Production timetable version 1

December 2015

Production

This part is the filming of the music video. Differently from the other sections of this project, production will not have a set schedule. This is because it is up to me to arrange meetings with crew and actor so that we can all compromise on a date.

The plan

I have between 16th December 2014 and 23rd January 2015 to complete this section. I will complete this section by obtaining all necessary footage for my music video.

I have 5 weeks for this section, and have a minimum target of 25 hours.

My main objectives are to get in contact with my crew to schedule days to film, and to document what I have done.

Decision making 2

This evening I spent an hour or so with Colin in his studio discussing musical choices. After making my decision about my next steps previously, it seems we have encountered another problem...

I went to discuss how the track by Slushy can be developed, however it turns out that after analysing the track, Colin is unable to complete work on it because of the limitations of the separate programs each artists use.
He also made it clear that some fundamental elements, including excessive compression, need to be altered so that the tune is consistent throughout; for that to be done the tune needs to be reverted back to its original form, broken down into each sound on its starting program (FL Studio). This would mean getting it back to Slushy and asking him to re-do it.

Both artists are severely pushed for time with my project deadline now, as I am half way through the pre-production stage I want a track complete ASAP (i.e. by the end of the week), and as they have their own personal commitments over the next few weeks, it is not possible to demand this song being finished.

Next Steps

Because of this news, Colin has helped me by providing me with more of his personal tunes which are all complete and ready to go. He has also offered to make a track for a video, so that he will be creating the music for what ever I shoot.

Trying to be authentic, I have accepted his tunes in the hope that for the rest of this section, I can be inspired to create a video for one he has already made, and use it for my project. This would be ideal.

If, for some reason I need back up, I will accept his offer for him to design my tune.

Other

Posted on Facebook to recruit people interested in acting in music videos, even though the topic is, so far, unspecified.

TOTAL TIME SPENT ON THIS DAY: 3 hrs

Decision making

Last week was very difficult because I realised that I need to speed up the process and now I am feeling the pressure!

Solution to my problem...

The option I have decided on is the first one: to accept the track and immediately start work on music video planning. I am currently trying to get hold of my two artists to let them know this, and to arrange the next meeting so that they can adapt the selected track (trying drum and bass) and finalise its structure so that I can plan my video.

I have decided it doesn't matter that the track has not immediately inspired a strong image, because these things do take time. Plus, having some time over the weekend had helped me, and I have had a few thoughts.

I have also realised that as long as we work on the track together to get things going at a better pace, more ideas will come to us all. I am looking forward to hearing what thoughts the music provokes in the artists themselves, and I hope to reflect that in my music video.

How I've used my time today

This morning I have spent a bit more than 2 hours reviewing and condensing notes from my last two blogs, as well as typing up this one and contacting my clients. I've also bee brainstorming my musical and visual ideas for the adaptation of Slushy's second track.

I will keep ya'll posted.

Friday client meeting - with Colin

Today:

• Slushy unable to join us due to work commitments
• Colin and I spent the evening discussing and listening to Slushy's tune
• Aim: to acquire a track suited for music video production; along the lines of pop, happy/light mood, 'bubblegum', fun and bouncy
• PROBLEM is where to go next, see option further down v

Musical options from Slushy

Initial thoughts were that Slushy's two tracks were impressive, had massive potential, and could also do with further development.

Track 1 is really punchy - it is a really great idea but it is too intense for what I am looking for (I don't feel I'll be able to produce a video for it).

Track 2 is jazzy and groovy. It is upbeat and accessible but might be a bit too slow/soft; Colin suggests transforming into drum and bass for a different effect to weigh out the mood of the tune. Apart from lacking a poppy, bubble gum tone which we all agreed to aim for, it is a good track.

Discussions

We discussed representation in music videos again because it is particularly important in my project as I want to portray my music video in good light so that my artists are positively associated with it, and they get what they want out of it. For example, there is no use making a video about a female rapper when both of my clients produce a completely different type of music:

It has to be relevant for their target audience in some way, shape or form (this is where my Research section comes in well).

We discussed how videos make people feel; the focus of the topic being gratification - specifically in which the way a music video with crowds of people enjoying the music of the artist makes viewers feel engaged and involved in this popular focus.

We also spent time discussing how music is empowering to the core, how it helps memory, evokes emotions, what it makes us think about, and how it allows human beings to marvel at the natural world.

Options

Neither track was quite what I am looking for to develop for an ideal music video shoot (Problem encountered) so I have thought up three options to make the next moves:

1. I stop being picky and accept a track, immediately starting work on music video planning, even though the tracks haven't evoked very strong ideas so far
2. I press on with the tracks that we have, continuing the original plan which is for the two artists to finalise a track together by their own means and incomplete ideas, with myself as the project overseer.
3. I discuss with the artists about ideas, themes and unique selling points that I can display visually in my footage, and start working towards a shoot without the music, so that they can create the music for my footage (the opposite way round to my plan).

WHAT TO DO?

Option one appears to be the most logical, as it requires the artists to only do some touch ups on the selected track and finalise it for me; but I personally don't feel they are quite what I want as I haven't felt they strongly evoke any video ideas. Yet.

Option two is risky because it requires more time and this means the project will more than likely over run - bear in mind I am already half way through the Pre-production stage - but it means that I will probably get a better outcome on the musical side.

Option three seems to be some form of a compromise between the options because it means I can get straight on with focusing on the video (the next step) which is important.

I need to have a think about these options, so I will come back to them next time.

TOTAL TIME SPENT: 4 hours

Brief client meeting and recap

Affairs:

• 30 mins spent going over the Research section to correct any mistakes and finalise details
• 30 mins spent on developing and creating a more detailed 'Time keeping' post
• Spent a couple of hours with DJ Play, general music discussion (waiting for Slushy response about next meeting etc)
• Next meeting hopefully this Friday 28th

Problem: I have noticed that when I view my blog, parts of it in subtly different formats have altered the text's appearance, so it is not consistent (some areas are different coloured or sized text). In order to fix this I will have to spend time reformatting it, or somehow retyping it. I plan to combat this problem at a later date, towards the end of this project, where I have time to review my work. In the mean time I will keep an eye out to make sure I do not upset any more of the text formatting (inserting text/links etc.).

TOTAL TIME SPENT: 3hrs

First client/artist meeting

Affair:

• Initial meeting with clients/artists

This evening we had all met up and had a music video discussion, main points on our agenda (with Slushy + DJ Play/Colin) are as follows:

• Artist are keen on producing a track specifically for my task; for that reason, I have requested that, instead of starting from scratch, they use their individual incomplete track ideas to be remixed by each other so that they can work to the deadline without it being impossible to achieve a full track in time
• My role is the project manager/overseer
• As Colin has many more years of experience in sound engineering he has agreed to allow Slushy the majority of creative input, so Colin's role will focus more on the final production and quality of the track
• Deadline for tune (started by 28th Nov and must have a finalised structure by end of pre-production, which is the 12th Dec)
• Expectations if the tunes needs more work: clients must decide on solid a structure to build video ideas around so that there is a clear idea for the shoot
• Discussion of the audio files and formats; how artists will share their files to produce the track most efficiently
• Artists share their views and their sounds/music; showing how they use techniques and make sounds on FL studio, hearing Slushy's music on Soundcloud and Colin's on his laptop
• Discussing mood, theme and tone of the tune to be put together. 
• Ideas about shooting, and (very important) how we all want to represent ourselves as artists
• How clients will benefit from this project

Next time on our agenda:

• Tune needs to be developed
• Solidify ideas for a video

TOTAL TIME SPENT: 3 hrs

Clients and meetings

Tasks:

• Choose my local artist (my client!) and get in contact with them
• Arrange a meeting

Today I have got into contact with the two artists I wish to use: they are Slushy and DJ Play (Colin G Chalkley). I know them as they are local.

They wish to combine ideas, collaborating to make an ideal track for this project - I am very pleased!

I have also expressed that there is a time limit, and we are pushed for time as this section is just four weeks long, and that includes all pre-production aspects (which means the track needs to be complete with an idea and story board all ready to go!).

Presented with this task, they have enthusiastically agreed.

Our meeting will be at the end of this week.

TOTAL TIME SPENT: 2 hrs