Main Task - Shoot 2 (Narrative) - Storyboard

Research and Planning - Casting

Once we had chosen to add a narrative section to our music video, we needed to find extra cast members to fill the roles in the narrative. As part of our narrative, we required a girl that looked quite similar to the lead singer Annie, particularly having similar hair. This was needed as our narrative would make the audience think that Annie was in a relationship with the boy, however it would be revealed at the end that it is in fact a different girl.

However, when we re-evaluated our narrative, we realised that this was far too complex, so we chose to just include shots of the couple. In terms of casting, after searching for a girl that looked similar, we realised that my production partner looked the most similar, and after some convincing, she was willing to be part of the music video. As for the male lead, I knew that my friend had done some acting before, so therefore wouldn't find it too awkward to be part of the narrative - pretending to be in a relationship.

Main Task - Props List

Main Task - Shot List

Main Task - Shoot 1 (Performance) - Storyboard

Main Task - Research and Planning - Lighting and Colour

Our chosen was a very upbeat, light-hearted track, so we knew that the lighting and colour of the music video would need to reflect this.
As we had planned to film in an outdoor location for most of our music video, we were going to be quite reliant on the weather being good. However, if the weather was good on the day of shooting, we hoped that the sun would pick out the greens and yellows of a forest as it goes into the autumn time.

Green has connotations of positivity and growth, and yellow has connotations of optimism and happiness, which fit well with the tone of the song. However, it is ironic that these colours and the tone of the song is quite optimistic, because the lyrics themselves are in a way quite negative, as the singer has lost the person they love.

Main Task - Research and Planning - Location

Performance Shoot
When it came to choosing the location of our music video, we had to think about the logistics of filming somewhere near the band. We knew that, due to the song having an upbeat tempo, we wanted to preferable film somewhere that was outside, and hopefully sunny. The only issue with this is that we would have to rely on the weather being good, and in September in England, 

that is very much 50/50.
After some correspondence with the band, Annie told us how her dad owned a warehouse, so we could have the great opportunity to film in there, and in the countryside surrounding it. However, as the date of production drew nearer, we were informed that there would be construction work happening on production day, so we would be unable to film in the original location.
With production day drawing nearer, we had to go back to the drawing board to try and find a new filming location. Fortunately, the drummer of the band offered for us to film in the practice studio in his house,and get some outside shots in the forest near his house. I was concerned that it would be a lot of work for my partner to do by herself, but luckily she found another person who could film on the second camera, and help with carrying the equipment between locations. The performance space itself was quite plain, so we used props such as fairy lights and patterned backdrops to make it look more interesting.

Narrative Shoot
When it came to shooting the narrative sections of the music video, we wanted to choose a location that would fit seamlessly with the performance sections, without having to go to the same location which was quite far away. I had watched a music video for 'Comes and Goes' by COVEY, and I liked the shots of people walking through leaves and trees. Therefore, we chose to film in another forest location that was close to both ourselves and the male cast member.

Main Task - Initial Shoot Ideas

When we were initially storyboarding ideas, we weren't sure whether we were going to have just a performance based music video, or whether we were going to also have an element of narrative as well.

Therefore, we chose to listen to the song and just draw images and shots that we thought would fit with the song, putting into practice the idea of synaesthesia that we had previously explored.

Main Task - Research and Planning - Costume

When it came to the costume of our band, we wanted to stick with their existing representation. As Littlewing aren't very well known, we felt it would be best to stick with the way in which the way in which they already were: that way new audiences would be seeing a real representation.
Within the indie genre, most artists tend to wear quite casual clothing, particular in performance music videos, so it would clearly represent the genre of the band, without even requiring music for this to be obvious.

Main Task - 'Wasting Time' - Lyrics Analysis

Main Task - Artist Correspondence

We managed to find Littlewing through a friend, and due to the fact they have a Facebook page for the band, it was very easy to make initial contact with them. We made most of the correspondence with the lead singer Annie, who was then able to contact the other members of the band for us. 
They were very willing to help us with creating a music video. I think was particularly because they are an independent, so it would be very useful to them to have a music video created for free.
They had a lot of faith in us by letting us create a music video for their song, as they had to trust that we would make a music video that they could use themselves.
Obviously, we had hoped for the band to feature in the music video, and having asked them, they seemed more than happy to.

Following this initial contact, Annie forwarded the message onto the rest of the band to make sure they would be up for it, and thankfully they were. It was so useful to be able to work with the band directly, due to the fact they themselves had written the song, so if they had ideas for the music video they were able to tell us.

It seemed like it had been plain sailing organising what the music video would be like with the band. However we encountered one issue; trying to find a date to film. We realised that it was near impossible to find a date that 5 people from 2 different locations could do. Eventually, we found a date that the band and my partner could do, but I was unable to get time off work to help. Although I was disappointed that I would be there for production, it was the only day that all the band could do, so I entrusted my partner to complete the shoot for me.

Main Task - Chosen Song - 'Wasting Time' - Littlewing

We chose the song 'Wasting Time' by Littlewing to produce a music video for. They have three songs on their EP, however we chose this song because it was quite light hearted, and the song itself wasn;t over-produced, so if we chose to create a live performance element as part of our music video, it would be feasible.
Also, production would be taking place in summer/early autumn. Although British weather is unpredictable, we hoped that it would be quite pleasant weather, and this would therefore fit well with the tone of the song.

Main Task - Chosen Artist - Littlewing

Littlewing is a three piece alternative-rock band from Buckinghamshire.

Annie Needham (Guitar / Vocals)
Joe Humphrey (Drums)
Nick Morgan (Bass / BV's) 

Chloe got in contact with Littlewing after having found some of their music from their EP 'Barricades ' on Soundcloud. We had found that they were from Buckinghamshire, which was pretty local for us, so it seemed that finding a location for shooting would be easier, as we wouldn't have to travel far to accommodate for the band. 

Having got in contact with them, they were more than happy for us to create a music video for them, as they had wanted one made for ages, and they trusted that we would make one that they would be able to use in their own marketing.

Main Task - Initial Ideas

Before we chose the final song that we would create a music video for, we decided to brainstorm about the style and genre of music video that we wanted to create. Both myself and Chloe (the girl I worked alongside) are into indie music, particularly bands such as Bombay Bicycle Club, Two Door Cinema Club, and The Vaccines. Therefore we knew that when it came to picking a song, it should probably be within the indie genre, as it is something we both like and are interested in. At this point we didn't know what style of music video we wanted to create, so we just jotted down possible venues, bands and genres that we could use as our starting point.