Filming Difficulites

Throughout the filming process, I encountered numerous problems and difficulites that affected my filming in some way or another. I did try to over come these problems by finding solutions or re-structuring my filming around the problem which in most cases was possible.

The first major problem I came across was been able to obtain a successful tracking shot. In order to achieve a professional and high standard tracking shot, a dolly and track is needed. Although this sort of equipment was available to me through my college, the equipment was quite bulky, large and heavy and I did not have transport that would be appropriate for such equipment. I tried to overcome this problem by using a makeshift track and dolly through the use of a wheelchair and scaffolding planks. I did manage to achieve a smooth surface on which to run the wheelchair but I could not strap the tripod and camera onto the wheelchair so that the footage would be smooth and not jerky. After two failed attempts at achieving a tracking shot, I simply changed the type of shot and used several long shots that when edited will create an elliptical effect.

The second problem that occured was the battery on the camera. Having fully charged the camera the night before I filmed at my first location, I expected the camera to last at least three hours. However, I did not realise that I had been using the camera alot to take pictures with, which affected the battery life and therefore I was unable to record as much footage as I would have liked. I did manage to achieve good footage which I think will still work and will be sufficent enough for my video and I live very close to the first location so if I need to re-record, I can't see it been a problem.

A further problem that I encountered was the weather. The deadline for filming my music video was set in Autumn when naturally, the weather is damp, dark, winding and consists of rainfall. The previous night of rainfall affected my filming at the second location at High Farm near Elwick. The field was a crucial part of my storyboard and was needed. The grass was soaked with rain, creating a muddy field in which me and the main character sank into. To overcome this problem, I flattened out a cardboard box and lay it on the grass, helping to creating a protective barrier between the mud and the tripod on which the camera stood. With this done, I did manage to achieve the main shot I wanted from the field which I am pleased about.

Recce Shots

Hurworth Burn

This was my first location in when recording my music video. The location itself was ideal for the themes in my video; dereliction, alone and reflection. 

The photo to the left shows the path that goes over the railway bridge. I used this part of the location to try and film the tracking shot which did not work. However, I did manage to get one of my original shots from this part of the location that is shown on my storyboard.

The photo to the right shows the photopath from the bridge that leads to Stockton. I did want to use this part of the location as it gave a sense of dereliction due to the trees ecompassing the path however, as you can see, the path was very muddy so instead, I took several photos that i could potentially use on my digipak or advertisement.

To the left is a photo that shows the railway bridge at Hurworth Burn. The bridge in itself is a statement and I found it very appealing.

High Farm, Elwick

My second location in which I filmed was High Farm, located just outside of Elwick. The location was owned by my Dad so permission to use the location was easily enough to obtain.

Third Day of Filming - Hartlepool Sixth Form College

On Wednesday 14th November, I along with my chosen band filmed in the TV Studio that is situated within the college I attend. Overall, the day went according to plan and I managed to get enough footage to use within the time frame I had set for shooting that day. The members of the band co-operated brilliantly with my directing which aided in obtaining professional and high quality footage.

In order to use the studio, I had to book a week in advance and before doing so, I had to ensure that all members of my composed band were available. When the day for filming came, they all arrived at our proposed meeting place on time and enthusiastic. We all worked together as a team and distributed amongst ourselves individual roles. Each of the band members ensured they had their own instruments that they were to play during the filming.

In terms of mise en scene, all band members attended the filming day wearing appropriate clothing to fit around my music genre, alternative rock. They also got into the right frame of mind and acted as though they were an actual rock band. Within this scheduled shooting time, I also experimented with a few different techniques and shots that were not in my planned storyboard. For one shot, I decided to face the lights towards the camera, creating a glow effect around the centered singer which I thought was a very good effect. I also managed to get a couple of pan shots which worked out very well and look professional.

On reflection, I think the day went very well. Everyone involved worked together and co-operated which helped me keep within my time frame for filming. I achieved some very good footage and experimental shots that I think will look very professional when it comes to editing them into my overall music video.

Second Day of Filming - High Farm

On Sunday 11th November, I recorded at my second location in Elwick. This location is my Dad's property so it was easy to get permission to use the location and to film on it. The weather for the day was still dry but quite gloomy and I had not taken into account how the damp air would effect my location.

When we arrived at the location, I found that the field we needed to use was very muddy due to the dampness in the air and the rainfall over night. We tried to fix the problem by laying thick cardboard on the grass and standing the tripod and camera on the cardboard. Fortunately, the field was not too muddy that we would sink into it when trying to walk therefore I did manage to capture the majority of the footage that I wanted to capture.

I did, however, have to tweek some of my planned shots shown in my storyboard due to the weather and the failure of tracking shots. Instead, I replaced tracking shots with shots of the character in the same area but moving direction several times. I will then, when editing, merge these clips together to create an elliptical effect.

Considering the weather situation, I managed to obtain sufficient footage to use in my video and I doubt I'll have to re-record any scenes from this location. My next location will be in the college in which I study and due to the recording been successful in this location, this means I will be able to swiftly move on to my next location without any problems.

First Day of Filming - Final Attempt (Hurworth Burn)

Instead of recording Wednesday 7th November, I decided to record Saturday 10th November instead as this meant I had a full day of recording and the weather forecast said it was to be dry and sunny which would be an ideal environment to film in, instead of dark and damp.

I managed to obtain a sufficient amount of footage from this location and also took a lot of photos suitable for my digipak and advertisement. The day, overall, was ideal in many aspects for my recording. The weather stayed dry, mild and sunny allowing the recording to go smoothly without any difficulties due to weather. The location was easy to work around and had a very good view spot for my opening shot, a pan shot from right to left of a lake. My actor was also very enthusiastic about the recording and helped to input certain ideas into my recording that I had not thought of myself.

I did, however, encounter a problem obtaining tracking shots. When I returned to College on Tuesday 6th November, I inquired about using the track and dolly. The college were more than happy for me to use the equipment however, the equipment was quite large and would not fit into my car so insted I tried to improvise with a wheelchair again but this still did not work to due a bumpy surface which I tried to avoid by using wood underneath the wheelchair.

Overall, I am pleased with the footage that I got from this location and it will be used in my final edit. Since I have successfully filmed in this location, this will allow me to move onto the next location without any problems or difficulties of re-recording in this location.

First day of Filming - Second Attempt (Hurworth Burn)

Today, Saturday the 3rd of November, I encountered further problems with filming my music video. Firstly, my actor was ill but still agreed to participate in the filming. However, later on, my actor could no longer participate as he was feeling very ill and needed to return home, leaving me without my main character for the narrative part of my video.

Secondly, having checked the weather forecast, it was yet again was gloomy and dark but it was more workable as it was dry. I did attempt to film in the short time my actor was available but the natural light started to disappear and the whole setting became dark and too difficult to film in.

Thirdly, I still could not find a suitable way to construct a tracking shot without a track and dolly. I tried laying a piece of flat cardboard on the ground to create a barrier between the bumpy surface and the wheels of the wheelchair however, this technique was useless as the cardboard was not thick enough, resulting in the footage been disorientated and unusable. 

I return to college on Tuesday 6th November in which I will immediately ask permission to use the track and dolly as it is a vital piece of equipment needed for my music video as the majority of shots within my video are tracking shots. I will also try to do my third attempt at filming on Wednesday 7th November, providing the weather is workable and suitable. I am, however, struggling to get my footage at the moment as problems keep occurring and I have a deadline for my final edit on Wednesday 28th November, adding a lot more pressure onto me.