R+P Post 26: Set Designs, Locations and Props

The entirety of our music video will be shot in the studio as our whole video is more performance based and our ideas didn't the require of any other location shoot.

However, we did have to create certain backdrops and put together certain things to create our desired background/setting.

Proposed Set Designs that we actually had to create/put together

1. Panel backdrop
2. Scaffolding
3. Grafitti 'D4MES' backdrop 

1. Panel Backdrop

We wanted to create something similar to this but with more rectangles dividing the big rectangle. We also don't want to use this for a silhouette shot but rather for someone to dance in front of. Below is a clearer picture of what we want to do. 

In order to create this, we initially came up with using thin cardboard/paper and then using something like a metal pole to hold it up. However, we soon realised that cardboard will not shine light through like we want it to. We therefore had to rethink our ideas. We spoke to a couple of our teachers and together came to the conclusion that we should use cloth instead with black gaffa tape to create the lines and then prop it up using metal poles. 

        

Above our pictures of us making the actual backdrop. This was a long and tedious process and required us to measure out the cloth and then measure out were the tape would go. We also needed a large area to do this as the cloth was pretty big so we had to use the common room in our school. However, we worked together as a group to get it done and we were pleased with the final outcome. 

2. Scaffolding/Industrial Look

Since our band's identity was street and urban we decided that we want a setup where we could create an industrial feel with scaffolding. A group in one of the previous years did it and we really liked the look and feel of it so we asked out teacher about it who said it was possible but we had to email Mr Armani, the school caretaker, to actually ask his permission to use it and bring it up to the studio for us. He kindly agreed to do this for us. 

3. Graffiti D4MES backdrop

In order to make our industrial set up more effective we decided we wanted to add a graffiti version of our band's name up there. Initially, we thought this would be quite easy and not time consuming but we underestimated this. We first had to create a stencil to use for the spray paint. This proved quite difficult as we had to figure out which bits to cut out and which bits to keep to create the correct stenciWe were not allowed to use spray paint inside the actual school building so we had to do it outside and also wear masks for safety reasons. We then had to leave this to dry overnight and then come in the next day to go over the outlines with black paint. 

Here are some pictures of us creating the stencil. 

Here are some pictures of us actually spray painting and then painting the black outlines.