Music Video Evaluation: Final Evaluation

Evaluation

My media project was to create Music Video, Digipak and Music Poster for an unsigned band; ‘Bombay Bicycle Club’. I have researched into the advertisement packages that I choice to do; for better understand when doing my own. Doing the research made it possible for me to come up with idea of my own to get the conventions of the band. After research I had to plan towards my final product; through this it made it easier to get to the final stage of the project. Below is my evaluation of each of the 3 products done.

My music video that I have created follows conventions from most of the contemporary music videos with it being a narrative and performance production. You can see with the history of music that when music videos started; most of the genres will be performance. As time went, so did the attention span of the younger audience, so narrative music videos started. With my genre being contemporary itself, I used this convention of having both styles in one. To link with my genre of Indie pop within the music video I didn’t use transitions to give the video fast cuts. With using fast cuts, it keeps the audience watching and also it flows with the tempo of the song. Within the music video itself the actors in the narrative part are the performers of the band can link with the conventions of contemporary Indie Pop bands; this is because not being as famous they want the viewer to familiarize to the faces of the band. You can see with the research that I did with Lights and Sounds – Feel Alive; they are with their music video. A lot of shots in the music video are focusing around the lead singer; this can be seen as a convention because most bands will focus around the singer because without the singer the music might not be as good; also these shots being close ups. With the band being unsigned shooting the shots with a hand held camera shows that the band is not as popular and also this links with the genres target audience. With Indie Pop bands a lot of the shots will be long shots; this is because the bands are just starting off and have not be changes with materialism and popular within the band. So the long shots so there equality within the band no matter what you play. Within my music video I did use long shots in the performance part but within the narrative part the lead singer was focused on more then what the drummer was.

The main problem that came up when producing the music video was the group itself. The group was of 2 people and with the lack of appearance because of personal situations on my own part left my partner on his own. With my partner on his own, it left with him with all of the editing to do. My partner not being happy with what was there started his own project and new music song, with this happening it gave me my own opportunity to do my own editing for the music video making it my project. Looking at feedback that was given for my partners video before he started his own; it was not to use the nature shots of the animals because it looks like we just got bored in the filming process. With this it gave me the problem of giving rid of that part of our raw footage, leaving the music video short on the editing stage. Having this problem I had to spread parts out. Finally with having to start again on my own, I tried to not edit the same of what my partner did for his version, meaning that the planning that was done was not of use to me. Within the music video itself most of the problems that occurred was in the performance part. With the performance part of the shooting we wanted to have the on the stage but, because of technical problems with the lighting the stage was to dark for filming meaning we had to film were the lights we had were. With the feedback given the viewer was confused why the band was not on the stage, so this has caused a problem. One way of fixing this would be to shoot it again but with the stage lights working, but because of timing with the planning, there was not time to redo the filming. Also with using the lights we had in the middle of the hall, made it limited to the shot I could have because of the open area the hall is. In the final music video the performers you can see that in one part of the shots the lead singer has a guitar strap and the other guitar person doesn’t; were in another shot this has changed around. Finally with the performance segment the actors themselves lacked with the knowledge on how to play the instruments meaning that it didn’t look as believable. The editing for the shot are all fast cuts, but in with using Final Cut Pro you have to make sure that the clips are attracted to each other or you will have gaps; when having gaps it brings up a black shot, and within the final music video this happens at the start after a transition to one of the actors.

For my digipak I have included most of the conventions that they use. On the digipak I have added a front, back and CD tray that all digipak must have. On the front panel there is the convention of having an album picture that can relate to the lyrics or a meaning that the band wants to portray. There will also be the name of the band on the front panel (useless your trying to break conventions), the name also could be seen as a logo. Looking at my final design I have made a logo/name of the band myself to show who the album is. You will also have the album’s title on the front because then the buyer knows what they are buying. The back panel of a digipak will have on the track list, barcode and copyright information. All of the listed before are there for the buyer when purchasing; this is because the product will be sealed so the buyer needs to know what they are getting without opening before purchase. With my design you can see all of these conventions on. My final digipak is a 6 panel template with a tube pocket; is can see seen as conventional digipak. But linking with the genre of Indie pop a 6 panel template might break convention of this genre because it’s not really popular. With the genre of Indie pop I have used the conventions of most bands having light/bright colours to show there upbeat tempo music. With band digipak there is normally a picture of the whole band but within my final design have only used a picture of the lead singer what can be seen of breaking the conventions. Also bands will normally have pictures of there instruments to show that the music is important but from this it is saying that the meaning of the songs are more important.

With their only being a picture of the lead singer it takes away the meaning that the band is equal, and this is what I wanted to show in the digipak because it shows that in music video. From this is ruining and confuses the meanings that should be coming from the band. But because of the planning going wrong there was no time for me to organize the 3 member together to take a picture together, so I had to use what I had. This caused a problem because with the feedback I took in it said that it would have been better if it showed the 3 members their instruments because it links in with the bands conventions. The pictures I used in the digipak didn’t fit with the music video so it might have caused a problems with the target audience; but this was solved with the music poster showing the release date to be in the peak of summer meaning that the pictures link with the time and also the genre of being upbeat; then also links with summer. Also with my feedback it told me that I need to change the colour of the font because it is hard to see what it says, and the font on the front panel should stand out.

Lastly in my advertisement package I have create a music poster for the band that will be put into magazine mainly or could be show at place of the target audience of young adults. The reason for a music poster is to give a release dates for an album that could be coming out. The music poster itself shows characteristics of a contemporary music poster. At the top of the poster is has the bands logo because this is important so the viewer knows what band it is, if the picture doesn’t have members of the band or something that can symbolize the band. Underneath the logo you can normally see the album’s title so people know what the album is called and be able to socialize with other people of the same target audience so the word gets around. Also convention that my music poster has is the release date in a big font so it can be seen and they know when the release date is. The music poster links with the digipak so when the music poster is shown in the months when the albums are released the buyer is familiarized to the images and can connect them together. The music poster links in with the genre with the colours I have used; they are bright and upbeat. I used the colour blue for the logo because I find that Bombay bicycle club’s colour is blue. This is also proven with my mind map I did in the research stage of the project. It could be seen as breaking the conventions within that genre because they will normally use a picture of the band so the viewer can acknowledge the band by their faces instead of the logo. From the feedback that I have been given they have said that the colours are too much and should be died down. Also they have said that I should re-organize the layout for the poster because it feels like there are things missing from a conventional music poster (for that point I responded that because of the genre of the band the poster is breaking conventions and is seen as more simple because the meaning of the album and the band itself is what matters).

When I was research through me my work I found most of my information with on the internet. Using the information from the websites of the bands made sure that the information that I wanted was fact, unlike going on websites like Wikipedia. From these websites I looked at pictures of the band and also listened ad looked at songs to get a good feel of genres. MySpace was a good website when I was researching into the Indie Pop genre because there are a lot of unsigned bands on MySpace those focuses around the same genre. This is because it is free and for starting bands it’s a good way to get yourself known. With planning I used a lot of my own knowledge that I learnt through-out the years of media with connotation and denotation.

In the planning stage of the project; it is a key skill to be very organized, because planning out can really help you get your work done faster. In my planning stage, I lacked organizing because of my own personality; what might have left me at a disadvantage. Planning was helped because of my pre research on the analysed things. From already knowing conventions with that genre I was able to think of more ideas for my advertising package. In planning I used mostly a pencil because I was drawing down my ideas; with drawing your ideas it gives you more creativity with what you want, being about to get the curves and styles that a computer can’t do in the same time. After drawing the images I did have to use a scanner to scan them in so it is possible to upload them to the blog.

Construction of my work involved more ICT work because to get the right quality needed to get the look and style was all computer based. When construction the music poster it didn’t take me long because from my planning I already knew what I wanted to do, and I staged the right things to make it as simply for me as possible. The differcult part was to get the photo needed. When taking the photo I used a Canon 400D to get the right quality that I wanted for the picture. When I had the photo I used Photoshop and added the text that I need to get the conventions needed to get the target audience. When creating the digipak I also used Photoshop because I know how to use it to get the right look I want. When I was creating the digipak I didn’t use any of the planning idea that I drew up, but I merge some of the ideas of each one.

Music Video Construction: Building the Music Poster

Music Video Construction: Building Digipak

Music Video Planning: Call Sheet

Music Video Planning: Digipak Planning

In this blog I have scanned in my digipak designs that could possibly be my final idea. from planning the digipak it will give me a better idea of my final piece.

In this idea it is a digipak that breaks its conventions because of the shape. Also it breaks conventions because it has cut out pieces within; this links in with its genre of Indie Pop. it also keeps conventions of digipaks

I like this idea because it can link in with a unsigned starting band that have song and want to make a digipak; and it is prove because it is only a 4 panel digipak. In this design it has a tube pocket to fit in the music video that I have made.

Music Video Planning: Music Poster Planning

In this post i have scanned in my music poster ideas and also logo idea for the band. with having logo ideas it shows that its not the real BBC. Planning out the music poster will make it easier for me to edit together with Photoshop and having the right parts.

Music Video Planning: Storyboard

Through this post I have scanned in my storyboards that I have done so I can get a better idea on what I want with my final video when shooting. Planning it helps me, instead of thinking it on the spot, because I can forget or miss important shots needed, what will mess up the editing process

Music Video Planning: Actors

This is to show the reasons why we chose the actors we have.

Tom O’Brien

Tom also being a group member; also is playing the part of the lead singer. With having a lack of actor willing to take up parts for the music video, so tom stepped in. With Tom being in it and also an actor gave an advantage because we only had to arrange between both of us. Tom also fits the part of an indie band member with the clothes he wears.

Aden Thomas

Aden was a number one chose when picking actors with the indie look because he shows the same conventions. Aden being the bass player in the music video has long stylish hair, and also the indie style clothes. From that he was picked start away to be part of the band. One problem with using Aden was with the location of where he lived , giving him limited time with us for filming and also with having to plan the day better with no being able to have that much. Also Aden didn’t know how to play an instrument so the performance segment won’t be as believable.

Ed Barker

With not having actor that can look the part for the indie characteristics, so we had to ask other people that was willing to be in it. Ed Barker kindly said that he would. Ed still fitted with most of the criteria of an indie band member with the clothes he wears and also his young upbeat appearance.

Music Video Planning: Locations

For the groups music video we had to go and look for location before filming to give us a better idea to what we want, and the pros and cons of the location. With the idea that has been chosen for our music video we will need 4 different locations.

Location Number 1

Location 1 is Boultham Park, where we will have the lead singer running around. The lead singer is chosen to be in Boultham Park because with nature wanting to be the main point and the lead singer is the more important they should be put together. Boultham Park was picked because it was in the middle of both homes and also because of its band stand in the middle of one of its fields. We wanted to use the band stand as relapse points were it all comes together. It was also picked because of it secluded paths covered with trees, to give the right feeling to the atmosphere. If Boultham Park is not used then Hartsholme Park would be our next choice because of it having the same characteristics but, Hartsholme is a busier park then Boultham that will cause filming problems. If we was to change the park part altogether then the common would have been used to replace it. The filming would be done early in the day, for the best lighting and also because Boultham Park being dangerous later on in the day.

Location Number 2

Location number 2 is urban home area. This area is where we will see the drummer running around, to find his way back. Because of filming advantages we have chosen to use the area around our school because we will be able to use our free time at school to walk to the area with the equipment borrowed from school to do our filming; and have time to go back and upload it to the computer straight away to back up the files. The problems with using the urban home area is with passing cars being in one shot and not another.

Location 3

Location 3 is held within the city with the bass player running to find his way back. This location could link with the urban area so you are planning to shot it up near the cathedral were the building and the look is different. Problems that can occur here is with people walking around the shots when we need to take the same shot but at a different angle.

Location 4

Because of the lack of knowledge we struggled to find a location for the performance part of the music video. For the performance part we wanted it to be an old stage where it could symbolise there part gigs. But with not knowing any we decided to use the stage at our own school. With using our school stage it will make it easier for us to do the filming, but it isn’t going to give us the right mood. With this location, as a group we will have to go to the dance department to be able to book out the stage, because Dance will normally have the whole hall booked for their lesson.

Music Video Planning: Music Treatment

Images

Lyrics

All 3 band members are seen stood in different environments. One in a park or forest of some sort, surrounded by trees and grass, emphasising nature. In a total contrast, another will be located in a built up area, like the middle of a shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon when it’s at its busiest. The final one will be in an office in work attire (shirt and tie) sat at a desk trying to entertain himself in anyway possible. He throws a screwed up ball of paper at the bin and misses, this resembles his apparent bad luck, and this ends the verse. All 3 band members’ long faces show their boredom at where they are, and how they long to be elsewhere. All of a sudden, they seem to realise what they have to do, and all 3 run at once as the screen blanks out. 3 columns appear one after the other, showing the band members running from the same angle. This shows that they are alike, and the even columns show them each as an essential cog in their bands machine. The shots of them running then switch back to normal and are cut quickly between each band member to resemble the quickened tempo of the song itself. As the chorus ends, the 3 band members fall to the floor and lay on their backs, exhausted. Lots of spinning shots which could resemble dizziness that has come about because of the energy used when running. Shots will zoom in on the band members, as the band get to their feet by the end of the last line of the verse and begin to run again in the next chorus, this time even faster. The shots are cut faster which gives the impression of the band running even faster. As they all make their way into the building with a stage in it at the same time they gather their instruments and make their way on stage for the instrumental. First the bassist, followed by the drummer and finally the singer/guitarist when their instruments come into the song. The band only reach true compatibility when they reach the repeated line “his height wont last” when you can really see the emotion and passion in the face of the singer, as his energy flows throughout the rest of the band who are equally passionate. As the stretched out guitar note which gets higher in pitch as it goes on, the camera will focus upon an amp and shake under the power of the note. The band continues to perform on stage as if it was their home where they felt comfortable. Their long faces are now replaced with smiles and laughter. The lighting on the stage flashes professionally, making the band seem the finished product “too much too fast.” Can they really handle it all? Shots consist of the band themselves and their instruments and will be shot from numerous angles giving the audience a real feel that they can imagine being there at the showing. As the band finish the song the camera zooms out from the stage to show an empty hall and as the band exit to the stage right and left, a cleaner comes across with a broom sweeping the already immaculate floor. This shows the band still has a long way to go.

Whatever happened To Saying these words the last time At least for a while And he looks so worried But you hate how he looks at life With such a closed mind Too much, too fast, We should be heading back No questions asked Its always sailing past Have you learned your lesson? Have you learnt to always think things through? Cause you keep on changing What you think is right What is true but only when it suits you Too much, too fast, We should be heading back No questions asked Its always sailing past His Height wont last His height wont last Too much, too fast, We should be heading back No questions asked Its always sailing past Too much, too fast, We should be heading back No questions asked Its always sailing past

This is the music treatment done by my partner I was working with. From this music treatment we will be able to be better planned when starting to film

Music Video Planning: Music Video Ideas

Performance

1. With a performance video only being of the band playing, I have decided instead of having a live session video of the band playing, I would have a performance story. Looking at the lyrics of the song I find that the meaning of the song means that they have gone to fast and need to head back to the begin. Through this theory the idea was made that the band should perform the song on an old stage with no one around. This is to give the feel of it being the start of their career again, going back to the start. The actors them self are still in fashionable clothes to show they have changed from there ordinary times. Within the camera shots they will be long shots so it fits the how band in to give them there equality within the band. There will also be close-ups but they will be of the instruments to show that the music is what’s important to them; and from this it gives off the idea that bands are changed by material things, and they are trying to go back to the start.

2. Another idea for a performance video would be having the band performance not in and indoor place but outside in nature. This is to capture the feeling of going back to the start, which is pure and can link with nature. Also with my idea with Bombay Bicycle Club from my mind map I linked them with bike rides that can also link with nature. With the band not being in a stage location it shows that they are not in it for the performance, it doesn’t matter where they play. This idea can come from my research with Lights and Sounds video where they are on the beach and singing about life. Within this idea the shots will be passive shots to show that the band is indie because they’re not framed shots; always moving. With the passive shots they can be moving left all the time like they are going backwards. Close-ups of the instruments and the lead singer will be used. A problem with this idea is betting the music equipment to these places.

Narrative

3. Looking at part of the lyrics of the song it says “but you hate how he looks at life” gives me the idea that the narrator is talking to or from a women’s point of view in the song. With having 2 genders within the lyric I took up the judgement of thinking that it was about a relationship. From the lyric in the relationship the women’s thoughts are that the man is taking something too far and she wants it to head back to how they were. Through this idea it will be a story from a women’s point of view in a failing relationship of arguments and sadness. With that idea I would use fast action shots because of the tenseness of arguments. Also within shots they will be mostly long shots to show space, and the loneliness but a lot of close-ups to show her sadness. The story will also follow things that happen within their relationships and flash backs will pop up of times when things were happy.

With this idea I wanted to use the camera shots with mainly using a point of view style to it. I thought that use a point of view shot will give off a new idea of a music video and would interest the audience. With these point of view shots it will follow the life of a teenager in his life where problems will occur; but it all focuses around a bike ride. But because the shot is just one shot and doesn’t have any more I will have to add other shots and angles to make it more intriguing.

Extra things that can be added to any of these ideas are a clock that is going backwards; this gives off a better idea of tome needing to go back.

Combination

This idea was contemplated in my group from several things added all together. We looked at Red Hot Chilli Peppers music video of Californication where they are trying to run to a destination; we liked the idea of this, and thought that it could link in with the picked song. The idea is that the band members in the music video are in 3 different locations, to show that it doesn’t matter where you are it’s the same. The band members are meant to be running away from their problems to find the solution, and the only way to find it is to go back. The actors in the narrative are the band members in the performance as well to show that the story is about them. There wouldn’t want me to be any transitions in the music video because the shots want to be fast. When the lead singer reaches the same point he started it goes into the performance side of the video to show that they have learnt the lesson and are starting again.

With all the ideas, they can’t all be made into a combination of both performance and narrative , and this will probably make each idea better if it was.

Music Video Planning: Music Lyrics

Whatever happened
To saving these words the last time
At least for a while
And he looks so worried
But you hate how he looks at life
With such a closed mind

Too much, too fast
We should be heading back
No questions asked
It’s always sailing past

Have learned your lesson
Have you learnt to always think things through
Cause you keep on changing
What you think is right
What is true but only when it suits you

Too much, too fast
We should be heading back
No questions asked
It’s always sailing past

His height won’t last
His height won’t last

Too much, too fast
We should be heading back
No questions asked
It’s always sailing past

Too much, too fast
We should be heading back
No questions asked
It’s always sailing past

Music Video Planning: Permission

Though this post it goes through the stages of looking for a band with my partner on MySpace and asking for the bands permission to use their songs. We ask a few bands to give us more choice if one decides not to give us permission. Each band asked had a similar genre to each other evolving around Indie.

Bombay Bicycle Club
Sent
Dear Bombay Bicycle Club,
I am a 6th form media student and need a song from an unsigned artist to base a music video on. Immediately, you guys sprung to mind as I have been a fan of you for a fair bit of time now, after hearing your name through people on MySpace.
My personal favourite song is Pedestal and I would love to use this for my project; however our exam requires we gain consent from the artist to use your work.
The video would be solely for our exam and will not be shown publically except in our class most likely
Thanks
Yours Sincerely
Adam Herrick

Reply
We would be honoured
good luck with the exam
BBC

The View
Sent
Dear The View,

I am a 6th form media student and need a song from an unsigned artist to base a music video on. Immediately, you guys sprung to mind as I have been a fan of you for a fair bit of time now, after hearing your work and buying both albums, as well as seeing you were unsigned to my surprise.
My personal favourite song is "Wastelands" off your first album and I would love to use this for my project, however our exam requires we gain consent from the artist to use your work.

The video would be solely for our exam and will not be shown publically except in our class most likely.

Thanks

Yours Sincerely

Adam Herrick

Reply
Hi Adam,
as long as you don't use the video for sale or public performance it would be cool :0)
cheers,
TV
x

The Story So Far
Dear The Story So Far,
I am doing a media course and my project is to create a music video from an unsigned artist of my picking. None of the production made will be published or will it be shown to anyone but the moderators at OCR. I was wondering if I could use one of your songs for my project because I am a big fan of your music; 1234 being the first song I listen to, and after that I was hooked. If you approve would you like to pick a song because I find it too hard to pick any in the playlist finding that they are all great songs with meanings that can be portrayed.
Yours Sincerely
Adam Herrick

No reply

Music Video Planning: Picking a band

After the initial research of music videos and bands, my partner and I have decided to find a band that revolves around the genre of Indie. For my own personal thoughts I find that I would have more uses and creative ideas for a band genre of Indie Pop; this is because it’s fast tempo and also link with their target audience of people my own age. Looking at my poster research of Lights and Sounds, I can see that to create a digipak and poster from this genre will be easier because I already know the conventions of a typical indie pop band. The best place to find an unsigned Indie Band is with on MySpace, because that is where most of that genre starts off. When I have found the band that will be used, I need to ask for permission from the band to use the music.

Music Video Research: Magazine Poster Research

In this post I will be researching music posters so I can get ideas for my own music poster for the band I will be picking. Through this research will make sure I get the right image for the right genre. Also this will have information on different types of music posters e.g. Gig posters.

Travis is an alternative rock band that is from Scotland, with Fran Healy, Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose. There band is named after Travis Henderson from the film Paris, Texas. This music poster of the band Travis is a typical indie rock band. The poster shows the 4 members of the band in a scenic setting. Looking at the formation of the band members you can tell that they are formed with the membership popularity; Fran Healy at the front because he is the lead singer. This poster is a simple poster with only the bands logo and album name. Both of these are at the top of poster and it is large so you can see it, and it is there for you to notice. With the band being indie this is why the poster isn’t out of ordinary; it goes with the lyrics that they want to portray. The setting of the poster also goes with the lyrics; this is also defined with the space between the band name and also the band members. Within the poster nature light has been used. From this I can see that when using the performers you want to portray the meanings of them and their music.

Placebo is an alternative rock band that was formed in London in 1994 and the band members that are involved are Brain Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forest. Looking at the band Placebo it is well known for sexuality to come through from their music because of the sexuality that is within the band itself. From the information known about the band you can see that they have placed sexuality within it with having the lip stick shaped rocket. It shows the sexuality of women that they want to portray in the album that they are selling from the poster; ‘She wants Revenge’ and she is going to be powerful about it, she is the lip stick and the power is the rocket. The poster is quite simple because they want you to focus on the image more, to get across the point. This is also used with the colour; the lip stick is red (anger, blood, revenge) where as the rest of the image is black or white. With the lip stick being red, they are showing that is important; and the name Placebo and the albums names are just the same. With the poster not being of the band members it shows that the name of the band is more important then themselves. This is a simple music poster because it isn’t show other things within it, like realise dates or tours; where other music poster would.

Linking in with my research of music band, Lights and Sounds was one of the bands that I went into detail about. Lights and Sounds are an Indie Pop band, which is unsigned. They are not a well known band because of their indie status. Being indie just them their wide range of styles, so they can perform the music that they want. There fast upbeat tempo music links in with their target audience of young adults that are also like the band itself. From the band not being well known they use their name instead of their faces on the music poster because people are more likely able to notice their name then their faces. On the poster with them front lining, they are more important so their name takes up most of the page. The name itself is not simple it is art like, and unusual because of their genre. The text doesn’t have anything to do with the band; it has more to do with the gigs theme that they want to portray in the advert poster. This is also proved with the band’s name coming from the ball of string. Even though Lights and Sounds are bigger than the rest of the writing, it is still important. The information that is on this type of music poster is, times, locations and other bands names, but it is not the bit we should be focusing on because it’s smaller font size. I find that the price of the tickets rivals the size of the band’s name because the point they are trying to make is that it only because ‘5 POUND’ to see this ‘BIG’ band. To fill up the page and also to add to the theme the cat is place below all the important things and also is not in a bold colour to take always the important of the other information.

Sonic Edge band are an Alternative Christian band from Singapore. This is a new style of music because Christian music is stereotypically hymns and choirs; were this is new aged music to give a wider audience for the Christian genre. With my own personal idea about Christian bands I find that the new alternative Christian bands are there to attract the younger generation to the idea of Christianity. The poster that they have been advertised on is a typical album launch poster that fits the brief of my own task. From this poster I will be taking parts of it to make sure I grab the same convention in my own work. Focusing on the bands image first, you can see that the band is important with the logo and band name taking up most of the page. The logo itself is unique and goes with the genre of being alternative. You can see that it is alternative with the canted angle and boldness of the logo; in a way it reminds me of California sunny beaches because of the font. The font being bold can symbolise the boldness and strength of their beliefs and how much they want it to be portrayed in the band. The silhouette of the bird that goes with the theme of the poster is Sonic Edge Band’s main logo; I find that is could be seen as a religious symbol, maybe being a dove. If the bird is a dove with it being positioned above the band’s name shows that they up their religion above the band or it is everywhere the band goes. Looking around the logo and the logo itself it gives off an ink like art; this could go back to the culture of the band. The second text that sticks out is the news about the new album launch and the word album is bolder then the rest, telling me that the ‘Album’ is important. The other information for the album launch isn’t as big but still follows the same idea, with the important parts being bolder, like the date and the price. Also with this poster the sponsors are also present on the poster, so because know who is responsible for the launch and bring the company popularity. Looking at his poster it breaks normal conventions of poster by being longer than normal; but is style poster could be door size poster so when it’s stuck up you see it every time you leave your room.

Music Video Research: Digipak Research

I need to research in digipak’s so I can use it to design one of my own for my chosen band, so I can achieve the right criteria for them to get the target audience needed. In this you will see some digipak’s that can portray what I could be looking for in my own digipak.

Looking at digipak’s you can see that most of them are used for albums from popular bands. Most of the time they can be used for greatest hits albums. With greatest hits albums will have more than one CD in or will have some bonus feature because it will have more in then just a normal CD album. Digipaks also can be used depending on the genre, when looking at the genre and digipak’s you can see that depending on the genre will change the shape and colours of the digipak. For more modern bands that are appealing to a young target audience will want to have a strange design for a digipak , for it to be different, and depending on the genre will depend on the colour; bright colours could link with pop. Promoters will design a digipak to show the importance of the album, because its “limited edition” and its different, the buyer feels like they are getting something for their money.

Gorillaz Digipak
Gorillaz being a British virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn , who is also in the pop band Blur. The band consists of 4 animated members: 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodles and Russel Hobbs. The styles of the band are a composition of different musical genres, focusing around: Hip Hop, Alternative Rock, Electronic, Dub and Pop Music.

Looking at this digipak by the Gorillaz you can see that with their genre they have a linked it in with the digipak. You can see this because the digipak is not like ordinary digipak’s with them being straight and long. This digipak forms a square where each side folds out to create a cross like shape. On each side of the square that have folded out, is a picture of each of the band members. This shows that each band member is just as important in the band, but with how the sides fold out the lead singer is first when you fold it out, showing that he is the most important and this digipak shows that. On the back of the left and right sides there are alternative pictures of the same performer, but changes with a small movement, this can be seen here to take up the blank space and also still animation. There are only pictures of the members on the inner sides because the members being of an unusual circumstance are wanted to be focused on, that is also why the background could be white because it focuses on the members more because they are of the character base. With being character based it’s like a cartoon and can link with the target audience of young people with the genre type and the intertextuality of video games.

Love Motown
Love Motown is a CD of all of the past motown songs that have been but have been put into a CD what is of modern times. It is a classic 2 disc album because there have been numerous songs from the motown times that could just fit on one disc.
This album for Love Motown is one of the basic digipak’s you can get. It is a 2 disc set where to get to the 2 disc you have to fold it out to get to it; this is to save space within the album. Using this digipak tells me that it isn’t meant to be unusual because of it being so simple; it’s simple because of the genre. The genre of this album can be seen as old, so the target audience is for the older generation, and to have something complicated could confuse. The digipak also has an outer cover to keep it save and also to make it seem more moneys worse than if you was buying a normal CD. The outer cover also to go with the theme idea wanted for the digipak because the idea of it is for a present for your mum, so it’s like opening a present when you give it to them. The colour of the digipak also links with t he genre and features of the CD because the song and the reason why you are buying it link with love. So the colours are red to show the emotion of love within the album, to give the right feelings. Also with it be simple it gives off the feeling of old fashioned loved from when your mother could have been falling in love.

Looking at this digipak from Muses album you can see that it is basic in a way with its 2 fold out parts and the CD in the centre being the focus point. From this you can tell that the digipak itself isn’t meant to take any attention away from the CD. You can say you get the same idea with the colour of the CD. On the sides of the CD you have to picture that are both in black and white , that tells me that the album has some kind of darkness to the lyrics and also that the band members are important to this because they are important; also they are the first thing you seen when opening the digipak. On the right side there is a picture that will relate to the lyrics, showing that they are just as important. Within in the sides there is a DVD in one pocket and art work in the other. Both of them are hidden because they are only bonus features for the album and are not as important as the CD itself; also it could be used for safe keeping.

Music Video Research: Basic Camera shots

Music Video Research: Within Music Video's

Camera
How the camera is used and how the images are sequenced will have a significant impact upon meaning. Looking different types of music videos you can tell which is which from how the camera is used. From example in a performance music video the camera can accompany the performers walking or dancing but, it can also to create more dynamic feel to the performance will circle the band. Tracking shots can also we used to create these feelings. Depends on the genre of music video different shots will be used for it, like for a pop genre with a female singer, a close up shot would be used for the “male gaze”; where as in an indie genre will just use a close up to show the important of the lead singer.
Voyeurism
Linking in with the male gaze and looking at Freud theories; that have been used within media; voyeurism refers to the idea of looking in order to gain sexual pleasure. This has been seen with the male viewers gaze from the women that could be on display. Goodwin has the same idea, but he talks about it with the use of camerawork and editing.

Editing
The most common form of editing that can be associated with music videos is fast cut shots; this makes the viewer want to watch it again, because they can tell what is happening within the shot. Also with them not knowing whats happening it means they have to watch it and pay attention. But you can have shots that give slow pace feel to it to establish the mood, also gentler transitions will contribute to this. To give the audience more to be attracted with digital effects can be used like split screens, colourisation.
Within the following style of music videos, it will give me an idea on what I want my music video to be depending on the genre i pick. All of the styles can be proven with Sven E Carlsson theory. Carlsson believed that music videos, in general, fall into two main groups; performance clips where the video mostly shows an artist (or artists) singing or/and dancing; and conceptual clips where the video shows something else during its duration often with artistic ambitions.
Performance music video
Performance videos will feature a performance of somewhat, like a dance or music performance. Performance videos are normally used with bands because it shows different meanings that the band wants to portray, for example they could want to show that the music is what matters , that’s why they are there playing their instruments. This is also used with solo artists, but instead of being an instrumental video, it will be a dance video, but this will be because of the different genre of music.
Narrative Music video
This is where the music is featured in the background of music video. The music video its self might not feature the performers in, unless the performers them self are actors within their own narrative piece. Sometime the performers will lip sync to the song as some form of narrator or over watcher, but they can just be actors with the music playing in the back ground. This is normally the lead singer, because he is seen to be more important. The narrative piece can be used to show the image the meanings of the lyrics with imagery or for the audience to have something to look at that will keep them interested. This technique is used through all genres, but many solo artists that don’t play instruments. Natasha Bedingfield - These Words is a random example of a narrative music video with the performer lip syncing.
Most of the time music videos depending on the budgeting and also the meaning to the songs they won’t just be one of the above, most of the time both techniques will be fused into one to show different meaning of both the music being important to them and also the meaning of the lyrics. Most of the time a lot of bands will use this with them playing the instruments and then actors playing the narrative roll, like in Fall Out Boy – Sugar, We’re Going Down. There are different versions of these combinations, like instead of them being in different shots and sets, both narrative and performance will be happening in the same shot (probably is a long shot to fit it all in).
Art Clip
If a music video contains no perceptible visual narrative and contains no lip-synchronisation singing then it is a pure art clip. These are normally associated with more modern, experimental music.

Intertextuality
Video games have been seen in music videos to be used as an intertextual reference. This reference is used because it relates to the younger audience, and keeps them captivated. Robbie Williams – Let Love be your Energy is a good use for this.
Fashion
With fashion and music videos, fashion is seen within some of the older music video with supermodels being used in them to show the stereotypically beautiful people that should be in these things.
Television
Television is normally seen in music videos. Normally in music videos that have a reference to television are with rebel comedy bands that will make fun of old television shows.