Editing our music video

We carried out all of our editing for the music video on iMovie. I have previously used this software so had some basic experience on the main features. We enjoyed the editing process of the video and feel that it has gone well. From creating the video, I have been able to gain lots of new skills, which will become helpful for me in the future. Editing the movie is important, it is important that the shots within the video flow well and that we edit on the beat on the song. In this post, I am going to briefly explain some of the editing processes we carried out on the video.



To begin, we had to import all of our filming footage into iMovie. We had to watch through it all and sort through which shots we think looked best, and dragged them into a new iMovie project. Using our storyboard for guidance, we ordered the shots relating them to the lyrics of the song. We imported the song, 'A Rocket to The Moon - Like We Used To', enabling us to edit on the beat.  

We added a title sequence to the beginning of the video, we made it so it has a black background with white font. The contrasting colour makes it extremely clear and easy for viewers to read. In order for us to make the video flow well and not just jump from one shot to another, we decided to add some video transitions. The transistions that we have used in the video include: cross dissolve, cross blur and fade to black. We used the cross dissolve transition when the shots link to each other, this helps to show that they are related and helps to make the image change more smoothly. We used the cross blur on shots that weren't related, for example when it goes from Jess and Tom to Jonny. I believed that this helped to show that the shots aren't related and it is a way of clearly contrasted Jonnys' and Jess' new lives. At the end of the video when Jonny is walking away from the camera, we used a fade to black transition. I believe that the ending works well and it makes it link to the beginning of the video with the black title credit.

On some of the shots, we also decided to edit the exposure/brightness/contrast/saturation. This enabled us to make certain shots stand out more and to make them more appealing. Because our filming was carried out in the winter months it wasn't particulary that sunny, therefore to overcome this we were able to edit the shots so they looked brighter. The beach shot is one on particular that was adjusted. Also, some of the shots of Jonny going to Jess' house were slightly dark due to the weather and therefore we could easily alter this too.

We also had to edit the speed of some of our shots, this was to ensure that it fits with the beat of the music. We made a few of the clips slightly slower motion: the couple throwing leaves and the couple dancing in the house. By doing this, it helped the shots to fit better and also is helpful in making the video more varied. It is also helping to show how couple the couple are together, and is clearly showing all the good times they have had together.

Researching Digipaks and Magazine Promotions

After doing some research about how existing artists successfully promote their new singles/albums, I have found that now many artists are using DigiPaks instead of just an ordinary CD. Digipaks typically consist of a paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD. I feel that by creating a Digipak it will appeal more to the target audience as not only will they be getting a CD album, they will get artists info, lyrics and more images of the artist. The image to the left shows two examples of artist digipaks; Olly Murs, and Pink. I like how it allows you to include more images and I think this is something which particulary would make it stand out more to me than an ordinary CD cover. Digipaks were originally only seen as limited edition or specialist CD products, however due to improvements in CD production and packaging printing techniques it has meant that this sleek CD packaging solution is now available at much lower quantities and at much lower prices.

This is a layout of a digipak, it consists of 6 different panels, by creating one of these I feel our target audience of teenage girls would be more attracted to it, as they may feel they are getting more for their money. It is important that when I come to creating my digipak, I ensure that it has a consistent house style. I feel that if each panel is different, it would look all random and less professional. Therefore, to gain more ideas, I am going to deconstruct an existing Digipaks to see how they have made each panel link and the type of things they have included.

As well as creating a DigiPak to promote the song, I am also going to make magazine promotions. I am planning on doing one to promote the single 'Like We Used To' and also a tour poster to promote the artist, Jonny. All products have to relate to each other and have the same house style, this will help to show people that they link. I could do this by using similar fonts, image effects and colours. Cross-promotion could be done on the products, for example on the image to the right, The Script have used their tour poster to help promote their album too by including a small image in the bottom left. This is benificial for artists as it helps to cut costs rather than having loads of different promotions. I am going to now go on to deconstruct some more magazine promotion posters and then start with the creation of my products.

Initial Album Cover Image Ideas...

Here are some different image ideas for my album cover. I have experimented with editing the images on photoshop, trying out different photo filters and adjusting different image settings. I am going to get opinions from others about the covers to find out whether they think any of the images would be successful. Below I have briefly written about the positive and negative aspects people thought about each of the images:

Positives:
-links to the video well as its the same field he plays the guitar in
-natural background which relates to the convention of alternative rock covers
-inlcusion of guitar helps to show the genre
-jonny fills the frame and stands out

Negatives:
-jumper has superdry logo on it, branding is not usually used as it is promoting something else
-he is not looking at the camera so isn't really drawing viewers in

Positives:
-has a sepia type tone to it which makes it seem natural
-the sea in the background links to the locations in our video
-the inclusion of the guitar helps to show the genre of music

Negatives:
-jonny is positioned at a slight angle so the shot is not directly straight on
-there is nothing that really stands out and encourages you to pick up the album cover

Positives:

-the shot is quite different/unique which could make it stand out

-has a natural background as is shot in the field that we filmed Jonny playing guitar in

-the images fills the shot, it is clear and strong

-theninclusion of the guitar again helps to show the genre

Negatives:

-it is not that appealing to the target audience as he is wearing jeans with his legs covered up

-there is nothing that really attracts the target audience and will encourage them to pick it up

Positives:
-strong eye contact helps to attract the viewer well
-sepia tone to it, helps to make it look more natural
-it has an artistic affect to it, is quite unique and different
-blurred background helps to make jonny stand out more

Negatives:
-genre may not be easily recognizable
-need to cut around the image slightly better when blurring the background out as I have blurred his nose slightly

Editing Images

Editing images from Kaylee1234
Above is a presentation I made explaining briefly how I edited my images. I editted them all on Photoshop, a software I am fairly exprienced in. I used lots of different features to change the images and make them have a different effect to it.

Filming - 05/01/13

We carried out filming on all of our actors today from about 10 till 4. To begin, we carried out the bed scene, the lighting for this was well and the shots were as expected. We experimented more with the scene where the couple are under the covers and felt it helps to show the connection between the couple well. Next, we went back to the field where Jonny plays the guitar, and carried out a few more shots, in order to create consistency he sat in the same place in the same field. We then headed down to Sidmouth beach where we experimented with taking more images for our anciliary products. We tried taking images of the couple and Jonny individually and then with all the actors in the shot. Finally, we went to Lauras house and filmed Jonny walking to the house to ask Jess to get back with him. Originally we had planned for this scene to be shot when it is raining, however the weather was not as expected. We planned to use the weather to create a dull and sad atmosphere, so because it didn't rain we tried to get Jonny acting more sad and upset to clearly show his feelings. We feel that today was successful and the time was used wisely.

Initial Album Cover Plans

I have created some sketches showing some of my ideas for my album cover. It allows me to roughly see what it will look like. From this, I will go on to edit some images and see whether any of them work well as an album cover.

Filming - 03/01/13

Today we carried out some filming from around 10-3 of the couple, Jess and Tom. To begin, we went to woodbury common, where we filmed them enjoying themselves in the woods, throwing leaves, climbing up banks etc. The lighting was okay and we managed to get some succeful footage as well as some images of the couple. We then went on to Exmouth and carried out some shots of Jess and Tom on the dunes, playing around in the sea and walking along the beach. The problem we encountered was that there was lots of people about, this meant we had to sit and wait for a clear bit of beach, which did waste a bit of time. The sun did come out slightly during filming, helping to brighten up the shots and make the atmosphere nicer. Again, we took lots of images to consider using for our anciliary products.