Final Post: Auteur Is Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SshcumFcyao&feature=youtu.be

My short film 'Auteur' is finally up on youtube to view!

This experience overall has taught me a variety of different things about myself and film production.

I think that my film has successfully portrayed a variety of themes by Baz Luhrmann in a way that fills the scenes with vibrant colours Designing these characters has been so enjoyable and I feel that I have successfully created each character with the aesthetic of Baz Luhrmann combined with exaggerate design but still kept in a film genre.

As a makeup artist I feel that my confidence is slowly building and I am only becoming more creative within my work. I still feel like I have a long journey ahead of me to help progress my confidence though, but this project has helped me communicate much better with other people and I am much more self-assured with the decisions I make throughout the process. I think my makeup skills have improved by the fact I taught myself how to be less controlling when applying certain aesthetics of makeup. I also recreated Design 6 (Moulin Rouge) with confidence in understanding the difference between the first model and myself and what would better suit my face but still portray this character just the same. I think that I still lack in being organised but I have definitely improved by handling the delayed schedule and still finishing the film before deadline. I understand that to keep myself organised the best solution is to write checklists in preparations for shoots and this will help me look professional on set too.

Within directing I think overall my skills in this developed very rapidly because I was able to adapt to the repeated process of each shoot. I do have a couple issues with how I speak to someone but I think if I continued to pursue in direction this will improve. Reflecting back on my film I think that if I could change anything within my direction it would be to do with the use of props, specifically the cigarette because I was not able to use smoke and could not find an effect when editing. I would have changed the direction by shooting in a different studio where this is possible. Of course I had a budget so this is a conflict. Even so, I don't think my not including of smoke is a terrible thing as it may have taken the attention away from the rest of the scene.

As a cinematographer it has been intriguing to take on this role as it was not part of my original plan. Filming every scene myself in comparison to the test shoots was a much better solution to speeding up the process. Each shot was done using simple techniques which I knew I was capable of doing. As one shoot went to the next I could tell that my skills in filming cinematography were improving as I was coming up with different and better ways of recording each scene. I think this part of the project showed my experimentation and that I wanted to see the possibilities of pushing limits within filming but still keeping it simple.

Editing was the most difficult part of this process, specifically finding a song but I was able to resolve this by getting advice from my mentor and the outcome is much better than the first song I chose. I am relieved to have formed my film in a way that smoothly goes from one genre of reactions to the next. Being an editor has given me access to being experimental with how I want my film to look but at the same time there was too much of a choice which left me confused. I needed people with better experience in this to help me structure the film and I am glad I asked for advice because this has really benefited the outcome. I know that it would not have looked as professional if I had not asked for help.

Article: Top Ten Fashion Films of the Season

This article is about how the Business of Fashion have noticed how artists have recently been using the idea of projecting images and colour in their work. Photographers, Tim Walker and Mads Perch have pursued within projections by using vibrant colours and shapes against models. They discuss further into the fact that fashion brands are not taking the opportunities to create artistic films advertising their collections/clothing.

This article shines positively on my project because I am an artist that is striving in creating a film in a creative perspective. I am doing this with the use of projection as well as the combination of creative character designs.

 Tim Walker

Mads Perch

http://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/fashion-films/top-10-fashion-films-of-the-season-supreme-gucci-calvinklein?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_campaign=a8bd65c0aa-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d2191372b3-a8bd65c0aa-417004685

Post production: Editing Film

The most difficult part about editing a film has been choosing what music should be part of it. I think I struggled with this the most in editing because there was too much choice and what I wanted was unclear. I chose a song but knew I still needed some guidance with this and spoke to my mentor Sharon. She explained so simply what type of music needed to be included and afterwards I went ahead and knew exactly what I needed to do next. I think this experience taught me that when there is a struggle, asking for help is a positive way forward. I just hope that I am able to dig deeper within this type of research and understand further how to match music to the mood of films or anything for that matter. I chose 4 songs to go into the film as adding one sounded too boring as these are repetitive tunes. I chose two that matched the romantic and sad emotions of the film and another two to match the Baz Luhrmann theme as he likes to use old music at the beginning of some of his films e.g. Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby. I think these song choices match the film so well to give it that silent film aspect to it as there is no speaking but only actions and emotions.

I want to include smoke to the characters with cigarettes but have also struggled to create this effect. I took the initiative of asking a film student and professional on how to add this effect. I went through the process as I had been instructed but when the overall look of this was still not realistic. I decided to cut this out because it was also so distracting and not subtle within the scenes. I do think the cigarette smoke does hold the film back slightly but at least I have done a trial and error within adding the effect and know that it will not work. I think in future if I want to have cigarette smoke I should find a studio that allows cigarettes to be lit or the use of a green screen but this simply was not possible in the studio and the set up I was using.

Reshooting Moulin Rouge Design 6

Before going into this shoot I knew I would need to make a few adjustments to this character because of the difference between myself and the previous model. I felt quite confident in doing this because I have explored the character design and understand how I need to alter certain parts of a look in order for it to look better and more adaptable to my look. Reshooting the Moulin Rouge character, I needed to re-style the outfit due to the sizing differences between myself and the original model. I did not have time to order a new outfit and tried to resolve this problem by choosing a top I already I have. Doing this, I was aware that the styling needed to suit the Moulin Rouge character I created. The top I chose was black and I felt that a better thing for me to do was alter the makeup as it was too light coloured to match the black. I also thought that by using black eye liner too, this would the tears I needed more clearer to see when film. I tried to alter the makeup in a way where it was similar to the style of the original look but with a darker tone to it.

I also changed the hairstyle by not creating plaits and only curls. This was because I didn't think the head accessory was sitting nicely on top of it. Recreating the hairstyle without the plaits looked much better with the head accessory and I think having longer hair also suited this look more.

During filming I had someone else record the camera for me and help make sure that I looked presentable for the film on set. When filming, I felt that it was hard to know if what I was doing was correct as, obviously, I can not see it until after. I got a variety of shots including close ups. I also decided to change the handkerchief idea to just using tissues. The handkerchief I used was a synthetic and did not really look like a handkerchief. I think that by using tissues instead will make the crying scenes look more natural than using a handkerchief. Putting this into action, I do think it came off better and more natural.

Shoot 10: Early 1900's Baz Luhrmann

Makeup, Hair, Styling

Preparing for this shoot, my model had to cancel so I quickly needed to find someone else to be this character as the deadline is in less than 2 weeks. I resolved this problem and re-arranged the shoot 2 days after the original time.

For this shoot, I felt that creating the character was very straight forward and found it quite easy to create this look. I wanted the hairstyle to be a similar style to Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby and was a bit unsure on how to go forward creating this style so I asked my tutor for help. I am glad I did this as I followed the steps she told me and was really happy with the outcome. I think that this shows that when I am unsure about something, I am not afraid to ask for advice. If I did not, the style could end up wrong and take me longer to read just it.

I think the styling matched the hair really well as I had my character wear a suit including a bow tie. My model also had a beard and I think that this was a good reason to make him this character because it fits in with the Edwardian times these films are set in.

Before I had started filming I had made sure the battery was fully charged for my shoot so that it would not run out like the last couple shoots I did (I have been using the same camera for the last 3 shoots). After 10 minutes of starting my shoot though, the battery still ran out very quickly so clearly there was an actual issue with the battery. This made it more difficult for my shoot to go smoothly once again as I had to stop halfway through to charge it. I also had to do this shoot for a limited amount of time so I did not want to start rushing trying to complete this shoot. Luckily I was able to get the shoot done in time with a variety of video clips to use.

When it cam to directing my model, I think I did quite well in helping him understand how he needed to show different reactions. He a bit stiff on some actions but I was able to direct him in a way that made these actions look more natural.

Overall I think that this shoot went really well as I had managed to re-organise it in a short space of time. There were errors with the battery so next this happens, if I have time I will change the camera.

Mentor Session

This week I showed my mentor, Sharon the last two shoots I made - the modern Baz Luhrmann and second Moulin Rouge shoots. We went through what shots worked and what did not through the modern shoot. She was really pleased with the outcome of the shoot but some of the handheld shots I did were too shaky to be used for my film. I have learnt from this part of the session that I need to be careful when filming in a handheld technique and make sure the outcome does not look too shaky. I still like this idea though as it gives a raw feeling to the film but it looks too shaky to be part of the film then I will not include it.
When I showed her the Moulin Rouge look, I talked about how I was thinking of reshooting it and she agreed to this. I understand that everything about this shoot could be better other than the makeup. I have decided that I will be this character for the film as the deadline is less than 2 weeks and finding a model in time will be hard.

Shoot 9: Moulin Rouge Design 6

Going into this shoot I had a limited time to complete it so I did feel some pressure. Starting this shoot by applying prepping the hair, I had limited time and tried to get the styling done quickly. I was really pleased with the plaits I created but was unsure of how the curls looked.

With the amount of time I had though, I moved onto the makeup and this time round I had remembered to change my technique and start with applying the eye makeup before the foundation. I am so glad I had done this as eye shadow can get so messy underneath the eye area. In a previous shoot (the Moulin Rouge Design) I had felt that I was applying gems in a very controlling way and this time round I was using gems again but I managed to let go of that control and thought that this was the best I had ever applied gems with a really nice outcome. I am really happy that I was able to make some steps forward in my makeup skills by remembering to change my techniques and be less controlling with the way I apply makeup. Getting the makeup right at some points was very frustrating as I had made a couple mistakes but once I had finished the look I was really happy and thought this was the best makeup look I had done.

The bralet I used was too big for my model and I had not come prepared to bring safety pins with. Luckily the model had some and so we were able to fix the problem. Although I am not a stylist it is still my job to bring safety pins in my equipment when the shoots are my own. I have learnt that I need to remember to bring safety pins and any other equipment to shoot that helps solves these type of problems.

During the filming I did have a few concerns. Firstly I was still not happy with how the hair looked and I did try to fix it but I am not sure if this was portrayed well enough on camera. Looking back on it now, I am worried that I may need to reshoot it as it just looks too messy. I also am not sure of how the model came across on camera as to me, it looked a bit stiff. We did get some good shots but I do think the hair is what's holding the whole scene back.

If I do reshoot then I may just use myself for it as I am running out of time and finding someone to model will be very hard at this point. I will of course need someone to film but I will only need an hour or less of their time so hopefully they will not mind helping.

Another problem that happened while filming is the battery ran out as it did in the previous shoot. This put a strain on the shoot as I was running late on schedule and needed to pack up at a certain time and leave. I did manage to get all the shots I wanted in time but I know that I really need to remember these type of issues that can happen and check the battery charge before I start a shoot.

Going more into detail with my directing, the model did come off stiff but when we shot the crying scenes she relaxed a lot more which gave this shoot a much more natural feel to it. I am not sure if this was enough though because even though she looked more natural she was not exactly using the handkerchief properly. I am not even sure how I feel about the handkerchief in general as it does not exactly look like a handkerchief. I am starting to think maybe it would have been better if I had just used tissues.

Overall I need to think and act quick on how I want to take this shoot forward. I am going to ask my tutors opinion in the next mentor session and if I decide to redo the whole thing then I will need to plan and shoot it as soon as I can.

Schedule

At the beginning of this project, I tried to be organised by planning a weekly schedule for my shoots. As the weeks have gone by though almost every shoot I did had a reason to be delayed. I really did try to stay organised but I understand that plans can change, I just did not expect my plans to change at such an extent. Looking back at this though, I am so glad that I decided to not include a stylist or film student to help me as it has been easier to plan out the shoots with just a model and myself. Unfortunately even now I am still struggling to stick to the schedule as I had originally planned for the following week to test my film but I am still currently editing it.

Some of the reasons shoots had to be pushed back were because of mistakes I had made planning the shoot before hand. I have learned from this to always make sure everything is planned properly before every shoot I do. I have suggested in another post about how I can help myself by writing a list for this.

Shoot 7: The Great Gatsby Design 8

I had an idea of how I wanted the hair to look on this character through the concept of it being blonde and short like Daisy Buchanan's, but I also wanted to portray the style slightly different from her usual short bob. I went into the shoot with a rough idea and I was surprised with the outcome as it looked better than expected knowing I was not clear with what I wanted.

I can be very forgetful at times and realised this during my shoot. As I did the makeup I realised that I constantly make the same mistake when it comes to applying eye makeup after foundation as sometimes the eyeshadow dusts onto the foundation. I have noticed this mistake before but constantly forget to do this in reverse as I am so used to applying the foundation first. I wanted to remember to apply this correctly but once again forgot. Making this mistake again I realised that I really need to remember in future to do this the opposite way as it is time consuming correcting this mistake. It is about going out of routine to make a better one. Overall I was really happy with the makeup apart from the mistake I made but was able to fix it.

Styling this look, I thought that the outcome went really well as I was still trying to capture Daisy's couture, summer coloured style but with a heavily made up face. I had brought a few headbands for this look but the one I wanted to use did not come across very nicely and resorted to using a second choice. The 2nd headband looked much better as it suited the hairstyle a lot more as well as matching the earrings as they both were decorated with pearls.

The hardest part about filming my model was getting her hair to sit right as I struggled to keep the back of her hair pinned in place. I was worried that this would not look professional on screen and could not help but ask other peers for their opinions while shooting. They did say that it looked absolutely fine and that I should not stress so much on small issues. This points out how insecure I can be about how I style hair as I know that I still need to improve on my skills. I unfortunately am running out of time and do not want to result in reshooting anything at this point as well. I know that I need to learn to be more calm and I do think asking for someone else's opinion did help me relax more.
I was able to film a variety of different shots of my model but I did need to be wary of capturing her at the right angle by how the images projected on to her as her jaw line sometimes was not visible. I felt at the time that directing this character could be quite tricky as she is being portrayed as moody and bored but I do not want this to be a negative part of my film. I do have a love for the quotes from The Great Gatsby and think by applying these it will complete this character's scenes quite nicely. This character is about portraying the real Daisy and by using quotes that she says against this character, I think it will result in an interesting light as to how she is revealed.

I have chosen this clip to go into my final shoot because I like how you can see more detail of her hair as she turns her head. I think that when I edit this clip though I will cut it after 6 seconds as it is quite long. I asked her to look quite bored after she turned her head by breathing in and out in a disinterested way I am not sure if this will be portrayed in a positive way if it was added to the film.

Shoot 8: Modern Baz Luhrmann Films

This character needed attention specifically to the styling and hair. I had prepared the styling by asking the model to bring any clothing that could match the character as well as buy clothes myself. I felt that the choice of clothing I had would fit in with the character very well to portray the 90's style I wanted.

Going into this shoot I was a bit nervous approaching the hair style as I do not usually style boys hair/short hair. When I created the hair style though I felt like I was creating the hair style slowly so that I was able to understand how to get the outcome correct. I knew I had plenty of time and didn't see a reason to rush it through. I understood that this hair style needed to be created properly to capture the 90's style. Eventually the results came out really nicely and I was happy that I approached a task I am not used to.

Throughout the filming process there were some minor issues I had. This involved the battery running out and in need of charging. Luckily there was no rush to get the shoot done quickly so this was not too much of an issue. I did learn from this to be sure the battery is charged before the shoot starts. This type of error is quite hard for me to remember as it is not something that I think about when preparing for a shoot. Maybe in the future I should write down a list of what needs to be done during a shoot and if I include this point then it will remind me to check the battery charge.

In this shoot I included the character lighting a cigarette and I am just hoping that I am able to find an effect when editing to include smoke in these shots. I think adding smoke would create an effect that will makes these scenes more intriguing to look at. 

When I directed my model, I knew what actions I wanted for this part of the film but was not sure it was enough and asked my model if he had any ideas that would could be added to this part. I think by doing this, I was not afraid to be open to other ideas as I want to know what could benefit my film as much as possible. Directing my model went quite smoothly and I think overall this shoot went really well as there were not many problems that happened within the shoot. I am also used to how the routine of each shoot takes place so setting up each shoot has been a lot easier and organised.

Post Production: Editing

From the beginning I originally planned to have a film student help me edit my FMP film. When the opportunity came to start editing though, like how I filmed, I decided to edit the film myself. I decided to do this because by self learning how to film edit I will gain more skills. I also think that editing the film myself is a quicker process of getting the job done when I can do all the basic steps myself. There is a possibility I will still need some guidance by anyone who is more advanced in editing than me as I know that this would still be helpful to know any good tips and what can make my film look better. I am trying to be more sufficient within my work but am still aware that I am not exactly an expert and will need some help crafting my film together.

So far I am trying to edit my film in roughly through I storyboard idea I have written out. As I have not finished all of my shoots yet, I am aware that I can not fully construct how I would like each shot to go from one to the other. I showed my mentor, Sharon my starting process and she told me that some video clips need to be moved around. This is so that the film flows and make sense as each clip is shown through out. I have taken her advice and started to structure what I can in an order that will make sense to the audience.

I want to add subtitles to the film that are from these 4 films and I feel that the biggest issue I have had so far is fitting the subtitles in with the correct film clip and making sure that the subtitles are on the screen long enough that they can be read. I am really trying to look at this film from an audience's point of view and see how long it takes to read each subtitle as the film goes along. Perhaps the sequence that the words appear in is what is making it so short so I will try to resolve this by possibly choosing a different sequence. I do like the way this sequence appears on the screen but there are also many other options of showing this on the programme I am using - Final Cut Pro. I have decided to portray each film's subtitles uniquely by using different fonts so that the audience can see clearly which subtitle is from which film. I have also thought that to portray which film quotes are showing i should use a font that is similar to the opening credits font in these films. By doing this it will evidently depict the films from each other.
At this point in post production I am just being experimental and trying to understand what works within my film and how I can make my film look appealing to the watchful audience. 

Including Men

After discussing with Sharon on including men in my film, I have decided to go ahead with this and plan an extra two shoots. The film will consist of two men. I was thinking of having four and that each character would be inspired by each film, but this would result in having 12 characters all together which I feel would be too many in the film and would elongate the timing of the film too much.

Instead I have put these men in the role of how Baz Luhrmann uses different time frames in his films. Romeo + Juliet and Strictly Ballroom are set in a modern time whereas Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby are set in the past.

I am going to style the modern character with a 90's male hairstyle as Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo Montague) and Paul Mercurio (Scott Hastings) are sporting very similar hairstyles of the 90's era. I have an idea of what the styling will look like but am unsure of whether I should have him wearing 2 outfits representing the 2 films as their style is different. If I decide to have just one style then I think the character should wear a shirt similar to Romeo in the image below as this portrays the 90's style whereas Scott's style portrays ballroom dancing. I am not used to styling men's hair and am nervous attempting this style but I am sure that this will not be too hard a hairstyle to accomplish and look forward to trying something new.
I am worried it will be hard to find someone with this type of hair to style in such short notice as I would like to get this done by the end of the week. This way I will be finished with all my shoots by Sunday and finally have all my shoots in the process of editing together. I am going to search for the model but be wary on the style of their hair.

The film's, Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby, are set in eras not too far off from each other, although in different countries, they share similarities. Both stories are set in a post-war time resulting in an atmosphere full of freedom and celebration. Both films revolve around a fun-filled environment due to the durastic changes and new beginnings caused by industrial revolution and rise in the economy.

The men can both be seen dressed in suits and bow ties, therefore I think this would be a great solution to styling the character representing these two eras. The hair will be slicked back and smart but I am also thinking of adding a hat to the styling too similar to Christian's in the image below.

Mentor Session

Today I discussed with my mentor, Sharon the shoots I have done so far as I felt clarification was needed with what I thought should be re-filmed. Even though I

I wanted the 1st shoot to be re-done due to the change of background throughout each video clip I filmed. We looked through these clips again and came to a realise how the use of the black background looks much softer with the projected image on the face. 

I also wanted to re-film the 4th shoot because I thought that the model looked too unnatural. Again though, after reviewing the shoot we looked at the character's reaction in a different perspective. I will consider still including her in the film as I may just be overthinking how she appears as an actress. I am going to start editing her in but if I am still unhappy with the outcome I may have to result in reshooting for this character with a different model/actress.
We also discussed the idea of men being included in the film. This idea was suggested to me the beginning of my project but I had put it to the side. Now that it has been brought up again, it does seem like it would be a good addition to the film as it opens up the idea of men's reactions rather than just women's to films.
I think what I have learnt from this session is how to make decisions. I definitely feel more sure of my work when I ask for other's opinions on it. The fact that I thought I had to reshoot the Moulin Rouge character and Sharon disagreed instantly made me feel different and more positive about the shoot. I am going to continue to ask others opinions on this shoot as at the end the day they are the audience and I want them to be content with what they are seeing in my film. Although I know I am always open to ideas, rethinking about including men's reactions in my film has reminded me to not dismiss past suggestions when they can be just effective within my work. I am going to take this idea and rethink whether it is the best decision to include it though as I do feel there are some cons that could come with including men i.e. how many more characters, adding extra time to the film which could result in it being too long.

How has my concept developed and adapted over the project so far?

The concept of my project began as a film inspired by all aspects of Baz Luhrmann's style in film. In my proposal I had stated how I wanted my characters look with makeup, hair and styling, but since then I have put this part of the project to the side as a majority of it was confirmed. I have developed my project by researching more about how I should be filming these characters. This part of the project is just as important as the characters as I need to understand how to grasp my viewers with my film and make them want to watch it from beginning to end.

At the beginning of the project a majority of the makeup hair and styling was confirmed but as the project has progressed, there have been some changes. I have tried to think more in depth within the styling. Originally I wanted a stylist to help me but then decided to do it myself as I do enjoy this aspect in planning shoots. At first, I tried to reinterpret all these characters type of styling by making them more modern. For example, I wanted the Moulin Rouge characters to not wear typical burlesque outfits but something that would match the over exaggerate style of the film such as a sequinned or heavy embellished top. When re-evaluating this idea for the styling, I realised that by doing this it might be harder for viewers to recognised what characters I am re-interpreting and why they are dressed so modern. I think in some aspects, jewellery is more important than what they are actually wearing as we can only see the shoulders upwards of these characters.

Within the makeup designing, some aspects have changed within colours and textures I was thinking of using. I made changes because I felt that certain styles within the makeup I originally wanted to create wouldn't match the styling or what character I am trying to convey. For example, the face chart for Moulin Rouge Design 5 consisted of a bright red colour on her face covered with sequins but when I looked back at this I thought the redness might be too much and harsh against the skin. I had also decided on a red corset for the styling for this character, so if I applied more red within the makeup, the outcome would be quite excessive in red tones. When I actually filmed this look I swapped the red for gold as this colour is seen in Satine's room and also symbolises love, which is what the character's look is inspired by from the film.

I feel that the best way to see the development within my project and specifically my skills in filming and understanding of techniques, is by watching each shoot throughout the weeks as I feel there is progression after each shoots and I come up with more ideas and get a better understanding of how to film each time.

Update on Competitors and Target's Profile

At this point in the project I have noticed that since my proposal, the progress of my FMP has altered and changed how my film will look. Therefore I feel that my target's profile has changed too. I think that this is because I have involved more colour into the film and it looks much more creative than it did when I wrote my proposal.
I think the type of person that would be interested in my film is still a huge Baz Luhrmann fan, but also someone that loves colour and how it is used in a diverse way within art. I feel that their age would be between 18-30 and female because within this age group, many women are in the process of knowing where they want to go with their lives but still have access to having fun within their social life. With this side of women at in this age group, I feel that they can relate to these films because of party scenes within them as well as the romantic storylines too.
I think this person could possibly have a love for travelling but still strives in being an artist whether it makeup or even styling. They have a keen love for fashion and being colourful within their wardrobe.

Voyeurism

Voyeurism is when people find an enjoyment almost like a hobby in watching something or someone. This idea can be seen as relevant to my FMP as it is about people watching films, specifically Baz Luhrmann's.

There are a variety of films that are related to voyeurism. The film, 'Rear Window', directed by Alfred Hitchcock displays a way of seeing situations and looking at them in a certain way. The character

The idea of seeing something and becoming so enticed within watching what is happening relates to what I am trying to portray in the film I am making. These characters are completely drawn into the film they are watching and we can see this by the expression on their face. What can also be translated through my FMP is how 

What I am going to develop from this is the reactions we see from these watchful people and interpret how I can portray this in my film. When I watched 'Rear Window' I found it sometimes hard to read the main character's reactions. It can sometimes be unclear what people are thinking about something when trying to read their face. I think I could develop this idea by doing the opposite and make it quite clear from the character's expression or reaction how they feel about what they are seeing.

Shoot 6: Strictly Ballroom Design 1

This shoot involved creating and filming Strictly Ballroom Design 1 which is inspired by Fran's transformation in the film. I had prepared myself to create the hairstyle by practicing beforehand which I am glad I have done as it helped me complete the process of the hairstyling easily with confidence in what I was doing. With the makeup I a made a mistake with the eye makeup but was able to correctly this with a positive outcome. I think that I just need to be more aware that powdered makeup is more likely to brush off under the eye and ruin the foundation. Perhaps in the future I should apply the eyeshadow first before foundation or find a source that covers the under eye while applying the eyeshadow. It was difficult finding an outfit with the budget that I have but managed to find what resembled a ballroom dress successfully and it suited the makeup and hair too. I was really pleased with the outcome of the look because I felt that it was matching the interpretation of Fran that I had imagined.

My time management was slightly off during this shoot. It took me a little bit more time than usual to set up the shoot as I had forgotten to get my model the prop so we started a bit delayed. Once again I did not prepare for the shoot properly and need to work on this by making a list of what is needed for every shoot I do. Going into the shoot, I had a clear idea of what I wanted in each shot because I had done the test shoot with this model previously. She understood very clearly what I wanted and we were able to create a variety of shots together. I continued to film the scene at different angles and zoom ins.

Overall I think this is the best shoot I have done so far because of the clear direction given to my model/actress as well as being continuous within the techniques I am using within the scenes. I was able to collect I variety of shots that would be suitable for the final cut of the film. I do need to become more on top with my time management by being more organised before shoots and also put into action solutions that will keep the eyeshadow from falling onto the foundation.

I really like this shot I created of this character as the model portrayed her so well and the close up of her eyes makes it more intimate in a way. I feel like a true connection is made from her to the audience. For this scene I want to include a happy or meaningful quote from Strictly Ballroom to this clip.

Presentation

During the presentation I showed the 2 shoots of the film that I had completed so far in the production. After showing the differences between the back drop changes in the 1st shoot and the ongoing white backdrop in the 2nd we concluded that the white backdrop looked better. In comparison the white backdrop gives a clearer idea what the viewer is looking as the projected images are seen much clearer than with the black.

After looking back through the film clips I made in the 1st shoot i realised that I may need to reshoot as the best scenes i filmed were the ones with a black backdrop and I want the backdrop to be continuously white throughout the film.

Other than this discovery I need to look back on what has been successful throughout my project so far and what needs improvement.

I also need to establish the process of what sound I'll be using during post production. I have a variety of ideas that need to be tested when it comes to editing as already mentioned in my previous post of the test film shoot.

Further research into film is also another idea I need to do when it comes to observing people or something and the discussion of performers.

A Look Into Film Theory

The idea behind my FMP is the portrayal of Baz Luhrmann's films and how they all have similar themes within them. I am attempting to take some of these elements put them into my own work. It is also important that I understand how other directors present their work in film and their individual theories behind it that can also be connected to each other in other ways.

Looking into the book 'Film Theory: An Introduction Through The Senses' it explains how different elements in certain films have a strong effect and meaning throughout the scenes. After reading the ideas behind the film, 'Persona' it was informative to understand the further meaning of how one element, the face, is portrayed and involves a very important meaning of the film and how it was referenced variously throughout the film. To me, the use of symbolism truly draws me into a film as I think it is interesting when films/art/books have hidden meanings within them. These ideas make the film more intricate and meaningful.

This idea relates back to my FMP as I am trying to reinterpret how Baz Luhrmann uses a variety of continuous themes throughout his films and the way he uses symbolism. I am testing this whole aspect by taking his themes of colour and portraying it through projecting it onto someone else. This similar to how the film 'Persona' uses projections in the first scene. There is a hidden meaning behind it. Why is it there? We can only understand why if we dig deeper within the symbolism.

Shoot 5: Romeo and Juliet Design 4

This shoot involved creating and filming Romeo and Juliet Design 4, a wet look that represents the water symbolism in the film. I was really pleased with the outcome of the look as I made my model's skin very dewy with her hair styled in a wet state. During the filming I was able to produce a variety of footage that would be useful towards the editting of the final cut. I began to realise how important it is to be able capture the details within the looks I create. This specific design is important as the core of it is within the water effects on the skin and hair which can be difficult to see the point of this in the filming process. This character is also crying at the scenes she is watching therefore this needs to be captured clearly in the film. I have filmed her actions close up so that we can see the tears and details of her skin and hair.

While filming I also started to notice how I preferred the zoomed in versions of this character rather than further away. Her face somehow looked elongated in the shots I filmed further away from her which I don't think comes across appealing. This could have been to do with how I styled her hair or the image projections against her face. When zoomed in her face drew me in so much more. 

Throughout filming each look I am continuously learning more about how to shoot each look at the right angles and how I can make my film as interesting as possible. Overall I feel that each shoot is helping me develop my skills in film and production.

Shoot 4: Moulin Rouge Design 5

This shoot involved creating the Moulin Rouge Design 5 and filming her reactions to the romantic scenes of this film. When creating the look I needed to apply gems to my model's face and with the final outcome I came to realise how controlled this looked and had not been applied in a free-flowing way. I thought I'd wait and see how this part of the design looked on camera and it looked fine but could be ore exaggerated to refer back to the overtop directing of Luhrmann's films.

During the filming, I noticed that my model's acting came off very stiff and not natural looking. I tried to fix this problem immediately by getting her to relax and change the way she played out the actions I directed. At the time I thought I had resolved this issue with the shoot but after looking through the clips we had made together, I realised there was not enough material to use for the final film cut as my model was too stiff in the majority of these video clips.

In this scene the character is drinking using a cup with straw prop and what I wanted to capture far away and up close is the character drinking from the cup. The problem that has occurred with this idea is that when she lift the drink to her mouth there is a shadow going over her mouth. This shadow blocks what I am trying to show in the film. I need to attempt to think of how I can show this part of the film without it being blocked by shadows as I think it is a relevant part of the naturalness I am including in this film.

I will need to reshoot this scene using a different model that can play this part in a more natural style.

Petra Collins: 24 Hour Psycho

Petra Collins' exhibition, '24 Hour Psycho', revolves around the topic of women and 'the constant battle within oneself, having to balance oppositional ideals of virgin, whore, mother.' I feel that there is a vast amount of emotion within these images and that these women are trying to reach out to the audience and feel their pain. The colour and shadows also help set this tone of the exhibition. I can understand how Collins wants there images to be perceived and for my project I want a similar feel. I want my audience to become enticed with the characters in my film. Although their feelings towards the moments they see in the films they are watching are only temporary, they are still meaningful becuase these films have afftected them in someway even if it is something that does not last long. I that it is important that the viewer finds meaning and understanding within art and I want them to understand how a film can capture someones feelings so perfectly making them react in a certain way towards it. To achieve this from waht I see in these images, I need to think about how the images I use can reflect these feelings and make sure my models act as natural as possible to get the somewhat realistic reactions I want for my film.

Petra Collins: 24 Hour Psycho exhibiton article and images: http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/8531/petra-collins-on-collective-crying-and-celebrity-culture

Shoot 3: Strictly Ballroom Design 2

Shoot 3 involved creating and filming my Strictly Ballroom Design 2 look - an eccentrically made up ballroom dancer. I had to apply gems to this design but could feel myself being very controlling within this resulting in the gems being placed very pattern like. I am going to be applying gems for the Moulin Rouge designs and will try to be more free and less controlling otherwise I will et the same results as this. I don't think it looks terrible as it still works with this Ballroom Look I am trying to convey, I just think as a makeup artist I need to learn how to let go and not be so controlling when applying texture to a design in the future.

During the shoot I discovered some new ways of filming rather than just using the tripod and went on to doing handheld shots as well. I felt this gave a raw feel to the film and kind of intimate in a way. After looking over the shots though I realised that if I wanted to use this technique to be part of the film I must make sure it matches the mood when editing and try my best not to be shaky when holding the camera. I definitely want to continue with using this technique for each scene in my film so that it brings some kind of continuous effect throughout.

What went successful in this shoot is the acting skills that were performed as I needed my actress to really laugh hard for these shots. I also think that as I complete one shoot after another I am improving my filming skills by discovering new and better ways to make this film look more interesting. I am trying to experiment with the camera and projector that in hope can draw my future audience in and want to watch this film the whole way through.

What I am a bit concerned about is whether I got the styling of this character correct and if this needs to be addressed. To help myself confirm if a reshoot may need to take place I am going to get opinions from the other people. I don't want to reshoot as I am so happy with the outcome of this of everything else other than the styling but if it is a major issue I will put this forward and change it.

Shoot 2: The Great Gatsby Design 7

This shoot involved filming The Great Gatsby Design 7 - a 1920's party girl. When preparing for this shoot it was a chance to test my skills in hair and create waves which I haven't done for a hairstyle before. I had practiced before hand but still struggled to get the waves right on one side of the head. I asked my tutor for some guidance in order to create successful hair waves. She was really helpful and the result of the style came out really nicely. When designing the makeup, I wanted the outcome to have a heavy metallic eye and small doll like lips to match the typical 20's girl. I think this was one of the first times I was really excited with the outcome as I successfully created without any issues and it made me feel really confident within myself. After I had styled my model the overall look made me so happy as I felt I had matched the makeup, hair and styling together really well.
During filming I felt that this shoot was about getting the right image to project onto the character as some were too dark against the model. This has made me aware that the lighting from the projector will differ throughout each shoot I do, but the images that I project need to still balance out a clear portrayal of the character that is on screen. After looking back over this shoot I do think I should have adjusted the camera at higher point as I think it is slightly to low. I don't think this is terrible though and that it can be worked around as other than this issue, the shots we did came out quite well.
When directing my model, the process was very easy going and I felt that I was getting better with my direction skills and understanding what I needed this character to portray.

Shoot 1: Romeo and Juliet Design 3

This was the first official shoot for my film which I was quite nervous going into because as my previous test shoots always had an issue, I didn't want my first shoot to have any major problems either. Creating this shoot did leave me with a few things to think about.
Throughout the process of this shoot I was happy with the makeup and hair to begin with but as the film production started I already saw an issue with the makeup and had to change the lip colour. The results of this looked much better as I felt the original white/glitter lip looked abnormal and somehow out of place on camera. During this shoot I kept feeling like I was being too indecisive about how I wanted the shoot to look as I changed the background several times and how I wanted the image projected against my model's face. After re-evaluating how the shoot went though, I have come to realise that  was only being experimental because I didn't go into the shoot knowing exactly what I wanted. I don't think there was anything wrong with this but I just hope that as I do each shoot, one by one I will be more understanding of exactly how I want each scene to be filmed. Being experimental as a positive will help me develop skills and recognise various techniques in cinematography. Although small steps, the experimentation I did while filming involved zooming in for close ups as well as focusing with the camera. By doing this, I thought it would add more creativity in this character's part of the film as I had only given her 2-3 actions to do. While filming my model I did feel that I managed to capture some beautiful moments in just a couple seconds of some of these clips. This is because I my model came of very natural while filming and the directing was very easy with her.
I think for the next shoot I should continue to be experimental as this could result in more techniques that can help make my film look better.

Filming with the Projector

For this test shoot, I repeated using the projector but this time I filmed the shoot. I also produced more images from each Baz Luhrmann film and included actions for my model to do during each shot. 

In each shot it I was able to see what actions and images would work and what didn't. I was pleased to find that many of the actions I had asked my model to act out worked really well as they came off very natural and intriguing to watch. What didn't work were the opposite of engaging and now I know not to use them and maybe try and find another action to substitute for it. I didn't have a problem with any of the images that I used and am going to use all of them for my film.

What I noticed that was new to my project is the effect the jewellery my model was wearing. It wasn't planned to test jewellery in the film but I was surprised to see that the necklaces she wore stood out by sparkling against the projected image. They also made movements of their own as if they were coming to life. I think the necklaces have given a nice effect to each shot and now has reassured me that adding jewellery to the styling of each character is the way forward.

The reflection of the projector in my models eye is also a nice addition to the film and I will try and make sure I can catch the light in each character's eyes in my future shoots.

Overall I think this test shoot was a success as it has confirmed how each shot of my film will look. I was able to find new insights of the detail that can be seen in the styling and lighting against the eyes.

What I need to do next is plan the styling including what jewellery I will use for each look. I also need to move on to planning how I will move each shot to the next in the final outcome of the film.

Call Sheet Update

My callsheet has had several changes since I created the original version. Since choosing not to have an addition of cinemagraphs with my film, the photographer and the sessions for her are no longer on the schedule. I have also switched around some of the characters with the models/actresses. I decided to do this so that each character's makeup and hair suits the models. While changing parts of my FMP plan around, I am trying to think what is best for the film and how to make it look as exceptional as I can so that all pieces of the film can fit together nicely. While updating the call sheet I think this is the most clear way of presenting who is doing what, where and when.

Mentor Session

This week I showed Sharon my test shoot on filming with the projected images. She was really pleased with the outcome. We went through each film clip to confirm which actions worked and which ones didn't. By testing out a variety of actions this made it quite simple to see from someone else's perspective what looked interested and what did not. I am going to continue to think of more actions that can be used to replace the ones I have used.

During the session we discussed what I need to do next which involves gathering further research from film theory books and films to help me understand how each shot will jump to the next one and whether I would like to include any text/subtitles from the Baz Luhrmann films. If so then how? I also need to think about including dialogue and music from the film. I know that I have my heart set on using Des'ree's, 'Kissing You' from the aquarium scene in Romeo + Juliet.

I also need to prepare the visual outcome by creating a style for each of my characters. I have already made a face chart for each character but feel that I need to make more so there is a variety of choice to see what fits best with each character's look.

Remi Kozdra & Kasia Baczulis

For my film, I am trying to think of different ways of making my film look creative with the use of colour and images to portray how Baz Luhrmann uses colour in his films. These images of Masha Radovskaya by photographers Remi Kozdra and Kasia Baczulis have merged coloured gels with water to create these shimmery effects against Masha's skin. I find these images so inspiring because of how these photographers have used an element of water on the image to create an effect that is more than just projecting colour. The use of colour and lighting also sets the tone of these images which I think has constructed a dark mood to it. I think these images relate to my project because although gels were used to create this outcome, I am still trying to find ways of projecting colour with possibilities of a different perspective through cinematography than photography. I am also creating a similar look for one of my characters so an option I could take from this is testing how wet skin looks in film.

A link to Masha Radovskaya by Remi Kozdra and Kasia Baczulis from : http://www.portraitsofgirls.com/masha-radovskaya-by-remi-kasia/

Benjamin Garcia

Although these paintings that the artist Benjamin Garcia has created is inspired by the blurred lines within his dreams, I feel that the way he has constructed his artwork can relate back to my project. He is building up images of his dreams but in a way that it forms into the shape of a face/figure. I can understand how this is effective by forming a vivid dream through painting because of the disorientation of the images. It is almost like he is projecting these images onto their face but by using paint.

I think Benjamin Garcia's work can identify with my project because he is creating vivid images on these faces/figures and I want to create a film with the aesthetic of projecting images from Baz Luhrmann films onto my characters. The way I am testing this out is artistically abstract like how Garcia's images are abstract within the unclear imagery built up to form these faces/figures. Looking at Garcia's work, I need to take it forward by testing out and understanding how to pursue what I am projecting onto my characters to reflect unique shapes and textures. I need to make sure these shapes are seen quite sharply on film so that these creations are clear to see.

Benjamin Garcia interview: http://www.panamericanworld.com/en/article/psychological-realism-benjamin-garcias-art

Link to Benjamin Garcia's work: https://uk.pinterest.com/source/beng-art.com

Test Shoot - Strictly Ballroom Design 2

During this test shoot we filmed one of the Strictly Ballroom inspired characters using a green screen in the background. Once filmed we were going to edit the background into a cinema backdrop but my ideas of where the shooting would take place changed between filming and editing so I there is no need to edit the final outcome of this shoot.

While filming I didn't feel comfortable using the green screen as there were technical issues setting it up. I do not want this to happen every time we shoot as the plan needs to run smoothly. The lighting also wasn't easy to use and made my model look flattering.

On a positive note my model was very natural acting what I directed her to do but I also feel that I am still struggling to direct and be clear with what I am telling my model to do.

It is uncertain to know what the final edit would have looked like but I think this method of using the green screen would have resulted in a long process that I do not understand well enough to address. With the makeup I would have preferred everything to look more dramatic as I do not feel that it is striking enough. I will take this information forward and maybe rethink how her makeup should look like in the outcome of the film.

Mentor Session

This week I showed Sharon my images from the test shoot using the projector. We came to an agreement that I should create my film using this format. I am happy about this decision as I have been feeling very unsure of how my film should look after doing several tests and not being happy with a majority of them. I also had ideas developed from this test shoot that would be very complicated to create so the fact that I will be doing this purely, helps so much as now I know how to set up each shoot. I do think the projector shoot has been the most successful and the fact that I feel more comfortable shooting the film in this format puts a much more positive mood onto my project.

What I need to do next is another test shoot with the projector but this time involve filming and add actions for my model to act out. I am also going to print out more images to experiment further in their effects against a model's face.

Mentor Session

During my mentor session with Sharon I showed my test shoot to her and she suggested that I try testing projections of images from the Baz Luhrmann films I have chosen on to a model and see the outcome of it. This is to test out further within making my film appear more creative as I have tried to further this but so far nothing has been quite successful enough. I am hoping that this will work so that I can have some more confirmation and a clearer idea as to what my film will look like.
This session has taught me to be more open minded and think about how to come up with solutions to solve big problems such as this as the look of the film is what needs to draw my film in. What I am going to do next is organise this test shoot and put this idea into action.

Test Shoot Romeo and Juliet Design 2

In preparation for this test shoot I had planned to film and take cinemagraphs of Romeo and Juliet Design 2. The filming got cancelled and so I only tested the cinemagraphs. We tested a variety of ideas but in the end I have decided that change needs to be made for certain aspects of this look and the cinemagraphs aren't going to work out with the ideas I want to create with it. I am going to try and resolve the problem but if that doesn't work out I will just create normal images without any movement.

Projector Testing

During this test shoot I projected a variety of images from Baz Luhrmann's films onto a model. I think the best images I captured during the shoot was the Romeo and Juliet scene that had neon blue crosses as it lit up really well against my model's face. The images that didn't project as well involved green tones that resulted in making the model's skin look strange. I think this shoot helped me think more about what I can do to make my film look interesting as it has sparked an idea that additions to the film. It involves creating a colourful abstract film that is influenced by the over exaggerate theme that Baz Luhrmann has in all of his films which will then be merged with a film of these character watching the pictures. This film could be created through getting shots of my own abstract paintings with edits that make it look If I did this then I think I would still stick to the idea of these characters watching the films with different reactions, eating popcorn and sipping on a drink. I feel like I just need to think about this idea more as it would be difficult to do two films and merge them but the outcome in my head seems really diverse and individual.

Test Shoot - Great Gatsby Design 1

On Friday I tested the filming, makeup and hair for The Great Gatsby Party Girl Design. The testing had many errors to it involving hairstyling, lighting, colour filtering and direction of the scene. I also wanted to test the cinemagraphs of this character but unfortunately my photographer had to cancel so I wasn't able to do this in the end and only tested the filming. I felt that the problem with the direction is that just having my model acting that she was watching The Great Gatsby infront of the camera seemed too vague and that something more should somehow be incorporated into it. I started to discuss other ideas that could be used for this scene with the cinematographer and came to a conclusion of including elements coming into the shots from the film as if it is coming alive. We dropped petals and confetti into the shot and I felt that it improved the scene making it look more effective.
Although this test shoot didn't go very well, I felt that the process has helped me a lot and that for the next couple of test shoots I create involving filming I will be able to develop and create more ideas that will hopefully improve the outcome of my film and make it look more enhanced and upgraded.
For my next test shoot we are going to film the character using a green screen so that elements can be merged with the scene that I shoot. The lighting we use will also be more effective.

Face Charts

Strictly Ballroom Design 1

Originally tested out the right design but I instantly took a disliking to the lip shade and thought that the eye shadow could have stood out more. For the final look I have chosen to create the left design because the lip colour is a more intense red. I have also resorted to a smoky brown eye with a purple tinge to it.

Strictly Ballroom Design 2

Romeo + Juliet Design 3

Romeo + Juliet Design 4

Moulin Rouge Design 5

Moulin Rouge Design 6

Moulin Rouge Design 7

Moulin Rouge Design 8