Lip Syncing Practices (Videos)

These are the videos me and Roxie Bright created to practice editing the time of the music to lip syncing. I think that overall they are quite successful and I have discovered whilst doing this, that having the music playing in the background whilst filming really helps and this is something I will definitely do in my music video. Editing the video to the music was quite an easy task, as because the music was in the background when it was filmed; the song was definitely filmed in time to the lip syncing. We tried to choose a varying range of tempos and music styles to practice editing to different speeds etc.

Continuing with Casting

This is a photograph of the actor I am using for the main boy character in my music video. I have chosen to use Connor, because I think that his style suits the part in regards to his fashion and hair style. Also, although he is 17, he looks a little older than this which is beneficial due to the target audience of the music video.

I have informed him of the song and continuity of appearance, and he is happy to participate in the music video.

Photographs of 'Band' Cast

These are the actors I have cast for the performance sections of my music video.

Pictured top left: Callum Singh
Pictured top right: Joe Thorley
Centre image: Matthew Driver
Bottom image: Tommy O' Connor

I believe that their image and style will work well together as a 'band', and as they all know each other it will make the filming process easier as they will feel comfortable acting around each other.

Casting

I have contacted four people who I would like to be in the 'band' for my music video. They have all agreed to participate in the video. The four people I have chosen are: Matthew Driver, Callum Singh, Joe Thorley and Tommy O' Connor. The reason I have chosen these people is because in my opinion, they fit into the psychographic and demographic profiles for my genre of song and artist. They are all around the age 17 which is one of the target ages for the audience of my music video. Also, all four of them get along quite well so they would be comfortable working with each other in the video. Their clothing styles and hair styles suit the role well, as they have short/mid length hair styles of dark brown colour. They wear plain t shirts and jeans, which is the type of costume I would ask them to wear for the filming. I will be confirming their roles in the music video in the near future, deciding which band role each of them is to have; and then follow this by uploading images of each cast member. I have also discussed filming times with them, and each of them may be able to film after schools or maybe on a Saturday if I am able to access the school.

I have also cast the main boy character for my music video. I have chosen to use Connor Tullet, who is 17. His style suits the role for the video well, as he has short styled dark brown hair, and has different clothing styles which I could choose from for the costume. Although Connor is 17, he looks older than this which is beneficial due to the target audience. I have informed him of the song, and he has agreed to learn it prior to the filming. I have also mentioned that most of the filming will take place in evenings or weekends, which he has agreed to.  

I now need to find and confirm two more actors to cast the final two characters, a teenage boy and girl, preferably a couple. I hope to have this confirmed by the end of this week (30th September). 

I have also been considering continuity with the actors. I will have to ensure that I inform them of filming times in case their looks change at all for example noticeable hair cuts or piercings etc. I hope to have all the filming complete within approximately 6 weeks of starting so this should hopefully not be an issue.   

Practice Lip Syncing

To practice for my final music video, I needed to test out lip syncing and editing the footage in time to the music. To do this I filmed several short clips of a teenage girl lip syncing to the songs. When filming, I had the music playing in the background so that she could simply sing along to it. This means that it is more likely to work once it is edited together. I am going to use final cut to do this and I think that this will help when it comes to filming my music video, as I will have had the practice of making the lip syncing look in time with the song and will make it look more professional as a result of this. I filmed parts of three different songs; Airplanes - Hayley Williams ft. B.O.B, Ellie Goulding - Your Song, and Avril Lavigne - Keep Holding On.  The reason I chose these three songs is because they have different paces and I wanted to practice with the different speeds of songs. My next step is to edit these clips on final cut and post them onto my blog.

Location Planning

On the 15th September I went out to look at the different options for locations and I also photographed them. As part of my music video will be filmed on a long straight street/path, I wanted to look and see what streets would be suitable to use. Although this depends on the house location, I looked at streets near the three options for houses I already have to see which would be suitable. I photographed these and will decide on my final choice once the houses have been confirmed; which will come after the casting is complete.

Thinking about Props

As well as casting and location, I will need to know what props I will need for my music video. There are not many specific props I will need, as most come in the location already such as outdoor features (lampposts, trees, pavement etc) and indoor features (such as furniture) where the Mise-en-Scene is already set up. However there are some props which will need to be provided seperately.

- Instruments for the 'band performance' sections of my video. These will need to be asked permission for from the music faculty at school.

- Jewellery for the female actor. This will consist of a ring and simple necklace either gold or silver.

- A digital clock

- A mobile phone

- A note

- Keys

- Food and Drink. This will be for the scene of the couple on the sofa together. E.g. popcorn and drinks.

- Jacket/Coat. Although this is part of the girls costume, it will be taken off and placed as part of the Mise-en-Scene in one scene.

- Wall clock. May already be part of the furniture in the house, however if not one may need to be placed or a substitute prop used.

- A watch for the main male character.

Most of these props will already be available, however a small budget will be needed for items such as the food and drink.

As I continue planning, more props may come up that I feel I need for my video, however this list is props based upon my idea so far and the storyboards.

Deciding on Location

After looking back through my storyboards, I have decided that the locations I need are quite simple and easy to film at. 

For the performance sections of my video, I am going to use The Stage at my school, which can be blacked out so that the background is all black, and different lighting effects can be used. I will use instruments from the school which I will have to ask permission for use, such as electric guitars, a microphone and drum kit. This location will be easily accessible as I can film after school when it is not in use. 

I will also need access to two different houses, which can be either my own, or other cast members that I know of. This will also depend on the layout of the houses, due to the layout of my storyboard and the ideas which I have myself. I have three possible houses I could use, and two of these have a matching layout to that of my storyboard, which is beneficial. I will have to make a decision on this once my casting is complete (which is my first step), so that I know where I will have access to or not. 

As well as this, some of my shots are filmed outside in the evening on a street. This decision will come from once I have chosen the two houses for my music video. The street(s) which I choose to use, will be the ones leading up to the locations of the houses, therefore this cannot be confirmed until I have made a decision on the houses, which will be the next step after casting. 

Deciding on Cast and Costume

I have started to make decisions on who I believe would be suitable for the cast of my music video, and also what I would want the costumes to be. I want the age group of all actors to be at least 17, and the main characters to be slightly older. This is due to the target audience of Simple Plan, and also the subject matter and plot of the video is more suited for this age group.

I have now decided to include four 'band members' for the performance sections of my video, one main male actor who would be the main character, one female character, and an additional male character. This means I will need seven actors in total.

I have started to think about who I would want to be involved in these roles and have contacted the seven people I would like to cast and am awaiting a response.

For the costumes of the characters I have thought about the style of the target audience and the band themselves and decided on suitable clothes and accessories which I would want them to wear.

Looking back at my post about psychographics and demographics, I have chosen a style for the 'band members' to wear. I have decided on skinny or straight leg jeans, preferably dark blue or black denim, with a belt. Also to have a plain t shirt (maybe with a band logo) tucked in at the front. I would want them to have slightly styled hair but also be quite messy to suit the bands style.

For the main three characters I have also decided on the type of costume I would want them to wear.
Main male actor; Ordinary jeans, a simple t shirt and/or jumper and styled hair, a watch.
Main female actor; Ordinary jeans, a plain top in a girly colour such as pink or purple, and a jacket. I would also want her to have the props of a ring and necklace as part of her costume.
Other male actor; Similar style to the main male actor, however different colours.

These are the ideas I have currently started thinking of for the cast and costume, however further planning is needed once I have confirmed the cast for my video.

Considering Casting and Location

After having completed my storyboard and anamatic for my music video, I will need to think about who to cast for my music video, and also where I am going to film it. I have worked out I will need to cast eight people to act in the video. I will need five 'band members' to act in the performance areas of the video. I will also need two teen/adult boys, and a girl of roughly the same age. The location will also depend on who I cast, as I will need two houses, somewhere for the 'band' to perform, and outdoor area. Therefore it will depend on who's houses I have access to other than my own, and also where my cast can travel to. These are things which I will need to consider when planning my cast and locations, which is my next step.

Animatic

This is the animatic which I have created to get a better idea on what my music video will look like. The pictures go in time with the shots I want matched to the lyrics, therefore I can now see more clearly what the finished piece may look like in time with the song.

Storyboards for my Music Video

These are the storyboards I have created as a plan for making my music video to Simple Plan - Your Love is a Lie. Some of the shots I have planned are just rough ideas and not exact to what is in my mind, as I think that I will be able to decide angles and movements better when actually filming and in the set locations with the cast and lighting etc.