Preliminary Tasks

From doing preliminary task I was able to test out the different types of Media and see what I enjoyed most, found the most interesting, found maybe the easiest for my lifestyle and situation. I really enjoyed creating all four different types of film, but found the most creative to be the music video. The music video fitted easily around my lifestyle and so meant I would be able to concentrate on it very well and really show my own individual style. Here I will explain the process of each film and how I found it and if I could of improved it if I had more time.

Music Video:
When working on the music video we were given a song that we were not aware of. This meant we looked intensely at the lyrics instead of the kind of feeling you gain from the music and so therefore focuses on the idea of sweets, 'candy'. We also played around with the colouring of the video due to the idea that the film is colourful because of the sweets, so we enhanced that by changing the colours of the screen shot. I enjoyed the creativity with edits on this film, but I didn't like the lack of knowledge of the song and so I felt I was limited to just focusing on the lyrics.
From this though I have decided to create a music video for my coursework. I have decided this on the bases that I enjoyed creating it and I feel that when I choose a song that I am familiar with and feel I can create a great re-creation of the songs video in a completely unique and different way.


 Music video - Candy Shop from Lucy Gosling on Vimeo.

Documentary:
The topic we chose for the documentary was 'Stress Of Exams'. This was a very easy choice due to the time we filmed it, it was the exam period and so it was all very fresh in peoples minds. This was important when it came to the interviews. It meant that people were actually experiences the stress of having exams and they were able to explain that to us and also help us find out how things can be changed so people are so stressed and upset the minute someone mentions an EXAM! I enjoyed interviewing the public when filming this and I also enjoyed looking into a subject that I was experiencing myself as well. Although I did over all enjoy creating this film,, I found it difficult to keep the documentary open minded to different opinions and keep up the technique of almost subtly persuading the audience to understand the opinion that exams are stressful. This was a down factor to me choosing to create a documentary for my coursework.

Documentary- Stress Of Exams from Lucy Gosling on Vimeo.

Advertisement:
We were asked to pick an item out of a box and this is the item in which my group were assigned. This was really fun to film and we instantly had an idea of what we were going to do to produce an advert that would be as slick as the Apple adverts themselves, (with the white background and the simplicity of the mise-en-scen), but showed off all the features of the iPhone. I felt the advert is very successful and I enjoyed filming it. Although, I felt I couldn't be as creative as I could be with other types of video. Advertisement can be very difficult. Making a moving image attractive to a specific audience can be hard and you need to know your item extremely well. As well as this, if I chose this for my coursework I would have to make up my own item and that can be quite difficult as there are a lot to compete with in the world, pretty much everything is already a product being sold! So this is a factor I have taken into account when choosing what type of media I am going to create.

Advertisement - Lucy&Bri from Lucy Gosling on Vimeo.

Short Film:
The short film was one of my favourite medias to create. This short film was inspired by french short films that are silent and black and white, with a simplistic but catchy tune in the background in which would help with the creation of the emotion/ or mood that we, as actors, were trying to create. The theme of the video was that the cardboard robot head is imaginary and the girl didn't realise that she had an imaginary friend until one of her real friends sits on the robot friend and the robot disappears. The girl then becomes very confused and upset with the fact she has been spending all this time was an imaginary friend. So her and robot fall out and robot is left to fade away in the rain. It is a sad ending but I think that is what makes the film different and interesting. I really enjoyed making this film and it was one of my favourite tasks. I was stuck between creating a short film or a music video but thought that I have a better understand for the music video and so have chosen to create a music video for my coursework.

Short Film- Robot Love from Lucy Gosling on Vimeo.

Institutional Reseach

While searching for where I may find permission for using Florence and The Machine - You got the love song I came across the music company Island Records.
I thought I would do some research on the institution.

Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell and Graeme Goodall in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by UMG who is also known as the Universal Music Group.

Island Records include artists such as Florence and The Machine, Akon, Ben Howard, Avicii, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bob Marley and Alex Clare. I feel these artists all show a different variey of music genres and types. I like this about Island Records and feel that this was a good company to connect my song choice 'Florence and The Machine - You got the love' with.
Island records produce music videos for the artists which then allowed them to promote it online and on TV channels such as MTV.

As you can see above the website is very colourful and stands out which is where I can see the features of the jamaican style, especially with the palm tree logo.
Not only do Island Records produce music videos but they also make album art for the artists.

Setting Research

Thinking about my location for filming I have a good idea of where I am going to create my music video. The location is very important as it helps with the creation of the atmosphere that the music video will create and it helps with the feelings and emotions in which the artist is trying to show through her singing and lyrics.

So, a local wood called Plymbridge Woods is where I will feature most of my filming. Within this there are lots of long roads/paths and this is where I would love my music video to starts. With an establishing shot that pans towards my artist walking towards to camera on the path. This may seem quite stereo-typed but I feel the environment helps with the showing off of emotion and this is very important to my music video and to the beginning of it. The beginning needs to be strong and connect to the audience and make them feel what the lyrics and song means.

This area look beautiful in the dark when there is a clear sky as you can see from the images. The sky is a lovely purple that is completely natural. This path is very long and so have plenty of space to film a walking/establishing shot. As well as this, while walking the path you can come across many different looking locations which could help when cutting up some long shots and changing the scenery abit.

Below is some of the test footage I have taken from the area. Of course the darkness effects the camera but it gives me an idea of how I need to film in this location and also what time of day to film as it can get dark very quickly and so I need to make sure I am getting the correct lighting I need. This was taken at about 5 o'clock and so I may need to be in this area around early afternoon instead of late afternoon.

As well as Plymbridge woods, I have used the woods below which is in Tavistock meaning an easy area to get too. This woods is very attractive to me due to the winding paths and long lake. The trees above reflect off the water and it is an extremely photo generic area. This is an area in which I will have featured alot in my music video.

 

The reflections of the water and shadows creates an environment that is very beautiful, peaceful and almost perfect for two lovers to take a walk along the long winding path that could lead them anyway, (but they don't mind cause they love each other and just wish to enjoy each others company). The leaves and the colours create subtle and emotional tones that are seen to be quite romantic as leaves fall and winter brews. Winter means lots of hugs to keep each other warm and so I almost hope to show some romance though this environment with all the romantic connotations. The path is what I love most about this area. The leaves cover it which adds create detail to the colours and the sounds in which you will get from walking through the leaves, this could also be seen to be quite playful, messing around in leaves as if they are children again. The trees show almost a 'Sepia' natural tone due to the grey sky and brown/black colour of the bark. This makes the area seem old-fashioned and natural which creates a relaxing and enjoyable environment for two people who are new to a relationship and are still innocent and shy.

TEST footage plymbridge woods from Lucy Gosling on Vimeo.

Here is some test footage in which I have taken and I feel that the location above is not up to the standards in which the location below shows.
I have used this test footage to see what works best and how it could help to improve my music video. I have tried to use different techniques to see how they look which is why my test footage zooms in and out and pans just so I am able to see how it looks and see if it works or not.


TEST footage Tavistock from Lucy Gosling on Vimeo.

The footage above I feel shows that it works well when the camera is still and the location is just right for the kind of emotional shots I would like to convey. Where as the other location has 'murky' colours, the colouring in the location above is very bright and some details like the reflection of the trees in the water. So this test footage has helped me to see the differences between different locations and also how lighting affects the way a location is perceived and how small features can be very powerful when trying to create a certain feel to a location.

As well as the outside area I had an idea to work on a stage for my artist to sing on. I contacted a local theatre to see if they had any available space for me to pop in for an hour and so some filming.

Hello
My name is Lucy Gosling and I am a current A Level student at Tavistock
College.
I have spoken to Angela Court and she has referred me to yourself.
I am wondering if there would be any possibility of me using The Wharf
stage on Thursday the 13th of December after 3:10pm or anything around
that time, for a couple of hours or an hour, what ever may be possible.
I am studying Media Studies and am creating a music video for my
coursework. I would need the stage to film my actress singing for my
music video. I would love to use lighting and other effects if possible
but I understand that money may become an issue.
I would love to hear back from you with any advise or information you
can give to me.
This email (lgosling@tavistockcollege.devon.sch.uk) is my school email.
My personal email is lucykate274@hotmail.com if you wish to contact me
on that.
If you wish to contact me my mobile is 07740167536

I am happy to pop in if you wish to talk face to face.
Thank you very much for your time.

Lucy Gosling
(Tavistock College A Level Student)

From this I did receive an email back but saying that it was not available at the times where I was available that so that idea did not work out.

"Hi Lucy

I've been checking the diary up to Christmas and I don't have any available slots in the afternoon. The best I can offer you is sometime in the New Year.

Hope this helps?

Jess"

Here is the living room I used in my music video. I didnt have much control over the look of the living room as it came with the house I chose to use. But I found that the living room was quite small so such items as the sofa and telly were in the same area meaning the audience would be able to easily understand that the environment was the living room.

I made the female actor walk into the kitchen because I thought that in the real world, when you fall out with someone you want to get away from them and take them off there mind. From this I thought she could come into the kitchen as if to get a drink and refresh herself. So as she comes into the kitchen she takes a breather. She them hears him coming and the argument begins. I really like the look of filming in the kitchen because, again, it is a small area and everything is in shot and almost gives the effect of a panorama effect of the whole kitchen.

For the singing shots I wanted to keep the background quite simple. I had a black background with bright lighting on the side to light up the artists face. I really liked this and found that although it was simple it was quite dramatic and the lighting lit up her figure really well.

Actors and Artist Profile