Editing Workshop Refresher

We had a refresher workshop with Matt this one tackled what we had learnt previously on editing and we learned more of the type of editing we will be using to complete the post production on our music videos. New things that we had learnt are cutting the performance sections of our music videos we can take all the shots we have and cut between close ups and wides of either the band or solo artist and make the performance sections more visually interesting. 

Another new technique that we need to use is to be able to sync the audio of the song with the video this is a combination of editing and a clapper board. If this is done right at the beginning then dragging the clips in will be much easier as you will not have to sync the audio later on.

We were shown that when dragging our our shots that we wanted to use that we did not have to drag it with the sound as well that we could drag it without any sound to make it easier for the editor to work on. 

Before we start cutting all the separate shots we want and positioning them we should cut them into the bigger chunks and start refining them from that point so that we do not delete any shots or have to search for them later on when putting them together on the timeline.

Group Props list

These are the props that we need for our music video we have separated what we need between who already has the item we need and who is able to purchase an item that we might not have already:

https://hurtwood-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/nosa_ighodaro_hurtwood_net/EUoKhoT5gX9GjrtE9F3mPKUBZ6s5KG7keeGY49iZIVluWw?e=dfymHO

Reference images for our props:

Set Design Meeting

In our meeting with the set designer we just gave her an overview of what are idea was and what we know we wanted to have and then branched off into what we definitely need and what we can do without if its not that important. When discussing what we were able to get as a group we agreed that we could buy/borrow the costumes and props for the costumes lighter/masks also the hay bales and the tray we will carry the handmade voodoo dolls on and then later burn. Fran said that she could take care of the spray paint which is really the only other thing we needed to decorate the set. The type of lighter we intend to use is a zippo lighter with a owl bird pattern carved or shown on the lighter to keep to our cult theme. As Chris was not in the meeting we need to talk about a few changes such as how much graffiti we want in the container and how many hay bales we are actually going to need while filming. We have completed a props list of everything that we want so far and who will be able to get them.

Test Shots

On Friday last week we were finally able to get test shots of the members we had cast for our band although these were the initial cast members we wanted some of the casting has changed since then but has be fixed currently. In the test shots we just wanted to have them pretend to perform the song just so we can see what they can do currently and what we have to fix/tweak before we film after half term.

These are a few photos that we had taken of the band while they were performing our song 'Awakening' by the Musicians of Bremen:

Overall the test shots came out quite good for a first try though we still have to practice their stage performance and how they will have to act during the actual filming. We did do a couple of takes where we had switched out the the drummer and the guitarist to see how the dynamic changes and also in case our drummer could not be part of our music video. 

 

Digipak Design

 Best Designs:

This is one of the ideas that I had drawn for our digipak design, this would be the front outside cover of the pack. It is supposed to be of a member/leader of the cult with their mask on with the logo of the cult on the forehead of the mask. Around the face we will choose a colour preferably black or a darker colour to compliment the pure white mask. With shadows being a key visual element in this sketch.

This will be the back outside cover of the digipak this is one of the symbols that I had come up with that the cult members will have 'tattooed' on their wrists. I tried to make the symbol slightly resemble an owl with the feather like edges and the overall owl shaped head in the centre with the eyes. This is probably my favourite of the symbols that we had come up with as a whole as it is not tied to any already established religious contexts. 

Lighting Workshop

Last Friday we had a Lighting workshop with Matt. In that workshop we went over the different types of lights and lighting methods that we could use when filming our music videos. Matt showed us several different lights either for background lighting or coloured neon tube lights which we could use to set a tone for our music video.

Types of Lights:

• The first type of light that we were shown was a sort of flood light which we had used to light up the subject that we were testing the lights on. 
  
  
• This light is mainly used for having spotlights on the whole band or artist and grabs the attention of whoever is watching the music video. 
  
  
• The light can be used in different ways such as putting it on the side of the subject to have shadows on one side of their face and the other with light contrasting against it.
  
  
• Another technique that we had used with these lights was Backlighting where we only shone the back of the subject to give a bright highlight around the edge of the model this can make the subject ominous/mysterious.
  
  
• The last method we were shown was bouncing the light off surfaces to make the light appear somewhat softer when shining on the subject instead of the harsher light when shone directly at the model.
  
  

• Another type of light that we used was a Photon Beard Highlight This was a much bigger and broader light compared to the others that we were shown.
  
  
• This is just a big fluorescent white light Which is usually rigged on platforms above where a performance is happening or to give lighting on top of the subject your filming.
  
  
• There are not many other diverse uses for this type of light other than giving a bright spotlight.

 

Instagram Conventions

Common features of Instagram posts:

Modelling/Photo shoots 

• Usually music artists will have photo shoots if they have collaborations with clothing brands or it could just be shoots to promote a new song or album. E.g. Billie Eilish    

Live Performance    

• Artists and bands will often also post images from live performances they may have had either on tour or in hired events. E.g. Travis Scott    

Promotion of tour 

• Promotions for tours will usually be shown either by tour dates posted on the artists Instagram or artwork teasing the tour. E.g. Trippie Redd 

Announcing Collaborations 

• Artists will usually post images or tag the company or person that they have collaborations with this increases both the company's popularity and the artists giving them mutual gain. E.g. 

Magazine Covers 

• Music artists are often asked to model for magazine cover whether it is a fashion magazine or a magazine that centres around music and what its like to be a music artist. E.g. Dua Lipa 

Abstract/Arty

• Some artists will also post very abstract art possibly teasing an album or a song or it could be a piece of art that they are just fond of. E.g. Kanye West

Pre Production Music Video

 Our group has gotten much further in how we want to progress and handle our idea in the actual shoot, however we are still having trouble with finalising the cast as we have found it difficult to find a lead singer who remotely resembles the voice of the lead singer in our chosen song. Because of this we have not been able to do any test shots of the band together or even solo to see how they would look, this is the same for make up and costume tests. But as of next week we plan to have test shots/rehearsals with the main cast.

Mood Board Set/Lighting

We plan to have possible Satanic or just occult type imagery in our set. Rubber hose style devils and drawings is something that we were quite fond of while imaging the background of the set. We also want to have a lot of performance with lights casting shadows from the back of the band members to create a sort of ominous feel to the performance sections of the music video. And for the concept bits of our music video we want to have a sort of breaking away from and hierarchy type cult possible sets could be warehouse or barren building like areas.