Day with Pete and Jake

Pete's top tips

Pete gave our group a number of top tips for our music videos.

These tips included:

• Plan for everything - include storyboard's of all our scenes and shot types, plan all the props, costumes and equipment needed for the video, stay in contact (group chat) throughout the process to explain new ideas to the group and shoot early so we are prepared and organised for when the deadline comes around. Rehearse frequently to make sure actors are comfortable with each part of the performance.
• Know your equipment - Taking test shots to try out different effects that may enhance the video to the audience, check any tricks of the camera, make sure you use a tripod to maintain steady shots when needed, experiment with editing of the video before the main thing as you may pick up ideas on the way which you can put in and take out any effects you may not like.
• The shoot - Shoot at least ten times in different set ups to vary the footage you obtain, include many cutaways to keep the audience interested and show shots in more detail eg. using a cutaway of a individual to what they are focusing on, use lots of close ups to display emotion of the performer and extra details of the surroundings. shoot more than you need in-case you feel you don't have enough footage.
• The edit - look to edit the whole performance rather than focusing on tiny details throughout the video, upload a rough version of your editing to your blog or YouTube to gain feedback on what works and what doesn't and keep cutting.
• Look elsewhere for tips - Use different blogs and websites to obtain different ideas that you feel will be suitable for your piece of work, many arts and media schools have plenty of ideas on their blogs such as Cranford school wix. 
• The blog - Evaluation of the whole journey, research, planning, construction of all 3 products, finished products uploaded to the blog to gain feedback on your finished task.

Jake's Talk

I learned a lot in the form of working your way to the top in media from Jake's story on how he achieved this.
He looked to get many small tasks from his employers which then developed into them giving him more and more responsibility. Tasks Jake was given responsibility for include being given £500 to direct and edit a performance of a small band.