Evaluation

Final Pieces

Copyright

The song I have chosen is called 'Ones' by Kaytranada and Mr Carmack which I initially found on Soundcloud but also listened further to on Youtube. I really want to use this track as my song for my music video, so I looked into the channel owners to see if they were a professional company.

The channel is called 'Husk Sounds' and has a designed logo which initially made me think they were a record company or singed by a record company. After looking further into the channel I found out their email address and emailed them asking for permission to use the track, however have not got a reply as to if I can use the track. I further emailed them the final video itself and am yet to hear back from them.

Looking at the channels information, they state that they are an underground channel based around hiphop/ house style music which tells me they are not connected to a record company and after looking at their email ' HuskSounds@gmail.com' it further shows me they are not professional as they use a general email type. This shows I have taken every reasonable step in trying to gain copyright permission to use the track, however will still like to wait for their reply for final conformation.

Results

Evaluation Questionnaire

I have created a final survey to collect results and feedback of the final product I have created. This is so that I can use the results for the evaluation questions to conclude this project which I will then be presenting to an audience.

Final Music Video

         

This is the final video which brings everything I wanted into play. In this final cut I experimented with finding the correct fonts to use for opening and ending title sequences to match my digipak and magazine advertisement. I also found a san serif font to use for the credit titles which looked good in conjunction to the digital looking main title font. I added fades in and out of black to these titles which made them pop out at the viewer as the bright white and black contrast can be seen. This then fades into the main video which flowed the opening title sequence and video together nicely. I further edited some of the clips which were in the main first draft to then match these fades and break apart the straight cut shots. Some of the clips swoop away from the rider to the floor in which I then added fade to black transfers which makes these shots better as the focus of the floor wasn't very interesting although being a main filming technique in BMX style edits it didn't work by itself in music video. 

In the final trick sequence I wanted to draw upon the constant same shot style of the tricks which became repetitive and didn't match the cinematography of the rest of the arty shots. To break this apart every three or four trick shots I added close ups, for example a spinning wheel on the floor which adds more detail and focus to elements of the bike which then looks nice to the audience. This worked well and keeps the pace of the video flowing, which then links to the flow of the riders subliminally.

I finally added a shot of the two riders together looking at a camera, which is very different to the rest of the shots as the impression given throughout the video is point of view shots from both riders and generally filming what they're up to. However I really like how they almost are looking over clips together and it presents more of the efforts of the sport of getting footage they are proud of, and almost as if the whole day that was filmed was successful and enjoyable that it was all worth it. This then cuts to a shot of them riding into the sunset as a slow fade to black comes into play which finishes the day in the life off artistically and nicely which as a viewer is happy to end the video off on a high. The backing track gets quieter till there is no sound left as the ending credits fade out which slows the video off well. 

Music Video Edit 3

Edit 3 really starts to tie the video together where I went back over edited sections and really focused on timings of cuts to match music pace to further keeps interest of the audience and to present flow in the video which metaphorically can link to the flow of the riders and sport. 

The ending of the video is now put in where the riding sequence of tricks is evident. I like the way the ending trick sequence looks, however watching one trick after the other  starts to get repetitive so I want to add more arty shots in between the riding clips to match the pace and cinematography of the rest of the video. Adding in more close up shots and still video will break this apart and will add more background detail to the sport being presented. 

Music Video Edit 2

In this edit I start to progress into adding colouring filters and adding the transition of travelling to the final spot where the last third of the video is going to be filmed. I added a grey saturated tone to the video which I liked in my research. I did this to emphasis on the meaning to the sport and the riders and how its not about competition but more the individualistic elements and hard work which the riders put in for the enjoyment they get out. The grey tones also add a gritty raw feel which I personally really like which I have seen in other videos from my research, and is also presenting the themes of riding, friendship and hard work in its most natural way. 

Towards the end of this edit, I bring into play the quick change of the hand covering the lens and then it coming away presenting a fully re built riding spot, which we thought of on the day. I like this as it shows progression over a period of time in the matter of seconds which keeps the audiences interests and the videos flow in tact.

Music Video Edit 1

After collecting all the clips I needed I moved onto editing together my video for the music track I have chosen. Earlier on in my project I made a questionnaire and collected results around what my video needed to include so I wanted to re look at the results as reference. My feedback told me that a narrative style video is preferred and to rap/ hip hop genre music so the way I have filmed my clips have helped to follow this preference.

The video above is the result of the first section of clips I gathered and started to edit together. The narrative really starts to come through in this first draft where the 'day in the life' style is noticeable as the main actor 'Tom' is getting ready and going out riding to meet myself who is his riding friend. Throughout this narrative I really try to think about the cinematography I am using, and the ways the low angle shots present enjoyment and excitement and how the surround areas and mise en scene have a play into the look of the video. A lot of my shots vary in angles and are similar to many shots used in typical BMX style videos which from research I know work very well. Many of the clips are straight cut together which I like for this video as it keeps the pace of the clips following and keeps the attention of audience. These straight cuts mixed into the thought process of camera angles, lighting and cinematography make my video narrative interesting and work well together.

Editing 2

Another part of the video which I had to learn was how to make my footage black and white. After experimenting with the 'dip to black' filter I looked through the colour filter section and stumbled across an option called 'tint'. Using this I dragged and drop this filter onto every clip which brought them into the gritty colouring I desired from my research.

Tint feature for raw edgy footage effect.

The final thing I had to learn was about title sequencing. I have already got experience in Photoshop which is another programme by Adobe, In which I opened a new document which had the same dimensions as my video. Using this new file I dragged and dropped my desired text and saved this file and re opened it in Premiere Pro, which allowed me to then set a duration of this as a still image and then I faded this out to start and finish the video.

Ending shot and Photoshop file text ending credit sequence.

Editing 1

Prior to editing the final video together I had already had experience using Adobe Premiere Pro which is a professional video editing programme so I decided to use this piece of software again to edit this piece as I was familiar with the majority of the tools and so that I could improve my prior skills.

I started off with importing all the clips and dragging and dropping all the final shots one after one so that they were all in chronological order. This then allowed me the go through each clip and use the razor tool to cut all the unwanted footage off of each clip so that they all flowed smoothly together. Later on in the process of editing I zoomed out on the timeline and fine cut all the clips again to ensure the best flowing footage possible.

All the footage together and cut.

I use straight cuts for the majority of my video due to this being a key element of pace and the interests of the audience in multiple rap music videos but also a standout feature of BMX edits which I had analysed in depth prior. Some of my shots finish with the lens swooping away from the rider into the floor which decreased the pace of the shots. For this I had to research about transitions where I looked into a range of different ways in which the clips could flow a lot better and resulted in finding out about 'dip to black'. Dip to black made the videos transition fade to darkness in synchronisation with the swooping camera effect which then solved the pace problem. This was something key to improving the video which I found through a Youtube tutorial.

Dip to black found in the bottom left hand corner. This is a sequence showing the fade and its effect.

Test Shots

Here is a  video of some of the test footage I have created to show how we shot some of the clips in multiple ways to make sure the best shots were used for the final piece. When filming my video I had to make sure continuity was correct so that the video would flow properly once the clips were together and also my video was supposed to use a certain type of arty cinematography found in high profile BMX style videos ( my favourite Videographer would be John Hicks and his styling). Making sure the videographer and shadow was not in shot, shaky footage was avoided, natural lighting matched well creating lens flares, clothing and actor positioning matched was key to the success of the final clips.

The clips put together here show how certain angles and multiple attempts have changed the result and how from doing so I could choose what would work well for the final video.

Animatic

Here is my animatic. I took all the drawn out storyboard thumb nails and edited them together to get an idea of how they would all look in sequence. I personally like how they would look one after the other, however this animatic is very basic so all the shots are 5 seconds long which it obviously wouldn't be in the final video.

Filming Day 3

In the final filming day we needed to get the trick sequence filmed as this is a crucial element of the video. We arranged to go out Thursday 17th of March to get the clips however the weather wasn't sunny enough let alone dry enough for us to ride properly so we re scheduled it to the 19th. We came across some some problems that Saturday in regards to security issues and them thinking that where we were riding we were vandalising and causing damage to surrounding property which of course we weren't. In the end we were told to leave despite speaking to the manager and were threatened to get our riding equipment taken away which would have drastically changed my final video and plan as I would have to collect riding gear again which would take time to get together which I couldn't allow as the deadline is close.

Tom and I decided to go back and risk getting told to leave again, because within the matter of days our stuff could be taken which would have meant me re filming half of the video. On Monday the 21st of March we went back with the camera and after 15mins the security guard came back over. I then had a chat to the guard and asked to shoot here just for one more afternoon/ evening and I would never come back which we agreed on and managed to get all our final shots within this time period. To make sure we got the shots we wanted without risk (as I could never come back again) we got multiple shots that were the same so that I could pick and chose once editing.

Overall this was successful although there were lots of complications. I am happy I was able to speak as an adult to the manager and security and make out how important it was for me to get this sort which was lucky they let me in the end. In hindsight, I should have requested permission to use this area to film at this time and place however did not so as I had used this space for riding for years prior with no problems or interruptions at all. I also was under the impression it was public property due to the area being broken down and an unused space for years and have recently discovered it is owned by the council so writing for permission to use the space to film would have been the correct thing to do. If this product was for commercial purposes I would have to gain permission by the council however due to it not making any profit and being for educational purposes only I can leave it, however a valuable lesson for the future has been learnt.

Filming Day 2

The second filming day was the 23rd of January where we aimed to collect more shots for the trick sequence which starts half way through the video and also film the ending once the sun has started to set.

We wanted some really pretty and creative looking shots so Tom brought along his 'Camera slide' which allows the camera to be mounted and then move smoothly sideways which combined with some manual focusing in and out of focus would look really nice. We managed to collect a few shots of this style which I think would work well in and out of a trick and also some in-between shots giving the audience some background to the riding itself.

We got some cool trick sequences filmed which would work well in conjunction to the rest of the shots I had previously collected however didn't manage to film all of the tricks as we wanted to improve the obstacle/box we were mainly riding on. The improvement of the box could also be filmed from a 'POV' view which would make the 'day in the life' realistic and then the progression of building and then having fun would be more evident with this improvement. We stopped filming and collected more wood so that we could build it up in our next filming session.

We moved onto trying to film our final shot of us riding off into the distance which was difficult as we only had a short period of time to get the shot where the sun was and also people were driving in and out of the centre where we were filming making it difficult for us to get a smooth flowing shot without disruptions. We finally managed to get what we wanted which was worth the efforts in the end.

Camera Slide

Filming day 1

Filming day one set out well, the sun was out producing some really nice sun light for camera lens effects however the ground was slightly damp. This was a slight issue as the slick tires us boys have could easily slide out causing injury if a trick was landed slightly off centre so we both had to be careful of this.

We took my camera and Tom had recently brought a new filming camera as well, so we set out with 2 lots of equipment as back up if there was technical difficulties. We didn't encounter any social interferences with residents which was good as it could have effected the flow of shots we were collecting however half way through the filming session my camera died so we switched cameras, swapped lens and adjusted ISO and shutter speed settings so that the rest of the shots were as close to the first half of shots as possible which as a result worked well and saved the day.

The water became a problem once we got to the riding spot where the trick were supposed to go down as tricks such as 180's, 360's and bar-spins made the bike slide out from under our feet which meant we had to stop and complete the trick section of the video in filming session two. I predicted this might happen which is why I planned ahead.

Here are some photographs of use on the day...

The first set of images show how in the introduction the camera is spotted in the reflection of the kettle which was then corrected producing the same effect.

How has the target audience research effected ideas?

From researching into my target audience through a 'Survey Monkey' survey, I have evaluated what I have gathered from doing so and what the audience expect. I have selected a song based upon the exception of the audience wanting something rap/hip hop in style which I have taken on board and have selected a rap instrumental song as a result which also fits the pace of the clips I desire. I have also taken influence from the audience enjoying narrative based videos which are interesting to watch due to the audience being able to follow the story of the song.

Video Budget

Thinking about video budget is important to directors and producers of a music video/ film makers so that they can distribute money evenly to actors, equipment and location. This so actors are payed a fair amount for the work they do and for food etc so they are looked after, camera equipment, bike equipment etc which is needed to help produce what is wanted in the shots and also might have to pay the owners of property or land for permission to be filmed and acted on and for that location to be allowed in the video once released to the world.

Lucky enough for me, the only other actor I need for the video is one of my best friends Tom who I ride with weekly despite the production of this video. Tom and I both like riding together so filming at the same time makes the sessions funner for us so he doesn't want to be payed. Out of respect I will bring drinks and food to keep up ticking over throughout the day. The equipment I already own is adequate for the job. I have a semi professional DSLR camera which videos so I can get the shots I desire through that, and the camera handle and tripod I own also helps stabilise shots so I do not need to go out and buy anything else. Finally the places we are filming does not disturb any residents of the area or get anyone else in shot so I will not need to ask permission film and ride on property.

It was important I state this as it shows me think in context to a professional filming session and the ways the producers would have to go in industry. I can also reflect on this in my evaluation on decisions I have made and will make if variables come into play.

Filming Dates Planned

Before I start filming I am planning out the dates In which I would like to aim to gather all my shots together. This is so I can follow the date list as a guild and goal.

Day 1: January 2nd 2016- 9:45 till 4    Would be good to get all of the whole sequence done on this day throughout the change in the sun creating the effect I would like.

Day 2: January 23rd 2016- 2:00 till 5:00     Would like to get more in-between creative looking shots which add feeling. Do more on the riding sequence once at the riding spot.

Day 3: February 13th 2016- 4:00 till 5:30     Focus on getting the ending sequence when the sun is setting and we ride along into the colours of the sun. Multiple tries needed to get the correct camera effect.

Final Digipak and Magazine Advert

Overall I feel like I have created my digipak and advertisement piece to the best of my ability. To create my digipak I focused throughout on the music itself and the themes I want to present throughout my video and then made certain decisions upon this. An example of this would be my colour selection of the images and the graphics I have created, my video needing to present the gritty raw feeling of riding and the struggles which I try to refer to through subliminal things like the tone the images and graphic make. The music I have selected works well as its tone and rhythm matches the feel to the video I have planned so I then had to make sure the titles typography fits these ideas within the music. I then had to transfer all of this process into the creation of my final advert which follows everything I have reflected and created on. I finally have got some feedback from my teacher and also my main rider Tom again. My teacher has stated how he likes the way I have tied everything in with purpose making my designs meaningful and my rider Tom enjoys the images creating the feeling we both experience whilst on our bikes.