The Final Film

Vital Regeneration ‘Lay Here’

Overview:

Vital Regeneration Youth Services delivered a 6 week music video production course, engaging a total of 9 young people aged between 16-24 who were referred by local organisations and identified as NEET and at possible risk of crime or gang related activity. Following this we ran a full day music video production workshop and a final show case at the YAA Community Arts Centre, in partnership with CarnivalVillage.

 The process:

During this project the participants worked with a Music Producer and Music Video Artist to learn how to write and record their own music, using Logic Pro software, and create their own music video. They also had the support of our young person’s advisor who supported them with employability and progression and a literacy volunteer who supported their literacy needs and worked with them to develop their own blog: https://vitalyouthlayhere.wordpress.com/

The outcome:

Lay here was conceived by the young people to communicate the perspective of different people in difficult situations who have reached breaking point. Whilst “Laying here” the individuals have a moment of clarity and are able to see their situations from a new perspective. Lay here looks at different choices that people make and the effects that those choices have on them. If people can learn from their mistakes and bad decisions they have made then they can grow as individuals and develop as positive members of society.

Going back to rap…

 

My name is Lee, 23 years of age, currently on a music video course and this week my group started recording the raps for the music video.

We each had to write a verse to use it in our group project. My part of the verse was about my strange dream. Funny, I had that bad dream just before I received the instrumental track to make the verse through my email. So my dream inspired me to write the right verse for that particular audio track.

I used to rap regularly 4 years ago. Having said that, I felt rusty having to perform the verse that I wrote in front of my group but because they were so supportive, I felt at ease to go ahead and demonstrate my part. I now feel confident to do more verses and perform further.

Dieuxmerci on playing piano…

I have been learning how to edit videos and playing piano with James.

We all did a track together as a group. I done a verse.

I wrote my bars at home and I took it to james and recorded my part. I yes i did enjoyed working in the group.I got to know new people who can help me in the future.

The best part of the course was playing Piano with James because i really like to learn how to play the piano so i can improve in my class and pass my level 2 in college. I’m doing music.

The Process

During this project the participants worked with a Music Producer and Music Video Artist to learn how to write and record their own music, using Logic Pro software, and create their own music video. They also had the support of our young person’s advisor who supported them with employability and progression and a literacy volunteer who supported their literacy needs and worked with them to develop their own blog: http://vitalyouth.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/lay-there/

Rory, on the course…

These last few weeks I have been attending a course that will make my use of media and music production skills. The main goal was to film and produce a music video from scratch, which will be shown to the shown at a cinema in the near future.

But before that, we would have to show what skills we could give to the group.
For example, some people may make the song for the video and mix it, while others would be editing the video or being in the video itself.

Couple of weeks so far, we were able to choose our own songs and make our own version of it. This was for people who were new to the software. So that they could practice and mess around with it so they could learn the basics of the programs.

I’ve chosen a song by Foo Fighters called “Hey, Johnny Park” and have made a drum and bass version. I also had a chance to record some footage to make a minute music video to add the song.

To start off, I took the vocals from the song from a website called acapellas, then copied the vocals into logic, which then I would have to make the drum beat. After finishing the drums I got to the fun part and started to mess around with the synths to see what goes with what. I took one of my favourite guitar riffs from the song and used a lead synth to play it (by using a keyboard). I used this through the chorus and through the instrumental. The instrumental I changed it around a bit so it wouldn’t sound too repetative.

 Then I started to film some footage for the video. I got someone to pretend that they were busking in a subway playing guitar and got some people to walk by and drop some change into the guitar bag. To edit the video I used the song I mixed to help me put the video together to go along with the song. This was no problem for me as I have already used these programs for a couple of years through college.

 Currently, we are finally started to work on the main music video that we’re all going to work on together. We have chosen to take the main chorus from Snow Patrols “Chasing Cars”. Which then we will have people rapping for the chorus. My job is to add guitar parts to the song, from simple chords to sweet riffs and maybe a solo.

 This is what I have been doing for the last couples of weeks. I’ve been enjoying it so far and I will keep enjoying it until it ends.

A bit about the project…

During this project the participants worked with a Music Producer and Music Video Artist to learn how to write and record their own music, using Logic Pro software, and create their own music video. They also had the support of our young person’s advisor who supported them with employability and progression and a literacy volunteer who supported their literacy needs and worked with them to develop their own blog.