Sunday, 28 March 2010

Press Release

Fashion Junkie Film Screening

N.Y. productions brings to you a entertaining yet inspiring comedy “Fashion Junkie”. Exploring the effects of being addicted to fashion, this film illustrates the highs and lows of what the fashion drug can do to any fashionista. Located in North London, you’ll witness the strange and outright bizarre happenings within the mortal world.

Inspired by British designer, and Brighton university graduate Fred Butler, you are in store for, vibrant yet risky wardrobe theatrics.

Come and join us at the invite only screening event:

Fort Pitt Hill,

Rochester,

Kent,

ME1 1HH

For more Info Contact us on: 07537 800 830

nmccleary@uca.ac.uk

yowusututu@uca.ac.uk

Project Overview

Project Overview
We ended up with this outcome because the first two original plans did not work out. The original initial idea was to take a sci-fi scene from a movie that already exists (we were yet to choose, as we were still at the beginning of the second week into the project). By using a green screen we were going to shoot our model in front of the green screen, then import her into the movie clip of our choice. However on presenting our ideas to our tutors we were slightly disappointed that this was not going to be possible to achieve as we were unaware how to use a green screen without the aid of a technician who would not be available for us to use. As well as the fact that the green screen that was available for us to use in Maidstone Campus is far too small for the type of production that we were hoping to capture. Olle also informed us that the lighting is too dark, so we took from this that the clothing we wanted our actress to wear would not be represented to the fullest, so it was onto plan b.
The more we researched into the concept of our film we knew we wanted a futuristic genre, and we knew that in order to save on time and costs and exertion of sourcing garments for the main character as well as extras, we decided on having one lead actor.
This led us to our second idea which was to be based on the concept of fashion junkie. Our model was to be seen taking a dose of a dress, to then which the side effects are a hallucination scene. (Having investigated the effects of a high class drug that is taken by snorting through the nose, I found out that hallucinations of events out of the ordinary can be a part of the high). The hallucination scene was our actress inside the ‘Runway Showroom’, where she would be surrounded by mannequins and the confusion being that they were not real people, although she thinks they’re closing in on her like a real person would have the ability to do. She’d also be quick changing in Fred Butler inspired garments/accessories. Only to wake up in a fright in the last scene, realising that it was all a terrible dream. During the editing process we were considering reversing the order so that the audience would see actress gasp for breath on waking up from the dream, and as the movie crept on all would be revealed by the end.
I learnt that talking to people like Kim Howells who are active roles within the industry as well as her experience at university, we took her styling advice into account, she let us know that we had a choice of two fashion junkie looks. One was a cheap girl who is dressed in high street clothing and low budget make-up, and the other was an expensive, high-end girl who wore smudged make-up with pride, sort of “like the Kate Moss type”.
So finally we used the mannequin warehouse in North London when the Runway Showroom boutique fell through, as the manager had decided at short notice that we were unable to film on our chosen date. We were lucky enough to find a new location in North London that enabled us to stick to the original concept. The film was still based around a fashion junkie who was high on fashion.
I’ve learnt that I need to organise my workload evenly (put time management into practice) as we did shoot quite late into the project. Although I am happy that we did a couple of test shoots early into the project which gave me the skills of operating a HD video camera, as well as seeing how different angled shots can create different moods, whether it be dramatic, or mysterious and even soft.
I’ve enjoyed this project only because it was a challenge, it helped me prove to myself that I’m able to make a short film, which is something I didn’t think I was capable of doing. `for the most part I enjoyed styling for the film, I least enjoyed editing as it can be a long and frustrating process.

Film: Fashion junkie finale

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Planning The Event

Each film will be screened in a venue chosen by Logistics team, on the 22nd April 2010. We are divided into groups that will each have a responsibility of promoting as well as organising the screening event. I am in the marketing group that is in charge of the budget for this event. We will delegate each group, including: PR, Logistics, Hospitality and Event management, a portion of the £500 budgeting fee, to help bring this event into plan.

Friday, 19 March 2010

Filming Day



Today was the big day!!!I hopped onto the underground and met up with Yas this morning, to meet on our location in North London. We (as well as model) made our way to Selby's department store, where we had assistance from a staff member at Fashion Fair make-up counter. She helped us choose the right look which all-in-all, Yasmin created herself. We chose Fashion Fair because they specialise in black skin tones, as our actress is black. Hair ideas were kept simplistic, a wig was used, we back-combed it into a simple style off the face, as we didnt want to detract from the clothing.
When make-up was complete we headed to first location, the manequin warehouse, where our actress acted out the scene where she herself is a manequin but is the only one who comes to life.

key looks:
- the first look was inspired by the ever so daring Lady Gaga, taken from her current music vid, 'Telephone', where she is bound in yellow fragile tape. Loves it by the way.
- the second look was created by the 'wananbe' Fred Butler accesory designs that I tried my hand at making, Yasmin did a great job styling this look, we went all out and didn't hold back, it was a lot of fun I always enjoy styling.
The last scene was shot at Yas' BF's house, this is the scene where the blinding light beams out the box...I shall not reveal too much, you have to stay posted for the uploaded final cut! Lets just say a whole day shooting and commuting had me tired but at the end of it...pleased.

Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Good news is beared

Yas' friend has agreed to be our fashion Junkie, upon the last minute.com of finding a girl at short notice when kelly let us down, I'm over the moon at this point, let's get on with the filming.

Yay! finally a location we can bank on

They always say... 'no need to stray too far away from home', in Yas' case that is. LOL. She reised that her BF lives near a manequin warehouse, she's managed to seel the deal as they've agreed for us to film at any time. Yay! good news is on the up.

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Plan B...I need you now

I think plan B needs to kick into effect now as Jade (Manager of Runway showroom) is becoming more and more harder to get hold of. When I finally speak to her as to propose we shoot on Thursday 18th she apologetically lets me down in the respect of she would only feel comforable with me filming @ the shop if she is there, unfortunately she's away for a few days at short noticed within this time.
On to the next one.

Friday, 12 March 2010

Model Dropout

The original model Kelly has unfortunately backed out of the project for a paid job job...hey you cant hate the player...gotta hate the game!Dont get me wrong I was VERY annoyed.

Thursday, 11 March 2010

Inspired by photographer Paco Peregrn




Take a look at these genius sci-fi looks inspired costume designs, photographed by Paco Peregrn. My partner and I had the idea of our model/actress representing an immortal character. She is bald with dramatic make-up, and and sheer nude leotard embellished with crystals, somewhat relating back to high end fashion. The reason why we think a nude leotard is appropriate because it'll resemble a naked torso, so that when she dresses herself in our fred butler inspired clothing, it won't destract from the new clothing that we want the audience to pay attention to

Interim Presentation Day

Our ideas were taken on board, and positive feedback was given in the respect of the ideas we had conjured up were very exciting, although on the flip side we were put into a reality check on the fact that we had left the day to shoot quite late down the line in terms of "what if things go wrong?" which was a very good subject to raise. Half way unit presentation day's are good in a sense that the feedback Grealdine and Dennis input was very productive and allowed me to re-evulate my working pattern, as well as in this case time management.

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Preparing for Interim Presenation day...

Myself and Yasmin worked on our powerpoint presentation for the whole day! Eerr is that good or bad when the librarian stands over your pc, waiting for you to log off? I supose it was worth it in the respect of feeling confident to deliver our ideas clear enough for our peers and our tutors to understand how our minds are thinking when it comes to understanding the concept of our film. Hard day of work well spent!

The Runway Showroom

The Runway Showroom clothing boutique in Chalk Farm is the ideal location for the halucination scene of our fashion junkie concept. The store has seven manequins which is more than enough to capture the storyline that we want, it also features a variety of retro, vibrant, funky, you name it clothes because of the talented, young and independant designers who sell their clothes within the store. I have a good working relationship with the ownwer because I was a former employee. She has allowed me to film in store on the condition that I prep her a week notice prior to when I'd like to come. Cant wait...

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Leading lady

Think we've found our leading model/actress, after days upon days of hunting for an actress who has the time for our shooting day as well as being exciting about featuring in our film, Yasmin and I conducted searches through modelmayhem.com, as well as facebook, until we had six replies from girls who were happy to film at no cost as long as they were able to build up their portfolio with the final product. We've decided on Kelly, her modelling pics are great so we've confidence that she'll deliver on camera. Unfortunately the picture is in an unrecognisable format so i'm unable to upload her, but i'm on the case.

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Fred for Partrick Wolf...



As well as Lady Gaga, Fred has designed for American pop artist Patrick Wolf. His approach on wearing her designs would almost allow us to question if she designs for the hetrosexual guy or the homosexual male? what ever the case fashion doesn't discriminate he wears her designs with confidence. I like the way she has taken the inspiration from a disco ball (that we associate with music anyway) and created a hat. I also like this jacket/jumper that she co designed with Ada Zanditon, when working with P. Wolf on his current project. His daring fashion scent reminds me of a male Gaga LOL...if there ever were to be one. Take a look.

Fred for La Roux



La Roux is a British electro/pop group whose quirky front woman was styled in a fred Butler designed neclace for their music video, 'Bulletproof'. Fred's designs fit in with the image of the retro styled singer, who isnt shy of bold, vibrant colours, as to which are Fred's designs. Here's a pic of the neclace...

Fred Butler creates designs for the music industry!


Fred has designed for Lady Gaga (ultimate fashion queen of the new generation. This head peice was created for Lady Gaga's most recent video 'Telephone', that was shot early 2010.











La Roux (British electro/pop group), Little Boots (pop artist Patrick Wolf (American recording artist)

Fred Butler collaborates with music industry




Fred Butler is well known for her paper folding designs, I love these creations that we asociate with lady gaga's first style image when she debuted. Take a look at these great designs...

I'm a bit dazed by these fabolous designs...





Fred Butler S/S 2010 for Dazed & Confused fashion magazine publication. The shoot was styled by Kim Howells an active fashion stylist who occassionaly mentors my group @ university.
Take a look...

Fred Butler Designs







Fred Butler designs accessories for publications, photoshoots and fashion shows. Her designs range from hats, to necklaces/neckbraces, and even add on sleeves that compliment any garment, upgrading it to an on trend peice. I'm definately a fan, she's a talented artist have never seen anything like it, take a look...

Fred for La Roux

Monday, 1 March 2010

Costume ideas - Nude leaotard for model/actress to wear in our film




The nude colour unitard all in one should resemble something like this one, as well as being embellished in rhinestones for a futuristic key look.
I also like this example of Britany Spears wearing what we are trying to recreate. Take a look..

Costume ideas


Having researched Fred Butler's work I took note of the use of foils, silver metalics and bold colour that she uses throughout each type of design. We want to recreate some of the necklaces and head peices for our actress to model, this will incorporate Fred Butler into our film. I had the idea of making the props using alluminium cola cans, kitchen foil, plastic bottles and cardboard. To do this me and Yasmin will collect/recycle any of these materials that we use, i.e if we drink out of it we wont throw it away, when the loo role is finished i'll keep the cardboard role.
For the use of colour we're thinking about using spray paints, tissue paper and/or fabric.

Friday, 26 February 2010

Styling Day







Yasmin and I brang a collection of possible outfits to uni, that we think would work for our film, we styled to manequin for the whole afternoon, here are some of the looks we pulled together...

Friday, 19 February 2010

Costumes within film - 1 of my favourites...a must see



Devil wears prada one of my many favourite films. Simply because I'm a fashion addict and just adore the fashions that Anne Hathaway (who plays Andrea) is styled in. I love the fact that her designer outfits are still able to stand out amongst the other styled colleagues at her work place in the fashion magazine office. Here is a brilliant example of the main character seeking the camera/audience full attention.

Take a look at these stills from the 2006 movie...

Costumes within film



Grace Jones character 'Mayday' in James Bond film A Veiw To Kill, released in 1985, was a useful fashion costume film to analyse. Mayday is an assasin who's image is very hard egded consisting of power dressing; big shoulder small waist jackets (shape of a men's suit), strong/feirce make-up (bringing back her femininty), androgonous image, and also the use og black leather and gun handling gives the viewer the impression she is a forceful woman not to be reckoned with.

Monday, 15 February 2010

Research - Costumes within film




Taking note through lectures and watching a selection of films, I have become aware that the lead character should be wearing the most eye catching costume/s. If there are other characters or extras their garment should not deter away from the main point of focus. I have analysed a few films which practice this golden rule so to speak, where the lead character grabs the audience's attention with their costume. First example Barbarella... main character played by Jane Fonda, is styled in sexy, sassy mini combat dresses, although her charcater is portrayed to be tough who carrys weapons, she eventually saves the world. But her dress scent speaks volumes of the opposite. At first glipse you'd think she was frail and weak, and a woman who cares much about her appearence rather than a woman who doesnt mind getting rough and dirty. The colours chosen for her wardrobe relate to the battlefield with the earthy tones of khaki and browns, and also the use of sheer netting and metallics garuntee the audience's (especially male) attention.

Sunday, 14 February 2010

Film Concept - Fashion Junkie




Our Fashion Junkie concept took great inspiration from the Sisely advertisement that was made back in 2007. This image pushes all boundaries on what is acceptable in our modern society, especially with so many young teens wanting to aspire to the modelling industry that has been put on a high pedestal since the early 90's powerhouse movement. But all that aside I like the genius idea of using fashion as the drug, and the addiction be the clothing. We will expand on the idea of being on a fashion HIGH so to speak, where we have fun with fashion because we can!!!

Saturday, 13 February 2010

Sourcing a Green Screen

After presenting our thought in progress to our tutors they congratulated us for our enthusiatic ideas made us aware of a green screen that is available for us to use at the Maidstone campus of our university. Unfortunately the 3 x 5 (mtr) green screen that they have is no where near big enough for us to caputure the sceen of events that we would want to use it for. Aswell as the limited lighting that they have, the model's garments would not be fully represented...bummer onto plan b.

Hmmm... Green Screen


Furhter developing the sci-fi/immortal concept, somewhat lead me to this idea. Would'nt it be amazing veiwing to see the model/actress of our film to be imported into a scene that already exists? As we dont have a hollywood box office budget to work with LOL, i.e building our own sci-fi set complete with props and materials from scratch, we're thinking of filming the actress in front of a green screen, then edit the footage using 'Final Cut Pro' software to merge the two as if they were oringinal captured as one...

Friday, 12 February 2010

Oooooh..loving these statues


The gold swimming diver is the landmark for Ferrers swimming pool, in South Woodham, Chelmsford Borough. The gold is right on the mark with our si-fi mettallics theme, and from a distance or shot up close this statue would make for a great immortal extra within our film. The poise of the statue almost resembles somebody flying through the air. I like the idea of the possible imagery this statue would be able to deliver.

Technical fault of uploading pics

I am having a technical diffucltly uploading the rest of the statue images I took in borough. I will keep you posted!!!

Statues of Borough


I went down to Borough and noticed the William Churchill statue is in fact the Borough landmark. I took some pics of the others I spotted but quite frankly realised these were not the type of statues that would fit into our film concept. Take a look...

Critical analysis - Cleopatra

ITS ANNOYINGLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHY THEY USED A WHITE CAUCASIAN ACTRESS TO PLAY A BLACK EGYPTIAN HISTORICAL FIGURE IN THIS FILM.i ALMOST FEEL AS THOUGH SOME OF THE GARMENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE LUMINOUS ON CAMERA IF THEY WERE DRESSED ONTO DARKER SKIN. CRITICAL FILM ANALOGY ALLOWS ME TO TAKE THINGS SUCH AS THIS ON BOARD FOR MY FILM PRODUCTION.

Cleopatra




The costumes in this film are ridiculously fabulous. Elizabteh Taylor steels the show, I personaly learnt a lot about fashion/COSTUME through film when I analysed this movie. Here are some outfits I love from the film...

Thursday, 11 February 2010

Film Concept - Initial ideas


I am a huge Disney animation fan. One of the classics that I love the effects and the story line of is Alice in Wonderland by Disney. The scene where Alice falls down the hole and ends up being in a whole new under world, gave us (my partner and I) the inspiration to conjour up our 1st scene. So at this point we know that we want our model to be in an immortal world because in my opinion the unfamiliar scenery results in more interesting veiwing and can hold the audience attention a lot longer than the norm , but how and why she is there is yet to be critically ananlysed...

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

Location ideas...Borough

Having presented our ideas to Geraldine (our film unit lecturer), we were given advice as to shoot on location in London, Borough. She gave the suggestion after hearing our ideas as to consider shooting on location in Borough, she told us that there are many statues in the area that would look great on camera. Having heard this I instantly wanted to check it out, as my thoughts were thinking along the lines of the other charcaters could be...as still as a statue! Plus if this were to be a success, it would limit the costs for me and Yasmin, when sourcing the costumes for extras to wear, genius.

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Subjects around the film

The day we were introduced to this film project we understood that our film had to be inspired by a designer which I chose at random out of a hat, who turned out to beFred Butler . Then via the same method I chose a mood which was warm, and also an effect, which is shaky cam.

Fred Butler Bio


Fred Butler graduated from the University of Brighton in 2003 and went on to launch her website featuring art direction in 2006. She specialises in creating props as accessories for stylists such as Nicola Formichetti, Patti Wilson and Francesca Burns. Commissions for costumes have also created a network of numerous musicians including Patrick Wolf, Bishi and Sigur Ros. Other clients include Selfridges & Co. for whom she has previously made headwear for mannequins across the window scheme.
As a regular contributor to SHOWstudio she was commissioned to make a movie clip for their political fashion season. A/W 2008 saw Fred Butler launch her first official fashion collection of inspirational creations with which to decorate and adorn. For A/W 2009, Fred won sponsorship from the British Fashion Council / Top Shop New Gen award to showcase her collection and create a film presentation in the exhibition at London Fashion Week.

Take a look @ Fred pictured right with her latest collection for 2010, along with her quirky dress scense!...interesting.

Blair witch project - Example of Shaky Cam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMQQpmm5u3w