AS LIVE - My frustration with this unit!!!

Before reading the following blog entry it is important to note that it is in no way intended to be malicious or spiteful in any way but is intended to document the way that I currently feel about my role in the AS LIVE production thus far.

I obviously understand that there are a limited number of job roles on the lead up to the date of recording of Unsigned Live. At the time of the job application process I only applied for two job roles. These roles were that of director and premonitions, this knowledge along with the tutorial that I had with Helen in which it was unsubtly suggested that I would be put in the promotions team prior to the job roles being announced. I had come with the expectation that the job role that I would receive would not be the job role that I was hoping for and was instead left with my second choice. This was indeed the case and although the feeling of disappointment still remains I can understand why this part of the process ended up the way it did.

However I am writing this entry for what I personally see as a valid reason and I hope that it isn’t just my frustrated mind blowing things out of proportion. The ‘responsibilities’ of the promotion team are as follows the designing of a logo, sorting out social network pages, creating posters/leaflets, making three short adverts, creating a website, filming a ‘making of’ and creating a title sequence which as a list of things to do seems like a lot of stuff which ordinarily I wouldn’t mind in fact I would probably quite enjoy. But and here’s where my issue lies I have successfully applied, paid for and attended this course with the knowledge that it would lead me to this unit in which the facilities of the television studio would be at our disposal to create an as live show. Now baring this in mind I refer back to the list of responsibilities that I as part of a group have to complete not a single one will need me to use the gallery therefore I feel I am missing out on any experience of working in this environment nor for the most part will the studio space be of any use to me.

As for the following elements logo, posters/leaflets, social network pages and creating a website these have next to nothing to do with the skills that I have acquired during my time on the course and therefore will probably be of no higher quality or standard to that which I could have produced when taking my GCSE’s when I wasn’t paying for it. Remaining on the list are the elements that will draw on the skills I have acquired on the course. The making of element which today was referred to something to the effect of ‘less important than the show that is only for the website and not as polished as the show’ now knowing this is the view of members of the second year you will forgive me for becoming despondent with it. Finally the adverts this is the most worthwhile element of what I will be producing as I will be able to note down that I attributed to the creation of an ad campaign. However where I expected to be able to write on my CV that I had some role in the creation of a 30 minute as live production I don’t think this will now be the case. Of the actual show I will be responsible for a 20 second title sequence, a responsibility which I share with three other people so by rights means I am responsible for five seconds of the 30 minutes broadcast which works out to be roughly 0.25% and that isn’t exactly what I expected.

Obviously Jo and I will be editing the show come the completion of recording which you may suggest make me part of the show. Equally you may argue that I put myself forward for the promo team but my argument is not where I have ended up as I suspect that even if I had only applied for the directors role I would still be in the exact same position I find myself in now. But it is the fact that I have had gained more experience in the gallery of Frank Skinner than that I will have gained over the period of this UCA as live production.  I hope that this has not offended anyone and will perhaps eliminate my frustration which until now I have attempted to keep quite. I hope to hear peoples oppions whether I am valid with my frustration or if I just need to get over myself. That's it for now bye x

AS LIVE - Unsigned logo design number two

Based on the Beatles Abbey Road album cover I designed this the second of my two logos. I personally think that as an idea it is relevent as for those people that pick up on the reference will be music fans and those who don't it is still clear that it is a music based show. If this logo was to get picked I'm not sure whether I would want to use silhouette or real people and if I was to use real people where I would take the photo. I have used the same font as in the other logo becuase i have already recieved possitive feedback. We shall see what the production team think.  

AS LIVE - Unsigned logo design number one

This is the first of my two draft logo ideas for presentation to the production team on the 15th. Obviously this may not be what Lauren has in mind but I will talk through my thoughts and how I came to this design. After seeing from a blog entry that Lauren prefured simple logo designs I discarded some of the more complex designs and started thinking about the show it its most basic form. 

Not having a musical bone in my body I think has come as an advantage for this task. This is due to when I think of music i think of the obvious elements. For example I have used the shape of a guitar pick as the main element. At this stage I have left it plain white but there is no reason that it couldn't be changed to another colour or pattern.

Having been told that the colours were going to be purples and yellows these were the first colours that I attempted for the text however I personally thought that the purple didn't work on the design. This is why I have used the yellow and orange colours as they were clear and alluring.

As for the image contained within this was originally a lonsom guitar which I tried in various colours. This looked effective but was lacking the passion for music that the general audience of the show would hold. Therefore the classic image of someone leaping into the air striking a note on the guitar presents this passion and joy of music which I assume wants to be translated.

I hope I have headed in the right direction for what the production team will be looking for.  

AS LIVE - YouTube, Vimeo and Email

Hey everyone I have set up a few accounts after the meeting with the production team the other day. So we now have a dedicated email address for the show which could prove useful for tickets and alike. So the accounts that i have set up are YouTube, Vimeo and a gmail accoutn. 


Unfortunately both Unsigned and UnsignedLive were taken on YouTube so the channel is names 'TheUnsignedLive'


The Username is: TheUnsigned Live
Password is: uns1gned


Vimeo
The Username is: unsigned.live.2012@gmail.com
Password is: uns1gned


Email
The address is: unsigned.live.2012@gmail.com
Password is: uns1gned

AS LIVE - Promo team deadlines

Items that we the promo team will be in charge of are the following:

• Logo
• Social Network Pages
• Youtube and Vimeo accounts
• Posters
• Leaflet
• Viral adverts - one long and two short
• Website
• Making of doc
• Title sequence

In todays meeting with the production team we agreed on some deadline dates for when some of the items above need to be done by, these as follows:

1. Social network pages to be set up as soon as possible - being done by Alex
2. Youtube and vimeo accounts to be set up - being done by myself
3. Each of the promo team is to come up with two logo designs to be submitted to production team on Thursday 15th March
4. Chosen logo elements must be generated by March 26th
5. Posters and leaflets created by March 29th
6. Viral adverts must be shot by April 27th
7. Title sequence completed by Early May
8. Behind the scenes ongoing throughout

Fiction Adaptation - Beginning my essay

I sat down earlier today reading through text books, finding quotations and planning the content of my essay. Part of my planning involved me working out what each paragraph was going to focus on and how many words I should have roughly in each. Well considering that I don’t particularly enjoy writing essays and that I thought I was going to struggle to find things to say I have actually enjoyed my afternoon writing. Admittedly I haven’t written a great deal in regards to the meat of the essay and answering the question of In adapting a novel the adaptor inevitably infringes the integrity of the original text but my brain got to work and my fingers tried to keep up. As the allotted 250 word introductions swiftly become almost double that and the following paragraph seemed to appear on the screen good and quick without the aid of copy and paste as would have been the case back in the day.

Granted if this kind of over writing continues throughout the essay I am going to be face with quite a hefty edit session come the end but I would much rather that than struggling to find anything to write about.

I hope that it is going as well for everyone else having to write this essay

General Update

There are times in life when everything seems so busy that you can feel that you're never going to get on top of the amount of work. With deadlines drawing ever closer, other projects and favours taking up more time than expected, spending time working a job so there is enough money to keep everything moving along and with a previously quite social life becoming more vibrant I presently feel like I am fighting a loosing battle trying to manage my time in order to get everything done.

However now that we have been given our job roles for AS LIVE I am now in a position to come up with some form of plan to get all of the things that I need to do done.

The first item on the agenda is to get my fiction adaptation essay started and completed by the end of the weekend. I have withdrawn a number of books recommended on the reading list and I have been pushing through War Horse with the aim of being able to instantly recall relevant examples when writing the essay.

Following the completion of my essay I would very much like to complete the pre production stages of the fiction adaptation unit and progress swiftly onto the production. Having been out location scouting and having my one man cast confirmed it is more or less a case of pulling the storyboard together and arranging a time that will be possible to film.

On a similar note I have been working on an entry for a film making competition having already started production I would very much like to shoot the remainder of the short within the next couple of weeks.

At the same time as these elements coming together I would also like to crack on with the second essay. With two job roles for as live being promotion and editing I am unsure if my essay has to be focused on promotions or if i can focus on the editing element. I hope this is the case as i expect that there is more information and I will simply find the subject more interesting.

The last film making element that I need to turn my attention to is the promotional material that between Zee, Alex and I have to produce. I am hoping that as there is a number of decisions and planning that the production team will need to do before we can really get on that this gap with provide enough time to get the previous elements done or close to it.

If I manage to complete all of these elements to the standard that I want, alongside other elements of my life, without having a nervous breakdown I will consider it a success,

I will endeavour to keep this blog updated to keep a record of my progress.

Fiction Adaptation - Novel Selection

It’s easy to forget with so much focus on the AS LIVE unit at the moment that I have plenty of work to get done for the fiction adaption unit. One of the marked elements for this unit is the 2000 word essay addressing the statement “In adapting a novel the adaptor inevitably infringes the integrity of the original text - discuss with reference to at least one adaptation.”  Having a very limited literary knowledge I started with films and work backwards to those that I knew had originally been novels.

Those that have been following my blog for the last couple of months at least you will know that I had a particular like for Steven Spielberg’s recent film War Horse when I went to see it at the cinema. So I have been out and bought the Michael Morpurgo novel that is where the story originated and thankfully it is only 182 page so I should be able to struggle my way through it. So I have picked War Horse as my reference novel and film. However as many of you will be aware War Horse was also a play performed in the west end. Unfortunately at present I haven’t seen it portrayed on stage which I’m sure would have given an interesting element to my essay and although I am hoping to see the show in the future I don’t think that I will viably be able to before the essays due date.

I hope that this essay proves not to difficult but like so many things only time will tell.

AS LIVE - After the pitch

So after a fair amount of hours of waiting around thinking, wondering if I had done enough during the pitch to sway the decision of the panel, not knowing if the hours of research, planning, re-working of my idea and the overall stress of the past month and a bit had been worth it. So when I walked back into the base room to find out that it wasn’t the knowledge of the somewhat wasted effort that I and others had put in I’m sure I was the only person clapping with a heavy heart.

When I started trying to think of ideas I really struggled but when I came up with Live, Camera, Action show I really thought I was in with a shot alas it wasn’t to be. Although I’m sure Lauren’s idea was a worthy winner but the frustration of the level of effort that I put in is something that will pass and I will put my effort and attention into whatever job role that I am given I am hoping for the director’s chair but have a feeling that that will probably go to someone else as well. I know this blog entry is probably not the most fun to read but I hope that there may be an opportunity in the future where I may be able to see Live, Camera Action made.

AS LIVE - The Pitch

Title: Live, Camera, Action

Format: 30 minute, As Live studio production

Channel: BBC1

Broadcaster: BBC

Target Audience: 15 - 50

Schedule:  Wednesday 8.30pm

Everyone enjoys sitting down in front of the television or going to the cinema popcorn in hand to watch the latest smash hit blockbuster film. No matter how many films are released audiences return time after time hoping to be reduced to tears, laughter or uncontrollable bursts of excitement. Not only does watching films remain a popular pastime but films are becoming vastly more impressive visually with every passing decade. These qualities are partly brought through the introduction of HD broadcasting and 3D films as well as improvements with equipment that enable films to be edited faster, shoot footage in different ways and adding to footage digitally. From an audiences point of view the takeover of dvd’s and blu-ray as the predominant forms of owning movies at home are more and more are accompanied by bonus ‘special features’ giving the audience an insight into how some elements of the films are achieved. For example how monsters are brought to the screen like ‘The Mummy’ in the 2001 film of the same name or how unbelievable car chases are achieved in films such as ‘James Bond Casino Royale’ from 2006. These features that are found on DVD’s, Blu-rays and online make the methods of film making interesting in itself.

However for those people that what to turn from film fans to film makers it is often a good place to start at the beginning with the basics. This is where the opening is for the idea Live, Camera, Action presenters will talk through to the audience some of the more basic filming techniques, sound recording, editing, lighting and more general filmmaking rules and tricks for those of us that can’t afford to send an Aston Martin rolling down the road. Because of the show being recorded in a television studio I have incorporated a few ideas that would give reason for an audience to be present and remain engaged.  These involvements would be very light hearted and bring a game incorporated element of the program. For example one segment that would call for involvement from is to select a member from the studio audience is that they would be put in front of a green screen and given props to aid them to act out famous / popular film scenes that the audience at home would be encouraged to see how many they could get right. Another option is potentially have a makeup artist turn one of the audience members from person to monster or appear like they’ve been severely beaten up. Because of being restricted with time I would suggest that the transformation from man/ woman to monster be recorded, edited and then posted on the shows dedicated website as extra footage for the multi platform elements required. With the program being focused on film making the logical inclusion of a guest seems fitting. I would like to approach local film makers / industry professionals that would be interviewed about recent or upcoming films that they have been part of the creation of. Having done a small amount on internet research I have found that there is an annual film festival in Kent that has run for the past 37 years which is I think a good place to start enquiring into local film makers. This would also create an opening for one of the VT packages visiting the set of the shoot or cutting some form of trailer from the film maker’s material. Continuing the tone of finding contributors I lead onto the handy man presenter. In the show there is planned a potential VT package segment that is intended to show how an element that is seen in big productions can be achieved and for a fraction of the price. Potentially to find someone that has the relevant skills to do the construction and still be interesting and engaging on screen I have considered approaching a member from the CAFT course knowing that we will be working with them. I also feel it would be also very fitting to add a film review section in which newly released films are reviewed considering it is a show about movies.

Live, Camera, Action is not going to appeal to everyone but with existing programs like Top Gear, The Gadget Show and Got To Dance which are all quite specialised still bringing in a wide audience in large numbers I think this show have the potential to do the same. I foresee this as it is made up of components proved successful in previous broadcasts for example reviews of films is currently restricted to the BBC on the long running Film program which reviews recent film releases, the revealing of secrets proved popular in the 90’s television show the masked magician and the interactive audience elements on shows such as Graham Norton with his big red chair bring light hearted elements that are relatively simple.

The following is a breakdown of the intended segments:

In the studio time

 - The presenters would introduce, close and link

 - The game segment - in front of green screen

 - Interview with local film maker

 - Film review 

 - Interview with makeup artist

 - Audience selection and makeup make over

VTs

 - Opening titles

 - Action/Horror film - Build up to the makeup make over

 - Build (improve home made films for cheap)

 - VT to accompany film maker interview

 - VT for film reviews

AS Live - Tutorial Review

Coming out of my tutorial today I think it would fair to say that I felt a bit down hearted and as a result I became a little despondent with my idea. Helen has said that my program has suffered because I took a big idea and then compressed it down in order for it to be achievable with the equipment, time and space that we would have available to us. Ironically because of this the elements that I was personally more appealed to pushing are the elements that Helen thought were weak and the elements that I wasn’t particularly attached to were the elements that she got most excited about.

However having had a few hours to mull over some of the points made during the tutorial I think that the amount of alterations needed to be made may be fewer than I had first thought with a tweaking method applied to the formula rather than a gutting and starting over situation. For example due to Helen highlighting that a majority of the audience will be aware of how green screens works I would consider loosing the VT package around the subject however retaining the audience participation element however increase the focus on the fun home competition side rather than making it a demonstration of how green screens work. Similarly the makeup segment is something I would like to keep however as Helen broke my idea down she compared it to the show about how magicians reveal magic tricks in as much as in Live, Camera, Action is a show that reveals the behind the scenes elements of movie making. So in addition to the VT set up, audience selection and audience member I would like to push to the behind the scenes crew to film the transformation of the audience member through make up which could be added onto the shows website as additional content.

The element that Helen seemed to respond to with the most enthusiasm was the interview segment in which the presenter/ presenters of the show would interview a local film maker about their in film which would be either in the process of being produced or recently completed film. The more I think about it the more I think this has the potential to be a strong part of the show and having done a small amount on internet research and I have found that there is an annual film festival in Kent that has run for the past 37 years which is I think a good place to start enquiring into local film makers. Continuing the tone of finding contributors I lead onto the handy man presenter. In a VT I have planned to show how an element that is seen in big productions can be achieved and for a fraction of the price. I was told to have a think about where we could potentially find someone that is relatively skilled enough to do the construction and still be interesting and engaging on screen. For this I have now considered knowing that we will be working with the CAFT course if we would be able to ask one of the members from that course to present and build for that segment.

These are the main areas that I discussed with Helen earlier today and I will endeavour to adapt my pitch for Thursday accordingly.  

AS LIVE - Studio Workshop

A few days ago we set up a small interview scene with three cameras covering the action. I had a go at directing with I found very enjoyable I would very much like to see how my attempt would have looked on screen. However when I came to edit the three cameras footage I found that nothing had been recorded of my attempt on camera one. So as an example I have cut the footage taken during Lauren Howard's turn in the directors chair. 

As Live - News Report Workshop

The following clip is the resulting news report with each location shot in one take. 

Fiction Adaptation - Shot breakdowns

     01) EXT. SMALL COUNTRY COTTAGE/SHACK - EVENING

   The air is calm and still, the light is slowly draining from the day. The cottage small and humble sits in the woodland, with a small fire outside the door. Through a fogged window the shape of a person can be seen. The window fogs more and so intensely that it becomes a sheet of white.

- Low angle, wide shot, Pull into focus

Summer house left of the frame; sun setting over the wall on the right.

- Two/three CU

Horse or natural items from outside

- Level with bottom of window, tracking shot  

Slow movement, soft focus as the camera stops looking through the window.

AS LIVE - SET DESIGN

AS LIVE - Workshop - Content list

Dean, Maddie, Hennie and I are working together to record a mock up news report on the subject of a fuel rise. 


The initial running order is as it follows:
1. Maddie (the host) in the studio set introduces the story reading the scripted introduction. 


2. Maddie passes the story over to Dan (on scene reporter) in front of a taxi rank


3. Dan introduces Dean (the taxi driver) 


4. Q1, What is your average fuel consumption in a week?
          
5. Q2, Are you having to work more because of this rise in price?
           
6. Q3, How has the rate of custom varied with these rises?
       
7. Q4, Do you think rates will have a long term affect on your business?

8. Q5, Does this rise make you consider a change in job?
           
9. Q6 Have you considered investing in an electric car?
           

10. Dan links back to the studio 

AS LIVE - Draft Timing Screen Plan

00:00 - Opening titles

00:30 - Introduction

02:00 - VT Action Drama

03:30 - Audience member is picked to be made over to look like they’ve beaten up which would have featured in the previous VT

04:30 - Take an interesting but simple aspect from that VT and show how it was made

08:00 - Guest comes on to plug new film

12:00 - VT showing a green screen being used (possibly using Hollywood films)

14:30 - Link into the break

15:00 - Opening for part two

15:30 - A few members are pulled from the audience and are spoken to about films

16:30 - They are put in front of a green screen and using props they’re told to re-enact famous movie scenes (Possibly done as VT but played as if live)

19:00 - Link

19:30 - VT Another more complex film making tutorial

22:00 - Link

22:30 - Short film review

25:00 Link

26:00 the audience member returns made up beaten up

28:00 Close the show

29:00 - Credits

30:00 - End

AS LIVE - Magazine Show Idea

AS LIVE

Magazine show

Title: Live, Camera, Action

Format: 30 minute AS LIVE

Channel: Channel 5

Broadcaster:

Target Audience: 10 - 50

Schedule: 8pm Wednesdays

Everyone enjoys sitting down in front on the television or going to the cinema to watch the latest blockbuster film. Film makers somehow manage to find an endless array of stories to tell yet by using their own style they still manage to guide audiences to tears, laugher or uncontrollable bursts of excitement. The successful directors are able to present styles are instantly recognisable to lovers of film. However with every passing decade films are becoming vastly more impressive visually with the qualities brought by HD broadcastings or 3D films. This combined with the ability to edit faster and shoot footage and add to footage digitally that wouldn’t have been possible even ten years ago

It is partly because of these aspects that films are increasing watched and appreciated by more and more people. Since dvd’s and blu-ray took over as the predominant forms of owning movies at home more and more are accompanied by bonus ‘special features’ giving the audiences an insight as to how monsters are brought to the screen such as creatures like ‘The Mummy’ in the 2001 film by the same name, how unbelievable car chases are achieved in films such as ‘James Bond Casino Royale’ from 2006 or simple behind the scenes footage from a vast number or big budget films. However for those people that which to turn from film fan to film makers it is often a good place to start at the beginning with the basics. In Live, Camera, Action  presenters will talk through to the audiences some of the more basic filming techniques, sound recording, editing, lighting and or general filmmaking rules and tricks for those of us that can’t afford to send an Aston Martin rolling down the road.

Not forgetting that there will be a live studio audience that will be present on the day of the record I have a few ideas that would give reason for them being present. My first idea is that a selected member from the studio audience will be pulled up on stage. They will then be put in front of a green screen and given props to aid them to act out famous movie scenes to show how a green screen works.  Have a makeup artist turn one of the audience members from person to monster or appear like they’ve been severely beaten up. In addition or pace of this we could have audience members asking a how to question relating to film making which the host and or invited guest could then answer.

This show won’t appeal to everyone but with programs like Top Gear, The Gadget Show and Got To Dance which are all quite specialised still bringing in a wide audience range in large numbers I think that Live, Camera, Action could have to potential to do the same.

Fiction Adaptation - Ted Hughes, A profile of the poet

Ted Hughes - A profile of the poet

Ted Hughes was and is still regarded as one of Britain’s most visionary and powerful poetry voices of the 20^th century.  However during his career his writing was at points overlooked with the public interested being focused more on his relationship with first wife Silvia Plath who went on to committed suicide in 1963.

From a very early age one of the closest relationships he had was with the landscape around his childhood home.  He was quoted later down the years that he viewed “A landscape without game is to me is a dead landscape” and that the “First seven years seem like half of (his) life”. His relationship with nature is a strong feature of a lot of his poetry with areas like the woodlands setting his imagination alight and changing his academic studies from English literature to anthropology his early fascination and knowledge of nature was broadened. His published work brought him high recognition as a writer that put modern readers in touch with the timeless forces of nature and became poet laureate in December 1984.  

General Update - At the end of the month

Admittedly coming back to the studios for my first day as a second year yesterday I didn’t have quite the same mix of nerves and excitement that I did at the same time last year.  However coming back and seeing the familiar faces of friends and knowing that this year’s work was already underway I am eager to push forward with both of the units for this semester. In myself I feel far more confident in my abilities, I think that I have a secure understanding of what I need and want to achieve in this semester.  

I personally enjoy beginning out and about with a camera shooting for a project, however, I am going to spend a majority of the first month of the new semester planning, planning and then planning some more for both the AS LIVE and fiction adaptation units. At present I am more interested in the fiction adaptation unit. Currently I am thinking about the potential locations and shoots that I would like to include in the short and more importantly if these two elements will work together or if components will have to be scrapped or altered to make them work practically and one screen. As it stands I don’t know of anyone else adapting ‘The Horses by Ted Hughes’ I personally hope that there is as I am interested to see someone else’s interpretation of the same poem.

After our short brainstorming session yesterday I am looking forward to hearing the ideas of my pears are for the As Live production. I am also interested to know what roles people will be applying for in four weeks time. At this point I feel that none of the ideas previously blogged by myself have enough originality or appeal to be commissioned and so the journey to the dusty areas of my mind is still underway. I am hoping that at some point soon inspiration will strike and the idea will unfold before me.

Well that’s it for this month and we’ve only just begun I can’t help but wonder how far my work will have progressed by this time next month.