Making Of 'Anyone But Him'

I was on Mr Hudson's website and came across this video of the making of the album version of the track and thought I would post it



It's really interesting to see how Mr Hudson developed the track, and to see it's development from it's initial stage, to the album version, and then of course to the Radio One version that we're using.

- Mel -

Photos from our shoot

The Shoot

Our shoot went fairly well, but after watching the footage back, we realised that we needed to re-shoot quite a lot and get some more shots. Both our actors turned up and were well prepared with their lip synching. We planned the day focusing mainly on our main artist who was with us from 8 in the morning until 6 in the evening (10 hours). We tried to get all the shots that we needed for him, however when we watched the footage back, we realised that there were a few problems with some shots and we thought we needed more close-up shots of him. Our next actor arrived at 4 and was with us for two hours. We had only planned to do the shots of the two of them together in this time, however when we were left with spare time at the end, we decided to do some unplanned shots of our second artist in an outside location. Therefore the shoot was successful; however we need to look back over the footage in detail to decide what shots we need to shoot again and what extra shots we can get.

-Tanya, for the group-

Our Main Actor

Our main artist is played by Daniel Erman. We decided to use him as he has the right look for the artist that we want. He also has experience in acting and singing (as well as dancing) so will be able to play the part and take direction from us well. We tested him on camera and think that he looks right for the part.

Other Actor...

Our featuring artist is going to be played by Bernard Sindano. He has the perfect look and attitude for the featuring artist, and has had experience rapping in the past, so will be able portray the part well. We have tested him on camera and think that he has the right attitude for the artist.

Setups...

Our setups for Sunday are as follows:
- White room – against the wall
- White room - by the window (camera by the door)
- White room – camera on the mezzanine level
- White room – on the stairs
- White room – camera on the floor – actor in the corner next to the window
- Stairs leading up to studio – at the top and bottom
- Hallway leading up to room – Track

-Mel, for the group -

Possible New Ideas:

CONFLICT between both artists could be shown visually. Miss had the idea of putting in a violent moment maybe at the end or we could show clips throughout. This could be like a uncomplicated and small choreographed fight, eg. both fall back against a wall. This could be done in slow-mo then have a choppy moment where we have quick shots of things like feet, eyes etc..
Or at the end we could just end with Bernard invading Daniel’s space in this plain white room, we could have a face off and then they resolve their problems, or they could face off and then Daniel leaves, deciding that he can’t forgive him and won’t stoop to his level and fight. I thought we could introduce Bernard into the room by having a foot shot of Daniel and then some more feet enter the shot (which would be Bernard’s) and then we cut to a medium shot as we can’t really have a long shot due to quite a bit of height difference between the boys.

SHOT TYPES: lots of jump cuts, eg. a wide high angle shots of Daniel appearing all alone and deserted in this bare white room, then cut to close-ups to really show his emotion.

CONCEPT or NARRATIVE? – we have to make a decision about whether we want to include some narrative or base it on concept as we need some progression in the video.

CONCEPT – making a statement about society and human relationships, eg. rich and poor (shown through location, costume etc.)

NARRATIVE IDEAS: The boys as young kids when they were best friends.
A girl – lots of close-ups and beauty shots of her looking all nice, feminine and floaty - in a nice dress. Also lots of close-up shots of things like her hair, head, hands, feet etc. Then there could also be shots of her with the boys, acting all flirty, maybe dancing around them, the boy singing to her. Possibly shots of her kissing both guys to really get the story across to the audience.
Daniel looking at a photo of him with his ex-girlfriend and best friend, showing all three of them together and happy, whilst the main artist (Daniel) was going out with the girl. This could be done in his bedroom or we could just do it in the white room when he's sitting on the floor.
Flashbacks – use dissolves

TECHNICAL: Structured and controlled camera work for most of it to achieve that high gloss, professional feel, but this can at the same time be contrasted to slightly hand-held camera movement to emphasise emotional moments.
Focus settings on camera lenses can be adjusted for close-up shots such as of the feet, where if you concentrate on something like the shoe laces and the rest stays out of focus. Also you can put the artist in the foreground in focus, with the background out of focus.

- Tanya -

Lead up to shoot...

We still have quite a lot left to do before the shoot, but we are on our way to getting it completed.
So far we have to:
- Complete the Timeline/Storyboard, as we have shots but don't know the order perfectly yet, this will also ensure that the shots we're planning to put together actually work.
- Prepare shooting schedule for the day.
- We have also had extra ideas about what we want to shoot, so we need to learn the camera really well to ensure we can get the shots we want.
- We need to also get together a call sheet for our actors.
- Also, on Friday I am going with our main actor to get costume for the shoot.

- Mel, for the group -

Location...

We went to see the location yesterday and it's really good. It's exactly what we want, and the outside bit really contrasts with the inside so we still have the contrast we wanted between the two artists, without having to move location. The inside is perfect for what we wanted, the main guy will look really isolated and alone, and the featuring artist will be in a really urban area, which you will see with the brick around him, and the stairs with the moss growing on them.
We're going to be shooting on Sunday, for 10hours and hopefully we'll get everything we need. But if not the owner said she wouldn't mind us coming after school one day to finish up our shots, which would be really useful. We'll post pictures soon
- Mel, for the group -

Shot Ideas

The Streets – Never Went To Church

I analysed this video briefly on my individual blog at the start of the project as research just because I liked the overall look/style of it.

Here’s what I said about it:
The use of close-ups are really engaging in this video and the audience feels real sympathy for Mike who has lost his father. Mike is nearly always placed either really right or left of frame which is really effective as it makes him seem lonelier because there is no one around him, and therefore evokes sympathy in the viewer, as well as the close-up shots when he is not singing and he directly addresses the camera. I like the shots on the train because I think their framed really well, as well as the shots that are quite unusual in music videos such as the slow tilt up at 2:14, which works really well, as the song is quite slow and the camera movement reflects the lyrics as Mike is looking at his reflection in the water, saying:
‘I guess then you did leave me something to remind me of you.
Everytime I interrupt someone like you used to,
When I do something like you you’ll be on my mind or through,
'Cause I forgot you left me behind to remind me of you.’
How the video makes the audience feel is essential here, as the emotions they evoke is what makes them want to watch it again and listen to the song’s meaning.


After discussing our main artist with Mel, we thought that he would have the same sort of attitude as Mike Skinner (maybe a bit angrier). But we did like some of the shots used in the video to convey this feeling, especially as there are key themes of loss, although not on the same level, our main artist has still lost two people that were very close to him. I also like the editing in places as I think where they cut from extreme long shots to extreme close-ups is really effective. But mostly it’s the shots such as where he’s extremely left/right of frame and it’s a close-up where we feel his emotion and a sense of loneliness.
Here are some snapshots of examples of the shots I like and think could work for our video:










- Tanya -

Location...

I emailed her back yesterday, and we're visiting the studio on Monday at 5pm. I told her I was going to speak to my group and teacher to see whether we want 8hrs or 10hrs and stuff, so we should talk to miss tommorow and discuss prices with her when we get there. Also, yesterday Dan said that he can do the 18th and 24th to film...and Bel's going to speak to Bernard on Monday to check he can do the 18th afternoon (after church) and I said we'll let him know the other dates.
- Mel -

Ye they are ok but i still think we should wait until Monday to just double check with BLK that its ok and that we can pay that and she might want to talk to the woman. Also we we dont really know how long we are going to need until we know exactly what we are shooting. And I'd like to go and visit it before we book it incase we decide it isnt right for us.
Tanya

Location...

Got an email from Sarah, she said she can't do 17th but can do 18th or 24th/25th. Also, she can give us 8hrs for £80 or 10hrs for £100 but to be honest I think we need to finish planning before we know what we would want. I've sent you the email, and I emailed her back saying I would talk to my group and email her tommorow, but I think both offers are are good so I'm not sure which one to ask for. Anyway, let me know and I'll email her.
- Mel -

To do...

- We're waiting for the woman who owns the studio that we are looking at to email us back so we can arrange a day to go to look at it and hopefully to book it for next Saturday.
- Decide if we want any other locations
- A final shot list
- A final shooting schedule
- Storyboard the tricky sequences

- Check up on both actors - make sure they know the lyrics etc
- Ensure we have group meetings as much as we can so we're fully prepared

- Mel, for the group -

Location...

Yeah, actually you're right...I forgot about the stairs and stuff, I remember saying we could put Bernard on those outside ones to match his image, and Dan on the inside ones as if its his house, and it would be perfect to be able to have a few locations in one place. I'm not sure how good the mezzanine level is though, but because its close we could ask them if we could go and see it one day before we pay maybe? Also, I looked at the other one again and I think its gonna be too small for the wide shots we want, and I'm a bit concerned about the fact that there's no rates guide so I think it's gonna be a similar price to Bill Burnett which was too much. Let's email the woman tommorow and if we book a whole weekend she might give us a discount.
- Mel -

Location

I actually prefer the other one, the studio in Barnet. The reason is that I now like the idea of him being in like this large, plain, empty white room where he’s all alone, rather than in a proper studio. If we hire this place, they also have lots of other alternative places to shoot like the mezzanine which is an added bonus as we can get some really good angles up there to really show that he is alone and it would be good for the shot of him on the floor. And they have like indoor/outdoor stairs, outdoor balcony etc. Also it’s in a good location so if we did have any problems, we’re closer to home etc. and travelling would be easy because we have to take the equipment and stuff. Also we know the price of it, but I dunno, if you like the other one then we should email them both to ask and see what they say. If we email the woman at the Barnet one I think it’s a good idea to ask if we can visit it one day really soon when it’s suitable, preferably after school for us. If you want wait and we can do it together tomorrow.

-Tanya-

Location...

Bill Burnett just emailed me and said we could try www.bleedingheartstudio.co.uk, which is the one they used for the outdoor shots on that music video he sent us a link for. It is quite good, I think it might be better than www.sarahpeace.co.uk, but they don't have any information about rates. Have a look at both and let me know which one you think is best...or should we email them both?
- Mel -

To do, ideas and stuff

I had double free so I was just thinking of ideas/things we need to sort out and stuff.
I had a few ideas of Daniel in the Sarah Peace studio:
- Daniel on the white stairs (as if at home? in a modern house)
- Singing, leaning on his knees, upset
- Daniel standing by the window, looking out singing to himself
- Daniel on the floor, a shot like the one she's got on the website, him in the corner, camera on floor

I also thought we could d0 the shots of daniel, leaning on a sink, looking into a mirror (like in Common's video 'The Game'), maybe in your bathroom?

For Bernard's verse we need to decide on the cutaway shots we want, because they're going to be important for getting the idea of the rivalry and stuff across.

We could do him on the outside stairs, it would go really well with his whole tough/arrogant guy image. It will also completely contrast to the white of Daniel's shots.

We also need to:
- Test the green screen
- Storyboard
- Sort out locations
- Decide on the progression of the video

Locations:
- Bedroom
- Park/House (for narrative)
- White background
- Black background
- Will it work? Don't want it to look too dark, maybe find another way to contrast?

- Mel -

Test Shoot

We’ve just had our test shoot where we had planned to mainly test our chosen actors to see how they look/perform on camera which we’ve now decided are both perfect for the roles. We filmed them to test their lip-synching to the song which was (almost!) perfect, but they’re practically there with a little bit more practise - they both did really well, especially as one of them only had like a day to learn his whole part. We also tested potential shots that we could use, as well as vital shots that we need such as close-ups. However, we need to plan this properly with a storyboard and detailed shot list so that we know every single shot that we need and want to include – we’re planning to start this pretty soon, possibly in the next meeting? We also took photos of them, both on their own and together. This is so that we can use them to help build our artist profiles as we thought it would be useful to have clear images of what they look like (we will be posting character/artist profiles later - with some info about why we chose these actors etc.) Overall, it was a really helpful shoot as we now know that we are definitely comfortable with our two actors and have a clearer idea about how we want them to look. Now we have to sort out the location…

- Tanya, for the group -

Aarti has decided not to continue with the media course this year, which we understand and fully support. This means that for the rest of the course me and Tanya will be working on our own, and Aarti has offered to help us on shoot days if we need her help.

Test shoot...

As we now have the featuring actor coming to our test shoot tommorow we will also be testing his shots and performance.
To test:
(E)CU - Lips/Face/Eyes
MS/LS - Leaning against the wall (profile)/performance
Tilt - Body
We will also need to test the two together in the same shot to see if they can interact how we would want them to, if we do decide to have them together in a shot. We could shoot them doing the chorus' at the end of the track.
- Mel, for the group -

Ye, I definitely agree about the studio. I think the place in Farringdon is way too expensive, especially if we're going to need more than one day there. I'll email the guy tommorow in the lesson so he can give it to someone else if they need it. I do think Bernard is up for it, he did the rap over the phone to me and he knows it really well so I don't think he would go to all that effort and not show up.
- Mel -

Oh that's such great news, he seems quite commited now, lets hope it goes well on wednesday :D x
-Aarti

Sorry just checked the blog. Um first that’s really good news about bernard, lets just keep our fingers crossed. Does that mean both our actors are coming on wednesday? Also lets wait until wednesday to see if he comes before we ask anyone else. Now location, ive been looking at other places and im pretty sure we can find something better and cheaper cos im just really worried that its going to be too small and it means we cant do any wide shots. Also I don’t know how big the green screen is so I think we should wait until we go and see it, but we should keep looking for another studio in the meantime as a backup, incase the green screen doesn’t work for us.

- Tanya -

Cast...

Bernard's coming on Wednesday!! Ok, so we shouldn't get our hopes up but he seemed more willing to do it this time, and he learnt half the rap without the lyrics in like half an hour literally and I told Bel to send him the lyrics so he knows it perfectly, but I think he's actually going to come this time :D. I told him to bring a hoody and trainers and said that if he can learn the song it would be really good but if not then he can just do another song he knows. Hopefully he's good, if not then we're definately going to have to ask someone else ASAP, maybe that guy in Yr 11 that I said before?
- Mel -

Things we need to sort out...

I just remembered about the studio...what should I say to him? Are we ok with that weekend or do you think we should film it all on green screen or find a cheaper studio?? Also, BLK said that the green screen/lights etc are all portable so we should be able to bring them here and shoot in school. Let me know what you think ASAP because I really need to email him soon if we want it in case he gives it to someone else. Oh, and have you had a chance to discuss possible actors with your brother? If not BLK has a lesson with the yr11s on Wednesday and I thought she/we could maybe ask Bert?
- Mel -

Cast for test shoot...

I spoke to Daniel last night. He said he can do Wednesday for the test shoot. He also said that it would be useful for us to tell him a couple of days before what we want to him to wear/bring so he can buy some clothes (I think he wants an excuse!) but I told him that we'll probably just want him to bring most of his clothes.
- Mel -

Epic Journeys...

Styling
- The male members of the band will wear slim fitting trousers/jeans with t-shirts and cardigans/jackets. They would look like their fans but more styled.
- The female members will wear dresses, playsuits, jeans etc.
- The way the band dresses will be how their fans would dress. As the band members are quite young we would like them to fit in with their target audience so the fans think they’re just like them.

Target Audience
- We would mainly target young people aged 13-18, with a secondary audience of older people. The group would target both genders that are fans of the genre of music.
- However, we know that there will be people who like the band who aren’t necessarily fans of indie/alternative rock who would also like the band due to their distinctive sound.
- We would release the debut single ‘223’ at the end of summer with their second single following a couple of months behind. We would then release their album in November, just in time for Christmas shopping.
- We would release the album/singles in stores such as HMV, and will sell it online on Amazon and iTunes among others.

Marketing
- Advertise the new single and album on TV, in between shows that the target audience would watch.
- Give the option of a free download of a part of their debut single, a week before its release, which will be on their new website. A link for their website would be on their MySpace.
- We would advertise on bus stops, on buses and would have web banners; this will have a striking image of the band with the band name, album name and date of release made very clear. It will be very bright and eye-catching to match the bands image.
MSN theme-packs including, emoticons, ‘winks’, backgrounds, display pictures etc.
- Do free performances in parks in the centre of major cities, i.e. London (Hyde Park), Manchester, Liverpool etc at the end of August.

Website
- Again the website will be very representative of the band’s style.
- It will have links to the band’s blog, which we are hoping they update everyday, as well as information on gigs, a biography on the band and the individual members of the band, links to websites that sell band merchandise (including t-shirts which would market the band further), a ‘local area’ search of where the fans can buy the album close to them, the bands music to listen to and eventually their music videos.
- We would also have a message board for the fans and the opportunity for fans to upload content, for example remakes they have done of the band’s songs.
- Fans can join a mailing list to get regular email updates on the band and things the band are involved in.