Shoot 1 Reflection, Focus Group and Shoot 2 Plan

After my first shoot in the studio, I believe everything went as well as it could. However, there were a few faults that have impacted upon my final video.

My lighting set up, Key Light behind
camera, alongside two fill lights
opposing each other.

Starting on a positive of Shoot 1, the mid-close up shot came out almost perfectly. The lighting was a huge focus for this part of the shoot, so before Eve could make it to the studio, I used myself as a guide and did some trial shots. Essentially, I reversed the three point lighting set up; rather than the backlight being positioned behind the subject, I used this in front of the subject, allowing any shadows to be cast out, but also from a practicality standpoint, when the subject is moving, there is no glimpse of light that is shown on the camera.

The things that did go well included the mid-long shots/side angle shots I planned to shoot of the performer, revealing odd parts outside the 'green screen'. The issue was mainly technical, to ensure that my video was editable, I got Eve to move in front of the camera for approximately 10 seconds with a chosen lighting set up, after this, i would take the SD card out of the camera; put it in my mac and open Premiere and follow the steps quickly to key out the background. I ended up trying to film this for a good hour of the slot, and nothing was working, part of the background would key out, parts of it wouldn't, alongside parts of the subjects face also being keyed out accidentally. I, believe that this is due to two factors, the main one being the ultimate factor of filming on a white background opposing to green. This was a known factor, therefore i'm not surprised, due to white being a common colour, that can blend in with skin, unlike green which is used as "it doesn’t match any natural skin tone or hair color, meaning no part of an actor will be edited out through chroma key" (Keppler, 2016). Due to this, the next issue was lighting, as it was near enough impossible to cast out all shadows and achieve a perfect 'white', without lighting up my subject brighter than the background. Although, I purposely want my video to look unprofessional and undefined, If i used the footage that was shot today, I believe it would ruin the conceptual genre of my video.

I came out with only 1 successful run through throughout the whole song, which is okay, but I definitely need more in order to have variation in my clip.

GROUP CRITIQUE:

Report:

As I was struggling with ideas to help move forward with my video, I decided to edit what I had, and show some peers and ask for some advice on what they would want to see improve.

Date of Critique: Thursday 14th March 2019 - There were 5 peers, all aged 18-21 years of age.

To start with, I explained to my group my concept of post modernism and explained it as "a video made to look like it was made in the past, but was ultimately created in the present with modern technology", and my plans to achieve this in a hybrid genre format of 'Studio Performance' and 'Conceptual'. I informed my group that I also conducted a Questionnaire before to help inform me of ideas of potential genres and song choice, which was concluded to 'Blue' by Marina and the Diamonds. I ensured to explain to my group my vision clearly and asked if they had any questions on what I had said to cover bases for a more accurate conclusion on ideas.

Attached below is the clip I showed to my peers, as a base idea of what my video is going to 'become' - with the successful run-through keyed out to some 'vapourware' gif's I have found on the internet.

I also explained before hand with the clip that only one shot was successful, therefore it is a linear run-through of the same clip throughout.

After I played my initial 'draft', I asked -

1. Do you like what I have done so far, within my first shoot?

P1 - "I like it, although it seems very plain and not very exciting, despite the interesting background changes"

P2 - "I agree, I think it looks great so far, I understand it's a planned draft but it definitely needs some spicing up to merge the ideas together"

P3 - "Right now, I like where it is going, but I'm seeing a lack of the conceptual/experimentation genre.

P4 - "Wow, that looks so cool, I love the girls makeup and I love the dress, very vintage and it represents the song perfectly".

P5 - "I agree with the others, it's getting there and I can see visibly with the odd moments of the hair being blurred out how hard it is to film this, but the footage is a perfect marriage between a 'bad' video and an 'old 80s era' video. You just need some other elements".

2. To make up for any difficulties with filming different shot types, do you have any ideas on what you would want to see in the next shoot, as you know my concept and have seen my plan so far?

P1 - "It's unfortunate that you can't seem to film long shots and such, as you could have cut to them; but now I think you have to work with what you can do for definite, I would recommend you use some experimental zooming, zooming in and out of a mid frame, to allow the viewer to peek into the set, that would look cool and very stylistic".

P2 - "When you shoot tomorrow, shoot this same clip again to allow back ups, I think the current footage is okay, however, I think the performer is lacking some emotion, and I want to see something cheesy, thats very 80's!"

P3 - "Try the shot types again, and if you can't perfect it, then try some panning shots or different angles"

P4 - "Well I like it as it is, but I think some different variations of the clip will keep the viewer interested, as at times, I was waiting for a change, but nothing changed other than the background"

P5 - "Maybe experimentation of clothing could be an idea?, white clothing could be a cool idea as she would be blending into the background - when you edit it anyway"

3. As you can see, the editing needs some work, as it is a draft. Anything you would like to see in regards to specific techniques, effects etc? 

P1 - "Add some VHS elements - like a filter maybe? If that looks too cluttered due to the gifs, try maybe just the play button or the date/time? things like that.

P2 - "I'm not too sure, but maybe brighten your subject up somehow in post production, like with that really colourful background that shows when the lyrics 'give me love, give me dreams' stars, I think that will be a cool change, due to the change in tempo in the song"

P3 - "I think you could use cool transitions in your editing to help with your concept, as P2 said, you got to make it cheesy, therefore, I would suggest you use really basic 'stock' transitions, like a slide in, it will all add up"

P4 - "On the Key tool in Premiere, you can actually edit which areas you want to protect from being part of the background, maybe use that to refine footage where possible that you plan to use".

P5 - "I agree with all the above, I can't add anything else really, maybe lyrics? It could simulate like a karaoke session, as P2 said in the 2nd question, the footage you've got is okay, but lacks emotion, maybe you can emulate this into them having fun as the song picks up pace. It will still fit with genre, and it will look cool, karaoke bars were big in the 80's.

4. Finally, do you think a secondary shoot, outside of the studio and in nature will work with my concept, like a love story for example?

P1 - "If i'm honest, I don't think that will work, as it will contrast too much with the conceptual/performance genre that you were going for."

P2 - "I mean it does sound good, but again, I don't think it will blend well with your concept"

P3 - "Stick with what you have got, as you don't want to clutter your video, it could confuse your viewers if you are using the conceptual/experimentation genre with a performance, outside of the studio."

P4 - "No, I agree with the others"

P5 - "If you can plan shoot and edit it in time, then yes, but otherwise, I would focus on your experimentation within your editing to add to the concept. Therefore creating a hybrid"

Findings & Review - MINI PLAN FOR SHOOT 2:

This group critique was done in order to come up with some new stimuli and techniques to carry on in shoot 2 with, alongside some editing ideas to help with the production of my music video. I think the results definitely helped with Qualitative research.

Question 1:

This helped me gain a lot of insight in regards to the plan I was going for, however 80% felt that "something was missing from the video", which could leave viewers a sense of discomfort. Another person commented that despite the colourful backgrounds "the video seems very plain". Although this question didn't offer any suggestions or anything explicit in regards of ideas, I believe this has helped inform that I should carry on with my current concept, with the same hybrid, but perhaps attempt different methods from the upcoming questions - allowing me to fit that missing piece to the puzzle.

Question 2:

I asked this question as a 'call for help' on ideas and I feel I have found some good ones in regards to Shoot 2. As one person said "I should work with what I can do", therefore I will reshoot the footage again but this time, as another person stated, "I should direct my subject to have more expression in performing, as it will make it cheesy - like the 80's". I think this is a good idea to work with. One person did state that I should experiment with clothing, however, I don't want to do this as I think if i do, it could cause some issues with colour keying as if the subject wears a white top, it can clash with the subjects facial colour/hair and increase risk. Finally, another person suggested that I "Experiment with zooms", I think this would be fun to play around with, even if the background does go back to white, with the keying out process, shows a home video/unprofessional vibe.

Question 3:

Example of the Key tool, this did not
work successfully when tracking the
subject.

Within editing, someone pointed out that there is a tool on Premiere within the Key tool that can be customised to not blend in the background - however, when trying this, I found that it doesn't track accurately and the shape I had customised was half way down the screen. Apart from this, other people suggested "some old stock style transitions as it would conform to the 'cheesiness' of the video" - I think this would be cool to experiment with, especially like a fade in/out and a slide, allowing the subject to be digitally 'moving'. I will also experiment with "brightening the subject and increasing the contrast on some upbeat parts" of the video as someone else said, allowing the footage to be variated and displaying the change in tempo visually - a sense of synaesthesia.

Question 4:

Everyone was in favour of me not doing any additional shooting outdoors, therefore I will not be as one person said that they "felt the video would be too cluttered and distracting for the viewer" and others saying "it would not blend well".

Overall, I think my construction of the Group Critique worked successfully, it allowed me to gain qualitative research for my next shoot and also any future editing techniques I could use in my final production. There was definitely room for improvement though, I feel if I would have asked more questions, in regards to specific areas of the video, I would have gotten detailed, more thorough answers, especially in conjunction to the song - but I'm happy with it as I got some valid research and new ideas that were needed to help pursue my music video.

Bibliography:
Nick Keppler, 21st January 2016, [online] Mental Floss, "Why Are Green Screens, Green?" http://mentalfloss.com/article/73988/why-are-green-screens-green