Preliminary exercise: Research and planning

 There are also loads more tips and tutorials from Darius Britt (D4Darius on YouTube) that we would recommend watching as part of your research and planning. These include:

• Mastering Composition + Cinematography
• Nine things to check before pressing the record button

Now complete the following tasks:

1) State the song you have chosen for your preliminary exercise.

'The Perfect Pair' - Beabadoobee 

2) Choose at least three music videos similar to your concept and watch a clip or more from each. Make bullet-point notes on everything you watch, commenting on camerawork, editing and mise-en-scene.

1) There is good use of a urban setting at night time highlighting night life which is fitting of the pop genre. The lighting overall is very warm and dark creating a romantic and calm atmosphere between the two people. There are many cuts compared to the Beaches music video, and a bigger range of shots focusing on different body parts and picking out interesting parts of the scenery. Overall, it feels more creative and actually makes use of different tools. 

2) Summery stage, warm lighting, clothing all contribute to make a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Interestingly, there are props which include the instruments of the band. Wide shots to show off and establish the setting and then zooms in on people individually and instruments to emphasise their presence. The editing is very simple, there are a few split screens though. Also, we see Goodwin's music video conventions because it is centred around a stage performance. 

3) There is a grainy and warm feel to the camera filter, this creates a more retro feeling. The setting is very minimalistic and incorporates shapes and bright colours. There is choreography and performance, which links to Goodwin. The camera is tracking Laufey around the set. There are cuts between scenes and transitions when she travels room to room but definitely more tame compared to the videos above.

3) Write a short music video treatment for your extract (this is basically a script for your TikTok music video). You can find an example of a treatment here.

Scene 1: 3 members in a coffee shop sitting together w/ fingers tapping like a piano.

Scene 2: Walking on the street in a line. 

Scene 3: At a phone box(or just a normal phone) - acting with it (as if they were talking) and playfully following the rhythm of the song.

Scene 4:  Two of the members in an argument (on the right), and the main singer(on the left) with an OTS points to them whilst signing a lyric about fighting.

Scene 5:  They all whisper to each other. Then... [This is where the text + animation will come into play]

Scene 6: 3 people lying on the floor, and for every lyric it will focus on a different person - lip syncing as the song goes

Scene 7: Handheld selfie shot of the three of them walking. Then they put the phone down after delivering the last line

Scene 8: The focus of legs as they walk out on the beat

Scene 9: Ending credits

4) Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing (in a music video you will find you need FAR more shots than you think, particularly close-ups). These additional shots can be close-ups, alternative angles or something more creative. I advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word/Google Docs to set out your shot list - you can find an example here (this is from narrative filmmaking but the same format can be used for any video project). 

Shot list 

5) Plan your mise-en-scene: what iconography are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre and style of your artist? Plan your settings, costume, make-up, props and lighting. 

Casual clothing with a sort of grungy 2000s feel. Something like a t-shirt and flared jeans.

As for the makeup it will be mostly natural with an emphasis on eyeliner and mascara.

6) Plan a shooting schedule that will ensure everything is filmed by the deadline. Include when, where, who is required, planned equipment and any other aspects you need to arrange. 

Raagni, Laiyla, Antonia. Any street with a coffee shop really - urban setting. As for when, I'll have to arrange it with everyone. My phone is the only piece of equipment that I'll be using.