Close the Loop Production: Evaluating our footage

Close the Loop Production: Evaluating our footage

In our interpretation of this scene we have used three models to show that they are 'blended in'. Ambient lighting is used for this image, this is done so that the models do not stand out and so the image look natural. If stage lighting was used it would create an unnatural theme to the image and make the model stand out too much against the background. In our image all of the models are facing forward, this is so the audience can see their clothing clearly. The Model on the left is has no blazer on, and is wearing a purple shirt and tie. He also has his hands in his pockets, this is done so that you can see the outfit clearer. The model in the middle is wearing a navy suit, pale blue shirt and a pink tie, his hands are crossed in front of him, as does the model on the right. This clothing shows business attire and also shows how they would stand out individually however, with multiple people they blend in. The camera angle in the original photo shows their full bodies, whereas the photo that we have taken does not show their feet and legs. The shot used on the original photo is used so that the audience can see their full outfits, and can understand what the advert is about. Our image also has all but one of the models facing forward, where as in the original image the models are all facing towards the camera with blank expressions. In this clip there is only non-diegetic sound from the narrator, which says 'blend in'.

Our costumes were appropriate, and similar to the ones in the advert. To improve our shot,we could use more models to show that they are blending in, and we could use full body shots like the original image is like. The actors we have used worked well in front of the camera, they held a similar stance to those of the original image. This could be improved by all of the models facing the same way. We used a phone camera to take the images, we have used this because it was easily accessible and the images have a professional look from using the phone camera. In the original image the models all stayed in the same position, so therefore the camera angle was easy to match and create a similar to it.

Both models are wearing similar clothes although our model is wearing blue jeans instead of black trousers, but out model is wearing a black blazer and a white shirt, although our model is wearing exactly the same we managed to copy the clothes as best we could. The setting is what differs most from ours to the actual clip due to the fact that it was snowing a bit earlier so there is snow in the background and on the path our model is walking on, we didn't manage to take the picture on a road so we took it on a path with the school field in the background but thanks to the clothes and the camera angle they look very similar. What makes our shot so similar to the actual H & M shot is the positioning of the model and the camera angle, both models are walking from right to left of the camera and like the clip in the advert we got our model to turn her head left for a second to replicate the clip. The main difference is the lighting, although like the actual thing we used natural lighting due to the snow in the background it makes the picture look brighter but this means the model stands out even more. Next time we take a photo like this we would make sure we took the photo closer so that it is the same distance as the actual photo. Over this short clip the narrator says 'dress like a man', and it shows a woman with short hair wearing male clothes, we tried to replicate it best we could but due to the snow it was going to have a massive difference, next time if we had to take the same shot we would do it closer and on a main road as the snow wouldn't be as bad but also the actual shot was taken on a man road.

In our interpretation of the 'wear a short skirt if you're a man' includes Ben Black as our male model on a white plain background. Our model is shown to be wearing typical male clothes on the top half of his body then a skirt on the bottom half which is unconventional to male gender norms. The model is facing forward mirroring the stance in the actual advertisement. The model is facing forward to enable the clothes to be shown off, particularly the skirt. Ben's facial appearance is also similar to the models as they both show a plain expression.

A problematic factor on the recreation shot is the lighting. Natural lighting appears to have been used on the actual advert however in our recreation we used stage lighting. We took the video without noticing the large shadow on the right hand side and the light reflection on the left hand side. Ben's face therefore was not fully lit up in the shot, shown by the shadow.

The stance of our model and the model in the advert has been recreated well as they are both holding the accurate sign in a similar way. The location of the shot is also fairly accurate as both have been taken inside.  

We used a phone camera to take the images, we have used this because it was easily accessible and the images have a professional look from using the phone camera. In the original image the models all stayed in the same position, so therefore the camera angle was easy to match and create a similar to it.

There are many possible improvements that could've been made to our recreation. One of which is the costume and setting. Ideally a checkered shirt should've been used on the top half of Ben to match the model in the advert and the setting should've had a blue tone with windows and quadrilateral qualities. And as previously mentioned the lighting is an issue however it is understandably hard to recreate an image perfectly.