Digi Pack Parts

Editing Day

We were given the opportunity to spend a whole day editing our music video as a group together. Throughout the day we had the chance to look and analyse our footage we filmed previously and start piecing it together to match Mike Dignam’s song ‘I’ll lie here’. After editing at the beginning of the day we found we had not filmed enough footage in order to complete the video, this then meant that we had to go out and film some more shots to give a bit of background story to the song, therefore we headed tour locations to film some shots which we were able to successful add in to complete 80% of our video. We then took time out of this day to complete our final shots and add in our filters. Overall I feel the editing day and final filming was really successful as we have competed it.

Inlay Photo Edits

Magazine Advert Editing

<-- 1. I firstly put the selected image, that we used on the back of our Digi Pack.



2. I then added a blue filter and a cream filter onto it to make it have a vintage effect. -->

<-- 3. After placing the filter over the top, I increased the contrast and brightness of the image and created two orange/red gradients. One coming from the corner and the other a line down the center.

4. I then created a soft tones border and placed the Digi Pack Front Cover in it.-->

<-- 5. I then added the text, 'Mike Dignam' is in the same font as the song list on the back of the Album; 'Debut Album' and 'Out Now' is also but it has been put in a linear light. 'i'll lie here' is in the same font as the same title that is on the album cover.

6. An iTunes logo has been added but faded slightly and a new border created.-->

 <-- 7. Inside the border, star ratings have been added in the linear light again.





8. To finish the Music Magazine ratings have been added to the stars, creating an attraction. Mike Dignam's website and Twitter has also be written underneath.

Music Video Changes

During our filming we have used our storyboard as a guideline although through some reconsideration, we discovered more professional ideas for some of the scenes. This occurred when editing as we found that the footage we filmed was not enough, therefore we had to rearrange scenes in order to fit the music successfully and follow a realistic story-line.

 - We have not included the scenes at the train station, instead we have added in some POV shots (http://aimeekmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/camera-techniques-pov.html ) and more scenes of the singer (Danny) singing with the guitar. I believe by doing this it will introduce the female to the audience well, and early enough in time for the chorus, and to understand the music video.
- The photo of the couple is also included in the video, although we have used a print out in which we can show it burning later on in the video, which is different to our first idea of it in a photo in the frame. Danny takes the print out from the bin instead from under the bed where the audience will see that the photo has been scrunched up out of anger and sorrow.
- Although we filmed Danny putting his coat on and tying his shoes up, we decided to not include these scenes as they took too long, wasted time and we didn't think they were necessarily needed.
- We were thinking of ending the video with Danny burning the photo of him and the girl, but we put this clip further back as we thought ending with sun shining through would be more appropriate.
-Another change that we made was the actress playing the girl. As we were running out of time and it was hard to get hold of our original actress, we all decided that it would be more ideal to use a member of the group, therefore I, myself am playing the role of the female.
- We also decided not to do the compilation of images at the end as we felt there was enough of the couple happy in the music video so give the audience the impression that their relationship was loving and strong.

Overlay Editing - Inlay Booklet Front Cover

To improve our images to make them seem more professional and artistic our group decided to experiment with overlaying the image for the front cover of the inlay booklet. This added depth to the images and I have found the technique added a unique and different feel to it.

Here I will show the process of how we did it-

 We put our image we wanted to use as the base image onto Photoshop.

 We then created a copy of this layer, which also enhanced the colour slightly.

 We then selected the image we wanted to overlay onto the image and placed it on top of the original image and we selected the soft overlay option.

 We put a blue filter onto it.

Then an additional creamy filter.

Then adjusted the brightness and contrast.
















I am very impressed with how the overlay effect on the inlay booklet front cover worked out.

Editing Photos

The photos that were taken that I edited in the previous posts(http://aimeekmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/digi-pack-photo-edits.html)(http://aimeekmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/digi-pack-photo-edits-2.html) were the most successful and professional of the ones we had taken that day and all of the images stood out to me. The way that all of the images capture Mike Dignam, the artist, playing this guitar or with his guitar gives an impression that it wasn't a planned shot or composition I was really pleased that we were able to capture it, it also creates a happy feeling that he is doing what he loves. The way the background represents nature really incorporates the Indie Genre into the images, but with the filters and editing it has given the overall image the effect that it is vintage, and old, but a happy memory so the image has been kept; this makes the image soft and draws all the attention to the artists figure. Over all I really like the way these images have turned out! I started to edit it on the editing software Adobe Photoshop, something I become to be familiar with over the years. I like the composition of the shots with the use of the guitar within the shot for our digipack is important as it emphasises the relation to the artist.

Digi Pack Photo Edits 2

Digi Pack Photo Edits

Practise Filming...

We have decided to complete a 'pilot' for our final idea, in which we will practise the techniques, such as split screen, and overlay we have decided to use in our Music Video. We have picked Wednesday 26th October to complete this task, this is the perfect day to experiment as we have no other commitments on that day, meaning we have the time to gain the knowledge of how we will edit the Final Product. This in the end will hopefully save us time in our real filming.

Similar Music Video's and their Conventions

In this post I will talk about the Conventions we have decided to use in our Music Video, and similar Music Videos and Artists that have also used them. Most of the examples I will use are a good representation of the Indie Genre, although they all may have their individual sub-genre's.

Narrative within the Indie Genre
In many Indie Music Videos there are a combination of performance and narrative; the narrative is mostly filmed in a contrasting and dissimilar location the where the performance footage is based; an example of this is in One Night Only's 'Say you don't want it', where the narrative is in the city and is busy, and the performance is on the roof of the building, just outside the city, where it is free and empty.

To complete and apply this Convention of narrative theory to the music videos, I have found a narrative in the Indie Genre in which I can analyse and make sure we can attract the audience in the same way.

In Kate Nash's Music Video for 'Foundations' I found that the lyrics link to the action is the scene, such as when the lyrics ' and I know that I should let go, but I can't...' are sung the couple are holding hands until the words 'let go' are sung. This links to an aspect we were interested in applying as in our lyrics when the singer says 'go to sleep my love...' the female character of the relationship in the video will be laying on the bed and a close up of her eyes closing will be filmed. The narrative is represented as a casual, average day, in which our scene will be as firstly the average day of when they were together, and now when they are apart; the Artist 'Kate Nash' is singing to the camera, whilst getting on with her everyday life.

Editing Technique- Overlay
As we have decided to create an overlay of scene's in the middle of our Music Video to show the Artist
singing alone, and the overlay of a previous time when the characters spent their time together there happy.


Olly Murs song 'Dear Darlin' is a perfect example of when this is used, as he uses an identical location but overlays him and his ex-girlfriends past times and fun they have shared in that location whilst he is singing alone of the bed about losing her. From this video you can tell that this Music Video is effective as the similar narrative and love story can be represented by this technique and help the audience understand the emotions involved in the song, which links to the Artist himself. To complete this in the most professional way possible we would have to film twice in the same location, with the camera running throughout; after we would have to edit it on final cut pro, by cutting, overlaying and tweaking the opacity of the image to make it subtle and appear a memory.

Editing Technique- Filter/ Camera use
The effect we want to portray in our music video is that of a warm and comforting video, despise the narrative behind it. The hue we want to create it that alike the colours and hues in Ben Howard's video, 'Keep Your Head Up'.

The filter of this video creates a more exciting feel to the Music Video and draws the audience in to watch for the rest of the song.

Another convention of the music video we are using are the different Camera shots we will use, in which will make, what could be, a boring love story into something more eye-catching and emotional. This is used in the Music Video on the left when the character is sliding down the water slide, the worm view perspective, the handheld showing shots of the reaction shots whilst sliding down the hill, and the birds-eye view assist the video in having a more exciting aspect and captures the listeners attention.





Lip- Syncing
The use of lip-syncing was important for us as the narrative will be happening around the Artist through an overlay and the 'average day' happening around him; the song in which is being used diagetically.

The Artist Daughter uses this is their song 'Still' this was influential and a linking convention to our Music video as the use of the artists image being presented on the T.V and the narrative working around it reminded me of our Artist sitting and having the narrative around him. This is effective due to the creativity but the unhappy narrative explains and shows the audience the details.







Binary Opposition Urban and Nature
The use of the Binary Opposition will be used due to the contrast we will use of the Urban and natural setting. This convention is used in Ben Howard's 'Only Love' video.

We firstly see Howard riding his bike, at a low angle capturing the power and the sunlight through the tree's. A jump cut is then used to show an urban setting in which the cuts are in time to the beat of the song, this adds interest and the audience want to know where the character will end up, why and for what? This is a convention that we are going to use.

Development of Planning

Its clear through research and analysis of different Indie videos, that certain shots, editing and types of mise-en-scene would suit our video perfectly. 

One of the ideas that came through recently was split screening, by having the artist telling the story on one side and having the protagonist and the narrative on the other side. This has been used in a number of indie videos and in addition they use narrative as well. 

Another idea is to contrast Urban and Natural, by reflecting his feelings and the mood of the song. This is used in Jason Mraz's song 'I'm yours' which is a great example of the convention working well, by showing the bad and good things in his life (Binary Opposition). 

Another idea that we have come up with for our video is a 'God figure' (http://aimeekmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/omniscience-god-figure-idea.html) , this has also been used in a number of genres and a countless number of videos. Daniel Powters 'Bad Day' is an example where the artist plays a godly figure and narrates the story. 'Divine intervention' is also a possibility as it would mean the godly figure has a part to play in the story and not just a narrative role. The 'godly figure' also works well with the split-screen as seen in the 'Bad Day' video.