Dezeen Magazine

Emmy Curl's own image is projected onto her face in Come Closer music video

Music: director Nuno Barbosa layered images of pop artist Emmy Curl over her body during this one-take music video for her single Come Closer.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

In Barbosa's video, Portuguese singer Curl's image is projected onto her while she stands against a plain black background.

Multiple projections of the singer performing slightly different motions overlap and conflict with her body as she mouths the lyrics to the track.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

"The first thing that came to my mind after listening to the lyrics was two beings coming together," the Porto-based director told Dezeen.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

"We decided that we were going to use Emmy's image only – her true self versus her projection."

On occasion, visualisations of Curl covered in four different UV paint patterns are directed onto her face and neck – synced to echo her movements with a slight time delay.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

Artist João Tiago Fernandes created the body-paint designs, which reference snippets of the song's lyrics.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

For example, an animated painted bird takes flight from her neck after she sings: "I've got wings that taught me how to fly."

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

The complicated production process consisted of three main procedures.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

In the first round of filming, Barbosa shot frontal and profile images of Curl to be used as projections during the final performance.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

Curl then performed choreographed movements while covered in luminous paint and under a special UV light.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

Barbosa took the sequences created during these earlier sessions, added basic effects and animation via software, and projected the resulting clips onto the singer while filmed again.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

Curl performed a slightly different choreography than in the projections to create various effects across her face and body, using a mirror to work out where the images were landing.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

"That setup was pretty awkward," Barbosa admitted to Dezeen. "The projector was settled on an ironing board, with the camera above it. The camera was right above the projector lens to get as little distortion as possible."

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

The video took three weeks to make in total, with no post-production done on the final take.

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

"We want to show the imperfections and fragility of reality," said the director. "The final result has an analogue feel that would have been impossible to achieve in a post-production environment."

Emmy Curl video by Nuno Barbosa

Come Closer is the first single to be taken from Emmy Curl's album Navia, which is due out in early 2015.