Evaluation - Q4

I used YouTube to research for my music videos, as its the easiest accessible website to find and watch music videos. But because it doesn't just hold music videos, it also gives information on behind the scenes of certain artists work, i.e Bruno Mars describes his work on the set of Just The Way You Are. Avril Lavigne too explains and shows you the set of 'Alice.'
I didn't re-create many scenes out of the Alice In Wonderland video, because I had plenty of strange ideas twirling around my head when I first started. When I did come to planning and story-boarding, it was overwhelming and I couldn't seem to think one step at a time, finding where to start the story. My ideas were small segments of the song put into video but they didn't fit into the song, they were just small clips in my head. It was rather difficult to ever start creating a story so instead of writing down the images that I saw in my head, I built them up in my mind, like a story book. I first pictured a big table with great amounts of props and food, panning up and down the table showing different characters dressed in odd costumes and colourful make up.

Within the construction stage, I used both handheld and tripod techniques, such as, when I was running  after the dream character I used the handheld camera technique to give a more realistic view to the viewer, to make them feel as though they are involved in the situation. 
When building ideas on the music video, I tried to use a diverse number of props to make it as interesting as possible for the audience. Through examining the Alice in wonderland video, I listed all of the props used within the tea party segment and with this information I tried to re-create this scene using an assortment of sweets, tea cups and saucers including a teapot. Along side the use of my props I added a dazzle effect on top of the image to create a more fuller effect to the scenery. 

I used the photoshop programme and final cut pro to edit and manipulate my pictures and video footage. I found the process easy as I have had a lot of experience editing different pictures in my other subject Art & Photography. I enjoyed the process of making a music video because I was able to explore Final Cut Pro more with the effects, filters and transitions. My last project of creating an opening sequence for a Thriller, I used the programme Movie Maker on Windows so I wasn't able to edit any of the footage on Final Cut Pro.

Evaluation Q3

I chose to create my third question on the presentation site, Prezi.
http://prezi.com/oydiue8hwpdq/untitled-prezi/

Evaluation Q2

Evaluation - Q1

Poster - Colour Manipulation

I decided to insert this particular Avril Lavigne picture into my Poster because it's a good portrait and it shows dark, bold make up which is her signature look. Through researching a good photo, I did experiment with long shot modelling pictures and live concert snapshots but I didn't like the colours and the size when it came to manipulating.

I found that the modelling photos were too 'bland' in a way that it wouldn't seem very attractive to the viewer if it was displayed on a bus shelter or billboard. Although the shots seem bright with different colours and tones -pictures below- it was difficult to for me arrange the the collage of photos in a successful composition that would be intriguing for the viewer to look at. I didn't see an 'interesting' poster being produced because it was just too dark, in consequence of me attempting to brighten the pictures I lost a lot of needed colour and contrast.

The majority of the live photos that I collected were in conclusion too dark to use and left me with unwanted black corners that stood out too much like a sore thumb - I did however try to cut and blur the corners so I ended up rounding off her silhouette but it looked 'weird' in the sense she had half a body tilted at an odd angle.

The portrait photo-shoot was the best option. On the photo I decided to use an effect -I've recently forgot the effects name, but I am currently going through effects on photoshop. - It created a transparent but contrasting effect because it added boldness to the dark areas - her lips and eyes- and took away contrast and colour away from her body and neck so that the first thing you are drawn into are her black powdered eyes.

Here are some of the pictures that I had decided not to include or use in my ;

Adding screenshots of editing.

Concert Poster

First I collected pictures that I wanted to experiment with, then I decided how I wanted to present the artist. I have used a spiral picture created by light for my background; I simply found this on Google, using the key word ‘light’. Next I researched Avril’s photo shoot gallery to find the right picture that would suit my design to layer on, the shot I chose she is wearing heavy black make up, this helps with my effect that I will be using later on because her eyes will stand out more than anything else.

I cropped around her face and body then cut it out, placing it on my spiral background, then I went across to the effect’s. I chose the ‘Darken’ effect on Avril’s face and I increased the contrast to make sure the depth was enough and that her eyes were visible through the effect. The ‘darken’ effect actually burns out half of the picture with the darkest points focused more, making her distinctive eye make-up pop through the multi-colours in the background.

I chose to add Avril’s Record Label logos to show which records she has a contract with but also to fill up the dark, empty spaces that I have not edited or filled with any photos

Next, I had to choose my font and what I would be writing. So I decided to make a short example of places her tour locations could be i.e. O2 Arena / Manchester Arena. I had to be careful with the colours I picked because the font would disappear into the background and blend too much if I chose the wrong tone, so I decided to have two colours in the text box. The other title that I had to include was her name and also the name of the concert. I simply went from the title of my music video ‘ Wonderland’ and played around with words and in conclusion I created ‘Up In Wonderland.'

Step 1

step 2

Place the picture onto the background and use the darken tool to create a transparent effect as well as a sharpening effect, boldening the outline of her eyes

step 3

Through selecting a font, I chose, Engrave MT, position the lettering over the colours so that it stands out. Being aware of that it may blend in and that the viewer may not be able to see it.

step 4

Next, I added on my list of arena's, real examples that the artist will go to. I selected two different colours to help the picture separate slightly, so that the colours were diverse but away from each other not clashing. The white stood out more than the black and the red blended in too much with the spiral background. 

I included her record label logos to show the viewer who she is signed to and too also, fill in the dark corners which are now visible with bright colours.

step 5

The last thing I had to include was the title or even concert name, which I created the name, 'Up In Wonderland', this name relates to my music video ' Alice In Wonderland.' White font was the best to have upon the clashes of colours and it stood out more than the red, but even, I didn't like the red tones because it didn't match the  background and it looked too similar to her lips.

Record Messages

For producing my video, my task was to gain permission by the artists record company or them themselves to respond. But through my luck of trying with messages and even tweets, I didn't receive a message.

Here are some screen shots from FaceBook. These are attempts to grab Avril Lavignes' records labels' attention so I could ask for permission to use her song in my work. I researched the Labels she has contracts with and found out there are RCA & EPIC records. Her very first record label was Sony.

I found Avril's record companies by researching her Official website,

Avril Lavigne Home Page

But I did also discover that RCA and EPIC records have Twitter, so I tried to send them a message about my project, although, communicating through twitter is difficult because all messages have an 140 letter count. So attempting to explain in under 140 characters was too problematic, that was when I decided to turn to FaceBook. It was much easier for me to explain.

I did send out 5 emails in total to all labels because my email would be spread out and diverse then to just send it to one record label. It would increase the chance of somebody replying. Unfortunately, I did not get any messages back.