Digipak Analysis: Two

Continuing with my research of existing digipaks, in hopes of gaining more insight as to how I am going to construct my own I decided to look at The Distillers digipak for their album "Coral Fang". I decided to look at this because the digipak itself tells a kind of story and is fairly simple yet still stylised, offering a fairly interesting and controversial representation overall.

Digipak Analysis: One

As part of my research for my Digipak, I decided to look at and analyse the digipak created for the 2008 album "Intimacy" by Bloc Party, as the CD features similar ideas to some of those I am considering using in my own digipak for "I Don't Want To Fall In Love" by She Wants Revenge. Examples of the digipak can be seen alongside my analysis below.

Location Shots

I used two main locations in my video, these being the party scene in the living room and the bedroom scenes. The locations can be seen below in screenshots from my video.

As you can see, I created the bedroom scene so that not much of the room was seen, with the empahsis being on the bed. I scattered drinks bottles, cups and cans around the room to make it look lived in, and made sure it was dark outside while filming.

In the party scene I made sure it was dark, with low use of lighting. I wanted to give the impression of a crowded room and made sure that not very much furniture could be seen. Again I made sure that it was dark outside before filming here.

Filming Account

On the first day of filming I started by setting up the location,  placing empty bottles around the room, making sure everything was in place and making sure I had everything I needed to make filming run smoothly and without interruption.

Upon arrival of my two main performers I had them change into costume for filming, and I helped to do their hair/ apply their makeup and ease them into the process.

I first started filming with both performers doing all of the shots that required them on their own, using extreme close up for a lot of these shots. I did all of these scenes including a couple of the shots that required the pair to be filmed together by the end of the day.

On the second day I had the two performers come in again and repeated the process of hair/ makeup application, and then began to film the two as a pair by following my shot list/ storyboard. Filming went fairly successfully and I managed to film mostly all of the scenes that featured the two performers. I did however have to push back to date to film a large group of people and the two performers within this scene, as I was not able to get hold of enough people to make the scene work nicely.

I later had a group of people come to be filmed, as well as the two main performers, in which I filmed a party scene in which the pair would meet for the first time in the video, surrounded by others. I followed my shot list and storyboard, checking off any previously unfinished filming.

Potential hazards I may encounter whilst filming

Ensuring the safety of the camera and tripod, as well as human safety if either of these were to fall on one of us during filming.

I will ensure that the equipment I use for filming is constantly secure, whether being held in the hand, in which I will tighten the wrist strap taught and maintain a firm grip, or on the tripod, in which I will make sure the device is secured and cannot wriggle off.

Tripping on wires (charging leads, lights etc.)

It is important that I tape each loose wire or lead required when filming so that no trip hazard is created, especially in the party scenes where a high frequency of people will be present.

High frequency of people/ Human traffic.

I must ensure that I direct people clearly and effectively, and make them aware of all hazards and/ or things to keep clear of, to make sure that each person understands everything exactly.

Spillage of drinks causing hazards during party scene.

I need to ensure that cups and cans, if being used, are only half full, and that people preferably do not hold them during scenes in which they will be dancing or moving erratically. 

Household objects.

I must be sure to clear the areas being filmed in of household objects so that there is no hazard of trips, falls or bumps due to these.

Tripod

Whilst filming it is important that I find steady ground to set the tripod on due to the risk of the tripod falling/ giving way and damaging equipment. If I cannot find steady ground it is best that I film with the camera in hand.

Assets List

I have created an assets list in which I have listed everything I will need on the day of filming, down to every last detail. I feel that it is important for me to have this on the day of filming so that I do not harm the filming process by forgetting key components or being unprepared. My completed assets list is shown below.

Things to make sure I bring:

• Video Camera
• Camera Charger
• Video Tape
• Tripod
• SLR Camera
• Red Shirt
• Deconstructed Vest Top
• Empty Alcohol Bottles
• Fairy Lights
• Laptop
• Laptop Charger Lead
• Makeup
• Hair Straighteners
• Hair Products
• Red Cellophane
• Empty Alcohol Bottles

Things to make sure performers bring: 

Vickie:

• White vest top 
• Denim shorts
• Heels
• Tube of lipstick

Ben:

• Jeans
• Boots

Shot Lists

I have created a shot list to help me when filming my music video, and allowing me to understand what shots I must take and not forget any. This is crucial in making sure I get the right amount of shots that I need to fill my video and keep it of good quality.