snapshots from the promotional film/viral

here are a few snapshots from the short promotional film for leo. i chose black & white as a continuity to the printed work i'm doing. the film is still being edited, but for the moment, the soundtrack has a billie holiday flavour.

cards

here is a contact sheet with the cards i have been working on, along with the rest of the promotional material for leo.

book - layouts

i've just finished working on my book for leo and it has been sent to the printers so that it could be ready in time for the 7th of june. the book contains the history of the company plus example of the various types of jewels which can be purchased and their process (enamelling, repoussé etc). so here are a few pages to give you an idea of what the book will look like.

behind the scenes

i have been to leo's workshop today in order to take some pictures. i also took this as an opportunity to take some pictures of the shop & the jewellery on display. i was also treated to a 1983 copy of magazine aurum which contains a big profile article about leo, written by none other than...my dad!

the type branding dilemma...

i've spent a lot of time cutting down my type/logo selection and it now comes down to these two.

i'm finding it very hard to decide.

i think that the de vroomen london one looks a bit "younger" and "fresher", but i like the leo de vroomen one too as i thought that by adding the first name to the type branding would give a sense of accessibility to the viewer/consumer. plus, i like the contrast between the italic lower case and the upper case text.

workshop shoot

i have been in touch with leo yesterday, and i have asked him if i could pop into his workshop this week to take some pictures of his workspace. i would like to find a way to incorporate these to the images i already have and give the viewer / prospective client, a "behind the scenes" taste.

i'm going to call one of his assistants tomorrow to make the arrangements, but the workshop shoot should take place on friday.

i am currently working on the footage filmed a few days ago and the pictures taken then, while selecting texts and images of leo's at the same time - i will put some of the pictures up on the blog very soon.

photo shoot & filming day over

today's shoot & filming was quite hectic & nerve-racking, but i'm really happy to have my images & footage.

the day started with a fitting at leo's shop on elizabeth street, & carried on at the park plaza in apartment 6 where one of leo's assistants joined us with the pieces we had selected. i might want a few extra shots to complete what i already have, so i'll have to consult leo on that. overall, i was lucky with the location & with my very patient models cara & james - when i've got a particular idea in mind, i can become a little bit of a pain - but some people just call that being a perfectionist.

image: a little teaser from today's shoot..

makeup inspiration

here's the kind of look i'll be going for on my model cara at the photo shoot tomorrow - dark eyes & lips.

images: armani (on the left), chanel (top right) & unknown magazine shot (bottom right).

script - promotional film

here is my synopsis & script for tomorrow's shoot & film day. i wanted to have all my ideas & shots listed down in order, so that everything's clear and ready to go when we're on location tomorrow.

photo shoot & filming - finally

after an intensive & exhausting week, which put my organisational skills to good use, i now have my photo shoot and filming day sorted out.

the shoot is taking place on the 14th (friday) at the park plaza hotel at victoria where my two models (male & female) will be evolving in a bedroom & bathroom setting.

the clothing, makeup and looks have already been chosen, but there will be a fitting with leo de vroomen on the friday morning with my female model, in order to select the jewellery pieces she will be wearing.

branded

i am currently working on leo de vroomen's font branding.

the aim is to have something which could be applied to the various printed & moving image materials.

i have a more options, but here are the ones i think work the best so far.

a bit of type

aside from visual research, i have been looking up type & fonts as it will play an important role in my visuals and project.

on the left is the cover of simmelkiaer grotesk, a danish publication.

i really like the pictorial insert and the simple yet strong visual.

on the top right is a 1979 stamp by karl oskar blase. mister blase is a german-born designer who founded his studio while he was still a student. he is famous for his many deutsche bundespost stamps & his covers for form magazine.

again, the work is simple and effective. the black & white gives the image all its power and the unusual disposal of the type adds a unique quality to the stamp.

in the middle right is one of the pages of design journal typographica 7 of which 32 issues were published between 1949 & 1967.

i loved the layout and text / image overlay.

and finally, bottom right is an image found on flickr.

very interesting image & font combination.

murderly yours - again

another visual reference to meet my death & power ideas.

these images are from the 2008 september issue of the asian vogue and were taken by the great miles aldridge featuring model georgina stojiljkovic.

murderly yours

following my previous "dead" thoughts / posts, here are a few images which correspond to a sought-after atmosphere for my own images.

they aren't explicitly linked to anything to do with death or murder, but they do have a mysterious quality.

if i were to choose this option, i would add a few discreet hints in my pictures. for instance, the woman on the top left image could have a bit of blood on her fingers. same with the bottom close-ups.

on a slightly different note, the 1932 picture of loretta young by edward steichen at the top of the stairs, has the same mysterious ambiance, but the character on display looks more like the hunted than the hunter. which i would stay away from as my idea consists on the jewellery bringing out power and control out of the model.

thus also joining my "jewellery giving power & confidence" approach mentioned in my 20s' post.

deadly bejewelled

one of my ideas (which wasn't on my poster), might be a little controversial as it involves dead people (well, dead-looking people).

i was thinking of having dead-like models wearing the jewels. don't ask me why.

but i just think that it would have a very strong visual impact & would play with the idea that jewels are inanimate & cold objects & by putting them on deadly models, suggest that in the end, nowadays, we are just objects ourselves. i hope this doesn't sound too arty or conceptual (or plain weird)...

black look

as i have mentioned when putting up the 20s' images previously, i am very interested in having model(s) with a certain intensity, theatrical expressions & manners.

these images, featuring model anne-sophie monrad from the april issue of marie claire (italia), are another example of the above.

glamourous backs?

an approach i was considering, was to have the jewellery worn by models, but whom would only be photographed from behind - putting an emphasis on the pieces & playing on the unusual. i'm not sure that this route would allow a lot of creativity though.

the image on the right was taken from pop magazine (autumn/winter 2009).

the model is wearing a a chain necklace by gucci.

the image on the left was found on the internet & unfortunately i haven't got its source.