Wednesday 13th October - CD Drafting

CD Drafting

(below are all examples of various designs we have designed for our CD digipack, using Microsoft PowerPoint)

These two images above were our initial ideas. The first effect I applied was the transparent rotation, which created the distorted effect. This represented the artists character in the album, which we decided would be the same as the character in "Not Made For This", to avoid consistency errors. The artist name was then applied in the top right hand corner of the screen with the different coloured "A" and "N", like Anna Neale's actual website. This was placed perfectly in the gap between the trees, so that the highlighted letters were emphasised appropriately. Initially we were going to use the title of her album to be "Broken", however we soon realised later on in the process that although that would relate well to the character, it wasn't an appropriate theme for all the songs on the album. So we decided that "Not Made For This" would be a more vague yet appropriate title and would fit the titles of more songs. The shadow effect on the album title was created to make it look as if it was shadowed down the road, however this effect wasn't achieved fully, but we still decided to keep it in the image. The second design (right), kept to the original, however I changed the effect from colour washout to black and white contrast. This effect made Sophie look like she was more angry, frustrated and violent, which can represent one of the character personas we are trying to achieve, however the image is very black orientated, and we thought we would like a balance of both characters reflected in the album cover. I like the trees in these images, just because they are placed in a way that somehow "surround" Sophie, and make her look vulnerable, yet her emotion and facial expression is incongruous and the complete opposite.

This design focuses a lot more on the naive, vulnerable persona. However still contains elements of the other persona, through the expression and effects. Similarly with the designs above, we wanted to keep the CD cover black and white/grey scale like the music video so that the artist had a continuous theme throughout her work. We hope to use this theme in the website as well. The guitar in the background really enhances the artists love for music, yet still keeping to the narrative of the character in the story of her products. The black and white really highlights the aggression and frustration which the character feels, yet the white top and instrument represent the vulnerable persona, maybe symbolising that she makes music to protect herself from evil. The recurring motif is on this design again, the coloured "A" and "N". The font, "FrankRuel" was chosen, because it gave this album a professional, almost elegant font. Rather than downloading certain "amazing" and "wow" fonts, which wouldn't suit this image or design at all. Also this font is quite plain and dull, which could represent her character when vulnerable, scared and naive.

These images (above) were designs for the back page of the CD digipack, which usually consists of the track titles and names. I continued with the distorted, rotated image effect on these images, however I tested whether the complete transparent rotation would work and it creates a weird, abnormal image. This effect could represent the characters "upside down" lifestyle, one minute being in control and then losing it. I experimented with the colouring of the images and personally I prefer the green tinge on the left. I continued with the same font, to avoid consistency errors and we then added the bar code at the end.

During this designing process, all members of the group were testing certain effects that could be achieved in Adobe Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Microsoft PowerPoint, Paint and online sites. I was working on the designs above, with feedback, constructive feedback and discussion from all members like an on going process.

Tuesday 12th October: Filming (Continued)

Filming (Continued)

After the camera had been fully charged we started filming our pre-song material. Sophie and Tom situated themselves in front of a large window, whilst improvising an argument. These two actors were chosen due to their past experience in GCSE and AS Drama, therefore they can act naturalistically and most importantly be believed by the viewers of the music video, therefore increasing their engagement within the video and reinforcing the very important audience, viewer relationship. This shot was shot, using the camera outside the window, looking in. It initially was too small and cut half of the actors’ faces, so we placed the camera on top of an easily transported table, therefore refraining from using hand cam. We left the door to the house open so that the actors knew when we were filming. We did this shot about four times so that later on in the editing process we would have enough material if errors or unsuitable shots occurred.

After this we started filming the first verse of the music video starting with the lyrics “go down”. We filmed these shots of Sophie, who sung the lyrics aloud, to refrain from miming errors. We used several camera angles and levels to film the same verse to use more angles in the music video and make it look more exciting. We used the laptop, held by Louise, to project the sound of the track so that Sophie knew exactly when to sing. The setting behind the bench really highlighted her vulnerable, naive character and the white top and light coloured jeans also reinforced this. The bare feet also increased this emotion and also portrayed that the character is quite insecure but sometimes quite open, and weak. The bare feet also create intertexuality to Diana Vickers’s performances on ITV’s X Factor whilst she was performing, and also in her own music video “The Boy Who Murdered Love”.

After this we started to film the first scenes of Sophie, once transformed to her alter ego. These scenes consisted of Sophie singing the first chorus and section before the chorus. This section was filmed inside a three walled and roofed wooden brown gate. This gave the impression of entrapment, therefore linked to her alter ego character quite well. On the right side of the gate, thorns and branches were intertwined around the holes and wood, this symbolises her hurt and the difficult situation which she is unable to sort out. During filming, the sunlight, due to it being early afternoon, was shining on Sophie’s face. This for her was a bit of a distraction, however in terms of the camera and pictures the sun shone, almost like a scar on her face, which could represent her stressful, angry life and the fact that she could have been hurt in the past which can’t be healed.

(above is a drafting filming video from our first filming sessions - taken mostly on my digital camera)

These videos were captured to show our team in action during our filming sessions and to have an inital feel of the video before we filmed loads of content.

Tuesday 12th October - Filming: Location

Filming: "Suffolk Lodge"

Today we started filming, and we decided to use a friends house, which we thought fitted the "vulnerable" side of the protagonist perfectly. We firstly had a tour of the grounds of the house, where we took pictures and then decided where to film which sections. I thought that the "white bench" in the picture above was a perfect area to film the first verse of the track. We also found other sections of the garden, such as the wooden fences and gates, which gave a "cage" appeal, but still kept the pretty garden effect. This incongruous setting was perfect for the alter ego. We checked the white balance and wide screen options and whilst Tom and Sophie rehearsed their argument scene inside the house, me and Josh filmed some location shots, which would be played as a part of our pre-song material, to establish to the audience where the action is happening. This happens in Diana Vickers - "The Boy Who Murdered Love Video", when it pans around the roots, zooms in to the mansion and has several shots of certain aspects of the house. The "white bench" really reminded me of that video, and inspired me to hopefully get some shots there. We filmed location pans and stills all around the garden, using unusual angles and lengths, so that in the editing process later, we had enough footage to use. At the start of our pre-song material, we plan to include some silent location movement shots, only maybe ambient sounds that would be enhanced, this is to set the scene of the music video but also hopefully used to create an unusual, tense atmosphere which will hopefully foreshadow the narrative of the upcoming music video.

(Whilst I was taking pictures I took some videos which could be used on the blogs, Tom then made a whole video of these video shots to reinforce our filming session).

Tuesday 12th October - CD Cover/ Website Preperation

CD/ Website Preperation

We decided seeing as though we were in the location of filming we would take some photographs of Sophie in different locations, using different shots, around the site so we could choose at a later stage which ones would be suitable for the CD cover or just general website photos. The camera was charging during this, so we thought it would be an efficient use of our time. I took photos of Sophie on different benches and garden seats to create variety and difference, but also to make sure we had enough photos to make a good decision when we start designing our CD cover and website.

Firstly Sophie posed on a garden circular seat with plants growing inside. I took a mid-shot of her as she lay on her back on the stones with her hair and legs fairly free either side of the shot. These shots represent the characters freedom in certain parts of the song but also could create a sense of aggression or confusion, seeing as though her eyes are closed. There’s also a crain- shot close up of Sophie in the same position. This close up was taken so that the lens was closer to the character, this can hopefully create a stronger audience/character bond, therefore they can engage with the character and relate to their problems, therefore understanding and enjoying the music video/CD cover/website more. I then took a picture of her in the same position but her eyes were open and her head was looking to her right. Her eyes created a connection with the viewer and made it easier for attention to be drawn. All of these shots have aspects of voyeurism to not only attract fans, but also to represent her character’s insecurity and vulnerability but also aggressive sexy alter ego as well.

We then took a few photos of Sophie at the piano. These were experimental shots and were only used to test out how it would look. I don’t think these photos are as powerful as the others I took, however could be uploaded to the website, once edited (brightness and light wise).

After this I took photographs of Sophie posing a brown bench, just in front of some green foliage. These photos represented the “innocent” side of this character, she wore her white top and jeans again, and her focus on one shot is to the camera and one is to the audience. The one with her looking to the floor creates a vulnerable impression of the character, therefore hopefully the audience will empathise with her. Whereas the picture of her looking at the camera, although it does create a connection, I don’t think it’s as powerful, emotionally due to the slightly blurred image, and her emotion is “too happy”. We then added a prop in to the picture to increase the "artist" image, rather than character's. This guitar will help the audience beleieve the artist's intentions more, therefore increasing fans and audience engagement. These experimental shots are always useful because we can include them on our website or scrap them at a later date. We felt it was better to have more variety of our images, in case certain images and attitudes didn’t fit with our final decision.

We then, thought in terms of the narrative of the story, the “cage like” gates around the garden would represent the innocent character’s entrapment and frustration. So I took various photos of Sophie around these, making sure I used different shot types, and interesting angles. The foliage which was intertwined through the gate reinforced the sense of entrapment therefore hopefully will increase audience engagement with the character and empathy will occur. The mid shot of Sophie with the gate behind her, with her head slightly raised, represents the “innocent” character becoming more desperate to change the relationship and change her life. The photo through the gate where Sophie is looking over her shoulder represents her insecurity because she is only showing half of her face. Then this shot is then repeated but closer, therefore hopefully attracting audience understanding. The shots where Sophie is behind the gate with her chest up against the frames is starting to represent her change in to her alter ego. This primal image shows her becoming slightly more confident, however the frames are acting as a barrier and restraining her from her desperate, frustrated actions which she could possibly regret. Again these photos have elements of voyeurism which is a great advertising tool for getting male viewers to become a fan. Also some men, may be attracted to the “animal” like caged idea, and could again increase purchase.

On Anna Neale’s website http://www.annaneale.net/ - there were certain photos with guitars. So we attempted to include our guitar in the bench photos. The high angle shot of Sophie with the guitar makes her look vulnerable, but also could represent her using the guitar for protection, therefore using music as a metaphor as her “safe place” not only as a character but as an artist too. This shot is then repeated, but a low angle, therefore making her look superior and using her music as a tool of power and aggression.