Preliminary exercise: Research and planning

Preliminary exercise: Research and planning

1) State the song you have chosen for your preliminary exercise.

Song: Feathers

2) Choose at least three music videos similar to your concept and watch a clip or more from each. Make bullet-point notes on everything you watch, commenting on camerawork, editing and mise-en-scene.

All music videos link to the theme to women empowerment

Music video 1: Don't call me up

• rejects the boy coming back into her life- similar concept of my music video
• only uses 5 locations, switches back and fourth to same location
• includes many girls with the artist singing- will be used in my music video
• medium shots
• bright clothing and lighting
• medium close up shots
• back and fourth shows the boy trying to contact her back

Music video 2: Nonsense

• quick montage at the beginning to show atmosphere of the party, of her getting ready
• girls hanging out
• dark atmosphere
• mostly medium close ups
• camera panning towards the artist

Music video 3: Ciao Adios

• establishing shot of the area
• lip syncing in different locations
• closeup shots
• locations were more outside rather than inside 

3) Write a short music video treatment for your extract (this is basically a script for your music video). You can find an example of a treatment here. If you are making your real coursework then feel free to use the treatment from your summer project.

Scene 1:

• opening scene
• girl sat in a cafe
• shows medium shots of the cafe, aesthetic

Scene 2:

• jumps straight into middle shot
• girl is at home 
• getting ready
• other friends in the background
• all show their outfits and go out

Scene 3:

• girl enjoying her life
• boy brings her flowers- she rejects him
• montage of girls night out, girls having fun

4) Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing (in a music video you will find you need FAR more shots than you think, particularly close-ups). 

• medium shot
• extreme closeup
• shaky handheld camera
• establishing shot? (still considering)
• medium close up shots
• extreme closeup
• long shot 

5) Plan your mise-en-scene: what iconography are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre and style of your artist? Plan your settings, costume, make-up, props and lighting.

• Costume: feminine clothing- dress, skirts, also other clothing like jeans, oversized shirts
• Lighting: lowkey lighting, natural lighting- outdoors, 
• Actor placement: middle- character is the main focus
• Makeup: simple, natural makeup- simplistic
• Props: screen on screen- phone, roses- flowers, makeup products

6) Plan a shooting schedule that will ensure everything is filmed by the deadline. Include when, where, who is required, planned equipment and any other aspects you need to arrange.

• borrowed a tripod
• friends will help film some scenes
• need to get a camera