Starting the Final Task

I am Anyeska, a hardworking student who has created various projects in the AICE Media Studies class. The project I will be starting now is the final task. This project will need an extensive amount of research in order to progress. I will be doing lots of background research before I am able to film it. Since I am a plan-ahead type of person, I like to make a schedule and think everything for it. Personally, I like to be the director and editor of the films. This is because it gives me the ability to create films on how I want it to be and to my own liking. Which is why I am excited to make a two-minute opening scene for a horror film. For this project, I will be working with the same people as the last. The people from the last projects were Lesly, Britania, and Jazmin. I preferred to work with them because it's more fun and efficient. 

I have learned tremendously throughout being in my AICE Media Studies class. One being, that I found out how to edit films better, which makes my ideas for films becoming real. Another is when I was filming the scenes in my other projects, it encouraged me to develop a filming hobby. That has helped me acknowledge what camera angles or camera movements work better in certain instances. Also, how to make the filming process more organized when it comes to dumping raw footage from the camera onto my computer.  Experimenting with my film has made me be able to create many different scenarios. With those different scenarios, I'm able to easily make storyboards and consider them simple. I am excited to begin the storyboard and research for this film. The fact that I am able to work with a group of my friends is even better. I can't wait to use the skills I've learned and my several talents to use, all for the final task! 

A pitch is a Hollywood term to describe where a film is encapsulated in 25 words or less. Usually one or two sentences. I have three pitch ideas. The first pitch is a group of girls found an abandoned house and figure out that there is a ghost, which ends up possessing one of them. Do the others find out? The second pitch is that there is a girls sleepover but while they are sleeping, one of the girls wake up at 3:00am not being able to move, breathe, or speak. The third pitch is a group of friends is hanging out when one of them hears a creepy whisper, it attracts them to a ghost who is trying to kill him. I came up with these pitch ideas by choosing a genre (horror) and then brainstorming short yet scary stories. I want the film to be something that would make the audience want more, like a cliff-hanger. In these films, I plan to have extra actors or helpers to record. There will also be props and makeup to improve the films. 

Left to right: Britania, Jazmin, Lesly, and I working on our final task!!

Me writing notes for the Final Film!!

First Day Editing The Music Video

Lesly, Jazmin, Brit and I all worked on editing our music video. It took up the majority of our class time, and unfortunately, the editing process did not go well. Although I was able to dump all the footage from the SD card to the desktop, it took a while to view each scene we would use and for the computer to handle the download size. Eventually, I was able to finish the downloading process and save it all into Google Drive. After this, Lesly found and downloaded The Lazy Song, by Bruno Mars onto the computer. Once I was ready to edit, I opened Pinnacle Studios and imported the footage and audio into the program. From there, I started editing the raw footage. It was difficult to do this because the preview of a scene (on the right side of the screen) would lag and slow down the computer. Thus, it took me some time to figure out the different scenes just by their image, when I was trying to match it to the lyrics. The following paragraph will explain the different tools I tried to use and what happened during my editing process.

Due to the fact that our class time was running short, we were only able to begin editing the first scene. First, I used a razor blade icon to split the first scene because it was too long and unnecessary. I thought to detach the audio from the shot, but it helped to match the first lyrics to our dance. Since the background sound was the actual song, we wanted to dance or act out each scene with a reference and to potentially benefit us while editing. I had difficulty trying to place the first scene as soon as the initial lyrics: "Today I don't feel like doing anything" started. Apparently, Pinnacle Studios uses a magnetic timeline, in which any clip you drag and drop into the timeline snaps to any existing clips. I did not know that you can turn that function off, so I struggled to do that. I let my group members try to fix or get the scene to where we wanted it, but they didn’t know how to either. With little time left, we decided to end our editing process and rely on starting and finishing it next class. Unfortunately, after I saved our music video I deleted the footage from the desktop, thinking that I wouldn’t need it, but it backfired and ended up disabling the footage from pinnacle studios. I ended up solving the problem even though it took up 5 minutes of editing time.

There are editing techniques I planned to use in the music video. Some include adding a title screen, subtitles, cropping footage, and a fade-in/out. Hopefully next class, when we continue editing that I'll see a vision along with my group members of our music video coming to life. I also hope that editing will be successful. I think it may be hard at first, but Lesly and Brit seem to be experienced and ready to edit our footage. The only type of sound I plan to use in the music video is background music. The camera movements and angles we used were: High angle, tilt shot, pan shot, long shot, medium close up shot, over the shoulder, point of view, zoom in/out. All of these editing techniques will be used while editing our music video. We will try to edit so it comes in between 1:05 to 1:15. Ultimately, I will create a fun and interesting music video that will excite and engage audiences.

Second Day Filming The Music Video

Last week Sunday, my teammates met up with me to finish filming our music video. Lesly, Jazmin, Brit, and Nick all came to my house again, around 1:30 PM. Initially, we had four scenes left to film. However, we ended up breaking the storyboard and switching over to new ideas. We ended up only filming one scene, which was actually our very last scene of the music video. Scene six and scene seven from the storyboard were merged together into one scene. Additionally, scene twelve from the storyboard was changed up. Instead of filming a long shot of Jazmin kicking her socks off then laying on the couch, I filmed an extreme close up shot of her kicking her slides off. It was Brit's original idea to show someone taking their slides off when the lyrics stated, “‘Cause today I swear I’m not doing anything”. This is because a person generally can not go out and do anything if they are not wearing shoes. All in all, these changes to the storyboard was made the day before, Saturday.

Furthermore, scenes thirteen through fifteen were completely changed up. As previously mentioned, we only filmed one scene on Sunday. Basically, we decided to merge the three scenes together, making them one scene and cutting our actions short. Our initial idea was to throw up paper confetti in scene thirteen, lay on the floor in fourteen, and in the last scene, someone would cover the camera with their hand. Instead, we went against the storyboard again. We decided to only throw up the paper confetti, gather in a circle as we cheer happily, then Jazmin walks away from the group and covers the camera with her hand. My mom was behind the camera for the scene and I made sure she filmed us as a medium shot. After this, I looked through all our footage and made sure we didn't need to re-record a scene. Finally, filming the music video was called to an end. I believe that my group members and I were all relieved, so we went out and had some fun!
   
Overall, filming on Saturday and Sunday was successful. I enjoyed working with everyone and appreciated my mom's assistance. Luckily, we were strategic about filming the music video. One reason being, everyone was involved in at least three scenes which meant that we all played a huge part in the music video. Moreover, we filmed in five different settings around my house. Lastly, everyone had a chance to operate and film with the camera. Therefore, we all actively contributed to the music video as a team. I personally learned a lot regarding film and how music videos are created. As for my teammates, I was able to get to know them better and strengthen our friendship. So, I am very content that I am able to work with my friends.

First Day Filming The Music Video

Over the weekend, my group and I filmed our music video. We filmed at my house on both Saturday and Sunday. The people who were involved in the filming process were Lesly, Jazmin, Brit, our friend Nick, and I. We decided to film out of order and just do what we wanted, as long as we recorded what we needed. On Saturday, I filmed Lesly as soon as he arrived because he would be leaving early. I recorded his “birthday suit” scene with the lyrics: "I’ll just strut in my birthday suit, and let everything hand lose.” We then filmed all of the parts which did not include him. Next, Lesly recorded the scene of me laying in bed at a high angle to match the lyrics: “I just wanna lay in my bed.” After my scene, I filmed Jazmin’s over-the-shoulder scene where she was sitting on the couch and she tossed her phone as she was receiving a call from Lesly (Lyrics: “Don’t feel like picking up the phone, so leave a message at the tone.”). After this, we took a short break to eat snacks and then proceeded with the next scene. It was a dance sequence where they came up with simple steps to express the lyrics: “Today I don’t feel like doing anything.” It took us some time to come up with, but Jazmin guided us throughout the way. During this scene, my mom was in charge of filming (Lyrics: “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo.”). For it, I printed out papers that read “No” for everyone, except Lesly. We all stood in a line side by side and we each extended out the paper every time we heard “No” in the song. On the last “No,” Lesly jumped in front of the camera and put his sunglass into the camera. My group and I ended up filming five scenes before Lesly had to go to leave for his basketball game. 

As soon as Lesly left, Jazmin, Brit, Nick, and I continued filming the scenes that did not involve him. The first scene we filmed was a video game scene where Nick was playing video games, but then he throws the controller to the side and relaxed (Lyrics: “Oh, today I don’t feel like doing anything.”). Secondly, I filmed Brit's scene where she was in the bathroom mirror with a comb in her hand and shaking her head to the lyrics: "No, I ain’t gonna comb my hair. Cause I ain’t going anywhere." Then, Jazmin filmed the scene where I was laying in bed again, but this time, I turned over onto my side and put a blanket over my head. Lastly, we filmed the other two scenes. We filmed a scene where Jazmin took her shoes off for the Lyrics: "Cause today I swear I’m not doing anything." The final scene of the day was the part of the song which went, “Don’t feel like picking up the phone, so leave a message at the tone.” For this scene, Brit recorded an insert that displayed a bunch of missed calls to express the lyrics. That was it for filming on Saturday. The following paragraph will be what happened when I filmed the next day. 

On Sunday, everyone met up at my house again to conclude our music video. We decided to cut the scenes short and change the storyboard to an extent. We technically only filmed one scene. It was the last scene, where we lip sung the lyrics: “Nothing at all!” Then, we threw the confetti in the air, huddled, and cheered.  We used the confetti as a prop. As Nick, Lesly, Brit, and I huddled around, Jazmin stepped away from the group, walked up to the camera, and covered it with her hands. This was inspired by Bruno Mars's original music video, which meant to portray that the music video was over. After filming, we went to an arcade and a pizza restaurant to award ourselves. Overall, I feel relieved and very confident with all the footage. It was also a fun and successful experience. I cannot wait to edit with my group and see everyone's ideas come to life. 

Storyboard for Music Video

Today my teammates and I manifested our storyboard in our group chat. After completing our planning blog where we discussed how we wanted to go about filming our music video, we knew it was time for our storyboard. It took approximately an hour to draw and write out our camera angles, camera movements, and actions for each scene. Had we not execute a plan in our planning blog last class, storyboarding would have been a much longer process. Our teachers restricted our timing to at least one minute and five seconds, and at most one minute and fifteen seconds. Our storyboard consists of fifteen different five-second scenes. Meaning, our music video should be around one minute and fifteen seconds long. So far, we are on a good track with timing. Our storyboard is shown over to the right. It is filled with great details that will guide us during the filming process.

Within the first scene of the blog, we will edit in a fade-in transition which then displays a wide shot of my three other teammates, a volunteer, and I dancing to the lyrics “today I don’t feel like doing anything.” Secondly, we will have a high angle of someone laying in bed “sleeping;” Lyrics: “I just wanna lay in my bed.” Third, we will have a jump cut into an over the shoulder of someone silencing their phone then tossing it on the couch— lyrics: “don’t feel like picking up the phone, so leave a message at the tone. ‘Cause today I swear I’m not doing anything.” In the fourth scene: “No, I ain’t gonna comb my hair, ‘cause I ain’t going anywhere.” The actions that match the lyrics would be someone holding a comb, looking at it, placing it down, then shrugging their shoulder. In the fifth scene, all five of us involved will hold up signs which read “no.” Using the camera movement, pan, and a close-up shot, we will move the camera left to right going down the rows of “no” signs. The lyrics will play: “no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, noo.” On the last “no,” the camera will zoom into someone’s eye and then zoom out of it in the following scene. The following scene will include the lyrics “I’ll just strut in my birthday suit, and let everything hand lose.” A person will be strutting sound and pulling their suit an appropriate amount to match the lyrics of letting “everything hang loose.” Moreover, the next scene will be a dance sequence similar to the one we introduced the video with; This will be portrayed through a wide shot.  The lyrics: “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeaaah.” Next, there will be a pan shot of someone playing Xbox, but dropping the gaming controller. Lyrics: "Oh, today, I don't feel like doing anything." Then, there will be a high angle of someone laying in the bed and pulling the cover over their head: “I just wanna lay in my bed.” Furthermore, along with a jump cut, there will be an insert of a phone screen that displays missed calls. The following scene will also be an insert of a phone screen which shows a new voicemail/message. Lyrics: "Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone) The next scene will consist of a long shot that shows someone kicking off their socks or shoes then laying on the couch. (Lyrics: cause today I swear I'm not doing anything.”) The third to last scene will be everyone throwing papers in the air and having the last dance sequence (Lyrics: "Nothing at all...) The instrumental will then play out as everyone lays down on the couch and floor as though we are asleep. (Lyrics: nothing at all"). Finally, someone will walk from the group and cover the camera with their hands, which signifies the ending to our music video. 

Thankfully, my teammates and I work well together and we all pull our own weight. Everyone made an effort to contribute to each section of the project!

Research: Music Video Conventions

Codes and conventions are used by many different companies. They can be used as a marketing strategy in order to grab the attention of consumers. That way the product seems more interesting. A code is a system of signs that are put together to create meaning. One example of a code is a technical code which is camera techniques, framing, lighting, exposure, etc. Another example of codes is symbolic codes, which consist of objects,  the setting, body language, clothing, and color. Lastly, there are written codes which are headlines, captions, speech bubbles, and language styles. Conventions are habits of doing things. In short, what people have come to expect. Examples of conventions are camera angles, shots, editing, lighting, sound, music, computer graphics, and special effects.

Many songwriters use conventions in order to help the audience understand the theme of the video. They also want to give them a feel for the emotion behind it. While in the original music video of The Lazy Song, the dancers dressed in baggy clothes and wore ape masks. This created a crazy, lazy, but happy atmosphere. Throughout the song, the dancers dance along with the music. In The Lazy Song's music video, there were a limited amount of camera angles. One camera angle the director used was a wide shot which allows the audience to see everything lateral. The wide shot was used in the whole music video. This is evident because as the music video was occurring, there were not many changes to the wide shot camera angle. The director is trying to engage with the audience by showing them all of the dancers with Bruno Mars in the center.

For our music video, we will change the dynamic. To start with, we are going to engage our audience by opening with a fade-in. This makes the audience seem like they just walked into something. Then right after, we will start dancing just as in the original video. This will catch the audience's eye and make them want to continue watching. To add to that, our costumes, makeup, and props will surely catch the eye of our viewers because we are wearing bright and crazy colors. Our music video will also take place in multiple settings, rather than just one. We will zoom in to the birthday suits the character's eye and transport from the bedroom to a different location. Another thing we show differently is what we’re doing. The actors in the film will be watching TV, combing their hair, and playing video games. These are things that people contribute to everyday life and have genuine interests in. Lastly, there will be more camera movements that allow for a better understanding of the film's theme.

Planning for Music Video

For our music video, we will be filming at my house. There are no present health and safety procedures we would follow. The props would be a phone, gaming controller, TV remote, paper, and hair comb. The costumes would be a birthday suit and formal clothing. At the beginning of the music video, there will be a fade-in into a wide shot of our dance sequence. Every action by the characters is going to be matched by the lyrics of the song. So, the next scene will be a high angle of someone laying in their bed (Lyric: "I just wanna lay in my bed"). Then, there will be a jump cut to an over the shoulder shot of someone silencing a phone call and throwing it (Lyric: "Don't feel like picking up the phone, so leave a message at the tone, cause today I swear I'm not doing anything"). Next, there will be a jump cut to a medium shot of someone holding a hair comb then putting it down (Lyric: "No, I ain't gonna comb my hair cause I ain't going anywhere" as they lip-sync it). After this, there will be a line of five people with signs reading "No" (Lyric: "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo). In the last "No" there will be a zoom in to a character's eye, then a zoom out in a different location and costume. Following this will be a zoom out from the character's eye to the living room and dressed in a birthday suit. They'll be strutting around and dropping some part of the birthday suit (Lyric: "I'll just strut in my birthday suit. And let everything hang loose"). Then, we will have another wide shot of our dance sequence (Lyric: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah"). Next, there will be a pan shot of someone playing Xbox, but dropping the gaming controller (Lyric: "Oh, today, I don't feel like doing anything"). Then, there will be a repetition from before where there is a high angle of someone laying in their bed (Lyric: "I just wanna lay in my bed"). Along with, the jump cut to an over the shoulder shot of someone silencing a phone call and throwing it (Lyric: "Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone, cause today I swear I'm not doing anything"). The second to last scene will be everyone throwing papers in the air and having the last dance sequence (Lyrics: "Nothing at all, nothing at all"). Finally, someone will walk from the group and cover the camera with their hands, which signifies the ending to our music video. Not to mention, there will be subtitles throughout the music video.

Schedule: (11/18-12/9)
- Day 1: Planning our music video.
- Day 2: Script and storyboarding.
- Day 3: Filming.
- Day 4: Editing.
- Day 5: Submitting music video.
- Day 6: Reflecting on the music video.

Back-up Plan: We will be filming at Britania's house. It will be the same wherein the beginning of the music video, there is a fade-in into a wide shot of our dance sequence. Every action by the characters is going to be matched by the lyrics of the song. So, the next scene will be a high angle of someone laying in their bed (Lyric: "I just wanna lay in my bed"). Then, there will be a jump cut to an over the shoulder shot of someone silencing a phone call and throwing it (Lyric: "Don't feel like picking up the phone, so leave a message at the tone, cause today I swear I'm not doing anything"). Next, there will be a jump cut to a medium shot of someone holding a hair comb then putting it down (Lyric: "No, I ain't gonna comb my hair cause I ain't going anywhere" as they lip-sync it). After this, there will be a line of five people with signs reading "No" (Lyric: "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo). In the last "No" there will be a zoom in to a character's eye, then a zoom out in a different location and costume. Following this will be a zoom out from the character's eye to the living room and dressed in a birthday suit. They'll be strutting around and dropping some part of the birthday suit (Lyric: "I'll just strut in my birthday suit. And let everything hang loose"). Then, we will have another wide shot of our dance sequence (Lyric: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah"). Next, there will be a pan shot of someone playing Xbox, but dropping the gaming controller (Lyric: "Oh, today, I don't feel like doing anything"). Then, there will be a repetition from before where there is a high angle of someone laying in their bed (Lyric: "I just wanna lay in my bed"). Along with, the jump cut to an over the shoulder shot of someone silencing a phone call and throwing it (Lyric: "Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone, cause today I swear I'm not doing anything"). The second to last scene will be everyone throwing papers in the air and having the last dance sequence (Lyrics: "Nothing at all, nothing at all"). Finally, someone will walk from the group and cover the camera with their hands, which signifies the ending to our music video.