Monday 9 December 2013

The website

After having serveral drafts of the website. We can say as a group that the website is completed, and that Mariella has done a fantastic job at creating it. 


The link above is the website software in which Mariella used to create the website. 
I have then taken some screenshots of the alterations in which needed to be done, to create a more successful website.


Above is the page 'About us', there were a few spelling errors in which need to be corrected, which was simply done.
As a group we all thought that we could of maybe talked about each of the different members of the band, so we also added some more information on each of them. 

We then added a new page of which enables the fans to buy merchandise from the band, in which includes hoodies, T-shirts  pillows, mugs, beanies and teddy bears. All of the merchandise products have 'Nobody's Boy's' logo on it. This is also on the CD digi-pak, so we have made a synergistic campaign. 

Saturday 7 December 2013

The digi-pak design

The digi-pak design was again part of our coursework pieces along side of creating the music video and the website. As a group we wanted to make sure that the digi-pak was a strong piece of art for the band in which shows what the band are like. In our group there is myself and Mariella who do photography, so the skills of photoshop are quite advanced. So this means that we were able to create something with our skills. The design of the digi-pak of course like the website takes lots of drafts to get it right, but working back in to it several times we will hopefully achieve a successful digi-pak. 

The design of the digi-pak is very simple once getting the image together. We were able to have a template to help us placing the design together. So with the first image which is placed under the disk is a very simple, name of the band and the album, we have also included some band art work too in which connects with the band of piano keys, in which symbol's the band being organic. 
The second image in which we have chosen is the back of the digi-pak. It is a image of the boys in a natural looking pose, we have then included all the songs on the album.  
The third image is the front of the CD cover. We have all decided to have this image on the front, as all the band look really happy. We all agree that its a very chilled image in which is taken in the moment, so with Harry the lead singer not looking at the camera, isn't a really issue. We have also included the band name and album title.  
Then the forth and final image is the inside cover image. This will be placed side by side with the first image. I think this image is great even though it is over exposed. It again shows the band in their own light, in which I really like. I think this design next to the very simple white CD design will work really well together. 


Sunday 1 December 2013

Using 'After Effects'

The lesson on friday Maz and I spent time with Matt who is an expert on 'After effects'. We are now at that stage of using it, as our final video is cut. So we just now need to clean up some of the video on this software. What we needed to do, is were the video cuts in to the narrative and the different scenes, we need to blank out the side, so it makes it a cleaner look. Again this process is were it is time consuming, as most of the editing has happened at this point.


We now need to transfer what we have created on 'After Effects' on to final cut pro. Then it will hopefully be placed on Youtube beginning of next week.

Website design

Website design...

Over the last week or so, Maz has been creating the website for our band. She has done a fantastic job in just keeping it simple, in which we want our band image to look towards the audience. So with the minimal design she has created this as the main website page. 


So above is were there are pictures of the band in which the audience can flick through to see what the band look like, and get their feel for the band. 


This is were we have created a tour page, in which shows when the band will be touring. 


We then created a page on about the band and were they are from around the world, and how they met as a band. 


On this page we have created a contact page in which the audience and fan members can contact the band by just dropping a line. It also gives details of their social networking sites and then their record label. 

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Evaluating the rough cut of music video

As the editing process starts, from having all of our footage from our shoot day. We loaded up the editing software 'Final Cut Pro' in were all our footage would have been uploaded.
The process started with looking at all the indviavial shots of the different scenes. This process does take a bit of time, in which is time consuming as well as you are naming each of the shots and then putting them in to group. There were of course shots in which were rejected because some were either off centre, framing, composition or the lighting was not right. This does help you when coming to edit the video, as you will know were each of the shots are, instead of trying to search for each of the shots.
 But the shots in which may not come in use, they some part of the footage may come in use in the editing half way through. At this point we had chosen the good footage in which we do believe will make a good video.

As the process of the editing starts, we had to sync all of the clips to the beat of the music, again this task does take its time, as you need to make sure that this is done correctly, otherwise the beat of song won't match the clip.
We then started to edit the performance of the video first, in which means that then we can then slot the narrative part in afterwards. We did this with lay shots onto a timeline and then edit shot lengths. The editing does require you to order the shots in terms of a performance or narrative sequences or both. 
We then started to place markers down in which part of the clip we wanted to use, it was much easier when then bring the clip down to the timeline and then you can easily blade the clip afterwards.  
In our music video there are of course clips in which had to be repeated in order for us to cut the video. But we were able to create a video which had variation to make it an interesting video to watch, and I believe we have done that. 

The overall structure of the video there is more performance to the narrative, as a group we believe that the performance aspect of the video is much stronger. But I do think that we have evened out the editing to make sure that the video is not boring to watch. I do also think that we have employed continuity to the beat of the song and with also the mise en scene of the first draft of the video. 


So as finish the rough cut of our video, I think that we have got a understanding on were the video is going. But we had a problem with moving all of the clips out of sync, which will now cause lots of moving around. The performance part needs work on were there is a beat, it needs to be showed on the camera at that time. I do also still think that maybe that the narrative isn't spread out enough in the video, in which I want to play around with in the final edit.

Here is the rough cut of our music video... 

Shoot day Photostream

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Tuesday 19 November 2013

Music Promo- Write up of shooting day

What did you do the day before, to set up for you shoot?

The day before shooting, we were unlucky to be able to get access to the studio space as the other group were longer than expected. So with not being able to build the set, we wanted to make sure that we were all ready for tomorrow, so making sure that we have all the costumes, props all together and in the different scenes. We did also checked with the lead actors, and making sure the items in which we had asked them to bring, and also making sure that they are both still comfortable with what they had to do the next day.

How did you feel when you woke up on the morning of the shoot day?
 
The morning of the shoot day, I was so excited, but of course I was quite nervous, because simply we had so many scenes in the studio to do, and because of this not being able to go on location in the afternoon. But in the back of my mind I knew that it was going to be day in which I will never forget and have great fun.
 
How well prepared were you when arrived for your shoot, what did you have to do before you could start shooting?
 
As a group we were so prepared when we arrived for our shoot, as each of us knew what costumes and props we were bring in, and I think this was great, as we were stressing out beforehand. The only thing we could of done before the shoot was to print some pictures of for the bedroom scene in which we had forgotten to do. We then of course had to set the scene with the bed sheets, and then get actors in to the different costumes and the make-up in which didn't take that long to do.
 
Describe what the studio looked like when you started shooting, how well do you managed to create the look of you concept?
 
When we arrived in the studio. The media tech team had set up a basis of our set, which consisted of three white blank walls, in which had door either side. This was great for us, as then we can make the set in to what we like. The bedroom scene was the best one in which we transformed from a blank space, as we had made it in a really cosy bedroom, with a bed, posters, pictures, bedside draw. We were all happy with the transformation as it look like it could of been Ellie's (main girl) bedroom.
 
How did you divide the roles on you shoot day, what roles did you play?
 
In the group we divide the roles up well, so that everyone had a chance at playing a role in different things. But most of the time Charlie Feeney was on the dolly and in charge of the camera. Mariella Bailey was taking some really useful notes when all of the shooting was happening. This was great for the group as now looking back on the day, we can refer to the notes. Liv Hawthorne was in charge of the play back of the music and she also was making sure that everyone was knowing what they were doing. I then was in charge of doing the make-up and costumes changes. I did also throughout the day I was taking pictures.   
 
What do you think personally you did well?
 
I think that making sure that we had everything in the right place in the right time to make sure that the shoot goes as smoothly as possible. I also think that I did well with my make-up skills in making sure that the cast look the best they could.  
 
What problems did you have on the shoot day, and how did you solve them?
 
The problems we had on the shoot day, was not having enough time to be able to go on location in the afternoon. This was such a shame, as we think that it would of made our video stronger. So instead of going on location we shot the band in the studio in the same set, but just with their instruments. We also had to cut out the classroom scene, as we were just didn't have enough time do to it. We did also have a problem finding people for the party scene, which meant that we were grapping people who were free to help us out.
 
What part of the shoot do you wish had gone better, and why?
 
I think the scenes in which we all agree wish had gone better and that is the party scene, as it just didn't look as realistic enough, and then of course we would of wished that we went to the location of the barn with the band.
 
How well do you think you managed your talent?
 
I think as a group we all did well at managing all of the cast members, and that is what made the shoot day as successful as it was. But I do think that my make-up skills was a great talent in which I showed off in all of the cast members.
 
What was the part of the shoot you enjoyed the most?
 
The shoot day was a great experience to have, and I enjoyed every bit of it. It was great to understand to over come issues and then sort them out, to make it work. But I did really enjoy shooting the bedroom scene and the band scene. Both of these scenes I believe our strongest, and hopefully it will all come together to look like a professional music video.
 
What are you looking forward to seeing the most in the edit?
 
I think that I am going to look forward to editing the band the most. But I am really looking forward to all the scene merging together, and hopefully if it all works out, it should look really good.
 
How well do you feel that your production group worked as a team?
 
As a team we have worked together really well, and there have been no issues with anything. I have really enjoyed working with the three other girls.
 
Are there any lessons learned that could help you make you make your next shoot even more successful?
 
The main thing I have learnt over this music video, is making sure that your time management is good, all of the work in which you do before, is really important when it comes to the shoot day, so taking on board on all the preparation.

Thursday 14 November 2013

Shoot day is tomorrow

THE SHOOT IS TOMORROW! As this day has been waiting to arrive, it is finally here. We still have bits and pieces to do, like get all the costumes and props all together and making sure we have everything. We also wanted to make sure that we had spoken to all our cast members and making sure they know the timings of when we need them.
It then comes down to tonight building the set in the studio space. We are quite lucky with not having a difficult set to but up, and we are lucky enough to have part of the set already up and ready to go.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

CD cover opitions

 
Option one:
Front CD cover
 
 
 
Option one:
Back CD cover
 
 
Option two:
Front CD cover
 
 
Option two:
Back CD cover

Photo shoot

We did a photo shoot with the band in a variety of locations. We started of with going down in the woods, this was great with all of the autumn colours and the trees in the background. But we found that setting the band up, was difficult to show each of the band members in each of there own light. We then decided to go on the roof, which looked really good, but was it strong enough to be on a front CD cover. I think we got some really good shots in which we can use, but just made need some editing to them

Here is some examples:

 
 
 

Wednesday 6 November 2013

New band name

Above is were we have chosen a name in which all of us like. We have also decided that this is the font in which we like too. As when we start designing our website and CD covers this is the font we will use. 

Health and saftey in the Studio.

The health and safety in the studio, is making sure that as the filming crew that we are safe at all times when shooting our music video.
We need to be aware that we are using expensive equipment, so we want to be sure that we take care when using this. So the rules in which we should consider is:

* Not having lots of people in the studio at one time, as this can cause accident to occur.
* All leads, litter, props and costumes should be cleared after use.
* Fixed lighting must not be adjusted
* All mobile phones should be switched off, or on silent
* Do not lean against anything, as some of the set may be firm to the ground, so could cause it to break.
* All bags, coats and personal belongings to be left at the back of the studio, as this will prevent anyone tripping up on any items.
* If you have wet hands, don't touch any of the electrical equipment
* Don't move any of the set, or lighting without any of the staff consent


One of the main hazard when filming in a studio can involve several people: Cameraman, lighting director, casting director, ect... So with all this action going on and working together, which is normally in a confined space which needs a lot of concentration. In this scenario it is quite easy to forget all the signal leads, power cables, lighting stands, props and camera tripods. So it is therefore important to minimise the risk of tripping over something by keeping all bags and cases at the back of the studio far way from the working area. Leads and cables should be routed in a way so as to offer minimal risk and if possible taped down. Although these rules are for the studio, they can equally be applied on location as well.

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Test Shoot

On Monday Afternoon, as a group we arranged a time to do a test shoot. So we decided to chose our main singer of the band 'Harry Lawtey', this was a great opportunity to see what Harry looked like on camera and also his performance side. We did a short sequence with him lip-synching to 'Naive' which was playing in the background. Below is images of what I have taken of Harry lip-synching and then some locations in which we may want to use for our CD ditipack cover.