Weekly Reflection Post: 8-12/12/2014 (KC)

Michelle and I stayed after school to ensure that any finishing touchings were made before we uploaded the Music Video. Our teachers came in and reviewed the Music Video and gave us tips on where to improve. Effects were heavily incorporated during this process. We were granted an extension, which enabled us the time to perfect the Music Video.

We were able to add in any effects to make the Music Video look as professional as possible. Due to the lack of right angles we had to improvise and use more front, mid shot angles in order to recover the oddness. By Thursday 11th, we had the Video uploaded and onto You Tube. We then noticed another problem and that was the audio was too loud, and it hurt the viewers ears. So we re uploaded the Music Video and improved the quality of the sound.

Weekly Reflection Post: 1-5/12/2014 (KC)

We had booked Drama for 2nd and 4th December, ensuring that there would be no events where anything could go wrong.

On the 2nd, we filmed the boys. We set up the stage and gave it a checked pattern of black and brown; to give the 1920's style. We then set up the lights, with help from our teachers, in the correct position to ensure that the boys didn't look washed out. This session went a lot more smoothly and we achieve a lot more than we expected. The boys performed better than in any other session, they knew the words and were more themselves, they had charisma. As they were more comfortable, they sang the song instead of miming it and it was a lot more realistic.

We filmed 9 shots, from 3  different angles. We were unable to get any shots from the right, so when it came to editing it looked a little odd. However, we had a lot more variety of clips to choose from and it made it easier to edit with. The shots were filmed four/five times and we filmed the boys performing the whole of the song.

The session was a success, and the performance aspect of the Video was complete. We booked Drama on the 4th again, to film Bekki's part (and the balloons). We blew the balloons up, trying to get them to the same size as possible, and emptied them out on and around the stage. Bekki was alone, as the boys couldn't film the same day as Bekki did. So we improvised and made the narrative about her 'messing' around in the balloons. By the end of the session, we were able to say that we completed the filming of the Music Video.

On the 5th December, Michelle and I spent most of the day editing the Music Video, as we were managed to finish editing, we were unable to upload the Video. So we asked if it was possible to upload on the 8th.

Weekly Reflection Post: 24-28/11/2014 (KC)

Due to the extension on the Draft Deadline, we were told that there was an extension for the Final Deadline to 5th December. This gave us more time.

Additionally, we booked the Hall for 24th and 27th, however on the 24th we received an email that they Estates had to cancel our session due to an urgent meeting. We  managed to get Drama and filmed just the boys, as Bekki was unable to attend. We got a lot done, however, whilst we were in the process of transferring the footage from the Camera to the Mac we lost all the footage and were basically back to square one - having no footage at all.

Weekly Reflection Post: 17-21/11/2014 (KC)

Harry still wasn't able to make another session, we were ready to film and were organised. As Michelle kindly bought the boys costumes. Johnny managed to turn up to the session, but Cam went home. We had to call the session of again, as we were unable to film without both the boys being present.

We were unable to film, once again, although the Final Deadline was a few weeks away yet; it was evident that we were poorly organised and we were bad at communicating.

Weekly Reflection Post: 10-14/11/2014 (KC)

On the 12th November, we were unable to film as the boys failed to turn up. We notified them and still they didn't turn up. Furthermore, Harry was unable to make it.

Later on in the week, we received feedback from our Draft Music Videos and it was evident that we needed to incorporate more shots in their. It was described as boring, so a suggestion was made of buying 100 or so balloons and blowing them up. This would portray the cheesy aspect of the whole song. After considering these suggestions, we looked for which colours would suit this style of Music Video and decided upon gold and silver. As the costumes that the boys were wearing was borrowed from Drama, we bought them a shirt and decided to go for a more casual look.

Weekly Reflection Post: 3-7/11/2014 (KC)

Bekki was unable to make it, so we just had the boys. We were back to using the Hall and were ready to film for our Final Deadline for the Music Video. This time, we had access to two free standing lights; which we positioned on either side of the boys to get the maximum 'show' effect. We also asked if we were able to borrow a block from Drama and used that to get a better mid shot of the boys.

The boys had plenty of time to learn the words, which they knew. This was an improvement, as it looked more realistic. We shot mid shot and close up. We filmed the shots four/five times to enable us a range of footage when we were editing the Video. This session was a successful one and we got more done than we anticipated to. The boys were in character and managed to fulfil their roles.

We booked the Hall for the 12th November, hoping that we would achieve as much as we did the session on which we filmed on the 5th November.

Weekly Reflection Post: 27-31/10/2014 (KC)

We only booked one session and the Draft Deadline was fast approaching. In the morning, the Estates Manager sent us an email informing us that they needed to use the Hall for an urgent meeting, which left us no where to film for our Music Video. We kindly asked Drama if it was available and thankfully it was; they allowed us to use Drama for that evening. As we were now in a different location, we had to film the Music Video from start to finish.

 

The stage was built, in front of the curtain and the boys had their costumes. We filmed the whole of the song three/ four times; from start to finish. However, we only filmed in one shot which restricted us to gain high marks. As this was a Draft, we were able to learn from our mistakes and prevent this from happening in the future. We spent Thursday and Friday editing on the Macs and ensuring that we were able to meet this deadline, which we did.

 

Watching the Draft Video back, it was evident that there were major improvements to be made and that would be taken on board when we film our Final Music Video.

Weekly Reflection Post: 13-17/10/2014 (KC)

We filmed on 15th October in our chosen location (which was the Hall), we had everything organised and set up. All three of the Actors were able to make it, which allowed us the tie to film the shots where the boys and Bekki were together. We used a different Camera to the previous week, as we didn't like the grainy effect it had when we played the footage back. This meant that we had to shoot Bekki's part at the beginning of the song again. After we achieved this, we focused on the boys singing.

 

They hadn't heard of the song before, so beforehand Michelle printed of the lyrics and highlighted (with different colours) indicating which parts of the song Johnny and Cam would sing. We didn't film anything of the boys yet, as they still had to learn the words. As it was half term the week after, this have the time to learn the lyrics to the song. They watched the original Music Video, to grasp the sense of what they need to do. We got them to learn the first verse of the song and filmed them singing. This enabled us to see what the boys would be like for the Music Video and we felt that they matched the Pop genre.

 

Once the session was over, we returned the equipment to their places and planned what our agenda was the week we came back after half term. This would give the boys plenty of time to learn the lyrics to the song and hopefully we were to get straight back to filming, as we had a Draft Deadline for the 31st October.

 

We went to Estates and booked the Hall for the next 4 Wednesday's, ensuring that we have plenty of time to film for the Final Deadline.

Weekly Reflection Post: 29-3/10/2014 (KC)

We found the second lead guy for our Music Video which was Cam Letts, we were happy with the Actors that were contributing to our Video as they looked like they were derived from the Pop genre.

As a group, we discussed that the best way to portray the theme of the Video would be to do a Modern 1920's Great Gatsby style. We thought that if we continued to go with our original idea then it wouldn't be feasible; as we don't have access to the facilities/props/costumes needed to be able to do such a Video. We then all decided to do some Research, in the following week, to be able to know exactly how we are going to depict a Modern 1920's Great Gatsby theme.

Weekly Reflection Post: 22-26/09/2014 (Whole Group-Scribe KC)

Although, we had the location for the Music Video and we knew that it was going to be performance and narrative. Through lots of discussion, we decided upon a narrative for the story. After analysing the Video, it was evident that we were attempting to 'replicate' it as closely as possible. This was apparent to us; so we decided upon a narrative that was different to the one in the Video.


We experienced some problems as one of the lead guys (Joe Loomes) dropped out of the Video last minute. This problem is fixable, as we can find another guy who fits our genre. The other lead guy, who is permanent throughout the filming process, is Johnny Batson. We managed to find a lead girl who is Bekki Green.


The Costume for the lead girl had been decided and we are ordering a dress this week. The dress is white, and has a modern 1920's twist to it. The guys are borrowing suits for the Music Video. We decided upon a white shirt, tucked in, with a black jacket and jeans; to portray a smart/casual look.


The location has been booked for 8th and 15th October. On the 8th October, we are going to film the lead guys performing on the stage. We are going to get them to sing the entire song. On the 15th October, the narrative is going to be filmed including the lead girls. This will be easier when we go to edit the Music Video.

Weekly Reflection Post: 15-19/09/2014 (KC)

Before we were too far into the Research and Planning, we sat down as a group and discussed our Music Video. After plenty of discussion, we decided that the idea wasn't feasible; we came to the decision to change our idea. The idea we changed our Video would still fit the 1920's Great Gatsby theme, however, the video is based in the modern day.

We work well together as a collaborative group, all of us have an equal role within this Music Video and exchange good ideas. Initially, we were sceptical about what we wanted to base our Music Video on and what genre. We decided to continue with using 'MKTO-Classic' as our song and taking the 1920's Great Gatsby themed party and making it our own.

The location was the most complicated and stressful aspect of our Music Video, there was no cheap venues that we could hire out for the day in Leicester. We discussed this and came to the conclusion that the facilities in the school would be the most easiest to access (and we would need less transportation, so we'll be saving money). Although, we are using the schools facilities, there are obstacles that we need to organised and work around on.

Overall, we think that the Music Video is achievable, if we pursue thorough Research and Planning. This will enable us to have a clear vision of our Music Video, as well as being well organised and having good communication.

Weekly Reflection Post: 8-12/09/2014 (KC)

Before we were too far in the Research and Planning, we sat down as group and discussed our Music Video. After a lot of discussion we decided that the idea wasn't feasible, we then decided to change our idea. The idea we changed our Video to still fit the 1920s Gatsby theme, however, the Video is based in the modern day.

We work well together as a collaborative group, all of us have an equal role within this Music Video and exchange good ideas. Initially, we were sceptical about what we wanted to base our Music Video on and what genre. We then managed to come to a conclusion of continuing to use 'MKTO-Classic' as our song, and taking the 1920's Gatsby theme and interpreting it into a modern 21st Century Video.

The location was the most complicated and stressful aspect of our Music Video, there was no cheap venues that we could hire out for the day in Leicester. Again we discussed this and came to the conclusion that the facilities in the school would be the most easiest the access (and we would need less transportation, so we'll be saving money). Although we are using the school's facilities, there are obstacles that we need to organise and work around on.

Overall, we think that this Music Video is achievable, if we pursue thorough Research and Planning. This will enable us to have a clear vision of our Music Video, as well as being well organised and having good communication.

Weekly Reflection Post:1-5/09/2014 (KC)

This week, as a group, we have decided amongst the song we are going to base our Video on. We came to the conclusion of 'MKTO-Classic'. This then stemmed the idea of 1920's Great Gatsby Music Video, baring in mind that non of us had watched the original Video before, of two males (in suits) singing on a stage - for the performance - in a room with girls - for the narrative. However, there will be one girl that will be dressed like 1920's Great Gatsby to 'define' the ultimate definition of 'Classic'.

We allocated each member of the group to Research a particular aspect of the Music Video we are to create. I was allocated with the 'Genre/Song of Music Video', 'Band Name and Biography', 'Twitter Account' and 'Researching Costumes and Props'. This Research proved that we had to follow certain 'rules', in order to pursue such a Video.

The 'Genre/Song of Music Video' post propelled me into Researching further into the Pop genre, this resulted in the 'History of Pop' blog post. This gives the examiner (and anybody else reading our blog) more insight onto the genre and what we are actually basing our Music Video on. Similarly, the '1920's Research' blog post was just a benefit for the group as we wanted to know more about the popular Artists and fashion.
Next week, I am going to Research more into the 1920's and the Great Gatsby. Looking at scenes from the 2013 'The Great Gatsby' Movie will contribute to that, as this is an example of some features that we need to follow in order to achieve this type of Music Video. Furthermore, I will also analyse the original Video by taking screenshots of anything that could be taken as inspiration for our Music Video and how we could incorporate that into our version.