Digipak Final - Raw Images

To be more creative I decided to start on a new arty theme. I came up with the idea of an escaped hospital patient. As the album is called 'The Wild' I decided to set the location in a forest. To add a nice mysterious effect I put a balaclava on the model and some black gloves. This will ad that mysterious factor, along with the nice aesthetics it should pull off like the digipaks I researched that had the same elements and pulled off.

These are a few of the raw images to show the range of photos I took..

After this shoot I knew that these shots would work. They're artistic and mysterious, exactly with the theme I wanted. With the right editing this will pull off. I will add some film grain, maybe some blur, put it in black and white and play with the levels.

Digipak Initial Photo's

The initial plan was to take photo's at the studio to get a really natural feel to the photo's from the bands perspective. These are the images I captured.

This is a gif of the photo's I took. Because the gif was created through the internet the photo's were compressed. In result of this the images lost quality so here were some of the best ones I took in HD..

These images were shot really nicely and I liked the aesthetics of them. I know they could have a lot of potential for the digipak as they all link in the same theme, with a range of composition, framing and angles that would look really nice. 

I have chosen not to use these photos. I believe they are too typical for a band and not really original. What I learnt through my research the photo's that worked best were very original, mysterious and had a really off the wall theme. For example the 'The 1975''s artwork. This made them look really arty and creative. As my video comes under that category, I wanted the digipak to be just as good to follow the main 'creative' theme I have portrayed for the band.

By doing this extra shoot I have allowed myself a variety of options if the new shoot doesn't pay off.

Video Thumbnail

I have decided to create a YouTube video thumbnail for my video. When people have not clicked on the video, or when they see the video in the suggested video lines on the right of the screen they will see this thumbnail. This includes the 'faded line' and the bands text in this thumbnail. This is a repeatability factor created by the logo, that will be seen on the advert, the digipak and now the video thumbnail. By drilling in peoples heads the logo this will create recognition for the band so that people will remember the logo, therefore encourage album sales.

Here is the video thumbnail, including the logo, and a nice still from the video..

Editing - Cinematic Bars

To get that further cinematic look I decided to add black bars at the top and bottom of the music video. This is done in creative/arty video's to put a cinema impression on the video. It gives 'widescreen' cinema feel so it looks like a movie on the big screen even though it is on a computer. It changes the aspect ratio, but without distorting the image.

I had to go through the cuts and pan some of them so the black bars did not cover significant parts of the shot..

This is before and after the cinematic bars. The difference it has made is dramatic and really achieves that look I wanted.

Before.. 

After..

Editing - Sound Effects

For the intro, I planned to have beach waves at the start to correspond with the visuals. I wanted the intro shots to be seperate with the main track as it is a completely different time frame, as this was a shot from the future with past memories. So without this seperation I believe it would have been complicated. The way the shots came in with the opening guitar, to me, was perfect, with an effective seperation. I added in the beach waves to match the shots and give a calming effect to allow the viewers to really concetrate on the shots and the meaning. This will instantly get the viewers questioning the video, wanting them to carry on watching to find out why she was on her own on the beach.

I faded the beach sfx in and out, matching the clips fading..

Editing - Slow Motion & Fast Motion

Within the Joyride scene to create the 'trippy' effect along with the delayed effect I wanted to play around with motion speed. This will be an addition to making the viewer feel what the charactor in the music video is feeling. Also to represent his mind set, building up the tension throughout the scene, perfect to lead up to the final scene.

With the short, quick clips in this scene I decided to slow the motion, and also speed some clips up.

To speed up I created a 'volocity' bar on the clip and raised it to a point where it was fast enough.

To slow the motion down, in pre production I planned the camera shots in slow motion to be shot in a certain way. I double the frame rate, so when slowed down it is really slow, smooth and not jolty. To recognise the slow motion shots I could see the video interlace in the video. To slow it down to the perfect frame rate to avoid interlaced footage and jolty footage I selected the playback rate to 0.5. This matched the frame and worked exactly as planned..

Editing - Visual Effects

Visual Effects wise I wanted to keep the video minimalistic as this keeps a sense of realism. So I kept the vfx to the minimum. Otherwise over the top effects could draw from the idea of realism and the video would start to not give the impression it was real.

The only vfx I added were slight delays on very short clips in the joyride scene. These are very quick clips and with this fx, it is meant to show the audience an idea of what the actor is feeling. It portrays that his mind is a mess, unclear and generally intoxicated to a point where his vision is very impaired. It is a way to make the viewer feel how the character is feeling. This worked very well as I used it subtly and not over the top, and was a good addition to the visual effects.

How I did it was pretty simple. I duplicated the clip and put it on a layer above the original clip. I dropped the opacity down to 50% and placed the duplicated clip a couple of frames to the right to create this effect. The more frames to the right the more intense the effect is. This is how it was created and what it produced..

End Result..

Editing - Colour Grading

During the colour grading process I was trying to ask myself what look I wanted. I decided I wanted a really cinematic look, and keeping the same theme throughout all locations.

To achieve this cinematic look I firstly boosted the contrast slightly and dropped the saturation. this instantly gave a cinematic feel. I wanted to achieve what the post production in 'Wiz Khalifa - We Dem Boyz' achieved.

I applied this and this is the difference in feel by just applying these two adjustments..

Before contrast and saturation adjust..

After contrast and saturation adjust..

I then started to work on the colour. Through my research I found out that to get a really good cinematic feel you have to bring the yellow/browns out to give it that film tint. This mixed with the previous adjustments really payed off to create the mood I was going for in my music video.

Before Colour Adjust..

After Colour Adjust..

Throughout the video I decided I could start changing the mood through colour grading. This would help support the storyline, what is going on and what mood it portrays. To achieve this I decided to drop the exposure down towards the outro of the song. This gradually made the video darker, corresponding to the characters moods and actions. I also dropped the saturation. The contrast between the colourful start and the colourless ending symbolises the relationship turning bad, spiralling out of control. The colour corresponds with this really working in the edit. Here are the comparisons between the grading from the start and the end..

Happy Scenes..

Darker Scenes..

With the clips at the start, to represent a 'memory' I decided to put it in black and white and to boost the highlights. This blows the highlights of the fire. I also added a vignette to the image. All these grading techniques  represented a memory and seperated the main image mood from this, clearly representing that the girl is missing whatever she had with this boy. This technique leaves the audience wondering why he isn't there and why it is a memory. Here is the difference in colour before I added this grading dream technique..

Editing - Colour Correction

During post production I learnt the best way to start when working with the colour of the picture is too correct it. This is a method the editor undertakes to correct to colours highlights/shadows, and the amount of colour seen, they should all be level to be corrected to a point where it'd be identicle to what the human eye would see. Doing this, evening the colours out, allows the perfect image to then go on and colour grade the image, to set the mood and feel to the shot.

I adjusted that levels within sony vegas to get the image perfect with the highlights and shadows.

I also played with the exposure and the colour correction fx to bring out colours that may have been under seen. I only made slight adjustments to a point where it doesn't look edited, just looks corrected.

Now the picture is corrected it gives me the best image possible to go on and colour grade..

Editing - Transitions

All my transitions were straight cuts. I think this worked very well and was done on purpose. This way it doesn't distract the viewer from the story, nothing is complicated so the story can be portrayed in exaclty the way I wanted it too.

Shot size was a very important factor in my music video to create tension in wanted areas, to die down the tension in specific areas. For example really quick cuts were it is intense when they're fighting or taking drugs, but when happy, longer calmer shots showing off their emotion. This worked very well and corresponded perfectly to the song which was very significant in my music video.

One method I used to help me with this was to put markers in my edit to follow the structure of the song. This outlined specific areas in which the tension of the song would build or drop. This helped me to keep thinking about shot size to match the song. I believe this helped me significantly and was the main reason why the music video came out the way it did.

Editing - Organisation

The methods I took for organising my footage had to be very efficient. I shot approximately 88GB in HD footage. This shows there was hundreds of clips to play with. To get the best out of my footage it means I have to be well organised so no amazing shots are not left out, so I don't get confused. Also this will save a lot of time whilst going through the footage. I decided to make folders of the locations, renders and edits to organise the footage.

Within them folders I decided to split the footage up into sub folders, to separate what I needed. I split them up into 3 sections, the happy stage, the middle 'psychotic' stage, and then the heated stage.

I decided to keep the bad, unused footage just in case. I never delete footage I think I won't use just in case it could come in handy.

I used the same organisational structure within the software through 'media bins' within the software. This was an opportunity for me not to be confused and also to import as less footage as I could to avoid software lag.

Editing - Software

Before editing I had the opportunity to edit on Adobe Premier Pro. But I have Sony Vegas 12 Pro on my laptop. I am very familiar with this software, having wide knowledge of effects and short cuts, allowing me to edit faster leaving me with more time for feedback and improvements.

First Draft Audience Feedback

From this feedback, I got the same kind of answers from the first feedback. Saying it looked really professional. She also commented on the message not being so clear until the end when it started to spiral. This shows me the audience kept wanting to watch the whole thing to therefore recognise the moral in the video for when it does become evident in the end. This is the approach I was going for to keep the viewers concentration. Also when it spirals and gets heated in the end it all happens quite fast, the viewer may not catch the story on the first view which creates a repeatability factor, as stated in the codes and conventions of a music video by 'Steve Archer'. This feedback said it needs no improvement.  

First Draft Audience Feedback

From this I learnt that my video's cuts, footage, locations and narrative were all on point. The message was clearly perceived in the video and overall, the audience was happy with the draft. I knew I haven't colour corrected or colour graded yet, the feedback picked up on that, but that was the only improvement which I was happy with.

First Draft

This is my first draft edit. This edit just consists of the cuts, I mainly focussed on fixing the pace of the cuts to the pace of the song. At this point the band has gone to the studio once to record their instrumental. For the first edit I have just based the cuts on the instrumental version. This way has helped me as I can really listen to beats and bars of the song to match the cuts, to therfore make the video flow. They are due to go to the studio again to record lyrics before my final edit is due. I will shift a couple of cuts around, maybe add more or different shots and then work on the visual effects.

Magazine Advert Mockup

For the Magazine Advert I wanted to steer away from the digipak idea of the studio shots. I wanted it a bit more creative and artistic. Simple but with no real meaning or link to it, therefore catching attention as it is mysterious, enticing the audience to try and work out the meaning.

The text is very central and simple. The size is crucial to make it look aesthetically pleasing and professional. The professional look will make people look at the small details given. They will not be overloaded with information, So with the information they do get, they will remember. Also not having to much to read will not make them want to give up. 

The photography for the magazine advert will be mysterious with no meaning to it, but with really nice aesthetics, encouraging the audience to take notice. The cigarette will remain with a central composition lined up perfectly with her face. With the big hair either side, it'll draw focus to the cigarette and therefore the text with the information.

The edit will consist of the image being in black and white or very low saturation, with a low aperture that is focused on the cigarette, therefore the model blurred.

This will work if I stick to the plan.

DigiPak Mock Up

Due to Paper Shop Dave only going to the studio once they only got the instruments recorded. Their second visit is before I finalise my edit. But I thought this was a good opportunity to capture some photos for my digipak. This would allow me to capture moments of them working in the studio, as well as nice visuals of the studio. So I am going to go with the studio with them.

This is the plan of what the digipak will look like.

The front cover will consist of a band member sitting at the mixing desk working on the song. The lighting will be a harsh light from the front of the person to create a silhouette kind of image. This will be shot with a wide lens to capture a big area of the studio.

This shot will be shot at very low aperture, focusing on one dial on the mixing desk, creating a nice visual.

This is a basic portrait of one of the band members, having a central composition. But as they will be smoking the cigarette will create an interesting linear force.

This shot will be of the singer recording, quite a long shot, showing the engineer in the background through the window but blurred out as the focus is on the singer.

This shot will be a close up of an instrument holding a left composition, whilst in focus at a deep depth of field. In the background will consist of a number of keyboards.

This shot will be a flat image of the band, at a wide angle, just establishing their image, but nothing too complicated that'll take concentration away from the tracklisting. 

The overall theme will fit together nicely as all the shots will be in the same location, therefor all having similar lighting and exposure. Therefor there will be no editing issues to try and match the colours. I have a mixture of close ups with low apertures and wide shots that establish the scene.

I am planning to plan these edits with very low saturation if not, not saturated at all. Having intentional grain and scratches on the edit to make it look old and antique. This will work nice for my digipak.
 

Directing Actors

One of the most important factors in making sure my music video looks realistic, to make the storyline believable to create the atmosphere I wanted is to get the acting on point. I've learnt even with amazing actors without directing them, almost shaping them into the character you want, it may not look realistic and too 'clean cut' / staged.

So directing is a huge importance in film making, especially when actors are included in music videos, I researched different film directors as they work with actors in oppose to performers, which would be more suitable. I also researched different techniques and key factors in directing to help me.

One of my favourite directors is Martin Scorsese. He directed films such as Shutter Island, Goodfellas and Wold of Wall Street.

I decided to research video's showing how he directed, coming from actors and colleges he worked with. It showed me his personal methods to really get the actors intimate with the characters they were playing. A particular movie I was interested in was Goodfellas. It touches on all sorts of emotion. With particular scenes of emotion that has resulted from the intoxication of drugs, including paranoia, distress and anger. This was very relevant to my music video scenes, so I thought I would pay particular interest in this film. This is an example video of what I watched to get this directing advice.

                           

I learnt from this many techniques, including passion for ideas, giving actors input and relating the storyline to the actors as good as possible. Including the significant line of 'he told me not to act like them, but behave like them' which would be very relevant to my music video's characters.

I also looked at advice videos for further points to direct to the best of my ability.

                           

I have made points on what to do to get the best out of my actors.

1) I made the actors watch certain scenes out of  'Goodfellas' to point out certain emotion that works good. Also snippets of 'Dallas Buyers Club' to get them to understand the hillbilly, away from society type of theme. Also, strangely, 'The Pirates of the Carribean' to show them the way Johnny Depp perfectly portrays the 'drunk' attitude of Jack Sparrow. All of these little pointers can help them represent the characters. Of course with added flare from their own interpretations.

2) I ran the Actors through all the scenes with the actors and the different scenes prior to the shoot, and constantly remind the actors of the scene whilst on set.

3) I constantly speak to the actors, retaking shots with slight different emotions. 

4) I will be open to questions and personal opinions.

5) I will need to have patience to pull this off.

All these directing tips will help to make my music video realistic and make the storyline believable.

Risk Assessment

Lighting

For the shoot I was thinking where I would need lighting to avoid going to a high ISO. I realised the caravan without film sort lights, 1) the smoky beams wouldn't be so apparent, if not at all. As if there is not sun directly shooting through the windows, my idea won't work. 2) it might be too dark and detail may be lost in the shot. To avoid these potential problems I got hold of 2 film lights. It was perfect as there was 2 windows. I set the more subtle light on the side window, so glares could be created but not too much where you can't see the subject. Then the stronger light through the big black window to create silhouettes when I wanted.

Due to the shooting schedule I have ensured most shoots are set just before midday or just after. This is to avoid the sun being directly above. But most of all it is to avoid the lack of sunlight to quality is not lost.

The shots that will need light, that need to be shot in the dusk for the mood I was going for is the beach shots, and also the drug exchange scene after the abandoned mental asylum. For these shots power cannot be provided. I will be using a portable led light panel.

Through all this lighting, all of my shots should be lit nice and evenly.