Tasks for Monday 10th Jan

Still awaiting confirmation of the guest speaker from the CD design/printing/packaging/distributing company WeWow (who take a particularly clear stance on green issues - see http://www.wewow.co.uk/
I might push this back to Tuesday morning as quite a few have resits on Monday 10th; listen out for confirmation!
NOW CONFIRMED FOR PERIOD 1, TUES 12TH JAN! BE IN F6 BY 8.40, HAVING INFORMED TUTOR YOU'RE PRESENT!!!
Two specific tasks have been set, though there are additional basic stages you need to have completed; details below.
TASK 1: Sample footage - take a minimum 2-3 scenes from your project and shoot these; don't worry about having the right cast etc in place, focus on the experience of shooting in the actual locations, and getting a sense of what issues may emerge. Feel free to experiment while shooting - act like a cinematographer and gaze through your camera lense to see if any unplanned shots inspire you. Try to edit and upload these for Monday, cut to a section of your track. Sample footage gives you the chance to work out if an idea will be effective; if not, you've still got time to rethink without having dragged out your cast etc. You'll also need to take some still images for...
TASK 2: Digipak research. Seek out examples of digipak singles (try charity shops if you don't have any - it'd be useful to be able to scan in covers, though you can also simply make notes while scrutinising some in a record shop, and look online later for images of the CD). Note EVERY detail - each group should look at a minimum of 5 examples; you can decided amongst yourselves who does what. Remember, you are assessed on the small details. As well as blogging on your research, at minimum plan out the design of your digipak: cover image/s; spine; rear cover; inner (gatefold); booklet contents. As digipaks take some inspiration from vinyl (cardboard covers, and highly collectible, which standard CDs aren't), you could look at records for inspiration too! Be ambitious - your finalised digipak could be a great thing to be able to hand out as evidence of your practical, technological and creative prowess (and be a neat Xmas pressie in 11 months time!) Note ideas for specific images, and how this fits the band image; what might you include in any booklet; note the different designs for holding a CD in place - many digipaks replicate the LP sleeve design rather than the push-out plastic holder. [I'll post more separately on digipaks]
CATCH-UP TASKS: If you haven't completed the following make these urgent priorities (these overlap; you don't have to do 5 separate posts):

1. TIMINGS: create a table (you can use templates provided for the Britney vid) with timings alongside lyrics. You note the start time for each line, and also subsequent instrumental breaks (its worth noting the length of instrumental breaks too). You can't plan a music video without having this basic info to hand!!!
2. THE IDEA: A clear, concise synopsis, which is easily understood - if its hard to convey in words how is it going to work on screen; how can you be sure each group member is following the same plan? 
3. DRAFT PLAN WITH TIMINGS: You can (and should) do multiple drafts of this, which may well change considerably, even feature entirely new ideas as you begin to experiment with sample shoots and edits of scenes. To this end, blog and keep a list of ...
4. IDEAS: Keep a comprehensive list of ALL ideas you've had within your group; you may find an idea you initially rejected actually makes good sense once you've gone out and done some sample shooting/editing. A list also makes it easier to re-draft your plan with timings.
5. VIDEO COMPONENTS: Less comprehensive than 'IDEAS', note the distinctive sections of your idea: eg one key, recurring location; performance; characters etc. In essence, list the separate sections you'll be filming. You can then start to draft call sheets, working out the resources required (and dropping or adding sections once you've reviewed the feasibility, with regards to time, access to actors etc)

I'd like to be able to publish a post with a single paragraph on your group's idea and your sample scenes, so please provide both of these once you've edited and exported sample scenes - and keep passing on rough footage/sample scenes as you get it.