Filming: Cotton Wool Clouds

Today we filmed the lip syncing in front of the cotton wool clouds using a pastel pink backdrop. we initially tried with Shelley stood in front of the set but after a few attempts we decided to take the set down and arrange it on the floor so that Shelley could have her spread out across the clouds whilst she lay on them giving a more dreamy, intimate effect. we managed to get through the whole song lip syncing, Shelley did incredibly well to keep her focus on the lens of the camera, despite me treading on her foot by accident at one point....

Working with Animals

In our music video we plan to be filming some shots with rabbits and guinea pigs in relation to the positive elements of the song . when working with animals we have to consider their welfare. many animals are stressed easily, and although rabbits and guinea pigs are less susceptible to stress than reptiles it is still a factor to consider, so it is important to monitor how long they are filmed and handled, making sure they are comfortable. to aid this we are going to film them im an environment they are used to. also it is important not to work them to hard to avoid them getting tired or worn out.
we plan to only shoot a maximum of 5 minutes at a time to avoid stressing out the animals. in addition to this we will introduce the filming equipment to the environment prior to filming to give the animals time to adjust to the new objects.

Costume:

After selecting our locations we have decided to put together costumes to that will work with the colors in the environment. one of our favorite locations is by a berry bush located in east-brook end country park. the red berries are beautiful and so we are planning to try to pick up this distinctive color very simply and subtly in the outfit.

Creating a Set

one of the ideas we came up with for a setting for some footage was to have some sort of back drop with cotton wool clouds, with Shelley lip syncing rigidly like some sort of puppet. the concept is quite obviously childish and nostalgic and so fits well with the feel of the lyrics. so today we set about making the cotton wool clouds. we cut out very unrealistic and cloud shapes with exaggerated curves much like a child's drawing then stuck cotton wool over the cardboard before taping thick string to the backs and hanging them from each other. they look wonderful, like some sort of old puppet display.

Filming: Schedule

here is a basic filming schedule, documenting where, when and what we will be filming in the coming few months.

Filming: Shot List

here is a lsit of the shots we hope to have by the end of all of our filming in a possible order of appearance oin our music video.

•  Boats at the seaside
•  A view of an amusement park
•  shelley lip syncing next to a tree
•  Simon laying down in leaves-corresponding with the lyric 'your love of death'
•  A mid shot of shelley lip syncing
•  A close up of a rabbit
•  shelley sitting next to a tree
•  A close up of a hand playing the guitar
•  shelley lip syncing in a forrest.
•  A shot of the peer moving towards the end of the peer 

Southend-on-Sea

Southend offers a great location for some of the footage for our music video. Firstly seaside towns are renown for being and recognized as happy joyous places of childish enjoyment and naive beauty, thus linking perfectly with the songs childish remorse for a happier time, a nostalgia emphasized as at this time of the year the fun fair is closed and the beach front desolate and vacant.

Location: Shelley's Eagle Eye

Today whilst me and shelley went on a hunt for possible locations to film in Eastbrookend country park, shelley spotted a fantastic location next to a red Berrie bush, it was fantastic and will definitely be used as a lip syncing location. other locations we found included a group of trees that shelley could sit in to lip sync next to a lake, some tall reeds and next to another lake.

Location search:

me and Shelley have been trying to think of possible locations to film. we have already planned to film in the local country park (Eastbrook End Country Park) as its natural environment will provide a great backdrop for the style of the selected music track, however we are also considering a few other locations. southend poses a great location as it is generally a place of joy and happiness yet in these colder months the seafront is barren and reflects the nostalgic aura of the track.

Filming: Story Board

Here is our revised storyboard for our music video, now that our ideas are more solidified and we have refined what it is we want to include in our music video we have made a new storyborad.

Our Story Board

here is a rough idea of the order in which our different shots and sequences will be presented within the music promotion video. a number of shots have been included to just give an idea of the style and progression of ideas throughout the video. he begins in an almost 'cute' fashion and as the video prgresses sadder darker elements are introduced corresponding with the sympathetic nature of the song and is lyrics.