Star Research & Development

This is the star research and development that me and Jasmine worked on. 

Reflection: Since me and my teammates were absent, it was rather time-consuming to make the table as I had to do it in my own free time.

Music Video Development

 This is the music video development that Jasmine made. 

Filming Schedule

 Here is the filming schedule that Beatrice made.

Reflection:

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Screen Test

 To find a star for our music video, we need to conduct a screen test. Here is a video of our class's group audition. We did this as a class.

Beatrice listed down the advantages and disadvantages of doing a class screen test below.

By doing this screen test, there are some advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it was highly efficient; testing everyone at once allowed us to save time and review a large number of candidates within just one song. This approach also enabled direct comparisons between candidates, as we could observe them side by side, assessing their on-screen presence, body language, and facial expressions to determine who could best embody the star persona we envision. Additionally, this screen test allows us to see how candidates interact with each other, which is important given our music video's focus on themes of friendship. It helped us identify pairs who visually and energetically complement each other on screen. However, there were some disadvantages, such as, candidates might unintentionally adjust their style and tone to align with others, leading to less authentic performances and potentially masking their unique qualities. There’s also the risk of unequal attention when there are many candidates, which can result in varying screen time and limit some candidates’ ability to showcase their full potential. Lastly, it feels less polished due to a more cluttered, chaotic atmosphere, compared to the focused environment of individual screen tests.

Reflection: 

At first, we decided not to choose anyone from this screen test as most of them didn't match up to our expectations and how we perceived our star to be. However, we noticed that two candidates had a very natural and good dynamic, we gave them a second try where they can both give us another screen test of themselves. It went great. They did so much better on their second try and the chemistry between them was the best out of all the other candidates. We decided to choose them as our artists. In addition, I really like that we did the screen test as a class as it is also cost-effective as we don't have to travel anywhere (gas money) or pay any entrance fee for it. Some problems that we faced while doing this screen test was that we all wanted to do the screen test so nobody was able to film for us. However, we overcame that since our teacher ended up filming the screen test for us. Overall, I had a great time doing this screen test. I would say that for next time, we should try to distribute the screen time between each candidate more equally so that we don't accidently skip over.

Location scout & Risk Assessment

 This is the location scout and risk assessment that I (Rachelle) worked on.

Location Scout & Risk Assessment – Rachelle

Images: 

Location
Address:	Bali Farm House [https://g.co/kgs/UPdYCid]
Scene:	Friends playing around and having fun
Advantages of location:	The space that we can utilize for filming is very big as Bali Farm House’s field is very wide. This means that we can use that space for various filming opportunities such as extreme long shots. Furthermore, this large space is ideal for when we have to shoot scenes that has a lot of movements (e.g. spinning around and running around with friends) The natural lighting in this place gives a soft and nostalgic feel to it, this matches with the theme of our music video.
Disadvantages of Location:	Bali Farm House is located in Singaraja, which is 2 hours away. This may be inconvenient as we’d be wasting 4 hours in total to go back and forth. Not only this but the petrol needed to go here would also be more costly. Furthermore, transporting the equipment would be a hassle to do especially if we happen to accidentally leave something behind.  There are lots of animals in this place (chickens, alpacas, etc.) so it may be a rather noisy place to film in. Moreover, it may cause distractions to us when filming as some of these animals roam free in the field. This is because they may go in the frame while we shoot, therefore requiring us to reshoot the scene all over again, taking time off our day. Entrance fee is rather expensive (IDR 175.000 which is about $11, this is considered pretty costly in our country)
Alternatives:	Bedugul Asri [https://g.co/kgs/5pnnnje]
Risk Assessment
Risk:	Who is at risk:	How to avoid risk:	High, Medium, Low risk:
1. Rain	Actresses might get sick due to the rain Props may also get damaged	Check the weather forecast and pick the best date to go (a sunnier/more dry day) Bring umbrellas just in case it rains	Medium – Rainy season in Bali typically occurs from October to March. We will probably film our music video around this period, so it’s more likely to rain.
2. Diseases from animals	Some animals in Bali Farm House such as the chickens may potentially carry diseases (e.g. chickens), this can cause sicknesses to the actresses	Try to stay away from the animals, or choose places in the location that is far from them Wear masks to wear when not filming/during break to reduce the risk of contracting those diseases Consume vitamin before going there to boost immune system	High – Diseases contracted from animals can be dangerous. However, the chance of actually contracting it is low as long as we take care of our body and immune system.
3. Sun exposure	Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to sunburns, dehydration, or even heat strokes. The entire cast and crew can be affected by this.	Wear hats and apply sunscreen before arriving and make sure to reapply the sunscreen every few sessions to avoid sunburns. Bring water bottles to the location and if not allowed then buy water from the cafe inside the farm house.  If one of us feels hazy, or even if we don’t, we should make sure to take breaks in between each scene.	Medium – Bali’s climate tends to be very hot most of the time so the chance of getting dehydrated, sunburnt, or getting a heat stroke is rather likely. However, if we follow the right precautions, then we can reduce this risk.

Images: 

Location
Address:	Sanur Beach
Scene:	Separation scene
Advantages of location:	Easily accessible  The entrance to Sanur Beach is free, therefore we can save costs for this and put the money on props or other things instead. Just like Bali Farm House, Sanur beach has natural lighting which can give a nostalgic feel to it, matching our music videos theme. Moreover, Sanur would be most suitable since it’s located more closely to most of us compared to most other beaches.
Disadvantages of Location:	Sanur is a very popular beach both among locals and tourists, so it tends to be very crowded most of the time. This means it may be difficult to shoot scenes where the two artists have to be alone.  The air on the beach is very damp. From my own experience, this can really ruin the artists’ hair, which may alter the vibe or the original hairstyle that we gave them. In some parts of the beach, they will have ceremonies and/or parades at night so this may disrupt our filming since we’re planning on using diegetic sounds of the waves for some of the beach scenes, in which the sounds from the parades and ceremonies may overlay the audio.
Alternatives:	Nyang-nyang beach
Risk Assessment
Risk:	Who is at risk:	How to avoid risk:	High, Medium, Low risk:
1. Rain	The entire cast and crew members may get sick due to the rain (e.g. flue). Moreover, if the rain happens to ruin one of the props then the money used to purchase it will be wasted.	Bring umbrellas and check the weather forecast. There are lots of places and cafes to seek shade in on the beach, so when the rain starts to drizzle, we can immediately go to a nearby cafe or a stall.	Low – Just like in Bali Farm House, we will probably film our music video around the rainy season period, so it’s more likely to rain. However, since Sanur Beach is located in a lower terrain, it’s less likely to rain.
2. Windy weather and sand	During the evening to night, the weather tends to be very windy on the beach. This may cause the sand to be blown with the air. This sand can then get into our eyes when filming, which can cause infections and other eye problems when not treated properly. The whole crew and cast can be affected by this.	When not filming, it’s better to bring glasses to prevent sand from coming in the eyes Another way could be to check the weather forecast and go when the weather is less windy.	Low – although this is likely to happen, the damage it can potentially do isn’t fatal. We can easily wash out the grain from the eyes with mineral water.
3. Dark lighting	Most parts of Sanur Beach get really dark at night, especially the areas that don't have many cafes, stalls, or shops near it. This can cause both the crew members and casts to trip on things, slip, or fall as they have difficulties trying to see.	Search for an area where there are bars or cafes that open until late at night so that there are some lighting, this prevents us from shooting in complete darkness.	Low – the risks of filming in a very dark place can be dangerous, despite so, the solution is very simple and easy to do so we can very easily avoid this risk.

Images:

Location
Address:	Regents Secondary School (classroom, hallway, etc.)  https://g.co/kgs/bkWBoHE
Scene:	Lip syncing scenes
Advantages of location:	Since the theme for our music video is graduation and high school friends, shooting scenes in school would be more relatable to audiences that are watching, therefore feeling represented.  The props needed to film are already present (desks, chairs, lockers, etc.) so there’s no need to bring and purchase props. This saves a lot of time as well as effort This location is an area where we are very familiar with, so we know the layout of classrooms, hallways, and any spots so we can quickly set up and move between scenes. Moreover, we’re also able to identify the best angles, lighting, as well as areas that match  with our scene and theme the best, therefore saving the time and effort for scouting.
Disadvantages of Location:	There’s an ongoing construction in our school so the sound from this may disrupt us when filming. Moreover, since our school is located near a main road, the sounds of vehicles can get loud during day time. If we film during weekends, we may need to ask for permission from the principal in order to use the spaces needed.  The school may not allow us to do any changes to the wall decorations and lighting setups, especially since the classrooms have fixed lighting in which most of the time is fluorescent, so this may not match what we want to convey in some of our scenes. However, this can be fixed with editing later on. Even if we’re allowed to move the desks and chairs around, it will take a lot of time to put it back to its original position.
Alternatives:	One of our houses
Risk Assessment
Risk:	Who is at risk:	How to avoid risk:	High, Medium, Low risk:
1.  Equipment damage	A classroom setting can sometimes be cluttered so when filming the crew members may trip and drop the prop or equipment they’re carrying. The people affected by this risk are the crew members responsible for the equipment as well as the equipment themselves.	Make sure to hold the equipment properly and bring it back up just in case it breaks so filming doesn’t have to be delayed for a long period of time. Take breaks in between just in case crew members aren’t too tired of holding props/equipment (to avoid them accidentally dropping it).	Low – this doesn’t cause any health damage or anything too serious to anyone, but filming equipment such as cameras are costly so crew members may really have to watch out.
2. Tripping and falling hazards	There are many cords and cables lying around, as well as chairs and tables, which may serve as a hazard to both crew members and casts.	Tidy up the setting first before starting to film. (fold cords and cables neatly and put them in a place where people won’t trip on)	Medium – falling and tripping may possibly cause head injuries or other injuries. To prevent this from happening, it’s best to be very careful when stepping around, as well as take some safety precautions (bring ice packs or bandages just in case, or just a first aid kit)

Here is the link to the Google Docs I made in case the table doesn't show properly on this blog.

Reflection

Creating this was very interesting for me since i got to analyze a few different locations and actually

thought about possible things that could happen that we may have to take precautions for. This is very helpful as I can remind my teammates (Jasmine and Beatrice) as well as myself to be very careful when filming as there are many risks that we should avoid, and that we shouldn't make plans impulsively to avoid any unwanted incidents. Some difficulties I faced when making this was that I didn't have any time to go to any of these locations, except for school, so I ended up just taking the pictures from the internet instead (Google). Additionally, I've only went to some of these locations only once so I may not really know what the area is like, therefore my descriptions of the place may be inaccurate. However, once I have the time, I will go to the locations and if what they're actually like doesn't match my description then I will change it. Moreover, I think that I could definitely think of more advantages, disadvantages, and risks to put in each location but I don't think that those risks are significant enough to be put on (I only put on the most likely risks compared to the others). Overall, I enjoyed doing this task and am pretty proud of the outcome I could say.

Classwork

 This is the classwork that I have learned in class and in my individual time about media languages, camera works, etc. 

In class, the teacher introduced us to the way media companies convey certain messages through camera works, editing, and many more. I also watched YouTube videos (attached right below this) which my teacher recommended to the class so that we can grasp a better understanding of them. Here are my notes on these topics. 

Below are the videos that I watched to get a better understanding on these topics.

Camera Angles

• Long shot

• A camera angle which captures the entire subject from top to bottom and shows the surrounding environment

• Often used to show the relationship or context between the character and the environment. In the example below, 

• Extreme long shot

• Captures a very wide view of an area from a distance, where the subject often appears small compared to the area.

• Often used to convey loneliness or isolation

• Medium shot

• Captures the subject from approximately the waist up. 

• Often used to bring focus onto both the character’s emotions and the surroundings by giving them an equal presence on screen. 

• Close-up shot

• Captures the subject at close range 

• Usually done to bring focus onto small details, such as facial expressions. This can create suspense and help the audience connect/emphasize more with the subject 

• Extreme close-up shot

• The extreme close-up shot focuses on greater details compared to a normal close-up, this could be the eyes of a character, or a grain of rice on a table, and many more.

• Often used as an indication of the importance of the subject shown in the scene or to further emphasize on a character’s emotions and inner thoughts.

• Establishing shot

• Wide shots of buildings, landscapes, and other settings.

• Introduces and gives context of the setting/where a scene is gonna happen

• Cowboy shot

• Captures the subject face down to around below the waist

• Often used to make a character appear heroic and powerful 

• Over the shoulder shot

• The camera is placed behind one character (usually their shoulder) and facing another, so the one character's back faces the audience.

• Often used to show the relationship between two characters

• POV shot

• Captures scenes from the character's perspective by positioning the camera right where the character's eyes would be.

• Used to immerse the audience into the scene, making them feel like they’re experiencing it with the character.

• High angle shot

• Camera captures subject from above (as if looking down on it)

• Used to convey inferiority and vulnerability of the subject in frame

• Low angle shot

• Camera captures subject from below (as if looking up at it)

• Used to convey superiority and power of subject in frame

• Dutch angle shot

• Camera 

Camera Movements

• Zoom

• Camera movement where the camera doesn’t move closer to the subject but rather by adjusting the focal length of the lens.

• Brings the focus of the audience onto the subject by narrowing in on the subject in a frame 

• Dolly zoom

• Camera moves the camera closer or towards the subject while zooming in or out the opposite direction.

• Creates a sense of uneasiness or disorientation

• Tilt

• The camera angle is moved vertically (up or down) while remaining in its position

• Reveal new information or emphasize a subject’s height/depth

• Pan

• Camera is rotated horizontally while remaining in a fixed position

• Follows subject/action across the screen or reveals parts of a scene

• Tracking shot

• Camera moves along with the subject either from the front or back.

• Immerses the audience into the scene, building up anticipation.

• Trucking shot

• Camera moves along with the subject from the side 

• Gives context to the subject’s surroundings

• Boom

• The camera is moved vertically up or down with a crane

• Adds a change to the perspective, can also be used to reveal new information

• Crane 

• The camera is moved up, down, or across large distances with a crane

• Makes the scene more dramatic, especially for complex or large scenes. 

 

• Pull in / Push out

• Camera is moved physically towards or farther from the subject

• Pull in → Grab audience’s attention on a subject

• Push out → Creates a sense of distance or reveal more of a scene

• Handheld / Random 

• The camera is held by a hand or purposely made to look like it was

• Creates a sense of realism or chaos

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is the composition of different elements of a media product that is used to portray meaning. Below are the types of mise-en-scene that media companies utilize to convey a message or set a mood to the audience.

• Props

• Set design

• Costume

• Hair

• Makeup

• Color performance

• Lighting

• Blocking

• Focus

• Weather

• Environment 

Edit

• Continuity Editing 

• Scenes flow smoothly with this since it keeps time and action in order.

• Montage Editing 

• Combines quick shots to show information quickly or to events happening overtime. 

• Parallel Editing (Cross-Cutting) 

• Switches between two scenes/events happening at the same time but in a different place

• Cutaways and Inserts 

• Cutaways → Shows something related to the main subject/event

• Inserts → close ups of important details in a scene

• Cut to the Beat (Rhythmic Editing) 

• The cuts matches the rhythm of the sound or music

• Match Cut 

• Cuts from one scene to another where the both of them has a subject that looks alike or has the same composition

• Crossfade (Dissolve) 

• Split Screen 

• Jump Cut 

• Flashback and Flashforward

Sound

• Diegetic sound

• Diegetic sounds are any sound that comes from the character’s universe, basically any sound that the characters in the film can hear

• E.g. the characters talking, footsteps, etc.

• Non-diegetic sound

• Any sound that doesn’t come from the character’s universe; any sound that they can’t hear

• E.g. edited music

Media Theories – We also learned about media theories which we can implement into our project. Below is a soft copy of my teacher’s presentation, explaining the theories we learned.

Classwork Presentation

Reflection:

This classwork was really interesting to me. From this, I realized that there are so many thoughts that have to be put into when making movies and music videos. I usually just watch them without thinking much of it, but turns out they have to think of even the angles, props, lighting, and sound in order to convey a message to the audience. Some problems I did face when making this was mostly from learning theories. I found some of the theories rather confusing and difficult to understand, but in the end, I asked my friends to explain it better to me and I finally understood it. Moreover, some of the types of edits are hard to memorize, so I will have to study that more intensely. On the list of edits, I gave very short descriptions to only a few of them and this is because I wanted to save time to do other tasks so I decided to give descriptions to the type of edits that I will most likely use on the music video project. Despite this, I think that this lesson has helped me gain a better understanding about media language and contexts and will definitely be very helpful for upcoming projects.