CH - Concept Development

After continuing discussions among our group as to what sort of ideas we would like to incorporate into our video, we have come up with a substantial list. Some of our ideas are outlined below;

1. The use of a photo montage
2. The use of interesting transitions (such as the editing technique described below*)
3. The use of performance shots
4. The use of lighting and staging within performance shots to enhance the narrative
5. The use of combined narrative and performance shots to link them
6. The use of changing locations to keep the video interesting

*in class we have been investigating different editing techniques using the updated software (Premiere 8) on the system. A technique that appealed prominently to our group is the use of layering identical shots to create the illusion of time passing, which is quite different to anything we explored in AS. Another technique is using time-lapse filming, then speeding it up post-production, to create the imagery of time passing. The technique, however, that appealed most to all of us was the use of layering two shots side by side (without moving the camera) which depict slightly different situations to give the appearance of optical illusions, such as layering shots of the same character standing side by side seemingly in the same time.

Overview of our ideas so far

After discussing the ideas outlined above, we came to create the brief description below which is the base of our treatment.

"A music video following the four characters described in the lyrics, being presented/narrated by the artist who is present in both the narrative shots and the performance shots, breaking the fourth wall in all cases yet leaving the narrative unchanged. Whilst doing this we switch between both scenarios with a fast cutting rate; eventually all the characters narrated will have joined the artist in the performance shots, after we follow each one personally for a time specified by the time the lyrics are performed in. Our narrative shots will include many locations, mostly urban to match the grain of voice, maybe following a journey and prominently including social scenes that would appeal to the target audience of the music (youth of teenage) such as social life (eg. parties), home life or school life. The aim of our video is to both narrate the music and to create a concept around it to which extends the themes and imagery created in it already."

Possible challenges we face

After our AS project, we were able to define problems that we encountered that we are likely to encounter again.

The main problem we faced was poor organization.
The addition of Josh to our former partnership of Rosie and I creates both an advantage and a disadvantage; as there is now both someone to share the workload, and to create more by increasing the amount of organization required for three people rather than two. In AS we begun to fall behind, causing us to become stressed and rushed, possibly leaving us with work not as high quality as it could have been.

To combat this possibility I believe we should begin filming as soon as viably possible, to gather as much footage as we need so editing runs smoothly without interuptions of re-filming or filming more.

Another problem we encountered as a result of poor organization was having to film with less characters or different characters than which we originally planned. After not having enough time to organize the participation of our planned actors, we were left with less footage than we planned with less characters than we planned, leaving our film with substantially less iconography, representation and variation of characters.

To combat this possibility in A2 we have agreed to organize actors that we can trust in the very near future, maybe even participating in the acting ourselves. I would enjoy that, and would feel more involved in the video. However it would make directing the video simaultaneously easier and more difficult, as we are able to convey the ideas we have ourselves rather than having to direct others, but we are also limited in the directing we can do whilst acting and not reviewing the filming as it happens.

In my opinion, the additional planning and improved equipment will make our production run a lot smoother than at AS. One of the largest problems we encountered at AS was the sound manipulation, which obviously isn't an issue this year unless we choose to include diagetic sound. This is an option we have yet to discuss. However, Josh spoke to me about maybe including a prologue to the video; a short time of filming before the music starts, possibly used to create tension or suspense or simply to improve the narrative.