Filming : Band Performance

For the band performance, we had the task of acquiring the instruments, assembling the band as well as finding a suitable location which we could utilise and allow all of our band memebers to play. After school, the whole group met in the music rooms and found instruments that we could use. We asked to borrow a drum kit and a bass guitar as well as two performance amplifiers. On top of this, we brought in our own equipment. We had the initial idea of filming by the gym block, as it had the simple background setting of a brick wall. However, once we put all the instruments in place, we realised that there would not be enough room for the band to move and also, there were certain things on the wall for example the fire alarm, which affected our shots.

For our performance, we kept to the criteria of Andrew Goodwin's theories. We exploited the use of star image, as well as the development of the star over time. We used a number of close-ups of each band member, in order to promote the band and create a sense of intimacy with the viewer. The close ups are also able to show what the band is offering, particularly the voice of the lead singer. John Stewart of Oil Factory states that he 'sees the music video as essentially having the aesthetics of the TV commercial, with lots of close ups and lighting being used prominently for the star's face'. For this, we tried many shots focusing on the lead singer in our video.

We had to take into account the setting while shooting our footage. We were unsure whether or not the time we had available would make the shots looked different when put in chronological order. However, we kept to a strict timing schedule, which allowed us to avoid the dark weather which would have delayed the time available to film. In terms of the band, all 3 of the members have a passion for music as part of our interest. Our background knowledge allowed us to portray what we have seen our favourite musicians act like be it in their own music videos or by seeing them live. Me and George had asked a friend, George, to be a part of the band and act as our drummer. He also had a basic grasp on how to play the drums and so our band were complete. In total, we shot a total of just under an hour of raw footage, were we captured many different angles and close ups of each band members, allowing us to be creative with the footage when it came to editing it into our final piece.


Tom