Credits

Two ideas came to mind to complete the credits. One, to blast through them in after effects without much care for their appearance, two to use scrabble lettering to build the roles and names. as it was I wanted something that was lacking through large portions of the final piece. Continuity. Hence, dust off the old typewriter, a word document and voila end credits

Smith-Corona

Sketchbook Backgrounds - Late Addition

After months of searching for more suitable backgrounds to set the greenscreen against, by chance I came across some of the stills from the original greenscreen shoot. Mick, who attended that day had applied an effect (in-camera) called colour sketch under the 'effects' control. Here is an example from the day. 

Colour sketch 'effect'

 

What a cool effect and one I could create myself and apply to the project? 

So, better late than never I set about photographing some simple backgrounds with this 'colour sketch' effect applied so I could re-composite some of the band footage. Rather than stock footage it would now be mine. 

Here's a few of the jpg that I took and choose from… 

Pond Life

A bright crisp Spring morning, before 9 and the sun is at our back rather than in our (the lens) face.

It's to nice to be indoors and as I spent half a day preparing for the pond scene it needed to be done today, given submission is only 1 week away. After a minor change of camera angle and much faffing with string and paper mache the fishing began. 

Fishing for 'Something More' 

Despite loosing letters in the pond water on more than one occasion we wrapped this up in the 2 hours Marc had free. After a few glitches with timing this wrapped up the closing chorus ….  

The Sofa Scene

So to make it more of a collaboration and because the 3rd verse called for it the collective 'we' agreed to  meet to film a short scene. Nothing ground breaking but necessary. So one Thursday night it finally came together where David (Marc) finally got to meet the band who's video he so heavily featured and got to squish on a couch looking dismayed while his (parents), who for tonight would be godfather John & Wife of Ian, Mother to Chris & Rachel, Diane, got to shake fingers and lecture to the lyrics.

WFS&David - Verse 3

Slight Panic - Earlier this day, about 4 pm with filming due to take place at 8, I discovered that a Nikon D90 does not offer a movie setting of 1920x1080 hence slight panic set-in while I phoned and txt my address book for anyone with a DSLR with some half decent resolution. Luckily Mr Kur agreed to a 24 hour loan and so we were set to go again!

John & Diane

Concept v's Reality check:
So the verse 3 has the parents lecturing their son. However Martin hadn't briefed John hence singing the lyrics to camera having not read them before tonight proved impossible. A plan B was needed.

Hence John is scowling and wagging his pointy finger while Diane gets the singing role!

Walkcycle Test

WALK CYCLE TEST 

This was the first test I did after borrowing a uniform from a local amateur dramatics company called sundial theatre. Courtesy of Gill Jordan. 

Tiles, Props and Thinking Big

To create interest in the beach scene for verse 2 I wanted to introduce something besides our actor and encouraged by our course leader I hit upon the idea of a mosaic pattern in the form of a whale. Hobby craft sell miniature kit forms for kids but what's to stop, with some scaling up a animated 10+ foot whale entering the scene. So taking the miniature as a guide I worked out how many appropriate kitchen tiles would be needed. Here are the visuals showing the process of scaling up from concept to finished article..

Coaster Kit - mosaic

white tiles for teeth

tile cutting in progress

body tile 0-45

tail tile 45-77

Scaled up Whale in it's glory

Like Pebbles on the Shore

OFF THE ROLE

Printed PVC also offered a second texture and saved me from going to the stone yard with a rubble bag so I snapped up a few meters.

pebble pvc

SETTING THE SCENE - Verse 2 (Beach)

A large blue polythene sheet protects the flooring and allows the pvc and sand to be placed on top to create the beach scene for verse 2. 

Setting the scene - pebble pvc and genuine beach sand

TOP DOWN CAMERA VIEW