Biffy Clyro Biblical Finished Video

Biffy Clyro Opposites Finished CD Digipack

Biffy Clyro Opposites Finished Music Magazine Advert

Evaluation Question 4

Evaluation Question 3

As part of my planning for my music video, I established a target audience for my chosen artist, Biffy Clyro. I found that a typical fan of Biffy Clyro would:

• Enjoy live music;
• Be around the age of 16-30.
• Likes to buy physical copies of albums.

I tried to keep my target audience in mind at all times when creating my video, digipack and magazine advert, in order to make my products appealing and effective.

Music Video

After completing my plan for my music video, I showed multiple members of my target audience my Animatic. They gave me feedback on what they thought of my ideas, which allowed me to tweak and weak points in my production. The fact that they thought my ideas were good allowed me to continue onto the production stage.

DigiPack

I then showed my Digipack plan to my target audience, and asked them what they thought of it. This is what they said:

Person 1: I really like the plan for your digipack. However, I think that the inside right cover is going to be quite plain with just text. Maybe add a background image.

Person 2: I think the plan is good. However, you will have to make sure the colour scheme is good and suitable for the target audience, in order to make your digipack really appeal to them.

From the audience feedback, I slightly tweaked my plan according to what they had said. Here is my finished Digipack.

My finished Digipack is very similar to my plan. However, I changed bits slightly to make it more appealing to my target audience. For example, I added a picture of a guitar on the inside right cover, as Person 1 said it would be too plain without it.

Magazine Advert

I then showed the members of my target audience my magazine advert plan. Again, I asked them what their opinions of it were.

Person 1: I like your plan. However, you must make it link with your digipack somehow, in order to make it clear what it's purpose is.

Person 2: I think your plan is good. You must make sure the text is bold and outstanding, in order for the audience to be able to clearly see the information stated.

Because of this feedback, I made slight changes from my plan in my real production. For example, I added a shadow to the text and image, in order to make it stand out more. I also used the same colour scheme as my digipack to create a clear link between my two products. 

Evaluation Question 2: How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary tasks?

Evaluation question 2 from JakeLiggins

Evaluation Question 1: In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Construction: Editing

 I decided to use Premiere Pro to edit my raw footage into my final production.

My first step was to import my footage into Premiere Pro. Here is a screenshot of my footage in Premiere Pro. I also had to import a copy of my chosen song, Biblical.

My next step was to arrange my footage into a sequence. Firstly, I placed the song on the timeline. This allowed me to match up the lip-syncing with the song. I also cut the clips to the beat, which makes my music video more appealing and easy to watch.

I used a Video Effect called Warp Stabilizer to make my video look more steady. It works by countering the camera movement by moving the clip in the opposite direction. This meant that in shots that involved movement, the filming was more smooth and stable.

This is a screenshot of the setting I used.







My video also includes reverse shots. I filmed these shots with the character walking normally, then put the footage into reverse using the Reverse Speed tool. This made the character appear to be walking in reverse. The reverse shots play on the lyric 'Baby, If you could would you go back to the start?'.  I think this is effective, as the video illustrates the lyrics well.

 My next step was to add titles to my video. I placed the titles over the still shots, which made a good introduction to my video. The titles state the name of the artist and song, and fade in and out in time with the clip. I used a the font Gill Sans and coloured the text black. I felt that this was appropriate for my song, as it illustrates the mood and message of the song well, as the text is very plain.

My final step was to add effects to my video. This allowed me to fade the video out in sync with the song fading, which looked very effective. It clearly marks the end of the video. The fade also occurs as my character closes his eyes, which also looks effective as it seems like the audience are closing their eyes in sync with the character.

Construction: Filming (2)

Due to the heavy dependence on weather, I had to film the outside shots on a different day. This is because if the day was too dark, or the weather was rainy, then the shots would be of a poor quality and would be unclear. To help capture good footage, I changed the exposure on the camera when filming, in order to make the footage look clear. In my opinion, the footage I gained consists of good colours, and the light doesn't affect the quality of the clip.

Construction: Change of Actor

Unfortunately, my selected actor was very busy when I scheduled to film. This meant that I had to change actor. Luckily, Ben was able to help me. He is a skilled guitarist, which is crucial to make the performance parts of my video look convincing. Here is Ben's audition:

Construction: Filming

My first set of filming went well. I filmed my actor lip-syncing and playing along to my chosen song, for my performance shots. I got a range of different angles and shots, to make sure that if anything unintended featured in one shot, I had plenty of backups. However, on the camera, the footage looks very dark. Because of this, I will have to check how it looks when I transfer it to my computer. If it still looks dark, then I will have to re-shoot and reconsider my equipment and setup for lighting.

Planning: Filming Schedule

This is my Filming Schedule. I felt that it would be efficient to make this, as it will help me to stay organised and on track when I film. It also allows me to clearly see what props and actors I need at each time.

I decided to prioritise the narrative shots, as the majority of them are set outside. Therefore, my filming schedule is heavily dependant on the weather and the amount of light. However, the performance shots are using artificial light, so I can film them at any time of day.

I also decided to film the shots in order of location, rather than the order they will appear in my finished Music Video. This will save me time, as I won't have to repeatedly travel back and forth between locations. It will also mean that the lighting is consistent, and there won't be any unintentional changes in the frame.

Planning: Casting

Casting is a very important part of the planning process. Because the character features in almost all of the shots in my production, my chosen actor must be professional.  I came up with a list of factors that I will be looking for when choosing my actor.

• Confidence- My chosen actor must be confident in front of the camera. If the actor is uncomfortable, then it will show in my final production and make it look unprofessional.
• Lip-Syncing- My actor must be able to lip-sync to my chosen song. Therefore, they must learn the lyrics beforehand, so that it looks professional when recording. If the actor is unable to lip-sync, then I will find it very hard to match with the song when editing.
• Target Audience- My actor must match my target audience. They must be comfortable in wearing my chosen costumes and enjoy the type of music to make their performance believable.

My first candidate is Rhys. Rhys is fan of my chosen artist, Biffy Clyro. He likes my chosen song and knows the lyrics, which will be useful for when I ask him to lip-sync along to the song. However, he isn't very comfortable in front of a camera and would look very awkward in my video. Also, he cannot play a musical instrument. Therefore, I think that he is a weaker candidate.

Peter is 18 years old, and is currently studying for his A-Levels. This means that Peter may have a busy schedule. However, he is very passionate about music, and is a big fan of my chosen artist, Biffy Clyro. This means that he may already know lyrics to my chosen song, and would be passionate when performing. Additionally, Peter plays the guitar, which I think is a very important part of my music video. To test Peter's confidence infant of a camera and his lip-syncing abilities, I asked him to perform a short clip of my chosen song, Below is Peter's audition.

This video proves that Peter is confident infront of the camera, and it is believable that he is performing the song. Therefore, I decided to cast Peter as my main actor.

Planning: Lighting

Lighting is a very important part of any media production. If used effectively, it can have a large impact on the mood and emotions of the audience. Bright lighting portrays happy emotions, whilst a dark scene creates emotions of fear or sadness.

Because my chosen song is based on the end of a relationship, a lot of my scenes will feature dim lighting. However, the content of each scene must be visible. Therefore, I must carefully choose what devices I use for lighting in my video to achieve the right balance.

Option 1- Natural Lighting

One option I have is to use natural lighting. Because the majority of my narrative shots are set outside, it would make sense to use natural lighting. There are multiple advantages of using the sun as a light source in my production. One is that it is completely free, and saves me from having to invest in any artificial light sources. Additionally, it means that I will not have to transport any lighting equipment, which makes filming easier.

However, because of the time of year, I will have to carefully plan when I am going to film. This is because I need enough light so that the audience can still clearly see what is happening in each shot. To do this, I will have to take note on what time it starts to get dark, and keep this in mind when making a Filming Schedule.

Option 2- Artificial Lighting

My second option is to use artificial lighting for my music video. A benefit of using this is that I have control over the amount of lighting that features in each shot. I can use this to help influence the emotions of the audience watching my music video, and help portray the mood of the song.

 However, there are some disadvantages to using artificial light. One is that the cheaper lighting equipment only has On and Off settings, rather than an option allowing me to control the amount of light that is created. This means that I may struggle to create the intended emotions in my music video.
Also, the chosen equipment must be small enough to transport to my locations. This means that larger equipment may be unsuitable to use, as I may struggle to get them to each location. It will also waste time having to set up the equipment at each location.

Planning: Shot List

A shot list is an important and useful part of the planning stage.  By creating a shot list, I will know what shots I need when I go to film, allowing me to save time when I'm at my locations. This is important if I hire out a location or equipment for a certain amount of time.
I can also give my actors a copy of the shot list, so they know what they need to be doing in each shot. I will include a range of different columns, which show different information. Here are what I plan to include:

• Type of shot- This will remind me what sort of shot I planned when I'm at location. Although I will only put one shot on my Shot List, I will probably take a range when filming to ensure that I have alternatives if it doesn't have the effect I wanted it too when editing.
• Actor- This will show me exactly who I need in each shot. However, when looking at my Animatic, my main actor will be in almost all of my shots, so this column might not be that useful.
• Location- This will be useful if I am filming at multiple locations, as I can clearly see what shots I need at each location. This will allow me to save time, and not have to repeatedly think about what shots I need.
• Description- This column will include one or two sentences on what happens in each shot. This will be useful to me, as I can check what is needed for each shot. It will also be useful for my actor(s) as they know what they need to be doing in each scene.

My Shot List

Shots Key:

ES- Establishing Shot

CU- Close Up

OTS- Over the Shoulder

MS- Mid Shot

Here is my finished Shot List. The shot list will allow me to stay organised when I am filming, and quickly see what shots I need at each location. I also included the timing of when each shot will play to help me when it comes to the Post-Production Stage. However, I may not stick exactly to my shot list if the shots don't have the effect I intended for them to have. 

Planning: Props

Props are a crucial part of any type of film. They allow the audience to instantly get an idea on a characters personality and interests, and are very important when telling a story. Because my music video includes both Narrative and Performance, I will more than likely have quite a few props. There are multiple things I must consider when choosing the right prop:

• Price- Obviously, the prop must be affordable for my use. Because of this, I must carefully consider all of the options and take the price into account
• Appearance- The prop must suit the mood of my music video. From my lyric analysis, I found that my chosen song is about the end of a relationship. Therefore, I imagine my chosen props to be darkly coloured.
• Ease of transport- The props I use must be able to be transported to my filming locations. If the prop is too big, then I may struggle to get it to where I am filming. I must keep this in mind when choosing props.

Prop 1- Picture of a couple

Because my chosen song is about the end of a relationship, my planned music video includes the main actor looking at a photo of his past relationship, then ripping it up, representing his anger and regret. Therefore, I will need to find a suitable picture to feature in my music video, and find another actor to help take this photo.  I plan to just import this photo to my computer, then print it out. This is due to paper being easy to tear and is also very affordable. Additionally, because I want more than one take of each shot to ensure that I do not have to re-film, using paper means that I can print multiple copies of the photo without it being too expensive.

Prop 2- Guitar

The next prop I plan to use is a guitar for the performance parts of my music video. My plan includes the main actor to be playing the guitar, and lip-syncing to the song, shown at 0:49 in my animatic. However, I must consider multiple factors when choosing the guitar. First, it must be suitably coloured for my music video. I plan for the guitar to be either dark red, dark blue or black, as these colours represent the sadness and anger that the singer is experiencing. The guitar must also be affordable, so I decided to research some options.

My first option was a Yamaha guitar. Although the colour of the guitar is suitable, it will cost me over £100 which is way over my budget. I expected this, as a decent guitar isn't cheap.

My second option was a LAG guitar although the guitar is cheaper, it is still much more expensive than I planned to spend. However, the colour of the guitar is exactly what I planned to use.

Having researched into different guitars, I found that it will be way too expensive to buy. Therefore, I am planning to borrow a guitar from a friend. This means that I will not have to spend anywhere near as much money as buying a new guitar.

Prop 3- Drum Kit

I also plan to use a drum kit in my video, to support the performance element of my music video. Because my chosen artist, Biffy Clyro, is a band, I felt that I needed more than one performer in my music video. I plan for the drum kit to be a similar colour to the guitar. It appears first at 58 seconds through my animatic. Although the drum kit may be large, I think that using a car provides a good method of transportation. I then researched the price of a drum kit.

The first drum kit I found was a Tiger Kit. I felt that the colours were suitable for my music video. However, even though it was one of the cheapest kits I found, it is still way over my budget. Also, it is a junior kit, which may make my video look unprofessional and would be uncomfortable for the actor to play.

The next kit I found was a Herald kit. It is a similar colour and would be suitable to use in my music video. However, it is still too expensive and I am not willing to pay that much.

Luckily, I own my own drum kit which I feel is suitable for usage in my music video. It is dark red, which is a suitable colour as it connotes the emotions the singer is experiencing. Although it is large and has multiple, separate drums and cymbals, I feel that a car would still be able to transport it to the location I choose. 

Research and Planning Self Assessment

In my opinion, my blog is good. I feel that I have posted sufficient and detailed evidence of the different methods of research and planning I have carried out. I think that I have met deadlines and my work is to a good standard. However, I think that some of my posts can be improved. For example, one of my posts for the Existing Music Video research is weaker than my others.

I also think that the range of digital technologies I have used is wide. For example, I used Prezi to present my pitch for my music video. I have also used GIFS, images and embedded videos to support my research and planning.

My next steps will be to complete the planning of my music video. I intend to keep these posts to the same or better standard than what I have already posted, as this will allow me to get into the higher marks for my blog.

Planning: Costume

Costumes can have a very influential impact on how the audience receive and react to a music video. They can help portray a characters personality, interests and mood. Because of this, I must plan the costumes I want my actors to wear in my music video very carefully. I have made a criteria on what costume my actors will wear:

• It must fit the mood of the song-  Because my chosen song, Biblical, is about an ended relationship, I want my actors to wear dark colours. This will also fit with the dark lighting I will feature in my music video.
• Relatable to the target audience- The costume must be similar to what my target audience will wear. Biffy Clyro are a rock band, so I will have to further research into what the audience wears.
• Must be affordable- Because I have a low budget, the costume must be reasonably cheap. This means that I must consider multiple options on costumes.

I then used Google Images to find some images on what types of clothing Biffy Clyro, my chosen band, tend to wear. I put the images I found into a collage.

Here are the options I am considering:

Costume 1- Denim Jacket

The first costume I considered is a denim jacket. This is because I found denim jackets to be a common piece of clothing when looking at images of Biffy Clyro. Additionally, denim isn't a bright or outstanding colour, which fits the intended mood and message of my music video. I searched different clothing websites to find an average price for a denim jacket.

I found that the average price is around £20-£30. In my opinion, this is a reasonable price, but I want to compare it with my other options before making a decision.

Costume 2- Short Sleeve Shirt

A short sleeve shirt was another popular piece of clothing I found when looking at pictures of Biffy Clyro. This is a good option, as it is likely that my chosen actor will already own one. However, I still decided to research the price range, incase he doesn't.

I think that this is a more affordable option. It may also be more comfortable for the actor to perform in. However, I must be careful of the colour of the shirt, as it must be suitable to portray the meaning of the song in my video. For example, a dark red or black shirt will be effective, as the song is about a break-up in a relationship.

Costume 3- Sleeveless Shirt

Not only were sleeveless shirts popular in Biffy Clyro music videos, but also in the other rock music videos I researched into as well. This makes it a strong option for what costume I choose to feature in my music video. I found some suitable sleeveless shirts online.

I think that these sleeveless shirts are very suitable, as they are dark coloured and popular in my target audience. However, my problem is that my actor may be slightly uncomfortable performing in one, and will weaken his acting.

Whatever option I use, I will pair it with black skinny jeans. This is because they are very popular in rock music fans, and will make my video more appealing and relatable to them. Also, black skinny jeans are sold in almost all mens clothing shops, so I will not have a problem getting them. It is also likely that my chosen actor will already own a pair.

Research: Green Screen Practise

Using footage of a student lip syncing to Adele's Rolling in the Deep, I practised editing and chroma keying using Premiere Pro. Firstly, I imported both the original music video and the footage of Ellie lip syncing into Premiere Pro.

I then placed both the original music video and the soundtrack onto my timeline, and the green screen footage on the layer above. This meant that when I removed the green background, Ellie would be placed over the original music video.






I then used the Eight Point Garbage Matte to crop most of the green screen footage. This helped reduce the amount of different shades of green in the video, meaning that there will be less imperfections in the finished clip. However, I had to be careful that I did not crop out any of Ellie's movements, as it would make parts of her disappear.




I then used the Ultra Key feature to remove the green screen background. The pipette tool allowed me to select the green background, and Premiere Pro then removed any similar colours it could identify. This meant that Ellie now appeared to be in the original music video.








Because the green screen was creased when filming the lip syncing, there appears to be slight mistakes in the edited version. However, if I decide to use green screening in my music video, then I will make sure that the green screen isn't creased and is carefully ironed.

Planning: Camera Equipment

There is a wide range of cameras available to me to use when filming my music video. In my opinion, it is crucial that I choose the right camera to film with, as I want my video to look professional and aesthetically appealing. For example, the camera must be able to film in a high enough frame rate, as the performance parts of my music video will include lots of movement. It must also be able to film in a high enough quality in the darker scenes of my production. Because of this, I tested out some of my options to help me make my choice.

Camera 1- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

My first option was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200. I researched the specifiations of the camera, and found a table which can be found here. 

This camera allows me to film in 1920 x 1080 pixels, which means that my recorded footage will be high definition. It can also record Motion for up to 100 minutes, which is plenty of time for me to use. It also offers a slow motion feature, which I may decide to use for some parts of the performance element in my music video. I decided to test out the slow motion feature to evaluate it's quality.

Here is the footage I filmed when practising using the Slow-Motion feature on the Panasonic camera. This means that if I want to use some slow-motion shots when creating my music video, then I know how to film it. It also gave me an idea on the quality of the footage filmed on the camera.
Clearly, the 200fps VGA footage is much darker and a different resolution than the 100fps footage. I am unsure of the reason for this, as I recorded the different shots one after the other, without changing any settings on the camera. Because of this, I will most likely use the 100fps HD MP4 mode if I decide to use slow-motion in my final product.

Camera 2- Canon EOS 1100D

Another camera available to me is the Canon EOS 1100D. This camera allows me to film in HD, at 25 or 30 Frames per Second. Although the Panasonic camera can film in up to 240 FPS, the Canon will still allow me to capture smooth footage to use in my music video. To get an idea on how the footage filmed by the Canon looked, I searched for some YouTube videos that demonstrated the camera in use.

Although this video only shows still shots, I feel that the Canon's quality is good enough for me to use in my music video. I think that that although the Panasonic films in a higher frame rate, the quality of the Canon is better.

Camera 3- Nikon D3200

The third camera available to me is the Nikon D3200. This camera also allows me to film in Full HD (1080p). This is important, as I want my music video to look as professional as possible. I then searched for a YouTube video of the Nikon in use, to compare the quality to my other options.

In conclusion, I think that the Canon camera offers me the best quality. Although the other cameras record in a higher Frame Rate, I think that 30fps is sufficient for what I want to use. The quality of the Canon's recording is very good, and will allow me to make an aesthetically appealing video,

Planning: Filming Locations

Choosing the right location is a crucial part of creating any type of media production. If the location is too loud, busy or doesn't have the right lighting, then the production will not have the intended effect on the audience. Because of this, I have to be very sure that my chosen location is the right one. When choosing, I will take these factors into account:

• Suitability- If, for example, the location is very light and full of bright colours, then it will not have the intended effect on my target audience, and will not illustrate the meaning of the song. Also, if the location is too busy, then it will be very difficult and awkward to film.
• Availability- The location must be available for me to film in. Obviously, if the location is busy, then I won't be able to film there. To overcome this problem, I will be organised when planning my filming schedule.
• Distance- The locations must be reasonably close for me to film in, due to travel costs and time issues. If it takes a long while to travel to the location, then I will have less time to film and possibly will have to travel on multiple days. Additionally, if I need to get the right lighting or weather when filming, then travelling a long distance may create problems, as the weather can quickly change.

Location 1 - Harvester Forest

The first possible location I have considered is the Harvester Forest. The reason I have chosen this location is because it is quiet, and hardly any people visit it regularly. This is perfect for the narrative part of my music video, as I require an isolated location to amplify the characters loneliness. My main character will be sitting down in the empty field, looking into the distance and lip-syncing with the song.

The only problem I can imagine with this location is that it is near a main road, shown by the screenshot of Google Maps. This means that there might be unplanned noise. However, because I will edit my chosen song over the video, it means that I can mute the diegetic sound.

I think that this location is suitable, as it is in walking distance so timing won't be a problem. It's also rarely busy, so filming will be easy, with little distractions or interruptions. Additionally, because it isn't owned by anyone, I do not have to contact anyone to organise filming times.

Location 2- Zombie Hut, Corby

My second location is the Zombie Hut in Corby. I plan to use this location for the performance shots in my music video. The band will be performing on stage, playing their instruments and the singer will lip-sync to the song.

I think this location is suitable, as the technology there allows me to control the lighting in the room when I film. This means that I can create a suitable mood that amplifies the singers emotions and portrays the meaning of the song. The stage also creates a great setting, as everyone associates stages with performance and music. From my music video research, I found that stages are a common location in rock music videos.

The only problem is that because the Zombie Hut is a popular location, it may be hard to organise a filming schedule when both the location and my chosen actors are available. Also, because of the  performance, I will have to find a way to transport large props like guitar amps and a drum kit.

Location 3- Bedroom

An alternative location for the performance shots of my music video is a bedroom. Although it may not be as convincing as a real stage, it creates a sense of originality and is relatable for small bands who still practise at home. Also, it illustrates the singers emotions, as he is excluding himself from the outside world and is hiding away in his own room.

I think that this location is suitable, as it requires no travelling or transporting props. Also, there will be no issues with availability of the location. The only problem will be controlling the lighting in the bedroom, so I will have to carefully plan what time of day I will film.

Planning: Audience Feedback

I then showed my Animatic to a range of people in my target audience. I asked them a few questions on how they felt about my plan for my music video. By getting feedback from my target audience, I could change parts of my music video to make it more appealing. By asking multiple people, I could also see what the majority of people expect from a music video and try to include that in my production.

One person said that "Your music video captures the meaning of the song well. However, for the performance shots to be effective, you must make sure my actors are good, as it will need to seem believable". To overcome this, I will ensure my actor auditions are thorough, to make sure I select the right person. I will ask the candidates to film a 30 second audition, of them lip-syncing to my chosen song. This will allow me to assess their suitability to use in my final piece.

Another person said "I like the concept of your video. However, I think it will be very difficult to get the correct lighting without professional equipment." Therefore, I will have to carefully plan how I am going to get the right level of lighting. For the narrative shots, I will most likely use natural lighting as they are set outside. However, the performance shots will be harder to get the right exposure as they are set inside.

Planning: Storyboarding and Animatic

To help the planning for my music video, I created an Animatic. This involved me planning what my finished production will look like. The way I did this was by first writing the lyrics to my chosen song out on a long strip of paper. I then got multiple cards and created quick sketches of each shot I imagined. I also included a note on each card on what will happen in that shot, any camera movements, and the time stamp at when it will play. I then organised the cards alongside the strip of paper, into a timeline.

 When I finished this, I scanned each card and imported them to Premiere Pro, along with an MP3 file of my chosen song. I then used Premiere Pro to edit together an animatic, which involved my sketches in a slideshow alongside my chosen song, cutting in sync with the beat of the song. This gives a rough idea on what my final production will look like.

Here are some of my sketches, along with the MP3 file, I scanned and imported to my computer.

I then imported the files into Premiere Pro, ready for me to edit together.

Next, I ordered the sketches into a sequence. I synchronised the cuts to the beat of the song. Because I made a note of the timestamp at which each shot would start when creating the cards, I found this process was quick.



Here is my finished animatic:

Not only did creating an animatic give me a better visualisation of what my final production would look like, but it gave me more practise in using Premiere Pro. It reminded me on how to import and organise clips into a Premiere Pro sequence.  I also gained practise in cutting to the beat of the song, and how much more comfortable it feels when watching it.