3rd July- Trip to YMCA

3rd July

Today we have been introduced to using a green screen in order to create effects for music videos. We have also looked at how at video can be produced on a large group by dividing a song into ten second sections. This entails lots of planning in order to ensure each section of the video is edited and filmed in the same way so that the end product looks co-ordinated. We chose to re-create the video of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air' theme opening. We then planned what backgrounds we would have to substitute the green screen and how these would link to the lyrics of the song. Whilst filming in the studio, we learnt techniques on how to film with a green screen for example, playing the song in the background so the timings matched when we came to editing.

The class split off into groups of two, with ten seconds to work with each. We watched the original video and looked at what aspects we could take into ours. In my group, we look at the first ten seconds of the videos which included the introduction. We took the same style as the original video, because of time restrictions we didn't want to create anything really different, but instead have the chance to work with the equipment. We created a simple story board that helped us to coordinate our ideas and version of the scene. By working out what lyrics would be in this section helped us understand the timings of our clip.

When it came to filming our scene, we were able to use the studio. The green screen and camera were already set up in the studio. We were able to have a short tutorial of how to use the camera and then began to record. We learnt that when filming, you must wait 5 seconds in between pressing record and beginning to act so that no footage is lost when editing. Another important aspect of filming was to have the song playing out loud in the studio so the lip synching could be more realistic. It also means that when matching the footage and song it becomes easier.


In the second part of the day we looked at editing. We used iMovie to import the footage, back ground and music. We had already found the background we wanted after watching the original Fresh Prince opening credits. We chose graffiti because it matched the nature of the song. Our aim was to recreate the video as a spoof. I was taught how to match the music with my footage and use the green screen technology to import a background.



From this trip I learnt how to come up with the ideas for creating a music video, including choosing appropriate songs, splitting tasks amongst a group and editing. This has been useful because when it comes to making my music video, I will have practised the different aspects of production.








Original Fresh Prince theme song: 

 


This is the version we experimented with in our smaller groups. We've used a JVC camera, a green screen and iMovie to create this clip.