Thursday 24 November 2011

Sample Footage

On monday we filmed a sample scene in order to help the class and our media teacher develop more of an understanding towards our music video idea. In order to film the sample scene we used Harry Knight and Sophie Dixon, as our couple and Harry was the main lead of the band. We filmed the scenes for the first 3 verses of our song Gone, mainly for us to see if our idea would work and for the audience feedback.

After we gained the feedback we understood that we need to make a few changes, such as having a seperate couple boy and girl to show the narrative and just have the boyband in the performance side, instead of having the male lead member playing the narrative aswel. We also learnt that for the performance side we should have a different location for example some where like the moors which was used as part of the Backstreet Boys video from last years A2 group. 



Untitled from Melodie Abraham on Vimeo.





MA - Re-Pitch

On Friday we had to re-pitch our coursework idea and show any changes we have made and how we have developed our idea. My group chose to do a power point to go along with our pitch.We have changed slightly from when Ellie pitched her idea. The idea goes as follows.

We are using the song 'Gone' by band 'NSYNC. Our cast will be 4/5 boys around the age of 17. We are still unsure of the number as we still have yet to finalise our boy band. We will also be using a girl around the same age for the role of 'Girlfriend'. We are planning to use one member of the band as the lead and the girl will play his girlfriend.

Our idea is that the boy is remembering his time with the girl. They were in love and he is singing about the happy times they had together. Our idea is to have the present day and also have flashbacks of when the couple were together as if the boy is remembering them in his head. We are wanting to start the video with a shot of loads of pictures of the couple together. We have chosen a few scenes to try and keep the video interesting. The locations we are going to use are;

a house- this would be the main location. We are going to film most of the scenes of the lead boy lip-syncing and a few of the flashbacks. Also the group performances.

the park- we will use this for a flashback of the couple walking through the park holding hands.

a restaurant (possibly)- this is another flashback idea This is not set in stone as we are not sure if we will be able to have access to one when we are wanting to film.

For the ending we want to shock the audience a little bit by showing that the girl has actually died. We needed to find a way of suggesting this without showing her dead body. We have decided that there are a few ways we could show the audience that she is dead. One could be having the lead boy laying flowers on a grave stone. Another could be him carrying an urn an scattering the ashes somewhere. Another could be him opening an invitation to a funeral/wake. We need to decide which one of these will look better.

When we pitched this to the class we think they liked our idea and gave us some positive feedback, saying it was good and they liked the ending. They also gave us some more flashback ideas such as using a flashback of the girlfriend cooking him a romantic meal and then cutting to a shot of him eating alone. Another idea was to have him sat watching telly and then the light bulb to go out- this could be seen as a metaphor that she was the 'light of his life'.

The next step is for us to film some sample footage nd get some audience feedback on that.

All - N'sync Gone MP3

This is the MP3 we are going to use for our music video :

Monday 21 November 2011

All – Codes and Conventions of Magazine Adverts

The main Common Code and Conventions are:
  • Artists Name (in large font)
  • Album Name (usually the same size font as the artist name)
  • Album Cover
  • Bold writing
  • Web Address of artist, record labels and ticket retailer
  • Colours compliment each other
  • Twitter, Facebook and Youtube pages
  • Tour dates (if any)
  • Record Labels
  • Says the format it is available in - CD and download
  • Font Variation, framing and colour
  • Theme of the artist - fits with the lyrics and albums
  • Information about the album (usually says "Including" followed by the singles released from the album)
  • QR Codes
  • Introductory sentence to grab the audience's attention 'the wait is finally over...'
  • Thumbnails
  • Photo of the CD/Product/Merchandise
  • Format (CD, CD + DVD, CD + Vinyl or Digital)
  • Either release date, out now or pre-order
Other conventions we found as a group
  • Album artwork is included in the advert (all)
  • Says 'new album' on the ad (3/6)
  • Tour dates (2/6)
  • Release date (all)
  • Social media links - twitter/ facebook (no longer myspace for newer releases)
  • Tickets website (2/6)
  • Artist website (all)
  • Artist name positioned top, central on the page (5/6)
  • Tour sponsor advert and website (1/6)
  • Phone number for ticket (1/6)
  • Name of hit single included in the album (2/6)
  • Image of the band (3/6)
  • Thumbnails of the album (1/6)

MA – Anton Corbijn

Anton Corbijn (Official Site) ( born 20 May 1955) is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade. Some of his works include music videos for Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" (1990) and Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box" (1993), as well as the Ian Curtis biopic ControlGeorge Clooney's The American and the A Most Wanted Man based on John le Carré's 2008 novel of the same name (announced 2011).


[wiki]



One of his photographs
Corbijn has photographed Joy DivisionDepeche ModeU2David BowiePeter HammillMiles DavisBjörkCaptain BeefheartKim WildeRobert de NiroStephen HawkingElvis CostelloSiouxsie and the BansheesMorrisseyClint EastwoodRoxette and Herbert Grönemeyer, amongst others. He is famous for his work in black and white. 


MUSIC VIDEOS
2008
Coldplay – Viva la Vida
2007
Herbert Grönemeyer – Leb in Meiner Welt
2005
Depeche Mode – Suffer Well
Coldplay – Talk
The Killers – All These Things That I've Done
2003
Travis – Re-Offender
Herbert Grönemeyer – Zum Meer
2002
U2 – Electrical Storm
Herbert Grönemeyer – Mensch
2000
Joseph Arthur – In the Sun
Joseph Arthur – Chemical
1999
Mercury Rev – Goddess on a Highway
Mercury Rev – Opus 40
Roxette – Stars
Roxette – Salvation
1998
Herbert Grönemeyer – Bleibt Alles Anders
Herbert Grönemeyer – Fanatisch
1997
Depeche Mode – It’s No Good
U2 – Please
Depeche Mode – Useless
1996
Metallica – Hero of the Day
Metallica – Mama Said
Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun
1995
Bryan Adams – Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? (Much Music Award Winner & MTV Award Nominee)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – My Friend
1994
Rollins Band – Liar (MTV Award Nominee)
Johnny Cash – Delia’s Gone
Naomi Campbell – Love & Tears
Grant Lee Buffalo – Mockingbirds
1993
Nirvana – Heart Shaped Box (MTV Award Winner)
Depeche Mode – In Your Room
Depeche Mode – Condemnation
Depeche Mode – Walking in my Shoes
Depeche Mode – I Feel You (MTV Award Nominee)
1992
Danzig – Dirty Black Summer
Bryan Adams – Do I Have To Say The Word?
U2 – One
Nick Cave – Straight To You
1991
Rainbirds – Two Faces
Banderas – May This Be Your Last Sorrow
Garland Jeffreys – Hail Hail Rock’n Roll
Ian McCulloch – Lover Lover Lover
Herbert Grönemeyer – Marie
1990
Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Silence
Depeche Mode – Policy of Truth
Danzig – Killer Wolf
Depeche Mode – Halo
Depeche Mode – World In My Eyes
Front 242 – Tragedy For You
1989
Rainbirds – Sea of Time
Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus
Rainbirds – White City of Light
Ian McCulloch – Faith and Healing
1988
Joy Division – Atmosphere
Rainbirds – Blueprint
Joni Mitchell & Peter Gabriel – My Secret Place
Front 242 – Headhunter
1987
Echo and The Bunnymen – The Game
Depeche Mode – Strangelove
Echo and The Bunnymen – Lips Like Sugar
Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down Again
Depeche Mode – Behind the Wheel
Echo and The Bunnymen – Bedbugs & Ballyhoo
1986
Golden Earring – Quiet Eyes
Depeche Mode – A Question of Time
1985
Echo and The Bunnymen – Bring on the Dancing Horses
1984
David Sylvian – The Ink in the Well
Echo and The Bunnymen – Seven Seas
David Sylvian – Red Guitar
Propaganda – Dr. Mabuse
1983
Palais Schaumburg – Hockey
Art of Noise – Beatbox



Corbijn has also done some Long Form videos;
2007- Herbert Grönemeyer-12 Tour, Live DVD
2002- Depeche Mode – One Night in Paris (POP.com Best DVD award)
1993- Depeche Mode- Devotional (Grammy Award Nominee)
1991- Depeche Mode- Strange Too
1988- Depeche Mode- Strange
Corbijn began his music video directing career when Palais Schaumburg asked him to direct a video. After seeing the resulting video for Hockey, the band Propaganda had Corbijn direct Dr. Mabuse. After that he directed videos for David Sylvian, Simple Minds, Echo & the Bunnymen, Golden Earring, Front 242,Depeche Mode, Roxette and U2.According to his last video was in 2008.


His first video in color was made for Depeche Mode in early 1990 for their single "Enjoy The Silence".
Corbijn is famous for his work in black and white.

Thursday 17 November 2011

MA - Intro to Digipak

Today we looked at digipaks. We started of by thinking what could be in a digipaks and we then went on to looking at examples of existing digipaks. We then went onto making a list of the main things that are included in a digipak. This will be useful for when we are designing our own digipak.

How a digipack differs from a CD.


  • Made out of card
  • 2 trays
  • Sleeves
  • 4 basic panels
The front cover of the digipaks can contain;
  • Artist shot
  • Name and Album name
  • Sticker showing DVD bonus
  • Sticker showing leading singles contained
Back Cover;
  • Track listings and timings
  • Bar code
  • QR Code
  • Website URL
  • Logos eg production and record company
The advantages of a Digipak;
  • Recyclable as its made from card
  • Lower in weight so reduces distribution
  • Thinner cases- can fit more on the shelve
  • Some resemblance to a LP
  • More collectible than a jewel case
Other features;
  • Spine- small details such as catalogue number
  • Inside design
  • Removable lyrics sheet.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Michel Gondry - Director Case Study

Michel Gondry  is a academy award winning film and music video director, and also screen writer, he  grew up in France, with a family who were highly influenced and interested in Pop Music. He is best known for his inventive visual style and manipulation of Misc-en-scene. 


In the 80s he entered in an art school in Paris where he could develop his graphic skills and where he also met friends with whom he created a pop-rock band called Oui-Oui. When in the band they released 2 albums and several singles in the 80's. He was the drummer and also directed their video clips for the band, the clips were influenced mainly by the 60's and their childhood. 


One of Gondry's video was shown on MTV and when Bjork saw it she asked him to direct/make her first solo album "Human Behaviour". After this video debuted Gondry went on to direct more of Bjorks videos which were : 

  • Declare Independence - 1997
  • Bacherolette - 1997
  • Dead Weight - 1997
  • Joga - 1997
  • Crystalline - 2011
  • Hyper Ballad - 1996
  • Army Of Me - 1995
Other examples of artists who have worked with Gondry are The White Stripes, The Chemical Brothers, The Vines, RadioHead, Kanye West & The Rolling Stones.

Gondry made his first film debut in 2001 called Human Nature  with Charlie Kaufmen, this was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in later 2001, however this was not a huge success. In 2004 Gondry again worked with Charlie Kaufmen and directed the film Eternal Sunshine For The Spotless Mind, this movie went on to become a popular independent film and he and his co-workers won an Oscar for the film. His most recent film direction role was for The Green  Hornet in early 2011. 

Music Videos Of Michel Gondry:


Films By Michel Gondry:
Source Wikipedia 

Tuesday 15 November 2011

All - Digipak (group work)

Definition of a Digipak
Digipaks are a type of CD packaging made out of card stock or other heavy paper/cardboard material. Digipaks can flip open like a book, or it can have three parts, so that one portion of the packaging opens to the right and one to the left, with the CD in the centre. 


Codes and Conventions of a Digipak 
As a group we researched and looked at examples of digipaks. When looking at some of the example ( Ignacio Fernandez - Buscare) we discovered the typical codes and conventions of digipak which include:

  • Front and back cover
  • Back cover includes a track list with timings 
  • Artist and the album names are placed on the front cover
  • Some may have a track list with the names of the composers underneath in small print.
  • Also on the back cover there is the record company name and sometimes their label. 
  • At the bottom of the back cover there sometimes may be the artists website address. 
  • There is a bar code/Qr code
  • Where the CD has been made.
  • Panels - different parts to the panels and different colours sometimes. 
  • Sometimes there is a lyrics sheet you can pull out of part of the digipak.
  • Sometimes it can be special edition or a collective and could include a DVD. 
Advantages of a digipak rather  than a standard Dual Case
  • You can recycle the material used to make the digipak  as it is cardboard not plastic
  • A digipak is cheaper to produce, making the distribution cost cheaper.
  • A digipak is a more up to date version of an LP which is basically a 12'' square cardboard, showing a resemblance to a digipak. 
  • They cannot crack like Dual cases can, however they could rip or eventually over time fall apart.
Digipak design layout 






















Four Panel Digipak 






































6 Panal Digipak