Feedback for the rough cut video.

Before the christmas break, we finished the rough cut of our music video, we then had to market it to our target audience, so we could get appropriate feedback and make any changes when we returned in January.

We decided to market it on the social networking site 'Facebook' we created a bandpage and uploaded the video to the profile, we then shared it with all of our friends so that they could watch and comment, we also got them to like the page, as this is one of the ways many bands use to sell their band.

This was the main bandpage, as we didn't have a finished Digipak, we couldn't use it as the profile picture, so we stuck with the name and uploaded a photo of 'Amber Skies' just so the audience had something to look at, instead of it looking bland.






These are the comments left on the video link we posted, all the criticism posted was constructive and helped us out alot.
We read through all of the comments and and saw that we did have a couple of things to improve on, and both were mentioned more than once. The first thing was that the audience found it hard to understand what was going on in our narrative, as it cut too fast and it didn't explain what was going on with the couple. The second thing was that towards the end, our drummer was slightly out of sync. We thanked everyone that commented, and assured them that their comments would be fixed.





Our priority is to fix the issues we have in the music video in time for our final deadline in a couple of days.

Music Video - Rough Cut

Putting the narrative and performance together - plan

We decided to make a note of where we wanted the narrative scenes to be in the video so that when we exported them onto the performance we could easily time them to where they were meant to be.

Digipak Developed Ideas.

This was the original photo that I took, for the back of the digipak.
 I arranged it outside so that it looked abstract and fitted in with our image.

I experimented with different techniques of editing
like contrast and exposure, and also added a black and white effect
but only colouring some of the image in.

We felt like the image we had come up with was too basic, we wanted
it to look professional, so after experimenting with photoshop, I came up with this.
I put a black and white effect over it with glowing edges and also experimented with the saturation.
When it came to the text I rotated it and put the Opacity down.
After I had done this I put surface blur over the top of it, so the text looks like it is actually in the bottle.

Effects Influences

Before I started putting filters over the music video I looked at some existing videos within the same genre to see what kind of effects are conventional for our genre. These are some of the videos that I found. I thought that these were good examples to give me inspiration as the kind of filters are consistent across all of the videos and these are the kind of filters that I had in mind to go over my own music video.

Making the website

Before I started the construction of the website, I watched a tutorial video on how to make a website using Wix.com. It was very helpful and explained how to use the website, I also went back to this video if I found there was anything I didn't know how to do.

Filming the Narrative 19/11/11

Today we went to Eynsford Castle where I filmed some of the narrative footage. We got all of the shots we needed and are pleased with how it looks so far. The scenes we shot were the beginning of our narrative and the arguement scenes.

Filming the performance 24/11/11

Today we shot all of the performance footage at The Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford. We managed to get all of the footage that we needed and it went really well.

Group Meeting - 22/11/11

In todays group meeting Sophie and I finalised our plans for the performance location and also worked on the digipak and website designs. We have started making the website on wix and have improved our digipak design by looking at different influences for the photos of the band and looking at other digipak's in the same genre. 

Band shoot influences

 These are some of the influences that we are using for our band shoot. The band featured is Asking Alexandria, and the top two photos are mainly for the background/location we have in mind for our shoot. 
We feel that the last two photos really captures the image  that we want for the band, and also shoes the ideal outfits for the shoot. Like ripped jeans and leather jackets etc, highlighting the rock and roll image we want to give them.

Group meeting - 21/11/11

Today we captured all of the narrative shots, that we completed over the weekend at Eynsford Castle, onto final cut. We also started editing them and putting them in the correct place on the track. 

Shot Experiments

Inspiration for some of our scenes

Location Back Up Plan

As we may not be able to film our performance at our original location we have had to find another location for the performance side of our music video. We have contacted The Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford and are currently waiting to hear back from them.  

Group Meeting 15/11/11

In todays group meeting Sophie and I researched new locations for the performance part of our music video. We have been looking into rehearsal studios in and around Dartford and seeing which places would be ideal.

Website Analysis

I decided to analyse Katy Perry's website because I thought it was a good example of the things that need to be included on our own website and because the advertising of the music video for her new single were made obvious throughout the whole website.

I chose to analyse You Me At Six's website because the band is in the same genre as our own and the website has a good example of getting the band's image across in the website.

Website Research and Ideas

I decided to do a brainstorm of ideas of what to include on our website and also what I want on what pages. I also thought of some ideas for the image and theme of the website and how I want it to link in with the band's image.

I have also looked at other artist's websites and took note of the layout and what pages they have. These are some of the websites that I looked at.

Digipak analysis

Digipak Research

I started to look at digipaks so that we knew what we was doing for ours and how we could do it, also starting to think about possible designs for our one. 


Current Digipaks:

This helped me understand what a digipak was and how it was produced. This started to get me thinking about possible ideas for our own.

Brainstorming for our own digipak:

I started off by making a brainstorm, considering everything like the image we have made for our band, the point we are trying to put across and I was also trying to incorporate the bands name and other significant symbols.

 It then lead me to design this, it was a rough sketch of what I had in mind. We have the bands name above it, and then two worlds colliding, which was my incorporation of the bands name. Then just underneath we have two hands holding both worlds wearing rings, which is significant of the video.

After developing my idea further, this is what I came up with, instead of two worlds colliding it is two rings and in the middle or behind them we will photoshop in a galaxy so it seems that the rings are representing two worlds, which is very symbolic of our video.

Fonts:

 This is their original font/logo for their first album and their latest E.P. 


We like the style of it but one of the conditions of myself and Katie using their song, was that we didn't use their bands name in it, so we have come up with a new one, 'Amber Skies'

 Myself and Katie really like most of them but our favourites have to be the top three. Once we have sorted and designed our digipak cover properly, we will start to consider which font looks best and then pick one.

News Update

The band that we was going use instead of As Worlds Collide are unfortunately really busy and can't make some dates within our time period.
But luckily, we have spoke to some of the music students from our school and they are willing to do it for us, we are just waiting to confirm the lead singer and Sophie will send them the track and lyrics so that they have plenty of time to learn them.

Group Meeting 13/11/11

In todays group meeting over skype me and Sophie discussed some ideas for our digipak and website that we will be creating. We have both individually looked at different digipaks and websites and we found this really helpful as it helped us come up with some ideas for our own.

Back Up plan.

Seeing that we are filming in the middle of November, weather may be an issue, especially because our performance location is outside, and we will also be handling electronic equipment such as amplifiers and microphones, and we don't want the bands equipment to get wet, so we have devised a back up plan in case the situation arises. 


If this does happen, we will use the schools dark room to film the band in front of a green screen, we will then film the location on a separate day and in editing, we will put the location behind them, this is to make it look as if they were actually there. 

 The dark room with the green screen already set up.

News.

Last night, I rung the guitarist from As Worlds Collide to inform them of what is going on with the music video and arrange dates of the shoot. 
Unfortunately, Rob had spoke to the rest of the band and they had to pull out of the shoot, because it would be costing them a lot to come down from their area. They have still allowed us to use Halfway Home as our song, so we can still use our ideas and locations. 


But we still need someone to be in it for the performance side of things, luckily, I am in contact with a few other bands, I spoke to the guitarist, Ben and lead singer, George, from the band Accidents, who are a bit more local. They said they would talk to the rest of the guys to see if they were up for it, but the issue raised was the dates of the shoot, so I said about changing the dates to suit them, as at the moment it is purely based around As Worlds Collide, but they say it doesn't seem like it will be a problem. 
  I am waiting to hear back from the guitarist tonight, and he will let me know if they can make it. 

 This is Accidents, (from left) 
Eddie Tindame; Guitar
Joe Kosma; Bass
Rory Bevis; Vocals ( he has since left, they have a new lead singer, George)
Marcus Reddick; Vocals
Ben Kosma; Guitar
Matt Wybourn; Drums

Mr Brightside- The Killers

This is what I produced when I was experimenting with Final Cut and editing to the beat using multi clip. The footage was filmed by other students but we edited it to create this. Unfortunately the performance was badly recorded and we didn't have enough footage to use, so we had to use the same shots.

Timeline and Lyric Analysis

 

Production Schedule

We decided to plan out a production schedule of when and where we will be filming the narrative scenes so that it will go more smoothly on the day. 

Risk Assessment

We have decided to make a risk assessment table stating the risks that we might come across while filming. We have also stated how we will deal with these risks to prevent them from turning into accidents. 

Location Recce- Eynsford Castle

 Last night I quickly went to check out the location we have chosen for our performance. I mainly took photos of where we was going to shoot some of our scenes, both narrative and performance. We are using the castle for both as castles are considered romantic, but also because when the performance is being shot, it can represent the ruins of the relationship as the location isn't all in one piece either. 

 This sort of balcony background is where we are thinking of filming the proposal scene, as it will be romantic with a really nice view of the countryside.

 Down here is when we will be shooting the solos of each member, we will probably do this first as it will be easier to then  move all the equipment to the other side so that we can film the rest.

 This is the biggest clearing that is within the castle grounds, so this is probably where we will shoot the main performance scenes.

When I saw this, I thought it could be another possible location for the solo shots.