Pitch

Here is my Pitch which was presented in front of my Media Class:

MY PITCH

And here are some questions that were asked after my presentation:

Question + Answer 1

Question + Answer 2

Here are pictures from the Pitch's presentation which was going on behind me:

Health and Safety Evidence

When considering the Health and Safety of my filming situation, it honestly isn't that big an issue. this is mainly because my entire video is set in my own home, so no need to worry about the safety of the public, or how it may effect disrupt the community, etc. This also means that I am familiar with the environment that I'm in, as well as the rest of the cast which are comprised of friends who are also familiar with the surrounding itself.

Due to the familiarity, it's extremely unlikely that anything serious would happen. There are no risky shots planned, i.e. need to stand on a chair to get a high angle shot - etc. meaning that the filming won't risk the person, or people, when the camera is in use.

Other aspects like the teddy bear are well clear of obstruction (as it's an item made for children - you can't get much safer than that).

ONLY area of concern is when I have the toy bear operating in the toilet, and where he vomits into the toilet. This causes hygiene issues, and the bear should be cleaned (or anything on the liens of this).

Location Photoes

Here are some numerous location shots and stills that were taken before and during the filming process:

Evidence of Contact

Here is my evidence of me contact the artists, who I was informed by the record label "Red Blue Records" that they own the rights to the song and video.

Timeline Analysis and Shoot Order (successes and failures)

Before filming, I made these two documents that enabled me to apply shots, angles and other elements of camera work in full detail. This also became a create way to order my video when in the editing process:

First document is my timeline analysis; made way before the filming stage:

Sorry it had to be in different sections, but it was too large to upload as one full image.

And then my Shoot Order, completed in the filming stage itself:

Record Companies/ Labels/ Directors research and Ideas for my Own

The record company for Ice Nine Kills is "Red Blue Records" who focus on the artists themselves, over their own brand image.
There logo/ or title/ looks like this:

It follows general conventions of a metal music record label by using gothic shaped font with a rusted effect to add onto perhaps how old the company believes itself to be (as old/ more professional/ a company looks; the more trustworthy/reliable they seem to be). This I may try to oppose within my own fictional company, as the msuci videos narrative does not fully support this view

I've decided, for my own logo of a fictional company, for it to be associated with something that is characterized as being positive (perhaps something of a childish element - as to link to the concept of my narrative), but with a dark element that hints to the motives of the company itself (i.e. their genre orientation).

My initial Idea is of the company titled "DEAD SMILEY RECORDS" and I've created a logo that is literal to it's concept:

This will be presented within my Music Video as well!

Filming and Editing Schedule

Here are my Filming and Editing Schedules that I have planned over the next year and term:

Digi-Pak & Advertisement Research and Planning

Here are a few basic questions that I asked myself when researching and planning my own Digi-Pak:

• What are the conventions of a Digi-Pak?

It is to serve as a higher quality form of the usual CD packaging, which comprises of a single and less informative case, when in comparison to the Digi-Pak which presents more information and art to the user than what is normally provided.

• Find examples and Analyse with annotations on blog (example is from "Total Guitar")

• It links to social networks and email addresses with links at the bottom of the advertisement + record companies etc.
• Has a close up of band member/artist
• Performance orientated
• Advertises the equipment used

Current Ideas

• I should deter away from the usual performance illustration in magazine advertisement as my music video itself does not contain any performance segments at all
• This will link with the Digi-Pak
• Definitely involve the connectivity of Social network and other sources (e.g. email, record labels etc.)
• Focus on a certain individual in the advertisement, rather than a group (as it's usually presented on a horizontal page etc.)

• What are the conventions of a magazine advert for a single?

It is to further spread the awareness of the singles release through different forms of media, as to further the potential customer/to/audience that may purchase or simply listen to the single.

• What is my Market strategy, including branding, visual style, logo, artist image and overall  concept for this single and the artist as a whole

The artist image is not specified in my video, as it fully focuses on narrative, going against usual conventions (especially when it comes to rock/metal music videos).
This is done to fully focus on the narrative itself, and it's synergy with the lyrics and musical tone (i.e. when darker tone of music is played, a darker tone of the narrative is shown, etc.).

• How will my music video, advertisement and digi-pak complement each other?

They tell the story of my toy bear, as we see the development of his life and relationship with me through the mediums: He is first introduced through the magazine advert, then partially symbolised in progress through the digi-pak, and then finished off through the events of the video.

• Do I have any other notable ideas that can be used for promotional strategy and launch of my single?

The digi-pak and magazine advertisement will interlink in plot presentation, with the magazine being the first piece to the narrative's story:


Here are my ideas on how this is linked:

And here is my Magazine Advert Planning:

Annotations are featured on the pages themselves ^

Storyboard

Here is a storyboard that I did a while back of one of my starting scenes with the bear coming out of the wardrobe, and the scene titled "Jealousy". This where the bear sees me and my (supposed) Girlfriend, and watches in envy at how I may of replaced the toy-to-child relationship with the one that's unfolding before his very own eyes:

Prop, Cast and Crew Lists

Here are lists of my Props, Cast and Crew, with sections on the side explaining their roles in my Video:

Artist Styling/Costume planning

Here are my ideas for Artist Styling:

• I want it to be IN colour, as I want it to capture a lot of the realism to the shots and scenes, rather than trying to produce this surreal image of black and white, that although it may show great detail, deprives itself of many such emotions that could of been expressed through colour.
• I may give the footage a contrast, brighter look, as to suit the view of a child (as it's from a toy's perspective)
• May add some blur, as to parts that show that the bear is reminiscing. Emphasises the change of screenplay
• May add colour to certain places, to deliberately show emotion

I may come up with other ideas on the spot, but for now the camera's settings are set to take in more light than normal (hence being brighter), and it's in colour. Most other settings I have left on Default.

As for the Costume planning, I plan for my cast (excluding the Toy Bear) to wear whatever they deem suitable for the video, as I want to make the video as realistic as possible, and what better way to do it, than to just be ourselves, wearing the clothes we like and acting in environments that we usually act well in!

Hope to post further information soon!

Matt

DiaryBlog Entry 8: Small Update of Filming

Unfortunately I did not get all the filming that I wanted to get done over the weekend with the bear, YET, it gave me the chance to reflect on how much work I had to do for some of the scenes, these I shall explain.

Basically, for the filming; I ran out of day-light time, by the end of it, most of the shots I had to do by bedroom light as it was too dark for the camera to capture the right expression and detail that I wanted. Yet, it's kind-of turned to my favour, as now when I look at the 3 minute footage that I have; it makes it look a little bit unnatural, and a little bit nerving, which I can link to an accidental stumble across a method of showing expression; without necessarily having to literally act it in the screenplay.

When I talk about the amount of work I have to do for one scene, I mean a lot! By this I could say that I've been a bit too ambitious with some of the screenplay. One scene in particular. By this I'm referring to my early confirmed shot of the rotation sequence with the toy bear in the middle of my room, as it constantly cuts between a current and a past version of my bedroom (reminiscing). I got the current footage, yet it hasn't got everything that I wanted it to have (like the posters I've researched music video screen shots put up around my current room). But now I'm sort of dreading the past footage as it'll take a lot of work to get my room into the right condition (especially with what I've got planned), I can't have much current technology in the shot, as it emphasises the fact as to how alien it all appears to the toy bear.

First difficulty with the shot, which I overcame, was the fact that the bear can't stand upright on it's own. This really frustrated me throughout me trying to film him. So I got some tub-aware which helped in me propping him into a stable position, without it being present in the footage itself. (this I'll take a picture of to upload to blog later).
Second, was the arrangement of the room itself. Although there isn't AS many changes that need to be made to my room for the present shot, it was still time-consuming moving stuff out of the way to get a clear shot, which is why it took up so much of the weekend. Plus, from wasting time doing all this, that's how it lead quickly to it being dark, making it even harder to get the right shot.

The other days were simply too dark for me to even try to attempt taking footage, which is where I lead up to my second outcome of this.

In this time, I instead worked on the shot list, perfecting the times of which I was going to film collections of scenes, that were relevant to others they were put with. I have now split my work into four even sections of filming (some bigger than others) where they focus on availability of different aspects and conditions of the scenes themselves. First would be of the opening scene, which requires a lot of effort (as stated thus far). The second being all the shots that have Bronwen present, and relative scenes close to that (because of available camera man and same shot conditions). Third being the next large half of the video, only comprising of me and the Toy bear, without difficult camera technique. And last would be the scenes leading up to Tommy becoming the new owner of the toy.

So really, I did get a lot of good work done this weekend, yet I've still got a long way to go. It's safe to say that this will probably go over Christmas, but hopefully not much longer after then. In addition there's still a ton of paper-work documentation that I have to complete (now just looking at my checklist :/ )

I shall update my blog promptly of any changes or reflections that I may come across in the near future.

Matt.

DiaryBlog Entry 7: Planning DONE!

Now I have done my timeline analysis, to great detail, and have started to plan for my first real camera shoot this weekend! Last weekend didn't go well as my teacher was away last Thursday and Friday, so I couldn't get the camera off of her.
Initially I thought to then use my own camera, but when the day came, I arranged to meet up with one of my friends, but left it too late to film anything as it was not the right time of day that I wanted for the scene she's in.

But now I've planned to film everything with the bear and me this weekend and then arrange other shootings with the people I need at a later, yet current date!

Right now, I'm starting to get up the paperwork like No-Fee Release forms and other such documents, as-well as trying to convert the timeline analysis into a suitable format to be uploaded onto my blog.

I hope that I don't stumble into anymore problems this week, than what I did the last week...

Matt

Camera Work Planning 1

The main theme of the video; is the reflection of childhood, and how time has passed. For this, I'd really like to involve the effects of the camera from the Toy Bear's Perspective! This would involve things being brighter than what they are, even if the scene is of a negative matter, as the bear still wants everything to be positive and fun, like back when I was a child. This perspective will be heightened if there are any flash back scenes within the video (especially of the room changing between times, etc.).
For this the brightness setting will be adjusted to a higher intake of light, and I may involve more contrast upon the image itself. For the alteration of flash-back scenes, I'd create a blurrier focus (to make it seem dreamy - flashback etc.) by turning off auto focus and using the camera manually. And the contrast shall be made more extreme within the scene.

There will be other posts after this one, where I shall further the detail of my ideas!

Research of the Digi-Pak

Here is my research on the Digi-Pak, as this shall be one of the products that I shall produce for my Coursework.

This product is a patent style of CD, DVD or BD packaging which is personified as an upgraded version of a the normal casing featured with the above products.
This usually consists of a gatefold (book style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. This form is usually used for special editions of the products, especially CD's, as this presents a higher quality of work than the standard packaging for the above products. This offers greater quality in display, protection and aesthetics as it produces a new medium for products, such as these, to be sold at.

The history of the Digi-Pak consists of trademark changing ownership between different companies. Originally it was owned by IMPAC Group, Inc where it went through great changes to now be owned by a combined company called "AGI-Shorewood".

Here is a picture of a Digi-pak, in comparison to a CD case:

Resource Audit

From what I understand, a Resource Audit is a simple list of different resources that is available to a specific entity, in this case it shall be my Music video. These I shall list briefly, yet may edit further on if  something new comes to availability!

• "Canon EOS 550D" (camera used to film and take photoes of the music video)
• Camera Tripod (used to stably position the camera within a comfortable position to take photoes or film at a higher quality)
• The contents of my Bedroom (this is my main setting for my music video, all contents in my room will be used to set the scene of a modern teenagers and kids room, when looking back in the past, etc.)
• From my Bedroom, the most important prop is my Toy Bear which is the star of my video.
• My house (again, will most likely be involved as a setting)
• Mac OS X, Version 10.5.8 (my home computer that I shall use to store, create and simply use as a necessity for the making of the video itself)
• Computers at school (these will be used for the same reason as my home computer, YET this will probably have the software that I'll need to finish and most likely make the video itself)
• I pod Touch (my I pod that shall be involved in one scene)
• Haribo Star mix (prop in one scene)
• Beer bottle (prop in one scene)
• Laundry bag (prop in one scene)
• Internet (research tool)
• TBC

Human Resources:

• I will have myself as a character in my own video, for the camera I will use either a tripod to film myself, or I'll have my brother, friend from school, or other such person film me in a scene.
• I will use a few friends who come round mine as other characters featurted in my video including close friends, my friends little brother (who shall be given the toy at the end), etc.

Classification of Performance

Performance - I will most likely not be having a performance section in my video, and if it does come to one, It shall be very obscure and quick, as to not show the detail, etc.
Animation - Highly likely won't be present
Narrative - Shall be presented through intended actions related to the lyrics or mood of the current theme in the song, etc
CONCEPT - I have a nice concept idea of having my old toy bear, trying to reconnect with me, after so many years of him sitting at the bottom of my wardrobe, waiting for me to finally see him again
This I'll achieve, by controlling him, like a puppet, showing him to spy on me (representing voyeurism), whilst he goes round trying to get my attention.
He interacts with new technology, and discovers new ways of having fun (inspired by the series storyline of Toy-Story and the concept of how they feel if they were alive).

For this, I'd like to use the song: "Someone Like You - Adele" (COVER) by "Ice Nine Kills", this'll show how the toy bear shows his feelings for me, wanting things to be back like they were before in my childhood when we played together.

I also have ideas for certain parts of the song:
Like the lyrics: "And, you're married now", obviously it'd be stupid to have me married by the age of 17, so I could have a friend (posing as my girl friend) to have a bag of "Haribo Starmix" (intertextuality) where I can use the certain sweet, shaped as rings, to then let us be in a scene where we joke and eat together, showing a pun of the lyric.

Other such scenes, would involve the toy's interaction with current technology, like how he tries to send me an email saying to play with him, yet because he hasn't got fingers to interact properly with the Ipod touch, he ends up sending a mess of text to me, simply making me confused.

Another really good idea that I had, would be to have the toy bear, stand in the centre of the room (showing that the plot is focusing on him), and then have the camera rotate around him (looking slightly up at the character), as it shows the viewers my room, as it rotates, it constantly changes from past - to - present, with the items of the room simply being swapped around (like Xbox 360 - Playstation 2, DVD's for Toys, books for children's books, etc, etc).
Also another good point here is to show a lot of intertextuality, as I plan to have posters (in the present room) of screenshots from the videos that I have analyzed for this music video.

This was inspired by my first music video analysis of "Walking Disaster" by "Sum 41" where it used the toy robot as it's focused character. From this I may involve performance scenes, yet it will most likely be of the toy bear (which shall be very hard to achieve) as he is the main character, and if I have someone else singing, then it may detract from the attention of the plot itself.

Brainstorm of Initial Ideas

Here is a mind map of the general ideas that I have, for the actual music video concept/plot Ideas I shall make a separate mind map as to structure my planning course. But for now here is my Brainstorm of Initial Ideas: