Evaluation Questions

In the evaluation I must answer the following questions:

• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
• How effective is the combination of your main and ancillary texts?
• What have you learned from your audience feedback?
• How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

I have chosen to have a look at these evaluation questions now so that I can think and reflect on these whilst completing my final pieces of work. This includes my ancillary tasks: my advertisement piece and my digipak, and also the final completed video. 

Final Idea

I have finally decided to produce a music video in the style of John Hicks (professional video grapher) however in black and white for a raw attack on the themes I would like to portray. Instead of making my project a BMX Edit, I need to fit with the criteria of making the shots in a music video style, so I analysed rap/ hip hop and dance style music videos to pick out the conventions of these in which I am going to mix with the BMX focus so that the product is more music video styled. The dance and hip hop genres often use dark lighting as the lyrics/ beats are expressive and deep, which enhances there purposes. Many of the camera angles are low to create power of the main focus looking up on them, where close ups of feet dancing or expressive hand movements are focused on which will be changed to bike tricks and facial and hand expressions in my video. This is because I will be portraying both riders personalities and their enjoyment riding together, which will then create the theme of brotherhood which I believe can be enhanced and shown well through this sport because of time and dedication  one needs to give to the sport to get good at it, and then the time spent together whilst learning can be shown. This bond portrayed then takes this from a bike edit to and music video as the narrative structure can be produced and tricks landing on beats with creative camera angles and shot types will make it enjoyable to watch.

Shot Style Inspiration

Although my music video involves the merge of a BMX style video in with the conventions of music video, there are many types of shots which are rather creative which help portray themes throughout, like portraying rider personality, enjoyment and hard working which give bike videos depth. I would like to analyse a range of bike videos and pick out a range of these creative shots as I would like to include lots and lots of these to make the video visually interesting for the viewer of the final product and I believe these creative shots being emphasised will make the final product more of a music video than primarily a bike promotion video.

For the new 2015 Alex Kennedy edit which I chose to analyse because of him being my favourite rider, many creative shots are included to link to Alexs natural and spiritual personality and flowy style of riding. Many of Alex Kennedy's lines filmed show the trick from may angles while travelling along. The shot might start from a close up on his back tire then cut to a mid low shot emphasising the trick. This style along with shots of close ups on his face sweating or sun reflective shots mixed in-between reflect him as a person which adds depth and is enjoyable to watch.

The OSS plug prices team edit is very similar to the Alex Kennedy Edit, however instead of trying to display rider personality as such, they show more of the theme of hard work and getting up and trying again till you succeed. I like this because it gives the audience perception and understanding of the sport which I would like include in my edit as I would like to show how my riders enjoy what they do and the effort into what they love.

This OSS Summer products promotion video is very basic in style and doesn't include many hard hitting tricks, but more of a chilled ride as a team which is something which was enjoyable to watch. Basic tricks were emphasised and looked pretty with bring sun and colours shining throughout yet in a saturated tone which looked and set a nice scene. Many of the tricks were slowed down slightly allowing the viewer to focus of the rider and shots of them cruising around from a low angle sliding sand etc looked cool and natural.

Brandon Begin is a rider on the OSS team and his edit incorporates a mixture of styles from both the summer edit and plug prices. I like this and would like to mix this into my music video 

however including elements of shots from Alex Kennedys video would make a around better edit and the creative shots I have learn from all 4 videos and many more will take my edit to a music video.

Locations

The main area where my video will be based is the Chalfont St Peter epilepsy centre where there is an abandoned area in the back right hand corner of the site which we have claimed over the last year as a riding spot. The area is broken down and contains multiple ledge and obstacles we have made and the area is quite enclosed which suits my style of video This is because a focus can be created and the use of building the obstacles and then riding them adds purpose and will create emotion for the rider from the effort put into building for fun which will be portrayed.

The other location will be my friend toms house, due to it having a nice back gateway where tracking shots of setting up for riding can be taken and the route to get from his to the main location is only round the corner including some alleyways and obstacles on the way which will create an interesting focus and will create exciting and pace to the video.

Props

There are a range of props needed to make the video work the way I want it to, so that certain things like brother hood, effort and lifestyle are portrayed.

To start off with, mine and Toms bikes are necessary due to us riding in the video. Continuity of the video is needed so we both need to use the same bike parts for our bikes throughout the video.

Wooden pallets are also needed for the props of riding on. These also create the idea of building in the video which then creates the 'effort' feel which gives the audience insight into the culture behind riding.

My car is also going to be seen slightly in shot, which means things like its condition need to be considered.

Mobile phone is another prop I will be using and create the idea of direction the video as he has a motive after answering the phone.

Shot List Plan

1. Time laps sky- colour change through the day
2. rewind really fast of whole video in a few seconds.
3. Fade in from black to waking up shot of Tom waking up- extreme close up
4. 1 second trouser shot mid shot, marginalised
5. 1 second jumper put on, mid shot centre shot.
6. walking towards camera 2 seconds, camera close to the door.
7. walk through doorway, back to camera down stairs
8. kettle boils 1 second and clicks.
9. making tea 1 second.
10. drinking tea 2 seconds
11. Grabbing bag, stuffing tools in, 5 seconds close up of hands and bag
12. putting drinks and snacks in bag.
13. long shot from house walking outside to shed.
14. pulls bike out, low angle close up of mid section of bike with Toms hands on frame.
15. mid long shot from shred view, Tom walking with bike next to him.
16. half a second, flip bike over, focusing on handlebars.
17. shot from back of the bike flipped over, Tom sitting by handlebars
18. close up of bag pulling extension kit out, 1 second
19. quick cut to wrench inserting into front peg,
20. extreme closeup on axle, peg, hands and wrench, moving the wrench loosening the wheel.
21. cut to tightening axle cone nuts, close up of stomach area with wheel in-between his legs, low angle
22. half a second back on bike
23. quick cut tightening
24. over the shoulder flipping bike over.
25. shot from the floor picking bag up and tilt up to putting on back
26. close up behind going through side gate carrying bike around.
27. medium to long shot of walking up drive with gear.
28. stops at the top of the drive, close up of hand removing phone from pocket.
29. tracking close up to face where he calls someone.
30. phone back in pocket tracking close up
31. extremely low looking up angle of tom standing with bike with rising sun lens flare.
MUSIC STARTS
32. Tom jumps on bike, camera close to cranks as he sets off.
33. Side view moving away from house
34. tracking tom down ally, bunny hop over bump in ally
35. long shot from side hopping over grass bank
36. leading lines shot from behind, cuts to close up by back wheel during manual
37. medium shot bunny hop over cut out in road.
38. skid round corner
39. hop up wall, 180 half cab off.
40. 360 up curb, wall ride tree.
41. cut forward to entering centre, low angle tracking
42. speed bump bunny hop, slowed down slightly
43. skid across dirt medium shot, slow mo close up of dirt, fast back into medium shot
44. long shot getting on phone
45. I pull up in car
46. close up safe on hands
47. both pull away riding out of shot
48. collecting pallets close up
49. construction scene
50. callas hands slow mo exaggerated
51. hands on grips
52. 180 manual pad, fakie fail off.
53. laughing close up of toms face.
54. slap tap, lands first trick.
55. I get up, bump jump, 360 off
56. hug shot
57. range of shots landing tricks from different angles, about 30 seconds worth.
58. chilling shot sitting down, high angle, laughs and chilling, sun lens flares
59. more riding clips landing and failing tricks
60. wheels rolling while bike on the floor
61. shot through bike me putting bike in car and driving off
62. tom gets up, close up on face putting headphones in
63. long shot of tom riding out of epic centre, cruising off with tire slides.
64. time laps plays in rewind.
65. sky time laps changing colour, then big lens flare to darkness finishes video.

Equiptment

For my video I am going to need a certain set of equipment to suit the style of video I am creating. This is so I am able to capture the shots I want in a professional way.

My Nikon D600 is going to be the camera I film everything from for this video with its aftermarket Nikon 24-120mm lens. I really like this camera for its versatility as it has many features including vignette control which is always really good it Bike films as it creates a focus on the rider who is mostly central in shot and the added shadowing creates depth. I also like this camera due to it being comfortable to hold with its large gripped handle and its live view screen which makes film certain shots easier to view.

I also will be using my Xgrip skate handle which is designed to hold DSLR cameras and then to be able to hold the camera at multiple angles with its large curved handle. This is best used for low angle/ down shots while tracking/moving, as you are able to tilt the camera at multiple angles to creates height and to connote the main rider as powerful or in this case, skilful. 

My camera in the handle.

I will finally be using a tripod which I can get from the school. The tripod keeps the camera steady so that shots are still and can be raised or lowered for different camera angle heights. There will be some shots in the video which show me and tom in shot but are still as opposed to tracking, which will work well for these shot types.