Client feedback - Promotional Video

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Evaluation - Promotional Video

At the start of this unit I was working alone with my ex driving instructor as my client but as he was messing me about with planning and recording I decided to sack him.
After initial communication my client we can to the conclusion that we both wasn't free at the same time as each other, and he also was not committed to making a promotional video. Therefore, I then overcame this problem by talking to my teacher and there was another person in the HNC who had also sacked their client. We both overcame this problem by deciding to work together as it would be to late to start a whole new video by ourselves. So, I then paired with Ben as he also sacked his first client, and we decided to do a promotional video for the HNC we are studying and for college purposes. Our client was Chris, who is the head of the media department in college.

Planning the promotional video went quite well as Ben and I had different ideas of what we wanted for the video however, as we have previously worked together it was quite easy to come to a compromise about what we wanted. We also watched a bunch of college/school promotional videos to see if they inspired us. A couple of the videos did and then the other couple didn't. After watching these videos we had a bunch of ideas of what we wanted for the video we were making and then presented them to Chris, with a powerpoint presentation. When we presented our ideas to our client, there were some changes he wanted or more things to add. This was really helpful to us as we had some missing pieces of the puzzle that we wasn't sure how to fill.

We then contacted ex students, current students and teachers to see if they wouldn't mind being in the video for us. As I had the role of communication with the client, which Ben overlooked (and those who were involved in the video), the communication on their part was not what we were expecting. We had shooting days planned with some ex students who then on the day let us down, that then pushed us back with only having one ex student to record.

During the production we got most of the footage we were hoping to get but unfortunately we did not manage to record everything our client wanted due to reliability and availability of ex students, current students and teachers. We accommodated this by asking all the interview questions to the available students in order to still cater for the information we wanted and needed.

Some of the errors we had were the sound, lighting and the grain on some clips. For example shooting in the studio and only recording with the microphone on the camera (which had been suggested to us as it is a quiet room) did not work as well as expected. This is because of the ex student and teacher were both very quiet when talking and it made the room have a bit of an echo and emptiness. To improve on this next time we would use a separate microphone to record the audio, and this would give us better sound quality. 

Another thing we could've improved on was the lighting. When recording in the HNC room, the camera screen recording looked perfectly exposed, although when we put the footage onto our laptops to edit, the footage had a yellow/green tint due to the natural lighting. This became an error for us because it is not what we wanted for our video.

One thing I could've improved more upon was my research into the school and college promotional videos. I believe that if I were to look into more general promotional videos and compare them to the college/school videos I would've had a better idea on what to have in my video. For example the backgrounds were not the best within our video but if I were to look further into the videos I could've seen the backgrounds and not just focused on the foregrounds. Although saying this, whilst looking at college/school promotional videos I knew what I did not want to include within the video. For example, we saw a 'promotional video' but when we watched it, the video was more like a music video in a school. Maybe even something relating to High School Musical films, and we knew straight away that this is what we did not want.

Within the final cut of the video, we decided to only use one interview, involving Connie and Emily. This is because we believe that their answers contained the right amount of information we needed about the HNC and the teachers. Additionally, the quality of some of the interviews were not acceptable for the video and could not be used. The problems have been previously mentioned. 

Regarding our target audience, when in the first meeting with Chris, our client, we all decided that our target audience would be for the ages between 17-19. This is because when distributing our video, it would be the most effective method because students might not want to go university or go straight into a job. We can achieve reaching this particular audience by making a short 1 minute video for Instagram or even shorter for snapchat. This would've be beneficial for us as it would cater for our particular demographic and potentially receive a better response.

Overall, both Ben and I are pleased with the final cut of the video, however with the smaller and limited time frame we had, we weren't able to include parts of the video like we had planned. I believe that we captured the natural essence of what the HNC life is like within college. This was achieved by maintaining an informal mode of address within the interviews and therefore keeping the responses natural and real. We emphasised this by the 'unpolished' feel of some of the clips we used, this added personality to the interviewees and represented the relationships and friendships that have been formed from the HNC.
An issue that we came across when editing the video was that sometimes the interviewees were too quiet compared to the backing soundtrack at some points of the video. This made it quite difficult to hear so in future we may find backing music which is quieter or like previously mentioned, use an external microphone to record the audio. Although we overcame this by altering the audio levels which still worked. 

Promotional Video

Meeting number 2 - Recording

Roles

Aj; 

• Recording
• Health and safety vigilant 
• Personal releases forms 
• Gantt chart
• Shot log
• Communication with client 
• Client presentation

Ben; 

• Recording 
• Editing 
• Storyboard 
• Gantt chart
• Shot log 
• Overlooked communication 

Promotional planning

What we want in our video -  

• The quad 
• The HNC room  
• Interviews  
• Media dept (classrooms/studio/Kayleigh's office)  
• Students work (working) 
• Clear skies 
• Equipment which people can loan out 

What we don’t want in our video -  

• Overcast  
• Muddy grass 
• Smoking shelter  
• Too much non-seriousness  
• Shaky footage   

Shot log

• Establishing shots; college entrance / front staff/visitor car park  
• Talking head style interviews (waist up)  
• Over the shoulder shot – students doing work  
• Wide shot – HNC Room – 
• Media dept room - Lesson being taught 
• Quad 'Ben or Aj taking videos or photographs' 
• HNC Aj 'taking photographs' 
• Art foundation 
• People in college 

Meeting number 2 - Promotional video

We saw Chris just before our meeting and we agreed that whilst the skies were clear it was best to get the record done as over the next couple days it is meant to rain again.

We have only postponed our meeting for a day and the meeting notes/recording should tell us what we can improve on or add.

Weather

As the weather was not filming appropriate, today was a brilliant day to record. Although the weather report says it was cloudy at the time we were recording, where we were in Nuneaton it was clear blue skies. This meant no dull overcast and no dull editing to do.

Promotional video - Equipment List

Things we will use:

• Camera 
• Camera battery 
• Microphone 
• AA batteries (and spares) 
• Micro SD card 
• SD card 
• Tripod 
• Dolly

Places: 

• College entrance
• HNC room 
• Classroom within the media department 
• Technician office 
• Quad  

Shoots 7 - 8 (Studio interviews)

For both shoots we decided to shoot in the studio, this shows potential students what the studio is like and how we can set it up using film and not just taking photographs using the trigger.

Shoot 7 (Ex student Jack)

This shoot went really well, we got all the information we needed and even more. Obviously we won't be using all 5 minutes of the footage but we always have it there when needed.
Unfortunately with time running down on us we may not be able to record any other past students.

Shoot 8 (Teacher Billy)

As with the teachers we do not want a question answer type thing, we want a 'get to know' for potentials to partially get to know the teachers.
We do ask a couple questions as most people tend to find it difficult to talk about themselves or struggle to find things to talk about.

Shoots 5 - 6 (HNC room)

Shoot 5 -

For these shoots, we decided to make the HNC room look presentable and clean. Not like the mess we usually leave it in. (Which means the shots within the HNC room are a bit staged).
Within this shoot we decided to place a camera over the shoulder of some HNC students whilst they were working. We also did some shots around the room of the mac books, however some of these we may have to re-shoot.

Shoot 6 -

With these shoots we decided to place a camera around the room and let it record. Whilst we were recording the HNC students, they were a bit uncomfortable at first but once they forgot the camera was there it was more natural.
We had the camera in three different places and we had to be careful of the 'rubbish corner' which had the kettle, cups, tea and coffee in it.

Interviews and lighting

When recording in the studio, we will use natural lighting from the windows. This is because using the soft boxes with the lights off, will make it more of a photoshoot then a recording of a interview. 

Studio lighting can also make someones face over exposed or the background under exposed. 

Soft boxes are never the best lighting to use when recording someone or even taking photographs of someone. This is because if the person is wearing glasses, sometimes the reflection of the lights are shown in the glasses. 

Therefore, the conclusion to use regular, natural lighting is the better option when recording in the studio. 

When recording on location; 

If outside - There will be no overcast (as overcast is dark and dull. We want our video to be exciting and informative) and there will be no need for artificial lighting. Artificial lighting is genuinely used when taking photographs in the studio. 

If inside - We have to be aware of the lighting within the classrooms or in the offices. This is because when the lights are on, sometimes they can give a yellow tint on the image/video. This is what we want to avoid.

Shoots 1 - 4 (Interviews)

Shoot 1 - Current - Joe Casey;
We decided to do this shoot in the studio as we want a fair mix between both swallow focus location interviews and white backdrop interviews. This interview went well, however we did have to go over some questions as Joe has a stutter and he wasn't happy how he handled it.

Shoot 2 - Current - Connie Bytheway & Emily Bliss;
We did an on location shoot with swallow depth of field in this shoot and we did this in the HNC room. However, we shot this interview twice as the voice recording had no sound. (Which means we used the microphone and camera wrong).

Shoot 3 - Technician - Kayleigh Kendall;
With this shoot, we decided to again do an on location with swallow depth of field shoot. This being because Kayleigh is a technician we thought that recording her in the office, would make her more comfortable and relaxed (as most people do not like being interviewed). Also being in the office could give people an insight of what it looks like, so they know what to expect. However, the way we angled the shot means you don't see much of the office. This being because it was a little messy.

Shoot 4 - Teacher - Yvonne Weatherstone;
Another on location shoot, however this time, this shoot was shot in the media office. Again this reason for this is the same as shooting with Kayleigh in her office. Although the media office not being as small, we didn't have limited amount of space to record. We had two ideas of where to record in the media office. The sofa or at Yvonne's desk, so we decided to record at Yvonne's desk this is because in future shoots we hope to record John and Billy on the sofa together. This gives us two different locations within the same space.

Promotional video planning - weather

When recording our promotional video we have to be aware of the weather. This is because when we are not recording in the studio, we would prefer not to have overcast. Overcast can make the video look grey, dark and horrible.

College/School Promotional video/voice analysis

Primary research

Health & Safety - Promotional Video

The main health and safety issues -

Recording around college in peak times:

Break time, lunch time and lesson cross overs are all busy times to record around college so we would have to avoid these times to prevent someone tripping over equipment we may be using.

Recording in the HNC room:

People can sometimes get silly on camera so we would have to be careful that no one is silly enough to hurt themselves when recording in the HNC room.

Don't trip up the stairs

Be aware of your surroundings

Steadicam research

Things that I have learnt -

Grip is important. Make less contact with the stabiliser as it will mimic your body movements. Keep feet heel to toe, no crazy sudden movements. Gently tap the system to keep it steady. When using the steadicam ensure when changing shots from upright to downwards, move the steadicam by the bottom, not in the middle or at the top.
Top tips:
If you remove your camera from the stabiliser you will have to rebalance it. TIP - Mark their settings on the system.
If you zoom in or out you will have to rebalance. Keep lens at perfect setting!!



Perfectly balanced. Drop time of 1.5 - 2 seconds.
Right handed = hold the whole system with your right hand and arm. This way the left hand is now the operating hand. Thumb and forefinger opposite each other around the post. All other fingers slightly go below the forefinger. The forefinger cannot be too close to the gimbal.
Never bend your knees as it is not stable.
When recording - Start with the glidecam then follow. Stop as normal, not with two feet. Do not walk sideways, point the camera to where you want to record.

Contacting officials

Response -



Our response -