Blog 20- Evaluation and Feedback of the vide

Personal Evaluation of Final video

Throughout the video I think we have demonstrated many interesting camera techiniques and editing skills. My favourite part of the video is the begining an ending clips of the sun rise and then the reverse shot of the sun set which represents the beginning and ending of the main characters life as though she is living her life through one day. However, i think we could have showed her ageing rather than her staying at the same age through out because showing her ageing would have linked well to the beginning and ending of her life in one day. Although, we did film shots of her older during filming, we did not put these shots in because we did not film enough of her as an older person to make the video make sense. Therefore if we were to re do the filming, I would have made sure we filmed plenty of her as an older person so there was enough shots to create a storyline.

In this evaluation blog I am going to present proof of feedback and how the feedback has made me think of what I could do differently to improve my video. I am also going to explain how my video conforms and challanges existing media, explain how the digipack, advert and video combine together to attract the target audience and lastly explain how my knowledge has developed through use of media technologies.


Effectiveness of Video, Digipack and Advertisment

I think that the combination of my final video, Digipack and advert work really well to complement each other and promote the main product (the video). This is because the images used for the cover and inside of my digipack and the image used on my advertisement, promoting the new video 'my boy builds coffins', are all from the location where we filmed the video. This shows that I have thought about using a representable image that links to the video and the image found on the front could be found in the video. If i had choosen to use an image non relevant to the music video, it may not draw in the audiences interest to want to see more. The front cover of the advert and digipack is like a taster, building up to the real thing.














These images are both used either on my digipack or advert. They both show the locations in which we filmed in therefore the images relate well to the video.












Target audience

Our final video was specifically aimed to attract any audience under the age of 40. This is because, through my research I have found that people over 40 take less of an interest in music than younger generations who are fastly developing the world of music. At first, (before I conducted my research) my personal opinion was that Florence and the Machine mainly attracted a female audience becuase of the style of clothing and the natural settings that their videos took place in would appear to attract females more than males who you would think are more attracted to faster pace, more action videos. However, when researching this genre of music through two top mjusic magazines- 'Q' and 'NME'- where Florence appeared on the cover, statistics show that more males than females read these magazines suggesting that they take more of an interest in this style of music.

Therefore, we decided to keep our video to attract to all audiences of both genders and from the ages of around 16-40.

I think we have accomplished this by having feminin dance movements through out the video alongside a boy hammering and building a coffin. These show two gender stereotypes which we have specifically used to target both genders. The video would not appeal as much to children because it is more sophisticated and more focused on interesting effects and shot types rather than interesting colours and fun characters which may appeal more to children. Also the lyrics to the song are less likely to be exposed to children.



Existing Media

I have created a powerpoint presentation comparing still images of my own final media video to existing videos.
(Below is the link the the PowerPoint document)

https://docs.google.com/DocAction?action=updoc&hl=en


Feedback

I first uploaded our finished video onto facebook and asked for people to comment on what they thought about the video and any criticisms they could give.
The link below is the print screen from the facebook page on comments on our final video.

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B20gzrmLsLdxZDhlM2UyNmEtZGRlNC00MjFkLTkyNWMtNWU2NjkwNGExOTY4&hl=en

However, these comments did not give any criticisms and I do not think they give an accurate reflection of the target audience because they all all from one age group, therefore, I constructed a survey asking direct questions about the video and sent this survey, attactched to the video, Via email to various contacts of different age groups to give better acuracy on feedback from the target audience.

Here are the links below to 5 sureveys that i picked out of all the replies I got which I thought were most useful.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IlLxoEIJ9CUNXizHVCkTAfhe3jSvCL4hVF1SsjAjPgw/edit?hl=en&pli=1#

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J-j18tnN_NvyRinPGji8g2dMqAQ7pd1lXKDvmCLxvy4/edit?hl=en#

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eLzvSZXACLxeYU8u9joh8IatNoc_6gOGKbENoD2ipDk/edit?hl=en#

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16z5103uQc30EU45Ys5EHFo5OdtMyCJIQA9-rR5OpDGk/edit?hl=en#

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S4dMxmF5d2u2T5cet0hAZE9sYvltLfHWUD7vAKEhDzw/edit?hl=en#

I think these surveys have really helped me pick out other peoples opinions on good and bad qualities of the video that i can reflect on!
The first question asked in the survey is: What do you think of the quality of filming? (Are there any parts of the video where the camera shakes or the lighting is bad?)
The feedback I got from these five respondants was that they didn't notice any faults in the quality of filming and that the camara remained stable and clear through out. Only one criticism that was made said that the establishing shot, from the trees then along the river, in one of the begining shots changes speed and the camera jolts very slightly, not tracking the shot as smoothly as we would have liked.

The second question is: Do you think the video links in well with the lyrics of the song?
Two of the respondants said that having the girl miming the lyrics to the song made a clear link between the video and lyrics. The genral view on this was that when the location changed to the boy building the coffin, this linked in better with the song lyrics. I think if we didn't put this scene in there would have been less of a link because the song is written about the boy building coffins, therefore, without this the song may not have really linked to the words at all. I really liked the feedback from one of the respondants on this question who said they thought it would have linked better if the location was set in a graveyard at night time to create a creepier setting which would relate more directly to the idea of death and coffins. I thought this was a very good idea therefore the video could have been improved just by changing the time of day and location. However, I think filming in the evening would create problems with the quality of filming because of poor lighting therefore this idea may have been too difficult to go ahead with.

The third question is: Is there a specific part of the video that stands out from the rest or that you particulary like?
The part of the video that was mentioned most in the surveys was the sun rise and sun set at the begining and end of the video. One of the respondants said 'I think its great how the ending is a reverse of the begining. At the beginning you have the sun coming up and the girl opening hers eyes representing her waking up then at the end she closes her eyes representing her going to sleep then the sun sets on the day'. I think this comment states the exact idea we were going for by having the reverse shots of sunrise and sun sets whilst the girl woke up then went back to sleep at the end of the day. Another respondant also said a similar thing. I like how people have said this in their feedback because it shows they understand the ideas we have put accross in the video. Another response was that they liked the dancers reflection in the river. This part shows our use of camera creativity and how we tried different ways and angles of filming. Another respodant stated how she liked the fade in from one location of the girl singing to another because the lip syncing would have been difficult to get on time. This was something that took a lot of time to look perfect, especially when fading from one lip sync to another. The timing had to be perfect here. This shows how we used our editing techniques effectively to create interesting ideas.

The final question is: Are there any improvements that you could suggest?
The response to this question was mostly positive saying how they thought the lighting/compositions/quality was all filmed very well. It is good to hear positive feedback and realise that people find it hard to pick out something negative. However, the only thing two of the respondants picked up on is in one of the miming scenes the actress sings one of the words wrong which looks very obvious. We could have re shot this to make the miming look perfect, however we didn't notice the word was wrong untill we put the miming clips against the song. I think this clip stands out negitively against the rest of the video and if I was to make an improvement I would have made sure the wording was correct whilst filming to avoid this happening.
Other than that I am really pleased with the feedback I have recieved which have mainly being positive whilst giving me some new interesting ideas and suggestions that could make my video better.

Based on the overall feedback I have recieved, one of the changes I would like to have made is to have included a setting of a graveyard which links in closer to the lyrics of the song. I think this would have created a scarier/horror story scene which could have been an interesting story line to match the song title- 'My Boy Builds Coffins'.

An idea I have progressed after carrying out my feedback is to have the main character located in a large graveyard and running from something that is unknown to the audience to create a dream like/abstract theme which is a recurring theme through out existing Florence and the Machine music videos which is what makes the band individual from others. Also I think filming the character in the graveyard, maybe trying to escape as the sun began to set as though her time was running out to escape from the horror story she was trapped in, would be a more interesting idea.
I think that we could have created many camera angles and interesting compositions using the gravestones. We could have used many creative camera idea's such as having a character creep out from behind one of the gravestones then changing their location using a time jump. We could have also had characters dressed up as the dead (crteating an interesting mis en scene) to make Florence look as though she is living in an afterworld which could look as though she is having a nightmare; again creating a dream like feel.
This scene could have then related well to the filming we have already done of the boy building coffins. The building of the coffin could represent that a coffin is being made for florence as though her time is almost up. I think these two scenes link really well because it would be almost as though Florence is already in the graveyard but is waiting for her coffin to be made whilst she trys to escape from the nightmare.

Media Technologies

When creating my Digipack and and advert I used the software 'Adobe photoshop'. In the previous AS task of creating a music magazine we also used this programe to create our product therefore, I already had knowledge of how to use the programme and what effects I could create using specific tools. Already having the basic knowledge helped me to develop and progress my knowledge to experiment with different tools. For example, on the cover of my digipack, Using the magic tool, I selected the corners of the image of the girl on the cover to round off her head and make it look like the forground on top of the background that I inserted behind this image. I then adjusted the lighting and contrast so both these images matched exactly to make them look like one image rather than one image placed over another.

When editing and creating our final video we used the programme 'Final Cut Pro', this was a new software to me therefore it took a while to get used to. However, once understanding the basics of how to select and cut sections of a video and other simple effects, it allowed me to then begin to experiment with the software and develop these basic skills. For example, we were taught in one lesson how to film the sky for a period of time and then how to speed the clip up to create an interesting sped up effect of the clouds moving across the sky. We then interpretated this effect into our own music video by filming the sun set then speeding it up. This shows how my knowledge of editing techniques have developed throughout the producation of our music video.

In our final video, you can see many interesting editing effects we have created using this software.

Conclusion

Through out the production of filming our music video I have learnt many new skills and how to put these skills into good use to create the best video possible. I think I have shown many interesting idea's in the final music video, such as time jumps, camera angles, lightings, speed of filming to match the pace of the music and lip syncing which shows my understanding of media technologies.

Blog 19- Finished Video

This is the YouTube link to our final video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dEf9lmS2ec

Blog 18- Creative camera use

In this blog I have print screened various clips from our final video, of Florence and the Machine- My boy builds coffins, which show any interesting techniques or special effects we have used with the camera and through editing.

Reverse sped up sunset.

This shot is used as the opening clip in our video showing the sun coming up. This clip was originally filmed as the sun set. It took us around 45 miutes to film the sun going down and then we edited this clip to speed up so it lasted 3 seconds showing a 45 minute sunset in 3 seconds which created an interesting effect with the sun and the clouds. We then reversed the shot of the sunset to make it appear like sunrise so we could use the sun set and sun rise at the beginning and ending of the video.


Experimenting with lighting.

This shot was orinially us playing around with the lighting because the image was too bright therefore we adjusted the lighting. However, when watching this shot back we thought the gradual change from a bluring bright lighted shot to the correct lighting was a really good effect therefore used it in the opening sequence. I think the gradual focus on the girl could also represent her coming out of a dream as though she is waking up.


Eyes opening on beat

We timed the girl opening her eyes to match the first beat of the music exactly. I think this represents the begining of the song well because it is the first human movement that introduces the rest of the video.

We had to cut the clip shorter in the middle to time the girl opening her eyes perfectly with the music. The middle that is cut is not at all noticable because the girl stays still through this first shot.


Establishing shot

We wanted an establishing shot which showed the surroundings of the following clip however this clip was filmed very slowely meaning it dragged on for too long therefore we sped up this clip through editing to make it last 10 seconds instead.

This shot showed goot camera creativity because we used different angles from up into the trees then tracked along the river which shows that we though about all the interesting angles we would fit into one shot to create a picture of the whole scenary.


Change in angle


We filmed the dancer running into the shot and spinning around once and we then filmed her from a new angle spinning around then running out of the shot (in the image below)

We put these two clips together when editing and created a small time lap so that you see the dancer spin twice as if the movement had been repeated in two different shots.

















Composition


I think this is a good use of camera creativity because we thought about interesting compositions we could use to make an image look more affective.









Time jump.

1.
We filmed this shot of the 4 girls walking through the forest. I thought the composition of the whole shot worked really well, however the clip was too long to put the whole thing in the video. Therefore, when editing, we created a time jump so the clip skipped a couple of seconds between each shot creating three seperate shots and showing the girls at 3 seperate stages of their journey.



2.












3.












Use of shot types/composition

This close up shows we have thought about using different types of shots to show the use of camera creativity through out the video.

The composition of this image is good because the character is not in the center of the shot creating a more interesting image because we can see her location in the background as well.





Use of editing transitions

We used the fade transitions between a close up of the girl singing and the girl singing on the floor.

We had to get the timing of the lip syncing perfect for this to work. Therefore, as the girl fades out in one shot, she is singing the same word in the next shot so you can see they are singing the same lyrics.

The second shot of her lying on the floor also shows use of camera angles as we have shot from above to view the girl from a new angle.


Slow motion

This shot was originally the girl spinning around fast. However, we slowed down the speed to match the slower change in pace of the music.

If we did not slow this shot down then it would have not matched the pace.







Extreme close up

We used extreme close ups of the boy's features to create a mysterious look about him. The audience never get's to see his who identity which makes an interesting effect.












Close up of detail

This shot realates specifically to the name of the song 'My boy builds coffins'. The close up shot allows the audience to see the specific detail of the boy hammering a nail to create the coffin.








Creating shadow's

We created a shadow on the wall of the boy building the coffin. The shadow on the wall creates a more interesting effect than if we would have just shown the boy himself building. This also adds to the mystery of the boys identity and gives an old fashioned look as though candle light is effecting this shadow on the wall.

We also slowed down this clip to create a smoother effect and the timing fits in better with the music.




Fade effect

We again used the fade transition effect from the boy building coffins to florence to show how the characters are relevant to each other and this also helps the audience make a link between the two scenes.








Change in angles

We shot this movement from the front. And then shot it from a low angle looking up to the character (shown in the image below).

Then, when editing, we put the two movements together as though the camera changes to another angle in that one single movement.

The timing had to be perect during editing otherwise the movements would not look like one single movement and would look obviously edited.

This shows our use of angles as well as linking two angles together to create one scene.










Reflection


We filmed the dancers dancing in the reflection of the river to create new interesting idea's.










We then filmed them continuing this dance sequence to create the same shot as in their reflection.









Running

We adjusted the lighting on the camera to look very bright to create a dream like effect. This links in with existing video's which also create an abstract dream like effect.

We also slowed this clip down to fit into more of a dream like theme and to also contrast with the pace of the music.




Conclusion

Through out filming we were very creative with different ways of filming such as use of all angles compositions and lighting. Editing helped us to pick out the effects that worked well and the effects that didn't work well which we experimented with whilst filming. Editing also helped us create new effects such as changing the speed of shots and using transitions between shots. Without using these editing techniques we wouldn't have been able fit in the shots with the timing and pace of the music to work effectively. Therefore, our camera creativity and new knowledge of editing skills and effects helped us toward creating a video that shows many aspects of good camera use which fits well with the pace of the song.

Blog 17- Rejected Footage

Throughout editing our music videos there were many clips we could not use being of various reasons such as bad lighting or props in the way. This blog shows the clips we did not use and the reasons why.

1. Props in the way


We were not able to use this shot as there were objects in the background that were not supposed to be filmed therefore did not fit in with the scenery. We re shot this image from a different angle away from all the props we bought for filming on that day.


2. Poor lighting


This clip was a different angle from the girl miming the song by the river. However, the lighting in this shot is poor and did not match the lighting of the clip from the other angle therefore was not used otherwise a noticable difference would be spotted if we were to change the angles of the characters position.


3. Laughing and Head cut


In this clip the characters chin is cut at the bottom of the screen and the character also laughs at the end meaning if it was used we would have to cut the clip short. Therefore, we re-shot this clip which was then used in our final video.


4. Headband over eyes


We also re did this shot as the band of leaves we created for the main character fell over her eyes as she was moving on the floor and miming to the song.


5. Falls off log


The main character standing on the log fell off as she was dancing which would have been noticable if it was used. Therefore, this shot was re taken.

6. Camera shake


We used a handheld camera to track the character gradually running away from the camera. However, trying to follow the character on foot made the camera very shaky which looked like poor filing. We overcame this by staballising the camera on the tripod and zoomed in after the character instead which was a lot more of a stable shot than the original clip (shown above).


7. Changed Idea


We originally decided to have the character young at the begining of the video, then as they day moved on, the character becomes older. However, we found it difficult to find shots to link in with the day moving on. If we would have used this shot in the video, the audience may have been confused as to why she has suddely become old which wouldnt make sense or fit in with the rest of there video. Therefore, we cut this idea, and stuck with having the character at the same age through out.


8. Scenary


This clip first shows the forest scenary giving the establishing shot which then reveals the character lying in the scenary. This clip was not used because we used a different establishing shot near the opening of the video, which was of the river, which then cut to the girl sitting by the river, therefore this establishing shot made more sense because we could link it well with the next shot.


9. Hammer


This shot was not used because as the hammer hits the surface, that we made out of card and sawdust, it moved around a lot and reveals the blanket underneth the card which we used to prop it up. Instead we decided to use the wooden work top and cover that in sawdust, therefore when this surface was hit, it looked more realistic and didn't move around as much giving a clearer and more stable shot.


10. Sun going down/Technical problem


This clip was not used because when uploading this film onto the computer, the middle shot of the sun going down was lost when the wire was accidently pulled from the computer therefore we only managed to capture half of the begining and very last shot of the sun going down. We overcame this by just using the first half of the sunset, which was speed up, so instead of taking half an hour for the sun to go down we changed it to last around 3 seconds for a different effect. We then used the fade tool on the last part of this clip which gave a similar effect to the sun setting completely.


11. Tree spin


This clip was not used because again it was handheld therefore difficult to keep it a smooth shot. It is a bad quality shot because the camera shakes a lot and it is a very fast shot so if it was used it would have needed to be slowed down. We wanted to use this shot to link in when the girl spins around looking up at the trees for an eyeline shot but decided to cut this clip due to the bad quality.


12. Shoe in the way


We tried to use as many angles possible which is showed in the shot over the character. However, the filmers shoe is in the way therefore we re took this shot making sure the shot was clear.


Editing our video gave us a good insight into what would be effective in our video and what needed to be removed from the video to avoid a bad quality final image. From this removed footage I have learnt how in the future I always need to check the lighting and contrast on the camera before a shot to avoid having a dull image that does not fit in with the lighting in the other clips. I have also learnt how the filming area needs to be checked for any props that may be in the way of filming. The camera is very sensitive to movement therefore myself and my group realised using a tripod was a better method for the clearest and stable shot possible.
Filming was a very good experience as it opened up new ideas that we could use for our video when arriving at the scenary such as the use of reflection in the water. I have learnt a lot of new techniques such as the fade effect and how to adjust lighting which has helped overcome any issues we came across.