Video Edits!

After manic panic attacks, late night rendezvous to collect burnt programs and cursing at laptops, the videos are finally edited. HUGE thanks to Chris my editing angel at Shining TV.
Now it's onto the 360 shoot, photoshopping those 40 + images and getting it ready to be coded into a quicktime virtual reality piece.
Still trying to find suitable soundtracks and get those balloons printed for the show!

Behind the Scenes

Some of the initial images I'll use:


Some photos from the first of the two major shoots involving; a large tank of helium gas, 35 giant balloons, one stuffed swan, two stems of special oriental orchids, make up artist, model, assistant (thanks Hung!) and lots and lots of retakes!





Excellent makeup job by Tomoko~!
Some different lighting exposures; the great thing about this reflective dress was that it actually glowed!

Getting balloons to stay where you want them is pretty difficult! They ended up staying put with a bit of tape and a stern talking to (there may have been threats made with a needle also...)

Two mammoth shoots down, lots and lots of post-production and editing to go! More pictures coming soon.

Sneak Peek!

A little to the Left

Getting him used to the camera for the big day..

My not-so-glass Menagerie!

The very valuable (and insured for a pretty sum) menagerie past its sell by date was carefully transported from Hampton Court and is now currently residing in my living room. Thankgod for tupperware, these guys REALLY smell. The swan with its bubblewrap coat looks particularly out of place!
My army of giant balloons is also here having safely arrived in the post after hours of phone chats about abstract qualities found in balloons. They are absolutely huge; size really does matter in this case...

Get Stuffed- 0 Joanne- 1

Hurrah for the suburbs and their cheaper prices and more open attitude to preserving dead animals. After much searching and sordid online links, I've found a more feasible taxidermy place, so 'Get Stuffed' in Islington can er, well, get stuffed.

Bit of a Distraction/ Protest

Albeit the cutest one ever! ( Notice paw on pen stopping me from working)

Blast from the Past

Journeyed to the end of the central line and into suburbia to find these timecapsule warehouses full of junk and treasures from the past; I particularly liked the horribly fake desserts and this stark vacancy sign, although look who's already done that!
Whilst I didn't find anything I'd use, I was given the details of a place that does have lots of potential props. I'm just trying to see what will a.) fit in the studio and b.) fit my budget.

Props!

Am going to visit a few prop warehouses tomorrow in deepest, darkest Acton where all the filmstudios are based to see what interesting pieces I can find for my video shoots. Expect an awful lot of photos tomorrow.

On another note, taxidermy birds are prooving to be way more expensive than I had presviously thought but instead of visiting the local park with a baseball bat and rubbish bag (although it did cross my mind when I learnt that to rent a stuffed dove is over 150 quid/ a day...!) I've decided to abstain from DIY taxidermy/ the black market and go replica instead. Ebay really does have something for everyone.

The family of quails and this (apparently extremely rare) beaver rug are my two favourite Ebay finds thus far. Don't worry though, they haven't made the audition cut.