Evaluation - Question Four

How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

For this question I created a presentation and uploaded it the Scribd. Please view it below.

Media Evaluation- Question 4 by elliebunce07

Location - Bookshelf

I filmed shots of scene eight - the university scene - in the study of my house using a white cupboard. I wanted to have a panning shot of lots of books to depict university so knew I wanted to use a bookshelf. However, I also wanted to keep with the white background like I used in my stop-frame animation, so I opted to use this one rather than I wooden or metal bookshelf.

I wanted the shot to be steady so I created my on DIY dolly using Lego. Unfortunately I found that sliding it along the shelf was actually more stead than my Lego dolly!

I wanted a shot similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJMfhKKt6wo

Recondite

I recently discovered Recondite on Spotify, another artist who is similar to Bonobo, so I decided to take a look at his music videos on Youtube. Recondite, real name Lorenz Brunner, is German producer who uses a slow form of techno and house.

Both music videos I looked at were very simple yet effective. They both used what looked like only one shot for the whole music video but with editing made it more interesting.

The first one I watched was "Tie In". In this video there is beautiful imagery of a hillside area covered in snow. The shot films the hillside for the majority but the panning and blocked objects (trees, hedges) in front of speed up and slow down as the beat does. The video creates the feeling that you are on a train or bus that is slowing down and speeding up. I think the cold bleak landscape is representative of where he grew up, it is thought his music has been related to this. Like me, all of his video is shot in black and white, I think this adds the 'bleakness' of it. The music fits with the imagery really well. I hope my video fits the music like this.

 
The next video I looked at was called "Harbinger", this video is shot underwater and films some what look like some sea plant of fish which moves slowly with the current of the sea making it look as though they are dancing. Like this video, I have chosen to use some underwater shots. The editing is distorted and keeps replaying the same clip over and over which goes with the distortion and repetition of house music. See music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf_59RX8vIw 

The Girl

Although initially I wanted to have no character in my music video and have a more symbolic/ through their eyes approach, I have used one to help in some shots. Because this was just a bit of an experiment I used myself rather than finding an actress, however, I really like some of the shots I got and have used them in my final production.

I filmed the majority of shots with a tripod in a forest after being inspired from Phaeleh's video "Tokio". See my post about the video HERE

Like Phaeleh, I wanted my character to be barefoot as this is a symbolism of innocence and childhood and therefore will symbolise her journey from childhood.

I chose to wear a simple red dress, I knew I would be editing in black and white so the colour wasn't a massive priority for me, however, I did want to stand out from the greenery of the forest. I chose the dress due to the chiffon layering which made it flow in the wind.

I chose not to show my face until the very last shot at the end of the music video, when the character is supposedly in heaven, this was one of my ways of keeping the ambiguity as the audience never really sees who this music video is about until the end. Throughout the video parts of the character is shown (my eyes, nose etc) but you never seer my face till the end. I also didn't really want to characterise the video as being aimed at a particular gender and therefore didn't feel the need to show my full face, although of course it is evident I am a girl from my dress and hair, I didn't want to have an effect on my audience who are both male and female.

Here is a picture of the costume from the shooting day.

DIY Effects

I used a variety of methods to try and create different textures to my shots and achieve my abstract vision.

I looked for ways at making more interesting shots using things from around the house. I experimented with a kaleidoscope, cling film, cardboard (which I put holes into), ink underwater, putting a clear bag over the camera and more. I think my favourite two effects were created from the kaleidoscope and cardboard with holes in.

Using the kaleidoscope and cardboard I filmed clips of my face, focussing on my nose, mouth and lips. I used this imagery to portray the development of the persons senses as they explore and use them in life. Here are imagery and them.

I hole punched holes into the cardboard randomly to create my effect. I feel this created the feeling that the person was discovering each sense one by one. I zoomed in on the camera so the focus was on each facial feature and not the cardboard.

The kaleidoscope created the vision of multiplying shots. Similarly to the cardboard I zoomed in order to make the camera focus completely on the imagery and not the kaleidoscope.

Here are the scenes were I have used the kaleidoscope and cardboard shots.

Location - The Forrest

I mentioned earlier how I filmed some of my woodland scenes in Ardley Woods (see post here- http://elliebuncea2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/filming-outside.html) but I wanted to go into more detail about why I chose each specific area.


Each location was chosen to enhance the symbolism I was trying to achieve.

The first shot I filmed was along a mud pathway surrounded by trees. I wanted to portray my character walking down the pathway of life as she grows up. Because it was near the beginning of the music video so I wanted to keep an earthly feel, hence why I chose the forest pathway rather than a street or road. Within the forest there are also lots of things that grow, from the trees and flowers to animals, so I thought it would be a fitting location
See picture to the right.

Here I also filmed shots of the sun as it beamed through the trees. I filmed this on a different day but at the same location when the sun was slightly lower and so at a better angle to film. I used these shots in the opening and closing scenes. To portray the cycle of life, a new day (for the start) and the ending of a day (for the end).

The next shot was just up the road. It was a T junction like layout where two pathways came out of the original one I was following. I thought this with be perfect in portraying the choices the character must make in their life - particularly as they find and look for work. Originally I planned to film the T junction type shot of a road, but I thought this had a much nicer look to it and was more fitting in the piece.

Another place I filmed was slightly further down where the forest goes into an open field. I used this shot for the ending and reversed the shot as if the person from being drawn away from the freedom of life and into the darkness of the forest. Originally I planned to show the girl walking from the forest into the openness, which I thought would represent heaven, but I felt the shot worked better with the music in reverse.

Production Schedule

Throughout my A2 course I have been using a production schedule to help me stay on track. It helps me organise and plan when I will be able to shoot scenes and what I will need. It has proven very helpful throughout.

Location - Field

I have filmed twice in this field now for two different scenes. Scene seven - lost teenage years - and scene 16 as the character is dying.

In the last two scenes I have use the field to symbolise heaven. I filmed on a sunnier day for these scenes and brightened the contrast. This is because I thought the bright whiteness was a reflection of most people's perception of heaven.

I also used this location for scene seven when the character is a teenager and becoming lost within the world. I chose here as the opening space works well in portraying the lost theme.

Here is an example of the footage I got in this location: