CD Cover Research

• I have begun by searching Google for existing CD covers which belong to the pop-punk and metalcore genre. 
• I have noticed that only a few of these designs include a photograph, the rest include some form of illustration or cartoon. 
• The metalcore CD covers appear to be quite dark and the pop punk covers are more bright and colourful, which reflects the mood of their music. 
• For example, The Devil Wears Prada CD cover looks quite gothic due to the dark cold colours in the design. Whereas, The Green Day 'Dookie CD cover is an action packed, bright illustration. 
• As A Day To Remember are a mixture of pop-punk, metalcore and post-hardcore, for my own design I could include a mixture of these conventions which are within the genre specific CD covers.
• I particularly like the montage for the Fall Out Boy CD cover, as I feel that the mixture of photography and illustration creates an effective CD cover. 

Shooting Schedule - Monday 25th November

The last time we filmed, I arranged another date with the talent to shoot some shots which we didn't have time to shoot on the first day of filming. I shall also be filming two more scenes.

5.30-6.00 (Destroying bedroom) 
Shots: 22, 24, 25 TYPE: Close ups, long shots, mid shots

6.00-6.30 (Leah sleeping, Jordan talking to her in bedroom scene)
Shots: 40,41,42,43,44 TYPE: Mid two shots, extreme close ups, close ups, long shots

6.30-7.00 BREAK FOR FOOD

7.00-7.30 (TV Scene)
Shots: 48, 49, 50, 51 TYPE: Two shots, mid close ups, close ups, extreme close ups, long shots

Shooting Diary - Friday 15th November

The second day of filming went very well. I began by capturing the long shots, and handheld camera mid shots on Wednesday Market, Beverley. This took little time and I was able to gain what I needed very quickly. As the talent started the scene quite a distance away from me they weren't able to hear me when I called 'action', to overcome this problem I developed a hand signal which they understood as meaning the same as 'action'.

Next, we moved on to film in Lempicka cafe, Beverley. I bought myself, Jordan and Leah a piece of cake and drink each which acted as both a food break and the performance needed for the scene. I set the camera up next to me so it was just a little taller than the table. This was where I shot mid two shots, close ups and extreme close ups. I also experimented and used the same idea of using handheld camera to show them in each other's point of view. When I was granted permission to film in the cafe by my boss the conditions were that I seek written permission from any customers which may be accidentally in the shot. With some discussion between myself and my media tutor and myself and my boss, we decided that I would go speak to any customers which may be in the shot, explain what I was doing and who I was and give them the option to opt out of being in the video if they wish.

Finally, we moved on to filming in the park. At first there were children in the park, so to use the time which we waited for them to go effectively, we shot some long shots, mid long shots and close ups outside the park which I required. The park scene is yet another flashback scene and these types of shots allowed me to show the intimacy between the couple.

Information letter for filming on Friday 15th November.

As I am filming in my employer's cafe, I have produced this letter to give to customers which may possibly appear in my shot on the day. By giving the customers this letter, they will be informed that they will have the option to inform me that they do not wish to be shown in the footage.

To whom it may concern,

I am produced a music video as part of my coursework for my Advanced portfolio for A2 Media.

My employer, Claire Strawbridge has granted me permission to film in Lempicka café today.

As the filming will be taking place for an on-going period of time, people may accidentally be seen in the background of the shot.

In order for this to be submitted the video will have to be posted online.

If you do not object to your image being used in this way, please sign this waiver form.

Thank you,

Jenny Morgan.  (Director and Producer)

Shooting Diary - Monday 11th November.

I think today's filming went better than I expected. As I have not done anything like this before it took me a while to get used to handling the camera and tripod. However, I was soon able to get on with what I needed to do. The talent put on a very convincing performance and they obeyed my stage directions without any issues.

We began by filming the scenes which involved the couple arguing and where Leah tells Jordan of her diagnosis. I did this by filming over the shoulder shots, close ups and extreme close ups according to my storyboard in different locations around the kitchen. I used the main lighting to create the effect which I wanted. However, I did have some problems with achieving the correct lighting for the camera to focus on both Leah and Jordan, I overcame this problem by adjusting the lighting until I was satisfied.

Next, we moved on to the scene where Leah throws various objects around the bedroom. Looking back at my footage, the close up shot of Leah entering the bedroom is out of focus and I will need to shoot this again on another day. I was also unable to gain a good extreme close up of the books on the shelf due to lighting. Therefore, I made the decision to cut this shot out as it wasn't too significant. I had forgotten to shoot a mid close up where Leah is seen actually throwing the teddies and books around the room. Consequently, I will film this shot along with the other close up on another day.

A further problem which I had was that Leah ran too quickly into the sharp corner of my bed when I was attempting to a film a long shot, which involved her running around the bed to sit on the other side. She bruised her leg quite badly, so I advised her to apply some Sudocrem to the bruise and to take it easy for the rest of the night. After some discussion, she told me she was okay to carry on filming for the rest of the night.

We then moved on to the boxing scene which involved Jordan on his own. I shot several long and mid shots to show his anger and fury at what was going on in his life. I also decided to shoot an unplanned long shot with a tilt so the audience might wonder what it is that he is doing and possibly feel sympathy for him as a character. This will give me more footage to work with during the editing process. This scene went very well and didn't take as much time as the previous scenes had done.

Finally, we moved on to the scene where Leah is running to the toilet to be sick. At first I struggled to set the camera up in a position which would create the shot that I had in mind. After moving the camera around and trying different positions I finally found an angle which I was pleased with. I shot some high angle mid shots to show how vulnerable Leah is as a character, and some close ups to show the intimacy between the couple when Jordan is looking after her.

Shooting Schedule (Monday and Friday)

MONDAY 11TH NOVEMBER
5.00 -5.30 (Male and female arguing and fighting scenes)
Shots: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9  TYPE: Over the shoulder shots, mid shots, long shots

5.30 - 6.00 (Finding out diagnosis of female - female tells male)
Shots: 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 65 TYPE: Close ups, Extreme close ups, mid shots

6.00-6.30 (Destroying bedroom) - Unsteady camera
Shots: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 TYPE: Long shots, Extreme close ups, Mid shots

6.30 -7.00 BREAK FOR FOOD

7.00-7.30 (Boxing scene)
Shots: 29, 30, 37, 47 TYPE: Mid shots, Extreme close ups, Long shots,

7.30-8.30 (Bathroom, bedroom scenes)
Scene 1 Shots: 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 TYPE: Long shots, close ups, mid shots - low angle and high angle
Scene 2 Shots: 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 TYPE: Extreme close ups - high angles, two shots

On Monday I plan to film the majority of shots, depending on if filming goes according to schedule, which involve the house location. For example, where the couple are arguing, where Leah tells Jordan of her diagnosis, where she destroys her bedroom, the boxing scene and the scenes shot in the bathroom and bedroom. I will shoot the video consecutively based on the order of events which will take place in the music video. If we do not have time to shoot the scenes which I would like to shoot on that day, I will arrange another day with the talent to get these done.

FRIDAY 15TH NOVEMBER
1.30-2.00 (Walking through town centRe scene)
Shots: 19, 20, 21, 22 TYPE: Long two shots, mid shots, close ups

2.00-2.30 (Cafe scene) WITH ADDED LUNCH BREAK
Shots: 38, 39, 40, 41 TYPE: Mid shots, close ups (product placement for the cafe), two shots HANDHELD CAMERA (POINT OF VIEW)

3.00- 3.30 (Park scene)
Shots: 51, 52, 54, 55, 56  TYPE: Two shots - high angle, long shots, extreme close ups

On Friday I plan to film the shots which are going to take place away from my house. These are the flashback scenes where Jordan thinks back to times which they shared together as a couple.  Overall this process may be quite complicated as I have many different types of shots which I would like to capture. However, the talent have informed me that they will happily film again if they are not to my satisfaction.

Final Costumes

Costume 1
For the flashback scenes, I have chosen to dress both Leah and Jordan in dark clothing to show that they are linked together as a couple. As they are both wearing dark jeans, this emphasises this in particular, whilst also representing the genre. Jordan is wearing a simple t-shirt like the members of A Day to Remember, where under Leah's jacket she is wearing a plain vest top for the scene in the cafe. I have chosen to dress Leah in a leather jacket because this is a common convention my audience thought belonged to the rock genre, therefore I have decided to include this. Leah is wearing black trainers with white laces like the members of the band, this suggests the informal mood of the situation that they will be filmed in.



Costume 2
For the scenes where the couple are both having an argument, and when Leah tells Jordan her diagnosis, I have chosen to dress them both in predominantly dark clothing, similar to the first costume. I have done this so the costume will have negative connotations of sadness. I have chosen to dress Leah in a band t-shirt as this represents the rock genre, it is also a common choice of clothing amongst both A Day to Remember and my target audience. I chose a t-shirt which had a red part as red has connotations of anger and passion.












Costume 3
For a selection of the scenes where Jordan is looking after Leah, I have chosen to dress Leah in another band t-shirt which looks similar to a pyjama top, as well as some pyjama shorts. This suggests that she has begun to make less of an effort with her appearance and that she will be permanently wearing similar clothing until she passes in the video. I chose the grey t-shirt as since it is a band t-shirt it represents the genre, it also has dull connotations and suggests that her health has been altered by her illness. She is no longer white and pure, she is damaged. Jordan is wearing baggy bottoms and a casual v neck as this has connotations of him giving up and he is no longer bothered about his appearance. He wants to concentrate more on looking after Leah. His t-shirt is predominantly blue, but there is little white colour which therefore suggests that he is still hopeful that Leah can survive.





Costume 4
For the boxing scene which just includes Jordan, I have chosen to dress him in baggy clothing. For example, the baggy bottoms to show that he is being athletic in the scene. I have chosen black bottoms and a white top to show the contrast in his feelings, he is still hopeful that Leah might survive her illness, but at the same time he is angry. The white colour of the top also has connotations of his innocence and how vulnerable he is now due to his feelings.