Evaluation Q2: What have you learnt from participating in each of the prelim tasks 1, 2, 3 and 5?

Task 1 - Complete an Audition Video

Our audition video

The first task which we had to complete involved creating an audition video to help cast our group in the video's respective roles. Personally, I thought that it was also a good chance to boost the group's confidence.

Positives I was able to take from the audition video included:
-Learning how to lipsync properly (including actually singing so that the vocal cords could be seen)

-The importance of learning the song lyrics to ensure the video stayed professional

-Being prepared to loosen up and stay confident to avoid appearing uninterested or nervous

-The need to shoot multiple angles, takes and variations of shots to keep the video entertaining, and in case one shot wasn't suitable

-Laying a performance bed and editing the video to match closely with the real track

We had to stay confident of both knowing the lyrics and performing without being fazed 

Task 2 - Learn and practice your performance

Our next task was to learn and practice our various performances for the remake video. For 2 weeks, we spent time after school boosting our confidence, improving our acting & performance skills and learning numerous dance routines for the shoot day - when all of our training would come together.

Positives I was able to take from practice:

-We had the chance to work with industry professionals who gave us useful advice.

Our dance coach Tasha, and performance coach Jasmine

Tasha, our dance coach, helped us learn and perfect our moves whilst Jasmine, our performance coach, boosted our enthusiasm and confidence through facial exercises & games like "woohah!", whilst ensuring we mirrored the actions and expressions of the performers in the real video.

-We were able to use videos of the real video and routines, which I felt was also helpful to use when rehearsing.

Tasha's practice video, which we used to 

help us learn the main cheerleading routine.

Task 3 - Help to plan and organise your costume

My selection of costumes for the music video

Because there were a number of different setups for the video (where Taylor and the cast are in a different role each time) we were required to bring in as many different costumes as we could, which required good planning and organisation. We referred to an individual costume sheet, and were assigned a hanger for the shoot day (see above) for each individual person & setup.

My individual costume list, detailing required clothes

On the shoot day, I realised how important organisation would be, and I thought the hanger system was very useful to help with this. I found that both costume references and make-up references are vital, and needed in order to keep the cast - and the shoot - looking professional.

Each setup, or scene, required a different costume (end dance, band, cheerleading, hip hop)

Task 5 - Complete the Remake Edit

Finally, having successfully completed the shoot day, we had to piece together the various shots & match the audio with the various Taylors' lipsyncing. Once more, we had to edit in groups: I edited with Georgina & Matt. I was a little surprised at just how long it took to ensure the audio and mouth movements matched precisely, though our group worked really well and completed it without fuss.



Positives I was able to take away from editing:
-I understood that there were differences between editing a music video and the film opening - including less of a need for continuity rules & a flowing story.

-I realised how useful it was to edit the sequence in sections, rather than chronologically - this made it easier to assign roles to our editing group, and prevented confusion as to where we had progressed to.

-I consolidated my knowledge of key frames, using it to apply movement and zooms to shots where there was previously no camera movement.

Grading effect controls

left before grading vs right after (please click to enlarge)

-I also learnt new techniques, such as tweaking scale width to invert a shot.