Re-filming and Editing after feedback from our Rough Cut

After collecting feedback we carried out our final lot of filming. We firstly designed a schedule so we knew exactly what to do, before driving after to school to Ellie's house.

Filming Schedule

Editing

We then edited our music video to complete the music video. This included inserting and altering the new clips we have filmed as well as making the changes I identified in a previous post.

Zoe and I editing in the media room

Adding Transitions

Part of our editing involved adding transitions to make clips flow well and so as before we added a 'cross fade' effect which makes two adjacent clips blend into one other as the clip changes.

We used this when inserting the clip of the flame from the lighter which we wanted to be quick and faded, so it would flow into the next clip smoothly.

Adding Markers

'Markers' can be placed on the timeline in adobe premiere and basically mark that time in the music video with a white block. This was good in helping us cut the clips to the beat as we know where each beat is and so where the clip should change. We used it when Ellie walks to the camera and it cuts 3 times showing her jump forward on the beat:

Problems with filming

When we carried out our refilming, we went to Eysnford castle where many scenes have been filmed. However, on arrival we saw a notice on the gate saying the place was closed. After going on the website we have found out that it will be closed until further notice for health and safety reasons, therefore suggesting a long time and so will have to consider other locations.

As we only featured the wall from this location, we realised we don't need an identical place, just a natural, country area which we have found near my house.

Re-shooting parts of the music video and last scenes

Following today we have now filmed all clips following our timeline and storyboard and roughly put it together. However, throughout editing we have noticed problems in the filming such as:

- seeing each other in the film

- Lighting

- the actors laughing/ smiling

...as well as a lack of clips in certain scenes. We also planned to make the film quite fast-paced to fit well with the music, however, discovered that it is more common in music videos and attractive to add many short clips.

Problems we faced

One of the original public locations was unavailable to use.

We needed a lighter to set a photo on fire but did not have one.

Not having the coat for the actress

Overcoming these Problems

New Location

While filming we used a castle ruins in Eynsford but today when we went to re-shoot scenes there was a sign saying it was closed for health and safety reasons and we therefore had to find a new location. Luckily, we don't need to re-shoot any of these scenes and so just had to find a similar, rural location and so went down a country path near where I live. We believe it will fit in with the original location, however, as they are both quite basic and appear to be in the country.

The Lighter

To set a photo on fire, we originally used matches, however, believed it would be more realistic for the girl in the music video to carry around a lighter and so Zoe and I went into a newsagents on the way to the location and bought one.

The Coat

As Sarah could not come to the filming session due to work we could not get her coat. However, we found out the location of her friends house and I drove there with Zoe to collect the coat. The picture shows us using the AA journey planner website to figure out how to get there.

Re-filming

The main factor to consider when reshooting these scenes was ensuring the scenes and actress looked exactly the same as before so the new and old clips will link in with each other and flow well without it being obvious they were filmed separately.

Zoe changing the bed sheets to pink to match the colour in the original clips.

I did Ellie's make up to ensure she looked the same as she had before; we made sure of this by watching our current footage back.

We took pictures from a range of different angles to make up for the lack of clips we had before.

Zoe covered the light which shone through the banister as it lit up Ellie's boots in a strange pattern.

Safety
Lastly, while burning the photograph we had to take into consideration safety issues as it could cause something to catch fire. Therefore, I stood outside of the camera shot with a bottle of water ready incase Ellie could not put the fire out, while Ellie ensured she didn't wait till the picture was completely up in flame to put it on and stamped on the paper to make sure the flames were put out.

Filming the Flashback Scenes

Today was our third day of filming at the third location: Sarah Brushett's house. We have already briefly filmed here, outside but have followed on from these shots to show the girl entering the house which make up the final scenes of the music video.

The house is also used in the flashback scenes which show happy times as the girl reminisces which also star our protagonist male, Harry. We organised for him to meet at our school at 2 o'clock when we finished and then Zoe drove us all to Sarah's. Before leaving however, I designed a schedule to show what scenes we had to do and what outfits and settings were needed for these.

SCHEDULE
Before filming I made a schedule so we knew what we have to film and who we would need etc.

Filming

Positioning the lights and camera to avoid shadows on the actors or darkness which could prevent them from being seen easily.

The actors getting comfortable with each other and into character.

 Positioning the camera differently for particular angles/ shots.

Shooting from different angles, including inside and outside the house to get all the correct angles.

Problems when filming and how we overcame these
1) limited time: Harry had a limited time to film and so we had to be well organised in order to shoot all of his scenes in the time we had. We overcame this issue by creating the schedule (above) which let us know everything we had to do.

2) No Charlotte: Charlotte could not come due to her performing arts lesson and so her part in the filming was not possible. Sarah, however, stepped in and took the role on so we could film all scenes.

3) Camera running out of battery: The camera ran out of battery ten minutes before we finished so while we charged it for a short time we packed up things we did not need, such as lights (as the scene was an outside one) and outfits.

4) Harry's shirt: Originally, Harry was wearing a plain white t-shirt but when we began filming, we realised the white background in the Kitchen blended into this, making him hard to see. Ellie therefore borrowed a purple, similar styled t-shirt from her brother which could be seen a lot easier. 

Filming Day 2

My group planned to film the next part of our music video over the christmas half term when we had a lot of free time. The location of these scenes is Eysnford at the remains of a castle which means the background is a stone wall and so not too busy to take the attention off the actress. Before we began we asked Ellie the actress to wear the same outfit as she had before as well as to make her hair look the same, to ensure continuity throughout the music video.

Props
We organised the props we needed for this day of filming before we set out; this consisted of an alcohol bottle (which we half filled with water), a cigarette for the actress to light and a photograph of the two actors involved, however, we were unable to get this and so used a temporary prop of a piece of paper for now. We will however re-shoot this so it looks realistic and is inkeeping with our storyboard.

The Location

Lighting

Before we began filming we had to find a suitable area where the light was not too bright to make the film unclear, this was hard as it was quite early morning and the sun was moving round. The following pictures show different areas by this wall when we tried to find ideal lighting:

In this area was either very bright sunlight or a dark shadow.

Here there is still a shadow along the bottom half of the wall.

This shows the final area we chose to film in where the lighting was fairly consistent.

Problems we encountered



One of the scenes we filmed included lighting a cigarette, while another clip shows the actress setting a piece of paper on fire. This, which can be seen the above pictures, proved quite difficult due to the wind which was strong, blowing out the flames whenever we lit a match. We managed to light the cigarette by shielding the wind with ourselves, however, this could not be done for the paper being lit and so we will shoot that clip at another time hopefully when there is less wind.

Filming

This weekend, my group all met up in Hextable where the actress for our music video, Ellie, lives. We each had roles which we planned during media lessons at school but decided we would take turns in these: Charlotte would direct the film, Sarah would film it and Zoe and I would prepare the settings, include ensuring lighting is correct. However, we shared these roles, each offering our own ideas and opinions.

Step 1: Photographs

We photographed Ellie in the different settings, styled as she will be in these places.

Step 2: Preparation

We next prepared Ellie, who is starring in our film by making her hair and make up untidy so it would look as if she had just woken up. We also prepared the settings, which invovled putting empty alcohol bottles in her bedroom to meet the storyline and putting any irrelevant things away.

Step 3: Filming

The first part of filming, in Hextable, took place in various parts of Ellie's house as well as outside. We took some pictures doing filming in these different locations showing how we set up the lights, directed Ellie and the different ways we shot the film, using a variety of angles and movements. In the different settings we did encounter some problems but managed to overcome these.

In the bedroom, one window meant the light cast a shadow on half of Ellie's face but by positioning the lights correctly,we managed to prevent this. In addition, there is only a small space at the end of Ellie's bed which meant it took a few takes to get positioning and angles correct but by trial and error we acheived the shots we wanted.

In the hallway was a window which the sun faced, causing a bright patch of sunlight on the wall because it does not have any curtains or blinds. However, holding a white sheet against the window blocked the bright rays, meaning the light throughout the hallway was consistent.

Some scenes in the bathroom were shot from beside the toilet but this is only a small space, meaning when Ellie stood in front of the sink, it was hard not to cut her head out. However, we tried this shot from various angles and despite the space issues we managed to shoot it in the end. Furthermore, the mirror inside the bathroom meant that one of us or the lights could often be seen making the filming tricky.

Leaving the house took a few takes as when Ellie opened the front door, the light or one of the media group could be seen through the gap meaning we had to move things around.

Outside involved filming Ellie from across the road but we had not expected as many cars to be parked outside as there were. However, by choosing a different angle, we managed to avoid any vehicles blocking our view.