Problems with Stop Motion

These are some pictures taken during the process of filming our Stop Motion. We used a Stop Motion kit, in which we quickly set up by sticking each part together. 

We faced many problems with filming our Stop Motion footage, as when we took a snapshot, the image taken went dark. We then tried again, by using two lights shown in the picture below, but the image wasn't improved. 

In our next lesson, we plan to take another shot at filming, but in a different room which produces more light. Hopefully this will enlighten the image taken, so no darkness is produced, and the image is clear.

 Image too dark, therefore view is restricted.

Background for Stop Motion

This is the background we painted for our stop motion. We decided to use the icons used in weather forecasts, to set the scene and location, of a real life Weather report taking place.

Today's Focus

In today's lesson, we plan to film the Stop Motion part of our Music Video, in which you will see Barbie as the Weather Girl. However, before any filming is taken place, we need to create a Weather forecast screen, in which we will use paper and paint in order to be able to do this.

Last Lesson

In our last lesson, we uploaded the footage which we had taken in the previous lesson, and began to edit what we had. We also downloaded our chosen song off iTunes  which we then had to put correctly in time with the lip syncing on our footage. We found this incredibly hard, and had to take several attempts to ensure that it was in sync with each other.

By the end of the lesson, I believe that we had spent our time well, and that we had made a good job of the editing the footage we had taken. However, due to some of the lighting being too dark, this restricts the viewing of the scene, and therefore needs to be recorded again using some of the lights, borrowed by sixthform.

Next Lesson

In our next lesson, we hope to edit the footage that we recorded today, and perhaps record some more, to increase the amount of footage that we have altogether.

Footage from filming today

This is a piece of footage that I recorded on my phone, whilst we were recording a scene for the chorus. This was only a rough recording though, as we didn't have enough lights, to create enough light to reflect onto Sam's face.

Camera Shots

These are a few camera shots taken whilst filming the chorus scene today. We filmed in a small music room in our sixthform centre, up against a blue background, to make the scene colourful. We used a fill light, to create a soft shadow, and to highlight Sam's face in the box, to make sure his lip syncing was made clear.

Barbie Doll

As we are using a Barbie Doll as our Weather Girl in Stop Motion, Sam bought in two of his little sisters Barbie dolls to choose from. However, out of the two, there was only one Barbie, as the other was a Shelley doll.

We decided against the Shelley doll, as we believe she didn't give off the same effect as what a Barbie doll would. Also, as Shelley dolls have a more younger face, it would go against the flourishing of voyeurism and the feminine body.

Instead, we went for the Barbie doll. As the Barbie doll was in a long red dress, we decided to cut the dress shorter, to make her look more attractive, and seen more as a sexual object to the male audience.

The dress before it was cut. 

The dress after it was cut. 

We also decided to take the coat off the Shelley doll, and put it on Barbie instead, as it looks like a Weather Girl raincoat.

Cutting a hole in the Head box

After painting the box white in the previous lesson, in order for Sam's head to fit in the box, we needed to cut a hole in the bottom of the box. We done this by piercing a whole through the bottom of it, and then cutting around it, finally cutting a circle which fitted over Sam's head. 

These are a few pictures, to show the process of the box.

More Storyboard Ideas

Voyeurism

When looking through my teachers supply of Lego, we came across a toy window, in which we thought was a great prop to use when portraying voyeurism. It portrays the idea of looking at someone/something through something else.

This image demonstrates Becca's eye looking through the window. This can be a strong link towards voyeurism, as it flourishes her eye in which is the main object which see's through the window. As it is a window, this means I am also able to see Becca, therefore two points of view are able to be perceived.

Props

As we are going to create a mini studio in our Stop Motion, we need props such as Cameras, Lights and equipment in order for it to look realistic. We asked our teacher to bring in some Lego, in which we could use to put together our camera, lighting and equipment.

We were very successful, as we created two cameras, a buggy for the camera to go on, a reflector and a Key Light/Soft Light. 

These are images of the equipment we created using Lego.

 Camera 1

 Camera 2

 Camera 2

 Buggy

 High Key/Low Key Lighting

Reflector

Process of painting the box

These are some images taken throughout the process of painting our head box. To begin with, we cut off the flaps which were not needed with a pair of scissors.

We then began to paint our box with white paint. This was a long process, as we had to do several layers of paint, in order for the writing on the box, to be covered up.

As you can see in the pictures, several more layers of paint are needed to be applied, therefore we are going to do this next lesson.

If the paint still doesn't cover up the cardboard, we are going to buy a few sheets of white card, and attach them to the box, to make sure the box is fully white, to stop the camera from picking up missed spots of paint.

Today's Plan

In today's lesson, we plan to paint our head box. At first, we will paint it white, to cover up the writing already written on the cardboard box. After the paint has dried, we will then begin to paint the box different colours, to make it bright and colourful.

Risk Assessment

In order to be able to film, we need to take into consideration a Risk Assessment, to ensure what could happen and cause harm throughout the filming of our Music video.

1. What could cause harm?
Whilst filming, someone could easily fall down the stairs, as their main focus will be on shooting the shot, to make sure the lighting and camera shot is in the correct position. As their main focus will be on this, they may become unaware of their surroundings.

2. What is the likelihood of this happening?
There is a very low risk of this taking place. However, it may accidentally happen, therefore we all need to be aware of our surroundings, to ensure no one is seriously injured.

3. Who and what could be harmed?
Any member of the group could easily be harmed throughout the process of filming. This could be done easily by tripping over a wire laying on the floor. Of course if any member of the group was to trip over a wire, with the camera in their hand, the camera would also be harmed, therefore causing damage and disruption to our filming schedule.

4. How much harm?
The amount of harm is very severe, ranging from either a cut of a bruise, to a broken limb. It is hard to tell what type of injury will be taken place, as it's hard to tell what harm will be caused, to either a member of the group of the camera.

5.Applying the following priorities, how will this risk be managed?
The risk will be managed by reducing or substituting.

Box

As we need a cardboard box in order to be able to make our head box, I went to my local coop, and asked for any spare cardboard boxes that they didn't need. Out of a choice of cardboard boxes, ranging in different sizes, I came across this box, which I thought would be a perfect size to be able to fit around Sam's head.

Our next aim to achieve, is to paint the box, and begin to film the chorus scene in the drama studio in our Sixthform centre. This will hopefully be achieved by the end of the week.

Design of the Head Box

This is a diagram I created on Paint, of the design of our head box. We will be using this head box during the main chorus of our song, as it begins with "Trying to think outside the box". As we want to match Goodwin's theory of visuals to lyrics, we decided a box would be a fantastic object to use within the chorus.

Plan of our Stop Motion box

This is a diagram I produced on Paint, in which it presents the plan of what our Stop Motion box/set is going to look like. To be able to create it, I am going to go to a local supermarket, and ask permission if I can take a cardboard box. Once I have the cardboard box, I am then going to cut the top and the side of it out, to make a mini filming set. From there, I will then purchase a green sheet and two white sheets, in order to be able to easily attach them to our mini filming set.