Photography Gallery Trip

As a photography student I attended the World Press Photo 2010 Exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall and the National Press Gallery on Monday 15th November. This is taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Press_Photo about the background story of the World Press Photo Exhibition World Press Photo which is an independent, non-profit organization based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Founded in 1955 the organization is known for holding the world's largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest.
The awards ceremony is held in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam. After the contest, the prizewinning photographs are assembled into a traveling exhibition that is visited by over a million people in 40 countries. A yearbook presenting all prizewinning entries is published annually in six languages.
In addition to selecting the World Press Photo of the Year, the contest determines winners in the following categories:
-Spot News
-General News
-People in the News
-Sports Action
-Sports Features
-Contemporary Issues
-Daily Life
-Portraits
-Arts and Entertainment
-Nature.
Another primary objective of the organization is to support professional press photography on a wide international scale, to stimulate developments in photojournalism, encourage the transfer of knowledge, help develop high professional standards in photojournalism and promote a free and unrestricted exchange of information.

I really enjoyed the World Press Photo Exhibition as it opens your knowledge about what is happening around the world and the photographs evoke strong emotions as the subject matter of the photographs are strong topics. For example, one photograph was about the affects of drugs and people smuggling drugs, one photograph which I found most shocking was of a gang who nine hours before shot some one.

I wanted to research in to the history of the National Portrait Gallery which I found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Portrait_Gallery_(London). The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in London, England, housing a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. It was the first portrait gallery in the world when it opened in 1856. The gallery moved in 1896 to its current site at St Martin's Place, off Trafalgar Square, and adjoining the National Gallery. It has been expanded twice since then. The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) also has various satellite outstations located elsewhere in the UK, mostly for aristocratic portraits. It is unconnected to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, with which its remit overlaps. The gallery is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

At the National Portrait Gallery some photographs were very explicit as it showed naked people, however most photographs were of people in different locations which expressed different emotions for instance, one photograph was of a girl in a forest which portrays her freedom.

RichMix Theatre Pitch

At RichMix theatre Corin Hardy and Liz Kessler told us to come up with a pitch to Biffy Clyro- God and Satan, we was given half an hour to come up with pitch. Corin directed the original music video so we was very nervous to give a pitch of our ideas in front of him. Me and Charlotte are both media prefects so we was eager to present our pitch as we really liked our ideas, as we felt it would suit the song.

The sheets below are of our pitch preparation, we used these sheets to help us to create our ideas and to present our pitch (Click to enlarge).

Below is a video of me and Charlotte presenting our pitch infront of Corin Hardy, Liz Kessler, Pete Fraiser and our fellow peers.

RichMix Theatre Trip

On Tuesday 9th November our whole media class attended a music video conference at RickMix Theatre in Bethnal Green. The conference 'MTV to YouTube: Studying Music Video' gave us a look in to the creation of music videos from the eyes of an chief examiner, former teacher and an author, a music video commissioner and a director.

Pete Fraser spoke to us first, he told us that our music video "needs to be visually memorable and worth repeat viewing". We learnt that our music video needs at least 75% of close up shots of our artist, although the bigger the artist the more close ups. Also, he recommended that our video "needs to be a performance more than a story" after the talk to us Pete showed us a variety of videos from different periods of time.

1930s Experimentation= The experimental film video ' A Colour Box' made by Len Lye is the origin of music videos. Len Lye is a British painter, animation and a film maker which is clearly expressed in A Colour Box. The experimental video put film to music, which was supported by the post office as A Colour Box became an advert for them. Len Lye scratched and painted a film reel and then put it in the projector, this was the first for its time.

Below is a video of A Colour Box by Len Lye.

The Go! Team- The Go! Team used a similar method to Len Lye- A Colour Box, whilst making the video to Ladyflash. A film is projected in the background of the music video, the fun fair shots is hand held which shows the variety of camera techniques. The double dutch is used because it use to be very popular, double dutch is used in modern music videos such as DJ Fresh- Gold dust.

Below is a video of The Go! Team- Ladyflash.

Soundies (1940s)- There were music video promos during the 1940s which is still used today, they are used to promote the video and to attract a wide audience. Seven hundred diners and bars in America played music videos, this is shown in the Nat King Cole- 'Frim Fram Sauce'. This video used voyeurism which is screen within a screen, so Nat King Cole watches himself perform. A tilt down of the camera is used to look at a woman's body, however the camera withdraws which shows that she is too expensive. Nat King Cole is wearing a black and white suit and the music video is in black and white, which suits that era.

The video is of Nat King Cole- Frim Fram Sauce.

Scopitone- The scopitone is a jukebox that was made in Paris, France. The scopitone played European and American music. Scopitones were placed in bars and diners so the customers were able to choose a track that they wanted to watch and the scopitone even became available in schools.

1960s- Pop and rock music was popular in the late 1950s, in the late 50s Elvis Presley was very famous and in the early 60s the Beatles were at there greatest. A Hard Days Night by The Beatles is known for its remarkable music video, the helicopter scene is hand held which makes the audience feel like they are with The Beatles. The characteristics of the band is portrayed in this music video as they are laughing and joking with each other. Pop and rock bands such as The Beatles and Bob Dylan performed promos for their music videos on Top of the Pops.

Below is the video to A Hard Days Night by The Beatles.

1970s- Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen was number one for seven weeks, the visuals in the music video became iconic and it pulled in the consumers.

Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody

1980s- MTV played music video promos around the clock to gain promotion for the channel and the artist. The first music video ever played on MTV was 'Video killed the radio star' by Buggles, many British artists and directors were featured on MTV. A break through artist in America was Madonna as she spent a big budget in her music videos. Many American record labels knew the importance of music video promos, so many popular American artists had music video promos. MTV originally did not play black artist music videos as an assumption was that they were only aiming at a white audience, however MTV played Michael Jackson- Billy Jean this was the first black artist music video played on MTV. Thriller by Michael Jackson was a big production as it was directed by Jon Landis who is a film director. I believe that Thriller is the best music video ever made.

Below is Michael Jackson- Thriller

2000s- 50 Cent- Candy shop is typical of a big budget R'n'B music video as it is sexist and humorous. The music video is all about dreams, it has classic conventions of wealth such as expense, wealth and sexuality of women.

Below is the video to 50 Cent- Candy Shop

99 Problems by Jay Z was directed by a rock genre director, so him filming a music video for a rap song was very unusual. The music video had over three hundred cuts and the camera is used to dramatise the shots such as the tire and the flat shots. The expensive camera style contradicts the narrative of the music video.

Below is a video of 99 Problems by Jay Z.

Genre: Boy bands such as Westlife music videos usually has dancing and the video interlinks with the song.

: Rock bands for example, Guns 'n' Roses music videos there is emphasis on that the band can play their instruments and the location is usually at a gig.

: Country music videos are usually set out doors in day. The mise-en-scene is usually cow boy hats.

: Star image- Close ups shots of the artist in all genres.

Visuals relationship with lyrics and music- Candy shop metaphorically amplifies representation. 'Our House' by Madness has the band dressed us in a house. Thriller by Michael Jackson amplifies the horror representation.

Voyeurism- 'The Look': Candy shop comes to life. Jay Z sings in to the camera. Madonna always looks in to the camera to emphasise women's superiority and to show women are in charge.

Intertextuality- Geri Halliwell has intertextuality of Flashdance. In 'Material Girl' by Madonna there are references to 'diamonds being a girls best friend'. In Michael Jackson- Thriller there is a horror voice over.

User Generated Content- Budgets has decreased in the UK music video industry. Ten years ago indie radio play was £80,000 now maybe £7,000.

Liz Kessler spoke to us about working in the industry and commissioning and producing music videos. She worked and helped produce many music videos such as, Paolo Nutini- Pencil Full of Led and Wiley- Money in my Pocket. She explained to us that in the industry there are heads of departments which are very important, the director and the producer is the most important and they need to trust each other.

Corin Hardy also spoke to us about working as a music video director, we had a Q & A session with him as well. Corin spoke to us about his challenges as a music video director and the difficulty coming up with a plan when you have a specific brief from the band. Whilst directing God and Satan by Biffy Clyro he got the brief from the band that the video has to feature Voodoo, a religious feel and to able to show on TV. Corin had the idea of including the Mexican day of the dead which has a feeling of death and celebration.

This is the video to God and Satan by Biffy Clyro which Corin directed.

Corin told us that he always made his own films and scripts and over all he has made thirty films. It took him five years to make his animated short film called 'Butterfly' which was shown at Edinburgh Film Festival. Keane (the band) watched Butterfly and they wanted Corin to use footage from the film in there music video, Corin decided that he wanted to use Butterfly in Keane- Bedshaped.

Below is the video to Keane- Bedshaped.

Corin Hardy directed the music video to 'She is the New Thing' by The Horrors, Corin wanted to experiment in this video and she wanted to use a technique which reflected the grunge genre. Corin drew on film, he told us that he had to do seventy drawings a day and in the music video there were 1500 drawings. It took a month to complete the music video.

Below is the music video to She is the New Thing by The Horrors.

Over all, I learnt a lot from this day such as information about the industry and after speaking to Pete Fraser, Liz Kessler and Corin Hardy I have been even more inspired to work in the industry.

Charlie Chaplin- Modern Times

On Thursday 24th October I attended a viewing and discussion of Modern Times at the Pheonix Theatre in London, I was very interested in watching the film as I have never watched a silent film and I knew that Charlie Chaplin is iconic within the film industry.
This is a trailer of Modern Times made by a YouTube user.

I found the film intriguing as the film was humorous with the exaggeration of movement and expressions to convey emotions but the undertone of the film is very serious such as the mistreatment of the factory workers which led them to have the Factory Workers Protest were Charlie Chaplin was accidentally involved and the police arrested him. Throughout the film people who have superior roles within society are shown by speaking roles which was the manager and when the police entered a scene dramatic music was played which reinforces their power, Chaplin made the authority seem careless for instance the police station was raided by criminals and Chaplins character who is seen as low class and 'mad' saves them. Police were seen as against the poor as they wrongly accused Chaplin of being the ring leader to the protest and they continuously tried to arrest the young women. I knew that there was hardly any speaking in the film but I was surprised to see text which is quotes of what the characters are saying in the shot.

In the beginning of the conference we was given a sheet with questions about the film to answer at the end of the viewing, these are the questions:

1. Silent films were no longer made in Hollywood after 1929. Why do you think Chaplin decided to make Modern Times in 1936 as a silent movie?

I think that Chaplin still created a silent film even though history was against him as dialogue was beginning to be used in films because he wanted to protect his image as he is iconic for silent films. It could be argued that silent films are more intriguing in comparison to dialogue films as the actors in silent films have convey the correct emotions to portray the storyline and in dialogue films the emotions and the audience thoughts on the dialogue cannot be interpreted or developed but in silent films the audience imagination is used more. Also, Chaplin would be been able to challenge the politics during that time without being too explicit and being complained about.

2. What was your favourite sequence of the film - why?

My favourite scene in the film was when Charlie Chaplin sang a song as it represents that he has become higher within society as only the authoritative roles speak during the film, this portrays that even though he was arrested he is a 'respected' person. Chaplin singing in the film is very iconic as it was the first time that he spoke in one of his films which shows that he needed to keep the audience entertained and through singing he did not ruin his image. This is a clip of the singing scene.

3. What ideas did you have about Charlie Chaplin before today's film? Have these been challenged by watching Modern Times?

Originally I thought that Charlie Chaplin only starred in the films however I found out that Chaplin starred, directed and came up with the ideas. Also, I thought that Chaplin only created comedy films and I did not understand how humour could be expressed without any dialogue but the use of exaggeration, the close up shots of the characters facial expression and the use of movement such as when Chaplin was blindfolded and he was skating at the same time earned many laughs in the cinema. I never knew that Chaplin does include social historical times to portray society such as the hard labour in the beginning of the workers and then the strike shows there determination and the harshness in society.

4. For a long part of his career Chaplin was criticised as being "un-American" in the messages contained in his films. This became particularly bad in the decade after Modern Times and finally things got so bad for him that he moved permanently to Switzerland in 1952. Can you see any evidence in Modern Times to explain the criticisms made of him?

Chaplin could as been as "un-American" as Modern Times seems like is was made in England which is shown by the policemen who were wearing English Policeman's uniform, it could be seen that the film has 'English' humour as it is quirky and witty.

For films we have chosen for these screenings the topic of Home and Identity.

1. In Modern Times is there a sense of 'home'- or is this a film about surviving without a home?

There is an element of surviving without a home in the film as the young women has been taken away from her family and she steals from market stalls to provide food for her family which creates a 'motherly' role which reinforces the idea of home. Both Chaplin and the girl dream of having the perfect home and the perfect life but Chaplin is showing the reality of the situation by the cottage which is falling apart and at the end of the film the couple walk down the road hand in hand which shows that they are going to create their version of a perfect life.

2. Why do you think Chaplin held on to the same screen identity through so many films, including Modern Times? What is the identity?The screen identity throughout this film portrays Chaplin as 'mad' and a 'criminal' although he seems charming and a reliable as he tries to go back to prison as he felt secure and safe in prison.

3. Does the girl (the gamin) offer a different idea of home from Charlie?

The girls dream of the perfect home seems high class and glamorous as she tried on a fur coat and went to sleep in a double bed with white blanket which represents her naivety and innocence in comparison to Chaplin as he only wants security and simplicity which is why he tries to return to prison.

4. What do you think of the ending of the film? Are the pair going off to find a home?

I think that the couple does try to find a home as they are both desperate for a home and some one to love which is why they seemed happy in the cottage as they had a home, although I think that Chaplins intentions were to promise the audience a happy ending as both characters deserved to be happy.

I found the conference very insightful and I am going to attend the next conference held which is a viewing and discussion of Last Resort. A recent music video reminds me of Modern Times as they both have similar editing and the ideas of a happy ending is conveyed and the police and the managers are seen as negative influences, this is the video to 'We Speak No Americano by Yolanda Be Cool VS DCup'

Being an Extra in Weekender

On Thursday 23rd September 2010 and Saturday 25th September 2010 me and my media group were extras in a new British film called 'Weekender'. The summary of the film is taken from IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1706470//title/tt1706470/. The films well known actors are Jack O'Connell from Harry Brown, Skins and This is England and
"The film is set in 1990. The rave scene has arrived from Ibiza and warehouse parties are exploding across the UK bringing phenomenal wealth to the organisers. In Manchester, best mates Matt and Dylan are in their early 20's and long to be more than just punters. As the government moves to outlaw the scene, it's now or never and they quickly rise through the ranks to join the promoting elite. They are taken on a wild journey from the exclusive VIP rooms of London clubs to the outrageous parties in Ibiza super-villas and the hedonism of Amsterdam. It's everything they dreamed of and more. But as their success continues to grow, they attract a more dark and sinister world. Matt and Dylan start to drift apart as they are forced to question the dreams they set out to achieve and their once solid friendship".

We filmed in a Warehouse in Bethnal Green, the warehouse was near London Fields Pub. The photograph on the left shows the location of the film, we was told that the scenes that we was filming were in a Manchester Underground Rave which explains the english graffiti.

On Thursday we filmed walking in to or out of a club I found it very interesting that there were about twelve shots which overall took just over an hour. Everyone had to same in the position each time we came out again for continuity, there was a fight scene between a gang and security and each shot they had to stay in the same position.

On Saturday we filmed numerous scenes of us in a rave and when the characters spoke the music stopped and we still had to keep dancing. A main prop for the rave were torches which people were told to swing in the air in different directions, in one shot there was a wide shot of just the torches in the air and the UV lights.

This is a photograph of the light and the speaker equipment which was used to pick up what the actors were saying and to only focus on the actors conversation whilst everyone was mumbling because it was meant to be a 'happy' rave were most people knew each other.

The photograph on the right shows the clothing rack which was for extras, although we were told to bring 90s clothes. Below is the list of what we was given to bring.

Weekender Email:

"IMPORTANT - Please do not wear any logos or brands later than 1990 as we will not be able to use them. We can use the following brands: Adidas, Sergio Tacchini, Ellesse, Chipie, so please feel free to wear these.

COLORS: Please bring bright colours (like purple, green, orange, yellow), day-glo colours, black, grey and any metallic colours you might have. Please try not to bring pale colours like white or crème. If you can bring a choice of colours, it would be really helpful!

Clothing Suggestions-

*if you have vintage 1980's items, please bring them!

For Men:
Baggy hoodies, sweatshirts
Baggy tracksuit bottomsJean shorts for men
Baggy T-shirts (with no large logos)
Baggy jeans

Waistcoats

Rayban style sunglasses or old style shades

Headbands and sweatbands

For Women:
Fitted crop tops (think of a small sports bra)

Swimsuits tucked into jeans

Leggings

Cropped denim jacket

Tight fitting stretchy dresses/body-con dresses

Vest tops

Cat suits or body suits
high-waisted jeans or jean shorts
mini-skirts
Shoes can include: plimsolls, Adidas trainers, unbranded trainers & high tops, Converse, Kickers.

If you have a few bits of the following, it would be great if you could bring them (if not, it's ok!!):
Clown masks
skull masks
viking helmets of any kind
helmets with antlers on
military parka coats
biohazard t-shirts or items with biohazard logos
t-shirts with frowning faces on
ripped or shredded t-shirts
hi-viz waistcoats"

I brought a bodycon dress, denim jacket (which I wrapped around my waist) and plimsolls. Whereas Emily and Jessica bought a variety of options consisting of converse, colourful tops and skirts but the costume designer gave them something else to wear. At the end of the day the costume designer take photographs of people three at a time showing what they are wearing because if they film that shot again they need to get some people wearing the same things.

On the right is the make up station where the main cast got there make up done and only a few of the extras. The extras had neon painted on their face to make it seem like it was a 'rave' atmosphere. The make up station was at the end of the room in the corner which was near where the director was sitting I think this was to make sure that the director liked the make up. Also, no one was allowed a side parting so many people had to have their hair in a pony tail, fringe clipped back or bunches.

We were lucky enough to be on the set and to meet the director Karl Golden who has directed The Honeymooners, Belonging to Laura and Pelican Blood. We also met and took pictures with the cast, the photo on the right is with Henry Lloyd- Hughes who is from the BAFTA award winning programme The Inbetweeners and Harry Potter the Goblet of Fire. Below is our photograph with another actor who played the m

ain security guard. From this experienced I learnt that we have to film more shots in a variety of angles and the importance of continuity.

NERD

In school I joint Envision where we created and promoted our charity, the charity that we created was called NERD which stands for Necessary Education Requires Determination. We earnt money for education in India, we did numerous cake sales to raise awareness. Later we decided to create a dance to perform in a school assembly to raise awareness and to raise money, we took inspiration from the hit series Glee which is a world wide success. We wore our old school uniform, high waisted kilts, knee length socks or lights, big glasses and we had our hair in pony tails or bunches to give us a 'geek' persona.
We used songs from Glee soundtrack and mixed them together to include different emotions and we included some of the dance moves from the show but we mostly created our own choreography. I filmed the performance and then my friend took over whilst I ran to the stage to perform Don't Stop Performing and Crazy in Love. We uploaded our video to YouTube to gain more publicity and awareness of our charity. From the dance we earnt a lot of money and we were very happy with our performance.
Below is our Glee Performance.