Editing Process

In order to edit our music video we used Premiere Pro CS4. Firstly, we had to import our footage into premiere pro after uploading it from the camera. This enabled us to see a list of our clips which we could then play in the preview window. Once we were satisfied with what clips we wanted to use, you drag the clip into the playing area. This will now be show in the right window which shows the actual music video. We decided it would be more efficient to drag all our clips down, rearrange them and then add transitions and effects after. This enables us to see any gaps that we would need to film again. This was made apparent to us. It was important to cut down a lot of clips as most of them were too long. We then imported the song the same way as the footage but dragged it down to the audio section. It was important to mute the sound from the footage so that you could hear the actual song. Once we had arranged a lot of the clips we decided to start adding effects and transitions. Our song is quite depressing and sad so we thought it would the footage would relate to the song if we decreased the brightness. We changed this by going on the tab colour and correction and then brightness and contrast. Another effect we used is changing the speed of the clip. The pace of our song is quite up and down, starting quite slow, then speeding up and at the end slowing down again. Therefore when it was slow paced we decreased the speed of the clip so it would make a slow motion style effect. For the fast paced music we increased the speed to make a lot of short, fast shots. This creacted hecticness and excitement. When deciding on transitions, wse found that we used a lot of similar transitions. This is because we found that a lot of them did not suit our music video. Using the same ones several times created continuity and looked more professional. The main transitions we used were dip to black, cross dissolve and additive dissolve. We especially liked additive dissolve because during the transition, the previous and next clip blend in together and when going to the next clip you still see the previous clip as the opacity decreases. When arranging our footage we realised that it would be a lot harder to fit three and half minutes than we previously thought. We refilmed numerous times and thought we had a lot of footageand then found that we still had gaps to fill. There was only one way to overcome this and this was by cutting sections of the song out. This was made possible because a lot of the song is repetitive. When the pace of the song slows down for the second time, shortly after the pace fastens up again. We wanted the end to finish with a slow pace so we cut it before the pace fastens up again. So that the song didnt end blunty we gradually quietened it down at the end. The song was still too long so we cut out other sections that were repeated. This was a very difficult process that required patience and perserverance. It was very hard to cut the section at the right point. Using the razor tool you select the start of the part of the song you don't want and then another mark up to where you want it. You then slect it and delete it. Another thing that proved to be difficult was matching up the footage with the right part of the song. This again was overcome by patience. The last thing we added was 'Pendulum - Watercolour' and 'New Media Solutions' in the left hand corner of the first clip of the music video. This made it apparent that it is a music video and is a common convention of existing music videos. We didn't want it to take emphasis away from the video so we decreased the opacity and made it dissolve away after a few seconds. By adding this convention we found that our music video looked more realistic and professional.

Analysis of locations

This location is where the main character goes after seeing his ex. The first image shows what will be similar to an establishing shot that we will use in the video. This makes it clear it is a new location and sets the scene. It appears eery, dull and scary. To make it even gloomier, relating to the character's feelings, we will make it appear even darker when editing. The second image above shows the inside of the tunnel. It is covered in colourful grafitti which creates an interesting appearance. This is where the main character goes crazy, including smashing bottles on the wall. It is very fast paced and there are a sequence of short shots. Again we will darken the image to portray a dark side of the character's personality. The last image shows a slight hill which leads to the top of the tunnel. We thought it was important to include him running up here to make it clear where the main character is going. It could be confusing to see him inside a tunnel and then a point of view of him on top of the tunnel.

These two locations will both include similar sequences. They both involve the main character running which is followed by the camera in a shakey hand held style. It almost looks likes he's being followed which relates to his paranoia and insecurities. The first image is when he is running away after seeing his ex and it leads him to the tunnel pictured above in the first image. This location is on a busy street which goes with the fast paced music because the traffic creates hecticness and choas. The second image is after the tunnel sequence when he is running back. Again the music is still fast paced so the shakiness of the camera and editing matches with it. The woods are very dull colours and gloomy which reflects the main character's distraught. However, it is quite mysterious and interesting to look at. The woods is very similar all the way down which adds even more hecticness and reptition. This is all portaying the use of alchol and drugs. These shots make the audience feel more involved and sympathetic towards the main character.

Re-filming

When editing our footage we realised that our detailed shot by shot storyboard would not be long enough for the whole of the song. This meant we needed to re-film and think of new things we could add. This included shots of the main character drinking alcohol and looking at it after he finished and it dropping in slow motion. We also included shots where the main character is running and the camera person runs after him. We did this handheld so the clip looks more frantic and hectic. The fast pace and choas relates to the upbeat part of the song. It also shows paranoia of someone following him which illustrates a sympton of him doing drugs. The scenes where the main character is destroying his room as a result of being dumped, we filmed him pretending to hit a wall with a guitar. We thought when editing it would look more powerful if we increased the speed. However, we then realised it wouldn't go with the song as the first part of the song is slow. We decided to decrease the speed to create a slow motion style effect like the other clips. But it did not look powerful enough and therefore it didn't look realistic. We deleted this and when re-filmed we filmed the main character throwing clothes which hits the camera. When put in slow motion this looked a lot better then the guitar and flowed with the other clips. Another major problem when filming was daylight. We wanted to film the majority of it in daylight as everything would be more clear. We would then slightly darken it down when editing to create a more gloomy appearance. However due to it being autumn/winter it gets very dark quickly. This would not give us a lot of time as school finishes at 3. Also when re-filming we had to consider the arrangement of the existing clips and new footage. For instance we couldn't film a part when its dark and then have a scene where its light after it. We wanted to film the fire scene in the dark but we had no footage between the light scenes and dark scenes which would mean it got extremely dark quickly. To overcome this we filmed a part where the main character is looking at his watch. We significantly increased the speed to show time passing by. The watch part would be after the last light scene and before the dark scenes. The watch shows a change in time without it being a complete jump from one to the other. The dark scenes also included point of view shots. This shows the main character out of control due to drugs as the camera is handheld and shakey. Car lights shine at him and there is fast traffic which creates confusion and action. Another problem with filming is arranging a time when everyone is free. A lot of our media group work quite a lot which resulted in having to have time off. It was also important to arrange times with actors. To overcome this we decided it would be easier for some of our media group to also be actors, including myself and Miles. A thing that benefited us what that our music video is majorly focused on the main character, Pad. This meant we didn't have to arrange a certain time for a lot of people. There were only 3 other characters apart from the main character.

Filming Schedule

Saturday 9th October

Scenes to film:
- Protaganist seeing ex in street
- Protaganist going crazy in street
- Protaganist meeting up with drug dealer
Equipment: Camera and tripod
Locations: Street in a residential area, discreet alleyway
Props: Hoodie, flour in a bag resembling cocaine
People needed: Media group - Lucy, Michelle, Miles. Actors - Pad (main character), Miles, James, Lucy
Estimated time: 2 hours

Monday 11th October

Scenes to film:
- Opening bedroom scenes, eg. reading text and destroying room
- More going crazy in streets including him smashing bottles in the tunnel underneath the bridge.
Equipment: Camera and tripod
Locations: A boy's bedroom, a pavement besides a busy street, tunnel
Props: Alcohol glass bottles, road signs, a bed, clothes, photo
People needed: Media group - Lucy, Michelle, Miles. Actors - Pad
Estimated time: 3 hours

Thursday 14th October

Scenes to film:
- Night scenes including fire scenes and point of view shots
- More inside scenes, eg. turning point
- Bath death scenes
Equipment: Camera, tripod, lighting
Locations: A field, a living room, a bathroom
Props: A large oil drum to have fire in, matches, paper and leaves to create fire, teddy bear to burn, alcohol bottles, flour representing cocaine, a bath, razor, mirror
People needed: Media group - Lucy, Michelle, Miles. Actors - Pad
Estimated time: 4 hours

Video Research

When planning our music video, we found it very helpful to analyse existing music videos to inspire and influence us. The music video above, "Let you go" by Chase&Status highly influenced our music video and simularities between the two are very apparent. The first noticable thing is that the song for this video and our video are the same music genre, drum & bass. This is very significant because it is important for our music video to follow conventions. This will attract the target audience as they expect to see conventions. Both songs start slow paced and all of the sudden the beat drops, fastening the pace. The story for "Let you go" is about a TV presenter that lives two seperate lives. The side that he is portrayed by the public is a respected man that has a wife and children. The other, secret side is a man that indulges in drugs, alcohol and prostitutes. This story is interesting and unique which therefore makes it memorable. The twist is exciting and appealing but it is still easy to follow the story. The band Chase&Status do not appear in the music video which is a common convention that most drum&bass songs follow. Our music video is similar in the way that it also involves a story and the band doesn't appear in the song. Another simularity is that in both music videos there is a major focus on the main character and all of the other characters have a minor part and are not very significant. The idea of both music videos is to follow the main character. Another convention of this music genre is to have a lot of consecutive short shots. This makes the scene exciting and fits the fast pace of the song. As the song fastens up, editing fastens up. It creates hecticness and drama which relates to the story of the music videos. "Let you go" includes the use of alcohol and drugs. Stereotypically the young target audience for this music genre is associated with drinking alcohol and taking drugs which is why it is classified as a convention. Therefore the target audience understand and can relate to it. This is why we also used alcohol and drugs in our music video. It is not being promoted in our music video, it is shown as a sign of desperation and distraught. When analysing "Let you go" we really liked the camera angle of the sequence starting at 2.41. It isn't exactly a point of view shot as you actually see the character but the camera does follow him and therefore it is very shakey. This portrays him on drugs and out of control. We wanted to recapture this is in our music video to make it obvious that the main character is on drugs. We involved a lot of shakey, handheld sequences and point of view shots because it makes the audience feel involved with the character and it suits the fast pace of the song. Our music video reflects depression, despair and lonliness which is why we found it very important to make it appear dull, gloomy and dark colours. It would look unusual if it was bright and jolly. The music video for "Let you go" cleverly has bright lighting for the part where the TV presenter is seen as a moral, high thought of, family man and then as soon as the contrast side to him is revealed, the colours are dull and grey. At the end of the music video, the photo of his family is used again to reinforce the story and it was one of the first things we saw. This is similar to our music video as it starts with a text and ends with the same message being text back. The text message at the start leads to the events in the video and therefore is the reason why the same text is sent back. The text at the start makes it clear that the main character has been dumped and therefore the story is made apparent right from the start. The story for "Let you go" is not apparent at that start but that makes you keep watching. However we didn't want to make the story complex as a lot of the target audience wouldn't understand it.

Video Research

The drug dealing sequence in our music video shows the protagonist and drug dealer having a conversation. However, you only hear the song and not their actual dialogue. The character's body language and facial expressions make it clear that the two are having a disagreement. Therefore it is unnecessary to use dialogue. Also there is a close up showing the exchange of drugs which then makes it apparent that the mysterious man is actually a drug dealer. As well as this, the song is fast paced so it would be peculiar to bluntly stop the song and then include a conversation. It would disturb the continuity of the scene and the entire music video. To support my reasoning I researched existing music videos which included a sequence where dialogue is not heard. An example is 'Ouch' by Ndubz.



Approximately 1 minute into the video, the blonde girl finds her partner with another girl in bed. The blonde girl's reaction is made clear by her facial expressions and body language. She throws pillows and is very active. Due to this, it is clear they are having an argument even though you cannot hear the actual conversation. The lyrics are about cheating on a partner which also enables the audience to understand what is going on in the video. This is why it is unnecessary to hear the dialogue. The lyrics in our song, Watercolour by Pendulum, indicate desperation which is related to the protaganist taking drugs. There is a clear view of the drugs being exchanged which is why the scene doesn't have to be explained through dialogue.

Other examples of a music video that contains a sequence where dialogue is not heard is 'Bittersweet Symphony' by The Verve and 'Radio' by Alesha Dixon. These can be viewed on the links below.

The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony

Alesha Dixon - Radio

Target Audience

Pictured left, Sammi is an example of the target audience for my music video. Sammi is 20 years old from Camden, where she loves the loud atmosphere and choas. It is a vibrant and interesting place to live. Currently, Sammi is at University studying media and art. This creativeness is reflected in her unique and quirky look and fashion sense. She shops in high street retailers such as TOPSHOP and Allsaints. However, she likes to be an individual which is why she finds unique bargain buys in charity shops. Just as well as she lives off a student budget. She likes to be experimental and stand out amongst the crowd. She has a strong passion for music which is made apparent by the numerous gigs and festivals she has been to. This includes Reading Festival, Sonisphere Festival and Creamfields. Reading acts are mainly rock whereas Creamfields is more house and drum&bass. This shows Sammi's diversification in music taste. Her favourite artists include MGMT, Kings of Leon, Alexisonfire, Daft Punk, Pendulum, Chase & Status, Swedish House Mafia etc. Sammi loves socialising with her many friends and will never miss an oppurtunity to go out at the weekend. She also has an interest in horror, thriller and action films. The song I am using for my music video is Watercolour by Pendulum which fits into the drum&bass genre. Sammi is a major fan of Pendulum and religiously follows their music which is why she is a typical example of my target audience. Also, the music video has a very dramatic and deep storyline as 'love takes a twist'. Due to the song focusing around a couple I think females will prefer it to males. However, it is not a sterotypical happy, love story which I think Sammi will find appealing as she is not a girly girl. I believe that the emotion and drama will engage Sammi and the rest of the target audience. The characters featured in our music video only range from the age of 18-20 so they belong to the targeted age group which was purposely done to relate and appeal to the target audience.