Editing

After all filming was complete it was time to edit our footage. The chosen software that we were to use for this editing was Final Cut Express. This was a much more advanced system compared to the basic iMovie software. In order to familiarise ourselves with final cut pro, we looked at tutorials online in order to aid us with our production, such as:

Due to the fast-paced nature of the song, we decided that we would need periods in the video where there would be short sharp cuts. This would be implemented in time to the beat to create a strong rhythm throughout the video. We decided to use this technique early on in the video, as we flick through shots firstly of the area and secondly of the artist. This was designed to generate a fast pace from the beginning, intriguing the audience and intending to engage them for the whole video. This can also enhance the reputation of the artist. 

We also decided that we would need to add some sort of effect to one of the shots that we use for the video. This was to create an underground feel, one that had a close representation to that of the 'streets'. This urban feel was created by grey-scaling one of the shots on through the effects toolbar. We decided to use the scene where the artist is standing in front of a large industrial container. The colour of this container was bright yellow, and didn't have the feel of a UK hip-hop video. This is why we chose this effect.

Further edits we made were to introduce the flashing shot transition as the hook began to turn into the next chorus. This went well as it flashed, co-inciding with the line 'I made a transition'. This linked the visuals seen on screen to the lyrics expressed, creating a relationship for the audience to understand. It also helped to keep the visuals in pace with the speed of the song. To create this effect, we used the 'cross-dissolve' tool. 

Album Cover

When creating the album cover, we firstly took pictures of the artist in front of a green screen. This allowed us to put any background we wanted to portray a certain message. Once we had selected the background and chosen fonts, we went ahead with adding the image.

We decided that we wanted to create a transition effect with the face of our artist to link to the title of the song, 'Transition'. To do this, we had to alter the saturation, in order to produce the effect of the artist moving from left to right. 

We then needed the second stage of the 'transition' of the artist. We doubled the opacity of this second one to 50%, to enhance the movement. We did this in the same way as the first image, and then once more for the final piece.

The back of our digipak was the hardest to create. We took an image of a handing holding a pocket watch, with the intent to place the artists face in the face of the watch. This was to give the idea that the artist was the new 'face of music', and we were going to use it for our poster also. To place the image of the artist into the watch, we had to firstly cut around the thumb which was covering the face of the watch. We did this using the 'cut' tool. We then had to change the opacity of the image, so it looked like  the image was actually inside the watch rather than just stuck on top. We did this using the same method as we used for our front cover. Once this had been done, the thumb was put back into place. To create the tracklist, we used the same writing as that on the front, known as 'Hand of Sean'. This all aspects of the digipak to be interlinked, as the font was also used for the message from the artist on the inside cover.