More Than Conquerors - Hearth and Home

Final edit:

Website

Our website was designed using Wix. Wix was extremely useful in making our website quite easily as we were worried about making a rather amateur website. Wix allowed us to add in background information about More Than Conquerors, as well as add band shots, their previous songs and albums, as well as link the song and video we were working on. We are really pleased with our finished outcome of the website. We didn't feel the need to link the website to our music video as we made a general website for More Than Conquerors, and not just one focused on the music video.

Here is the link to the website: http://sunnywithachanceofri.wix.com/hearthandhome

-Ceára

Digipack

After researching More Than Conqueror's artwork, and the artwork of similar artists we finally set out to design our digipack. The first cover we designed was the front cover. This was inspired by More Than Conqueror's artwork, the narrative and also the symbolic meaning of our music video and love.

For the front cover the background consists of the lyrics of Hearth and Home repeated over and over again, almost to symbolise the insanity of our main character as he is lost his mind, and thus keeps repeating the lyrics, just as in the video there are flashbacks therefore demonstrating how his mind is looping the death of his wife for him. The knives are there as it is a knife which is used to kill Niamh in the video. The eye at the top is a link to the video and to the idea of an omnipresence which will be the final judge of our main character, as well as being the symbol for our audience's judgement. The skeleton symbolises the afterlife and is a link to the "heaven" scenes in our video.


The next cover we created was the back cover. We wanted this cover to be just as dark, and a little more eerie than the front cover, so we took inspiration from Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas" and designed this:

This Cover has links to our running scene in our music video as our main character is hiding in a forest, and we shot it at night time, thus explaining why the moon is out, although the moon is also a symbol for the torches of Danny's pursuers. At the bottom of the digipack we simply wrote the name of our production company, which is "Sunny with a chance of riot".






The next covers we created would be the inside covers. After a while of trying to design these we finally came up with the idea of having the Wife and Husband's hands.

The reason behind these photos were in a typical relationship it is common for a couple to hold hands as a symbol for their love. Therefore we felt this links very effectively to our music video. The hands however are not intertwined but instead facing away from each other. The wife's hand which is to the left, is in a distorted position which links to her murder. Around her hand we wrote the marriage vows: "In sickness and in health" which is symbolic of how a marriage must be kept in tact through the ups and downs, although the irony is this marriage was destroyed through the husband's mental illness, leading to him murdering his wife.




The husband's hand isn't in a distorted position like the wife's, but is however in the position in which he is looking at it, thinking "what have I done?". We believed by having the hand in this position is is showing the husband's remorse for the act he has committed. However, through the words, "Til death do us part" we felt that we conveyed what he is done is finale, and he cannot take it back, thus he is destined to face the consequences of his actions. The use of wedding rings on both hands links to the video, as well as the marriage vows. We felt that through these symbols we were able to keep all the images in conjunction with each other, thus creating fluidity.


After designing these two covers we set out on completing our last two covers. The next one we created was the middle cover in which the C.D would be placed on top of. This is how we designed it:

We designed the cover to look like smashed glass. We did this as we felt that as soon as the husband murdered his wife his entire life smashed and cracked into a tiny million shards of glass, as well as his identity. He was once a loving husband who is now on the run for the murder of his wife. We also believe that is symbolises his cracked mentality and how he is not in a sane mind frame, but with no refuge to go it only cracks further therefore leading him to believe his only way to be safe and healed is through killing himself.



The last cover we designed was made up from photos and turned into a collage. This cover links the music video, the symbols and also our progress of filming.

This was designed through a use of photos we took from filming our band performance. However we used photoshop to distort the images and make them blurry and greyscale. It was through these effects we were able to convey the idea of our main character not being able to see things clearly and having the colour metaphorically drained from his life as the one he loved has been murdered by him, thus falling into a state of depression and self-hate all angered by his guilt.





Our entire digipack is done in black and white, with the only exceptions being the hands, which we did however drain colour from. This was to symbolise the dark and eerie effect of the video, as well as the depression and guilt our main character is consumed with.

-Ceára

Filming narrative

Despite the story being told backwards and dealing with problems we adapted to and solved we filmed chronologically with our murder scene being filmed first, then the running scene and fire with the climactic suicide of our husband character.

Before we filmed we wrote out what we needed done, what time was required and when best to do it. Due to our tight schedule we pushed to film the majority of our narrative in the one night. Filming commenced around 8pm but soon we encountered a prop problem of finding a suitable liquid to serve as blood. Ultimately we went with red food colouring as our 'blood' and it worked out well enough.
In regards to the falling over shot we decided to change the shot from something like this:

 

1:12-1:16

to more of a slower collapse where our character drops to their knees then drops in front of our husband character.

- Danny

At around 9 o'clock at night we headed out to Black's Path to film the scenes in which our protagonist is on the run. We started out with the fire scene as we felt that it made more sense to start with our most difficult scenes as they would consume the most amount of time. It took us a while to start the fire and find logs for Danny to sit on, but after arranging our set and setting up the camera to get the perfect image, we started the fire, but all the while making sure we kept it under control, as well as keeping Danny at a safe distant from the fire so that he wouldn't get burnt.

After extinguishing the fire, we wanted to film the torches scenes straight away as the police stumble across the fire just shortly as it was extinguished. To film this two members of our group climbed up a hill to reach a point just overlooking the spot in which our protagonist was resting. Here we filmed several takes of the lights discovering the spot so that we got the right angle, lighting and effects. After this lighting scene we moved onto the scene where the torches are almost on our main character. We had to film this several times to make sure we knew the exact moment the torches would land on our character, as well as how far he would run before getting caught. All in all, filming the torch scenes went very well and we are extremely pleased with the footage we attained.

After the torch scenes we set out immediately to film the running scenes. These scenes took the longest to film, and were also the most difficult. Due to filming in the dark we had problems with lighting, so we decided to use the torches as lighting. The running scenes were set in different locations so we had to figure out where would be the best position to film so that we could create a fluid panning shot for both clips without the scenes jumping.

After all the running/chase scenes were filmed we only had the suicide scene to film for that night, and after a solid 5 hours of filming, we were all extremely tired, yet dedicated to filming this scene perfectly. After a slight hike up a rather steep hill we finally found a spot that Danny could fall from in which it looked like he was jumping, when in reality he was falling onto the slope of the hill. Before we filmed it we had to clear out the area Danny would fall onto so that he wasn't injured. Then we walked back up the hill and filmed Danny running to that spot from a wide shot, mid shot, and different angles so that we were sure we found the perfect clip. Due to it being very dark we once more had to use the torches for light, but we worked them in with the narrative by making the conscious decision of having Danny get caught.

Unfortunately we couldn't film the Heaven scenes in the same day and due to the typical Irish weather being rain, it was a short while until we could film on a sunny day. When we finally filmed the Heaven scene it went smoother than we imagined and didn't take very long. We shot the scenes from a wide variety of angles and used many different shots using handheld and steady cam.

-Ceára

Inspiration for running shots

One of the main inspirations for our sprinting/chase is the music video for 'my hero' by Foo Fighters. The handheld following of the main character is somewhat what we want to achieve with our chase but from the point of view of our pursuers.

   
-Danny

Filming Performance

As we had planned, we met up with More Than Conqueror's at Conway Mill to film their performance for the video.

As we had previously arranged the set the day before, we were almost fully prepared to start filming. We used different furniture pieces and arranged them in order to create a home-like setting, such as a large rug which occupied the space in which we filmed the band, a sofa-chair, candles, an old television, a tall lamp, a treasure chest, and a table and chairs with flowers. We wanted to create quite an old home setting, and we felt this setting was appropriate in conjunction with the song 'Hearth and Home.'

(pic)

We used LED spots for our lighting, and also created a black back drop in order to block out any sunlight from interfering with our set. We used a halogen light and red tinted lights to give the set a darker, more eerie feel, and to symbolise the murder within the narrative and the blood. Candles were also placed around the perimeter of the set to make it appear more homely.

(pic)


When it came to filming with the band, we wanted to to make sure we knew what we were doing, and what we would want from the piece. We moved the camera around the set to find our ideal shots. Once we found the perfect spot we taped X's on the carpet so that we could find our camera placements quickly, and also so that More Than Conquerors could see their placing easily. When More Than Conquerors arrived we helped them to set up their instruments and amps, and brief them on our filming schedule, and the certain shots we would need, as well as where we would be placing them. Unfortunately members of our group had to leave to go to work during the filming, so there was extra pressure on the rest of us to film the performance perfectly. After a moment of panic between each shot, we successfully managed to film the song from 12 different angles/positions. These included: Mid-shots of the guitars, a close-up of Kris singing, an over the shoulder shot of Jamie playing the drums, and a panning shot of the band playing. Before we shot each clip we asked the band for their opinions of each shot, and then asked for their feedback an critique on the clips once they were filmed. They were more than thrilled with the clips we shot, and seemed to really enjoy themselves. After several hours of filming and getting to know the band, we successfully completed our shot list, and were even personally invited to their gig the following week.

-Niamh

Planning: Performance

Once we had received word that More Than Conquerors liked our idea and wanted to go ahead with it, we all got together to discuss filming locations. We all agreed that we needed a semi-run down building to convey the destruction and desolation the main character feels in our narrative. After a wide variety of possible locations Ceára remembered the storage unit at the top of the Conway Mill nearby that she had been to once. Ceára set out straight away to phone Conway Mill and set up a meeting with the manager to ask about using the space. After she explained what it would be used for, the manager was more than thrilled to assist in the making of our music video, and welcomed us and More Than Conquerors with open arms.

As soon as Ceára returned to school with the great news, we needed to make a decision on appropriate dates that we could film the performance. This was the most difficult part as two members of our group didn't live near the Conway Mill and another two members had part-time jobs that prevented some days. After agreeing to film in Conway Mill we set a date to film on, however on the date we were planning to film Conway Mill were busy, so after coming together and trying to find a new date we finally decided to film on the 20th March 3013. After checking with Conway Mill and More Than Conquerors if this date was suitable, and getting the okay, we decided that we needed to make a list of all the shot types needed and what equipment we would be needing to film.

On the 19th March 2013 my group and I went down to Conway Mill to clear up the location and also set it up. Originally we had planned to have a bare set although when we arrived at Conway Mill we saw that the storage location was full of old rundown furniture. When we originally saw the furniture we were planning to just move it out of the way, although we then decided that the furniture would fit in with our narrative, and also with the idea of the song, being "Hearth and Home".

-Ceára 

Conway Mill: Performance Location

Here are just a few photos of the location in which we are filming the band performances:


We chose this location as we believed it was convent and easy to access. However, the main reason we chose this location is because we feel it links in with our murder theme, as this room is slightly dilapidated, and run down. Thus this keeps in with how we want our band to be in a room in which we could imagine our main character to hide out in.

We believe the look of the building and room is quite reminiscent and similar to the look of the "When the well runs dry" video. Thus we wanted to keep up with a similar theme of previous More Than Conquerors' videos, as well as trying to create a look that would go hand in hand with their sound, and their dark lyrics.



Due to the Conway Mill being open to the public, and a community based centre, we are able to access the room for free, and it is easy to access, as well as bring the band's instruments and amps up to the room as their is an elevator that takes you straight to the room.














-Ceára

Planning: Idea

As soon as we had received our song from More Than Conquerors we immediately set out on trying to come up with the perfect music video idea for this perfect song. The first thing we did was sit down individually and listen to the lyrics of the song. After a few complications with understanding the lyrics, and a quick email to lead singer Kris, we had the lyrics perfect and each our own individual interpretation. However, one thing all of our interpretations had in common was they were all focused around death and destruction. After deliberating on whose idea we preferred we eventually went with Danny's idea as we all agreed collectively that it was the best.

As soon as we had heard Danny's idea out in full we set out on designing a group Prezi so that we could write down all of the equipment, props, camera shots, and narrative we would need. Each person was in charge of an individual section for the planning of the idea and piecing it together. Although due to it being Danny's idea he offered to write out an in depth plot description, as well as drawing the storyboard so that we could completely envision his idea. Once the story board was complete we each took a page each to crop the images and fit them into the seconds of the song we had. Once we had all pieced the animatic together we sent it off to More Than Conquerors for their approval.

-Ceára

Hearth and Home: music video ideas

Plot Synopsis 

The narrative of the music video is set in the aftermath of a murder in a household. The primary focus of the narrative is the husband who has murdered his wife in their shared home. The narrative is aimed to mirror the songs lyrics in that the main character feels driven from the life he once knew. Throughout the story the character reflects on his past life and the consequences of his actions. These are done in the form of flashbacks. The character throughout feels guilty and regrets what he has done but still wishes to determine his own fate, this is why he runs from whoever pursues him. The fleeing from his actions and from the repercussions drive him to end his own life to rejoin his wife in death. Throughout the narrative of the video, there will be several different shots of the band as they perform in synchronisation with the song. These shots will include multiple close up shots of the band members and also wide shots to include everyone in the frame.

Detailed Plot

The story begins in a long narrow path bordered by broken and battered fences, the path is lined with tufts of grass reflecting the wild nature of the area. The sky grows dull with the sun radiating it’s last rays before being extinguished, the clouds weep, drenching the rough gravel creating large puddles dotting around a solitary figure, motionless at the beginning of the path.
The rain falls on the main character who doesn’t react to it but instead stares at a cherished memory in the form of a photo of the character and his love lost. The scene then changes to a flashback of the characters warm and comfortable home he is now so distant from. As the introduction of the song concludes the hooded and obscured character rips off the section containing him and drops it lifelessly to the rain-soaked ground.
As the chorus then suddenly begins, the character bursts into a run, striving to escape a mistake unknown to the audience. The camera continues to follow the character, viewing him from the side as to hide his face. Despite his best efforts to escape from what he has done he fails to be rid of the sorrow embedded in him.
The scene then changes to another memory, distorted and hazed in the characters mind that depicts the scene of the crime shortly after the character, as revealed, has murdered his wife. The door of their home lays a jar but on the step rests a blood soaked knife still shaking as if recently dropped.The camera moves through the doorway to view the horrifying image of the obscured body. Only the lifeless hand is visible from behind a second doorway, the hand is sprayed in blood.


Away from the flashback the location has now changed to a dark area sheltered at least from the wind. Time has now passed to a point where it is very dark with low visibility, the only source of light and comfort being the fire, providing warmth to the lonely character. The character stays close to the flames to ponder over the remaining strip of photo before throwing it into the fire. he then gets up from the log he was sitting on and runs from the incoming torches hunting him. He sprints with the beams of the flashlights stalking him. Various shots of the pursuit. The character falls over but promptly gets up and continues fleeing.

Now at current time there is a lengthy pursuit of the husband. The character falls at one point but gets back up to escape his pursuers.

The shot then cuts to the husband, now out of reach of his pursuers, standing at a ledge overlooking a large drop. Mingled with this is memories of a better time with his wife that mirror how he feel about being separated from his wife. With his love lost and his action catching up with him he falls off the ledge purposely to his death in which he would rejoin his loved one.

Performance:

Locations:

• Conway mill
• Catchlight
• Townhouse
• Start together studio
• Blacks path
• Springfield road

Equipment list:

• Camera
• Tripod
• Lights (halogen)
• Clothes and costume
• Props (knife, fake blood, wedding rings, photo)
• Drum kit
• Guitars
• Mic and stand
• Fire
• Bedsheet
• Blu tac/Gaffa tape
• Fog machine
• Amps

Mood:

• Edgy
• Scary
• Serious
• Intense 
• Dark

Techniques/Effects:

• Stop motion
• Time lapse
• Animation
• Chromakey
• Slow/Fast motion
• Extreme close ups
• Angles: Overhead/High/Low/Wide
• Focus: Sharp/Blurred/Bokeh
• Exposure: Under/Over
• Lighting: Projections/Pots/Gels
• Lyrics and other text: Overlaid or made from objects

Project Plan:

LOCATIONS

Blacks Path: (location of running scene) [4,6,7,8,10];

This filming location involves the character running away through the dark wooded path, the character is frightened of something but it is not clear yet, this location is used to show the path the character must now take to escape what he has done.

Abandoned House Springfield Rd (fire, performance?) [shot 13/14];

This location i think fits the song well, it is an old abandoned house, cold and desolate it really emphasizes the feeling of being away from home, being kicked out or not welcome.

Dannys house at 97 oakhurst ave. 

(looking into living room from outside) [shot 3/5];

The shot here looks into the window of the house, this shot could be used with the abandoned house earlier to show the difference of what used to be and what is now. this shot will try to convey warmth brightness.

Danny’s front door  (Shot of knife on doorstep) [shot 11/12/19];

This shot will be through the open door to a glimpse of a persons forearm lying on the living room floor, knife close by on the doorstep still wobbling and dripping of blood, this will be used to symbolize that maybe not all was as homely as it first seemed and may reinforce why the character was forced to run or has been driven out.

Blacks Path Abandoned House (shot of fire)[shots 13/14/17/18/20];

The location of the fire could be at either of these two locations, the fire would symbolize the solitude of the character, with the only light being the fire this represents the life of his wife, the shot where the fire distorts the characters body could be interpreted as that things are not so simple now and unclear.

 Lady Dixon, memory/afterlife scene: (shots 45,46,47,48,51)

 This is the main setting for the memory of a better time with the wife character. Obviously the lighting will be much brighter but still at dusk, the memory is significant in that it symbolises the afterlife for both of our characters.

Conway mill: location for shooting performance

Shot Summary:

1. Close up shot of guitar being played.

2. Close up shot of lead singer and microphone.

3. Shot of photograph being ripped and thrown away.

4. Close up shot of lead singer and microphone.

5. Shot of inside home from outside - Convey warmth and bright atmosphere.

6. Close up shot of lead singer and microphone.

7. Throws down ripped up photo and slowly breaks from camera into run. Camera follows at mid height.

8. Running down path - slow motion. (Shot from behind)

9. Foot splashing into puddle - slow motion.

10. Camera follows run (sprinting - slowed down by editing)

11. Mid shot of back up vocals and right guitar.

12. Shot of whole body - face covered. (180 degree rule)

13. Door open with knife wobbling on the step dripping blood.

14. Point Of View shot pushing door aside to reveal hand (showing wedding ring)

15. Person seated at location - fire is the only source of light. (Wide shot)

16. Shot through the fire to distort person - Mid shot.

17. Shot of drummer + see whole drum kit - wide shot.

18. Shot of bass guitarist - Either mid shot/full length.

19. Over the shoulder shot (180 degree rule)

20. Close up of photo - then thrown into fire.

21. Close up of hands and knife covered in blood.

22. Runs away from the fire - wide shot.

23. Left guitar back up vocals - mid shot.

24. Torches/flashlights following him from behind.

25. Flashlights flicker around the character as he runs. (Mid shot)

26. Close up of lead singer and microphone.

27. Character falls over but fades to next flashback.

28. Shot of wife bleeding. (After being stabbed)

29. Tilt up to reveal face as husband in shock of what just happened.

30. Close up of wife’s distraught facial expression - tears.

31. Wife falls over (dead) extending her hand like earlier flashback.

32. Shot of drummer. See full drum kit.

33. Mid shot of right guitarist.

34. Left - shot of bass guitarist. Either mid shot/full shot.

35. Point Of View shot - pushing door aside to reveal a hand. Husband runs out of shot with a knife in hand.

36. Husband runs out of door dropping the knife. Door open with knife wobbling on the step dripping blood.

37. Shot from behind left of character running away from pursuers. Can see torch shine on his back.

38. Shot of character slowing to ledge.

39. Character approaches ledge.

40. Close up - singing in to microphone.

41. Shot of drummer. Whole drum kit in shot.

42. Takes step to ledge, light of torches flickering. Calm demeanour of character.

43. Mid shot of back up vocals.

44. Close up of character - tears running down face.

45. Last flash back - shot from behind. Happier times presented by brighter costume and dusk sun shining.

46. Following the wife as she turns around - Mid shot.

47. Wife runs off as he slows down.

48. Wife beckons him to follow - wide shot makes wife distant.

49. Shot from behind, whole body drops off edge.

50. Close up of guitar being played.

51. Walking off into distance - wide shot to show distance.

Animatics Video:

Prezi Blogs: 

These are our group blogs. One features our research into similar bands and videos, and the other features our ideas for our music video:

- Danny, Niamh and Adam