out the most as she seems to be the most forward yet complicated one out of them all. She stirs trouble and acts upon it to make herself look innocent.

Facebook is just one of many websites that i have used over the summer. It is a good socializing network in which you can communicate with friends and family etc. The progression of Facebook has increased as now you get updates from everything. There are videos which can be shared so that other people can see, images, vines and many more. I have spent most of my time on Facebook looking at videos just for pure entertainment. The fault about Facebook that i don't like is that fact that there are many requests sent by people about games etc. in which i do not participate in what so ever. This eventually gets on my nerves as i have it set up on my phone so i am constantly being reminded about all of these requests.

The ALS ice bucket challenge had been spread out worldwide by using the internet, via websites etc. and the news. It is a challenge to raise awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. This disease would eventually stop you from using your body parts, soon to be speech and then eventually the ability to use the respiratory system. This causes the death of sufferers from up to 3 years. By raising awareness, people get nominated in which I did and you donate how much you want towards the charity. To keep this chain reaction in progress, people who get selected must nominate others to then forward on theirs and so on.