Unit 29: Day 2 of Music Video Shoot

Tuesday 10th November

Ellen Pompeo's birthday, Fallout 4 was released, the day Shonda Rhimes' book Year of Yes came out and the first Finding Dory trailer aired but most importantly the day we finished shooting our first project. After weeks of learning and studying music videos, numerous sheets of paper and countless hours of hard work we have finished! Well, until tomorrow when editing and post-production starts but that's different topic.

Today we filmed the 2nd scene - the interrogation scene where the police officer/detective played by Kieran interviewed Brandon played by Reece. We decided that since we already used a location that this scene should be more convenient, and what's more convenient than a room in college? The meeting room in college we used was very small and had a large table and chairs in it  - to set the scene we removed all but on of the chairs, which was for Reece to sit on and moved the table so that it gave us more room and scope for filming and camera placement.

There was a slight mix up with timings, with Reece being told by Kelsey (actor from yesterday) that he was not needed until 12pm when filming was scheduled to start at 10am - this was delayed until 11am as a meeting was taking place. While we waited for filming to begin we chose the correct lighting and placement for the light, we also had to block out the window in the room with a sheet so that the room was dark and only had an artificial light source.

We placed the light on the side so that shadows were created on his face and background playing to the mysteriousness and darkness of the nature of the music video - murder.



We used a close up of the hand cuffs as well as using them throughout the chorus to emphasise the situation he is in and the fact that he has been arrested for murder.



Similarly, we did shots of Kieran writing in a note book, implying he is taking notes of what Brandon has said.  



We did numerous takes and shots of Reece singing along to the entire song from a range of angles that we can use to cut into during post-production. We had Kieran stand in front so that Reece could perform to him as well as including Kieran's reactions to certain lyrics.

We shot this part of the scene numerous times, from different angles - at first to show Reece but then from another angle to show Kieran (we ensured to used the 180 degree rule throughout all of the shots of this type).

The last shot was of Kieran shouting at the camera as if it was Brandon - the sound will not be used but the actions will be.

Throughout the entire shooting of the scene, the hardest thing that arose was Reece having a hard time singing along to the lyrics - it was very important for him to sing as it helps synching up in post. To overcome this we printed the lyrics off big enough for him to see and held them up, out of view of the camera and where he was supposed to be looking (most of the time at Kieran's shoulder).



And, with this thumbs up from DoP and camera operator Matty and a less windswept Jess - that's a wrap!! Completely this time.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this assignment and unit, now it's time for editing!!