Research Log

Codes of Practise & Regulation Grid

Production Log: Week 9

What have you contributed to this week?

This week, me and Farhana finally finished our music video on the deadline day. In the Monday's lesson, we got told what to do for our coursework tasks and then could, if we wanted to, carry on in the rest of the lesson with the editing of our music video, which me and Farhana chose to do. On Tuesday, periods 1,2, 3 & 4, myself, Farhana, and Damanjyot all had frees then, and decided to do the chorus scenes in the music studio. We managed to do that within periods 1&2, and put the footage onto the iMac's and carry on editing in 3&4. Tuesday was our deadline and we could stay back for how long it would take us to finish our music video... in which we finished at around half 6. For the rest of the week, we started on our paper coursework and on the Friday, I uploaded our music video onto my blog.

Clip of Daman in the Music Studio lip-syncing in our music video.

How does this fit in with the production schedule/job roles/overall ideas for the project?

This fits in with our production schedule because we had an idea of using the music studio instead of the green screen, or even using some green screen during the music studio performances scenes, but eventually came to the decision of just using the music studio as we thought it would look less messy and more clean-cut. The job roles consisted of me and Farhana handling with the filming as we took turns in filming hand held. The overall ideas of the project would then come together as we film the last bit, which is the chorus scenes, and then figure out what shots we want and don't want when finalising on the editing.

Were there any problems?

There was a problem regarding the time to do the chorus scenes in the music studio. We asked the music teacher, who was the head of the music department, if it would be okay for us to use the music studio in which he said it was okay for us to use it. Knowing that we could use it for Monday after school, we told Damanjyot that we could do it after school on Monday and she agreed to do it. Came Monday, and Damanjyot told us that she couldn't do it because she had to go somewhere... which put me and Farhana in an awkward position as we hoped to get all the filming done on the Monday and focus on the editing on the Tuesday in our free's and after school.

How did you/will you overcome them?

We overcame the problem by being in luck. Me and Farhana knew that we had two free's in the morning, periods 1 to 4. Then we both remembered that Damanjyot had periods from 1 to 4 free too, which was a bonus for us considering our deadline was the next day and we still had to get filming done and finish editing which we knew would be time consuming. We asked Damanjyot if she could come in in the morning during her free's to do our chorus scenes instead in the music studio as we knew we HAD to find extra time to make sure we got it all done in time and properly to a good enough standard. Damanjyot agreed to coming in in the morning as she knew it was our deadline day and wouldn't want us to fail as she couldn't do that to us. The next day, we all came in normal school time, and filmed within the first period, and carried on editing in the second, which lead onto a positive path as we had more time to edit. After school, we finished at around half 6, filling in the gaps and adding effects, and had it checked by our two teachers. Once the two teachers were happy with the standard of the work, they let us go.

What are the plans for the following week?

The plans for the following week will consist of paper work that we've been doing in class, now that our music video is all done.

Final Music Video

Production Log: Week 8

What have you contributed to this week?

This week, myself and Farhana carried on editing scenes. On Monday, our teacher came round the class to check everyone's music videos and to see if there were things that needed to be improved. He suggested that we should re-film our pathway scene as our shots needed more of a variety of shot types. On Tuesday after school, we decided we should try out green screen again and see if there would be any better changes to last time we filmed, and so we completed all the filming for that. In our Wednesday's lesson, we uploaded our green screen footage and noticed there was rarely any change and we had the same problem. On the Wednesday periods 5&6 was when we re-filmed our pathway scene in the park right next to our school, and we managed to do all the shots in time before it was lunch. We also showed our teacher the green screen problem in the Wednesday lesson, and he said that we should try again but make sure everything's set up right when we next do it. In our Thursday lesson, we uploaded the pathway shots and carried on editing.

Me, Damanjyot & Farhana filming Green Screen Performance.

How does this fit in with the production schedule/job roles/overall ideas for the project?

This doesn't really fit in with the production schedule as we hadn't had an exact date to re-film some shots and to re-do green screen a second time. The job roles mean't that we had to both think hard about what we would do with the re-filming and to not become worried as it would show through our work and would effect our performance of our roles. With the overall ideas for the project, we are still contemplating whether to have the chorus scenes done as a green screen or in the music studio, making the overall idea undecided, but aware of where we want to go with the project.

Were there any problems?

There were a few problems regarding finding time to re-film and the process of how green screen came out. After trying out green screen once and there being problems, we thought the second time would be an improvement, but it turned out to be the exact same situation we were in in the first place. When we were editing the green screen scenes, the padded cell picture behind it was hard to make look perfect as the green was still visible, Damanjyot's hair was outlined in a yellow colour, and her skin on her arms had blotches on them that we couldn't edit it out. Our teacher had a look and suggested to do green screen again, but properly, which he said that he would stay behind and help us to make sure the lights are set up right etc. This creates a problem because our deadline was on Thursday and we knew we wouldn't have enough time as Damanjyot had to go somewhere important after school on the Thursday. 

How did you/will you overcome them?

To sort the problem out, we knew we had to turn to our teacher as our deadline was on the Thursday and we knew Damanjyot couldn't make it. Myself and Farhana told our teacher the problem, hoping to fit in extra time if he would let us. Knowing that our teacher sticks to the deadlines, we were worried in terms of what his answer would be. He said that he would extend the deadline till next Tuesday as he knew it wasn't our fault that our green screen turned out the way it turned out. Me and Farhana were relieved that he extended it till Tuesday, as it gave us more time to film it and then edit into the music video, without having to rush.

What are the plans for the following week?

Plans for the following week will contain filming the green screen, or if that doesn't work again, we will film in the music studio in school. Also, finishing off our editing for the Tuesday deadline - involving the London scenes, and the chorus scenes, and then finalising and cleaning it till we our satisfied to get the best grade possible.

Production Log: Week 7

What have you contributed to this week?

Me and my partner carried on editing this week. We cleaned up and finalised the intro and first verse of the song, and we had also done a variety of other scenes through different verses of the song, but leaving it unfinished as we haven't tidied the shots and have some shots missing that we need to fill in. On Thursday after school, me, Farhana and our cast member, Damanjyot, managed to do all the green screen shots for the chorus parts. Then on the Friday, we uploaded the footage onto Final Cut Express and carried on with the editing. We also was trying to figure out how to place the picture behind the green screen as we wasn't as experienced as much with using Final Cut Express than iMovie.

How does this fit in with the production schedule/job roles/overall ideas for the project?

This fits with our production schedule as we completed the chorus' with the green screen, and within our production schedule, our aim was to do the green screen for the chorus scenes. Me and Farhana had also agreed on the chorus being a performance and the green screen would be a padded cell to portray Damanjyot's chararcter as clear as possible as she has psychological problems and we wanted to show that by having her in a mental place. Job roles contained me and Farhana both filming different shots and helped on directing Damanjyot. The ideas for the overall project were looking good, although, we did have doubts on our green screen as it wasn't going to plan when we were both filming and editing it.

Were there any problems?

Yes. Our first problem was dealing with the scheduling of green screen day as we had to figure out what days Damanjyot was free and when myself and Farhana were free. Also, because a lot of other groups had to use green screen, we had to make sure we weren't going to clash with them. We originally decided to do green screen on Wednesday after school, but Damanjyot, without realising, straightened her hair... because this was not the crazy look we wanted, we wanted to rearrange the date to another day. Another problem was when me and Farhana uploaded the footage onto Final Express Cut, the green screen lighting varied with a lighter green and a darker green, most were dark. We were baffled as to why this happened as the spotlights when we were filming, were on all the time.

How did you/will you overcome them?

We dealt with our first problem calmly and changed the green screen day to Thursday. We chose that day as we were all free after school, no one was using the green screen, and Damanjyot had made her hair curly again. The green screen light issue was confusing to understand. We got one of our teachers who was in the room at the time to look at the problem and she hadn't understood why that happened either. Me and Farhana were not very pleased, but began thinking of a plan b... we decided to re-film, but this time, not using green screen, have Damanjyot performing in a music studio, with maybe some elements of the green screen fitted in to the chorus. Now we know our next task has to be in finding a day when to film in the music studio.

What are the plans for the following week?

Our plans for the following week are to film the chorus scenes in the music studio. Our deadline to finish our editing is on Friday, which will mean coming back in our frees and after school to finish everything off. We have to make sure to perfect our music video as much as we can to achieve the best grade possible.

Music Studio.

Production Log: Week 6

What have you contributed to this week?

Final Cut Express.

On Wednesday, me and Farhana uploaded all the footage we done on the week before onto Final Cut Express which took a while as we had many shots. We also started editing and working out how to use Final Cut Express. On Thursday during mine and Farhana's study period and Damanjyot's and Bilal's free period, we filmed the hostage scene and got all the shots done for that scene in the school's store cupboard. We had to ask permission and so we asked the caretaker if we could use the store cupboard and he said yes. In the lesson on the Thursday, we carried on editing. On Friday, we uploaded all the rest of the shots from Thursday's shots and carried on editing.

How does this fit with the production schedule/job roles/overall ideas for the project?

This fits with our production schedule as our first thought when we got back was to upload all our footage onto the Apple Mac and so we did. Any filming while at school means our time is limited, which means our job roles will have to become more focused and work driven as our deadline to complete the project is in a couple of weeks. Our job roles were shared out equally as we both agreed to work on the editing together. Our overall ideas come together as we edit our music video, making us think more on how we would like our overall music video to come out like.

Were there any problems?

Hostage Scene.

The only problem we faced was trying to figure out when to film the hostage scene. Damanjyot and Bilal had a free on Thursday periods 5&6, and me and Farhana both have private study in that period too which is hard to get out of as it's a permanent thing. 

How did you/will you overcome them?

Farhana and I looked for a way in which we could all do the hostage scene. We spoke to Mr. Mallen, our media teacher, and asked if he could leave a note saying if it would be possible to film during mine and Farhana's private study. Mr. Mallen messaged the private study teacher and she said it was okay for us to film, and so our problem was solved.

What are the plans for the following week?

Hopefully for the following week, me and Farhana would have to start the green screen scenes, which Damanjyot is in. We have to check with Damanjyot and see if she is free to do the scenes, and we have to check to see when we can use the green screen as you have to book up to use it. So we are hoping all the filming will be done next week alongside with the editing and shifting with it for the next two weeks before our deadline.

Green Screen Performance.

Production Log: Week 5

What have you contributed to this week?

This week, myself and Farhana started filming with our cast members, Damanjyot and Bilal. On the 16th Sunday, we started our filming outside the Barley Lane Mental Health Home, and because they had a lot of pathways, we decided to use that instead of using the high roads and streets. We managed to get all our filming done on that day. On the Wednesday we went to London and filmed on the London Bridge, outside a restaurant, around St. Paul's Cathedral, and down near the River Thames. Although some of the places we used wasn't our original ideas to shoot, we completed all the shots that we needed in a variety of locations in London. On the Friday, Damanjyot and Farhana came to my house so we could film all the house shots in which we completed.

Damanjyot and Bilal at St.Paul's Cathedral.

How does this fit with the production schedule/job roles/overall ideas for the project?

When we start filming, we have to make sure our production schedule is not disturbed, and having one helps us to not make plans on that day of shooting or to get into any situations where it could lead to us not shooting on the original day, making it a guide for us. Starting the filming means the job roles become serious and we have to be responsible to make sure everything looks good and is completed. Also, in the process of shooting, we come up with a lot more ideas that we could do for our overall project because it motivates us to think more.

Were there any problems?

Yes there were problems. One being that there was rain on the Saturday on which we were originally going to shoot outside Barley Lane Mental Health Home and the rain was very heavy so we knew we couldn't and didn't want to film. Another problem was that Damanjyot couldn't film on the Thursday at my house because she had a situation to do with home so we had to think of a date where we could film which was hard as everyone had plans for other days.

How did you/will you overcome them?

We overcame the problems eventually. I often checked the weather forecast on the internet on my phone to see if it would rain for the whole week. We went to Barley Lane Mental Health Home on the Sunday because as you can see on the picture on the right, it was suppose to be sunny on that day, so we went and it was sunny all day which was a great outcome for us. I also checked on the Wednesday for the London outing to see if it would rain and it claimed that it would be sunny all day, and it was. For the house situation, I originally planned to go shopping early in the morning, but I persuaded my mum to let me and my partner and cast member to film in the morning for at least an hour and a half and she let us and so we completed all our filming that was supposed to be done on the Thursday, on Friday.

What are the plans for the following week?

For the following week, me and my partner still need to finish off shoots. We have to do the green screen of Damanjyot performing in a mental home, and the scene where Damanjyot opens the door to where Bilal is and we have a few shoots where she is lip-syncing at him and intimidating him, and so we are planning to do this in a room in the school and hopefully finish all our shots for the following week.

Shooting Production Schedule

Production Log: Week 4

What have you contributed to this week?

This week, we finished all of the pre-production paper work, including the emails we sent for permission to film in places, such as the mental home in Barley Lane and London Bridge. This then allowed us to start our filming. On the Thursday lesson, we started filming in the media lesson with our main actress, Damanjyot, after our teacher had checked to see all our paper work was up to a good standard to allow us to start shooting. We filmed in the park and got a few shots that we quite liked.

How does this fit with the production schedule/job roles/overall ideas for the project?

Pre-production work helps us to film our music video, and knowing we'll be able to shoot in particular locations to suit our story-line for the video as we have received permission to do so. Also, pre-production work allows us to know what risks can come with shooting a music video in locations and how we can overcome them.

Were there any problems?

We hardly came into contact regarding problems, apart from the issue with permission. The person whom has control over the emails about the Barley Lane mental health home had given us a reply in which we replied back, and then they got back to us asking for a way to contact us via an actual phone call, so we asked our teacher if he could use his contact details to get back to Kerry, who manages the emails. Our teacher was happy to give his number to the manager which resolved what could have been a slight problem.

How did you/will you overcome them?

The issue wasn't a massive problem to deal with as our teacher kindly dealt with the situation of giving out his phone number to Kerry. At the moment there are no other problems we can encounter and we're hoping that we will be given a positive permission to film at the location that we had chosen.

What are the plans for the following week?

The following week is our February half term holiday, which will consist of a lot of filming to be completed. Having a weeks holiday is a bonus as we are not restricted with time as we can film when we want and also, we are not time limited. Myself and Farhana have discussed with our crew, Damanjyot and Bilal, and they are both free throughout the week which means we won't have to remain worried or concerned as they are available. Our aim is to finish a majority of the filming before we come back to school which is on the 25th of February, and to leave the green screen for when we come back to school.

Permission

London Bridge:

Barley Lane North East London NHS foundation:

Reply from Barley Lane North East London NHS foundation: 

Our reply to Barley Lane North East London NHS foundation:

Reply from Barley Lane North East London NHS foundation: 

Job Roles and Responsibilities

Director and Production Manager: Ellie 

Me and Farhana have decided that the director and production manager should be me. This is solely because my idea for the music video had been chosen and I have a better understanding of what the overall music video should be reviewed as. Farhana also believes that I will take on the responsibility and role in a  much advanced way as I have also done this in previous work. Another reason why we decided that I should take up this role is because I had also mentioned this in my music video pitch that I would prefer to take up the role as the director, as I am aware of what I want the overall completed music video to be presented as.

Camera Operator: Farhana

Farhana will be doing the job of being the camera operator. Me and Farhana have decided that from previous work which we both have done together, Farhana had handled the camera well and I also agreed that Farhana should take responsibility over the camera job. We had a mutual discussion and decided that Farhana's camera skills have advanced more since the last work which we both contributed towards.

Editors: Ellie & Farhana

Me and Farhana have discussed that we should both take up the responsibility of being the editors. We decided that it would be fair to share out the roles as we have both already taken up job roles which we will be doing individually. We also decided that the overall editing skills would be more advanced as both our ideas would come together. Me and Farhana also know what types of editing skills we want to use so we can help each other when editing. When me and Farhana come to finalizing the music video, we both will be content that we have equally divided the roles so that neither of us has been burdened with the roles and how we both have put in equal amount of effort towards the final music video.

Cast:

Main Female Actress: Damanjyot
Main Male Actor: Bilal
Special Appearance: Ellie & Farhana

Location Reccies

Barley Lane Mental Health Hospital - my partner and I have decided to film outside the Barley Lane mental health hospital, as it connects to the storyline of our music video. In order for us to show our audience our main character/actress's role, we have made her come out from this place, showing how she has escaped from this place. We decided to film in this particular location as presented on a sign board, it says 'Psychological Services', this will enable us to unveil to the audience that we have explored and presented our music video to be as realistic as mentioned, and how we wanted to portray our story line through the music video.

 

Chadwell Heath High Road/Side Roads - me and my partner have decided to film around this area as we wanted to show our main actress be as crazy as possible by having her walking down streets acting strange, and how she is different from everyone else. We decided this location would be suitable as it's usually not as busy which is a bonus as we won't be interrupted by cars and people, and we won't be in their way either. We have also chosen side roads which are quiet and spacious as this will allow us to film comfortably and freely as much as we want because it's a designated area.

London Bridge and Train Station - my partner and I have decided to film on the London Bridge, or, and around the location as we thought it was be a nice scenery to use for a romantic/date relationship feel. We have also decided that this location will be appealing to the audience, and to show how we have gone out of our way to film in different locations and so we thought London would be a great way to show that. On our train journey there, we have decided that we will film a scene on the train to show the journey of the couple and how they spend their time together. This is a positive for us as we can film at two different locations on the same day and it won't be a burden on us.

Green Screen - me and my partner have decided to use green screen of the inside of a mental health home for the chorus parts. This will be shot as the performance scene of our music video, and how we show the portrayal of our character through our main actress. We will have her lip-syncing throughout the performance scenes, and put on view of how she behaves abnormally.

 

Ellie's House - my partner and I have chosen Ellie's house as the location for the house scenes. We have chosen Ellie's house as it's accessible for us all, and our cast are also aware of where Ellie's house is and how to get there. We have also got permission from Ellie's mum to film around the house so she is comfortable and aware of what we are doing. We will be using the hallway for when she comes in, stairs for when she goes up/down them, Ellie's bedroom as our main actress's bedroom, and the bathroom for when she burns the image, and also a box room for the scenes where Bilal will be held captured.