Organising our filming/locations/marketing

We chose to create our own table and plan, using it much like a simpler version of a call sheet, rather than filling out an indepth one of these, believing that for us, this is a simpler presentation and only included the things we need to know. This was combined with written notes, explaining exactly how and when each cut was going to be done. We also gave ourselves some time to overfilm, to make sure we get the exact shot right so we dont have to go back, also giving us the ability to choose the best one fron a number of shots. Although we appologise for the difficulty in reading this table, you can see that we have a clear understanding of when we would be filming what particular bits, taking the lighting and weather into consideration in aim of not having to change or go back and repeat these elements of filming. A number of props are needed in which we will ensure to organise, particular when adding to the mise-en-scene of the video, such as adding more stones or gravel to make the scenes look more appealing or relatable to the action, an example would be where we will add extra wood chavings to the floor when i am riding the bike as when visiting this sceen we did not feel initially that it had the same suburban or coutryside feel as we had liked. In organising our filming in depth, we hope and belief that this would save us much more time in doing so, realising the importance of organisation when completing my AS Thriller. Locations we will be using include:

Marketing techniques:

The aim of my project is to promote the band Delphic and boost their overall music sales through the use of the video, website and digipack Even after my research into the music industry. 'Pull' and 'Push' are two differnent types of promotional strategies that are used within the industry to promote and enhance sales. The push strategy makes use of a company's sales force in order to create consumer demand for a product, or in this case a band. The producer (record company) will promote the product to the wholesalers, which will then go to the retailers, and in turn will be promoted to the consumer. A push strategy tries to sell directly to the consumer without having to go through any other distribution channels, using consumer promotion and advertising as the main promotional tools.

A pull strategy focuses more on creating consumer demand for a product. This requires time and money to be spend on high quality advertising campaigns and promotions in order to provide as much knowledge about the product/band as possible, to attract the largest amount of consumers. If the strategy is a success then the consumer will ask the retailer for the product, who will then ask wholesalers, this is a much more thorough and reliable way of promoting a band, as you can be sure that the advertising material has gone out and consumers are aware of the band and their songs. However, it can be very expensive to do successfully and so it will only be used if a definate profit can be made. For example, this technique may only be used on large mainstream artists that can guarentee the record company a profit, where as, smaller and newer bands may not be able to generate the same public interest and may end up costing the company instead of profiting them.

Planning our music video

Here is a voice over, explaining our initial aim before creating the video:



We wanted to ensure that this looks like a music video, rather than just looking like a story, so movement will relate to the beat of the song efficiently, and we will edit it in this way. No talking will be evident here, like when creating our thriller as this will interrupt the music and we do not wish to do this.

Mise en scene: the filming will be based outside a friend’s house believing that this would be an ideal situation. We wanted to expand some of the lyrics meanings in interpreting them to relate to a specific place where the main character feels comforting, having recently lost a partner. In choosing this house, we will be able to make use of the scenery it looks on to. The house looks over on to some hills and trees, with no other houses in sight, being beneficial in showing it to be a quite and peaceful place. We will be showing the outlook from the roof of the house, having the main character sitting on here and using a point of view perspective. We will then use this point of view technique on the hills themselves, showing the beauty of what she is seeing and coursing the audience to relate to the character straight away; sharing a link. Other camera angles will also be used here, wanting to use a majority and keep the audience interested. The character will also be shown walking around, having someone else hold the camera at this point. We will then have to deviate away from this house, needing a ‘red room’ for an attractive male to be filmed, again ensuring the video relates to the lyrics, as Goodwin suggested. This room will be empty with red walls, we may have to create this look by covering the walls with red paper or cloth but will aim to find a room in which has already been painted, making sure realism is included to the best extent. We will also make use of the town square, choosing to film at a busy time and when there will not likely be anyone there, providing us with a contrast to use without our filming, relating slightly to Levi Strauss theory who looks at the use of binary oppositions in portraying information throughout the media.

Lighting: We will film our bits outside in the mornings, just before midday, believing that the lighting here would relate the best. This may also help suggest a mood, knowing that it will be light but not as light as it could be, whereas the character is happiest at this place but still not as happy as they could be, because of the loss of a partner. Throughout the lyrics, the singer also asks to be reassured that nothing is wrong. Artificial lighting will be used in the 'red room' along with some camera effects, wanting to portray a smoky and slightly sexual effect. Along with showing that this is a memory and that the boy here is happy, along with the girls memories of him.

Costume: the girl will be seen wearing different costumes, symbolising different days. We want her to look normal and relatable, aiming for her to look like a middle class school girl. Although voyeurism could be used to add attractiveness to this video, we found that this was less important. However, we did want her to look attractive to some extent, aiming to put her in attractive but casual clothes. The boy however, will be placed in quite smart clothes, wanting him to look his best as this is how the girl is likely to remember him. The girl within the video will sometimes be shown to have a blue face, using it to symbolise how she hides her true feelings around other people, finding it hard to feel comfortable around anyone but the boy she has lost. We will aim to portray this throughout the video, showing her to have a blue face whenever their is someone else in the shot but not when she is seen with the particular boy she is missing, therefore blue face paint will also be needed.

Props: A ladder will be needed for the opening scene of the video, wanting to show the girl walking up and down it in rhythm to the fast opening beat of the song. This will also symbolise the girls confusion and almost 'imbalance' in relation to her emotions and state of mind. The ladder will also allow for showing how the girl will reach to get on top of the roof, ensuring the video makes sense. Their will be three or four different costumers that the girl will be wearing. She will be seen in casual clothes throughout the video but ones in which make her look okay, wanting her to match the stereotypical view of a typical older teenage girl. A red wall will also be needed to relate to the 'red room' mentioned in the song. When choosing our locations to film, we will tweak little elements of the scene to help with the overall perception of the film. For example, we would like the view from the roof to look green and well looked after, so leaves may have to be collected and placed in specific areas. This may also be the case when the girl will be seen riding a bike, wanting to create a more countryside view.

Plot and structure: It will not run exactly in the rhythm of the story line, wanting the audience to be allowed to interpret things on their own. We also thought that this would prevent it from falling away from a music video and looking more like a film. The lighting will be bright throughout the video, although some flash backs will be apparent, portrayed with the use of colour. It will be made clear than the girl is missing a particular guy and at the moment, prefers being on her own and pretending that everything is okay. Having her face turning blue whenever their is company will help make this evident further, although we still want to add a small element of confusion. Their will be flash backs of the boy and the two characters will be seen together, however, then will never touch and the boy will somewhat flash, showing that he is not really there. A lot of fast cutting will be evident, matching with the speed of the song, along with some slow motion elements, going against the beat completely. I felt this would be beneficial in achieving an effective music video for this song choice.

Permission to use this Music

Having no success in finding an imediate email or address directly for the band 'Delphic', i descided to email the record company; knowing that they are signed by 'Polydor'. The email reads;

Polydor Records,

We are currently completing an A-level in Media Studies, and for our coursework we are doing a music video. We are enquiring as to whether we are able to use the song 'Counterpoint' by 'Delphic'.

We would be creating a music video to this, strictly for coursework purposes and will not be publishing or using this video for any profit. We would appreciate it if you would get back to us, as we are extremely keen to use this song, feeling it would provide us with the ability to gain a good grade in this course.

Kind regards,

Adele Jackson and Carly Price.

However, we are yet to recieve a reply, therefore assuming that it will be okay to continue with using this song and looking forward in doing so.