Editing the Audio

This week we have made great progress in our editing stage, we have now started to focus on our audio and syncing the soundtrack to the visuals. Although this has been quite a challenge, we have managed to overcome all of the problems we experienced. At first we just used the audio editing facilities on Final Cut Pro, however we found this difficult since we wanted to incorporate the instrumental between the actual song at the right time so that the beat would flow. To do this successfully I used an adobe software called Audition to mix down our final track. Using this software was much easier as it allowed me to see the sound waves and the length of each segment clearly.   

We also edited the dialogue in Audition but have decided to export it and add it directly into final cut.

Research and Planning Task

Logistics planning

Because we have such a large cast we decided to communicate with them through text here are some of the messages we sent to them in order to organise and confirm meeting times and locations. 

"Hey guys, just the details for tomorrow again, we're meeting in Stratford at the jubilee line platform (14&15) at 9AM! Please try to be on time as we are running on a tight schedule. Make sure you have topped up oysters and money for food. Please come in 90's costumes as there will be nowhere to change (bring a jacket!) Thanks, see you tomorrow :)" 

"Hey guys, spoken to most of you already but we're going to finish the filming for the video on the following dates 26th, 28th and possibly the 29th of October. Please let me know if you can make these dates ASAP! If you can we would like for you to wear exactly the same costumes as the last shoot. We will be travelling to south bank again so make sure you have enough money for the journey also same as before, 9AM meet in Stratford on the jubilee line platform

Thanks! :)"

These are some pages from my note book where I've just written down notes about ideas or things to do or remember as a part of our pre production planning

Editing - stage 1

We spent last week in the editing room looking over our shots and matching the best ones to the shots on the story board. we are all very happy with  the quality and what we have actually captured, we are all very excited to begin editing and to see all our hard work come together.

This week we began our editing on final cut pro, I already have a good understanding of how the programme works because I have used it many times in the past, however it is still allowing me to develop my kills and learn a few new techniques; for the other members of my group its also a great opportunity to experiment with the software. we are currently only using lesson time to edit, but next week we plan to book some extra sessions.

Recces

Vicarage Road 

We have decided to use this location mainly because the front of the house has steps which emits a 90’s feel especially America in the 90’s when people would gather within their neighborhood to play cards or just socialise in general i.e. “everybody hates Chris”. We also love that the neighboring houses also have this look, this will really allow us to imitate a neighborhood. We will only be filming outside the house however we do have access to the electrical supply inside the property. In terms of access for the crew the front garden is a good size and can facilitate a good amount of people and equipment if it is necessary although if we feel restricted in terms of capturing desired shots we can store the equipment inside of the house during filming. We do intend to use a boom box as a prop in this location which will be situated on the steps, this has the potential to be hazardous however we will need to take care and ensure that when we aren’t filming it is positioned in a place that does not obstruct the entrance to the door or the path down the stairs. 

Peppie Close - bedroom
We have decided to use this room for our introduction in the beginning of the production because it is modern and will therefore show the contrast in the eras, it is also a reflection of our female characters in this scene and the context of which it will be used. The room evidently belongs to a young woman; this is shown through the props in the room for example, the wall quote, the desk, shelves filled with books, the mirror wardrobes and the colours of the walls. The room is quite a big space, enough to facilitate equipment without it interfering with our shots, however if we do feel that we need more space to work surplus equipment can be put in a storage room next door. There are also various plug sockets positioned around the room so we will have access to an electrical source. The room is on the first floor of the house; therefore we will need to be cautious when climbing the flight of stairs transporting the equipment shouldn’t be a huge problem for the crew. 

South bank
We feel that South Bank Skate Park and the surrounding area is an amazing location of shoot the bulk of our production, we believe this location is appropriate in terms of the old school Hip Hop look with the Graffiti and rough edge. This location is very popular and many people are attracted to it because it is like nowhere else, we were drawn to the South Bank center not just because the visuals are a great representation of the 90’s but because of the vibe and atmosphere there. Through our cast, costumes and choreography we can manipulate the setting to create changes to bring the scenes away from the modern look and into an old school hip hop era; South Bank becomes relevant to the storyline and the idea we want to illustrate and capture. 

Peppie close – The Den 

We decided on this location as it really sets the scene for our aspired 90’s atmosphere. It is a really chilled area with warm welcoming clouors red, white and a bit of black. The area features brick walls and polls framework. The area is also equipped with a power supply if necessary whilst recording for the use of cast and crew. In terms of health and safety the area is secure and reliable as it is in use everyday without fault. Initially we thought that the space for the camera crew might have been an issue as it is a bit narrow. However after we all visited the location we came to a group decision that the space wouldn’t be restricting, but would really give us the opportunity to play around with the camera angles. We feel that using this area as a ‘chillin’ spot’ for the video will have a great effect and will mirror our desired concept. Despite this, our biggest concern is the lighting in the area as it is quite dark, unless the door is open however this lets in a flood of light; we hope this can be resolved by changing the settings on the camera.

Copyright Clearance

We sent off an email to Elektra Records for copyright clearance and their permission to use their track.

Filming - Day 1

Filming is Complete

Two weeks before half term we decided to plan our final filming dates. we did this through call sheets (in another post) and booking the camera equipment early, although the deadline for filming wasn't for about a month we wanted to be ahead of schedule to allow time for mistakes or any other problems we may encounter; luckily enough we haven't experience any major hiccups during our filming period. 

So last week was half term, we filmed on Saturday 26th October in south bank, Monday 28th at Peppie Close and Vicarage road and Tuesday 28th in south bank again. Our filming sessions were very successful and we managed to complete our filming within this time.  

Props

Here are some pictures of props that we've gathered to help to bring our production to life! this video shows some of the props we used on our first day of filming.