Pre-Production: Test Shoot

As we are 100% sure on our first element for our music video, we wanted to complete a test shoot including some of the elements used. For instance, in the first element we intend to use smoke and coloured lights. Therefore, we built a shoot with a girl surrounded by smoke and blue coloured lights. The shoot was successful and held a lot of effective material, however, there is a risk of excess of smoke, as we don’t want the smoke to hide our cast. Similarly, we only tested blue lights but for on the shoot day, we intend to use blue and red to capture purple tones. As we are confident smoke works, we can secure this element.

Clapper board for test shoot

Why complete a test shoot?

Test shoots have become of huge importance in the works of both photography and media. A test shoot allows one to gain further experience but it also holds the ability to simply try something new without wasting anyone’s time. The definition of test shoot basically means collaboration between a photographer or cameraman and a model testing out a concept or idea.

After completing the test shoot and viewing our outcomes, we fell inspired to develop and allow our theme to grow further. For example, from being influenced by the coloured lights and movement in colour, we made a prominent suggestion of allowing colour to be our main theme throughout the video. For instance, by focusing on colour it can help create a strong link between each element and a complimentary, flowing video.

For example, the first element will consist of a black studio, following tones of black through our artist’s costumes and the black location surrounding them. However, we might allow red and blue coloured lights to grow during our first element. So therefore, our first element will chase colours of mainly black and simple shades of red and blue. For our second element, our colour pallet switches to a strong theme of gold. For instance, her costume will be gold and she will have gold accessories, such as a gold grill. The furniture and objects in the second location will also be painted gold. Lastly, our third element consists of a red link. My group and I wish to use a red ribbon as our main element in our third location and this will set our third deep red colour. Our artist will also wear red lipstick to connote this link.

Similar overall colour scheme.

Therefore, our video links from colours of black to tones of gold and later follows shades of red. This gives our video some excitement and vibrant action. My group and I can also play with our colour scheme in editing by constantly switching from one colour to the next. Although we are not permanently caught on this coloured idea, we will consider completing test shoots. We also appreciate the use of colour linking through our music video, as it can help build our digipak or website later in production, consisting of black, gold and red.