Production Blog: Finally! a Film Day

 You read right my lovely readers,

On Sunday, I finally, got to go out with my friend to film some clips for the project. I had my kimono finished so I filmed most of my kimono scenes and the 50s dressed theme for my friend. First, I headed down to A1A at the beach. I met up with my team mate at a restaurant. After, a little chat, it was off to the beach.

 The day was quite gloomy and windy. this obstructed the filming since it was hard to keep most things in place. So, i did what I could. After, my team mate lay out the props that acted as barricades, I began filming . This scene was the war scene I made sure to get a close up of the props with the sea in the background. To my luck, the cargo ships were out that morning. They looked a lot like war ships so I filmed them as well. It added a lot more dynamic with the rough greenish-grey waves. There were planes also, flying by that could represent the battle crafts. After that, I placed my tablet on the ground to get that lower level view of feet running. Then I had my team mate run in front of the camera with me to get the chaotic scene.

Then it was time to introduce our character. This scene is to show the after math of the war on the girls friendship. It shows girl two, slumped and dragging her feet depressingly along the beach as the rough waters crash at her feet. Having being devastated by the separation of her friend she rushes into the unforgiving sea. Then suddenly, a flash back or hallucination to seeing her friend. To capture this dramatic scene, I told my team mate to walk to wards me while I kept walking backwards. I traced her movements at a medium close up shot. The back view of her walking to wards the ocean. then an another video was taken for girl one during the flashback a medium shot. Then a long shot of the two girls in the water. After the beach scenes.

 It was time to head to the mall to film a few takes of girl one at the stall scene. I dawned my kimono for this scene and waltz around galleria stiffly, due to the cut of the kimono. I found it difficult to find suitable places to film because everything is so modern. Which i expected. However, i still took a couple of shots use in case. It’s better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them. That was the extent of the film day. After a couple of treats from the mall, to complete the day of course. It was a very fun experience.

Always And Forever

Your Fashionista 

Production Blog: fabric shopping spree!

 

Alas, another blog I present to you lovely readers,

Long story short, I suggested to make the costumes for this project, and make I shall. It would look so unnatural to be wearing T-Shirts and jeans in what is supposed to be a 50s styled film. It was a Friday evening, when I set out to get the fabrics. Stopping by my favorite Hobby Lobby at Dania Pointe. Stepping in the store and immediately, booking it to the fabric section. Since I was shopping for two I had my eyes peeled and my friend on the phone. It was quit the trip around the store. I had met an employee a few months back, named Ms. Rachel. A kind, elderly women. I stopped to talk to her, as she was always interested, in my projects. Of course I quickly, told her about this one. After inspecting around, To capture that 50s aesthetic, I found the classic vintage polka dots, in a soft yellow, for my piece and a vibrant red for my team mate. For the kimonos I found some bright, floras, that would go well for the art deco period at that time. Paired with a yellow belt, made from satin.

It took a while of walking around and picking up things I didn’t need to get the fabrics cut. I ended up getting at least 3 to 5 yards for each fabric. After that chaos about a day later. i began working on the kimono. I drafted the patterns and gave the instructions for my group. So far, the kimonos are finished and were a success. This leaves the 50s style skirts and blouses, which I cant wait to see the end results.

Production Blog: Fashion Research Time!

 

Good day to you my readers,

Filming hasn’t begun for my group. So, in the mean time, I am researching 50s style clothing in Japan, for 

the costumes. This will help the music videos historical accuracy. At that time western trends were taking 

Japan by storm, especially, their fashion. Even though many Japanese people, continued to wear the 

kimono it was affected by the “ Art Deco” of the west. Kimonos had bright colors and various patterns, 

with longer, flamboyant sleeves. Many citizens also, took on the more casual style of the foreigners. The 

women wore, full circle skirts , ankle length and secured at the natural waist with a belt. The shirts either 

buttoned up, with short, shoulder length sleeves, tucked into the skirt. The dresses were similar, started at 

the waist and fell into a full circle skirt at ankle length. These were commonly, styled with Mary janes and 

fold over, frilled or Bobby sock. Hairstyles were quite basic, ponytails and poodle cuts, and short curly 

hair were a few of the “it” styles.

These are the trends that the main characters will be styled in. I have thought about going thrifting for 

outfits or fabrics because the overall designs are quite simple, and easy to make. The kimonos as well, 

although, require a lot of fabric a fairly easy to create. Along side the kimonos, traditional Japanese 

sandals will fit this costume the best. With the right materials, these would a do be a good diy project, 

compared to the price they go for on Amazon, and the terrible shipping time. I have been looking at 

vintage thrift stores in my area to see which I could check out for costumes. Places such as local 

Goodwills wills, Out of The Closet in Wilton Manors or Vintage Diversities in Oakland Park. It would 

have to be sometime during the week, after school. This is so everything will be ready for filming the next 

week. That is it for this blog dear readers, catch me in the next one.

Storyboard for My Music Video

  

Greetings lovelies, I must say working on this storyboard was most definitely a rollercoaster. However, with a little patience and working with only the best of friends, we have finally, finished this story board. It was great to work with like minds for this project even though, there was an influx of creative ideas, we managed. Without further a due, here is our story board.

 

Always and Forever, 

Your Fashionista.

Planning for my music video

 

Song- 4:00 am by Taeko Ohnuki

Props-

• Japanese Umbrella - Girl 1 drops as she sees Girl 2 (towards end of video) running towards her. In the rain. (Diegetic Sound Note: Music fades out as you here it drop, along with the footsteps of them running at each other in the rain)
• Dango - Food at stall, part of reminiscence scene.
• Kalimba - Intro scene, girl 1 plays while girl 2 dances around.
• Keepsake Necklace w/ Locket - Both girls reminisce while looking at pictures, feeling melancholy about life.
• Bean bags (or stones) - Creates the effect of sand flying (scene #2, part of it)
• Origami Cranes - part of intro, one crane on Kalimba one with girl 2 dancing (holds it). Then connects to a scene (#3) where cranes do a fly.
• Gifts (bags & box) - Box holds keepsake necklaces which they gift each other. Gift Bags, both girls have at the end scene, girl 2 drops as they run towards each other (also making a diegetic sound).
• Protection Charms (aka Omamori) - Girl 2 makes for girl 1 as a gift, an important part of girl 1's story line.
• Possible: Lantern

Costumes-

• All Character’s in 50's style clothing. Japanese 50's specifically.
• Both Girls in Kimono’s: marketplace, kalimba playing, and kids scene
• Nice 50's Style Clothing - almost wealthy, both girls as they meet at new points in their lives at the final scene.

Schedule-

• Film Dates: October 21st (3pm post), 22nd(2pm to 6/7pm), 23rd (2pm to 6pm), 24th (3pm post) and 29th (8am to 3pm).
• 21st: Beach day. Filming War Zone/ explosion, and main girlies running in the sand. By the boardwalk extra film scene for back up. Piers and Shops, walking scenes to cut into video.
• 22nd: Morikami Film Day. Kalimba playing and dancing, girls meets up at koi pond area, flash back scenes, with traditional style buildings.
• 23rd: Japanese Market. Flashback and back up film.
• 24th: Make-Up Day for Prior. make up whatever we could not film, or create back ups, and edit.
• 29th: Bal Harbor x Design District. Main girls meet up at koi pond area (as option 2). Also shopping, walking, and talking. With kimonos, many outfit changes.
• Editing Dates: During School week. 24th editing/ composition of what we have.

Location List-

• Beach & Boardwalk
• Design District
• Bal Harbor - for Koi Pond
• Morikami
• Japanese Market/ grocery Shop

Back Up Plan-

• Locations: For Koi Pond - Fort Lauderdale ArtWalk/ Canvas Studios Building, Celani’s House, Kayla’s House.
• Costumes- Boys Jeans and a messy hair style, loose shirt. Girls skirt or flowy outfit. Main 2 girls no back up required.
• Dates- November 5th and 7th.

Music Video Conventions

Greetings  readers, do you realize the title change 🤭. This is a collaboration blog with my best friend, and group mate, Kayla Parrott  (Par-Row) . Her blog is called Parrot Media. This blog, we researched different music videos and their conventions. All of them are similar, to the song we chose for our music video. We learnt a lot bout the common aesthetics and camera angles etc. It was not only fun but very helpful, working with Kayla because we both picked up on things the other may have missed. We the help of my friend we were able to thoroughly, analyze the videos, to the best of our abilities. Below, you will see all the information we gathered. 

Song: Stay With Me by Mitzi Matsubara

Genre: City Pop, Jazz

CAMS

• horizontal tilt from the singer to the guitarist.
• lots of close up of the singer, especially before and at the chorus.
• long shot to showcase the stage with the entire band and singer.
• eye level view for most of the music video.

MIS-EN-SCENE

• Rockstar style outfits, the singer was wearing a leather jacket and pants.
• acting is seen when the camera shows the singer reaching to ward the crowd when she sings “stay with me”
• Lots of orange and yellow hue lighting.

SOUND

• instrumental of the band could be considered diegetic sound.

EDITING

• There is a dissolve effect seen when the camera shows a close up of the guitar in the band.
• fade out in the singing at the end of the video.
• there was a cut away from the singer to the guitarist in the back.
• inserts of different angles of the singer.

Song: FlyDay Chinatown by Yasuha

Genre: City Pop

CAMS

• There are times the camera shows a close up of the city buildings.
• Panorama shots, continuous sliding motion mainly to the right.
• eye level view for scenes like the pool backyard.
• zoom in and out , the video zooms in at the beginning to show the city then zooms out at the end of the video.

SOUND

• voice over of the narrator in the very beginning and throughout video. Example: “There seems to be a new challenger.”

EDITING

• There is a jump cut from the city buildings to the pool scene.

• Fade out and in with the audio fading in from the start of the video along with the visuals going from dark to revealing the city and then in the end slowly fades to black, music fades out as well.

Song: Plastic Love by Mariya Takeuchi

Genre: City Pop

CAMS:

• Angles- Eye level, slanted. High & low used with dutch to create a longing and lost feel.

• Movement- Zoom, in and around

• Shots- Close up, medium close up, long shot - female main mainly in close up - sad feel. Male main mainly in long shot, some close up and medium close up - usually however knees or full legs.

• Editing: Fade in-out, Cut away

• Sound: Diegetic - ends with sound fade and introduces the sound of a characters footsteps, no dialogue - natural to the video. Non- diegetic - The songs overlay.

CLAMPS:

• Costumes- Plain attire
• Lighting- Car lights going through the window, almost coving the female mains face. Orange & White. Blue's too. Male main has more focus
• Acting- Melancholy & anticipating, looks at phone, lean head agaist window. Second main dancing while cleaning, happier feel.
• Make Up- Flat iron hair, almost glossy touch ups, nothing heavy. Light lip gloss on girl.
• Props- Phone, Purse
• Setting- Car Female main intro. Both end up at bar and hotel, separately.

Always and Forever,

Your Fashionista.

My Group For The Music Video

 

Greetings, kindred ones. For this music video project, I chose to work with my best friend. Her name is Kayla Parrott (Pah-Row). I was exceptionally, happy when I got to work with her. I have many things in common with her, such as an interest in fashion and that thoughts Aline when it comes to ideas. Not only is she a fashionista, she is a kind and understanding person. I’d also say she is just as adventurous as me. We both have a desire to travel, especially, to Japan. She always knows what I’m thinking, I call it the “Bestie Telepathy”. The song of my choice , is 4:00 am by Taeko Onuki. Despite the similarities, with my bestie, music tastes differ, to an extent. This was a song was agreed upon. I found this song on a random Spotify spree. I had ears it many times before on social media but that was the first Time I listened to it in full. It gave a nostalgic, Ghibli studio feel and I fell in love with its melody. Hence, I brought it up for suggestion. Not only do I like the song , it had the whole aesthetic I had in mind. Which was Japan but the around an older time period. Perhaps, the 90s or further back. It sparked my creativity . I found myself, pondering on all the scenes I could add with each lyric. The song has no music video. This made way for more creative thinking and expression. That is all for this blog my dear readers. Catch you in the next one.

Always and forever, 

Your Fashionista.

Introduction to the music video

More like konichiwa (Hello), your girlie is back again.

I am your fashionista, Celani Lightbourne. Originated from the gorgeous islands of Jamaica. I am seventeen going on eighteen and my dream is to become a fashion designer. I love studying and analyzing different fashion trends, brands and eras. My favorite brand is Dior or of course my own brand, Celani Anatoria. It’s a work in progress but one day I will build this into a successful fashion business. Aside from fashion, i am well adverse within the arts. My skills range from painting, digital art, sewing, designing, crocheting, knitting and making jewelry. My musical talents don’t fall short, I play the violin and I am currently learning the guitar and kalimba. I never considered myself, much of a sports person, however, I do love playing tennis or volleyball, swimming and ballet. I have a strong interest in traveling, I can’t stay in the house too long, I prefer to look for an adventure. so far, I have travelled to the Bahama, Canada, New York, Georgia and of course, my home country Jamaica. One day I will be able to explore the streets of Japan. Ever since I was little, I have always, been enchanted with not only Japanese culture but Asia as a hole. things like vocaloids, anime, their fashion and history were all I could think about. Animals, are another, love of mine. Aside from fashion I plan to go into vet studies as well, and one day I will have as many pets as I want, maybe start my own farm.

with that being said it’s time to log off. Sayonara (goodbye) my readers and stay stylish.

Always and forever, Your Fashionista.