Digi-Pack Draft

The Task:

The Digi-Pack is an essential part of our project, in order to promote our band we would need to have  a suitable set of images that defines, represents and suit's our band and target audience. It will also need  to both promote and suit our Music Video in order to keep the theme relatively simple and not divert away from the Image we have set. Furthermore, to show understanding, the use of camera work, editing and directing, this task enabled me to experiment and follow some of the previous ideas I had (Please follow the Link) when planning the pack. 

The idea for the chessboard was to create an enigmatic atmosphere. I decided to enhance the colouring by using the edit tool to make it seem "richer" and rather "old" in the same instance. My reason behind this was to ensure it had an  almost vintage look, and the use of lighting in the room, and the enhancement, makes the chessboard more noticeable  when one looks at it. Furthermore, the yellow lighting suggests an odd sense of warmth in the image, and combining that with the red cloth suggests further the use of demonic powers behind it, as red and yellow are often used to symbolise the fires of hell. On the other hand, I used the blur tool on the edges of the image, so that it would seem surreal, appearing neither real or real at the same time, so that the audience focus on it more and begin to possibly question its origins and why it has been placed so mysteriously in the image. The mere fact that it is sitting on a piece of red cloth is to emphasise the idea of danger, or rather, the idea that a demonic force is at work in the shot. 

The lone pawn serves as several different meanings in the Music Video, and in this particular  shot, there is even more emphasis on it. The idea of it being on its own represents Isolation, and since our main character is isolated from the world (mentally) the shot lays emphasis on this by it being the piece that is both focused on and away from the rest of the pieces. The mere fact that the pawn is away from the rest of the pieces represents two things: Loneliness and Rejection. Since the pawn is not with the remaining pieces suggests that it stands alone in the world that is the chess board. And as such, is target or "practise" for the opposing chess pieces, more specifically, the Queen piece. On the other hand, rejection is emphasised by the mere fact that during the filming of our production, the other pieces on the white-side (unless they are pawns or the Knight piece) do not step in and protect the pawn, or even take part in the battle, suggesting that they have rejected their own "member of society" And is further emphasised by the fact that other white pieces can be seen in the background, suggesting that they are watching the pawn being abused. The Loneliness, Isolation and Rejection of this piece is further emphasised by the use of light giving the pawn a shadow. This lighting further creates an uncomfortable warmth in the image, and the darkening of the edges of the image suggest that the darkness is closing in on the pawn, preparing to possibly "devour" it. Also, Since I wasn't too sure on how to edit in a black circle (as I wanted this image for the album/CD face) I resulted using this blacked out edges to help me represent how it would appear on the face of the CD. Furthermore, I have blurred the background, in order to make the pawn the central item of focus in the image.

The mysterious woman (myself) in the image is a source of perplexing and overwhelming power in the Music Video.  She is the one person with the most influential power in the video, and is constantly moving the pieces in the duration of the video, and as such acts as a catalyst in the entirety of the production. A noticeable trait about her in this Image is the fact that she is wearing all black. Black symbolises darkness universally and suggests her lack empathy, and cruel nature. Furthermore, her own chess piece is black on the chessboard, further acting as a foreshadowing for the audience. Moreover, I chose to smile in this particular image to show that she enjoys turmoil, and presents her further as a sardonic sadist that takes pleasure in other peoples pain. On the other hand, as our character in particular was to have red nails, to act as a foreshadowing of who she may be or is,  my own nails were not red, so instead I chose the ring to replace this, and often, a ring is seen as an object of wealth and power to many, further emphasising her own supernatural abilities.  I chose to have my finger on my lips to represent the keeping of an unknown secret that no one but herself is aware of. Furthermore the ring in this image is central, due to it being the only thing that serves as means of identifying our enigma and gives the audience an early clue as to who she is.  The lack of light in this image is important, as it suggests, further, that she is not any means good, but rather, a being of unprecedented darkness. Furthermore, the lack of light suggests that (unlike that of the other images) she is not in anyway affected by the light (fire) as the chess pieces are, and suggests that she is  a higher being, The Devil. 

The Image of the Devil and the chessboard, suggests foreboding, or rather, the preparation of it, as the Image presents the white pawn as the only piece that is not in line with the rest of its kind, suggesting that it is either left on its own to fend for itself, or rather, the pawn is challenging the Devil and refusing to stay in place, like the rest of the pieces. The Devil's own body language suggests this, as this refusal to stay in place takes the Devil out of her comfort zone, and the only way she feels to put this subject back in place, is to have opposing pieces destroy it. Alternatively, this image could also be merely viewed as the white pawn being placed (almost) within the centre of the chessboard, as means of observation for the Devil. This immediate interest the Devil takes of the pawn suggests a possible foreshadowing that this mysterious person and pawn have a unique "relationship" and the obviousness of the arms and the pawn in the image, further fuels this idea. The location of where the pawn was placed is key in this image, as it shows the audience that since it is sitting on a black square, it is therefore on the territory of the black pieces. Furthermore, the placement of the arms was intentional also, as I wanted the ring especially to be taken note of, and add to the continuous enigma of the Devil's identity. The lighting in the image is the same as before, with enhancement used to add  a yellowish glow to the image and suggest the temperature of location, and add a clever use of shadows in the picture. Furthermore, unlike the other images, blur was not used at all in this image as I wanted it to appear sharp, yet retain an almost aerie feel. Both the chessboard and the enigma's arms and ring present this well, as it creates a shallow yet disturbing presence in ones mind due to anonymity and mystery presented.     

The significance of the Devil holding the pawn is relatively straight foreword. This merely adds further to the idea of the enigma observing this piece as an anomaly in the face of all the other pieces in the image. I have chosen to edit this image very differently to the other images, and I wanted to give it a vintage look with shadows being a prominent feature and theme in the image. The edit i used for this is called Sepia, and allowed me to gain access to this authentic look and use shadows as means of representing the dark matters that is to arise later on in the Music Video. Furthermore, the use of the mysterious character holding the pawn suggests how vulnerable it is. Reflecting the very character in question. 

In conclusion, this task acts as an example of my ability of editing skills, shows how effective I am at drafting a Digi-pack. This task shows my interpretation on how I want our Digi-Pack to look, and what kind of techniques we can use when creating the atmosphere and mood of the image.