Tuesday 21 June 2016

P5(d) Linking Audio to Visuals and Applying Audio Effects

Meaning and Purpose: In this area, I put screenshots to show the evidence of my work. It shows my timeline during the editing process which is showing both audio and video timeline. I will be going to discuss the steps in order to make the video export well. 



P5(c) Applying Visual Effects and Transitions

Purpose and Meaning: In this section, I will explain clearly about the visual effects and transitions that I have used in this music video advertisement about Starbucks. For visual effects, I used mostly colour correction and contrast to make the quality of the footage show better.




P5(b) Producing and Reviewing an Off Line Edit

Meaning & Purpose: In this area, I am going to explain how my edition begins by following my plans. I will also put some screenshots to give a better idea of what is going on through the discussion. There are three stories that based on Starbucks coffee and the main character Marco, screenshots and scenes in the video advert will be shown below.



The images below are the storyboard that we planned before we moved on to the filming process:


We followed the timeline in our storyboard planning, and we tried to show it in the video as the sam as possible compare to our drawing, it reflects the images in our mind. In my opinion, I think that was quite successful, as we bring the storyboard and script with us when we moved on to a new location and film the scene that we decided to film on that day. The images below are explained well how does the stories goes through the process. 





P5(a) Logging Rushes and Creating Edit Decision List

Meaning & Purpose: In this area, I am going to talk a screenshot of my editing timeline in Premiere Pro CS5, it shows all the effects and editing that I have done to my advert. I will also go to describe some of my footage and talk about how do I film it and what kind of shots did I use.

This is the shot list that we have produced before our filming process begins. It clearly shows what kind of shot, angle that we think of our mind in that specific scene and location. In order to make this advert to become more interesting, we decide that not to film as a normal advert that is simply introduced Starbucks coffees. We like to film it with a narrative style, which tells a story about a boy and Starbucks affect him in life. We followed this shot list during our filming section, tick off the one we have done and make sure we don't miss out any. However, we also discussed and made some changes during our actual filming instead of just follow the shot list which produced by our mind planning. 

Aspect ratio film, the image shows there are various of television or screen aspect ratio, such as 4:3, 16:9, and 21:9. Most of the television and computer monitor and using an aspect ratio of 16:9 currently, which offers a perfect fit for high definition television shows. The aspect ratio of 4:3 are normally appears in some old television, because the old televisions are square size. In addition, 21:9 of aspect ratio is always being use in video editing. Therefore, we have to choose the right one when we are setting up the Adobe Premiere Pro document for the final music video, because we can not change the aspect ratio inside the software after we have made the document.

After finish filming our materials for our music video advert editing, we have to watch all of them again and organise the footages well by naming the folders in scene and name in order to make them become more neatly. We also deleted the ones that filmed badly. I put them in the main area of the folder, Starbucks, office, school outdoor. It is vital to name these materials because it helps me to use less time to look for the footage that I want to use during the video editing in Premiere Pro CS5. 









As I following these steps to create a video edit file in Premiere Pro CS5. Firstly, I have to click 'New Project' to create which is obvious as the button is there. Then, I have to select the place that I am going to save my editing at and make the folder name. Personally, I set it as my unit17 folder and named it as 'Starbucks music video advert'. finally, I have to choose the quality and tv size of the video which I set it as 'HDV 1080p24'.

After that, I have to import all my materials into Premiere Pro CS5. I have to click 'File' on the top and clicked 'Import' which is the button to import all materials that I have organised in folders before. The image below shows all my materials to do this video editing, this includes song, images with Starbucks logo, clips.


The screenshot below shows my workings in Premiere Pro CS5. I choose to save my footages in folders at the left, the effect controls(includes Brightness/Contrast, motion, colour balance, opacity) at the middle, preview video at the right, edit effects at the bottom left, and the timeline of the whole video editing  at the bottom.



P4(d) Following Production Processes

Meaning and purpose
 In this section, I am going to talk about some shots with using which camera and lens by showing some screenshots example from my video.


Diary


Once we knew we have a chance to film a music video advert again, we felt excited about it. However we cant find the same actors in our unit46 music video as they finished A-level course and studying at university currently. This means that we have to find other actors which matches the characters in this film. We wrote down a list that are the ones as our first choice. Luckily, they gave us a good response of joining this crew. We found Marco, Gladys, Bill, Bosco to build up the three stories about Starbucks.

During the process of filming, we found out that the biggest issue was the time schedule. We are all different years of students in school, which means that we are not having lessons together, then we have to fund ways to make the filming process go smooth. In order to build up a schedule of filming, we have to find out our manual study lesson to finish the scenes that are able to film in school. Then we have to go ask the staff in office for booking out the place for us to film. She gave us a few possible timing and looking forward to see the result of the advert. We also spent our weekends in our town's Starbucks for the rest of the scenes done. Perhaps there are issues that caused them not available on that day, they told us one or two day before the filming day that we planned. Molly and I will then discuss together and figure out when is the next possible time which convenient each other. This is all about decision making and time management.

Starbucks coffee cup is the most important prop in this music video advert, it gives the menaing of Starbucks and it is the main product that we are selling and doing advert with. It is difficult to ask the staff in Starbucks to have empty cups without purchasing. However, they are cooperative and nice to us. At the end, the filming section went quite well as we made a rundown before and told them what should they do in the certain shoot day. They read the plot and planning that Molly and I did. They digested it and performed well in the advert.




Camera settings and details - How do I use them?

This is a Canon 7D with a 50mm f/1.8 lens which is a lens for filming close-ups. As you can see the image that I screenshot from my advert video. It is easier to film racking shots and close-ups by using this lens to focus on the object that we wanted to. As we doing our filming, we are always using two cameras (medium shots and close-up mostly) to make sure we have caught the angles perfectly by our mind plannings. We also decided that to use the handheld on filming the close-ups because I am able to film with a better position and angle instead of using a tripod. During the filming of racking shots, it is vital to managing the time of turning the inflow or outflow camera lens in order to keep the object or person that we wanted during the process. Therefore I have to try a few times to make it becomes perfect. Focusing on the phone is a good example here, it is difficult to film close-up shots while the cast was walking, that took me a few times to keep it stays in focus at right places.

This is a Canon 760D with sigma 18-205mm f/3.5-6.3 lens which is able to film all the shots that we mentioned in our planning. We used this camera on long shots, medium shots, establishing shots, but mostly medium shots, which is like a human eye to watch all of these happens. Sometimes, we need to use a tripod to help the camera to stay stable when we have to film pan shots and it allows us to set the height and angle as we set up before we filming. It is also important to make sure that we have locked the camera with the tripod or else the camera may drop on the floor.


P4(c) Following Safe Working Practices

Below is my risk assessment that I have made for my filming section, and I followed them and try to avoid any danger may happen to me. 




These are the equipment that I used for my music video. The main hazard that the cameras may happen is broken by accident. We held the cameras carefully and put them in the carry bag when we needed to change the location to film. It also helps us to decrease the probability of losing items.

Mostly our shot took place in the office, every time if we wanted to go there for some filming, we asked permission 2 days before. We tried to not disturb other staffs or students during our filming process. In order to set up a filming schedule for everyone which includes the director, recorder and cast, we have to have a discussion about our manual free-time, which are the study lessons that we are going to have in the same period in the timetable. As all of our cast are from every year of class, which makes it difficult to plan. This may be the reason that they all like to help during the weekend by spending some of their town time to help us to do this filming section.



These nine shots are taken in the school office, as I mentioned that we have to make an arrangement to the staff 2 days before. We tried emails and ask permissions by face to face. This is one of the risks that I've considered before as someone using it or do the staff mind we filming in their office. At first, we asked for permission to film in their office, they said no because they don't want to show their face on the advert, however, we explained it clearly again that we like to use this office as a background. Then they said its alright, and looking forward about how do we film it and the product at the end. The problem about the probability of cast being late, we used text message and phone call for a reminder as we filmed the morning and the next before. As a result, they turned up on time in the library and we walked to the school office together to show our professional and respect.



























These scenes were filmed inside the Starbucks and near it which is the Whitefriars high street in Canterbury town. For the most dangerous hazard that we can think of was the coffee may scald to while we are doing the filming, however, we decided to use empty hot drink cups instead of buying a real drink. What we did was just go to counter to ask for some empty cups with lids and a marker, as the Starbucks staff know us are going to film an advert in their store for our media coursework, they were happy to do it. Secondly, the consideration of opening time for Starbucks. As we are going at the weekend the Saturday, we have checked online that they are going closed at 19:00 on Saturday and we started our filming about 3 o'clock after lunch. We also have a second hand, perhaps it has a special event or something happen that day, we may change our plan to go another Starbucks store which located inside the Sainsbury's in Northgate.

P4(b) Following Shooting Script/Storyboard

Meaning & Purpose: This section shows the links between the storyboard that we drew and the music video advert edition. We tried to film the footage as the same as the storyboard, they are the images during the stories planning process. We tried to achieve the goal of filming out the images in our mind. As comparison of the storyboard and the actual footage screenshot has shown below, they are nearly the same even the position. The backgrounds are the only different thing as we didn't think about where do we going to take place for the filming during our planning section. We tried the best to follow the storyboard that we planned before by using a suitable angle to film in order to give the video advert the best quality to the audiences. However, we do have adjustments during the filming day when we think about the outcome of the advert.


We planned to film this scene in an office. Moreover, we asked permission from the staff at school, and decided to film in the school office. The staffs who worked here helped us to arrange the time, therefore we talked to our crew and went there together and finished the filming process of this scene. Since we have lots of scene that we have to take place in this location, therefore we did spent a few study period to have it done. We shoot this scene as a pan shot to show the office at the beginning of the video advert, then we switched to the medium angle to show who the main character is, lastly switched to the close up to show that he was working.

Screen Shot 2016-11-10 at 11.43.10.png

We took this scene at the school office again. We shoot this scene in a medium angle to show Marco has the eye contact to the unexpected coffee cup on his desk, then we switched to a close-up shot on his hand to show that he hold the cup.


This scene is about Marco meets his friend at Starbucks and we liked to follow the planning. We went to the Starbucks in Canterbury town. We also asked the permission from the manager of this Starbucks in order to take action and film here. We shoot this scene in a medium angle to show that having a chat in Starbucks. It basically just having the same idea and image that we like to have before. The logo on the right top corner is the evidence to show they are in Starbucks. In the video, it also shows the close-up shots (medium close-up and extreme close-up) and long shot of them.


We took this scene in the office again. We shoot this scene with a medium angle at first to show Marco is drinking the cup of coffee, and Gladys is watching outside. In the video, I used the shooting technique of racking and close-up to make the idea of story become success.



As most of our shoot take place indoor, which may causes our footage to have not the best quality that we like to have. Colour corrections will be use during editing process. Brightness and contrast is also important for each clip. I have to change the value of brightness and contrast for each footage, and ensure that they are matched with the same quality. I used many different shot of techique to show my in my music video advert. We tried to show the images in our mind and storyboard onto the video. We used a few pan shots, a following shot to Gladys, Extreme close-up to Marco, Bosco, and important props, racking shots (Focus one thing then switch to another), long shots in Starbucks, etc. 

Script





These are the script that we have planned before we take the filming process. These helps us a lot during the filming process, since it includes characters, props, places, and story in detail for every scene that we have. As we followed this script thought our filming section, it reminds us what to prepare and what the angle shots that we liked to film in our mind. There are 8 scenes that we have planned, however some of them are going to take place in the same location, which means we are able to film those scene together in a day. Also, we also printed out the prop list and shot list which reminds us how to film during the filming section. 

P4(a) Setting Up equipment

Setting up equipment

For the part of equipment, we needed two cameras, and a tripod. We owned one camera and borrowed the other equipment that we needed from our school’s media room, in order to film our advertisement for Starbucks. We have to set these equipment up in location by using the correct IOS, aperture in our cameras to shoot the effects and visions that we planned to have.

IMG_1805.jpg
This is the equipment booking sheet which my media teacher give me to fill for equipments to borrow out for a couple of days. The sheet shows that I have borrowed a Canon 7D Camera and battery for filming, I also asked for a 50mm f/1.8 Canon Human Eye Effect Lens for close-up shots. In addition, my partner have another camera, Canon EOS 760D with 18-135mm lens for normal filming. There are some examples below that I used the lens for.




Cameras

Canon 7D DSLR with 50mm f/1.8 human eye effect lens + Battery
This is a Canon 7D with a 50mm f/1.8 lens which is a lens for filming close-ups. As you can see the image that I screenshot from my advert video. It is easier to film racking shots and close-ups by using this lens to focus on the object that we wanted to. As we doing our filming, we are always using two cameras (medium shots and close-up mostly) to make sure we have caught the angles perfectly by our mind plannings. We also decided that to use the handheld on filming the close-ups because I am able to film with a better position and angle instead of using a tripod. During the filming of racking shots, it is vital to managing the time of turning the inflow or outflow camera lens in order to keep the object or person that we wanted during the process. Therefore I have to try a few times to make it becomes perfect. Focusing on the phone is a good example here, it is difficult to film close-up shots while the cast was walking, that took me a few times to keep it stays in focus at right places.

 EOS 760D with 18-135mm lens + Battery
This is a Canon 760D with sigma 18-205mm f/3.5-6.3 lens which is able to film all the shots that we mentioned in our planning. We used this camera on long shots, medium shots, establishing shots, but mostly medium shots, which is like a human eye to watch all of these happens. Sometimes, we need to use a tripod to help the camera to stay stable when we have to film pan shots and it allows us to set the height and angle as we set up before we filming. It is also important to make sure that we have locked the camera with the tripod or else the camera may drop on the floor.


Tripod - Velbon DV6000 tripod + carry bag

This helps me on capture the ideal shot in all different circumstances. I put the camera on the tripod and lock it, it helps me on high angle shots and without shaking. Overall, it supports my camera in a perfect position as long as I wish to.

P3 (a) Learners resolve identified legal or ethical issues for their planned audio- visual media product

Meaning and Purpose: 
In this area, I am going to explain about the definition of the legal and ethical issue, and what are they in my product this time. I also prepared a Model Release Form for casts to sign. I will use my own photos for materials which have taken by myself. I will also produce evidence that we asked permission from Starbucks Canterbury Whitefriars store to do our photo shoots and filming. Then I should no need to worry any issues about copyrights.

Filming permission:

We have to get permissions before we take place and begin our filming section. As we send the email before, we went to the Starbucks store in town for permission to film in their store as we are A2 media students and using Starbucks as our topic of the advert. However, one of the staff there told us that they cant give us any permission as they don't have the power to control and allowing people to film in the store. He told us to visit the Starbucks official UK website and look for the email. We sent an email to them, however, we don't get any responses from them.

We send this email to them a lot of times, however they give us the same email contact (ukinofo@starbucks.com) which is a customer service contact. One day, they give us a contact number to their manager in Starbucks of Canterbury. We give her a phone call and ask for the request and tell them our purpose of filming this. However, she said she couldn't make any decision about this also. Then, we decided to use our second plan. We bring our equipment to Starbucks and they give us half hour to do it.


Music track permission:






For the consent form should be written in simple language which can let everyone understand easily. Also, the participant should clearly understand the points below:
  • The participant has read and understood information which what we need to do about our the project.
  • The participant has been given the opportunity to ask questions to us.
  • The participant volunteers agree to participate in the project.
  • The participant understands that they can withdraw at any time without giving reasons and without penalty.
  • Procedures regarding confidentiality are explained (use of names, pseudonyms, anonymisation of data, etc.)
  • Separate terms of consent for interviews, audio, video or other forms of data collection.
  • Use of the data in research, publications, sharing and archiving are explained
  • Signatures and dates of signing for the participant of this task.
  • The participant volunteers should be given a copy of the form after they signed.
Model Release Form

This form is important because we have to get permission for copyright from our actors and tell them the purpose that we used the images and footages for. This ensures that we don't have any issue that may happen in the future. We tell our actors what the advert is about, what should they do before they sign this agreement. 




Copyright
This is important for the legal or ethical issue because this is created to protect the work of the person or the awareness of the store who created its product. If everybody just copies his work (which is the coffee menu or materials in this case), it is against the law in the UK. This is also the reason of we inform Starbucks that I am going to use their product to do my Media coursework as my goal is to use Starbucks as a company to help them to promote.

The information below is about the ethical and business that I have found in Starbucks official website (https://www.starbucks.co.uk/about-us/company-information/business-ethics-and-compliance).

Business Ethics and Compliance is a programme that supports Our Starbucks Mission and helps protect our culture and our reputation by providing resources that help partners make ethical decisions at work.

The programme develops and distributes awareness materials, including the Standards of Business Conduct; facilitates legal compliance and ethics training; investigates sensitive issues such as potential conflicts of interest and provides additional channels for partners to voice concerns. Partners are encouraged to report all types of issues or concerns to the programme through their choice of the offered communication channels.

The majority of reports received by Business Ethics and Compliance involve employee relations issues. This trend is consistent with other companies – retail or otherwise – that provide alternative reporting mechanisms as part of a comprehensive ethics and compliance programme.