Filming: On-Location

Today, (thank God!), we were able to shoot and film the remaining footage which we needed to complete the process of filming our Music Promotional Video. This consisted of the flashback shots, which we will apply the "Super 8mm" (or aged-film) film effect to during the editing of our footage.

We had headed off to Christchurch Park and the tennis courts once again in hope of succeeding, and although a fine drizzle of rain started it didn't stop us from filming. When finished in the park, we walked over to the Waterfront and filmed the shots we needed in this location.

Unfortunately, (and this a big disadvantage to us), Emily Halls, the actress who was supposed to be in our video, was unavailable at the time to star in the video due to her attendance in another lecture. Therefore, Emily Swager, our Art Director, stepped-in as the female character. Fortunately for us, we always have a backup plan!!

Next week, we hope to log, capture and edit the remaining footage, and hopefully the process of editing will be completed before February Half Term (starts 12th Feb 2010).

The next task we aim to accomplish is the designing of an Album Cover and also a Poster advertising the Album CD. These tasks come under the "Digipack" task. There are two possible methods which we could use in order to succeed at this task. First, we could go out to our locations with a Digital Camera, take some photographs in these locations (possibly with the characters from our video) and select one or two of the photographs as possibilities to use as the Album cover and Poster. Or, we could draw then scan onto the computers a hand-drawing, or create a drawing on the computer using a drawing tablet and software.

Our Unfortunate Tale of Bad Luck Continues...

Again, misfortune has struck us with a slap in the face. The weather today is appalling - it's dark, wet and cold (miserable weather). I'm now starting to learn how Film Production crews manage in the real world - if the weather is appalling, film in an interior location until the weather is okay and suitable for filming.

The problem with the rain is not only will it take away the "summery" feel of the flashback shots, but also that it will be hard to keep the camera dry (YES! It is a piece of electrical equipment) as we have no umbrella and our Art Director Emily Swager had come to College slightly disorganized today as she wasn't wearing any costumes, but then neither was I!

We have rearranged the shooting of the new footage to next week (Thursday or Friday - whenever is possible), and hopefully if our actress Emily Halls is available then, then we can use her in our video as originally planned.

Hopeful Planning Prior to Filming On-Location

Tomorrow, we aim to complete our music video and film the remaining shots which we had planned to film before Christmas and are now taking action to ensure the successful completion of the once unsuccessful task. I now have two Mini-DV Tapes for filming - the original one which we could not recover before Christmas, and a new one our Media lecturer has supplied us with in case we cannot recover the original for some reason, so that in all cases we are covered and have some form of recording medium. Therefore, we hope we can film the rest of the footage tomorrow morning, yet we are unable to use our actress so Emily Swager (Art Director from our production crew) has agreed to play Emily Halls' part in tomorrow's filming, where I shall be using handheld camera shots by the Waterfront and in Christchurch Park for the flashbacks and shooting some peformance shots in case we need them (IF THE WEATHER IS OKAY AND THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS - TOUCH WOOD THERE WON'T BE!!).

Editing, Logging and Capturing

Today, as part of a normal group production meeting, we started the editing of our existing footage in our editing suite using Final Cut Pro. We recovered our Mini DV Tape, and were given another tape to keep in case we cannot recover the original Mini DV Tape in future circumstances, for intance next week when we are planning to complete our pop promo by filming the handheld shots to be used in the flashbacks with the "Super 8mm" aged-film effect.

Also today, after recovering our Tape (recording medium) we captured and logged the shots which we had managed to film before the Christmas holiday period. We logged and captured these shots so that we could use them in the editing of existing footage.

For the shots in the flashbacks where we anticipate using an aged film effect (Super 8mm effect), we were planning on filming with the camera but handheld, to give these shots more of a personal feel, and these shots will be the point-of-view from the character which I am playing.

Filming: Another Setback!!

This time, it's the snow and ice. January 2010 hasn't brought us the weather we had expected. As Josh has politely put it on his Blog: "For the time being further heavy snowfall has made filming in our locations impossible so we are for the moment spending our time updating our blog and beginning to log, capture and edit our existing footage."

Research into the Super 8mm Film Effect

I found the above video on YouTube - it shows what should be the final jigsaw puzzle for the editing of our Music Promotional Video. As I have already researched, we intend to add a colour tint to the flashback shots of the Video, so that the viewer and potential audience can distinguish between the past and the present.

Research into the Super 8mm Effect for use with Final Cut Pro

Although I am not Chief Editor, and Josh is, I might be working in cooperation with Josh as the Co-Editor. Therefore I have devoted some research into the "Super 8mm" Effect we had discussed about in Group Production Meetings and agreed to use if possible for the flashback elements of our Music Promotional Video for "5 Years Time" by Noah and the Whale.

I found the information below on: http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/918311, when someone had posted on this forum "Can anyone suggest the best way to emulate a super 8 or an aged film look in final cut pro?":

• There are many plug-ins (Nattress is one) that simulate the effect. But if you want something cheap and free. Export the clip out of FCP using "Quicktime Conversion" Then, under Option-Filter-Special Effects, you can add some a film hair/dirt effect that's not too bad. Combine that with color correction in FCP and possibly some speed adjustment (Old 8mm always seems sped-up a bit) it might just work for free. Ernie Santella Santella Film/Video Productions http://www.santellaproductions.com/.

I also found the following useful information on this website: http://www.nattress.com/Solutions/solutions.htm#6:

• I want to make my video look like film: The Film Effects package was designed for you! Whether you are using PAL, NTSC, or HDV (or HD or SD) Film Effects has settings which will make your video look much more filmic. Film Effects does 25p conversion for PAL frame rates and 24p conversion (with 3:2 pulldown added) for NTSC frame rates. It has over 20 presets and you can make your own. There are over 27 plugins, all designed for different aspects of making your video look filmic and can be used in combinations or separately. Film Effects also gives you immense control over the gamma and tone of your image, so it can be a great tool even when you're not trying to make your video look like film.
• I want to make my video look like old Super-8 film: Film Effects has a preset called "Old Projector". This might be exactly what you're looking for, or you can use it as a starting point.

I found the following useful advice on: http://library.creativecow.net/articles/smith_stephen/film_look.php (ALL CREDIT TO THIS WEBSITE AND THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!! WE WILL CONSIDER THESE IDEAS AND HOPEFULLY THE RESULT WILL BE AS PLANNED!!)

1. Black & White or Sepia

Black & White

• Select the desired clip in the time line.
• Choose Effects > Video Filters > Color Correction > Color Corrector 3-Way.
• Double click on your clip and then select the Color Corrector 3-way tab in the viewer. Drag the Sat (Saturation) slider tab to the far left.
• Drag the Whites slider to the right and the Blacks slider to the left slightly, this will add more contrast to your clip and make it feel more dimensional.

Sepia

• Select the desired clip in the time line.
• Choose Effects > Video Filters > Image Control > Sepia.
• Double click on your clip and then select the Filters tab in the viewer.
• Change the highlight amount to give the clip a more realistic sepia color. I find 33 works well for a lot of clips but it does vary.
• Click on the triangle in the Tint Color box and then adjust the S slider to give your clip a more faded look. I find 58 works well in a lot of situations.

2. Export Clip

This is where you get to add all of the visual effects that are associated with old or damaged film.

• Mark in and out points on the timeline of the clip or clips you wish to give that old film look to.
• Choose File > Export > Using Quick Time Conversion.
• Give the clip a name, locate where you would like to place it and select what format would work best.
• Click the Options button. In the video settings section select the Filter button.
• Click on the triangle next to the text Special Effects. Then select Film Noise.

• Click on the Hairs button and change it to Scratches. Set Scratch Density to 0.
• Adjust the Dust and Film Fading > Film Fading setting to None.
• Change the Hairs settings and the Dust and Film Fading settings to your liking. I adjusted the Hairs > Hair Density to 48, while I bumped the Hair > Hair Length to 47.
• Click Ok and then click Ok again in the Movie Settings box. Then click on the Save button.
• When the clip is done exporting your in and out points remain on the timeline. Repeat steps A through D and then change the Scratches > Scratch Density from zero to around 6. Don’t worry about the scratches looking fake, that will be remedied in the next section.
• Click Ok and then click Ok again in the Movie Settings box. Then click on the Save button.

3. Double Clips up

This section will take the edge off of the fake looking scratches.

• Import the two clips and drag them into the timeline.
• Place the clip with the scratches on top of the clip with out.
• Drop the opacity of the top clip to about 30 percent.

4. Ad Flicker

This step adds that extra touch of believability to that old film look.

• In the Viewer click on the A in the film strip.

• In the drop down menu drag the mouse to the word Matte. Then click on the word Color from the menu that pops out of the side.

• In the Viewer select the Controls tab and then click on the gray box.
• Change the color to black and hit OK.
• Select the Video tab and then drag the matte to the track above your two clips in the Timeline.
• Click on the Clip Overlays button on the Timeline and lower the clips’ opacity to 17.
  

• Select the pen tool from the Tool Pallet.
• Add a keyframe to every four frames of the matte. Then drag every other keyframe to zero opacity.