Digipack - Final Product

Website - Final Product

http://09cgallagher.wix.com/royalwebsite

Music Video - Final Product

Shooting the swimming pool

Yesterday I finally took part in the swimming pool shooting for my music video. I recorded this my using a GroPro under water. After a while of using it I got used to the way it worked. I found that once I had put my files onto the computer that the GroPro recorded widely. So ideally i would of used a deeper pool and weights to drag me down lower so that the recording was as close. The recording did turn out the way I wanted it to but as you will see in the photos that I have provided below, the pool as a pattern of white and dark blue. This may require a large amount of editing to make the footage look less like a pool, to also make it look darker.
Overall I am pleased with the actual footage that I was able to receive.
I used two different ways of shooting. For the first half I used a poll that was able to extend and tilt up for when she would swim over the recording. Then for the second part i used the GroPro on a chest strap. This didn't work as well and it gave the wrong effect. It looked like the type of recording used for the genre of dance music. So less of that recording was used for the video. The strap looking like footage from dance music is that in this genre of music, first person footage is highly used when they are on an adventure through pools and beaches.

Double Exposure on Photoshop

I done further research on how i can achieve double exposure those the use of Photoshop, even though my main idea was to use the double exposure technique. I can also apply it through synergy with my website. I tried it out on a photo on the model, although her skin has turned a strange colour of yellow as I used the yellow ink photo without noticing it would change the colour of her skin to exactly that yellow. As I have the final planned photoshop and the final piece of her filming tomorrow, I will be able to set up the photoshoot to also work a few images with the double exposure look. I have done my research through tutorial videos so I could try a different amount of ways.
The final way I had agreed to be the best way for me is the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbf-QXCCXgM

These are also some of the steps that I followed through.

Double Exposure

Whilst working on my music video, I came across a song by Bring Me The horizon - Throne. In this video i liked the way they crossed the artists with other sequences like form the image below. After research I found that this was called multiple and double exposure. M aim from this research is to work this into my music video as the song mention 'don't hurt your bran' the crossing of two movements look confusing just like how the lyrics mention. I would not apply this directly to the artist that features in my video video but I would apply to the swimming pool scenes and later on ink footage through the video. Due to it showing the struggling. Because I have used effects just a strobe and manipulation of colour on my artists that double exposure is a subtle way of changing how my video will come across and correspond with the lyrics even more.  

Bring Me The Horizon - Throne.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow_qI_F2ZJI                           

Swimming Pool Delay

Due to the delay on being able to shoot in a swimming pool, the coming together of the music video has also been delayed, there is a plan to shoot in the swimming pool next week and to have a final shoot with the main character (female) next week so that i can finally finish the video. Even though this has set me back in terms of my music video being finished before my desired deadline it has allowed me to finish my digi-pack before my desired deadline and get through a large course of my website.

Lighting

I recorded the set up for the photo shoot with Lucy Smith who I have chosen to be the main artist. The recording was done to show that I was able to know what lighting I had prepared for. This is also seen though Behind the Scenes clips. Already knowing what to do for my lighting made the set up quicker and easier. Whilst thinking of my lighting having no issues in the studio I need to take into account if I will have issues for the filming under the water for part of my music video and if I will have to purchase underwater lighting or not.

Artist name

Below there are 3 images below that show the possible way for my artists logo to appear on the music video, website and the digipack. Through thinking the way on how my artist will look through other forms of social networks. Logo one, creates a unique way of showing how the relationship looks. The second one shows the artist name in more of a block form, the problem of this logo is that the logo looks too rock like, its too bold for the style of artist that I am hoping to achieve. In the third logo is more of a decorative view compared to logo 2. The look of this looks to pop like. The way the letters are not created the same like logo one. It is not continuous unlike logo one. So with choosing the logo. I have chosen logo one due to the constant style through all the letters of the name.

Having a logo uplift the marketing side of my artist. It allows the artist to be recognised by other people just by a type of text, it also builds the brand of the artist because it will make her more recognisable to other people. Having a logo for this unique chosen genre needs to be including wherever it can, so using a subtle logo that it unique in its own way and is easy to spot is also important when picking a logo for a logo artist.

 LOGO ONE

LOGO TWO

LOGO THREE

COMPARISON OF THE THREE

Lighting Issue

The original image is the one above, I liked the look of the photo. Her makeup is seen well with almost half of her face hidden which was the original look. The way many artist do this is with lighting but the majority of these artists are male so I had chosen to use her hair as well as he lighting, this is to make her look for feminine I was looking for as artists in this genre hide a lot of their in photoshoots like the examples below;

So when I came to edit this photo I had a problem with editing the lighting as the whole photo is dark not just her face. This became a bigger problem when trying to keep the photo natural looking whilst editing the lighting and not making it look artificial.

The Dodge Tool

The Dodge tool allowed me just to lighten parts of her skin without making it look overly editing but the problem with using this tool is that it began to make her skin look blotchy and when I tried to overcome this it made her too pale. Even though I want her to look her natural colour, I would rather want the photo to look natural.

Using Brightness and Contrast

Using this was manual because when it is done via Auto it looks too artificial and small grains start to appear across the background. This makes it look overly edited but when I done I manually the contras didn't match soft enough with the brightness. The overall image when using Contrast and Brightness became too harsh when looking at the image overall.

Using Levels 

Using the Level worked well, in fact it was the tool that I ended up using in the end. The Auto worked and it lightened the whole image. Instead of altering the contrast of the image. It also kept the model looking natural by making her face look more exposed but not too pale like the dodge tool. It also lightened the background of the image especially around the darker part of her face that became the first problem when it came to editing the image.

Digipack Idea Update

Today I started the edit for the front cover of the digipack but I came across a problem. Her hair in one of the best shots has her edit of her hair being a distraction. After thinking on how I could either take attention away from her hair but still catching attention for if the album was on the shelf.

I then thought of adding the kaleidoscope images from that would be in the music video to the background of the front cover instead of the washing out colour of white. To practise on how it would look I took some shots on how it would look if I did chose to do this. The idea of having a background also makes her stand out of the photo because she doesn't fit the pattern. So even though this was never my original idea, I am pleased how it will come out.

I tried the different backgrounds of ones that are busy and those that are simple. I have also chosen that the background will be black and white. The final idea on what type of background will be on the cover will be made when the ink drops have me recored and check on what type looks better depending on the pattern. Throughout the entire of my Digipack this will be the same effect but because of this I will keep the portrait simple with a simple background that isn't actually full of colour but that is busy. Using the image above shows that using colour does't work as well because it makes it look rushed and untalented. It also doesn't show the the way I want it to look. It looks too happy and gives off the wrong emotion when using a colour instead of black or grey.

Behind the Scenes

I created a Behind The Scenes video for the website that was the another plan from the shooting. The idea of using a Behind The Scenes video is to create that link between the audience and an artist, it helps create a connection and relationship. This will be followed for each location and shoot but there will also be a bloopers video for the entire music video and all the shoots. Many artists use this to show a different side of them and not just the original side that the audience would only be able to access through music videos and interviews.

Lucy Smith Trail

This evening I begin and finished the entire shot of Lucy Smith, this included all of the photoshoot for the Digipack and Website after we had finished the photoshoot we then started and also finish the flaming for her lipsinking. The images below show the pre-production stages includes makeup and studio set up. This so I do not just go with the first model that I come across to be in the vide, website and digipack. In a few days I will have another person come in and do that exact same, this also helps build up a character for the person to become the artist.

During the evening I had planned to do a shot close up to the lips but this became a problem as it didnt look right on camera. The clothing was also another issue as what I had planned didnt suit her body shape but we did get a few shots in a dress similar to the desired shot. I also then changed that I wanted her shoulders to be on show, this was to show off parts of her body.
Throughout the evening I became more and more comfortable with the camera and the model also started to feel and look more naural. During the filming for the video it became a long process and trying to make it look right. After a long period of time we did get the lip sink to look better. This will be posted up in a while.
Overall I am happy with the outcomes of the shooting, this has helped me get ahead of my production and also create a path of idea for the certain looks and lighting that I am looking for in the website and the video.

Pre-Production

For my Pre-Production I had chosen to record all tests of the colours that came in the pack. This is to see what types of shots I should include and how it will actually look. Of course in the music production there will be brighter lighting but this test was to see how the colours turned out and how the ink what look like.

For the final production during the introduction I will have the colour Orange coming down slowly and then the Sepia colour that appears a dark Brown/Green coming in faster. So it looks like it is pushing the Orang that appears to look like Red out of the way.

I have chosen the colour Orange because in this video it appears Red, my ideal colour being Red is to so the colour of Love and Lust but the idea of the Sepia coming through is because it appears a Brown/Dark Green colour which isn't that appealing but it'll be taking over the Red to show is damage done to the 'Love' of the relationships and how the relationship isn't lovely anymore but becoming bitter. Because of the chosen changes in pace of the two colours of ink it will also show how quickly the destruction of the relationship happened being shown by the change in tempo from the darker ink.

From the test shots I leant how the ink will actually look and how even though I was not able to by the colour Red that Orange still looks Red in the water but I have found that I will use a bigger scale that is clear. I will also film closer to the ink so you can not see the container, this will be a fishtank that is provided. The idea of using a bigger container is to make the ink look like it is falling down the screen instead of being instead a beaker like in the test shot. After looking into the ink and the effect, I had chosen that the Orange, Blue and Yellow will be chosen in the production. This is because of the smooth look it gives and the reasoning behind the choices. Such as the blue being used for the sadness that the artist is feeling about her relationship. The Orange that appears Red to show the happiness that she used to feel in her relationship and love. The Yellow being used to show how toxic that the relationship has turned.

Props Order

For the effect I want for the ink drop I had done some research into what type of ink I should use, after this research I found out that liquid acrylic ink is the best type for the effect that I am looking for. This consisted of the colours;

Sepia

Blue

Green

Orange

Magenta 

Yellow

This will be tested first with a beaker and then for the production a large fish tank. For my test I will individually show the colours on their own even though for the actual music video I will have two colours at once but this will be tested in further time.

Recce

Video Production Risk Assessment

Action Plan

Shooting Schedule

Practice Shooting

Today I took part in filming a few shots of some friends in a recording studio. I felt like this has helped me receive hands on practice for when it comes to producing my music video. This will give me more free time instead of trying to figure it out whilst production. Doing this made me feel more comfortable with using a camera especially with zooming in and out. It also helped me see on how I should scale up people on the camera.

Model Release Forms

Auditions Reflection

Before I chose a model I create short sessions for 3 possible models to become the artist for the project. This involved a few photos of chosen outfits for the song, website and digipack.  All the shots went well according to lighting and the outcomes.

First Audition.

For the first audition I felt like this person was slightly uncomfortable in the role of having their photos taken, this could have been because of being nervous or in general being shy. Because of this I felt that it wasn't the type of photoshoot that I needed. This is because I need someone to come across in the camera as confident for this to be a strong artist.

Second Audition.

I felt that this was the weakest of the chosen three purely because she looked and was so uncomfortable wight the entire photoshoot. She did not know how to pose with suggestions. Because of this I also could not have her as a main artist because the audience need to be able to connect with her and look up to their artist but they can nt if the person comes across awkward and uncomfortable in their photos.

Third Audition. 

This was the most successful shoot. She was natural in front of the camera and confident which is what is needed in a female artist. Her chosen make-up for the shoot was also ideal of the style of photos so she took the actual shoot into account.