GD: Video, Digipak and Advert Update

Today is our deadline for all our print production to completed. As a group we feel we have completed the advert and album digipak to a high standard which is authentic to the artists sound and style.

Also over the weekend we are planning to have our final shoot in an indoor location to show that in the video we have used a variety of both outdoor and indoor locations throughout the video. During this shoot we need to make sure we film a close up of the artists face that we use for the opening of the song as well as other shots that we can intersperse with our other footage.

Saskia - update 24/11/10

I have completed the front, back and one inside pannel of the digipak.

However, it was suggested that the flower for the CD holder was irrelevant and didn't link to our video in any way as it does not include any flowers.

Today, as well as editing, we will hopefully be blowing up a number of balloons and using the digital SLR camera to photograph them with one central balloon that will be the central focus of the photograph.

Saskia - Rough cut feedback

We showed our rough cut of about 2 minutes to the rest of the class. This is the feedback that we got:

The performance was credible. Although Ellie Goulding has a unique grain of voice, it was said that the performance was convincing.

The cutting rate was far too slow, although we knew this already. We need to add in lots more footage with cutting rates of 1, 2 and 3 seconds.

The camera was too static and didnt move at all. We have already filmed more footage with panning and handycam shots but we need to add these in.

Saskia - Keri Hilson - Pretty Girl Rock

I found a number of aspects of this video interesting:

Firstly, the video shows an independent woman who seems content with her life. Although there are some other actresses in the video, Keri Hilson manages to lead the performance by being outgoing and interesting.

The camera remains static throughout the whole video. Often, this could make for a slightly boring performance with no drive forward. Yet, this is compensated for by a variety of different shots and angles used.

Keri Hilson herself manages to capture the audiences attention. The different locations and mise-en-scene used are inventive and can draw in the audiences eye. She wears a number of costumes, even pajamas at one point, and still manages to remain confident and outgoing.

The beginning of this video doesn't conform to the mainstream hegemonic idea of a typical music video. The use of black and white in an old setting is innovative and will gain the audiences attention as it is different and intreaguing.

This video could challenge the residual ideology that men are dominant and women are almost inferior needing men. Keri Hilson seems content, self-confident and strong minded. It conforms to the emergant ideology that women are becoming less passive and more equal to men.

Saskia - Individual roles

Some call sheets and risk assessments
Actress in the footage
Framed a variety of shots myself when shooting in the field and street location
Actress in studio location whilst filming myself
Edited photographs for digipak
Construction of digipak mock-up
Selection of useable footage
Input in editing, helping to make decisions about the position of footage in the timeline and what effects used
Export of rough cut

GD: Video Research

The video for 'Rambling Men' by Laura Marling uses the very long individual takes, this is unusual for music videos as they normally have a fast cutting rate which is at the same speed if not faster that the beat of the track that the video is accompanying. This is video shows how you can successfully break the rules of traditional music video expectations.

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GD: Individual Roles

Created and filmed the video anamatic,
Directing and shooting the footage for the vide,
Editing the footage,
Some of the call sheets,
Reccies,

Update 19/11/10

Today, I have put the final touches to our rough cut ready for monday and saved it ready to view.

We will be taking the cameras out this weekend and filming some extra footage.

Update 18/11/10

After deciding that we need a faster cutting rate. We are going to film some more locations and incorporate this into our footage. We will most probably shoot this Sunday.
We need to think of a back-story for why Ellie is actually in the field and this can be shown from the new footage that we will shoot. Some possibilities are:
An escape from a busy life
Running away from a problem e.g friends, relationship, family
She has gone mad

After editing all the footage that we have from the field, dark outside and studio, we will then fit in the new footage.

GD: Ellie Goulding Videos

Ellie Goulding has released a cover of Elton Johns famous hit, 'Your Song'. The video she has released to accompany the video is my favourite one that she has produced. Saskia and I were thinking about filming some more footage for our video in a similar style to this so as the audience has more of a connection with the artist. I particulary like the shots when the artist is at a home with a small kitten, this aspect gives the artist a certain vunlerable quality which is appealing to the audience.

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Saskia - digipak suggestion

Our teacher made the suggestion that the flower for the cd holder of the digipak was not particularly relevant to our music video as the actual video doesn't actually include any flowers.

Here are some images of an assortment of balloons. We could use this idea and blow up a variety of coloured ballons to photograph for the cd holder.

Update 15/11/10

We have now finnished filming all of our footage and are pleased with the three locations that we have which are the field, the white studio and Tonbridge castle.

We started editing and managed to edit 1 minute of the footage at the beginning of the video. However, we realised that the project we saved it in was not the correct format. Now we have opened a new project in premiere in a higher quality capacity and have to re-edit the footage. This shouldn't take too long as we can remember the in and out points of the footage we need.

Deconstructing Music Video

Girls, this piece of work is supposed to be extended analysis and is a way of you proving to the examiner that you can use analytical frameworks, theory (Goodwin and Dyer, postmodernism) and deconstruct media texts using language (camera, editing,sound, mse). Currently I can't find yours Saskia, and Georgina, yours is very brief. It would be a shame if the omission or poor quality of this piece of work brought your planning mark down. I will be marking for the last time on Monday evening.

Saskia - 10/11/10

Yesterday we had a DISASTER. Our actress decided to let us down and so we had to change our plans.

We knew that there was nobody else that we could use for the video and we needed to shoot yesterday afternoon as it was likely to be the only sunny and dry day within the next week or so.

We went outside and into the studio and took some pictures of both me and Georgina. After reviewing the pictures, we came to the conclusion that I would be the new actress.

We then left school and spent the next 6 hours filming the field and 'street location'. However, as we didn't like the last street location footage, we decided to shoot at Tonbridge castle in the dark. We made this decision as it is well lit and the mise-en-scene would be atmospheric.

We got about 50 minutes worth of footage and are now able to start editing. All that is left to film is the studio location which we will do tomorrow.

Last night I then spent a couple of hours looking through the photos that we took for the digipak and advert. Georgina and I had chosen the best ones that we liked and then i edited them and added fonts.

Here are the pictures:

Advert original and edited

Digipak front
Digipak inside





Digipak CD holder





Digipak front

Saskia - Colour emphasis

We want to emphasise and make certain colours stand out in the field scenes. I have used photoshop to edit this picture of a crowd and bring out the colour white.

GD: Deconstructing Advert

I've chosen to deconstruct the advert for Miley Cyrus' most recent album 'Can't be Tamed' using semiotics.

1. The use of iconic signs/star motifs/connotations in the advert;
The font used is bold and the main focus of the advert, however it looks as if it has been painted onto a bricked surface which creates an idea of rebellion from the artist. The artist, Miley, was previously known for her wholesome Disney reputation however the image from this advert is showing the star in a provocative manner which suggests that she is trying to change her style from 'pop princess' to a serious and 'sexy' recording artist.

2. Juxtapositions of signs;
From the artists body language it creates the idea of bad attitude and that the artist is no longer a young girl. The artist is showing of her body to her advantage and using her sexuality to appeal to a different audience but without alienating her younger fans. Her pose creates the idea of her being a dominating young woman.

3. Does the advert conform or challenges social ideas?
This album advert challenges preconcieved ideas of how a Disney pop star should look. Dinsey would want to portrey a wholesome and innocent image of a girl whereas this album shows the artist in a very sexual manner where she is clearly trying to break free from any expectations from her audience. This is shown through her body language, facial expressions ans well as her costume and make-up.

4. Use of lexical signs;
The artist is an idol to many young girls growing up and therefore to keep her fans loyal she almost has to grow up along with them. However the artist is still keeping to her pop genre that she became famous for so that she does not risk alienating potential new fans.

Saskia - Final digipak mock-up

This is the final mock-up of our digipak. These pictures are not our own, although we will be attempting to replicate the images with our own photographs, adapting them accordingly.

Saskia - Deconstructing an Advert

I deconstucted this advert for Tupac's album using a semiotic analysis.

1. Identification of signifiers/elements/connotations/iconic signs.

'tupac' is written in a font that is typical of urban/gangster rappers. Tupac is demonstrating a strong hand gesture, he is male posturing. In terms of mise-en-scene, he has tattoos, is wearing a chain, rings and no top. This is typical of an artist from the rap genre.

2. Juxtaposition of signs = band/artist image

The juxtaposition of these signs means that the artist's image is constructed as dominant and 'out there' due to his body language, showing serious passion. It signifies that the album is about him, a raw, rap artist.

3. Social myths that the advert conforms to or challenges

The advert shows masculinity, confidence and possibly anger. Tupac seems to conform to the racial stereotype of an angry, black rapper. He shows this through his presence in his actions and what he does or doesn't wear.

4. Indexical signs

This advert shows an independent strong male in an urban environment who is famous yet not showing off. He appears youthful and would appeal to the youth audience who would most probably be experiencing this anger and passion that Tupac portrays.

GD: Album Advert

From looking through music magazines I have noticed that the album adverts were often simple in design and more commonly featured the artist/bands name, the release date and a image or a star motif associated with the artist or group.



I think our arist would be best advertised in 'Q' magazine because although the genre of the music featured is still of an indie genre it's more mainstream and has pop tone to it, rather than 'NME' which focuses on new and bands which have a very niche target audience. Other artists that feautre in 'Q' magazine are Florence and the Machine, Eliza Dootlitle and Lily Allen who all have a similar sound to our tracks artist Ellie Goulding.




This is a rough idea of an advert for Ellie Goulding's ablum 'Lights'. Much like the other adverts in the magazine, it has a simple design and features the artists name, the release date and and image of the artist. The advert does not always have to be related to the music video thereofre I think it would look effective to pick a small part of the video i.e. the glitter and play with the saturation so create an attention grabbing add which still represents the artist.

Update 8/11/10

Today I have been working on the digipak mock up trying to get the dimensions right. Georgina has been searching for images that we can use for our advert.

Wednesday we will be trying to film in the field location. However, we are worrying as this is completely weather dependant and we need good and bright weather.

Friday we will be shooting in the studio in our double media lesson.

We need to think of a new and creative idea for the part that says 'calling' as we are not happy with our footage or location.

For homework I will be doing the digipak mock-up and Georgina will be doing the advert mock-up.

Group: Location Brainstorm

When watching over the footage that we had shot in our street location we have come to the conclusion that we are not happy with this location. Below is a list of possible locations that we could re-shoot the opening lyrics to the chorus.

School Gym
Balcony
Convent Garden
River
Boat
Castle in Tonbridge - this is are favourite location of the list
Archway of Trees
Woods
Castle Ruins

Feedback #3

Well done - this is thorough planning. The print work is looking very promising.

I have watched your animatic and can see how things are shaping up. I know that some drawn shots have movement or jump cutting on them - however there are still some very long shots. You need to consider fast cutting rate at points and perhaps draw out some other, alternative angles to shoot on the hill location so that you can be sure to come back with enough footage.

Keep up good work - I'm looking forward to seeing your footage next week.

GD: 'Lights' Storyboard

This is our storyboard for our music video to Ellie Gouldings, 'Lights'.
It shows us exactly what shot we need to shoot in each location as well as making it easier to work out which camera angle ect. to use when lip synching. Our final peice may differ slightly from the original storyboard but it gives us a basic plot to follow.

Saskia- Digipak mockup

Here is a mockup for our digipak.

Linguistic and iconic codes

Typface: We have two fonts to use. The first typography is a heart font which will be used for the front cover of the digipak. It is 'girly' and individual, suiting a female indie artist.

Colour: We will use bright colours on 3 sides with one being black and white for contrast. The contrast and saturation is turned up on the three colourful sides.

Visual codes

Graphics: In terms of images: We will frame the artist in the centre of the front cover. This allows room at the sides for the title and name of the artist. With the back, the artist is positioned in the last third to leave rooms for the names of the tracks to the left of the artist. Where the CD will be placed, there is a dandelion with bright colours as it is circular shaped, like the CD. The black and white image will be of the artist holding balloons and here she is positioned in the centre as there is no font or CD needed. We will play with shadows and highlights.

Saskia - Digipak mock-up

Here are a few examples of our digipak front cover. We will be taking a photograph using the rule of thirds and carefully thinking about framing. This photograph will be of our artist in a field. It will either be extremely colourful or black and white, with contrasting font. I like this font for the cover, yet we can always change it.