1) What do you think you learnt from Monday's workshop?

I learnt about dressing up a set to try and make it look completely different. For the workshop we had to turn part of the sports hall into a library, to do this we had to cut out and stick pictures of books up on the whiteboard so that it looked more like a library.

I learnt about the importance of the monitor, especially for the director who can then focus on the whole frame instead of looking through the camera lens - this also saves time and makes the filming process more efficient.

I also learnt about the importance of the different roles communicating and working together- the camera operator, lighting person, assistant director, director and the performers need to know what is going on at all times so they can adjust the set and get ready for the next shot in time. All these roles working together is very important for a successful video.

I also learnt that being the performers can be long, tiring and tedious sometimes but in the end the result can look really good.

2. For you, what was the best bit of the day and why?

I enjoyed filming the hula hoops scene at the end of the day as we just had fun with trying out different things and I was more comfortable performing by then.

I also enjoyed watching the library scene being performed and filmed and all the technical team working together to get the shots as good as they could be.

Watching the crane being operated  at the end of the day was also a highlight as it was something I'd never seen done before.

3. Are you pleased with your edit? Is it how you expected it to look?

I was not able to edit much due to being ill for most of the process, however I think Bianca did a great job in editing the final footage:

(this works best when viewed at 480p)



Having been there at the editing of the end of the sequence we found that some of the clips had to be sped up to fit the timings of the actual video, and some clips had to be reversed so that it matched the real video exactly. I think the edited version was very close to the original.

As usual there were some mistakes during production such as the basketball net being visible in the top right corner of the frame. So to some it may still seem like a gym, however I don't think this stands out.. until you notice it.

Also, the lighting of consecutive shots, especially in the library is significantly different and this does stand out so we need to be more careful when artificial lights are used as this can affect the continuity of the video.

4. Have the lip sync tasks benefitted you in any way?

~ Having done the lip sync task helped me understand how to perform in front of the camera and also how to encourage a performance out of someone that you're working with.



~ I've also learnt that actually singing when filming makes it look as if you are actually singing when the track is added - so it looks more real.

5. How do you think the work you have completed for the preliminary tasks will impact on your real music video project?

+ I'm more able to understand how to get performances out of actors as I have been in that position during the workshop day and when lip syncing.

+ Using different shots to keep the video interesting- e.g wider shots for an idea of setting  and close up beauty shots:

+ Being familiar with the different roles should allow members of differently areas e.g lighting, camera, to work more effectively together.

Lady GaGa - Bad Romance

This is one of my favourite Lady GaGa videos as it was the first video I saw that made me want to know more about her as an artist and the concepts behind her videos and live performances. Directed by Francis Lawrence, it 's unlike any other music videos by current pop artists - from the costumes and fashion to the dance and imagery,  showing how intelligent and innovative her ideas are compared to a lot of pop videos from recent years.

The song itself is also unique and, to me completely destroys the stereotype that all pop music is soul-less and manufactured. Of the meanings of the song that have been suggested the one I carry forward comes from something Lady Gaga said herself - "What I'm really trying to say is I want the deepest, darkest, sickest parts of you that you are afraid to share with anyone because I love you That much."

The themes in the video and song are of love, evolution, fame and fear and together with the narrative and all the other elements, work together to produce an iconic, timeless video.

The course so far...

So far, i have learnt quite a bit about music videos - from the function of a music video to promote the artist and music to using the lyrics of a song as a starting point when making decisions about what the video should look like, also that it is important not to take the lyrics too literally.

We are currently working on recreating this music video by 'She and Him' for a song called 'In the Sun':



As we will be the performers, our choreographer Jasmine has been coming in to teach us the hallway dance routine. I wasn't looking forward to this at first as I hate performing, but we were told to not take it too seriously which helped me to just enjoy learning the dance - I'm suitably cast as one of the girls at the back of the group which will allow me to enjoy the experience of performing on camera more.

Jake Wynne will be directing this video and he came into class to talk to us about his experiences as a director. We gained insight as to what the music industry is like and watched some of his work directing music videos and adverts. I think he'll do a great job in getting the best out of us as a class and making the video look good. I am looking forward to the workshop and hopefully we'll have lots of fun on the day. :)