Filming Ideas - Update

Yesterday we were browsing through the media work we had completed in our previous year, and seeing how effective our creativity was in our film introduction, and we both noticed the detail put in to the train station scene which we conducted as a murder scene, which made us both think why could we not do that again? And so we came up with an idea of integrating the effectiveness of a train station scene into the ending of our music video, not only would this hopefully give our video a good solid ending but will possibly make the video a little firmer in the sense of understanding by including Simon's death in the end. So in a way, we aren't filming just another murder scene at the train station, but instead we are integrating a suicide/accident scene which could give off an even greater effect of surprising our audience.

This is the location of the murder scene in our previous media studies project, and also the place we are hoping to use as Simon's suicide scene.

This is how we hope our idea would plan out:
Simon is worn down throughout the video until near the end he is left in a poor state, drunk, ragged and sickly looking, he stumbles in to his local train station and walks up to the tracks, staring ahead, Simon then hears the sound of an oncoming train, and looks to his left/right then stares ahead again.

EITHER:

After looking away for that brief second, then staring ahead again he sees the 2 mysterious masked figures on the other side of the tracks from him, they both nod once in unison, this then cuts back to Simon's face which is clouded with emotion, of which we think will be him frowning, then one of acceptance as he walks onto the tracks, this then fades to black.

                                                                 OR:

After looking away for that brief second, then staring ahead again he sees nothing, the camera then switches to the front of Simon, looking over his shoulder, but his face is still in view, he is slightly shocked and relieved, behind him the camera can see the two mysterious masked figures staring directly at his back, he then walks forward onto the tracks and the camera fades to black.

We are looking to film both of these scenes then try them out towards the end of our editing process to see which one is most effective.

Shooting Schedule

 
We created this shooting schedule for the purpose of being prepared and organised as of when we film our scenes, this helps us to work more efficiently and hopefully quicker and without problems, this helps us to plan ahead and reach our deadline without complications.

Risk Assessment

 
This is the final version of our risk assessment of the areas we are going to be filming in.
This also includes all scenes from the Aston Arms Pub to the Train Station and the possible risks included within them.

Official Shot list

 

We have created a shot list for the purpose of including the audience within our development stage, it also means we can keep track of the different types of shots we intend to try out to see if they work fluidly with each other, as time progresses more shots will be added to the list as we try different ones out to see if they work well.

Sketches and Designs

The first sketch is of the 'rough' figure's costume.

This costume consists of trackies bottoms, the guy fawkes mask, a hoodie and cheap trainers. The mask is worn with blacked out eyes in order to create a sense of sinisterity.
We have dressed this character up in cheap clothing to represent the poorer classes as well as others (particularly anti-social individuals).
This sketch gives us a pretty basic idea of what we want our character to look like, and this will help us present him in the way we want for our music video.

This costume is for the upper class tempter and is made up of a smart regular black suit and white shirt, including a black tie. The Guy Fawkes mask would be worn with blacked out eyes in order to show the characters without eyes, making them seem inhuman or supernatural. A regular sized top hat conceals the top of the mask, showing nothing of the wearer's face or hair. Plain black shoes will also be worn. We also made the suit plain black, as it has some other worldly symbolicism (i.e. ghosts/hellish beings).

Shot List

This is a basic and wide list of the camera shots we shall be using within our music video. This covers the basics and some of the more complex movements as we are still unsure as to some of the techniques that we will be using.

• Mid shot
• Close up shot
• Long shot
• Establishing shot
• Over-the-shoulder shot
• POV shot
• Tracking shot
• Pan
• Zoom in/out
• Hitchcock zoom (where you advance the camera forward and zoom out which creates a realistic effect of sudden recognition/fear etc. and vice versa.)
• Handheld and still/fixed
• Dolly
• Slow motion

This is a basic list covering the essentials and a couple of the camera movements/techniques that we will attempt to use.

Album Cover Analysis

As well as creating a music video for our project, we also have to create our own personal digipak to go with the music video too. This includes a front and back cover, a spine and an inside cover, in order to do this we are going to look at and assess different types of CD covers of other artists in order to understand what kind of CD cover we are looking to create.
The basic idea that I have in mind for our CD cover is for it to be unique in its design and look, giving off a sense of obscureness and peculiarity.

Good examples:

For us this is an example of a good CD cover for what I want mine to look like, this is the cover for the original artist who sang Ain't No Rest For The Wicked.
I like this album cover because it is very unique, made up of different sections of scribbling to make one big skull, as well as the borders of the cover being a messy painting type picture, and the writing uneven and not symmetrical in any way, brings across a connotation that the cover was made by a very young individual, and that youth can also represent freedom from responsibility, which is very much the opposite of the song's message or intention.

I believe that this album cover is also a good example because  it shows a different perspective to the way this artist is portrayed, as the cover shows her being part person, part machine and with little intricate drawing designs on the machine part shows a lack of detail on one side, and a sudden explosion of elements within the machinery side of the cover, to me this links in with the uniqueness that I want to perceive on our album cover because it shows that beneath the bland type of exterior there is more to the subject than meets the eye, of which I sort of want to carry the expression across not to judge a book by it's cover.

 Bad examples:

This is an example of a bad CD cover that I do not want to use for the production of our digipak, this is because it is one of the typical and common ways to create a CD cover which is to photograph the members of the band and stick them on the front, to me this shows laziness and lack of imagination as there is next to no representation of the song on the front or indeed any message being portrayed to the audience, it is simply another way of advertising that I believe induces poor popularity as the CD cover relies on the features of 4 people to persuade the general public to buy their album.




This album is also another example that I do not want to use for our idea, as it only contains writing and a couple of objects, the cover also revolves around the idea of bright colours which does not link in to the mood of our song.
To me this album cover is relatively good in the sense that some design was put into it as well as it being very popular, but it is simply bad for the design I want to create as it is too colourful and contains only words and no visual representation of the songs inside.

The Idea behind our video

This post is all about how we came up with the ideas we are going to use in our music video.
This includes various things such as why we are using Guy Fawkes masks and mysterious figures.
Firstly, the song we are using is 'Ain't No Rest For The Wicked' by Cage The Elephant, so once we had our basic ideas we started to look more in depth at how we would protray our own sense of the song. Typically because it had "The Wicked" within the song title, we went for the general idea of it being a darker style of music video and looking at the lower end of life.
This is when we started analysing darker films, one particularly grabbing our attention was the film V for Vendetta.

This film image struck as a good idea to use for our film, as the mask itself symbolises anonymity, sinisterity and mystery. Sinisterity being the particular emotion we were looking for our music video made it a perfect prop to use. This is how we came up with the two mysterious figures that only our main character - Simon - can see as he is 'tempted' by them. As we have a vague idea that Simon is new into the world figuratively, meaning he is inexperienced and has a lot to learn about life. The two tempters represent the evil of life and the harm it can do to you.

The song we are using also uses a particular 'storyline' to it's dialogue, mostly about options or choices that poorer or rougher people would make (e.g. prostitution and robbery), this also gives us the idea of making a music video about what the low, brutal end of life can leave you as.

This is where our costume for the two mysterious figures was thought up. As we decided to involve both ends of life to make things more interesting. This then moved on to the two figures being different by class and status, but same in nature and personality. The two figures love the rough, unhealthy and dangerous side of life. Thus we came to the idea that the music video should be about what happens to you when you take the rough side of life from any perspective, class, status and wealth.

We then came up with the idea of having both backgrounds added into our locations, some would be fancy and others very sleazy, this then gives us more diversity within our videos and also attracts a wider audience.

 This is the basic idea that me and Lewis came up with to start off our music video, as it progresses we will add to these ideas in greater detail.

Storyboards - Final version

 These three storyboards are our final version of the events that will occur in our music video.
This is a much more detailed version than our rough storyboard.

This is an overview of the three storyboards.

Sheet 1

Sheet 2

Sheet 3

Sheet 4

In the first scene as in our rough storyboard there is either a jukebox or iPod of which a person presses play on it and the song begins. The camera then pans around the pub to the group of friends.
We are hoping that this will give the audience a decent introduction before the music starts, and we also like the effect of the external music starting as someone in the video presses play, we believe this would give off a good effect on the audience.

A mid shot ensues of the three friends sat at the bar slightly slumped over drinking.

We believe this gives a strong, confident beginning to the music video as it shows who is starring in it and what they are up to, just before the music starts.

This then leads on to a close up of either of Simon's 'friends' changing the song, or possibly one of the tempter's as a show of targeting by the two tempters possibly.
We think that this would make quite an impact on the audience as the tempters take a firm role in the beginning of the video.

Simon then turns around to see a close up of the temper's face staring at him, this is the transformation from Simon's 'friends' to the tempters.

This leads on to a fixed over-the-shoulder shot of the tempters walking towards Simon, the two tempters walk slowly but synchronised with each other's movements.

Close up of Simon's face in a shocked/horror expression showing fear and surprise.
This is yet another still shot.

The next scene sees Simon's 'friends' appear out of nowhere and as if nothing has happened and jokingly drag Simon away who is still looking over his shoulder at the two tempters who from Simon's point of view still appear to be there. This is a long/mid shot which tracks the three character's movements for a short time.

Simon is walking down the street with his other two 'friends' still looking shocked with a hint of fear and possilby being paranoid and looks over his shoulder a couple of times.

As Simon looks forwards from looking over his shoulder he sees the two tempter's walking around the corner from where Simon and his friends are headed, this is a mid to long shot and is from Simon's POV.

A close up ensues of the two tempters tilting their head sideways at Simon, this is a fixed shot and is almost as if they are tilting their heads sideways in recognition.

Simon then tries to grab his friend's attention and points towards where the tempters are standing and as his friends look over there is nothing there and they carry on walking.
This is a mid and tracking shot.
(Possibly try a camera technique where instead of cutting to the friend's POv the camera swiftly strafes to the position indicated).

A fixed mid shot is then made as the three friends walk into a party, this is shot as if they are being watched from the tempter's point of view.

A simple short scene of the camera panning to the three friends sat on a sofa listening to the dance music and enjoying themselves, Simon partially forgotten about the tempters.

A close up is followed on of Simon's face as he is laughing and smiling, which then switched to a POV shot from Simon looking at one of his friends that has been replaced by a tempter, who looks to pass a bottle of alcohol to Simon.

A midshot of Simon quickly standing up, shock evident on his face again as his stares at the tempter, he turns around and runs out the door with the camera tracking him from a fixed position.

 A long shot follows, as if someone is watching his from across the road he runs out on to, as he bends over slightly to catch his breath, this also presents a manner of enigma to the audience of who might be watching him from across the road.

Camera cuts to a close up/side view of Simon's face as he is still catching his breath, with a tempter standing in the background staring at Simon who slowly looks up and screams.

There are then a couple of scenes which track and pan around the tempters doing various things e.g. pouring alcohol over their faces, fighting each other in slow motion, this is done for effect and for tension, most likely played in the song's chorus.

This cuts to a long/mid shot of Simon on his knees looking very rough (e.g. three days of beard growth, unshaved, ragged clothes, bags under his eyes etc.) screaming at the two tempters who are slowly walking towards him until they block Simon out from the audience's view, this then fades to black.

The ends scene starts out relatively similar to where the video started, but in this case Simon is slumped over a bar alone, face down in spilt alcohol, which then fades to black leaving the audience unsure of whether he is dead or not.

The first scene on this picture is one we have decided not to use, but it is one of the tempter's mouthing some of the lyrics of the chorus of the song, however we decided not to use this scene as we believe this would have compromised some of the anonymity of the tempters's character.
The second scene shows Simon walking to a train station, however the audience is unsure of why he is doing this, as he walks along he is also plagued by the tempter's constant appearances.

The first scene in this picture shows Simon walking up to the edge of the platform, this gives a vague idea to the audience of the certain type of actions that Simon is going to use, this will also be shot as a side shot in an attempt to show the shadows of his face, and to make him look even more rough.
The second scene in this picture is of the two tempters standing on the platform adjacent to Simon nodding their heads at them, in a way confirming to the audience of Simon's intentions.

The first scene in this picture shows another side shot of Simon on the train platform, but with a train traveling towards him in the background, this strengthens the confirmation of Simon's intentions for the audience, in order to create a solid understanding of what is going to happen.
The second scene in this picture shows Simon walking on to the tracks as the train is coming towards him, this gives us a near final scene and allows the audience to imagine how Simon will meet a brutal end.

The first scene shows Simon walking into the middle of the tracks, as the second scene cuts to his face, looking at the camera, as he slowly closes his eyes, this then fades to black as the sound of a speeding train comes to the audiences attention, thus ending the music and the video.






This is the complete version of our final storyboard consisting of three sheets, these were some of our best ideas and some yet may be cut out depending on how long each individual scene is.
Also depending on the length this entire video comes to we may add in some few extra ideas.
We have created this because it allows us to put all of our good and considered ideas into one place, and also allows for us to add in the finer details of the video as well as adding on other little scenes that we may have firstly left out.

Storyboards 1st Draft

This is the final version of our rough storyboard.

This storyboard is a basic and watered down version of our entire music video. This is where we have thought up ideas of the main events that occur in our music video. In our final version there will be more detail and more account to different scenes taking place before certain main events of our music video.
We have done this because it helps us to gather a basic understanding of what we are going to do in our video and when, in the final version the finer details shall be added to make up the rest of the video, as this will only cover at most of about 2 minutes.

We have decided to start off our music video through visual representation. It starts off in a bar/pub where someone unknown to the audience presses play on a music player or jukebox. The overhead music then starts and the camera begins panning.

As the camera pans it fixes on a group of three people sat slumped over the bar. This is for exaggeration of the mood in the bar, which is sombre and calm. The tension then starts to build as the main character - Simon - turns around to see the two masked figures staring at him.

Simon's facial expression is clearly seen and is one of shock and bewilderment as the figure continues to stare at him, a possible camera technique may be used here to create a larger exaggeration (i.e. the camera walking towards the figure whilst zooming out creates a tension building scene.)

 Whilst Simon is still in a state of shock at looking at the figures his two friends walk on to the scene and drag him off whilst he is still looking behind himself at the other figures as they walk out the door. His friends are oblivious to his shock and continue as if nothing has happened and they are happy.

Simon and friends walk down the street, expression of shock still clear on his face, which turns to that of horror as the two figures step around from a corner right in fron of him, as his friends still drag him along.

The two masked figures then proceed to tilt their heads sideways in an attempt to raise tension in the music video, of which we do not see Simon's reaction.

Some time passes as they are suddenly in another party, with both figures sat either side of Simon, 'tempting' him with 'sinful' or unhealthy things e.g. alcohol and cigarettes.

A closer version of the previous scene, from Simon's point of view, looking at both of the figures offering him things.

A further version of the two previous scenes as Simon pushes the thing being offered away slightly, shoving them back and trying to ignore them, but making no attempt to get up, suggesting he is undecided of whether to take the items or not.

Time passes (figuratively) as there are a series of sightings from Simon seeing the figures doing various, some ideas are one of the figures pours alcohol on themselves, or a slwo motion fight between the two, throwing things at each other (possible idea of fake glass).

Time passes (figuratively) yet again as Simon's appearance has changed leaving him looking rough and worse for wear
(e.g. bags under eyes, ragged, beard grown) screaming at the two figures whose backs are to the camera and are stepping closer towards him as he cowers away slightly from them. This then fades to black as the song is close to it's end.

The video then ends close to where it started which is Simon slouched at a bar, this scene then slowly zooms out and fades to black signaling the end of the video and song. We are aiming to make it unclear to the audience what has happened to Simon.