Editing

Due to some technical difficulties we weren't able to see all of the footage untill yesterday but here it is! Very successful first day editing, a very long day but it's almost complete already. Absolutely thrilled with how it's turning out :) :) :)

Plan of Action and Reasons Behind Choosing not to Storyboard.

Right so I'm filming in five days time! I have spoken to the guys who are doing the filming. I have worked with them on music videos before so they are returning the favour for this project and they are really really talented guys. Plum, the main guy is also a close friend of mine so I really trust his artistic vision. I have been in back and forth communication with him for the last couple of weeks and I have sent him the Forest Swords - The Weight of Gold music video which is shown and discussed in earlier blog posts. This best shows the kind of thing I am after, so after discussing this and the location which Plum went and photographed for me, I asked him whether he would like me to provide him with a storyboard. He has told me that the high street isn't very long, and as I am unsure yet which sections of it to use he told me not to worry about a story board. I already have a strong idea of what it is i am wanting, and I cant draw out specifics until i have seen the location with tyler. We have arranged to arrive early the previous day so me and tyler can walk up and down the high street and see the skatepark and decide which areas we both think will work the best. We will then shoot plenty of footage the following day and when editing I can fit the imagery to the audio and music.

P.s. My step-dad Brian who has done editing for the BBC will be editing this for me. This is unlike anything he has ever had to edit before but he is welcoming the challenge! He is also doing it free of charge which is brilliant. I will travel home in order to spend a couple of days by his side, overseeing the whole process. 

I am excited! 

Styling choices

Hair

After much consideration I decided not to include dread locked hair. I started to make dreadlocks using old hair extensions of mine which luckily matched the colour of Tyler (my dancer's) hair. I did this quickly and easily through back combing, twisting, and the use of dread wax (which I nicked from my step sister). After forming the rough dreads and applying to the head still in the strip formation, I found that with a lot of head movement they were a real strain on the hair and when I asked to see them on someone else whilst throwing their head around (like I predicted would happen in the film) the dreads looked kind of unnatural and often the extension became visible. I had looked at pre-made dreads online which were singular and easily attached to the head via a loop at the top before then plaiting the hair through. Unfortunately little time was left to order these and guarantee their arrival. 

During this minor dilemma I came across and article which really caught my attention describing the potential boost in extra-sensory perception caused by naturally long hair that was worn loose. The article (which can be seen by clicking here) focused on native Indian groups that were recruited as trackers during the war. As part of recruitment they had to cut their hair, when then sent to perform the task they were hired for, the native Indians who had undergone the hair cut lost all tracking abilities. When more were recruited and allowed to keep their hair, tracking abilities appeared to work as usual. This article also points out how long hair "has long been a common element of many spiritual prophets such as Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Shiva, or the story of Samson and Delilah from the Bible, when Samson lost his strength with the loss of his hair."

Despite weather or not you choose to believe this theory, I really liked the idea of loose flowing hair being the tentacles of awareness that felt out into our environment providing us with intuition and knowledge, without us even realising to what scale. Apart from making me never want to cut my hair again, this made me want to move away from the more grungy, hippy style dread look and choose something freer with more movement and favour something much more simplistic and not over worked. 

Tyler's hair is long but needed a few extra small extensions to increase the length. I tested these in the hair and as the weight of a singular clump of hair wasn't there, the hair wasn't pulled enough to reveal the extensions so a solution was found!

Makeup

With regards to makeup, I was initially torn between three different kinds of style that I had pictured in mind. These were: 1) the use of symbols arranged in pattern or included into design. 2) more straight-forward tribal line approach, still using thin lines as previously explained, a more refined take on simple tribe markings. 3) fluid line design mimicking contours of face and reflecting natural occurring pattern (i.e. tree bark) 

Below is an example of each three of these possibilities in the order I have described: 

When trying to decide what style of makeup to go for I had finalised on another aspect of the styling, the jewellery. To the right is an image of a necklace that has been handed down through the women of my family for generations. It has huge personal meaning to me as it represents the history of women in my family but I also love it's unique design and use of material "Moss Agate". I have always been told that this stone is supposed to have earthy healing properties so it seemed rather appropriate, then I read the following description: "Throughout history and all cultures, Moss Agate has been known as the crystal of gardeners and agriculture. It was considered a miraculous healing stone for tribal priests of the past, giving them power to interact with our human organic system, and was used as a talisman to make warriors strong and victorious. [Mella, 69] Metaphysically, Agate has a lower intensity and vibrates to a slower frequency than other stones, but is highly regarded as a stabilizing and strengthening influence. [Simmons, 6] Agate is excellent for balancing emotional, physical and intellectual energy, and in harmonizing Yin and Yang, the positive and negative forces of the universe. [Hall, 39]". I also like how the shape is relevant to this, a diagonal cross representing the four different elements of the earth. It really couldn't be more appropriate for the message of my film - a reconnection with our true inner self who hasn't been heavily influenced by technologies and modern living. My dancer is also a fighter for his truth, a representative of another possible way of life. I felt like the necklace was a representative of my character, and I chose make up to reflect this: 

 I have chosen this style of contouring to alter the way we view his face. As I have mentioned, I want him to appear slightly other-worldly, maybe ethereal. This contour is designed to push forward his main features and enhance his already strong bone structure. Lips will be left natural but hydrated, pale foundation will be applied all over face neck and chest which will also be on display. The inner corner of the eyes will be heavily contoured using the same colour as on the face, again to increase his angular features and draw attention to the eyes. Minimal mascara will be applied for definition. Brows will be brushed upwards and colour put through where necessary. It is important the makeup doesn't look to over done. I am anxious for the film to be a product as a whole, I want everything to work together and have no one element that stands out above the rest. It has to be a complete product. 

Tokyo Tribe

Knowing that I will be drawing from tribal influences, I went on a hunt to try and find some makeup style that included fine lines and plenty of detail. I hadn't expected to come across anything so perfect as the 2010 "Tokyo Tribe" editorial from VMAN Magazine in which the concept of Japanese samurai has been given a modern twist. 

This is exactly the kind of fine lined marking I am after, I really love the striking simplicity and effectiveness of this makeup. 

Intricate Bridal Makeup

Below is a video I just stumbled upon by chance, but after learning a little more I can tell you this is the traditional bridal face painting of a small village in Kosovo. The design, which includes the evil eye symbol has been worn for generations to ward off judgement and bad wishes. 

I included the video because I love the evil eye symbology, as well as the use of intricate lines which I have already expressed an interest in using for my project. It is interesting to note the ways in which the face painter achieves these lines, using a fine metal rod, covering it with some form of pigment before laying it onto the skin. Perhaps this would be a good way to achieve straight lines and shapes over a soft surface.

Ideas Behind the Makeup

Considering the nature of this project and the message that I am trying to put forward, it is important that the makeup reflects the themes on which I touch. These themes are roughly; freedom of expression, spirituality and reforming connections with ourselves, one another and the natural world, the fight against mass greed and consumption. If I am to think of a kind of people who reflect these themes it would be people who live from the land, follow spiritual traditions such as ethnic tribes, whether they be from the Amazon, North or South America, Africa. The way these people present themselves, whether day by day or for ritual purposes, contains much symbology. I decided to look at a few example of tribes men and women:

These pictures demonstrate the clear use of colour and symbol on the face, each relevant to their own people. In particular I am a fan of the image third from the bottom, where finer lines have been used to create the pattern above his eyes an on his cheeks. This appeals to my attention to detail so perhaps I will focus my attention more to this form of marking, which I will be using on my model. However I don't think I want the imagery to be as earthy as these examples. I need my character to look more like somebody who is worldly, who has emerged from the other side of the consumer driven culture that is today.

Styling

So I began thinking about the styling for my shoot, I am still a little undecided about the type of image I want to create. All I know is that I want for Tyler to look as though he has lived a life free of western influence so naturally, I have started looking at tribal imagery. I don't want it to look totally earthy though, as if the character could be existing in a world with all the wonders of modern technology but with zero influence from corporate companies. Perhaps a world whereby advertising didn't exist and self image was something purely created for one's pleasure. 

He need's to be striking, it's very important he sticks out of the crowd. I'm unsure whether to stick to monochrome look perhaps with coloured accessories or weather to go totally bold and multicoloured. As I am not a natural stylist the latter scares me a little however I have enjoyed thinking up possible combinations. Either way, a strong look can be created.

First of all is my monochrome mood board:

The benefits of choosing something along these lines is the type of material used, I said earlier in this blog how I would like a lot of movement with the clothes and with this style of shirt/dress I can get materials like cotton, nice and lightweight. 

And here are some examples of some rather more colourful option:

For me, definitely more challenging to style, however I love the potential for a really wow outfit. 

Below are some accessory ideas I've been having:

I love the idea of a headdress or hood of some sort, however I'm not sure how well these would work with the movement of the dancer. I love the rag headdresses especially, a colourful take on something more traditional. I've included images of dreadlocks as I've always been a fan plus think it's definitely a symbol of a certain way of lifestyle, one that shys away from convention.