Editing Photos

I started to edit the other photo for the interior of my digi pack. Although I can't remember what effects I used on the other photo, therefor I can't make the second image look similar with the same effects. So I was going to start fresh with both images but I don't seem to have the image with the green food colouring on my computer or my memory stick so can only hope that it's on my school computer which I can access when I get back in January. This is rather annoying as I could be getting on with it no over the Christmas break but I am going to try get the back cover finished instead then at least I will have made some progress. Below is what I did with the image quickly. It is just a tester of what the effect looked like.

Progress

Second powerpoint progress

View more presentations from 99westwellm.

Digi Pack Progress

Tonight I took the final images for the inside left image for my digi pack. They have turned out well and I'm confident I will find one out of the bunch that will work alongside the other images. I have now got to find the picture that i think will work best and begin editing it in the same style as the other images on my digi pack. Below is an example of the images I took tonight before being edited.

Productive Hour

I popped in to do some work in my free period today and for once the computer didn't crash on me and I actually got a good chunk of my video done. I have stopped working chronologically and instead I am picking out main sections, roughly editing them for me to then return to it at a later date when i have the whole video roughly done.
I am pleased that I finally seem to have made some progress.

Stressfull Problems

Again there is problems with the Adobe Premier programme on my computer. I made little progress today, although I did overcome the cropping problem but the image is now pixilated so if I have time at the end of the video editing process I am going to re shoot the few shots that need it. After solving this problem the Adobe Premier programme froze for over an hour and is still currently frozen. This is again hugely frustrating as I want to get on with my video and be at the same stage as my fellow class members but I feel as though I am being held back .

Email to Universal Records

I have spoken to my teacher and she has advised me that uploading my video to my blog will earn me higher marks. Therefore could I politely request a licence?

Thank You

 

Megan West

Reply from Universal Records

OK - just let us know if you're posting online and we can issue a license

Regards,

Nina Juliano
Film & TV Music
Universal Music Publishing Group

Images

I have now bought my red food colouring so I can re-create the image with the bowl of water with red. I am hoping to use this image for the inside of my digi pack alongside the green food colouring image.

Problems...again

The effects I want and need to use on my video are not working which is causing me to get a little behind. We are 40 minutes into the lesson and I haven't done any of my video so far this lesson as I am spending my time faffing about trying to get the crop effect to work. This is really frustrating as it has worked for other students but for some reason now isn't working for me. I am going to have to either get on with another part of my video which I do not want to do as I'd like to do it chronologically or get on with my digi pack. Although it will not solve the problem so my best bet it so scrao the shots and effects I want to use and find something else.

Another Email

I have sent an email back to Universal Records about where my video may be used/uploaded.

Thank you for your reply. I would like to seek further clarification as there is a chance the video I make will need to be submitted via an online blog. However, in the past the videos have not loaded successfully onto the blogs so we may not use this platform. Again rest assured that the blog is only used for academic purposes although it is available in the domain.

 https://webmail.wscampus.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.meganwesta2.blogspot.com

 

 

Megan West

Universal Records Replied!

Hi Megan,

You do not need permission to use any songs if they are only being screened privately in a classroom. If you are going to post the video online or screen at a festival, you will need clearance and sync rights. Hope that helps!

Regards,

Nina Juliano
Film & TV Music
Universal Music Publishing Group
www.umusicpub.com
2100 Colorado Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
umpglicense@mgd.umusic.com

Problems

I have noticed in my video that one of my clips is a lot smaller than the others. It cuts from a full screen clip to a much smaller clip. I do not yet know if this will effect my grades but I am leaving the clip in for now until I have finished the rest of my video then I can look at my video and decide if it effects it much. This is hugely frustrating as it is not my doing that has caused this error as the clips for this section are off the same camera and have been converted in exactly the same way etc.

Video Progress

Video progress powerpoint

View more presentations from 99westwellm.

Progress

I am currently putting together a powerpoint presentatio on my progress on my video. It will be uploaded later today.

Images

I was having problems with my blog Tuesday and Wednesday so was unable to update my progress.

Tuesday evening I took some pictures of bath water to  try and create a plain yet effective image that i could use on the back of my digi pack. I tried colours and felt that they still didn't tie in with the front cover. I added a sepia effect to the image to try and make it similar to the colours on the front cover image which I think has worked. I am now going to put the image onto my page with the text and front cover and see how they work together.

Digi Pack Progress

As I have now got the front and back images decided I can start adding fonts and text. I will create three or four version of my digi pack with different fonts and text sizes to see which I prefer and also which my audience prefers.

Feedback

I have received feedback from my target audience about which images out of the three they think work best with each other for the digi pack. Five out of six said that they felt the second slide had a sense of continuity and brand identity to it. Therefor this is my final decision to use these two images. I am going to use the image of the arist as my front cover and the image of the water and food colouring as one of the images inside my digi pack. I am hoping to create another similar image but with a different colour.

Images Together

Images together

View more presentations from 99westwellm.

These are the images put together the green image would be for one of the inside omages and the artist for the front cover. I have emailed this presentation to six members of my target audience to ask their opinion on which they feel work well together.

Digi Pack Continuity

After putting the two images (that the audience decided I should use) together I felt that there was a lack of continuity to my digi pack. The front cover is washed out and dream like whereas the back image is bright and vibrant. I feel that these images don't match up very well and don't create a brand identity. The vast majority of digi packs I have looked at have this sense of continuity I am looking for. For instance, Coldplay - Viva La Diva, Duffy - Rockerferry and Damien Rice - O. So I have put the various images together to show the contrast or continuity between the different edits. I will upload the images and email them to a bunch of my target audience to ask their opinion.

Digi Pack - Next Step

I am now going to experiment with layouts and fonts for the front and back of my digi pack. I will upload my progress.

Second Email

I sent out the second email a few days ago asking my audience which image out of the two should be on the front of my digi pack. I received the replys today and five out of 7 said that they think the image of the artist should be on the front of the digi pack. I think this will work well as the front cover is usually what catches the audiences eye and the artist is easily recognisable. It will also back up Goodwins theory making that connection between artist and audience.

Replys

I have received messages back from my first email about the image preferences. The majority vote was for the pictures below to be used.

Video Progress

I have now found a way to get my footage onto adobe premier pro, although it is rather time consuming and a nuisance I'll have to stick at it. I have done 30 seconds of my video so far which I am satisfied with.

Emails

I have now sent the first email asking my audience which images they think I should use, When I get a reply to this email I will blog the results and proceed to send out the second email asking about which image is best for the front cover of my digi pack.

Email Drafts

I have created two draft emails, the reason they are only drafts is that I am having trouble attaching images on my home PC so I will attach them tomorrow on the school computers.
The first email is to gain my audiences opinion on the images and the effects I have experimented with. I have asked them to let me know which one they prefer that will fit into my brand identity. This will help me decided on an image for both the front and back of my digi pack.

The second email is to ask the audiences opinion on which image they think should go at the front and which should go at the back. I already have my personal opinion of this but I would like to see if my audience agree and if they don't I will go for their choice, after all it is aimed to appeal to them.

Time Consuming Problems

As I previously blogged I am still currently having problems with the video editing technology. I chose to film my video on my home camera which is HD whereas the school camera is mini DV and this appears to be the problem in making the two different formats of shot work on the same programme. I am in the process of copying the footage onto a different computer to see if the problem is infact the HD footage or the programme. This process is extremely frustrating as I feel I can not make any progress in this lesson and my organisation of getting my video filmed early and quickly hasn't paid off at all. I can also see other class mates getting on with their work when I am making no video progress. Although I am concentrating on my digi pack which is making progress.

Photos

I have just created a very quick draft of the back of my digi pack as shown below but I now am thinking maybe the photo of stacy should be the front cover and the bnowl should be the back cover. As I am undecided about this I am going to send out some rough drafts of both to my target audience.

Edited Photos

Some effects I have played around with;

Successful Shoot

The photo shoot was successful tonight and I got some really good shots that  I am hoping will work well on the back of my digi pack. I will begin to edit them tomorrow.

Adobe Premiere Pro

I am having, yet again, more problems with Adobe Preiere Pro which is holding me up when it comes to editing my video.

Change of Photoshoot

Due to work commitments I have changed the date of the photoshoot from friday to saturday afternoon. This has been arranged with Stacey and is fine with her.

Song

I have brought the track in on my memory stick and I am hoping to transfer it to my video editing file later today.

Music Video

I have decided to try and get my digi pack work completed when at home as the images work and get my video done whilst at school as I don't have the video editing programme at home.

New Track Listing

Disc 1
1. Blinding
2. Cloud Walking
3. All I Need
4. Heavy Feet
5. Tree House
6. Hiding from the Dark
7. Slowly but Surely
8. Four Poster Bed
9. Crumbling
10. Kick in the Teeth


Disc 2
1. Landslide (Demo)
2. Blinding (Acoustic)
3. Heartfelt Lies
4. Crumbling (Acoustic)
5. Cloud Walking (Live)
6. Shivers

Results

I have received replies to the email I sent out earlier and 2 out of the five replied saying that they think the title 'Four Poster Bed' is the weakest title and should be changed. Therefor this has now been changed to Aquaphobia.

Audience Research

I have decided that as my digi pack is going to be called Aquaphobia I really should have a song on my album based around water so that it links in nicely. This is why I have emailed five people asking their opinions on my track listings. I have asked them to pick the weakest one so I can change it to 'Aquaphobia'. This is the email I sent;

 

I am emailing you for your opinion on my Track Listings as I need to change one of them to 'Aquaphopbia' so it links in with my digi pack title. I would like you to reply to this message with the track name you think is least effective and meaningful please. Below are the tracks;

Disc 1
1. Blinding
2. Cloud Walking
3. All I Need
4. Heavy Feet
5. Tree House
6. Hiding from the Dark
7. Slowly but Surely
8. Four Poster Bed
9. Crumbling
10. Kick in the Teeth

 

 

Thank you

 

Megan West

Photoshoot and Film Date

I have arranged a date to film one shot I think would look effective in my video. I am going to get Stacey to get into the bath and shoot from her shoulders upwards and show her lifting her head out of the water with no make up and again with running make up. I am hoping I will be able to put one of these shots into my music video maybe right at the end. I am also going to get an image of Stacey underwater with her eyes open for the back of my digi pack as I think this will link into the Aquaphobia title, song and the video.

Digi Pack Name

I have decided that I like the name aquaphobia for my digi pack. Aquaphobia means the fear of water which I also interpret as the fear of going under or loosing control. This is why I have based my image on water and I am also planning on taking some more photos of Stacey with her head under water for the back of my digi pack.

Images

I have been playing around with effects on the images I'd like to use for my digi pack. Below are some of the effects I used.

Draft 2

I have added to my drafts by adding some text, the track listings and logos. I now need to create a logo for "Summer Thor" that I can use on the digi pack.

Digi Pack Draft

This is a rough draft for my digi pack and what the layout may look like. When I get the images uploaded the layout may changed according to how the image is set up but for the time being this is my rough guide.

Problems

As I am having problems with my video footage I have chosen to focus on my digi pack and hopefully get it finished and then move on to editing my video. The problems with my footage will hopefully be solved within a week so this is my rough deadline that I have given myself to finish my digi pack. I am now going to start drafting.

Digi Pack Photos

This is the green food colouring and the straw I used to create the desired effect.

These are the first few attempts which went well although the background needed changing.

If the photo wasn't taken quick enough the ink sank and wasn't as bold. 

This is with the white background which looked better although I am going to edit out the lines with photoshop.

 I tried to incorprate the ring that I used in my video into the shot although I don't think it's as effective as without.

Digi Pack Photos

I have just had a succesful photo shoot for the front cover photo for my digi pack. I chose to drop green food colouring into a glass bowl of water and some of the photos turned out really well. I did have to attempt the photos more than a few times and re-fill the bowl with fresh water if the colouring was too much. I tried to use blackcurrant as i deep red colouring as I couldn't acces any red food colouring but the blackcurrent wasn't thick enough and flow in the water as well. I also tried tomato ketchup which just sank, and coffee which made the water look dirty. So overall the green food colouring worked the best. Photos will be uploaded asap.

Digipack Evaluation

Artist & Album - MGMT
Genre - Indie pop

The exterior of MGMTs digi pack is colourful, tribal and exotic. It shows them on a beach most probably an exotic one. Their clothes and make up are focused around tribes, reflecting that they have an animalistic, fun, risky, tribal side.

The vibrant front cover is very contrasting when put next to the interior cover as it is set in black and white. The image shows MGMT topless with scratches on them, burning money. This enhances the views and opinions made from the front cover; that they are risky, rebellious, and fun.

Digipack Evaluation

Artist & Album - Damien Rice, O
Genre - Soft folk/easy listening

Looking at the front and back of the "O" digi pack the simplicity really stands our for me. The (what looks like) children's drawings stand out as raw and simple yet striking. Almost like its not just reflecting the simplicity and beauty of Damiens music but also the simplicity of a childs mind. I think the size of the drawings show how we are all just little fish in a huge pond.

The interior of the digi pack creates more of an impact than the front and back in my opinion. It just looks so raw, bare and stripped back, again showing the rawness of Damiens music.

After looking at the simplicity of this digi pack I feel as though the simplicity really is beautiful and striking. So I am going to take note of how the simplicity has an effect for when I create my digi pack.

Things to Do

Research how things are put across through images and text in digi packs

Same as above but my genre of music

Track Listings

Summer Thor
2 CD Deluxe Edition

Disc 1
1. Blinding
2. Cloud Walking
3. All I Need
4. Heavy Feet
5. Tree House
6. Hiding from the Dark
7. Slowly but Surely
8. Four Poster Bed
9. Crumbling
10. Kick in the Teeth


Disc 2
1. Landslide (Demo)
2. Blinding (Acoustic)
3. Heartfelt Lies
4. Crumbling (Acoustic)
5. Cloud Walking (Live)
6. Shivers

Researching Track Names

I have been looking at similar artists to 'Summer Thor' which I have based on Florence Welch and noticed that the majority of their track names are pretty self explanatory. Before researching I imagined kooky artists to have very random song titles. Although they may sound random they are linked with the song if not an actual lyrics from the song. For instance; Florence and the Machine - Lungs album there is a track named 'Hurricane Drunk' which to someone who hasn't heard the song may sound random and you may wonder, what could that song be about? But to someone that has heard the song you know that throughout the song she is talking about being whisked up into a hurricane of emotions and drinking herself into a state of carelessness.
So when creating my song titles I am going to try and make them seem relevant to the brand identity.

Uploading Video Footage

On mondays lesson I planned to upload my video footage but one of my cameras battery had died so I was unable to upload the footage. Although the camera with a few minutes of footage on was working so I uploaded this onto the computer and looked at what I'd filmed. Initially I was very disappointed with what I saw although it was only a very small snippet of what I had filmed in the day. I felt the camera shots weren't steady, the lighting wasn't very good and the overall shots didn't look as good as I imagined. I am hoping that when I watch the rest of my footage back from the other camera I wont be so disappointed.
I am currently leaving the camera to charge and looking at digi packs and how I might create mine.  

Other Rough Sections of my Storyboard

Below are images of my story board that I designed before filming so I had a clear guideline of what I wanted to do. They are no where near as neat and understandable as the ones previously uploaded as I only needed them as a guide and it would have taken far too long to print out an image for each shot.

Digipack research

Looking at a few special edition digipacks I have gathered that what makes them "special" is that they have a bonus disc with extra songs on. For instance demos or acoustic versions of songs, DVDs alongside the CD containing videos for the songs or behind the scenes of recording, lyric booklets, posters or even a computer disk with online special offers.

Below are examples of Special Edition album releases;
Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials
Special Edition album £13.99
2 CD Deluxe Edition - Bonus Tracks

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Album available for £8.99
Art cards available separate also for £8.99

Lady GaGa - Fame Monster
2 CD Deluxe Edition £4.99 - Bonus Tracks (Price is so low because it was released in 2009)
Rolling Stones - Some Girls
2 CD Deluxe Edition £11.99 - Bonus Tracks

I have decided that my digipack will be "special" because it will contain a second disk with bonus track on.
I know have to think of track names and draft some designs.

Back to School

We are now back at school and in our first media lesson of the week. Although I've completely forgot to bring the cameras with my footage on so I am unable to upload my footage today. Although I thought I could make a start on researching digi packs and getting an idea of how I could make mine look.

How Filming Went

Todays filming started of really well and we seemed to get through half of the song no problem. But as the afternoon went on the make up alterations, props and location changes took up time and when it came to filming the last scene, (a minute long and will show various shots of a room being trashed) the camera crashed and I had ten minutes to shoot everything in. I had to switch cameras which may cause definition differences when editing but I managed to get a few shots that may be suitable. I will most likely have to take more shots to fill my video or improve it but I will arrange this when I have looked at all my footage next week so I know exactly what I want and need.Overall the filming went ok, I just hope the shits look as effective when watching them back as they did today. I'd like to thank Stacey for being so patient and helping be out and also Rachel who helped out with props and adjusting lighting.

Preparation For Filming

As the filming day is tomorrow I have done some final checks to make sure the room works with lighting, spot lights and space. All is good although I have now been informed that I can only use the room tomorrow as It wont be empty for my second filming day which is Saturday. This causes a few problems as I don't feel confident that I will get all filming done tomorrow in five hours. I also now have to rush tonight to try and story board the rest of my video to make sure I can refer back to it to get things shot quickly and efficiently tomorrow. I have still arranged for us to film on Saturday as I can get shots that don't need an empty room and also shots that I may decide I need after Tuesday.
Stacey is arriving at 10am tomorrow morning so we can get her outfit on and sewn with the extra fabric i have bought and also get make up done. This will take about an hour so we will hopefully start filming at 11am. I have given Stacey a brief of how I'd like her hair and asked her to do it before she arrives as this will save time and she knows her hair and can probably style it better than me.

My main task for the rest of the night now is story boarding as much of my video as I can.

Story Boarding

These are the story boards for what I have done so far. I am hoping to story board other sections of my video as soon as possible.



Story Board

I have now re done the story board sections with a larger layout, more information and also pictures. I attempted to scan it into my computer earlier tonight but was having troubles with the scanner so this will be fixed tomorrow and the images of my story board will be uploaded tomorrow.

Story Board

Last night I story boarded 2minutes 25 seconds of my video, I chose not to do it on chronological order for the time being. I have story boarded part of the first verse, and the last two minutes of the song. I am now re-doing the story board neatly and I will upload this onto the blog either tonight or tomorrow.

Other Possible Costumes

 Stacey has given me some of her dresses that she thought would fit into the genre and suit my music video. I think I will use the black dress and the light pink/beige dress is a possible at the moment. 

Inspiration Images

These are some of the photos I looked at for inspiration when trying to come up with eye designs. 

Eye Design Practice

So after a rather unsuccessful practice session below are the results. I didn't think the practice shoot went well as the designs didn't look great and wouldn't fit in with what I was looking for. I think I am now going to create a smokey eye look that gets darker throughout the video. This will keep it simple yet dark and striking.

Eye pics

View more documents from 99westwellm.

Fabric

I have now purchased the fabric to use on the outfits I have. I am hoping to create a light flowing look yet swagged appearance over the top of the existing dress. I am going to simply pin the fabric on when Stacey is wearing the dress as I don't want to ruin Staceys dress and it will be easier to see how everything sits when the dress is being worn. Below is the fabric I purchased;

Filming

I have set my first date for filming with Stacey. We have chosen to start on Tuesday the 25th of October at approximately 11am so we can get a decent amount of time filming as I have to leave for work at 4:30pm. In half term we will arrange another date most probably the weekend of the 29th.

Story Boarding

I am aware that I need to have at least 30 seconds story boarded by friday and although friday is creeping up fast I have set aside thursday and friday night to get it done.

Costumes

Stacey who's playing Summer Thor in my video has brought me some dresses and tops in today that I can add to my options. I am hoping to get to the fabric shop before the end of this week to purchase something that I can add to the dresses.

Make Up

I have arranged to hold a make up practice session to experiment with eye make up and the effects it will have when on the screen. I have a model arranged to practice on and will upload the photos tomorrow.

Camera Shots I Like

Below are some examples of shots from a range of videos, (mostly Florence) that I really like and think are effective. I have used the shots as inspiration and will probably attempt to mimic these shots in my own video.

Camera

View more documents from 99westwellm.

Bits & Bobs I Don't Have To Buy

Below are photos of things I have around the house that I can use in my video. I am trying not to buy anything for the video but I think I may have to buy some material for to make a dress as I can't find anything appropriate and cheap. I dont intend to use everything in the photos a lot of them are just ideas.