London. The setting of many iconic blockbusters: Fast and Furious 6, James Bond, Harry Potter... just to name a few. I was lucky to interview a group of hopeful and enthusiastic media students in exchange for starring in their music video, to discover just what goes on behind that lens.
On Saturday 30th October I met up with the four young men, and was immediately struck by how casual they appeared: they didn’t hold clappers or sit in camping chairs, yet were armed with GoPros and their eyes light up in excitement just like any other producers. They were filming a music video to the soundtrack of Snow Ghosts by Yoe Mase as part of their A Level Media coursework, and not being in their class I was soon overwhelmed by their specialist dialect. It made me realise just how complex filming is, as it is not as easy as just pressing the ‘record’ button; but the magic takes place before the cameras are even taken out, with extensive planning and research. We travelled to Waterloo Station and followed a predetermined route to St. James’ Park, filming the whole time.
Whilst walking, I asked them why they chose to go to London as the location of their shoot, as obviously their local area also has streets and parks, and so what is the difference? They laughed at my naivety and told me that it is more than just pretty buildings: London not only has iconic landmarks, but offers the cultural diversity that makes it more vibrant, interesting and easier for the audience to empathise with. It is the hub of activity in England and recognised worldwide: so why film locally when a short train trip takes you into a city that many can only dream of visiting?
After filming we sat exhausted on a train as these future directors told me how the day’s filming is not the end, now they have to spend hours on iMovie editing a three-minute clip. The music beat and mood has to match the video, and the transitions have to be smooth and natural: meaning that they will not upload till later this year. I just nod full of sympathy, as I jump off at my station, deciding that the next time I watch any film or music video I will appreciate the effort that goes into it a lot more.
By Aleks Dyoniziak from Raynes Park High School
