Initial ideas for Preliminary Project

For my Preliminary Project, I’ll be working on two tasks that connect to each other:

• For the minor task, I’m creating the front cover of a digipak. This part of the project gives me the chance to experiment with visuals, colours, and style before jumping into something bigger.

  
  

• Then, for the major task, I’ll put everything into practice by making a short music video that matches the digipak. This lets me explore filming, editing, and creative direction while developing my skills of keeping a cursive aesthetic.

My main idea for the overall project is to work with the 'Back to Black' song, by Amy Winehouse. This 2000's song details the harsh reality the singer faced after her boyfriend ended their relationship to return to his ex-girlfriend. I thought this was a good option for my project because it matches the cold, gloomy aesthetic of winter, highlighting the fact that as the singer goes back to black and darkness, so does the rest of the world in this period of the year.

Of course, before putting my ideas in order, I looked for inspiration in multiple places. I obviously started by watching the original video of the music, which can be also found on the following link, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJAfLE39ZZ8 .

My main idea is to create a "transition" based on the lyrics: You go back to her and I go back to black... . I created a board on Canva, after finding inspiration on Pinterest, to highlight how this currently looks like in my head, and in which way I would like the project to come to life.

A bit more about the transition. After listening to the lyrics more carefully than usually, watching the music video and reading a bit about the meaning of this song, I finally understood how I would like this idea to look like. As I mentioned previously, I would like to put together the cover of a digipak and the video as well, for about 1:30 to 2:00 minutes.

Video.

The storyline follows a personal transformation after a heartbreak, similar to what the original music video presents, and I’ll be working with my sister as the main model, since she fits the visual style and energy I imagine for the character.

The video begins inside a home setting, where everything feels soft and warm; the character is a delicate person, with a so called girly style, that inspires kindness and cleanness. She could be wearing a slick ponytail, applying lip gloss and organising her following day. The turning point comes when she receives a message from her boyfriend ending their relationship. This moment marks a noticeable emotional shift, and the visuals follow that transition.

From here, the aesthetic slowly moves from light and feminine to darker, more defined, and powerful. The character dyes her hair a deeper colour, symbolising the shift into a new emotional state; classic dark feminine energy. She styles her hair pin straight and loose, makeup gets bolder, maybe a classic red lip, and the lighting becomes colder and more dramatic.

To contrast the stillness of the indoor scenes, part of the video continues outdoors, filmed in winter. The cold season matches the tone of the song and adds a visual layer of isolation that works well with the narrative. This will appear after the full transformation is complete and it will be like a presentation of the final product and a better view of the change.

The video will use a mix of close-up emotional shots, slow transitions, symbolic actions (like hair dyeing, wiping off makeup, looking into mirrors, crying), and simple tracking shots when moving outdoors. I plan to play with colour grading as well; starting with warm, creamy tones and gradually shifting into cooler blues, charcoals, and deep blacks to reflect each stage of the transformation. Also, the clothing of the character will change during the shots; at the beginning I was thinking at something like a pink sweater and a pair of pijama shorts or blue jeans, while after a full black outfit of a black and red combination to suggest a darker vibe.

Digipak Cover.

For this I am planning a photoshoot that captures the female's mysterious character and power. She will appear in her final look: darker hair, sharp makeup, and a black outfit that matches the feminine vibe she develops after the breakup. I want the cover to visually connect to the ending of the video and the title, so I’ll shoot it after filming, using the same style and overall mood for consistency.

Her pose will be simple, keeping the focus on her expression and the shift in her attitude. The background will be edited into a more soft, smoky texture to give it a cold, wintery atmosphere that suits the song and story.

Overall, by planning the visuals, choosing the aesthetic, and outlining the storyline, I now have a solid starting point that will guide my final production. This stage helped me understand what I want the project to look and feel like, and it set me up with a clear vision for moving forward into the full tasks.