Bethany's Blog

Evaluation

2006-05-19T02:05:00.000-07:00

DID ANY PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR SONG INFORM YOUR FILM, IF SO HOW?
I wanted to show the beauty of Lancaster and local areas through my song, because everyone feels that they have to go abroad to find serene and picturesque places, when this already exists in the area we live in. I think I just wanted people to see that young people are appreciative of the nature surrounding them, as youngster's are often stereotyped as not having a care in the world about the environment they are brought up in. I have tried to demonstrate these concerns by placing myself in the film and showing what elements of nature are beautiful in my opinion.

HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR FILM WILL EFFECT A VIEWER?
I hope that when my film is being screened people can appreciate the natural elements that surround us everyday and make them really think how lucky they are to live in a country like this. I would like viewers to look at their own perspective on the world and hopefully they will not take what they have for granted.

WHICH STAGES OF THE PROJECT DID YOU FIND CHALLENGING AND WHY?
M y biggest challenge of the whole project was probably making my mind up on choosing a song for my film. My fustration has been demonstrated throughout my blog, where I have started to write about ideas for a song and then changed my music four times! I found piecing the footage together quite difficult because it was hard to get the length of the clip just right in order to keep it in time to the lyrics. Also when an effect was added, for example 'slow/fast' to a clip it altered the length of time that it ran for and therefore I had to keep editing until I got it to a satisfactory level.

WHAT STRATEGIES, IF ANY, DID YOU USE TO OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS?
In order to solve my music problem I had to listen carefully to all four songs I had chosen previously, and decide which lyrics best suited the message I wanted to get across, and how people would perceive me. For the length of the clips I just had to be patient and make sure I had the clip in the exact position I wanted. Having my own applemac computer at home was really helpful, as whenever I had time I could just go to my bedroom and work on my film, rather than having to keep going back and forth to college.

IF YOU RE-APPROACHED THE PROJECT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?
If I had to start this project from scratch, I would certainly plan my time more efficiently. I would not take as long choosing a song as this indecisive behavior wasted a lot of time. I would make a more detailed storyboard than previously, so that I knew exactly what I wanted to film and how it would turn out.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANOTHER STUDENT ABOUT TO START THIS PROJECT?
I would advise them to plan their time efficiently and have concrete ideas before you start to film, otherwise it is a very stressful process. I understand that students may not be able to afford their own Mac computer, but it is very helpful and beneficial to have one at home, as you become more confident with the equipment and how the programme works. My biggest advice would be try to stay calm because getting worked up about making the film doesn't do you any favours, and when you are calm you make better judgments.

'What A Wonderful World' completed!

2006-05-19T01:58:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished my film and it is such a relief. Although I found shooting the footage enjoyable, I did find that connecting it all together was very stressful. I am pleased with the overall making of the film, and I am proud of what I have achieved, especially as I have had no experience with the process before.
Editing was very time-consuming, but it was all worth doing in order to receive better effects and perspectives. Now you'll just have to watch it to see what you think!

Yes you've guessed it...I've changed my mind again!!!

2006-05-11T03:47:00.000-07:00

I've been struggling with filming ideas for so long now, so yet again I have changed my song to "What a Wonderful World" sung by Leann Rimes.
My ideas for "Money, Money, Money" were not practical when I came to film the piece because it was hard to connect the footage to the lyrics because of the fast pace. Therefore, I decided to concentrate on a song that had a combination of slow rhythm and smooth flowing lyrics.
I think this choice of song has been far more successful because I have been able to gather and collect far more valuable images and explore with more camera features. Buying a tri-pod was helpful because it was able to stabalise the camcorder, rather than shaking and jutting around when being hand-held.
I have combined still pictures with moving images, and black and white with colour. I pieced these together in an orderly manner, aiming to connect the images with the song lyrics. However, after Karen had seen my film at its latest stage, she seemed to think it was rather cheesy and too obvious. Although i was intially upset by this comment i have now come to realise that this is the case in certain sections of my film and therfore i will be replacing previous clips with new ones.

Filming Plans

2006-04-24T01:42:00.000-07:00

My friend who is starring as the lead role in my film, has gone away to university for a few days, so I won't be able to finish my filming until Wednesday! Fortunately I have planned my scenes that I need to film, so if all goes to plan I will have completed the shooting of my film. I also need to add effects on different sections. I would like to overlap two still photographs, but have one faded and flickering in the background to create the impression of imagination, whilst the other one is forgrounded. I would also like to speed some clips up, to show the pace of thought that the character is experiencing. I am looking forward to finish the filming so I can get on with experimenting with effects and transitions etc.
At first it was daunting to film in a pub setting, but once I got over being self-conscious I found it really fun to shoot. My friend was rather nervous at the beginning, but she soon got into the role and started to enjoy herself. The bar staff at Slyne Lodge were keen to appear in the film too, so I gave them small parts to keep the pub scene realistic, for example talking at the bar to customers and handling money at the till.
I have a lot of editing to do with my piece, as I have still shots combined with moving shots, and therefore I need to ensure that it all runs into one another smoothly.
Today i am going to up-load my shots onto the computer at college, as although i've already done this at home, i cannot get the right setting (DV-PAL) on the imovie software. I'm not sure why this is, but it is making it more difficult for me because until i solve this problem i will have to keep transferring the work that i have done onto each computer as and when i need to work on it.
After talking to Karen about the clips i have taken, i have come to the conclusion that i have a lot of work to do! I need to take three or four clips of the same scene for editing purposes, and consider camera angles to make the scene more interesting. Karen suggested starting off with a wide scene, gradually moving into a medium shot and eventually closing into a close-up- a 'cutting-in' technique! This apparantly gives the audience a more interesting view point, rather than giving them a straight-laced shot with all the information required, which i have originally created.

Filming!

2006-04-23T10:38:00.001-07:00

After drawing up a storyboard, for which I was able to plan scenes for the filming process, I have now managed to shoot half of my video. Although I have downloaded the clips onto the imovie software, I have not been able to organise them properly or distinguish the effects that I require-mainly due to the work load for other subjects! I'm now getting very stressed!!! I have used some transitions, but in tomorrow's lesson I would like to arrange my clips properly in conjunction with the song lyrics. It was fun to use the camera, and although at first filming seemed strange and I was rather anxious about the outcome, but I became more satisfied when the clips were placed onto the computer, as when they were played to the song it seemed to bring it all together.

'Money, money, Money' Song Lyrics

2006-04-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

I work all night, I work all day
To pay the bills I have to pay
Ain't it sad
And still there never seems to be
A single penny left for me
That's too bad

In my dreams I have a plan
If I got me a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work at all
I'd fool around and have a ball

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world

Aha, aha
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world

A man like that is hard to find
But I can't get him off my mind
Ain't it sad
And if he happens to be free
I bet he wouldn't fancy me
That's too bad

So I must leave, I'll have to go
To Las Vegas or Monaco
And win a fortune in a game
My life will never be the same

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world

Aha, aha
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world

Aha, aha
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world
It's a rich man's world

Music: Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson
Lyrics: Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson
Year: 1976

Adjustments and Changes

2006-04-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation I have decided to change my choice of song. Therefore, I will be making a film based on Abba's 'Money, Money, Money'. Although I liked the lyrics to Geri Halliwell's 'These Boots Are Made For Walking', I felt that I was making the filming ideas to complicated, which stressed me out. It was only when I was listening to a few old albums that I realised I connected more with the lyrics featured in Abba's 'Money, Money, Money'. I think this is very topical and relevant at the moment as I am always wishing for more money-naturally because I'm a student!!! I immediately came up with ideas to feature in the film, and rang my friend straight away to ask her if she would star in it. I also need to arrange a few hours filming in a pub setting, and as my boyfriend works at Slyne Lodge, I am sure that it won't be a problem! Now I just need to get going!!!

Song Lyrics

2006-03-27T03:16:00.000-08:00

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING

You keep saying you got something for me
Something you call love but confess
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
And now someone else is getting all your best
Well, these boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'
What's right is right but you ain't been right yet
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

LEADBREAK

You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt (HAH)
Well, I've just found me a brand new box of matches (YEAH)
And what he knows you ain't had time to learn
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

SPOKEN

Are you ready, boots?
Start walkin'

Storyboard

2006-03-27T00:52:00.000-08:00

27-03-06 RECORDING MY IDEAS

After the first lesson i decided that a storyboard would be the ideal way to record my ideas, as this would enable me to express my initial feelings, accompanied by visual aids. Firstly I listened carefully to each line of the song to see what ideas were triggered from the lyrics. This meant stopping and starting the music at certain points, then re-listening to the music from the beginning. I thought I would experiment with quick still-shots rather than sketches, as this enabled me to explore and experiment different techniques with the digital camera. The advantage of this is that new, exciting ideas may be uncovered, allowing me to change or evolve initial feelings.

From making my storyboard I have realised that I need to experiment with different angles when taking a camera shot, as footage by an amateur film-maker can be reformed, creating a more sophisticated and experienced style of filming. Karen suggested using a tri-pod to keep the camera at a still and stable level when filming, or placing the camera on a skateboard to capture movement. Following my still-shots, I have picked out certain views that I would like to change, for example the poker table. Previously I had taken the shot side-on, but I would like to take an Ariel view, as I feel this will give a whole new perspective to the table and players, which will make the scene more realistic. I may be able to achieve this by hanging the camera from the ceiling, but I would have to secure it into place in order to keep it stable. I have already experimented with a ground shot, as I wanted to illustrate a pack of cards scattering to the ground. I placed the camera on the floor, directly under the light hanging from the ceiling, and when I threw the cards up in the air they landed on top of the camera. When I watched the footage back, it looked as though the cards had been thrown up in front of a hot, watery sun, because the camera was placed directly underneath the light. I was particularly pleased with this effect, and although it was achieved by accident I may incorporate this technique in my actual film footage.

I would like the majority of my film to be in black and white, depicting focal points and key objects in colour. I hope that this will create a traditional and classy atmosphere, clearly demonstrating the objective of my film and highlighting the moral qualities that are embedded in the story. The area in which I will shoot my film, needs to be quite large and neutral, as I require clear, bold shots that are of a high quality. I hope that by using powerful lighting props, the room will be bright enough to attain the objects in colour, in contrast to the black and white background.

These Boots Are Made For Walking

2006-03-20T01:50:00.000-08:00

20-03-06 CREATING MY BLOG

My blog has been set up successfully! I think that using a Mac computer is a great experience, and i am looking forward to exploring its potential.

I researched numerous lyrics on the internet, but found 'These Boots Are Made For Walking' by Geri Hlliwell best suited my ideas. I then printed the song lyrics, which enabled me to access my thoughts and record them next to the appropriate words. The film is morally based, highlighting the emotional struggles in a relationship and establishing that material posessions are not important-all that matters is love!

I have a passion for dancing and i hope to incorporate this into each chorus of the song. I used to line-dance, which is a great advantage, as boots will be the focal point throughout the film. I don't want to show people's faces, as i feel that it is not necessary, the feet and props will give all the information the viewer will need.

I will require some costumes, for exmaple elegant, silk gloves and extravagant jewellery, and i have already arranged to use my local church's side hall to film the dancing footage.