Month: October 2017

Lighting Research And Plan

As I want to make sure that my music video is as professional as possible I have decided to research how to create certain types of lighting. From my research over the summer holidays I came to the conclusion that the styles of lighting I want to include are:

  • Light leaks
  • Outdoor lighting
  • Indoor lighting

I chose these as they are featured heavily in real music videos. Using them in my own piece will, therefore, make sure that my music video looks as professional as possible. 

Light Leak:

http://nofilmschool.com/2017/05/diy-light-leaks

I first looked at this website from No Film School which explained how to create my own DIY light leak. Being a student with a small budget means that I, unfortunately, don’t have the money to spend on expensive lighting. Additionally, the article states that I can use free light leaks that the website has already made. However, I would prefer to create my own so that I have more control over my product. This means that DIYs are a great way for me to get around this inconvenience while understanding the process of creating light. The article starts off by saying that light leaks are typically produced from very old cameras and were originally considered mistakes. However, in more recent years directors have viewed it as a way to give footage a vintage feel. As my character is escaping her reality through music I plan to present her thoughts with this type of lighting. Not only will it take my footage seem more professional but it will create a dreamlike tone. 

To create my own DIY light leak I first need to have a camera, an object (in the examples case a scarf), and a light source. Step one is to hold the phone at a light source (in this case the laptop) and cover the camera with a scarf. The next step says to adjust the camera settings so that the aperture is overexposed. This creates a soft and hazy look which is something I found in a lot of my music video research. Press record and move the object around the camera to let light in as you please. Finally, save your video to a laptop and apply it to your video. Typically, editors use this light leak as an overlay which goes over the footage. 

This website has given me a good idea as to how to create a light leak on a budget. Following these instructions will help me to save money and have more control over the outcome. In addition to this, the instructions are easy to follow and don’t require anything too hard to get. 

https://www.lomography.com/magazine/260270-creating-light-leaks-the-analogue-way

The next website I looked at was one from lomography.com. I decided to look in a variety of places to see if there were any alternate versions of how to create a light leak. Luckily I found another way which seems relatively easy. For this method, I would need 35mm of film, a camera and a film roll. First I would need to film the footage that I wanted then rewind it back. Halfway through rewinding, I’d need to quickly open the camera and then shut it again. This will create an orange light leak throughout the entire film. Finally, I would need to finish rewinding it to the end and develop my film. Although this method sounds like a good idea my budget may not be able to cover this. As I don’t have a camera with 35mm of film I would have to go out of y way to buy this. There is a possibility that this would be expensive which would mean that I wouldn’t be able to afford it. However, I will look into this as I would like to try this method. 

Outdoor Lighting:

http://nofilmschool.com/2013/11/simple-tips-daytime-exterior-shine

Outdoor lighting is something that I plan to feature a lot in my music video. This means that I will need to research how to ensure that it looks the best. I first looked at an article from nofilmschool.com which talks about outdoor lighting. Upon reading the article I noticed that it firstly says the you should subtract light instead of adding it. In the example provided the director has used an umbrella to block out any harsh light from the sun. This reduced the light and makes the actors face look more even. Next the article says to use modifiers to shape light. It recommends using a bed sheet to diffuse the light and direct it to where I want it to go. Although this tip is useful I won’t be able to do this as I would need someone to hold up the sheet for me. Additionally, taking this around with me from location to location may slow down the filming process. Looking at y budget and how many people I will having helping me on the day of the shoot I would prefer to use the umbrella method. This is as it is easier to mange with all my other equipment. 

https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/6-tips-for-filming-outdoors/

The next website that I looked at for help was premium beat.com. They offered six tip for filming outside. These were:

  • To make use of the sun during midday. This is as the lighting during this time is the brightest it can be. However, this tends to cast harsh shadows on actors. To avoid this it suggests filming on days where there is cloud so that it defuses the light and makes it less harsh.  
  • Film when the sun is on the horizon. This creates a hazy lighting style and makes the actors completion look softer.
  • Know when the sunrise and sunset happen. This ties into the the last tip as this will give me time to film around these times. Knowing this will also tell me how much time I have to film before the sun comes up or goes down completely. 
  • Invest in filters. The article says to purchase an ND filter for my camera so that the lighting looks even on film. Before doing this I will need to look at how much an ND filter costs so that I don’t go over my budget. 
  • Make use of flags and reflectors. Tip five suggests to use a collapsable reflector to make sure that the light and shade on a persons face is even. This will create a more professional look to the footage. 
  • Lenses matter and it is important to pick the right one for your camera. Using the right lease for your camera can help with depth of field and makes the overall footage look more cinematic. 

Indoor Lighting:

https://filmcameracourse.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/3-simple-rules-for-filming-without-lights-interior/

As some of my scenes will be filmed indoors I decided to research how to create professional indoor lighting. This article from film camera course gives me three tips on how to film inside. 

  • Tip one states that I should use curtains and blinds to control the amount of light coming into a room. If a room has too much light coming in through a window it may be best to diffuse it with blinds. Blackout curtains may make the lighting too dark so it is best to use white sheets or blinds. 
  • Tip two states that I should use lamps and other light sources to create the best lighting. This tip is very useful as I am a student with a very low budget. This means that I can not afford to spend lots of money on professional lights. Lamps may be useful for spotlights in dark rooms. 
  • Tip three states that I should film my actor facing the light source as this will avoid any exposure issues. 

http://learnaboutfilm.com/film-language/picture/light-and-colour/

Another article I looked at was from learnaboutfilm.com. This website gives me tips on how to colour correct and film indoors. 

Lighting Plan:

The plan for my music video is to have all of my interior shots filmed with artificial light used from either torches, lamps or overhead lights and all of my exterior shots filmed with natural lights. This will mean filming on days where the weather is bright as this will create more light and brighten up my footage. 

 

Objective Character Identification

Recently I have been looking into the concept of objective character identification for my music video. This idea is when the audience is given unique access to the character’s mind, dreams, fantasies or memories. I plan to use this theory in my own work by allowing my audience to see into my protagonist’s dreams of being somewhere exciting. To display this I plan to use overlays of fireworks and concerts to juxtapose with her sitting on her bed with her eyes closed.

Actor Profile

Choosing an actor for my music video was a fairly easy process as I had already drafted up ideas in my initial ideas stages. My first choice of actor was my friend Ellie Bindman who had already starred in previous music videos and short films. This makes her a good choice as she already had experience. Additionally, she is the right kind of actor for the part as Emma is a young 18-year-old. 

Image result for ellie bindman

Asking her to be a part of my film was also an easy process as we have media lessons together. This meant that I was able to ask her in the lesson with an immediate response. We then planned to film on the 12 and 23rd of November 2017.