Make up for my production

A good friend of mine, Ellen Archer studies Media Hair and Make Up at city college. I will be using her to do the make up for my production. I have given her rough sketches of how I want the make up to look. On set she informed me that she was also interested in creating the costumes for the zombies too, so she could add the whole group of zombies make up, hair and costume to her portfolio.  Ellen ripped the zombies costumes where she felt appropriate and I told them I wanted them to be scruffy and muddy etc. They then went outside and they rolled in the dirty to get the messy look I wanted. Following the drawings I made for my make up artist, she created wax wounds on their faces/bodies, added fake blood to the wounds and their clothes. I wanted the zombies to have pale faces, pinky eyes and back combed hair.

This was the final outcome of my zombies hair, make up and costume. Below are close ups of the wounds on the zombies faces.

I was very, very pleased with the outcome of the zombies make up. as it was very convincing and effective. I particularly like the fake wounds on the models faces and bodies. 

Although the band didn't require any make up for their scenes as a normal human band, they needed to have make up for the zombie scenes. Ellen(my make up artist) followed the same idea of make up and hair for the band when they are zombies. As shown below(I apologise for the faces in the pictures, the band are never serious)

Here is the group shot of all the band members in their costumes. I didn't want to change their costumes and make them dirty etc for continuity reasons. The original zombies came from outside so them being dirty makes sense, however the band members never left the building they were playing in, so would have no way of getting dirty. 

The Shoot On Saturday 20th

On Saturday 20th was my final shoot for the music video and this is what I took with me. I was staying at a friends so took my laptop to do work on the footage when I got to his. I also took the final cut pro handbook we were given to help me with the editing, I also took four packs of face wipes, a white face paint pot, all my SD cards just in case, my camera dies, face sponges and also the two cameras I borrowed from school and then I also borrowed one from my friend. All the cameras other than my Canon were taken to my friends before the shoot to prevent me having to take so much stuff on the day of the shoot (hence why not in the picture). I also took two full length tripods and my gorilla-pod. Although I had access to four tripods I knew I wanted to use my own Canon as the main camera, and the other cameras as back up. So the majority of the time I was only using 3 cameras so didn't need three tripods, and held the Canon by hand. 

It turned out that my make-up artist had lots of face wipes and face paint so we hardly used any of my make up and wipes. 

I am aware that the quality of the cameras will be different, but I do think this will add a nice effect to the video. I don't want it to be 'perfect' like some music videos, but instead have a more grunge feel to it all. The change in quality of the cameras will assist to add this grunge feel to the video. 

add reflection - why this list / was it enough / did you use it all. also have you got on location shots?

The Plan For Equipment on Saturday

Planning The Shoot

I learnt from last year that planning the shots and camera angles precisely is very, very important. And as I'm directing so many people and need to use so many cameras, its even more important. On my production last year I used 2 cameras but mainly 1 the majority of the time. However this year I will be using 3/4, and will be getting some other people to help me film it is key I have it planned so well. 

Below are a few pages of very detailed plans I created to use on the day for camera angles. Not only does it help me consider where the cameras will be, I can ensure they won't overlap other cameras and get them on film too, but also the physical camera angle, what they will film and how they will film.

I have also considered keeping one camera person in a position from shot to shot so they don't have to move too much. To ensure the best continuity, ideally the camera man shouldn't turn off the camera but will obviously need to move at one point but can't be caught on camera by the other camera men. So the prevent this happening I have planned it so that the camera men don't have to move a huge amount.

I have an intention to get some coloured tap and tape the floor where I need each camera man to help directing them easier.

Representation

There is a huge amount of things I must consider when producing my work, including the representation of things within my work. To help me consider this, I have created a Prezi of all the representations I must think about and plan.

Intertextuality

My plot and style for my music video has heavy influences from a range of sources, from bands to films. I have researched and explained these influences and intertexual references in the Prezi below.

Final Location

After deciding that the B2 wouldn't be the best location due to the actors availability, my availability and the B2's availability. So after my friend speaking to his mum about possibly using the scout house in Frettenham, she let me know that it was okay for me to use it. I just needed to tell her roughly when we would be needing the location and she informed the owner  of the farm when I would be using it. I told her between 2-4/5pm as that would take me roughly into dawn to make it darker.

My shift at work on Saturday 20th has now been switched so I'm working on the Monday instead. On the 19th we have a half day so I can stay at my friends as he lives near the scout hut to get things ready.

My next step is to create a Facebook page inviting all the people that said they would be actors for the Zombies and invite other people as well to hopefully get more people. Because it is in Frettenham it could be difficult for some people to get there so I will need more people just incase.

Above is the description I put on the facebook event, inviting people to come to the shoot.

The final location for the shoot was the Scout Hut in Frettenham, this location was almost perfect but did present some difficulties as there were things we could not move or change, such as the drawings on the walls and the posters made by the children and the bench along the back of the hut. So when filming I must to be careful not to include these things in the footage too much. It shouldn't be too hard to keep the bench out of the shot, however it will be more difficult to keep them out of the shot. 

Classification

From October 2014 the new implication of age restrictions on music videos will be set in place and begin. In August David Cameron announced plans to add age restrictions music videos "to help parents protect their children from some of the graphic content in online music videos". However there is some conflicted views as to whether this idea will work or not. Ella On The Run is one artist who has two views to the issue, she explains that the understands why they want to put age restrictions on music videos, as there are many over sexual and violent images that children of particular ages shouldn't see. However she also has concerns that if a restriction is put in place then certain artists will make videos much more sexualised and explicit and just put a higher age rating on it, just because they can. 

The artist FKA Twigs said 'I think that the answer to protecting younger viewers is not to ban things, it's to show an alternative.' He does present a fair argument that we no longer live in Victorian Britain, should we still be having children grow up with an elephant in the room, with anything sexual or graphic hidden behind close doors. Some people argue that it's worse to act like sex and violence is something bad and something we shouldn't discuss, as it then becomes something young people aim to try or see purely because its restricted. 

There is another side to the argument as the majority of record labels are already part of the BPI's parental advisory scheme, so is there any need for the a age restriction on videos. 

They seem to be focusing more on graphic violent content rather than content of a sexual nature to start with; “If it contains racist, or homophobic, or other types of discriminatory content it will now for the first time have to be classified. If it contains suicide or self harm, it will for the first time have to be classified. So the music industry is doing is looking at that level, and linking that to when they will submit content to us."

There is already filter in terms of the Parental Advisory Explicit Content label, however it this isn't a enforces filter, just a suggestion that the parents listen to the music before the child, to ensure it is suitable in the parents eyes. A child of any age can still buy it without an adult present though.


Following a sruvey in 2013 of 10,000 people about the classification laws there was one issue that arose strongly; 'A specific issue highlighted by the consultation is in relation to sexual content, where the public is particularly concerned about the sexualisation of girls, and pornography.  The content of music videos and the ease of accessibility of online porn are special worries.' hence this has become something the BBFC want to tackle. 

Its videos such as Nicki Minaj- Anaconda:  Nicki Minaj - "Anaconda" from > on Vimeo.
(http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2014/10/nicki-minaj-doesnt-get-all-the-talk-about-her-racy-anaconda-video/) That create such complaints. 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/29423817
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/10584304/Age-ratings-for-music-videos-Kids-this-Miley-Cyrus-music-video-isnt-for-you.-The-British-Board-of-Film-Classification-says-so.html
http://parental-advisory.co.uk/advice-for-parents/why-are-certain-songs-or-videos-labelled-explicit/
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-bbfc/media-centre/bbfc-launch-new-classification-guidelines
http://www.factmag.com/2014/01/13/british-board-of-film-classification-working-on-age-rating-for-music-videos/

Availability

To find the perfect date for the filming of my production I have a lot of peoples availability; mine, the bands, the actors, the location and the access to cameras. 

Between now and Christmas I have my scheduled for work so know when I can and can't work around. The main difficulty is that I can't just film it after work as it will be too dark, however if I am able to film in the scout hut they have a outdoor light that I could use to lighten the area up, however I would feel better about filming if it wasn't night time. So ideally it needs to be at the weekend or the holidays. We are quickly approaching the holidays which is good as it means I can film it at better times of the day. 

Friday 19th; we all finish school at 1:15, however the scout hut is used on Fridays so can't use it then.

Saturday 20th; I am actually working a 8:30-5:30 shift at work, but might be able to switch that shift with someone at work.

Sunday 21st; The location is free, I am free however one band member is always working on Sundays.

Monday 22nd; I am not working, however this is the shift I might be switching, so I have Saturday off and work Monday instead, but either way, the location isn't available on this day as its always being used on Mondays.

Tuesday 23rd; I am not working this day and the location should be available as it isn't used on Tuesday however I will need to check with the owner of the location in case for some reason it is being used, but also check the band are available. 

Once I decide upon a date to film that I, the band and the location are available, I will create a Facebook page and invite lots of people to be actors for the Zombies and let them know the location and time, to hope they turn up. The location could present some difficulty as it is a bit out of the way for most people to get too. 

Issues with Location

The B2 replied informing me that I could ask what I needed on the facebook chat so asked when I intended to film my production. So as you can see I informed them of the time I would be needing it and the day I'd be needing it. 

However, you can see the date I needed was an issue as there was a band. They said that the Sunday was free so I asked the band if this was ok, as ultimately they're the most important people. I need a date where they're all free to be in the video.

Four out of five of the band members could make the Sunday, but one person was working until 4:30. I could still film after this, but by then it would be very, very dark and he probably wouldn't be able to make to the location until at least 5pm.

When talking to a friend about the issues of location, they remembered that their mum used to be part of the scouts and in Frettenham there is a scouts hut. My friends mum is no longer part of the scouts team, however good friends with the women who runs it. She messaged that lady who owns it last night to see if I can use it. The location isn't available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I also wouldn't be able to film it on the Sunday as one member of the band is always working on Sundays. So I suggested Saturday 20th December.

I suggested this to the band, and they all said that would be fine. I just need to first find out if I am able to use the location, but also I am working on that Saturday but might be able to get my shift changed. If not then I will try to use it on Tuesday 23rd. 

The Frettenham Scout Hut is in a section of forest land that is owned by a private owner. If I were to use this land, my friends mum will have to not only check with the women who runs the scouts but also let the owner of the land know that were will be a lot of people using that part of the land for a few hours. 

The location is perfect though, better than the B2. It's in the middle of a village so very quiet, the hut is in the middle of the woods, so its perfect for the zombies to be running in the bushes and trees to set the scene of tension. 

Contacting B2-Norwich

I was a bit stuck in terms of where to film the video as there were so many factors of things to include:

• Electricity
• Quiet/Empty
• Dark
• Dystopian
• Small-ish
• Easy Access
• Safe place to work- Meets health and safety

So I felt like a good thing to do was to message the band to see if they had any ideas as to where would work and if they think my previous thoughts on using the B2 were a good idea. 

So I sent the band a message explaining roughly what I needed the location to be like, and my previous ideas for using the B2.

Although he wasn't sure on what the final narrative was (which I then informed him and the rest of the band about) he agrees that the B2 would be a good option I just need to think about the issue of the public and sound. 

After talking the band through the narrative of the music video he agreed that he likes the idea of the music videos and informed me that the B2 would be up for it. The band really often play at the B2 so they have a good, close relationship with the band so are trusted.

I let the band know the day I was intending to film, December 19th;

And as you can see they were up for it. This day would also mean that I can walk down to the location with the majority or all of the actors and get them ready straight after school or just meet them at the location if they can't come straight there for some reason. 

I needed to email the B2 Venue to ask if this was possible but couldn't find an email address, but did find a facebook page, so I messaged the venue on their facebook asking if they had an email address or other means of contact to discuss my request. 

Zombie Make up

A major thing I need to think about is my make up for the zombies in the video and what look I want them to have; conventional, unconventional, comic like etc.

After looking into a few different styles of make up for a zombie, I think I want to keep it away from the conventional zombie, with the green face and things like that and still for a more contempary style of make up like that of the character from warm bodies shown above on the left. A white pale face with dark eyes. In terms of costume for the character, I considered all the actors wearing the same thing, like all black or something similar. Like the actors in the video for Black Chandelier and also considered the actors in their own clothes, just a bit scuffed up and dirty, which I feel would work better. If there was a zombie apocalypse, it would make sense that the zombies are just in there own clothes from where they were bitten. So for continuity wise so work with the narrative of the video, their own clothes would make more sense.

Filming

Something I will need to consider is the time at which I film the video. I needs to be dark, but as I learnt last year the time I choose to film has to be planned very rigorously, last year we had an issue with the quality of the filming ruined due to how dark the it was when we filmed. This year it should be a little bit better as I will be filming with a camera or better quality but I still need to be careful as to how and when to film.

Todays date is the 30th of December and I intend to film within the next two weeks. Today I checked the sunset times in Norwich;

As you can see the sunsets at 3:44pm, school finishes at 3:25 so if I were to film after school I would be cutting the filming very, very fine as I would have to get all the actors dressed up and with all there make up, set all the cameras up etc. Which probably wouldn't happen, as I will also have to film it before the sunsets as it will be dark and have the same problem as last years filming. However, on Friday December 19th, it is the end of term at school and we have a half day so finish the day at 1:15. This would then give me time to get the actors to the location, do their make up then sort the cameras and lighting out. This means that I could make sure all the actors know what they are doing for the filming outside atleast, then start filming, hopefully before 3:44, so around 3 ideal.

December 21st is the shortest day of the year so the sun will set later and later from that date onwards meaning I can film later as it will get dark later and later.

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Cinematography

Cinematography nadine from nadine_sccb

Above is a slideshare explaining the principals of cinematography, which is something that will be important for my product even though it does have a parody, comedy theme to it. The use a long shot to start the video will help to establish how empty and alone the characters are in their location. There will also be long shots when the camera views the bushes outside, as it forces the audience to physically look for the noise and the distruption, whereas a close up on the mystery thing in the bushes would simple focus the audience to see it straight away. By making the audience look for it then it ruins the tension the audience feels. The use of close ups to show the confusion, pain, fear and upset of the members faces when encountered by the zombies.

Narrative Structure

The music video will follow a linear narrative, as there is no flash backs, but follows the film in chronological order from start to finish.

However the narrative doesn't follow a narrative code as simply as its follows the linear narrative. The closes code it follows is that of Todorov's enigma code.
Tzevtan Todorov:
He believes that the point of narratives is to solve a problem, and that characters pass through many stages, and all the events caused through these stages unfold chronologically. He also believes that the narratives follow the 'Equilibrium, disruption, resolution to equilibrium' rule. 

There will be slightly disrupted equilibrium at the start of the video due to the radio station and empty surrounds, however this equilibrium will then be completely disrupted when the zombies enter the building and begin to attack and kill the members of the band. There is technically a resolution to equilibrium, but not a conventional one. The members all become zombies and play a concert as zombies, to the zombies that killed them. If it were to be a conventional resolution to equilibrium then the members of the band would have killed the zombies and saved the world from them taking over the world. 

Horror Film Conventions

I have previously mention that I would like the music video to have that 'trashy', conventional horror film feel too it, with all the key buzz lines that are used in all horror films, to help set the scene of the parody, none serious feel to my video.Below is a Slideshare I found explaining that the codes and conventions of horror films.

Horror Genre Conventions from CallumCarmichael

You can see the conventional location for horror films are quiet, excluded abandoned areas of isolation, where no one would hear the characters scream. I do intend to film my music video in a very quiet excluded place as previously stated.

In terms of the low and high camera angles I intend to use them, but mainly mixed in with he POT t camera angles. I will use these shots when giving the feel of seeing the band from the audiences eyes looking at the zombies and visa verse, particularly when the zombies a killing two of the band members. I will not be using the high and low angle shots in the penultimate scene, when the last band member is hiding up high, as the zombies will be looking up at the member, making them look like the weaker characters, however they will be the more powerful characters as they ultimately win, and kill the whole band.

The lighting will represent the whole feel of the location and theme to the music video, it will be low lit and have a dystopian feel to it. If I do decide to film in the pub they normally play in, there are stage lights that we might have access to to help create the right lighting.

There wont really be any conventional props, as the weapons will be the bands musical instruments and like most zombies, they wont have any weapons themselves.

The opening to the film 'Scream' has all the sterotypical conventions of a horror film in terms of everything I previous discussed but also convention lines and buzz dialogue.

Although the narrative of the film is very different to that of what my music video will be, you can see the clear conventions in this opening scheme.



The scene is set very clearly, a teenage girl home alone, a weird guy stalking her and shots like the gas cooker lighting to create tension with the audience, and creates a risky environment, leaving the audience ready for the character to die or get injured. There is a lot of silence in the opening scene, and when there is music, it is tension building string instruments which again builds that tension. After the door bell rings and the character shouts who is there, the stalker on the phone even says, 'you should never say whose there, dont you watch scary movies, its a death wish.  you might as well come out here to investigate a strange noise or something', they are drawing attention to the conventions of horror films. Conventions my film will follow. The memeber of the band does go out to investigate what the noise is, and ask, whose there? so meeting those conventions in such an obvious way it makes it parody-like.

Planning the music video

I recently put together a rough planned list of what I want to happen in the music video. Following the opinions of what the band requests of being cheesy and follow the conventional lines of horror films to set the scene. 

I am very keen on the idea of the radio situation, with the announcement but the member having headphones in so wont hear it. So I will need to also record a radio announcement to then add as non-diegetic sound later in the post editing process. I will also need to record the band professionally in a studio or use a recording they have to add over the record and implied diegetic sound as when recording the music video, I will be directing over the top of the band playing. 

Equipment Update

I have recently bought a new £700 camera, that also has a filming function on it. It is a 20.2 mega pixel camera, with the ability to film in full HD 1080p quality.

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_SLR/EOS_70D/

When it comes to filming my product the main camera I use will be with my own camera due to the high quality. I can also attach a microphone to make the audio quality better. http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Video-Shotgun-Microphone-Pentax/dp/B003TTMFM0
However this isn't massively necessary as I will probably remove the sound from the footage and add the song in later, as they quality won't be perfect, but I will also been directing and probably talking over the filming of the footage.

When I bought the camera it also came with two lens adapters to add to the end; a telephone adapter and a wide angle lens adapter. The wide angle lens is used a lot in music videos, particularly heavy rock or punk music videos where the singer often leads close into the camera.

As you can see from the screenshots of Blink 182's music video First Date. You can see if also adds a small level of distortion to the image, it gives it almost a slight fish eye effect to the video; which is also an effect I can achieve built into my camera. 

The standard shooting setting on my camera gives and image that looks like this, you can see it isn't distorted at all.     

As I said, my camera comes with a fish eye setting and this is a photograph taken on the weakest level of fish eye. As you can see there is some level of distortion but not a huge amount, just has a slight bend on the walls if you look closely. 

The is the camera set to medium fish eye. As you can see it is much stronger and has a fairly high level of distortion. 

The is the camera on the highest fish eye setting and you can see it has a really high level of distortion to the image.

I also got a wide angle lens adapter for my camera. When it is zoomed in the distortion isn't that high, similar to that of the fish eye setting on the lowest setting- there is only a small bend on the edge of the walls and door frames. 

You can see when the camera is zoomed out the distortion is much stronger and adds a kind of fish eye effect to the view. But does also result in a vignette effect over the photograph.