Planning: Green Screen & Lip Syncing

Here is a section of what I created using an existing music video, a green screen and lip syncing.

We were given the task of replacing Adele with another singer in which we had to match up the lip syncing to the existing audio. I managed to match the audio and the singers lip syncing fairly well. The singer actually sang along to the playing track and I then removed the audio from these clips. A green screen was used so that the background could be altered, below there is a video demonstrating how I did this. Also I had to adjust the sizing and placement of the singer to cover Adele at certain points, this was easily done and I have explained how to do so at the end of this post. This process will help me in the future when in the post production phase of my own music video as if I want to I have the ability to incorporate aspects of lip syncing and the green screen.

Below is a recording of how I removed the green screen in Adobe Premier Pro. I used a 'Video Effect' called 'Ultra Key' to achieve this as shown in this video.

Planning: Green Screen

Incase we want to use a green screen to create an interesting look and feel to our music video to add different backgrounds we tried our skills at green screening today.



Go into 'Effects' then 'Video Effects' and drag the 'Ultra Key' over the clip you want to remove the backround (the green screen).

Then go into 'Effect Controls'

Then look down and you will see under 'Ultra Key' there is a little pipet, click on this.

With the pipet tool, click onto the green background. 

Which will remove the green around the person which will reveal the other video clip underneath.

I wanted to move the first image slightly to the right so the underneath image could be seen better. To do this I double clicked the clip and simply moved the box around to position it where I wanted.

Planning: Editing Music Video

We had the task of creating a music video with cut up sections of the existing music video from the artist Macklemore. Learning how to cut to the beat was one of the main things I found difficult at first. Here is a section of the finished product.

Planning: Speed

Sometimes clips will look so much more effective at a different speed. Slow motion can especially effective in music videos.


To edit the speed of a clip, right click the selected clip and click 'Speed/Duration...'

This window will pop up. To slow down the clip, reduce the percentage or to speed up the clip increase the percentage.

Planning: Video Effects

I decided to mess around with the effects in Adobe Premier Pro so that when I come to edit my own music video I can incorporate the effects I like.

You can find the 'Effects' tab at the bottom left-hand corner. Then go into 'Video Effects'. You can view the selected effect on a clip by dragging it on to the clip.

I wanted to add a coloured tints to the clips in my music video so I selected 'Fast Color Corrector'.

I used the colour wheel in 'Effect Controls' to select an orange tint to create a sense of an older, retro era.

Here you can see on the right, the original clip and on the left the added effect.

This clip was too warm toned to match the rest of the clips in my sequence.

Therefore I used the 'Fast Color Correction' again and went into the 'Effect Controls' tab to decrease the level of saturation.

This effect resulted in a less orange toned clip which was much more similar to the rest.

Planning: Learning To Edit

I have developed my technical skills and have learnt to edit using Adobe Premier Pro. For now I have learnt the basics and edited together some clips to create a simple video.



Open up Adobe Premier Pro.

Select 'New Project' or if going back to a project, select it under 'Recent Projects'

Name the project so that it doesn't automatically name it 'Untitled' and click 'OK'

Adobe Premier Pro opens up to look like this.

Then change the workspace from 'Editing'  to 'Editing (CS5.5)'

This workspace makes it much easier to edit.

To import the footage, go to 'File' and then 'Import...'

By selecting the folder with all the clips in, all of the clips within the folder will be imported.

The files won't take long to import.

All of the footage will appear as a folder on the left.

Clicking on this folder will open it up and all the clips can be viewed. You can scroll over a clip and quickly view it using the space bar.

Or by double clicking a clip you can view the clip in a larger size and edit it ready for the timeline.

Here you can select what part of the clip you want. By clicking the open bracket to start the clip and the closed bracket to end the selection.

You can just drag the video without the audio into your timeline by dragging the footage in by a button which resemble a video roll.

Here I have began to add clips together.

If you want to shorten clips you can use the razor tool on the left and cut the clip.

I also added audio into my video. To do this I imported the audio just as I did the footage as shown above. I used effects on the music, such as fading it in at the beginning. I achieved this by selecting 'Effects' on the bottom left-hand side and then 'Audio Transitions' I then chose the transition I wanted and dragged it on to the desired clip.

Construction: Filming

Here is some screenshots of the clips I have filmed in various locations. Including a festival, the streets of london, the countryside and local surroundings. Most of these shots are handheld to give a sense of the couple capturing moments in their lives together. 

I filmed whilst at Reading Festival, it was hard to film with a steady hand whilst in crowds of people. Clips such as this one above give an upbeat feeling therefore I will be using a lot of this footage when the pace of the song picks up.

This is an example of a clip during the night at the same festival. The atmosphere becomes even more upbeat therefore the will suit the middle of the song as the rhythm increases.

I think these low light shots of the surrounding environment will be good to start setting the atmosphere at the beginning.

Clips including the couple will show there lives together in various locations.

More establishing shots can show travelling and the experiences the couple go on together.

Some clips involve one partner filming the other which helps to show the relationship between the two. 

Some footage was took in London to show the various locations and adventures they go.

Having the couple in shot together helps the viewer to establish the relationship between these two people.

Planning: Filming Schedule

I am going to be following this schedule so that I can organise myself well and begin to get all the shots I need.

Planning: Mise en Scene

Props

The only prop I will need is a car to film in for clips focusing on road trips. Only the interior and clips of looking out of the window will be filmed therefore using different cars for different shots will not have an impact on the final outcome.

Costume
Here is the sort of look and feel I wish to achieve. The young male will be dressed in a retro fashion. Main items will include a snapback, a sports jacket and trainers. The young female will be dressed in a vintage fashion. Main items will be red lipstick and a mixture of dressy and casual clothing, for example a dress with an oversized denim jacket and trainers.



Planning: Casting

Male partner
This role needs to played by someone who is confident, able to act comfortablely with the female role. They must be flexible for when they are available for shoots.

Decision: Josh

James

He is willing to play the role however has limited experience being infront of a camera. Also he is not very flexible over the next few months due to other priorities, which is the period I will be filming over.

Josh
Is quite a confident character that will be able to pull of this role. As a plus he is also very flexible over the next few months so is likely to be available when filming.

Sam

Would suit the role extrememly well however I'm not certain he is comfortable enough in front fo the camera.

Female partner

The female role should also be able to act comfortablely with the male role and be willing to have their make up done to suit the character before shooting. Also they need to be flexible and available for shooting.
Decision: Becca

Nicole
She would fit perfectly into the role however she has other priorities during the filming period.

Becca
Would be able to act comfortabley with all possible actors. As many of the shots are hand held these would work well as I can direct these too.

Mariella
Unfortunately Mariella will not be able to act in this role due to having a lot of work to prioritise.

Planning: Location

Car

Many shots will feature looking out the window at the surroundings to suggest a long road trip the couple will have. As well as shots of them together within the car.


 

Festival

I plan to get some clips from a festival environment however the couple will not be presented in these clips. This will be to enhance the beat growing faster within the song, along with fast edits. Also brief moments of disclosure performing may be included within the video.

 

Park

This location will be used to represent the innocent fun they have together.

 

Field
Showing the spontaneous adventures they go on with each other. It is quite a secluded location therefore it shows they are only concerned with themselves and not their surroundings.

 

 

Planning: Shot List

I plan to include a variation of shots however more establishing shots will be incorporated at te beginning to set some background to the story. As the song progresses a larger vartiotion will begin and even close ups will be added. Many of these shots will be hand held to show the two individuals capturing their memories together. Below is a rough outline of how I expect the shot order to go.

Mid Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Two Shot
Mid Shot
Long Shot
Point of View
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Two Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Over shoulder Shot
Two Shot/Long Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Two Shot/Long Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Long Shot
Mid Shot
Two Shot
Establishing Shot
Two Shot
Establishing Shot
Close Up
Two shot
Close Up
Mid Shot
Close Up
Mid Shot
Establishing Shot
Two Shot/Long Shot
Close Up
Establishing Shot
Two Shot
Two Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Two Shot
Two Shot/Long Shot
Long Shot
Close Up
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Establishing Shot
Long Shot
Close Up
Long Shot
Two Shot
Close Up
Establishing Shot
Two Shot/Close Up
Two Shot/Long Shot
Close Up
Close Up
Long Shot
Establishing Shot
Point of view
Mid Shot
Establishing Shot
Two Shot
Two Shot/ Mid Shot
Establishing Shot
Over The Shoulder

Planning: Storyboard

I have created the storyboard for my music video for Disclosure - You and Me ft. Eliza Doolittle. Below is the first few clips as examples.