Album Cover

This is my album cover that i have recreated, i personally feel that this is more effective and generally looks better then the original.

Album cover

During our research we tried coming up with controversial album covers to reflect the band, then we both decided to recreate the original album cover and slightly change it. The other idea was to just create a similar album cover to the rest of the genre and have the bands name in a different text with a contrasting background

The idea is to have a med to close up photo of a male smoking. with the band name in a different style of front compared to other bands to create a identity and to make sure it is on a contrasting background to stand out to the audience.

Editing

EDITING

We have just recently finished editing and alternated time on the laptop where both myself and my partner took it in turns to edit, when we had disagreements we would both edit that part and decide whose was better. We looked at previous assignments and asked for help with some of the band footage as the background wasn't dark enough for us. We were fortunate enough to get feedback from other media students to drop the brightness and slightly increase contrast to give a more live raw feel to the band and decrease the backgrounds brightness. Looking at other music videos with how they have cut and fitted the story in with the music was important. Also by fitting the instruments with the timing of the song and making sure that it was the correct time for that instrument to begin playing. We are now just fitting the titles for our media video and also burning to disc, the following music videos are the ones researched and what i have gained from watching them.

Bloc Party Banquet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm5Li08_ie8

We tried to record many angles similar to the banquet video but our equipment wasn't as good nore was the resources available but we have been editing in similar ways by making quick, fast and straight cuts to keep the tempo of the song going fairly fast. The only transitions that were used was "overlap" and this was in our story section of the music video.

We did try having the band footage in black and white but due to the quality of the camera and the movement from the band shots there was alot of blur motivation and didnt look professional enough to us.

Arctic Monkeys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEukS2YN9B8

This is the original music video for the song that we are doing. It is a story where a girl is desperate for a man and try extreme lengths to get one. We took this idea and changed it to where a main cannot decided what girl he wants and the story unfolds during the video.

There are alot of straight cuts in this music video to ensure the tempo and during the long shots that are in there, there are right to left push tranisitions and alot of "Flashes" to create a similar effect to an instant fade in. We have used many straight cuts in our music video similar to the original and instead of the few push transitions we used "overlap"

Teamwork - Recording

We are nearly finished our recording due to some minor set backs we have nearly been able to finish on schedule. We have one last scene to film as it wasn't as good as we wanted but we will continue to edit and include this scene when finished.

The following pictures are oh both myself and Harry filming our last scenes.

In this shot i am doing a close up of the actor setting up his equipment. In my left hand is the music at the time where we would like to include this shot we found that it is more helpful then boards or other writing methods.

In this shot Harry is slightly tilting the camera to make the actor look more dominant.

We have recently gone through the footage and made sure that the scenes were at a quality in which we could use them. We have briefly talked about editing making sure that we both put in the same amount of time and work load in as eachother.

Album covers. pt 2

Album Covers

These album covers are of bands that are in a similar genre to the band i am working with.

Both bands have a plain background and either a logo to identify themselves or text 'The sunshine underground'. I believe that the idea for the plain background and contrasting text is to due attention to the bands name to catch the audiences eye. The second album cover has the bands name and album cover written again at the top of the band just incase the audience cannot understand what the text would say. This is something that i will have to consider when creating my album cover. Lastly the album covers name is normally a successful song composed by the artist or is something related to the songs on the cd.

Album Covers

ALBUM COVERS

Looking at the most famous album covers of all time I am trying to identify a trend or a reason why they worked so much. The album cover not be as effective but why do people always recognise the album to that particular artist or band?

Looking at the following two 'famous' album covers the only characteristics are the band name and album name in the corner of the page. The Nirvana cover has a baby swimming after some money what is a strong image and is identified this is why it was probably so successful for the band. The following image is of the Beatles i believe that the album cover was only successful and identified due to the bands success but this had set a craze and many members of the audience copy this pose as they love the band so much. The following album covers are of bands that are in a similar genre to mine.

Advert and Album Cover

I will be looking and researching adverts and album covers and i will be using ADOBE PHOTOSHOP to create both products. I will need to create an identity for the band, look for music genre style and trends. I will create my album cover first and the following post will contain my research.

Recent Class work

Recently we have been looking at Professional filming compared to high street camera and amateur filming. It allowed to see how the amateur film used different instruments just to generate a different camera angle and type of tracking, one interesting piece of equipment was a frame that could be held with two hands just to be able to hold the camera steadier. This gave me ideas and more thought on how to achieve different camera angles to express the feelings or emotion that I would want to capture. Overall the professional music video won but it had a huge advantage compared to the amateur film, it just shows that with more thought and going outside the box can allow you to achieve a great shot.

Other thoughts that the video had touched on was problems that can occur such as actors not being able to have enough free time to be able to film. This can be resolved by trying to film as early as possible so if actors are unable to film you can still have time to continue shooting before the deadline. Also filming around the particular role and doing the other shots can save time instead of trying to film all at once when you have all your actors.

Overall the lesson gave me more knownledge but also a belief that i can create a profession Music Video

Filming and Actors MES

During the planning of the music video we both had an idea of who will be available and be the best possible actor for the roles we had. We needed four boys minimum for the band action and all needed to look like the band genre,

Once we found the four memembers we identified that many of the music videos including gigs their clothing was always very casual, The way they have their guitars being held was also a factor they have their guitars very high up compared to other rock genres.

The other two girl characters that we needed also had to suit this genre the picture below shows the type of clothing that they would need for effective M-E-S.

Lyrics and Key lines are being aknowledged

Why creating this video the story will have to match the story being told in the lyrics to create a more powerful video or relate in some way. Lines that we have been looking out for and some examples -

-'Well my friend fancies you' - We will make sure there is two quick cuts between two characters to relate to the lyrics

We have created our storyboard to make it match lyrics and follow the story we are creating our first draft story board hopefully it will be ready by the end of the month including actors/actresses playing the roles.

Lyrics - Leave before the lights come on

Well this is a good idea,
He wouldn't do it if it wasn't,
He wouldn't do it if it wasn't one.
Well my friend fancies you,
Oh what a way to begin it all,
You said it's always exciting words to hear

And we woke up together not quite realizing how,
Awkwardly stretching and yawning,
It's always hard in the morning,

And I suppose that's the price you pay,
Oh it isn't what it was,
She's thinking he looks different today,
And oh there's nothing left to guess now,

You left before the lights came on,
Because you didn't want to ruin,
What it was that was brewing,
Before he absolutely had to,
And how can you wake up,
With someone you don't love?
And not feel slightly fazed by it,
Oh, he had a struggle,

And you woke up together not quite realising how,
Oh but he's stretching and yawning,
It's always hard in the morning,

And I suppose that's the price you pay,
Oh it isn't what it was,
She's thinking he looks different today,
And oh there's nothing left to guess now,

Quick, let's leave, before the lights come on,
'Cos then you don't have to see,
'Cos then you don't have to see,
What you've done,

Quick, let's leave, before the lights come on,
'Cos then you don't have to see,
'Cos then you don't have to see,
What you've done,

Until tomorrow comes,

I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?
I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?
I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?
I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?

Research

While me and my partner have an idea on our music video I will be researching similar music video to continue with our ideas and what the video should contain.

This is 'The subways' and this was a low budget indie/rock video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkJZptg-iac&feature=channel

It uses fast energetic shots/cuts when the tempo of the music increase this is something to consider for my music video. It also slows down shots and cuts when it is on a slower tempo section of the song. It also has a lot of close up of guitars and equipment then full shots of the artist or band performing.

This is 'Bloc Party'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm5Li08_ie8

The most impressive aspect of this video is how the camera moves with music from left to right or up and down. It also uses quick zoom in and outs but very controlled, this would be a hard technique to copy but I could aim to attempt it by doing two takes so just incase i haven't got the shot i would like i have an extra take to fall onto. This also has many close up shots of the music equipment and close up of the band playing their instruments.

'The kooks'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwrq2o6Woiw

This song is a similar genre to the other two but completely different music video, it makes the band out to be 'ultra cool' or 'rock n roll' the lyrics are about loving a girl but the world hasn't been very nice to her. But the band are seen with other girls, playing a guitar in Paris, stealing and partying. This is to promote the band more then becoming an amazing video. But similar to the other two music videos above the shots are very short and some random close ups of instruments or other thing (lights, pavement, sky etc) are used as well.

This is Jamie T

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7ZB2jMkOaI

This is a mixture of the artist performing and a story in the back ground, it mainly consists of close up shots of the artist and the band then longer shots of the story to identify what is going on. The story most of the time relates to the lyrics in some way, maybe not in every shot but the idea of the song normally matches the video.

Conclusion

With the sort of genre i will be making a music video for i will want to use faster shots for a louder or faster tempo section of the song, then slower more steady shots of softer/slower sections of the song. I will need a lot of close up of the vocalist and music instruments to indentify the band. I will use longer shots to establish a story line if decided. I will have to make the band members look, "rock n roll" "cool""not bothered" this is how they are all portrayed.

I will continue reseach but my following blog will be looking at the lyrics of my music video.

Why we are picking 'AM - leave before the lights come on'

The song is a great indie/rock song that is from a very popular band. The lyrics talk about meeting random girls/boys and spending the night and how it starts and ends. I cant copy and paste the lyrics so i will print and scan them on with our story board. But the idea is to create a story and flash cuts to the band, this is to promote the band and also tell the audience a story that will match the lyrics.

Final Decision

Earlier this week me and my partner decided on 'Arctic Monkeys - Leave before the lights come on' We will create our final story board and orginal ideas soon.

We have been brain storming many ideas, we have been using different coloured pens to identify both individuals work so neither of us are sitting back doing nothing.

05/01/10 Lesson 2

In this lesson me and my partner had been brainstorming some ideas or what type or music we would like to do and also what type of video we would like to do. All of this information will be put up on an upper coming post.

Some of the ideas were

-Chase and Status ft Plan B (pop/garage) This song is an emotional song and would be ideal to tell a story. It was also used in 'Harry Brown' Film what has recently been out in cinemas.

The idea was to create a 'Accident' where the artist will emerge and a flash back of his life until up to the event.

"I know when I knock

I'll be hoping I don't drop

To a place where I will rise, like before"

This story will be ideal for a character in regret he is coming to the end of his life and he doesn't want to die because he realises that he has done wrong. This is our first idea and we have been looking into ours.

Other ideas will also be posted soon

Researching Genres and Music Videos

Research

Looking at different types of music videos I see a pattern with the genre and the video matching the music. Many videos use the video to help tell a story about the song this is where the video matches the lyrics. Other videos help increase emotion or the feel of the music this is where the video matches the music.

Country Music

Most country music tells a story whether it is about love or violence. Many Videos reflect and create a story in the video to get the meaning of the song across even more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48U6TRKzMIs

Hip/Hop – Rap

In this genre they take about pain and showing off, many lyrics talk about “rags to riches”. The Videos are normally the rapper or singer showing of (cars, money, women etc). There is normally close ups of the rapper then distant shots to show all the stuff he has. There is normally a lot of modern dancing and girls around the main artist. If the artist to singing or rapper about pain they still will have expensive jewelry and clothing on to show off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss

Rock/Indie/alternative

This is band music and the video matches the music and sometimes the lyrics. There will sometimes be a story but shots of the band still. The band will be performing and this is a stereotypical rock video. Many videos are just shots and cuts from live performance for a more energetic feel.

The example I am showing videos from the same band all have the band performing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJJEZdYQR_s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hHA7vBJUE4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGSeHE6UgNg

Pop

This is a mixture or many of genres pop don’t have a stereotypical music video other then well groomed and clean cut artists and dancers. Many videos will have dancers or the artist dancing, it will have a catchy chorus and normally the video will become repetitive at the chorus to match this.

My example is JLS – beat again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJJEZdYQR_s

Back to work again

BACK AGAIN
I am know in A2 Media and have started a new module.

I will creating a promo music video of my choice and creating two of the following to go with it.
-Band Webpage
-Cover
-Magazine advert

If i would like to use someone else's music i will have to ask for permission i will be creating a twitter account to get into contact with bands or other artists.

I will show research and development throughout this module and showing my roles and my partner (Harry) we will cleary show our roles and involvement throughout this project.