Assessment 12/07 SJA

WWW:
- You are working really well James and it's great to read such detailed, thoughtful and honest relfections and evaluations in your blog.
- You clearly have been thinking carefully about the elements needed in a successful music video. I am pleased you found the music video shoot to be a worthwhile day, as you seem to have gained a really good insight into the level of effort and planning needed to create something worthwhile.
- You are really developing you use of correct media terminology in your written analysis, and investing a really great effort so far.

EBI:
- When I checked your blog just now, none of your visuals appeared, it was all text - I know you mentioned this problem to me. make sure you sort this out. Ask Mr Winter for some technical support if need be.
- Make sure you keep every post creative and visual through using lots of photos, screen grabs, clips, documents, etc.

EFFORT: VG (but I couldn't see any visuals - please look into fixing this problem ready for the next time I mark in 2 weeks. I will want to see all posts visual then.

My Progress From Year 12 to 13

From the beginning of year 12 to beginning of year 13, I believe that I have made a great progression in Media Studies, especially when it comes to the filming and editing aspects of the subject. I feel I have really excelled, and I am very confident that the work I will produce will be of the highest quality.

At the beginning of year 12 we were given a Preliminary Task, and this was to film someone walking through a door and having a conversation with someone; we had to complete this in groups. Our group didn’t create a storyboard, however we then really realised the importance of this vital tool. We just went straight into filming, but I feel that we did a very good job of filming. We had a variety of shots, and we made the overall experience of watching something relatively boring, quite enjoyable. Our editing was at an adequate standard, and we completed the task which was set. We had a few outtakes where we encountered some difficulties with the props; however these were quite funny and amusing.

After completing this task, we went on to creating our coursework, which was to create the opening sequence of a Thriller genre film. This took a lot of time to complete, and we wanted ours to look as perfect and professional as possible, so a lot of work and effort went into making this opening sequence. Before storyboarding, or thinking about our opening sequence, we did a considerable amount of research on into the Thriller genre, and we found out what the key ingredients were in creating a successful opening sequence. Examples of opening sequences we watched were Brick, and Se7en. We also did a written analysis of each film so we fully understood the filming and editing techniques that went into them, and this was so we could incorporate these elements in or opening sequence, ensuring professionalism. After a vast amount of research we began storyboarding which was a great success, and then onto gathering everything we needed then filming. Filming took a few days to complete, but they were days well spent. Luckily for us, we filmed enough footage so we didn’t need to re-shoot anything, ensuring continuity. Editing was a bit of a disaster, due to the fact the Mac crashed and we lost some work, however we overcame this and managed to create a very successful opening sequence which one best opening sequence in our year.

Starting year 13, I felt very confident due to the sheer amount of high quality work in which I had completed in year 12. We was told that we had to create a music video, so initially we looked at other schools music videos, and we found out which elements are needed in order to create this. We saw many good and bad music videos, and this was only part of our research. Lip synching is a very important aspect of a music video, and this needs to be spot on. As a class, we went into groups and created a lip synching task of ‘In The Sun’ by She and Him. This was a very good exercise for us, so we were confident in front of the camera and our lip synching was spot on. I was very pleased with myself, and our little task was successful. In recreating this song as a whole class, I was assigned the position as one of the main dancers. On the day I was performing to the best of my ability, as I felt a lot more confident than I would have done in year 12, and I also assisted in filming a shot. Again, I felt a lot more confident in doing this than I would have in year 12. I feel that I have become a lot more confident in filming, performing in front of the camera and editing and I know that when I create my own music video in a group it will be very successful and professional. I feel that I have improved dramatically, and I feel that I will be successful in year 13 Media Studies.

Class Music Video 'In The Sun' - My Role

As a class our project was to recreate the music video, 'In the Sun' by She & Him, and my role in this task was one of the main dancers. I was quite happy with this role, due to the fact that a dancer has to be full of energy and primarily make the music video a success. On the day of filming, I feel that I was successful in partly creating an excellent music video.

When I was given this role, I was instantly under a lot of pressure due to the fact that a dancer is a very important role in a music video. If the dancer is lacklustre, and lacking in energy, then the music video will be very poor. Therefore, I had a very important role, and was under quite a lot of pressure so on the day of filming I was perfect and didn’t make any mistakes. We underwent some vigorous sessions of dance lessons by watching the video, then replicating it. I also had to one other member of the group in learning the dance because they were still getting a little section of it wrong, therefore I contributed I that respect. Once we were confident and leant the sequences, we then practiced and practiced the dance to the soundtrack until the day of filming. Timing was another element which we had to keep to, and we ensured we were all in time with each other, ensuring a successful and professional music video. We had a lot of sessions to rehearse and they really paid off, as we were all in sync with one another; again this made the music video so successful and looking so professional.

After all of this rehearsing, it was finally the day of filming. We went over the dance again briefly and just practiced how it will look on the camera to see if there would be any need for adjustments. Luckily there were no adjustments that needed to be made, so we were able to start filming. When I was not needed, I also filmed a section of the music video, therefore I also done more than was needed from my original task. This was also a great success, an overall I was very pleased with the outcome of the day.

WWW:
I feel that my role as one of the main dancers was a very important role, because a successful dancer would mean a successful and professional looking music video. Moreover, I have built a lot of confidence in front of the camera now as I didn’t before this at all which will help me when we create our own music videos. Additionally, I feel more confident in filming, as I believe that the part which I filmed was very successful as I had a steady shot which is crucial. Again, this helped me for when we create our own music videos.

EBI:
I know that I should have a lot more confidence in filming shots, as I know I will have to film some part of the music video when we create our own in the near future. Also, I know that I am not great at storyboarding; therefore my skills in that area are going to have to be improved on.

What Makes A Good Music Video?

The most important element is creating a good music video is to avoid viewer fatigue. There are various ways in which viewer fatigue can be avoided, and an example is lip synching. The lip synching has to be absolutely perfect, along with the performer having full confidence; these aspects have to be included so viewer fatigue is not apparent.

Also, another component is various camera shots, and camera angles. An example of this is in the music video ‘Hey Mama’ by the ‘Black Eyed Peas’. Various camera shots are used such as close ups, mid shots, and an establishing shot. Right at the beginning of the video, we are shown to an establishing shot of the whole of the band members and this is effective as this is our first introduction to them; also to set the ‘scene’ for the audience. Moreover, we have close ups and mid shots used throughout the video, and this is to just keep parts of the video simplistic which can be pleasing to the viewer as they are able to digest what the music video is actually about.

Another aspect of a music video which will avoid viewer fatigue is the mise en scene. A change in costume and location really makes a positive impact on the audience when watching a music video. Again in this video, throughout they are changing their outfits and this just generally adds to the effectiveness of the ‘Black Eyed Peas’ music video. In addition, we are shown a different location for majority of the change in shots, which really engrosses the viewer when watching this music video. They see something new every shot, and this is needed as then the viewer will want to watch on and see more; again avoiding viewer fatigue.

Overall, a change in location and a change in costume are needed in order to create an interesting and successful music video. Lighting could change as well, and the general mise en scene. Moreover, lip synching needs to be perfect, along with a confident performer so a successful music video is created.

Lip Sync Preliminary Task

WWW:
This is my preliminary task, I feel that my recording and editing skills have improved since the start of my AS year. I feel a lot more confident, and I understand the concepts of making a music video to a high quality. We recorded some clips more than once, but this was only in order to create a more visually interesting music video. Moreover, we did this so we didn’t generate any viewer fatigue as this is what makes a music video poor. Our group used a variety of cinematography techniques so we were successful in constructing our preliminary task. This was done in order to eliminate viewer fatigue, by using mid shots, close ups and long shots. Moreover, we had a change in location so we didn’t create viewer fatigue. In addition, we made our lip synching task look as professional as possible, and this was due to our vast amount of shots and editing skills. We were able to create a successful preliminary task because of this.

EBI:
We could have changed our costumes throughout the duration of our preliminary task, as this would not create viewer fatigue. Also, it would have just made the piece a little bit more interesting to watch, accompanied by the variety of shots we used. Moreover, I feel we could have changed the lighting in the shots, possibly different lighting for different locations. But above all, I feel it was very successful.