Here is some original footage of my narrative with Lucy
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Out takes from original footage
Here is some of the footage I filmed with Danny and Iona from my original performance Idea.
Saturday, 20 April 2013
First half of my evaluation
A2
media Portfolio Evaluation
At the beginning of the year I
was given a choice of 7 briefs to use for my advanced portfolio in my second
year of my media course. I chose to promote a package for the release of an
album, to include a music promo video, together with a cover for its release as
part of a digipak and a magazine advertisement. I wasn’t too sure which genre
to choose from alongside a song to create my own video. I spent a few days
analysing music videos and songs, most of which were the genres of music that I
listen to. I then stumbled across an artist (James Morrison) who I was familiar
with. He doesn’t base his music around one genre, but two, of which I am not
particularly interested in, but was intrigued to learn about.
This had similarities to the set
brief in the foundation portfolio in media. In my AS year, I had a choice of
creating a media text relating to the music industry but this only required one
media production not three. I was asked to create a music magazine which
consisted of a front cover, contents page and a double page spread. I had to
invent my own artist(s), (a similarity to my A2 brief) taking original images
of my artists and uploading them on to Photoshop ready to create and finish the
final product of my magazine. This did not include collecting video footage.
For both of my portfolios, I had
to recognise the codes and conventions of different genres of music. From there
I was then able to research and collect information on the music industry
itself. Whilst putting together my -research, planning, creating my product,
and writing my evaluation, I had to make sure that all my work was being posted
on to my online blog. In my foundation and advanced portfolio I used Adobe
Photoshop, editing my images and creating headlines for my magazine in my AS
year. From the work I had done in my foundation portfolio and skills I had developed
from my AS media year, it helped me create my ancillary texts (magazine
advertisement and digipak) at A2.
At the end of my AS year, I was
introduced to a program called Adobe Premier Pro CS3. I would be using this in
my A2 advanced portfolio, editing my video footage on the editing suite. I was
also shown how to use a HD camera, I know that I had to develop the skills and
the knowledge to video the footage I needed to create my main product, my music
video. The research that I needed to do for my advanced portfolio needed to be
in-depth with much more detail due to the 3 different types of media texts.
This meant I had a lot more work ahead of me.
I asked three of my very close
friends, Danny Barley, Lucy Clark and Iona Gladwin to be my artists and main
focus for my music video. I had decided on a song ‘UP’, by James Morrison. This
song also featured a female artist Jessie J. The song was split into two
different genres: Adult contemporary and Pop. I had little knowledge about the
song and the genres that it was categorised into, but was looking forward to
challenges of making my music video. I stuck with the idea of just two artists,
and having one of my friends portraying the narrative structure to my music
video.
However due to other commitments
and problems that occurred throughout the year, my cast list changed, and as a
consequence of this my ideas for the music video.
I was able to upload and get
access to other music videos on the web2.0 by using the website ‘Youtube’. This
was helpful as I was able to watch music videos from other genres: Adult
contemporary and Pop.
From research, I found out that
music videos are conventionally performance, narrative and abstract media
texts. Following my research, I could see that there was a combined mix of
performance and narrative used in both genres. One of the music videos I
watched from my research- Michael Buble ‘Cry me a river’ inspired me for one of
my locations for my mis-en scene and how I wanted to structure my performance
for my video. I know that I wanted to base the style for my video around the
60’s, a look of vintage a different approach to the original music video.
I wanted my artists in my
performance to be smart and elegant, Danny in a formal suit with either a
bowtie or tie, Iona in a vintage dress with subtle
colouring with unique patterns. Whereas my character (Lucy) in my narrative I
wanted her look very simple, everyday clothing with significance to the 60’s.
(Images)
For Iona
and Lucy’s hair and make up I’d decided upon two different style of the 60’s,
creating two contrasting looks. I wanted Iona
to have a small similarity to the female artist (Jessie J) in the original
video but included my set style. With the subtle colouring of her dress, and
unique patterns, I wanted to create a similarity to ‘Marylin Monroe’ with the
seductive red lipstick and the floorless 60’s natural eye makeup.
Whereas with Lucy I wanted to
portray a character who is very petite, sweet and naive, as if being a young
girl in her own little world. However, this all changed when I started to
re-think my ideas, and changed my cast list.
From doing some background
research into my chosen song and analysing the lyrics I found out that the
narrative was about life, being entrapped in ones mind and death. The word
‘Groundhog day’ really stuck out to me as an important word and knew that it
was going to be a major feature of my video. I also realised whilst watching
the original video that a lot of the footage, and narrative was being repeated and
that they where trying to find away out the building, emphasising on the word
and title of the song ‘Up'.
When planning my music video I
knew that I wanted my narrative to reflect the meaning of the song by having
various materials repeated creating the feel of entrapment. My performance on
the other hand would be telling the story.
From my ideas I was able to choose
three locations for my video: The theatre in my college, and two woodland
walks, both locations near to where I live. I went to all three locations which
helped towards the starting product of my hand
drawn storyboard.
I stored all my pre-production,
production and post production coursework onto a free, easy to use blog
website: www.blogger.com, from which I
had already set up a ‘Google Account’ for my AS foundation portfolio to publish
all my progressing work. The site allowed me to publish and update all my work
instantly for my teachers and other students to view and access. It was also an
easy way to get my teachers, students and my target audience to give me
constructive criticism of my work and how they thought I could continuo to
develop it further. Because Blogger is an online blogging system, it meant that
all my work could never be lost or accidently deleted as it is stored securely
on the internet where only I can access it. Another Web2.0 site that I used to
publish my work on is Prezi- www.prezi.com.
This website is also free, and easy to use and stored all my work securely.
Once finishing a prezi, I copied the HTML links and published them on to my
online blog. It was a more compact way of producing all my research.
Other websites such as
Wikipedia- www.wikipedia.com an online
encyclopaedia allowed me collect my research on various parts of my foundation
and advanced portfolios.
In the course of the
pre-production stages of my music video, I analysed the lyrics of my chosen
song ‘Up’ to outline and understand key features of the narrative. Through
listening to the song many times, it brought across the feelings of the artist
and to whom he wrote the song about. This helped me to develop my ideas further
to start my hand drawn storyboard.
My first story board consisted of
27 shots most of which I would be repeating to emphasis on the idea of a
‘groundhog day’. The idea of the story board was to plan out what shots to use
when filming and how long each one should last. By creating the story board it
helped me plan out how I would use my mis-en scene and what props I would be
using for each location. I was able to use a scanner at home and college to
scan each hand drawn image on my storyboard on to a computer or USB stick and
saving them as a JPB file. This made it accessible to upload all my images onto
my blog. I was then able to use each JPG file to create an animatic (a series
of still images edited together and displayed in sequence with a sound track).
This gave me an idea of how the scene of my video will reflect the narrative.
It also gave me an idea of how long each shot would last, and whether I needed
to go through and take a few seconds off each shot. I created my animatic on a
program called Movie Maker. This was easily available in the media suits in
college. I kept each hand drawn story board with me whilst I was in the editing
suit and whilst filming so I know exactly what I needed to do.
I then decided on the look that I
wanted for each of my artists and props which I may consider using when
filming. I decided on trying to combine each artists look upon both genres, and
the set style that I had chosen, 60’s vintage, and kept the props to the
minimum. When researching the set out for a performance, I looked upon using a
traditional microphone from the 60’s period. But it was unlikely to be able to
get hold of such a microphone, so instead I looked upon using a traditional
microphone from modern day. Doing research into Adult Contemporary and Pop, I have been
able to outline each look/style of artist within that genre. Adult contemporary
is very elegant and chic. Male artists wearing; grey, white or black suits,
Formal but sophisticated. Whereas the female artist are featured in long
gowns, evening dresses and cocktail dresses, an image and style which a lot of females
love to wear.
The
hairstyles are also very smart and formal an ideal look for my music video.
Pop on the
other hand is completely different, and possibly not the image I am looking to
set my music video on. The clothing is very bold, makes the artist
standout for its genre, something which I am not looking for.
But
perhaps I can merge both iconic styles together?
One of the
first thoughts that came to my mind was what hairstyles could I have
to separate each of my cast as their own character?
I did some
research into female artists ranging from the 60's, to modern day music.
Watching my chosen music video
'Up', I considered to how the team had dressed both James Morrison and Jessie
J. Trying to link ideas I would like to carry through to the production of my
music video with the original.
After editing footage from the narrative,
I watched the sequence back analysing each section of the music video. The
footage was clear apart from one small section. The performance was acted and
performed the way I’d planned on my storyboard. My narrative reflected on the
lyrics ‘groundhog day’ and ‘up’. But it wasn’t right. It didn’t flow like my
animatic. I know it was the wrong portrayal of the song. Starting with a new
complete fresh look had come to my thoughts. Speaking to my media teacher, he advised me on
starting from scratch; he also mentioned keeping my selected locations, styles
and cast, as I only had a few months left before the work was due.
Analysing the lyrics again, pin
pointing specific phrasing and words, linking and growing an idea for a new
hand drawn storyboard. I also did some more research into the meaning of the
song and found out that James Morrison had written it based on his late fathers
alcoholic dependency. He spoke about the on going battle which was fought but
never won. He also wrote about his own feelings towards being entrapped and
claustrophobic in the world he was living.
An idea sprung to mind about a
dark room/hall with a spot light in the middle. Through this, I was able to
develop the idea by creating my second 9 shot, 9 page hand drawn storyboard.
The locations were winded down
to one- The college Theatre which was available for the last three weeks before
the February half term. However, one of my cast members ‘Iona Gladwin’ told me
that she could no longer commit to finishing my video due to work commitments.
But that wasn’t the only problem I encountered. After coming back after the
half term brake trying to book the theatre was non existent. The only night available was a Friday 4pm-5pm.
I was however, able to solve one
problem. Lucy Clark has a sister twin sister Katy Clark who appointed to me
that the narrative of my music video could work with the fact that they are
identical, minus the different hair colour but once the filming started, it
added to the effect of the contrasting mind of my character.
Another issue occurred after one
night of filming on the 23rd March. Every lesson which I was able to
commit time to was booked due to up coming exams. Also every night after
college was booked due to rehearsals and performances for a college production.
The only times available to me was before college; 7am-9am. This caused a lot
of problems with Katy and Lucy because the hours given was hours they couldn’t
commit.
Because I’d already collected a
small section of the footage with Katy and Lucy, I’d decided to upload the
footage onto the editing suit using Adobe Premier Pro CS3. I roughly had the
first minute of footage, from here I uploaded the video onto my blog. This
showed the progressive stages of the development for the music video. Iona
Gladwin came and spoke to me about filming for my video, alongside another
friend Emily Hallett. They were able to commit to the two hours in the morning
before college. Knowing this booking the theatre was no problem. I booked it
for Wednesday 6th March and Thursday 7th March.
Collecting all the footage I needed, I was able to start editing with my new
footage, then being able to upload each stage of development of the music video.
At this point, I hadn’t started editing the brightness and contrast, or adding
special effects. But I needed to re-shoot some shots for my finished production
of my video.
I introduced one of my artists
(Emily) at the beginning of the music video using various medium/ medium long
shots of her sitting in a chair with a spot, casting a shadow in the mirror at
the back of the theatre making her the main focus of the music video. From this
I used a long shot introducing my next artist into the video (Danny). My video
mainly consists of medium shots and long shots of the artists in the video. I
have also included close ups of each artists at relevant times in the video,
this is so the artists can be recognised in order to sell albums.
The long shot of the artists in
the spot light reflects on the lyrics ‘As
it all falls down’ as Danny falls to his knees. I repeat this sequence in
the music video reflecting on the lyric ‘Groundhog
day’. This is conventional for music videos which (I think) helps to move
the narrative along. In the second verse of the song, the female artist (Iona ) appears for the first time in the video. I use a
tracking shot, and panning shot of Emily walking slowly into the spot light
where Iona is already standing. Here I am
trying to reflect the image of someone’s mind, reflecting the emotions of
loneliness and entrapment of the narrative character. I edited each camera shot
to the drum pattern in the song creating an uncertainty to the video. This is
again conventional for music videos linking back to the meaning of the song.
Towards the final few shots of the video, each artists(Iona
and Danny) leaves the spot lighting leaving Emily alone. She shows pure emotion
as she portrays the final structure of the narrative of the song- death. I use
across fade of an empty chair in Emily’s place, creating the true meaning of
life and death.
I started my pre- production
work for my digipak by analysing other digipaks from multiple genres. During
this research I considered things like the use of media language, audience,
ideology, institution and representations. Through this I was able to recognise
the conventions of digipaks. I’d started planning and hand drawing a digipak,
(illustrated by the image captured). But however, due to the lack of time I
decided on changing my brief by designing a webpage for my group and sticking
with the magazine advertisement. Starting on the webpage, I looked at the my chosen
artists webpage ‘James Morrison’ (http://www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com/)
for inspiration.
From this I was able to structure, illustrate
and design my own webpage. I was recommended a website by my teacher- Wix (a free and easy to use online
site.) http://www.wix.com/. It gave a
standard tutorial through each section of the development of your webpage. It
also featured different webpage layouts of which you could use for our own. I
found this very helpful as it gave you different webpage layouts for specific
genres. Such as; music, businesses, fashion etc.
Here are some screen shots of my final website;
Home page
I edited the images on photoshop and saved them as a JPEG. This abled me to upload them on to wix and illustrated the images carefully round the page. I also featured facebook, twitter and googlemail links
News Page
Again I used photoshop to edit the images for my news feed page. By uploading the my music video on to youtube, I was able to embed and upload it onto my webpage.
Blog page
Biography page
I created a short story (some of which is true) about each individual person in my band/group.
Tour and Gigs page
Video page
Through youtube I was able to embed and upload the video onto my website.
Friday, 19 April 2013
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Filming and Editing updates
Since coming back to college the only date accessible to go and film in the theatre was Thursday 11th April. I managed to get a two hour slot from 4pm-6pm. This time would give me a chance to finish filming everything I needed to collect, and to take a few photos to help me finish my digipak and magazine advert.
The night before I filmed, Danny told me that due to commitments outside of college he couldn't stay after college to help me finish filming. I then checked again with Iona and Emily to see if they where still available and updated them with the situation at hand.
When going through my storyboard, I could see the possible changes that I could add in to, to be able to finish off all the filming I needed to do on Thursday.
When Thursday afternoon came along, I went down into the theatre with the already booked camera and tri-pod stand ready to set up and negotiate the lights again with the lighting technician. However when I went down there, there was a group of dancers rehearsing in the theatre for one of their upcoming exams. They told me that they where only going to be a few minutes to go through their dance routine again and to tidy the props they where using. They where in there for over an hour, giving me less time to finish of the film I needed to do.
As soon as they where done, Iona and Emily helped set everything up, connecting my Ipod to the speakers as the computer had been disconnected, position the chair in the spot light, and to make sure that the lighting compatible with the camera. When that was all done we started filming the footage for the second verse.
It actually didn't take us as long as I thought it would have done. Iona and Emily worked together well and was happy with doing as many takes and shoots as I needed to. They also helped when It came to doing the individual shots of one another, taking in turns to fast forwarding and re-winding back to the appropriate part in the song. (Up). I was also able to take a few photos of them whilst recording. But looking through the images I had collected, I realized that none of them where worth keeping due to the lighting in the theatre.
It actually didn't take us as long as I thought it would have done. Iona and Emily worked together well and was happy with doing as many takes and shoots as I needed to. They also helped when It came to doing the individual shots of one another, taking in turns to fast forwarding and re-winding back to the appropriate part in the song. (Up). I was also able to take a few photos of them whilst recording. But looking through the images I had collected, I realized that none of them where worth keeping due to the lighting in the theatre.
On Friday 12th, I went to the media block and did a solid hours editing on the editing suit. Looking through all the footage, I was able to see which clips I could use and some to which there was no reason for keeping. (For example when they started laughing through a take, and when a shadow had been cast-ted across either Ionas and Emilys face during a take).
One of the shots I had collected worked towards the final product of my music video. But a problem that kept re-occurring during filming with Katy and Danny and Danny and Emily was, the lights in the theatres technicians room where visible because of the mirror. I have tried editing it out as much as I can, but towards the end of the shot, you are able to see it for a split second. Maybe If I can book the theatre again, I will re-shoot that shot.
One of the shots I had collected worked towards the final product of my music video. But a problem that kept re-occurring during filming with Katy and Danny and Danny and Emily was, the lights in the theatres technicians room where visible because of the mirror. I have tried editing it out as much as I can, but towards the end of the shot, you are able to see it for a split second. Maybe If I can book the theatre again, I will re-shoot that shot.
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Fonts for Digipak
Monday, 25 March 2013
Saturday, 23 March 2013
Ancillary Text Analysis 2; Magazine Advertisements
I decided to start doing some research and analysing magazine advertisements to get a general feel and knowledge of what they consist of.
Because I studied music magazines last year, and for my end product for my foundation portfolio I had to design and create my own magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread, I already have some knowledge of what to look for.
The Beatles
This is a
magazine advert for The Beatles, 'Classic albums and deluxe box set' The
headline is in its usual Beatles style, black bold title, drawing it to the eye of the audience. This shows its
importance’s within the advert- the name of the group. The image is of the group
sitting on a few vinyl records. This is ironic and highlights the word ‘heavy
weight vinyl’ in the cover line.
In the 1960’s the Beatles where commonly dressed in grey suits customising the style with their unique yet unusual hairstyles. Another trademark to which they where recognised for. The Image also portrays the time and area to which ‘The Beatles’ where most idolised for in the music industry, it plays alongside the films they produced as most where in black and white. Another Ionic symbol to which The Beatles are also recognised for is the ‘Apple’ illustrated in the right hand side corner of the advertisement. This also links into the several small images of their most classic albums (also highlighted in the cover line). Underneath this is the website address for the groups wed page.
In the 1960’s the Beatles where commonly dressed in grey suits customising the style with their unique yet unusual hairstyles. Another trademark to which they where recognised for. The Image also portrays the time and area to which ‘The Beatles’ where most idolised for in the music industry, it plays alongside the films they produced as most where in black and white. Another Ionic symbol to which The Beatles are also recognised for is the ‘Apple’ illustrated in the right hand side corner of the advertisement. This also links into the several small images of their most classic albums (also highlighted in the cover line). Underneath this is the website address for the groups wed page.
Each text presented
on the advertisement is capitalised, simple bold of black font which shows the
continuity and sticks to the conventions of the magazine advertisement.
Friday, 22 March 2013
Filming and Editing updates
Because I was unable to book the theatre again before the Easter break, I have been able to book time when I go back to college. I have also manage to pr-book a camera out for the week to record the final shoots for my video, and to just go through some other shoots as I know that they can be shot and captured better.
I have also been able to edit quite a bit of my footage and through this I have been able to see what I need to re-shot again when I get back after Easter.
I have also been able to edit quite a bit of my footage and through this I have been able to see what I need to re-shot again when I get back after Easter.
Saturday, 16 March 2013
Filming
Today I went out and bought three glass vases to continue with filming for my music video. When I got back, I went through some health and safety issues which may occur whilst filming with my mum as she offered to help out.
We went outside and cleared an area in my garden by covering the pavement and bins with black cloth. I bought out a jug of water and a ladder. The ladder was used for creating the impact of the glass smashing on the floor, and I thought that the water would also be effective whilst the vases was falling and when it hit the floor.
I thought that the filming went really well, I got plenty of good clear footage, and I felt that nothing went wrong. The only thing that I would have changed was the glass vases. I think that having a bigger vases would have created a bigger impact than the smaller ones that I had bought as on some occasions they didn't break first time round.
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Filming and editing updates
Going through some of the footage I shot on Wednesday and Thursday, I realized that I still had some filming to do.
I have got most of my material now, but there is still a few shots I wouldn't mind re-shooting again.
I am going to check dates with my cast members to see when they are available, to which I can go and book the theatre.
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Filming and Editing
Filming- Wednesday 6th March; (7am-9am) Cast members: Danny, Emily, Iona
Filming- Thursday 7th March; (7am-9am) Cast members: Danny and Emily
Editing- Thursday 7th March I have manged to do about 2 minutes of my song.
Filming- Thursday 7th March; (7am-9am) Cast members: Danny and Emily
Editing- Thursday 7th March I have manged to do about 2 minutes of my song.
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
My latest Cast Updates
There are two Genres within the song I have chosen, Adult contemporary and Pop.
From this I have been able to create two different structures to my music video, Performance and Narrative
I have chosen to use three characters to whom all will be part of the Performance and Narrative structure, Danny Barley, Iona Gladwin and Emily Hallett.
Danny Barley
Danny will present my male singer, showing two contrasting characters within my music video. He is a very talented musician, and will always put 100% work and effort into what he is doing. With his dashingly good looks, polished characteristics, and smooth style, he has everything I am trying to present in the song I have chosen.
Iona Gladwin & Emily Hallett
Iona and Emily will be my female singer, Iona presenting the inner good and innocence of my female narrative character, Emily presenting the inner dark, and depressive narrative character in my music video. Lucy and Katy both have very petite, and natural appearances. Iona and Emily are going to be mirroring one another displaying each different side to my character. Through this I am hoping to show two contrasting sides.
Iona and Emily always puts 100% work and effort in everything they do, and I know that they will work alongside each other very well.
Monday, 4 March 2013
Updates
Katy, and Lucy have both told me now that they cannot do anymore filming due to commitments within and outside of college.
So I have decided to keep with my idea, but to change my cast which now includes Iona Gladwin and Emily Hallett.
I have also found a solution with booking the theatre. One of the Drama teachers has booked me to film in the morning from 7 till 9. He said that they are the only times available with the hours that I can do.
So I am going to plan and schedule dates with my cast ready to re-film
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Problems with filming
I am Having problems with trying to book the theatre. Every night it is booked due to a panto, and within college hours there are lesson that go on in there.
Another issue I am troubled with is that two of my cast members, Lucy and Katy, have told me that they can no longer film after college.
So I am having to find other times and possible dates and possibly including searching for another theatre location to film in.
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Friday, 22 February 2013
First evening of filming
Yesterday I managed to book the theatre to do an hours filming.
Unfortunately, my friend Lucy was ill today, and wasn't available to film, so I sat and wondered what filming and productive ideas I could do with my friend Danny.
When going through some ideas, I came up with the following idea;
my friend Lucy is an identical twin, so for my music video to show the contrast of life, and death i have decided to cast Lucy and her sister Katy. I want to dress them in a similar style, one wearing black dress, and the other wearing a white dress. This will hopefully bring across the contrasting look I am aiming for.
So I decided to do the shots with Katy sitting on the chair with the spot light cast upon her, whilst Danny walked round her. I felt that the filming went really well although I found that picking up Katy's expressions through the camera was difficult due to the quality of the camera.
When I next do some filming I think I will look into different techniques and settings on the camera to try and get a better quality picture. I am also hoping to have plenty more time in the theatre, and for all my cast members to be free.Filming schedule
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March 2013
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
Filming?
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
Filming?
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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21
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22
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23
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24
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25
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26
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27
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28
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29
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30
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31
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Filming schedule
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February
2013
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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21
Booked the theatre for 22nd
february
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22
Filmed in the theatre.
Looked at booking the
theatre for another day.
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23
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24
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25
Book theatre
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26
Health and Safety Check
list
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27
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28
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