Workshop

After shooting our opening scene we entered the work shop. We chose this particular workshop, as it fitted with the manual labour/hard working job we imagined Ricky would have from the lyric "worked his fingers to the bone". As we have been using two cameras throughout all our filming, we faced a few problems in the workshop due to the lack of space. The advantage to using the two cameras meant that our scenes had good continuity as we rarely had to repeat scenes to get a second angle. However as there was a lot of equipment in the workshop the walkways where often narrow and therefore proved quite difficult to get someone holding a second camera in without them being in the shot. We managed to overcome this by using tripods to hold the cameras, as they are smaller than a person and could be placed in tighter spaces.

Opening scene

We decided to have a short introduction to our music video to set the scene which would have no sound. It was based around the lyric "Lived 9 to 5 and worked his fingers to the bone." To shoot it we visisted group member Ollie's dads workshop. As we drove to the workshop we noticed the length of the open drive. It was surrounded by fields which we thought would be a great way to show the lonliness of our character "Ricky". We set up the camera at a low angle to exagerate the distance between the camera and Ricky.

Band shoot

After securing a date with all the actors we needed for our band, gathered the band instruments and equipment and drove to our location. I particularly liked how it was a misty day which gave a very interesting fog in the distance of our shots. We set up the equipment in our chosen spot of the location. It was undercover which sheltered us from any potential bad weather but it had open walls behind the band, allowing plenty of light. This also gave us the opportunity to capture some great shots where the band are silhouetted.

Band Location

Rain from Ollie Sandles on Vimeo.

Group member Ollie found a realy interesting location to host our band footage. Here is a video he made showing various parts of the location. I really like how the dereliction reflects the broken down life of our main character. The open sides to the building will give us a great oppurtunity to play with light and depth in our shots.

Colour

Hull (Ings) from Mutiny Bikes on Vimeo.


Here is a video example of a coloured filter effect we would like similar to the effect of Lomography.

Lomography

Lomography is a style of photography which originated in 1990, a similar time to when Skid Row where producing their music. The camera's are originally Russian however they soon became very popular internationally. I would like to experiment with using a similar colour effect in some of our footage. Not just because it was popular at the time when the music was made but also because it has a feeling of vibrance. Its bold colours are exciting and can also make the images look gritty.

(image taken from http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/lomo-seagulls1.jpg)

Inspirational Video

This is the Music video to "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve. The filming of the video is done in one continuous tracking shot. The singer mimes the lyrics whilst looking down the camera. I really like how the character comes across as quite intimidating yet as an audience we feel a connection with him as the fourth wall is broken. This is something i would like to include in our future filming.

First Shoot

Our aim for this shoot was to focus on the narrative of our music video. We had organised to meet our main actor playing Ricky and had previously decided on a few locatins. The first scene we focused on involved Ricky walking out into a road, nearly being hit by a car and having an argument with the driver. We shot the scene with two cameras to get a range in angles. We then shot our closing scene where Ricky drops a bottle and walks off down a hill and then there is a timelapse video as it gets dark. For this shot we had to pick the timing right in order to have enough light to see the character but it had to be late enough for there to be a change in light during the time lapse. For this we used one one camera on a tripod placed at a medium height.

Our Audience

By the late 80's, the Rock genre had been through many different changes, branching off to a variety of sub-genres such as Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock and Glam Rock. Therefore it had quite a broad audience which we see as 18 and Life made it to #4 on the billboard 100 chart. However I think it would be fair to say most fans of 18 and Life would have been teenagers and young adults. This is partly because of this matches the age of the characters used in the original video. Adolescents like finding role models as it gives them someone to look up to. The band members of Skid Row will attract an audience slightly younger than themselves as the audience will feel they can relate to the stars and will enjoy asspiring to the rock stars who represent the "Star Image". I dont think the song is gender specific, particularly as it has a glam rock feel which is quite popular amongst both genders.

Similar text

This video features similar themes of the reckless youth we will be using in our video. This song and video is also the same genre as 18 and Life, rock pop. The characters used in this video are also of a similar age as the ones used in the original Skid Row video for 18 and Life, suggesting a similar audience.

Locations

Potential Band Locations

Another group member, Ollie Sandles, found and photographed these to potential locations for the band to play in when we film them. They are quite industrial areas, and the buildings are run down, and derelict. This is relevant to our narrative as it mimics the theme of the neglected boy.

Casting

We secured James Wheeler to play our main part of 'Ricky'. We have also cast a band called the croft as our featuring band. One of our initial ideas was to keep the number of actors to a minimum to help reflect the loneliness that Skid Row sing about in 18 and Life. For this reason we aren't required to cast any more main parts as we have James Wheeler for the narrative and the Croft for instrumental based band shots.

Song Lyrics

Ricky was a young boy, He had a heart of stone.
Lived 9 to 5 and worked his fingers to the bone.
Just barely got out of school, came from the edge of town.
Fought like a switchblade so no one could take him down.
He had no money, oooh no good at home.
He walked the streets a soldier and he fought the world alone
And now it's

18 and life You got it
18 and life you know
Your crime is time and it's
18 and life to go
(repeat above)

Tequila in his heartbeat, His veins burned gasoline.
It kept his motor running but it never kept him clean.
They say he loved adventure, "Ricky's the wild one."
He married trouble and had a courtship with a gun.
Bang Bang Shoot 'em up, The party never ends.
You can't think of dying when the bottle's your best friend
And now it's

chorus

"Accidents will happen" they all heard Ricky say
He fired his six-shot to the wind that blew a child away.

chorus

Song Choice - Skid Row -18 and Life

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