"I think people are always looking for something different."
-Rihanna
Here is the completed version of my trailer for Ultra Violet's website, which I intend to use as both the main focus of the website, as well as the opening of the DVD:
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Website Research
"You laugh 'cause I'm different, I laugh 'cause you're all the same"
-P!nk
Lana and I worked separately on our websites. For my website, I was particularly interested in using a trailer video to promote the artist, rather than the actual music video. Before filming a trailer video, I decided to research into trailers other artists have made to promote their image, that they embedded onto their website as a central focus.
Firstly, I looked into the electro-pop artist Goldfrapp's latest promotional trailer on their website, to promote their new album Head First, as well as their new single, Rocket:
The video is composed simply of short clips of Alison Goldfrapp moving in front of the camera, covered in lasers and smoke. The clip also uses an instrumental of their latest song, Rocket. Since this trailer was released before Rocket or its music video came out, the video excites the viewer, preparing them for a future release. Both the outfit and the look of the trailer were used in the music video for Rocket, which I found to be influential on how to prepare the audience for future releases.
Another electro-pop artist, Kerli, also created a trailer for both herself and her album:
The trailer uses dialogue as well as previews of songs from her album, Love Is Dead, to fuel the video. I found the video heavily influential-with the dark concept and the use of lighting, as well as the dramatic cuts and the intense imagery. Notably, Kerli uses glitter in the video-further proving the presence of glitter in the presentation of electro-pop music.
I was also heavily inspired by the use of fashion in Lady GaGa's promotional trailer, The Fame: Part One:
The trailer samples different songs from her album, The Fame, teasing the viewer into appreciating the variety of tracks. The trailer is heavily fashionable, capturing the idea both Lana and I have been interested in from the start-alternative fashion incorporated into everyday society. I was also influenced by the avant-garde themes of the video-the use of French in an American video, the story-telling and the use of fashion are prime examples.
-P!nk
Lana and I worked separately on our websites. For my website, I was particularly interested in using a trailer video to promote the artist, rather than the actual music video. Before filming a trailer video, I decided to research into trailers other artists have made to promote their image, that they embedded onto their website as a central focus.
Firstly, I looked into the electro-pop artist Goldfrapp's latest promotional trailer on their website, to promote their new album Head First, as well as their new single, Rocket:
The video is composed simply of short clips of Alison Goldfrapp moving in front of the camera, covered in lasers and smoke. The clip also uses an instrumental of their latest song, Rocket. Since this trailer was released before Rocket or its music video came out, the video excites the viewer, preparing them for a future release. Both the outfit and the look of the trailer were used in the music video for Rocket, which I found to be influential on how to prepare the audience for future releases.
Another electro-pop artist, Kerli, also created a trailer for both herself and her album:
The trailer uses dialogue as well as previews of songs from her album, Love Is Dead, to fuel the video. I found the video heavily influential-with the dark concept and the use of lighting, as well as the dramatic cuts and the intense imagery. Notably, Kerli uses glitter in the video-further proving the presence of glitter in the presentation of electro-pop music.
I was also heavily inspired by the use of fashion in Lady GaGa's promotional trailer, The Fame: Part One:
The trailer samples different songs from her album, The Fame, teasing the viewer into appreciating the variety of tracks. The trailer is heavily fashionable, capturing the idea both Lana and I have been interested in from the start-alternative fashion incorporated into everyday society. I was also influenced by the avant-garde themes of the video-the use of French in an American video, the story-telling and the use of fashion are prime examples.
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Ultra Violet Photoshoot
"Sorry if we can't all be original, but I have a mold to break."
-Jeffree Star
Lana and I had different ideas for the digipak, so we each did our own separately.
As part of our research, a prominent artistic factor found frequently in electro-pop artists' image is glitter. Examples of artists that consistently use glitter as an artistic direction are:
Santigold: On her album cover (displayed in previous posts), glitter is a clear thematic device. I found the idea of throwing up glitter fascinating and eye catching, and it played a vital role of inspiration in my photoshoot for the digipak.
Lady GaGa: Famously quoted for 'taking over the world, one sequin at a time', GaGa points out that glitter is an artistic connection she can have with her fans: cheap to buy and widely usable, by using glitter, her fans can be given an easier opportunity to imitate her alternative fashion sense.
Ke$ha: Ke$ha refers to glitter in terms of its use in parties, and how it amplifies the atmosphere of a party she would want to represent on stage. An example of her using glitter in her shows, in the form of a glitter gun (skip to 2:45):
Due to these artistic inspirations, I chose glitter as the prime artistic direction in my photoshoot for the digipak, using the model from the video, Daniella Gordenfelt. I took Santigold's idea of throwing up glitter, and attempted to imitate a similar set of photos-focusing on taking a photo that will shock the viewer. I also wanted to try using glitter in other ways that would enhance the beauty of the model, so I decided to make a 'glittery lipstick' for my model in some photos. I also took a hand-held mirror and poured glitter onto it, to alter the intensity of the reflection.
The camera that I used to take the photos is the Sony Cyber-Shot 5.0 Megapixel DSC-F717 camera. The camera comes equipped with a 10x Precision Digital Zoom function, which made the photo-shoot much easier for me, as an incredibly high level of precision and quality was very easy to achieve.
I bought a pack of WHSmith's glitter, containing several different pots of different colors, giving me the opportunity to experiment. For the shots of my model throwing up, I practiced with different colors of glitter, to see which would reflect the light in the most interesting way.
To capture my model lunging forwards to throw up successfully, I used a function on my camera called 'Multi Burst'. This enables my camera to take three rapid photos after pressing the 'Take Photo' button once. This way, Daniella could lunge forwards to 'throw up' the glitter, and my camera would successfully capture the quick movement. This plan worked, and some of the pictures are very effective.
For the close-up shots of my model's face, I used purple glitter. This is because I have decided to use one of these photos as my front cover, and the purple glitter notably embodies the artist's name, Ultra Violet. To stick the glitter to my model's lips, I used conventional peach flavored lip balm, and it successfully held the glitter in place. This created a dramatic effect, and the lighting heavily amplified the borderline-futuristic image I was hoping to achieve.
For the lighting, I again used the provided equipment in my school's media suite. As you can see in a picture on the left, taken in one of our video shoots, the lighting is highly professional, and there were several lights at different areas in the room-enabling me to experiment with different angles of lighting. This way, I could shine the lights appropriately onto the glitter.
Here is a slideshow of all of the unedited photos I have taken, and I will have to choose 4 of these to compose my final piece:
-Jeffree Star
Lana and I had different ideas for the digipak, so we each did our own separately.
As part of our research, a prominent artistic factor found frequently in electro-pop artists' image is glitter. Examples of artists that consistently use glitter as an artistic direction are:
Santigold: On her album cover (displayed in previous posts), glitter is a clear thematic device. I found the idea of throwing up glitter fascinating and eye catching, and it played a vital role of inspiration in my photoshoot for the digipak.
Lady GaGa: Famously quoted for 'taking over the world, one sequin at a time', GaGa points out that glitter is an artistic connection she can have with her fans: cheap to buy and widely usable, by using glitter, her fans can be given an easier opportunity to imitate her alternative fashion sense.
Ke$ha: Ke$ha refers to glitter in terms of its use in parties, and how it amplifies the atmosphere of a party she would want to represent on stage. An example of her using glitter in her shows, in the form of a glitter gun (skip to 2:45):
Due to these artistic inspirations, I chose glitter as the prime artistic direction in my photoshoot for the digipak, using the model from the video, Daniella Gordenfelt. I took Santigold's idea of throwing up glitter, and attempted to imitate a similar set of photos-focusing on taking a photo that will shock the viewer. I also wanted to try using glitter in other ways that would enhance the beauty of the model, so I decided to make a 'glittery lipstick' for my model in some photos. I also took a hand-held mirror and poured glitter onto it, to alter the intensity of the reflection.
The camera that I used to take the photos is the Sony Cyber-Shot 5.0 Megapixel DSC-F717 camera. The camera comes equipped with a 10x Precision Digital Zoom function, which made the photo-shoot much easier for me, as an incredibly high level of precision and quality was very easy to achieve.I bought a pack of WHSmith's glitter, containing several different pots of different colors, giving me the opportunity to experiment. For the shots of my model throwing up, I practiced with different colors of glitter, to see which would reflect the light in the most interesting way.
To capture my model lunging forwards to throw up successfully, I used a function on my camera called 'Multi Burst'. This enables my camera to take three rapid photos after pressing the 'Take Photo' button once. This way, Daniella could lunge forwards to 'throw up' the glitter, and my camera would successfully capture the quick movement. This plan worked, and some of the pictures are very effective.
For the close-up shots of my model's face, I used purple glitter. This is because I have decided to use one of these photos as my front cover, and the purple glitter notably embodies the artist's name, Ultra Violet. To stick the glitter to my model's lips, I used conventional peach flavored lip balm, and it successfully held the glitter in place. This created a dramatic effect, and the lighting heavily amplified the borderline-futuristic image I was hoping to achieve.
For the lighting, I again used the provided equipment in my school's media suite. As you can see in a picture on the left, taken in one of our video shoots, the lighting is highly professional, and there were several lights at different areas in the room-enabling me to experiment with different angles of lighting. This way, I could shine the lights appropriately onto the glitter.Here is a slideshow of all of the unedited photos I have taken, and I will have to choose 4 of these to compose my final piece:
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Covering the Album
"Whatever, I don't need money-I am money.”
-Ke$ha
-Ke$ha
As research for our album cover, Lana and I researched into conventions of electro-pop that are expressed in an intriguing fashion. Prominent aspects of an electro-pop artist's image include glitter, plastic, high fashion, pvc/leather, angular/abstract poses and edgy themes, such as shapes, animals and the future. These aspects differentiate artists from the mainstream, with the concept of flashy fashion and expressive sexuality becoming a theme related to the musical nature of the artist and their image.
Our research lead us to a number of covers:
Santigold - Santigold
I found the concept of releasing glitter from the mouth/throwing it up a very interesting concept. The expression of the artist throwing up a beautiful shining object is shocking but effective, representing the artist's alternative image. This may influence the photoshoot I'll take for the cover.
Kylie Minogue - X
The use of high fashion is very much apparent in the use of the alternative headpiece, as well as the dramatic makeup-the pale white skin, and the deep scarlet lips/nails. Another theme is the futuristic editing of the picture-the image seems to double itself into yellow and red versions of the original picture. This is a reference to the use of 3D glasses, which I have perceived as a futuristic concept.
Perfume - GAME
This cover is clearly futuristic, with the large beams of light placed at interesting angles. The outfits are also largely alternative and interesting, and I found the use of simple props putting forward an eye-catching image very influential.
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