This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the basics of planning, filming and editing. You may even film something that you can end up using in your actual coursework production!
Preliminary exercise: Narrative music video extract
Your preliminary exercise involves filming and editing a mini narrative music video featuring two characters/performers.
Here's an example of some great music videos that do this:
SAARA - Superpowers
Death Cab For Cutie: A Movie Script Ending
Halsey - Now or Never
Jessie Ware - You & I (Forever)
Deadline: two weeks
Help and advice
Help and advice
Watch this great YouTube video on five mistakes to avoid when making a music video. You'll also find it gives you loads of ideas to use in your own production:
Preliminary exercise: Narrative music video
Task: Film and edit a mini narrative music video featuring two characters/performers.
Length: approximately 30-45 seconds.
Equipment: Smartphone or a school camera (limited numbers available). Note: you may need to bring in the cable to capture the videos from your phone or use data to upload to Google Drive.
Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can act in your music video or operate equipment (e.g. camera operator) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work. Keep a note of this as you'll need to fill in a form for AQA when the coursework is sent off at Easter. For this preliminary exercise, you may want to get into groups of two or three to help each other complete this task.
What your music video needs to include
Content: Your scene must include some kind of narrative or story. It can match the song lyrics if you wish or alternatively simply fit the mood or atmosphere of the song you have chosen. It can be a chase scene, a friendship/romance or something completely different.
Camerawork: You must include at least one long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot. You also must include both fixed camera shots using a tripod and camera movement (e.g. handheld, tracking, pan etc.)
Editing: Your editing should reflect the song you have chosen in terms of pace, style etc.
Graphics on screen: You must include text on screen with the name of your artist and song. Use font/typography and colour to create a brand identity for your artist.
Deadlines
Planning and filming: This week's lessons
Editing and final deadline: see Google Classroom
Initial tasks: planning
Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can film anything:
Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.
Example statement of intent [117 words]:
I plan to make a 30-second music video for the song Centuries by Fall Out Boy. The story is of an athlete training for their big event - using the key line 'Remember me for centuries'.
One of my characters will be the performer and the second character will be the athlete. I will use the opening 40 seconds of the song for this preliminary exercise (up until the start of the first verse). I will film the singing/lip-syncing from multiple angles in a dark gym with only a little light on my performer. Alongside this, I will film my athlete training - running, lifting weights etc. There will lots of close-ups on both of their faces. [117 words]
Treatment: Write what will happen in your music video - this is basically a script/stage directions for your production. You can find a real music video treatment here.
Casting: Who will be in your music video - remember, you don't need to be in your own production.
Location: Where you will film (ideally film off-site as this will create a stronger production).
Shot list: Every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far MORE shots than you will actually use in the final version - plan extra close-ups, long shots, unusual angles and more. You can find an example shot list here.
Extension - Storyboard: Draw a 5-frame storyboard mapping out your key shots. Storyboard sheets are available in DF07.
Planning deadline: on Google Classroom. Good luck!
