Problems and Solutions

Problems:

1: Nightshot plus mode on  the camera was used for some of the shots with one camera, but the mode was not used on the other camera i used. Therefore i have two different types of footage, representing two different camera styles.

2: Live performance footage is too dark. Only some members of the group are visible and their faces are unclear.

3: Still need to input roulette wheel.

Solutions:

1: Editing the contrast has helped to make the camera footage look similar.

2: Increasing the brightness, and then increasing the contrast has made faces clearer.

3: Ready to film

Left to Film

1:

For the start and the end of the music video, is is important that i am able to film a roulette wheel. I want to be able to start the song, with the spinning of the wheel, and finish the song with the spinning wheel coming to a stop. Therefore i am in the process of finding a roulette wheel in which i can use for my filming. A colleague of mine has one available to him, so i am organizing when i would be able to use it to film. 

2:

I want something to happen in the video, to emphasize the importance of the guitar solo in the song. Therefore i want to use the footage of the live performance and then fade something else in and out over the top of the group playing. For example, low motion cards / chips coming towards the camera. I would do this by lying a black sheet in the floor, standing on a table or ladder, and dropping the cards on the floor. I would film this from a birds eye position. Then i will be able to change the contrast to create the black background. Depending on what looks best, i could also reverse the footage and make the cards either come towards the camera, or be flying away from the camera.  This, i think, would be ideal to go with the solo.

Therefore i will need to film this. 

Editing: Ordering Footage

This has turned out to be a lot harder than i first expected, due to the footage having to synchronize with the music. I knew it would have to be, yet when ordering all the shots i want to use, it's hard to make it smooth. Yet i know the use of transitions will help me time all the shots and create a smoothness that at the moment, isn't yet possible. 

I have plotted the main parts of the song with the desired footage in mind. For example when the lead singer cuts in with the vocals for the first time, i have footage which is used, and is synchronous with the song.  Also with the guitar solo, yet i may want to film something especially to go over the top and fade in and out of the solo footage. This will show the importance of the solo and help emphasize it. The end of the song where the members of the band scream, i also have the footage from the live performance to go with the song. 

The only problem i am finding, is what to put between the key moments in the song. The narrative seems too loose for be to have a solid structure to the scenes in the 'casino'. Yet with the amount of footage i have, it's just a case of going through it and finding the right clip to fit the right part of the song. 

Editing: Picking Shots

Having a lot of footage may be useful to have so that you know you have enough, but it can't all be used. Therefore i have spent time to go through all of the footage i have, and pick the best clips and put them aside. That way i will ensure i can work with the quality clips, instead of other clips that might not look as pleasing. However all of the footage i have, will be stored, incase i need to add more footage.

31/10/09 Filming [Live Performance]

Some of the issues i was was worried about, really challenged me when i was filming. The lighting itself was very dark, yet enough light to make out the group members. The problem i had was with the drummer however as there was no light near him, and so the camera could not focus properly on him. I was unsure of how to tackle this problem, so i asked the owner of the pub if she would mind, if for one song i was to move one of the lights next to the drummer. This was fine, and i was finally able to get some footage of 'Mad Mark' at the drums.

One of the good things about the the lead singer, is he holds the microphone close to his mouth when singing so it will not be hard to make it look synchronous with the lyrics, as you can't see exactly what he is saying due to a slight obstruction. This is ideal because i can still edit it to look like he's sining in time with the song, even if in actual fact, he isn't.

My third concern was not so much of a problem as i had first thought as i was able to film the band playing all of their songs. Okay it might not match up to the song itself, yet depending on the speed of the editing and effects used, i very much doubt it will be very noticeable. I think that if i was to rely simply on the footage i took when they played the song 'Casino ****' live, i would probably not have enough to make a video worth using. Obviously when it comes to editing i will be using the footage i took during the song first but if it's not enough then i will have to use other footage i have taken to fill in the gaps.

Thoughts for next filming session

My next filming session will be on the 31/10/09. This will be at the pub they play at. My first concern is the lighting. Yet i feel confident in brightening the footage if needed. As they don't live every week, re-filming might be difficult. So i am going to have to make the best of the footage i have when it comes to filming the live performance. This means i have only the one night to be able to get it right.

My second concern is the fact that, the location itself is very small, with lots of people, on halloween. This makes me think it's going to be a nightmare (haha) to film. However I have spoken to the owner of the pub and she's sure there will be room.

My third concern is that the track i'm making a video for is only going to be played once, as their encore track. This means that once again, i will only have the one change to be able to take footage that will be completely synchronous with the song itself. With this in mind i think that it might be best to film the singer for most of the track, as i will be able to synchronize it with the lyrics in the video.

As long as i get enough footage, i think i'll be able to play around with it to create a result, that looks pleasing.

20/10/09 Filming [Riley's Bar]

After phoning Riley's Bar and asking them permission to use them as a location for filming, the manager informed me of a poker table playing cards and playing chips that were available to use. This group told me they would all be available to come and be filmed after playing. I was able to get valuable footage of the group playing poker and specifically acting up for the camera. After a couple of hours I felt i had enough footage, good and bad, to be able to play around with and use for the final video.

I also needed to make sure i included the specific shots that i wanted. I feel i have enough, but i wont know for sure until i start putting everything into order.