Finished Digipak

Finished Poster

Vimeo Issues

Unfortunately I had some issues with Vimeo due to the upload size allocated for the video. My video is a  total of 1.5GB and vimeo is capped to 500mb per upload. This means that unless I re render the video as a smaller bit rate I will have to use YouTube for my main source of holding my final piece. I will be using the previously submitted work on my Blog as my final video. I am reasonably happy with this final quality, however I would have ideally used Vimeo to retain some of the detail within the video.

Creating the textured panel

When I began work on the digipak I started creating the textured inside of the CD case. At the moment I have used a low saturation orange and I will keep this for the moment, however I will use a colour sample from the photos I take when these have been completed. To achieve this look I used a leather texture and added a colour overlay. Then I used the Exclusion tool in Photoshop CS6.

Final Video

In the final cut of the video I changed the look of the colour correction and edited the Alpha channel to create a cleaner and overall smoother looking image with less grain. This also worked well on the actual YouTube video as it created a brighter image with more detail.

Creating the Advert Template

When looking at the advert for the digipak, I have decided to create a template to hold the imagery and hold the overall theme. The font used will create a sense of continuity between the film, digipak and potentially the vinyl that I will be looking into creating for a more authentic feeling collection of products.

The use of the logo as well holds true to the rest of the products and ties the entire selection together.

Plans for Overal Final Piece

For my final piece I will be creating a finished film, which will include the green screened titles mentioned earlier in the Blog and demonstrated in my 1st cut. As well as these titles, I will be working on some final touches to the colour and brightness of the video, as this is one of the only areas I feel slightly disappointed with. I feel the use of oranges/reds is great, however some shots need some more work to achieve a beautiful colour grade throughout the entire video.

As well as this work on the overall video, I need to create a successful looking set of images with a strong set of graphics, outlining the overall theme of the album. From this set of images I will be compiling a magazine advert and a digipak. For the digipak I have already set up the template for the overall finished product and created the titles, so all I need to do now is drop the images into the template. With regards to the magazine advert, I need to create an outside image, to create a reference to the album artwork, however with a different feel, to create some variety, but still standing for the same meaning.

Once this has been completed, I will be able to create the final part to my work by looking at the evaluation tasks. I have already worked on a plan, which my subject teacher believes to be of a high standard, meaning that I am clear with how I will be working on the rest of my project. I will be working to attempt to complete this between the 18th December - 4th January as this will be a fairly free time where I will be able to work on the overall evaluation and complete this task.

The plan is to ideally be able to complete the entire Project by January 5th.

Second Cut

My second cut has added movement and added mise-en-scene with a new location. This second cut creates a more professional looking video and allows for the feedback from my previous cut to all be addressed to achieve top marks. This will overall allow me to have a positive impact on my marks and overall grade. This cut doesn't contain the titles or my final colour correction as this cut was mainly just to demonstrate the overall composition of the new footage. I will create a final edit with the new footage soon which will contain my revised colour correction, contrast and titles.

Animatic

I decided to create an animatic to help me when editing the video. To achieve this, I screenshot the sequences and placed them in order in Photoshop. 

Evaluation Planning

The questions for the evaluation are as follows

These questions need to be answered with the use of IT, for example a green screen over the film or a presentation through Prezzi. I will need to show these uses of IT to demonstrate my full understanding of technology but also an evaluative stance. This evaluative outcome will work alongside my final pieces to create a completed feel to the overall project.

1) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Potentially using a presentation to demonstrate the crossovers between my media product and a 'real' media product. This will include discussing theorists including Andrew Goodwin. This will be useful as I can show elements of the video within my presentation and highlight these with different forms of feedback from both my 1st cut and my second cut. This will demonstrate how people interpret an indie music video and how mine compares. I will also show my influences and demonstrate where mine compares and contrasts.

2) How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

I will probably make a graphic teardown on Photoshop displaying aspects of each product side by side. This will allow me to be able to display the digipak in context with the music video and this can then be analysed within the photoshop to create an immersive looking document displaying the use of technology. This will compliment my work due to the side by side comparison between my own ancillary work and my film as this creates a finalised project. The overall design of the ancillary products will compliment the video and this can be displayed through a side by side comparison.

3) What have you learned from your audience feedback?

I will create a vlog with my film in the background or a picture in picture edit, and overlay myself talking about the film and how I used audience feedback to develop my initial ideas and then my second cut and final cut. This will allow me to demonstrate the aspects of my film that I have influenced based upon market research.

4) How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

I will hopefully be making a small vlog talking about the different aspects of my music video, including the software, the camera, the lighting and the gear I used. 

Filming Directions for Saturday 14th

On saturday I would like to achieve a finished film, holding the new areas of the video, for example some new lip sync in the outside set, giving more set variety. This will be achieved with the Steadicam and an assistant resulting in an overall high quality production with added interest. These added areas of detail will push my music video even further. I will also be needing to create some artwork for the digipak. I will be using a sofa on set to create a reference to the music video but not lifted from the video itself. Once I have completed this section I will be able to progress through to the evaluation.

In terms of the filming directions for the Steadicam shots I would like to create some shots of the star performing the song with the lip sync. This will be added to by the use of a slow pan going over the stars performance to create movement. I will be using the same lens, filters and camera as the 1st cut of the music video to create a continuous feel, In terms of lighting I will probably be using external lighting as previously mentioned in my weather check, this is due to the continued poor lighting conditions outside. I will be hoping to create a warm, californian vibe to these new shots and I will need to work heavily into colour correction when I place these new bits of footage into the project.

Working on the Titles

I decided to add in the track list and the spine area of the album cover. Once this had been created, I began working on the extra elements to the digipak, for example, including using a barcode and the logo of the record label. This creates an overall professional look, and will work well as a final product when combined with the photographs themselves.

Planning for Saturday's Shoot

As I will be shooting outside on Saturday, I needed to check the weather to see if it will be raining. Also because it is cloudy I will probably have to shoot the video with the use of external lighting. This will mean I am able to achieve the best quality image even with the lack of natural light.

Digipak Template and Text Design

To create the beginnings of the digipak I downloaded an appropriate PSD file, containing all of the necessary sizes, designs and overall guides to create the most professional looking product possible.  

Then I began by taking PSD file into Photoshop and cropping the areas where the guides weren't needed to create a cleaner look and to begin the text input. I used the same text on the digipak as I had used in the music video itself, creating a link of continuity between the two. For the actual images in the digipak, I will be taking a photoshoot on set of the music video, however this will be in a slightly different looking area to create more diversity. To create the shoot I will be leaving my camera to film myself, then with this film I will put it into a blank Sony Vegas project and use the save screen tool to take an accurate frame from the video to create a photographic look without actually having to take the photo myself.

2nd Shoot Organisation

For my 2nd shoot I will be using Ben to help me out with some of my shooting as I will need to feature in the video whilst there is still movement. This will also be shot in my garden to allow for more of a variety of shots as mentioned in my previous feedback.

Vimeo

After uploading my initial YouTube video for the 1st cut I decided the quality was not up to full standard when compared to the original.

The YouTube upload has more grain and less detail in the blacks with more noise.

Feedback

From this feedback I have decided to take on some more filming dates for redoing some of the lipsync shots in greater detail as well as the use set, potentially filming in my garden or a field. For the movement I will need to enlist the help of a friend to help create realistic movement and potentially the use of a steadicam to create smooth motion.

Speed Edit

A video I created during the editing process of my video, showing the editing techniques used and my workflow.

1st Cut

The first cut of my video I recorded and edited during the half term. I displayed the video in a showing on the first day back and received overall very positive feedback. I feel the only major advance I can make on my video is to record some footage on a separate set, potentially outside to add some dynamic to my video .

Rendering

When rendering a video, checking the project properties is vital to make sure the outputted video is of the correct size and frame rate. This is shown in the highlighted box as well as the file type .mp4, the video codec most recommended for YouTube video uploads by Google themselves. Also recommended by Google is the use of 1920 x 1080 for 1080p video playback.

On Set Images

These pictures were taken on the set of the shoot for my music video. Within this image the lights, camera and setup can be seen.

Also the computer I used to edit is visible in the third image.

Specs

Intel I5 4.3GHz

Nvidia Geforce GTX970

8GB Ram

Titles

Using these titles I made on Photoshop I was able to chroma key the images to allow for the green to become see through (as if I was using a green screen).

Draft 1 Timeline

After completing my initial draft of the video, this is my timeline. The areas highlighted in blue are the cinematic shots with the atmospheric music and the areas in pink are the main music video shots.

Primary Colour Corrector

I have used the primary colour corrector tool to create a smooth and warm feel to the video. I found that Sony Vegas actually had all of the colour correction tools I needed for the overall colour correction.

Using The Secondary Colour Correction Tool

The secondary colour correction tool allows for the use of very subtle changes in the gamma, gain, alpha and saturation as well as adjusting the luminance for precise changes in the colour representation.

Using Black & White

This screenshot is taken from the intro to my music video, the cinematic section of the video. This use of black and white is powerful as it allows the titles to have a strong contrast with the video itself.

Film Bleach

I have started to place small bits of footage into Sony Vegas and I have found that 'Film Bleach' gives really crisp black and whites and an overall film look combined with the use of the letter-boxing as seen here.

ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture

ISO

To create the highest quality for my film I have decided to shoot entirely on 100 ISO rating to achieve this. This will mean recording on a low aperture to give myself the most light to avoid having to bump up the ISO. I will also achieve this by using the external lights to help achieve the correct lighting to compliment the overall aesthetics of the video.

Shutter Speed

Due to my frame rate being 24fps I decided to shoot with a shutter speed of 50 due to the fact you generally double the shutter speed based on the frame rate to create decent footage.

Aperture

As I was able to borrow a 1.8f lens this meant I could film on 1.8 with 100 ISO to create a decent amount of light with a well balanced high quality piece of footage.

Pitch

The pitch I made to demonstrate the key aspects of my film and to present the ideas to my peers and ask for feedback.

After Effects Colour Correction

I really enjoyed the film displayed in this video and feel its success is down to the incredible use of colour correction, something I will be heavily relying on in my own video.

Testing the Camera Setup

Un-edited raw footage, shot at 1.8f with a shutter speed of 50 and an ISO of 100.

Shoot Checklist

Lights - Making sure the lights I have bought work before the shoot, testing the cables, extension leads and the bulbs themselves.

Camera - I will need to make sure that my camera is fully charged, including the second battery and also make sure that I have a charging pack on hand for the batteries so I can always have a charged battery.

Props - Making sure I have the correct props on hand is vital as it will enable me to create the desired look for my film. Having these props on hand means that I can easily set up the set and keep the continuity fluent throughout.

Phone - Making sure I have my Phone charged for the use of 60fps filming will be important for the success of the film as I will need to use this 60fps footage for slow motion.

Clothing - Making sure I am wearing the correct clothes is vital to the success of the film due to the look required for the overall production.

SD Cards - I need to make sure I have two clear SD cards to begin filming on.

Advert Research

This magazine advert for 'Stadium Arcadium' takes its influence from the album cover itself as it uses the same graphics and conveys the same feeling as the digipak. This use of shared graphics between the two products gives an instant recognition between the two products, especially due to the use of the yellow text, giving the graphic an immediately eye catching look. The graphics with the date and information are simple and are not quite so vivid due to the use of white text. This subtle use of text will be my main influence from this magazine advert due it being relatable to the music I will be advertising.  

This Arctic Monkeys magazine spread is particularly eye catching due to the use of the Logo displaying the palm trees behind. This use of layering can work really well due to the perspective it gives the viewer. The use of the colour in this image creates a high contrast graphic that immediately grabs people's attention and shows the type of feel the artists want to create with their music. This also relates to the Live show that this advert is promoting as well due to the use of warm colours and the palm trees, often associated with L.A. The use of deep black with a large graphic logo is definitely something I will be looking into as it creates high contrast, drawing the viewer's eye towards the logo or typography. Potentially layering type over an image to create a layered, more texturised feel is again something I may consider doing in my advert.

Lighting Plan

I will be using the softbox lighting I have ordered set to continuous because this will allow me to shoot video with added light. As I will hopefully be shooting with a 1.8f lens, lighting shouldn't be too much of an issue, however having a lighting plan allows for smooth looking skin, deep amounts of detail and the ability to treat the colour in a professional manner.

This simple lighting plan shows how I will be shooting the majority of my key shots, using natural and artificial lighting to achieve the best possible effect.

Organising Equipment

To achieve the best possible quality in my work I have invested in some softbox continuous lights for use in my video to create the best lighting arrangement possible. Because the lights are at 5500k they have a natural daytime feel, meaning that they won't overpower my filming and will provide a natural addition to natural light.

I also signed up to borrow a dolly and tripod as I have my own tripod, however it is not the best quality so I wanted to ensure I had the ability to shoot steady and accurate footage.

I also borrowed a GoPro HERO 4 silver from a friend as to have the ability to shoot in 60fps. I already can achieve this on my Samsung Galaxy S6, however I feel the added ability to shoot underwater could potentially be useful for my video.

Vinyl Research

Due to the fact my artist releases their material on a variety of different mediums including cassette, CD, digital and vinyl, I feel I should research into potentially creating a vinyl addition to the products I will be releasing for the EP I am designing.

A attraction of vinyl is the difference in sound, the artwork and the added pull-outs. A great example of this can be seen with the Californication album which features a pull out image from the 1999 tour and a lyric page.

Another example of a successful vinyl product is the album Great Western Valkyrie, which features multiple sleeves within the main sleeve, featuring images of the band, as well as a  pullout image of the band. The front and back of the vinyl are also powerful in their design and have a vintage look with handwritten graphics and lots of use of texture.

Digipak Research

Looking at the album 'Stadium Arcadium' I feel the use of imagery is strong and has a decent display of colour, design and overall layout. The design of the 'Stadium Arcadium' album gives the feel of a large, atmospheric space. The aspect of the smoke/planets creates a description of the cosmos and of the idea of a larger atmosphere than the music itself. This artwork loosely ties into star image with images of the band members on the reverse of the album, however this use of star image is incredibly subtle due to the fact they aren't a feature focus of the digipak. The way they have been presented here is how I beleive I will be presenting my star. Creating artwork that either conceals the star or adds some anonymity to their persona, is what would suit the music and the aspects of the personality I want to reflect upon them.

                                         

Using the influence of this digipak, I would like to create an atmospheric look to my images and potentially use filters, overlays and textures to add to this look. The panels will remain simple, referencing the video in subtle forms. I feel the use of graphics in this example is too bold for my artist, whereas I would rather mine be more subtle.

A good example of subtle looking graphics can be seen in the artwork for 'Warpaint'. The graphic text for Warpaint has been used in a subtle way, but also pays homage to the design of albums by the record label 'Blue Note Records' who often use blocks of colour to separate the graphics from the images.

Due to my genre of music being loosely based on Indie music I feel it is an important aspect of my research to include examples of typical indie styles of photography, for example the double exposure image seen in Warpaint's album cover. The use of such an effect I feel could potentially be useful for my song, however I will need to see how it relates to my video and whether or not it is appropriate.

Referencing musical history such as 'Blue Note Records' is important to my project as I will be looking at creating artwork that incorporates history and other elements of artwork, such as painting and drawing as these are also important aspects to the star image I am creating.

Research Into Letterboxing

In the music video 'Sam is Dead' the cinematography resembles that of a cinematic nature and the use of letterboxing adds to this dramatically in creating the atmosphere for the piece. I would love to use a similar approach to my music video.

Production Roles

Due to the fact I will be producing the video by myself I will be directing another camera operator to assist me during shots where I want movement where I will also be starring in the shot.

This direction will be totally independant from myself and exists to be able to make my music video as high quality as possible.

I will be editing the video unaided by myself as well, using my preferred editing software and operating system; Sony Vegas on Windows 10.

Risk Assesment

- Trip hazard due to wires from camera, lights etc...

- Fire hazard due to external lights and potential use of candles

- Potentiality of smashed glass during the opening scene; using a wine glass

To address these issues I will have a fire extinguisher with me on set alongside a hoover for cleaning up any small shards of glass if there is a breakage. I will be using a cable tie if there are lots of loose cables around the external lights or the camera. 

Golden Light

On a train journey home I found that the light in the atmosphere was the perfect colour for my music video. Golden light is often found in the early or late hours of a day, and gives beautiful colour.

Examples of the light I found

Proposed Star Image

Within my video I will be using star image to create a feel of intimacy within the relationship between the viewer and the star. This will be done through shots with a dark theme to them to allow the audience to truly feel the emotions being conveyed through the use of lighting and acting. The use of a low lit/naturally lit environment will help to create a sense of loneliness and will present the viewer with a professional looking product and will allow my star image to be subtle yet powerful. By using very soft lighting/natural lighting throughout the day I will be able to create the warm feeling that I wanted to create throughout my research into colour, also combined with my research into colour correction, this will create the perfect atmosphere to help deeper develop my star image.

When looking at ideas for the look of my star image, I began by looking at the concept of a musician/artist and worked from there with my influence.

A series of ideas for how I will be presenting my star image