Unfortunately, me and Abbas could not shoot our footage today regarding the horrendous weather we have received in the North-East. There has been about 10 inches of snow and expecting more so inevtiably we could not shoot the second part of our race scene today because the racing track is covered in snow therefore it is too dangerous to run on due to healthy and safety issues. Also, the roads are very dangerous to drive on at the moment and buses are running behind schedule so therefore today couldnt have not gone to plan unfortunately. I do understand that Mr Earl wants a rough cut of the innovation of our music video at the end of next week, however we will just have to wait till the weather has calmed down which will hopefully happen before the end of next week. We do so far have some footage shot from last month of the first part of the race scene and the training sequences so during next week we will have to begin editing that footage before we can go forward in shooting any more footage. By editing the footage we have already shot, this will make things less stressful and time convenient. That is all we can do for now until the weather clears up because it is an unfortunate that we cannot shoot any further footage outside until the snow and ice has fully cleared up.

I contacted Bethany Simpson last night which is one of our main actors that we need for the next shooting of out footage to see when she was next available to shoot. She informed me that she is working every night this week till half 5 except Saturday which is her only day off this week. As we need everything shot by the end of this week, i informed Abbas that Beth is only available for shooting on Saturday so now our plan is to shoot the second race scene for the innovation of our music video on Saturday. We are just hoping the weather is going to be reasonable on the day as we know that the North-East is expecting snow this week and if this happens the weather could lead to several constraints on the planning of shooting our next footage. We want to shoot the second race scene on Saturday where I, the underdog wins the race and becomes victorious through training hard in progress for the race. If the weather is a major concern then I and Abbas will have to come to some sort of an arrangement where shooting will have to take place perhaps early next week because we understand that we can't shoot our second race scene if the weather is severe.

Just been looking on the BBC news website to see what the weather is like for this week. Most days are expected rain but Thursday looks like a promising day so by all means we are planning on shooting the rest of our footage on Thursday after school. I just need to double check with my actors because as far as i know i'm not too sure on whether they are working on thursday after school. I am going to ring my friends Bethany and Sophie and see whether they are available to shoot on thursday after school. If they are not then I need to see which others days they are free. I understand that all the footage has to be shot by the end of this week so we can show sir an example of our rough cut in the next couple of weeks.

Comparism

Looking back at what progress I’ve made from AS to A2, I think I have improved quite rapidly just not as much regarding editing as I still at present find editing the most challenging task. When I first took media studies last year, my first task was to complete an exercise project which was to help develop my skills. The task required me and three of my friends to film a scene from a script that was given to us from our teacher. As I was just beginning to learn the concepts of filming and representation, I didn’t quite know where to film and what shots to use as I was just beginning my process of learning. However, we did end up filming in a suitable location which was in the hall at our school and within the team I and my friend Gemma were selected to act out the script. Looking back at my exercise project at AS level, I think since then I have definitely made a clear improvement specifically developing my acting skills.

The next project that was set was to produce a continuity project. Part of this project, me and my team partner, Bethany Stone had the choice of choosing what we wanted to do for the project. For example, we did some planning and both agreed that we wanted to create a “Chick-flick” project as we both liked that type of genre. Considering our progress of planning, we did not do anywhere near as much as we are set out to do now for our final A2 project. This year we are very familiar with updating out progress on blogs on a weekly basis. Last year I only left a few blogs since the whole class and teacher was just coming to terms with how it works and etc. Looking back from last year my planning has improved dramatically.

This year I am currently working with Abbas and we both update our blogs up to three times a week to depict a strong overview of our progress and ideas. I have already published 43 post so far so this emphasises that I have took the time to write down my ideas and plan effectively for the innovation of our music video. Moving on to the development of camera shots, in mine and Beth’s continuity project we developed a slight better understanding of which shots were most effective, how important the lighting was when shooting as well as which locations looked most professional and suited the genre and representation of the project. When filming our continuity project, I and Beth knew that we had to take many shots from different angles as we knew it was important to have more footage than we need due to perhaps changing our mind of which shots we want to use and if in an unlikely situation we were to loose parts of the footage.

We understood how important it was to use many shot-reverse shots as apart of out project we had a two-way conversation which was I and my teacher Mr Earl. My team partner, Beth made sure that she captured many shots so that it was easier for us to pick in the development of editing the final piece. Even looking back from my exercise project to my continuity project, our knowledge of filming and what shots to use did improve slightly. Additionally, I believe my acting skills improved as I was able to transform more effectively into the role I was playing. After our continuity project was completed, I and Bethany carried on working together and we were set to film our final project at AS level. We had the choice again of what genre we wanted to use. When having a debate about it, we both decided positively to film a short-film portraying horror as we knew that we would be able to do many things with it from the most effective shots and props. As we already had experience from filming our exercise project to continuity project, we had a good understanding of what would work and what would not. I again was the main actress in our final project and Bethany was the one who was filming. This is the project where my acting skills excelled as I was good preparing myself to get into character as well as relating to the genre.

Looking back at last year, I really enhanced my knowledge of camera angles and shots. For example, when filming our final project last year, I and Beth decided to film a chase scene in our project where I would get chased by the man that is stalking me. I had the idea of using some point of view shots from the stalker as I knew this would look extremely effective. From implementing this idea, I could see that my knowledge was progressing as I was coming to terms with what shots would look more realistic and effective. As a result from looking back at my final project from last year, the chase scene looked really effective. I was overall impressed with how effective my final project looked and in the process of planning and filming as well as acting, I believe that my skills had progressed dramatically from first filming my exercise and continuity project. Also from looking back at last years projects, firstly there were many continuity errors in my exercise project but then less in my continuity project and finally there were actually no clear continuity errors in my final AS project. This was down to effective editing of the footage.

Last year, I and Beth still found the editing really difficult from first being introduced to it. Our teacher, Mr Earl really helped us come to terms with how to use the software to the best ability. For example, he helped us in making the chase scene look really effective with the effect of a slow-motion technique and many cuts and fades. Without his help, I don’t think me and Beth would have learnt as much or therefore have as such a good project. After Sir helped us tweak our project, I and Beth still had a go at editing out own footage, however it took us longer than we though to get everything right. In my honest opinion, my partner Beth was the one that found it easier in using the editing software, I found it really difficult. However, I did assist in helping Beth throughout the whole project just I needed a little time in working out the functions of the software.

I and Abbas are now still currently about to shoot the next bit of footage for the innovation of our music video but we have not yet begun editing. However, looking back at the progress I made last year, I think me and Abbas are not going to need as much assistance as we both already understand the basics of the software however I still think I may find it difficult as I am not as confident as I would like to be with editing my footage on the adobe premier software. However, I know that if I do struggle then I have Abbas to help me and my teacher Mr Earl which is a useful source. Looking back at all the choices I have made, I think they have all worked out effectively, considering the marks I have achieved and positive feedback. For example, for my final project last year I came out with a B grade which I was ecstatic about. This proved that my success of planning and development was highly achieved.

This year, I am currently trying to maintain that high level and come out with a B grade in my A2 final project. From all my experience and skills I have developed from last year, I believe that this can be achieved. I overall think I have improved rapidly in becoming a good producer. I now know that planning is vital in going through the process of beginning production. I also know now that depending on people is important also because in order to film footage effectively, you need to reply on your actors to turn up to the settings. I am fully confident this year that my project will become a success as I have used two close friends as my actresses so I already know that they are extremely reliable therefore having no interferences or mishaps. This year, I believe that going through the progress of planning by up dating my ideas on blogs is a reliable source in helping me to review my progress effectively from the start of the year. This way I can see which ideas were efficient and which were not. I am currently at present working at a good pace and I hope that everything will go to plan with my final A2 project due to developing my skills throughout the last year.

Sir has informed us to have everything shot by the end of next week so that gives us about 10 days to get as much footage shot as we can. The weather is a concern at the moment because it hasnt been really nice weather recently. It also gets quite dark at about 4 o'clock which we will have to work around because we dont have enough free time at school to go off and shoot in the day. We are thinking of shooting this weekend. I am going to ask my two actors, Sophie Balfour and Bethany Simpson when they are both available because they have work committments. We still need to render out footage on the school computer that we have already took. We know it takes a long period of time to render so we are going to have this done by the end of next week then start filming out last bit of footage next week sometime depending on what day we arrange to suit our actors needs. Redering is a long process and this will have an impact on my approach to editing accordingly.

Yesterday, I developed a concept for mine and Abbas's digipak. The example is only just a rough cut but it emphasises our ideas. For example, having pictures of an olympic torch on the front cover contrasted on a white background as well as the back contrasted with a picture of our band on a white background. Me and Abbas like the idea of having a white background as it makes everything stand out clearly and look more effective. We want to catch the public's eye and draw their attention to our digipak so we honestly beleive that a white background will be most effective in drawing the public's eye. We also want to have many colourful special effects on the front cover so this also looks appealing to the public. Below is an example of a concept of our digipak. However, in the full process of thinking about the design of the Digipak, our ideas may change after the completion of our music video.

As I am beginning to think of the concepts for our digipak in more depth, I think that it will be extremely effective to have a variety of special effects placed around the cover to make our album stand out and draw attention to the public. Pink’s album front cover inspires me as the bold colour, pink stands out and makes the cover look funky and edgy which is what I want to do with the innovation of my digipak cover. The way how the white typography stands out on the pink writing is also extremely effective as white and pink contrast nice together. In my digipak I want to have a white background with a mixture of bright bold colours placed in the background so that everything stands out and creates a superior illustration. The way how the light and bright colours are used for Pink’s album front cover is ultimately appealing to me and as a result I am definitely considering of using many bright colours so that no individual will miss seeing my cover. Pinks album cover conveys her personality as to be seen as a stereotypical rebellious role model due to the way she is shot holding a chain in her mouth and wearing a white vest, which is conveying her masculnity. The plan is to make our digipak not look cliche but attract the public's eye with the use of a mix of bright bold colours on a white background. This will hopefully engage the audience and attract their eye.

During lunchtime today me and Abbas recorded our song again in A27, the music room.
The reason why we recorded it again is because the first time the song was recorded, pippa (the singer) made a slight error so we wanted to record it again to get it right so there were no repeated mistakes with the lyrics in the song. Now that we have shot some footage and heard the song being played over and over again, I am starting to come to terms that there is a clear link between our footage and the lyrics within the song. I have listened thorougully to the lyrics and I think that they effectively link with our footage including the race scene, and the different methods of training in preparation for the race. The lyrics link highly well with the narrative of our footage. For example, the key lyrics that will relate to the innovation of our music video is the words "We are the champions" which will link at the end of our music video when I the underdog wins the race therefore feeling on top of the world.

Over the weekend, Abbas managed to download Adobe Premier on his laptop so this means that we can edit everything on his laptop during lesson and outside of school. Abbas is back from London tonight so tomorrow I am going to discuss with him which day will be the most suitable to film next because by the end of this week we intend to have the second race scene shot where I, the underdog win the race due to an increase in training to prepare for the race. My friend, Bethany Simpson is one of our main characters in the innovation of our music video and I am going to contact her tonight to see which day will fit in with her because she works full time at the moment so this means we are going to have to fit out time schedule around her as she plays a key role in our music video for "We are the Champions". When I find out later on tonight then me and Abbas can begin filming our next footage straight away because I want to leave enough time for editing as that is the longest part in the development of making a music video. The editing has to be perfect but as I am already aware of the software, this means it is going to make things a little easier.

This is an example of the first ever test footage Abbas filmed of me running on our school track. I couldn't upload this footage till now as I didn't have the media server on my computer but it is all sorted now. This example of our footage is not really any idea of what we want our final piece to look like but just the concept of how I will be filmed running around the track and eventually winning the race. When reviewing this footage we realised immediately that the school track would not be suitable for the innovation of our music video because it did not look professional enough and the markings on the track were all faded. We then experimented different locations and found that Maiden Castle's sport centre was the best and looked the most professional and realistic as the track was new and all the lines on the track were clearly emphasised. When reviewing our practice footage on Abbas's camera we could see that the track was really accurate and suitable for our music video. As I have already mentioned, Abbas is going to London tonight and he will not return till earlier next week. This means that I still cannot upload some of our practice footage as it is all on his camera and the rendering will take a great deal of time. Next week we are going to focus on doing some editing to see an example of what our music video could look like as well as shoot further footage of the second race scene.

As me and Abbas have already shot some footage for the innovation of our music video for "We are the champions". We understand that we have to shoot the second race scene sometime next week as we have only shot the first race where the blonde actor (Bethany simpson) wins and I loose. We have much of the training methods shot, just we need to recap over what other training techniques we could shoot. Abbas is going to london on thursday and he won't be back till monday night next week so therefore I will have to wait untill he returns until we can shoot further footage. I have already discussed with Abbas when we can next do some shooting and we agreed that one day next week would be suitable. We just need to ask our actors first which day is best for them because one of of our actors (Bethany Simpson) which is the blonde girl I will be competing with in the race, we need to ensure we can film when suitable for her as she is one of the main characters in the innovation of our music video. At the moment we are up-to-date with all our planning and at the end of next week were hoping to have the second race scene shot where I, the underdog wins the race and becomes the "Champion".

In the half-term as I have already mentioned, Me and Abbas filmed our rough cut for the innovation of our music video. Both were a rough cut of the first race scene and training sequences. Today in class, we have realised that it is going to take a few hours for our recent footage to be rendered. According to this, it means that we won't be able to upload the footage on our blog till next week. During the process of filming we seemed to have learnt alot from this point last year. Last year when I was working with Bethany Stone it took us time to film and find what shots worked the best but now me and Abbas straight away took some effective footage and we knew what methods would work. For example, we knew that we had to take several footage from different angles to enable us to have more to work from. Last year, I seemed to fail in doing this as me and Bethany didn't take enough footage, therefore having to go out again and obtain more footage. I beleive that I have made a huge improvement from last year and in the process of developing my skills, I am going to apply my acting skills in the rest of our filming.