Monday, 16 October 2017

Technique's and Shots I Like


Thinking About It-  Just Kiddin                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQZUeZib_hY

Within this video, one technical aspect that really appeals to me is how the editor has matched the visual cuts with the beat of the music. Although 'Falling Short' has a very slow beat running throughout, I will still aim to use this technique within my editing.  

Afterglow- Wilkenson.






These close ups and extreme close ups is an almost exact replica of what I deem my final product will hopefully look like. As it can be seen within the couple's faces, a significant degree of emotion is seen within their eyes alone!

Also, the lighting and background used is what I wanted to use too. Within my potential location there is a misty white/ grey coloured wall which I feel would be perfect in order to excentuate the colouring of my models eyes and skin complexions. 







This particular shot taken from the video is of specific use to me due to them focussing on the movement of the couple's hands and arm movements. 

If you focus on the couple's fingers in particular, the relaxed appearance of the muscles is what I want to achieve when I also use hands and fingers within my own music video. 

Although these two are of the same type of complexion, my aim is to use differing complexion's.





How deep is your love- Calvin Harris & Disciples.

One music video which is admired by many is Calvin Harris & Disciples' 'How Deep is your Love'. The overall video revolves around a girl (Gigi Hadid) who looses her way and somehow manages to change location unintentionally, which obviously confuses her.

One key aspect that has really appealed and inspired me is their use of fast and slow pace cuts. I think that it is import to have an equal balance of different paces as it entices viewers, and add's a different feel and emotion to any given shot. After thinking about this effect deeper, I have decided that I will incorporate the use of slow and fast paced shots.  

This next moving image solely focusses on the model's lips, and the slow seductive movement of her hands. As previously discussed, the use of an open mouth gives any given shot a more emotional edge, therefore enticing viewers more.  



Shy- The Magician



Finally, the video above is very clever with it's use of rewind and fast forward shots. Although I can imagine sections of my video using this technique, I will not use it to the extent to which 'The Magician' have, only because I want to get my message across to my viewers, and for them not to be distracted by the technique of my shots. I also would like to encompass the technique because Låpsley is seen to use jolty and unusual visual effects and techniques within her music video's too.  

Wednesday, 11 October 2017

Permission Letter


1 Codrington Mews
          London
        W11 2EH




Dear Richard Russell of XL Recordings, 

I am an A Level Media Student and for our Year 13 coursework we have to produce our very own music video. I recently discovered one of Låpsley's songs 'Falling Short' and I feel that this piece of music would really fit in with my plans for my project. 
Therefore I am writing to you in order to have granted permission to use this song for my A Level. 

Yours Sincerely, 

Lauryn Edwell

Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Interviews and Live Performances

Låpsley has been involved in countless live sets, whether it be for Music or TV Channels, or even music festivals such as Glastonbury. Below is just one clip of a live set from Låpsley, and it is clear she has an array of emotion and feeling within her pieces, which I can safely justify having now watched most of her live performances. 



As well as performing her original material, Låpsley can also completely turn an Old School classic into a different sound. The next clip is taken from the same live set in the BBC, where she is seen to cover Daniel Beddingfield's 'Gotta Get Through This'. 



The final video below is an interview shot in May 2016, with the Canadian company Q on Cbc. The interview was taken at around this time due to her album being released ('Long Way Home') around this same time. The interview itself predominantly discusses the artists first steps into the industry, her early school life and music 'education' from her parents, and how Soundcloud has had a massive impact on Låpsley's success so far.


Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Video Analysis


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pisxp5Gi3co


When initially looking closely into 'Falling Short' the music video, I noticed how it was one continuous movement (one shot), and it is all shot in 'black and white'. After watching the video, I was then also drawn to the idea of using a filter throughout my video, but then realised that I want to be able to boldly express the uses of light and shadow and will therefore need my shots in bold colour.



However, the whole concept around 'hand movements' as seen at the beginning of the video (mostly) is an idea that I would like to explore further in my own piece. However again, I will link this vision into my original idea so it is able to slot in and fit within my theme effectively. 



I especially like the tenderness used in the picture to the left in particular, as it is almost as if Låpsley handles all of her 'weight' or 'burden's' with care and with ease in this video.

Another thought process of mine was the image of reaching, as predominantly seen in the second image. The males hand is reaching for something unknown, and Låpsley's is the supportive hand in this case.


These next two images focus heavily on the idea of a burden of some sort, either mentally or physically that Låpsley is seen to carry. Within my music video I would like to also portray this same trail of thought, as I believe it is important to re-use and replicate aspects of the original video, just in a different way and so it fits in more with what I want to convey too. 









Låpsley's overall look and facial expressions explore insane amounts of deep thought and emotion. The screenshots that I have carefully selected really represent this I feel, as three out of the four images picture the artists eyes looking downwards which immediately promotes emotions of sadness and hurt. Therefore, I have also chosen to capture my models facial expressions to the same extent as Låpsley's.

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Lyric Analysis

For this post, I have managed to use another A Level of mine (English) to annotate Låpsley's lyrics for her single 'Falling Short'. I feel like this process has really helped in my final stages of research into my artist and my song itself. 

Monday, 2 October 2017

Digipack Research

What is a Digipack exactly? A Digipack is by definition is a type of packaging used for CD's or DVD's, mostly make from cardboard which is then protected by a plastic holder. The overall aim is to protect the content, the CD/DVD.
There are a couple of different styles of Digipack, whether it be designed to flip open almost like a book, or it having three panels where the content itself is in the middle, and the left and right side both flip over.  
The first official Digipack product was first made by MeadWestvaco, however for the purpose of this, I will be focussing on the Ministry of Sound, and how they in particular have evolved. 

1993 was Ministry of Sound's first Digipack release date. Luckily, the brand have kept a continuous theme with their Digipacks, where there is always a continuous use of their logo. I also admire Ministry's use of their logo to replace a heart symbol, as seen below in the ' I Love Summer'. 




Below I have taken some of my own pictures, of the Ministry albums that I currently own, as they have different layouts that are interesting. 





Idea Coming to Life


Before going ahead with my story-
boards and final stages of planning,
I decided to ask one of my models to
run some test shots with me, to
solidify my fantasies and put my
ideas to life. I took various shots        during the process, whether it be of make-up itself, or 'Grace' applying the products. I found this extra planning very useful, and now feel I have a better understanding of what I really want to do in my end product.
   

The image above is one of my favourite photo's, as I feel that the layout really promotes messages of disorder and un-necessary mess when girls everyday, go through the process of applying make-up. I can assure you, I witnessed all of these brushes being used, which highlights the quantity 'Grace' uses when i simply ask her to "put on some make-up". An extraordinary concept.



Whilst photographing, I came up with the idea of 'smudging'. Before my models begin to fully take off their make-up, I now visualise hands smudging eyes, or maybe lips also, as I believe these actions in slow movements and extremely close up would be highly effective in getting across my message. Plus, I just feel that this concept would be very enticing to watch. 




Half way through my music video, I have the vision of using hands to cover up my models face, as I would then like to utilise these hands to peal back two by two to reveal the bare skin, or possibly used to smudge the previously applied make-up. As seen, there are two versions of this vision. I need to decide which one looks more effective. 










Evaluation