AICE Media Studies

 Dearest reader, Today I began editing my music video. I quickly discovered that I do not know how to use a flashdrive. I cannot remember the last time I had to use a flashdrive before this project. The irony is that the flashdrive was not even for the submission of this assignment. Rather, it held the editing software gifted to me by a family friend to edit this video on. I was under the impression that I had already downloaded this software and was ready to begin. As previously stated, I do not know much about flashdrives. I can conclude that this is why, to my shock, the editing software was nowhere to be found on my laptop. I had to call in IT support (my father) to help me actually dowload the software.  Once that was taken care of and I was significantly humbled by my lack of technical savvy, I started compiling the clips. Footage came off of my camera and onto my computer. I had to edit the footage so it only contained the frames I wanted. Then I had to mute all of the ...

 Dearest reader,  Yesterday night I filmed all the solo scenes for my music video. A good majority of the music video was me alone since the story is more about a girl getting over a break up, rather than the relationship itself. That being said, I only needed my friends for two scenes and a picture.  First, I needed to pull out the frame from the footage Marvin and I got that would serve as a picture. I went ahead and picked my frame and then threw it on a word doc so I could edit the size and print it to my needs. I cut a piece of poster board to paste underneath. This makes it so that when I pick it up it won't appear flimsy like a piece of paper I just printed at home (I did). My printer is not capable of printing in color. Due to this hiccup I went with an old timey theme for the letters I use in later scenes to stay consistent.  The title of this blog originated from the misadventures of filming my over the shoulder scenes. I struggled the most with these due t...

 Dearest reader, Yesterday I finally began filming for my music video. My friends Marvin and Kyra came over at 12 and we got to taking the scenes I needed them for. First, I filmed the dancing in the kitchen scene. This was fairly easy because only Marvin and I needed to be in the frame so Kyra was able to shoot the footage. Even after story boarding, I did not know how I was going to meet the requirements of different Camera angles, movements and shots. Kyra ended up suggesting that we do a tilt of us dancing to get one in. I agreed and the first special camera movement was in the bag.  Next, we filmed the scene where Kyra and I are sitting on the bed looking back at Marvin and I's memories. I had decided that this scene was going to include letters and a calendar. These props were necessary to convey how long it had been since I received a love letter. I failed to plan before my friends got to my house to film and I ended up circling the date on the calendar and creating the...

Dearest reader, Today I was not able to work on any filming or editing due to the fact that our filming does not start until Tuesday. Working around all of our schedules proved to be difficult but not impossible, however it did hail some frustrations. Delaying the filming has me wishing I could be working on something more significant than just transferring the music.  From my previous experience I know transferring music can be risky. I accidentally downloaded a virus during the last project trying to use a conversion website. This virus led to a lecture from my dad and a surprising amount of work to get the virus out. Screen recording the music off YouTube was the most effective solution last time.  One challenge that was posed to me when transferring the music was which clip of the music to use. The entire song is 10 minutes. This proved difficult to me because I love the entire song. Choosing which lyrics matched up the best and were realistic to convey through a first tim...

 Dearest Reader, Today was all about planning. I need to solidify my plans. I also need two actors for my music video.  I started by working with my friends Kyra and Marvin. They both agreed to take a role in the music video. Kyra will be my best friend who is sitting with me during frame 7. Marvin will be my ex-boyfriend that I'll need to be in the photos for frames 1,2,3 and 4. Marvin will also be in frame 5 when I am dancing with him.  I had to discuss days that would work with their schedules to film. Things were looking a little bit tricky because I am going out of town this weekend and my friends are going out of town the weekend before the due date for this project. We decided that this Friday was the best time for all of us to film. Luckily I only needed them for two frames and a few photographs. This means I should be able to get everything done to my standards even though we would have had school that morning. This gave me plenty of time to make any corrections ...

 Dearest reader, Today I finished drawing and writing out my storyboard. This really helped me solidify what shot, angles, and movements I want to use when filming and even gave me some insight into editing techniques aswell. Below are the frames followed by their storyboard. *M.C. = Main Character* Frame #1: Establishing shot of  M.C. sitting on her bed looking through photographs. Frame #2: Over the shoulder shot of M.C. looking at yearbook and photographs. Frame #3: Insert of Freshman yearbook spread to help signify when the first memory takes place. Frame #4: Camera zooms in on picture of M.C. and her freshman year boyfriend. Frame #5: M.C. and her freshman year boyfriend are dancing in the kitchen. Frame #6: Fade back to present on M.C.'s bed and we see a P.O.V shot of the yearbook being turned to sophomore year. Frame #7: High angle of M.C. with her friend looking at how long it has been since M.C. got a love letter. Frame #8: Camera is in the back of the mailbox and see...

 Dearest reader,  Below are my plans for the production of my music video. Song: All Too Well (10 Minute Version) By Taylor Swift Props:  - Scrapbook of memories  -Pictures of (fake) ex-boyfriend -Diary and pens -Photo board -Freshman Yearbook -Candles -Lamps Costumes: -Main outfit #1 (current): White open back sweater, Lilly Pulitzer pajama pants  -Main outfit #2 (happy memory #1): Lilly Pulitzer dress  -Main outfit #3 (sad memory #1): Striped sweater and pink shorts -Main outfit #4 (happy-ish memory #2): Lilly Pulitzer top, Levi jeans -Main outfit #5 (sad memory #2): Turtleneck sweater, yoga pants Schedule:  -October 10th: Ask my friend to be my fake ex-boyfriend for photos and maybe one clip of footage -October 11-13th: Take photos, shoot possible footage -October 13th: Based off of footage finalize storyboard -October 14th: Get the photos printed for the scrapbook -October 15th: Film scrapbook scene, all current footage and first (happy) memory (ha...

 Dearest reader, It is time for me to start understanding the conventions in a music video of songs in the same genre as my selection. To commence my research I watched previous videos of the same artist for different songs and songs in the same genre by different artists. Below, are my notes on the songs. More Than You Love Me by Bonner Black: Camera angles, movements and shots:  -Establishing shot (slow zoom in on the theater) -Medium close up (ticket seller, the main character eating popcorn) -Over the shoulder shot (shot of the ticket seller on their phone) -Medium long shot (main character sitting on the curb of the theater) -Medium shot (the main character standing behind rows of theater seats) Editing: -Shot/reverse shot (ticket seller talking to the main character) -Insert (close up of the ticket after the seller puts it down) -Tracking shot (main character on the street outside of the theater) -Low shot (main character outside of the movie theater) Sound: -Digetic sou...

 Dearest reader,  Please let the record reflect that I am a solitary academic. I can not recall a project where I ever worked with another being and enjoyed it. Someone will always not do their work. I can only think of one project in my sixteen years of living where that one person was me. I also was born pre-installed with high standards in everything. This fondness of all things perfect extends to my work. While it may not always be everything I could ever dream of, it will always be done well.  I clearly chose to work alone. I adore people and social connections but I do not enjoy them when it includes someone trying to have us meet late at night (past my bedtime), a week later than we were supposed to, or on the only night for the next month that I actually have plans. I decided it would be easier if I did not risk any friendships over this project.  Besides the inherent risk to your grade and social standing associated with working with your peers, working alon...

 Dearest reader, It is finally time to move on from my last project. I learned a lot about editing software. Ever since, I have been consistently researching better platforms. I reached out to a family friend who is an avid video editor. I asked him for his recommendations. I am awaiting a response and will download the software as soon as I know the recommendation.  There are almost no new updates since we last spoke. I have per usual been watching lots of Wes Anderson's work. Recently, Wes Anderson released four films on Netflix. I have had a great time watching all his new content. These included "The Incredible Life of Henry Sugar", "Poison" and "The Rat Catcher". I enjoy his new style of filming like you are watching a live show.  I now know that I will be working on a music video for my next project. I have started to vaguely think of inspirations for this project. Wes Anderson will definintely be playing a key role. While I admire his style, I w...