Storyboard - narrative

Storyboard for Narrative (Boxing sequence)

The storyboard for our narrative in our final music video. The storyboard may differ from the shot list as some shots have been re-thought and replaced.

1 - 18

19 - 36

37 - 54

55 - 72

73 - 83

Learning comment: By constructing a thorough and detailed storyboard, I have ensure that the planning of our music video leaves no stone unturned. After assembling a concrete idea, this was the ideal way for me and my group to be able to articulate our ideas into a structured plan. Most importantly, the construction of a storyboard was vital for maintaining a clear narrative structure through the entirety of the music video which is one of our main objectives in order to keep the music video interesting and engaging throughout.

Filming day - weather

There was slight deliberation as to whether factoring in the weather, two days before filming, really counts as planning or not. I've decided to blog about it anyway as it is an important aspect of our production.

After visiting our location and assessing the lighting, etc. we were very pleased with what we had and therefore booked the gym to use for the day.  As shown in previous planning posts, the lighting accentuated the quality of the camera we will be using as well as the setting itself. Therefore, we will hoping to have similar lighting (cloudy/sunny weather) on Thursday.

By the looks of it, the weather will be very similar to what we had on the day we first visited. This will be a benefactor to our production in the light that we will be able to film to a similar, hopefully better, standard than we did last time.

Filming day (1) - clothing planning

As stated in the post previous to this, I have decided to list the individual clothing items we will need to bring with us as well as the props in my last post. By doing this, the actors will look much more like characters within the narrative than random people off of the street.

Here is a list of clothing we will be providing for our actors with the names of the providers of each item to accompany them.

Learning comment: Upon completing of this task, we are now fully organised for our filming day with a clear understanding on who is taking what items with them. By doing this, we are able to fully focus on the filming when it comes to the day, rather than focusing on finding ample props and clothing at our location. 

Filming day (2) - props planning

Ahead of our first filming day, I have decided to make a list of the props we will be using and who will be providing them. It may come to your attention that some of the props are labelled 'provided.' By this, I mean that the boxing gym we are filming at already has some of the props we wish to use. After conversing with the owner of the gym, we are allowed to use the props within the gym as much as we like during our filming.

Here is a list of the props we will be using on our first filming day as well as the providers of each prop.

Learning comment: From completing this task, we now have a clear idea of what each member of the group has to bring with them to the filming day. By doing this, we will be able to film exactly what we want with the correct props to add authenticity to our music video. 

Shot list - boxing gym

Learning comment: By completing a shot list spreadsheet for the boxing gym scene, we now have a much clearer idea about what we want to shoot. This will prove vital on our filming day because this scene includes the majority of our shots and is thus the most important to our overall video. Moreover, it will help our actors gain a better understanding as to what they will need to be doing and for the time they will need to do it. As a result, this will make directing much easier because we will be able to focus on more high-level aspects of the filming such as camera movements.

Shot list - running scene

Learning comment: By creating a spreadsheet for the running scene, we will be able to shoot what we want to in an organised fashion. As a result, our filming should now be much more organised than if we hadn't created a shot list for the video.

Shot list - park scene

Learning comment: From this task we have clearly planned and organised one particular element of our music video in terms of shot listing. Although it is not a main part of our video, it will be valuable to our product as a whole in the way that this PARK SCENE will add a different element to the geographical side of things. Clearly planning and organising the shots of our shots has helpfully contributed to the video by the fact that it shows every shot in an orderly fashion - meaning that we won't be following a confusing storyboard.

Location visit: Slow motion shots

Below is a short clip of Pacifier by Catfish and the Bottlemen. To accompany the song, I have put together some shots from our location visit to practice the use of slow motion effects.

 

Learning comment:By doing this, I now have a better idea as to what shots look good and not so good in slow motion. As a result, we will be able to film a variety of shots with the knowledge that slow motion works to good effect. This ultimately helps with the construction of my final product in the light that it is good practice for my post-production editing after filming.

Location visit: Filming practice

Learning comment: Here we practice some filming and editing to the song of our choice. By doing this, we feel that the official filming day with actors, props and appropriate clothing will be much easier. Furthermore, we have introduced some advanced editing techniques that offer a higher level of editing and filming that we most likely would not have been able to film if we had not visited the location prior to our filming day.

Music video inspiration - slow motion

As a result of our music video containing a lot of action shots, we will be looking to implement sections of slow motion in our video. The main reason for this lay with the fact that slow motion shots have the advantage of accentuating what is on the screen.

So, for example, in the video below, there is a clear establishment of the setting. This is done through the use of slow motion that allows audience members to become more familiar with the location than if it had not been used.

Moreover, the use of slow motion adds a dramatic effect to the video presented below. In doing this, there is an opportunity to establish a narrative from the change in pace on screen. This will be something we hope to use in our music video as a means of creating a clear narrative.

 

Location visit: What shots are possible?

 

Learning comment: As shown in the footage above, there are many shots that we can film at the boxing gym location. Although the gym doesn't offer generous amounts of space in terms of square foot, there is still ample room to film a wide range of camera angles. This will prove invaluable to our official filming day as it has given us the chance to gain a better understanding as to what we are able to achieve. What this task has been most vital for is the help it will give us going forward into our storyboarding and shot listing. Over the next 2-3 weeks we will be storyboarding and producing a shot list for each location we will be filming at. By doing this task, we will have photos and videos at our fingertips to give us a better idea to what we will be able to film for our music video.

Location visit - photos

Learning comment: From visiting our proposed location for the boxing gym scene of our music video, we have gained a better idea as to what we will be able to film for our final product. In the pictures presented above, it is clear to see that the location is ideal for what we are looking for. It includes gym equipment that you would expect boxers to train on, thus, creating a realistic look to the video. Above this, there is also a rustic and dingy atmosphere to the location. This is replicated on camera where the lighting is not always high-key. As a result of this, the location will play a big part in illustrating the song through visuals.

Location visit: What do we need?

Below is a presentation of factors we will be considering when looking at our boxing gym setting tomorrow:

Learning comment: By completing this activity, I feel that I will have a better understanding about what I will be looking for when visiting my location. I have seen a couple of pictures of the location but actually visiting it will allow me and my group to consider logistical issues such as space to film accurately in accordance to our storyboard. I believe that by completing this task, filming will be much more effective and accurate when we come to our actual filming day.

Props planning - narrative

From clearly organising our prop lists into performance and narrative scenes, we will be able to organise our props for the filming days much easier. By doing this, we will be able to avoid any confusion with the props each group member is responsible for bringing. Therefore, we will be able to film to a much higher standard than being occupied with a shortage of props needed for the video.

Props planning - performance

Below are a selection of props that we will be using for our performance scene of the narrative. From doing this planning, we have finalised our ideas for what we are going to take to the filming day for the performance. From doing this, we will be able to ensure that we do not miss anything that will be vital to our overall idea.