Update

Due to the manager of the 'Stanley's Casino' not getting back to me after three reminder calls, i have decided that it would be best to set up a backup plan, so i am ready to film as soon as possible. If the manager does get back to me then i may be able to use that as well, but if not then i am not left waiting on somebody else. Also according to the receptionist he would want to hear the song and listen to the lyrics, as anything that is negative about gambling, would not be in his best interest.

I have found a couple of examples of the idea i want to pursue. Looking at the examples in Snatch but mainly Lock Stock, has helped me think about what i need to do to create a location that will look realistic. I am hoping to be able to use a local boxing club that i used to be involved with, to use the same effects as the scene in Lock Stock. This means i need to get permission to use this location as well, which i will be doing before the end of the week.

"Gambling Den" in Lock Stock

Shots
- close ups - faces / cards / chips
- eye level - viewer feels like they are engaged with the video
- high angle - leaving the building -inferior
- extreme close up - eye
- deep focus shot - show other players
- low angle - superior / power / wealth

Mise en Scene
- lighting - low level - faces in shadow / cards in shadow
- Smart casual - suits / open collar - smart shirts [EDITED] The suits will be used for the live performance and the a rougher look will be used for the 'casino' shots. This was decided after a discussion with Destruction Preventer.

Editing
- transitions - cut / fade / cross dissolve
- pace of cuts speeds up to build the tension
- 180 degree rule - to show the conflict between the two characters

The backup Location - "Gambling Den"

Today i am going to phone the casino and make an appointment with the manager. However if it turns out that it's not possible to film at the desired location, i will require create a backup plan so as not to fall behind in my schedule and make sure i hit my deadline. 

For example instead of playing in a smart/posh casino, a more underground, illegal 'gambling den' might represent the band more appropriately. Ideally a posh looking casino would be preferred as this makes a good contrast with the backstreet local pub feel of the live performance. 

Location where this could take place:

-Basement

-Garage

- Attic

- Even a low lit rough looking room

Props

- Plastic chips

- Roulette wheel

- Playing cards

- Money (notes)

- Items on the table (keys, watches, jewelry ect..)

Costume and Character Representation

I don't think a smart costume such as a suit would suit a gambling den, yet it has been used before. Although thinking about it, a suit that has been roughed up would create the right representation considering the location. This could mean an open collar, jewelry, tattoos.

It is important that the way the character looks, reflects how he is playing. So for example at the start the characters are to look smart, to represent their wealth. But gradually as they lose money their appearance needs to slightly change to look rougher. The appearance needs to be directly emotive of the character. This way by the end of the video, when there is no money left, the final shot could be a high angle of the character in shadow, with his head slumped in his hands looking a mess followed by a fade out. 

[edit] - i will know today if this plan will be needed or not, yet is there incase it is.

Detailed Filming plan

First seconds (no longer than 10 secs)

High angle (roulette wheel) > cut

Film technique (Reverse) - guitar / drum sticks > cut

High angle (roulette wheel) - Tracking in > cut

Close up (Lead vocalist) - microphone in shot > cut

High angle / close up (roulette wheel) -  spun with ball 

*Track starts as wheel is spun*

Shots of each member of the band (cuts) to each one quickly. (no longer than 10 secs)

*riff*  - show all the bad playing together in the shot from perspective of the audience (crowd) while crabbing to the side sometimes being obstructed by the odd person in front *silhouette*

Camera technique - graphic transition - to introduce casino..

UNFINSIHED

Getting permissions

The live performance will most likely be in a pub where the group performs quite a lot. Therefore it would be polite to ask the owner for permission to take footage of the gig.

The Casino however is slightly more complicated. The use of a local casino is feasible yet again i ill need to ask for permission. I could possibly use the idea of showing the front of the casino in the music video, as an advertisement for the casino.  Yet i will need to make sure i find this information out soon.

These are the only permissions i will need. 

Storyboard

These are some ideas for shot types to go with the live performance and the narrative in the casino. This is only rough and gives me an idea of what kind of shots I want to include, while cutting between the live performance and casino footage.

Treatment - song - Casino

The audience of the video will be aimed at people towards the age of sixteen and above. This is because there will be footage of gambling within a casino which may not suitable for a younger audience. Also because of the genre there may be some shocking takes, especially in the live performance shots. The actual video will be predominantly masculine orientated. The audience can be targeted by the video through the use of web 2.0, such as websites like myspace and youtube. This will mean that it can be used by Destruction Preventer as much or as little as they require.

The narrative will be partitioned into a live performance, with an additional storyline running parallele. The live performance will be of the band playing in front of a small crowd in low level light which will allow them to be seen rocking hard. This will then switch fairly rapidly to a seperate storyline of the band in another location. This will be in a casino setting where gambling is taking place in games such as cards and roulette wheels for example. This will then switch back to the live performance through different editing techniques, being fast cuts, or graphic matches.

I will ensure that there is a circular narrative. For example The film will start with a static roulette wheel, slowly zooming from a birdseye position. Then when the wheel is spun the trackwill begin. This can be shown later in the video also spinning. Then when the song comes to an end the wheel stops spinning and shows the ball on the number '13', using symbolism to connote bad luck. This means that the video itself will be illustrative. The storyline may use Todorov's, equilibrium - disequilibrium - finalising with equilibrium restored. This will be in the form of losing money throughout the video in the casino.

The genre being heavy metal, will mean that the video editing will need to be fast to ensure it's synchronous with the rhythm of the track.

The band would be represented in two different ways. The live performance will show a very dark and dirty side to the group, however the casino will be in stark contrast. This can be implemented through the use of mise-en-scene, such as the clothing worn in the casino is smarter and more lighting can be used so that the individual band members can be seen clearly. Also smart clothing connotes power and wealth which begins to create a certain persona for the band, yet still cutting back to them rocking live with their fans with passion. This creates two different representations which should then appeal to a larger audience.

The ideology of the music video is meant to reflect the lack of morality in gambling. This is displayed by the loss of money by characters, illustrative of the lyrics.

An unsteady camera when filming the live performance will help to show a rough image and possibly a point of view of somebody in the audience while being jolted around. This will give the audience participation and engage them in the atmosphere. Close ups of playing the instuments will also be used to fill in gaps with flash editing. Other techniques such as graphic matches can also be used as transitions to enable the two settings to cross frequently.

A possible black and white filter could be used for the live performance in contrast to the vibrant colours of the casino. If this music video was to played on television the type of channel suitable would be channels like 'Kerrang'. However realistically the video is more likely to be uploaded to youtube so that it can be embedded on Destruction Preventer's myspace to easily make the video viewable for their fans.