Music video project 2021: dates, rules and tips

 The music video project is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your own creativity. You have absolute freedom and very few limitations, and this can be daunting and even pretty scary to students just starting out!

Look at the dates, and make sure you know exactly what you're doing week by week

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Filming rules

1) If you are filming during an A-level media lesson plan, you may film instead of attending the lesson in person

2) Rule one ONLY applies to A-level media studies and no other subject you take. Please don’t even ask!

3) If you are filming during an A-level media lesson, you MUST send a reasonably DETAILED (who what where why when) email to your teacher describing what you are doing

4) You can also send a PICTURE, for example a PICTURE OF YOUR SETTING AND EQUIPMENT

5) All emails must be sent AROUND THE TIME OF THE LESSON, i.e NOT the night before and NOT three hours later

6) If you are NOT filming in lesson time, you MUST attend the lesson, even if you are filming later on that day

The sooner you start filming, the better your music video will be, and the higher your grade will be

Things will go wrong, especially as you get used to filming. You might have a camera malfunction, you might get rained off, or you might get stood up by someone who you thought was reliable... Start early,and you'll still have time left to sort things out!

You need to book out cameras in advance

You can click here to access the online booking form, or you can find the same link on the top right of the blog (under 'key resources'). Remember to book equipment as far ahead as possible, and to return a permission form if you wish to take equipment off site

Make a shot list before you go out filming

A shot list is like a shopping list. If you don't make one, it means you'll forget to record certain shots, which will be a MASSIVE pain in the neck later. 

If in doubt, use auto mode

There's a toggle on the side of the lens that reads MF or AF. Pick (A)uto (F)ocus if you don't know what you're doing, and probably if you think you know what you're doing. Having shots in focus is MUCH more important that film quality. If you shoot in super high def 8K and it's out of focus, it will look WORSE than an ancient 80's camcorder shot IN focus. Trust me!

Use manual focus

Completely ignore the last point. Use Manual focus (MF) and use the focus ring to focus, as the auto focus on our Cannons can be a bit dodgy. It's super easy and forces you to pay attention to the next point:

Check your focus every time you make a shot

Having every shot in focus is so very very very important! So even though you picked AF, make sure that each shot is as clean and sharp as possible!

Lighting, lighting, lighting

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Never, ever move the camera

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Go OTT with MES

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Shoot everything ten times

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Be clear what your master shot is  

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