Critical Investigation Final

Critical Investigation Final 

Learner Response

WWW: Including described research, many excellent points, a high number of examples. With a few adjustments, I'm sure this can be A/A*.

EBI- This main issue is the lack of focus on your primary text... you barley mention it after the first 2 pages. In addition, that opening section is the weaker part of the essay. It may be worth changing your question? One to discuss.

-Written English is a problem in places and too informal. Don't use first names and I'm not sure you can use the word "butt"in an academic essay!

-Referencing is a concern: footnotes in wrong formal and quite a few media theories not referenced.

-I think this essay needs more feminist theory considering the subject matter.

-I would take out the paragraphs on Rihanna & Katy Perry... this essay needs anything down anyway and they are not adding much. 

MEST4 Linked production: Research and planning

1) Confirm your production brief:

 

Create an original concept of a music video of your choice

 

2) Research: notes on at least THREE similar texts to the one you are creating. What are the key conventions? What can you learn/borrow from the examples you have looked at?

 

I have highlighted in blue the things I will learn/borrow for my production.

 Beyoncé- Broken Hearted Girl

 

• black and white for the first half of music video
• flashbacks with guy
• shadowing (characters are dark when shot from a distance)
• setting: beach
• lip-synching
• slow motion when walking
• smooth transitioning (fading)
• close-ups
• rewind when ripping flowers apart (nails match flower colour)
• towards the end, colour transitions into normal
• she is seen as a double in one shot (editing)
• eye contact with the camera
• smiles at the end

Jhené Aiko- The Worst

• slow motion talk at the beginning (slurred speech)
• lighting changing from red to blue continually (police)
• lip synching at times
• wine (alcohol) prop
• close up shots of: feet, making a sandwich...
• slurred vision (like slow pace)
• camera spinning slowly
• long shots
• medium shot of her putting on jewellery and make-up (mirror in view)
• upside camera
• fast pace at one point

Ed Sheeran- Give Me Love

• shots zooming in and out
• focusing changes
• high angle shots
• long shots
• low angle shots
• camera moving as she walks
• lighting red & blue (police)
• blurry vision

3) Project schedule: when will you film and edit this production?

Film: Sunday 14th February 2015 & During half-term
Edit: Last few days of half-term as well as the week starting the 22nd of February

4) Treatment

Sepia / black and white edit in the beginning that will transition to normal towards the end?

Scene 1:
A girl walks away from a guy in a upset state
The girl goes home crying and goes into her bedroom and enters into a state of depression and frustration
Everything seems blurry and the camera moves in a way to portray how destroyed the girl is feeling on this inside.

Scene: 2
Girl's friend tries to comfort her and makes her feel better but she still thinks about her past relationship.
She is seen trying to call him and text him but she won't allow herself to which frustrates her too. She is then seen watching TV but her feelings are shown through her facial expressions.
There are a lot of shots of her tearing up and staring into space. There is also a scene where she is seen with alcohol and a glass of wine in her hand but then she refuses to drink anymore

Scene: 3
When the part comes up in the song where the singer is talking, the girl lip synchs and glaces a few times towards the camera. 

Scene: 4
The girl goes on a walk on the streets thinking about her life. She then realises she can't just sit and cry all day and puts on make-up, dresses up and does her hair up to make herself feel good and feel confident. She then smiles at herself in the mirror remembering that she is strong and even though she still thinks about him and that it hurts, she will eventually get over it.

5) Storyboard

6) Shot list

Main Girl: Selena
Friend: Aisha
Guy: Bob

Shot no	Shot Type	Details of Shot	Timing	Done?
1	Extreme close-up	Close up of Selena’s eye as she looks up and then blinks then looks left (slowly). (before, there will be a 3 sec scene of her looking up which will be done when editing)	4 secs Starts from 0:02-0:06
2	Long shot	Selena is facing Bob and then turns around and walks passed camera. You can’t see Bob’s face. (slow mo)	8 secs 0:06-0:14
3	Long shot	Selena walking away from camera (slow mo)	4 secs (0:14-0:18)
4	Medium shot	Selena is outside leaning on a wall, frustrated at what happened, trying not to cry	6 secs (0:18-0:24)
5	Medium shot	Selena is leaning against the wall on the bed, mascara running down her face. She is looking down heaving, but then looks directly at the camera at the very last second	5 secs (0:24-0:29)
6	Medium shot (Pan)	Selena is lying on the bed on her side as the camera pans from her legs to her face.	4 secs (0:29-0:33)
7	High angle shot	Selena sitting on her bed arms wrapped around her legs and then leans back	4 secs (0:33-0:37)
8	Extreme close-up (pan)	Selena’s eyes looking straight forward and then looks down	3 secs (0:37-0:40)
9	Close-up	Selena wipes her tears and mascara off under one eye whilst putting her head down and then she looks at her hand.	3 secs (0:40-0:43)
10	Extreme close-up	Selena slowly wipes off her lipstick using a facial wipe	4 secs (0:43-0:47)
11	Medium shot	Selena plays with her whilst staring into space- eyes full with tears. (Outfit 2 is on)	6 secs (0:47-0:53)
12	Medium shot	Camera turns to its side as Selena wipes of her tears using both her hands	6 secs (0:53-0:57)
13	High angle shot	Selena sitting on the floor leaning against the wall staring into space	3 secs (0:57-1:00)
14	Close up	Selena’s feet (she is wearing socks) walking away from camera. Camera is level with her feet. Scene then goes blurry and fades out.	4 secs (1:00-1:04)
15	Medium shot	Selena taking a big breath in and slowly releasing with facial expressions showing how she feels. The first few secs will be a repeated shot.	7 secs (1:04-1:11)
16	Medium shot	Selena walks past a wall with pictures of her and Bob and she places her hands on them as she walks by.	3 secs (1:11-1:14)
17	Medium shot	She rips the pictures into pieces and then breaks down crying (edited in reverse?)	11 secs   (1:14-1:25)
18	Medium shot	Aisha comes and gives Selena a hug	2 secs   (1:25-1:27)
19	Medium shot	Selena pours her heart out to Aisha who listens. There are tissues surrounding them.	2 secs   (1:27-1:29)
20	Close-up	Selena has her head on Aisha’s shoulder. Aisha tries to make her laugh as Selena manages a grin.	3 secs   (1:29-1:32)
21	Medium shot	Selena and Aisha are holding hands, sitting with their legs crossed on the bed as you see Aisha mouth the words “Be Strong” and smiles.	3 secs   (1:32-1:35)
22	Medium shot	Aisha gives Selena a hug and makes her way out and then Selena falls back into a depressive state	7 secs   (1:35-1:42)
23	Low angle tilt	The shot tilits upwards as Selena picks up and looks at her phone	2 secs   (1:42-1:44)
24	High angle shot	Selena is writing a text to Bob saying they should sort things out	3 secs   (1:44-1:47)
25	Low angle shot	Selena realises she shouldn’t and cancels the message while shaking her head	4 secs   (1:47-1:51)
26	Medium shot	Selena drops on the bed facing the ceiling and looks directly at the camera at the last second	4 secs   (1:51-1:55)
27	Extreme close-up	…of Selena’s eye. It’s closed then she opens and blinks twice slowly. Same position as last shot	5 secs   (1:55-2:00)
28	Extreme close-up which zooms out to a medium shot	Selena is now in the living room, and the shot zooms out from her eye to her staring at the TV	5 secs   (2:00-2:05)
29	Shoulder shot	From her shoulder, we can see what Selena is watching on TV	3 secs   (2:05-2:08)
30	Medium shot	Selena has her head on her hand and then looks to left in sadness.	5 secs   (2:08-2:13)
31	Close-up	Selena’s feet as she walks towards the kitchen. Camera is level with her feet.	3 secs   (2:13-2:16)
32	Medium shot	Selena drinking an alcoholic drink.  Red wine.	2 secs   (2:16-2:18)
33	Low angle medium shot	Selena tossing the wine round and round in her glass	3 secs   (2:18-2:21)
34	Close-up	Selena puts down the glass of wine on the table	1 sec   (2:21-2:22)
35	Low angle medium shot	Selena puts down the bottle of wine, shakes her head, makes the hand gesture that drinking isn’t the answer and walks off.	4 secs   (2:22-2:26)
36	Medium shot	Selena looking at the camera and looking down at times lip-syncs to the lyrics	7 secs   (2:26-2:33)
37	Close-up	Selena looking down with tears rolling down her eyes	5 secs   (2:33-2:38)
38	Medium shot	Same as shot 36	10 secs   (2:38-2:48)
39	Medium shot	Selena grabs her jacket	3 secs   (2:48-2:51)
40	Medium shot	Selena is pulling up her jeans (Outfit 3 is on)	3 secs   (2:51-2:54)
41	Long shot	Selena walks out of her house	4 secs   (2:54-2:58)
42	Medium shot	Selena is sitting on a wall looking at the cars, she turns her to look right	5 secs   (2:58-3:03)
43	Medium shot	Same as 36 & 38 but the shot fades out at the end	5 secs   (3:03-3:08)
44	Low angle shot	You see Selena walking towards the camera and steps over it. Blurry vision in the first few secs then it becomes clear	7 sec   (3:08-3:15)
45	High angle shot	Selena runs up the stairs towards the camera. Will be edited to make it look like she is running faster	2 secs   (3:15-3:17)
46	Low angle shot	Selena is running up the stairs away from the camera. Once again edited to look faster	2 secs   (3:17-3:19)
47	High angle shot (continue onto shot 49 when filming)	Selena plumps down on her bed and then looks behind her to her make up table	3 secs   (3:19-3:22)
48	Close-up pan	Camera shows her makeup on the table	2 secs   (3:22-3:24)
49	High angle shot	Selena looks away from table and thinks whether she should wear make-up.	4 secs   (3:24-3:28)
50	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena applies lipstick to her lips (Outfit 4 is on)	2 secs   (3:28-3:30)
51	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena applies mascara	1 sec   (3:30-3:31)
52	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena applies powder/blush with a brush	1 sec   (3:31-3:32)
53	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena puts on her earrings	3 secs   (3:32-3:35)
54	Low angle tilt	From her legs to her head to show what she is wearing	4 secs   (3:35-3:39)
55	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena pouts at herself	1 sec   (3:39-3:40)
56	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena as she smiles at herself	1 sec   (3:40-3:41)
57	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena sticks her tongue out at herself	1 sec   (3:41-3:42)
58	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena laughs at herself	3 sec   (3:42-3:45)
59	Medium shot	Mirror is in view as Selena fixes her hair	5 secs   (3:45-3:50)
60	Low angle long shot	You can selena taking a selfie and then laughs. Vision is a bit blurry	3 secs   (3:50-3:53)
61	Medium shot	Selena takes a selfie	2 secs   (3:53-3:55)
62	Close-up	Selena puts on her heels and stands up	4 secs   (3:55-3:59)
63	High angle shot	Selena plumps back on to her bed smiling but then it fades away as she smiles again. Shot fades away	13 secs   (3:59-4:12)

7) Mise-en-scene:

Casting details:
main character-girl from outside school
friend- Me
guy- boy from outside school

Location scouting with photographs:
My room, outside my house and Yeading area

Props:
make-up, jewellery, heels, phone, bottle & glass of wine,

Costume and make-up:
first costume: jacket and jeans with mascara running down her face. Full face make-up on
second costume: more of a comfortable outfit; big jumper, dark jeans or tracksuit bottoms with hardly any make up on
third costume: Jacket and jeans with hardly any make-up
fourth costume: dress or skirt and top with full face make-up on (Party look)

Lighting
high-key lighting used throughout apart from the very first few seconds of the music video when she walks away from the guy as it will be filmed when dark