after effects tests

After a few hours experimenting in after effects, i may or may not have achieved something, it's not quite what i wanted and i'm having some issues with exporting it in a manageable file size so it may or may not make the final video cut.

Piano introduction

For the first ten seconds or so of the song there is a piano introduction for this i've decided to go slightly experimental, im currently obtaining a trial version of adobes "after effects" a special effects software to hopefully create an abstract music visualization to fill these first ten seconds. Here is the style I'm aiming for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEqMS-NYf_g
This also links to the album artwork I intend to use.

Advert ideas (again)

So here is another rough mock up of the advert. I decided to just utilise the album artwork again, but also an image of the product itself. Then worked in the same fake magazine quotes, hoping to appeal on a simple but effective nature and arouse the viewers curiosity with the lack of direct information yet again, but also utilise a more conventional product advertisement, I do feel however it looks a little bit to busy and i prefer the other design.

Advert ideas

So here is a rough mock up of the advert. I decided to just utilise the album artwork and then worked in some fake magazine quotes, hoping to appeal on a simple but effective nature and arouse the viewers curiosity with the lack of direct information.

Magazine ad.

Here are some examples of music adverts, although they aren't related in terms of genre, its more of there format i'm interested in. The key features seem to be large titling, album artwork and something similar to the billing block on movie posters at the bottom. One of the three also features a release date, I don't think I will feature one in my ancillary task nor the actual product, although i feel i will use the album artwork to make up the main body of the advert and then just use text, billing blocks and logos to build up the ad.

Processed Ancillary work

Here are the previous images, mocked up in to a CD digipak format.

Rough ancillary work

Above are two images i mocked up which could be utilised in the Digipak task. The first goes in a different direction from usual album covers, utilising typography and blank space to create a striking design. The second focuses more on the aspects i wanted to draw from the other snow patrol album covers.

(Both were made in photoshop by myself)

Altered Ancillary

Obviously now the main production has changed, the ancillary tasks i had been working on have had to change to. Here are some covers which i'm drawing ideas from to fuel my ancillary work .

The most interesting part of these covers is the lighting, and unique nature of them. The first manipulates a series of surreal shapes in combination with a spotlight effect to create a deep and dramatic feel. The second utilises Bokeh with a unique line drawing over the top. And the final uses space and a single light source to create a striking cover.

The elements I plan on utilising from these covers are the abstract nature of the first, the dramatic colourful lighting of the second and possibly the space utilised in the third.

Filming through.

Most cameramen use a series of filters to achieve different effects whilst filming, for example in this still from topgear they have a cool blue gradient filter in front of the lens.

Yet obviously i don't have access to such equipment, but there was nothing to stop me from placing other everyday objects in front of the lens to see what kind of effects could be achieved, so i set about picking up glasses, CD's, clear vynil and even a straw hat, and in turn placing those between the camera lens and usually a strong light source to see what kind of effects could be achieved, some of the results were actually rather interesting.

changes and similarities

Although my song choice my have changed, what i aim to do hasn't. I still don't want this to be a set in stone simple music video which uses the same old tired techniques, a lonely girl lip syncing, crying over a letter etc. etc. i don't want it to turn in to something like this basically:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6jf3I2H2jw

Sure the same themes are going to be there, because that is the overall tone the music sets. But i want to use less conventional shots and just bring something a little different to the table.

Inspiration

A rundown of videos and images that feature ideas that could be utilised.

Time lapse traffic-interesting light trails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8bSWa71_sQ

Cold plays use of reverse footage in the scientist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxNJHuM0Js0

The use of abstract lighting here (and the incorporation of bokeh in the image below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qkYWEHwtSo&feature=branded

And finally the overaly textures here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgZkm1xWPE

Scrap metal

After much work there is nothing more that can be done for the eminiem video, the project has been jetisoned. It was over ambitious and the technology availible couldnt be used for what I needed. Now from the ashes a new project has risen "Set fire to the third bar" by Snow patrol. The video will draw inspiration from "the scientist" with the hook being reversed shots. The premise behind the song lyrics appears to be a journey from a man to his love, focusing on this idea of journey I aim to use multiple traveling shots and close up detail shots interspliced to hint at their former love.

Album Covers