Album Covers

An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. Album covers are very important when it comes to the success of the album, as it can either persuade people to buy it or not to buy it. If an album cover was offensive or against some peoples beliefs then there is a high possibility that they will not want to buy the album. 

Guns' N' Roses

In recent years album covers have been rejected by record label due to it being offensive etc, for example Guns N' Roses 'Appetite For Destruction' was banned due to the reference of a woman being raped (right).

Pink Floyd

Some album covers relate to the title of the album cover or the meaning of the album, However some album covers have no relevance at all. For example Pink Floyd 'Dark Side of the Moon' there is no reference to the title and the cover is only the image and nothing else. Although it has no reference to the moon it does have a message as it is a prism with light going in one side and then coming out differently on the other. This is implying something " You dont know what is around the corner"

or along those lines.

Professional Poster

Professional 

First attempt

This is an official poster for an event which Chris Brown is appearing, The difference between this and my mock up is quite different. The professional is a lot busier however is still effective. This has used more images in the poster merged into one. It is a lot more creative and strong. The poster is very in your face and uses the codes and conventions well and it is very out there and edgy. This represents Chris Browns personality that the public know. As apposed to my poster which is a lot more simple and does not really have any meaning to it. As it was my first attempt i just wanted it to look good, I was unaware of how I could apply my genre and artist personality and represent this through a poster and collection of images. Taking all this in to account and using this comparison I know now what makes an effective poster and what factors need to be taken in and developed in order to produce an effective professional poster through my A2 course.

    

Lip Sync first attempt

Today we had our first attempt of lip syncing, we were in groups of 3/4. I found this task difficult as it was the first time i'd done anything like this before, and with the camera in front of me on our first attempt was slightly off-putting. This was a enjoyable task but was also very effective as it gave me an insight to what I will have to do for my coursework and how it will need to be done. Below is our groups first attempt of this.

It was difficult as your mind suddenly goes blank in front of the camera and the lights make you feel hot and under pressure. It relieved the tension having two classmates next to you as the spotlight isn't  solely focused on you. It was an easy task as its a known song that is familiar to most people, the lyrics were easy and not complicated. 

The hardest part about the task is learning the lyrics especially if the song in unknown to you, the easiest part about the task is the actual performing of it because your with people in your class who you can put your trust into and its likely you will fail or make a mistake as will they so they pressure isn't focused directly on you.

After the video had been uploaded to the pc, Next was for our lip syncing video to be combined with the audio from the origional song (Learn to Fly). I found this task very difficult as i was unfamiliar with the software we used to do this. Firstly i uploaded the video file, then once this had been done i clipped out any paarts of the video that where irrelevant. Then once i had done this i then had to import the audio  clip of the song, this was not too difficult. However then i had to get the lip syncing video in sync with the original audio clip, this was the difficult part. It was hard to find the precise moment where the audio had to begin to be in sync with the video. I did eventually get this done and below is the finished product. I think this was good experience as it tought me alot and i now know the basics how to do this.

Mock Poster Stages

Here i developed my photoshop skills further by learning how to paste an image into text. This makes a more effective poster which will benefit my coursework as i will be able to produce more professional and quality work. This is a skill in will definitely include and carry out in my work this year. you can find the stages of pasting an image to text on the images in this post as well as a link to the step by step tutorial which helped me do this. Click here for the tutorial.

Poster Mock Up

This is my first mock up of a poster I made for an artist, this is the finished product. I will also upload a blog post of the stages and progress which i completed to get my finished product.

I used Photoshop to create this, I have had experience with photoshop at AS level, however I have now developed further as the main part of knowledge I gained from this lesson is how to "paste into".

This is when an image is pasted into area, As the viewer can see with the text I have used for 'Chris Brown' and the smaller text, rather than just having a solid colour or a gradient I have pasted in an image of studio music equipment. This is an excellent effect as I think it gives the poster and the piece of work a sense of professionalism. I will definitely be using the skills I have learned with this in my production this year as it will make my overall finished product of a better standard.

Green Screening & iMovie Research

For my research I have decided to look into green screening and iMovie in order to help benefit me when it comes to making my own music video. This is part of our lip syncing task as we will be using this software to put the song over the video. I have no experience with green screens so below is a video i have looked at which is a tutorial on the basics of green screening. I have also looked at how green screens are used in music videos and how they are used in iMovie to help develop my knowledge of the equipment and software.

Green Screens:

Green Screen

Green screen photography and the technology behind it has improved dramatically over the years. With access to high-quality HD cameras and powerful post-production software, the process looks better and more convincing than ever. Green screens use any background you can imagine. Choose a real location, or design an animated background.



iMovie:

Music & Me

Various Stills From 'Yeah' Music Video

• Usher Yeah. - This is a song that reminds me of my childhood as it is one of my earliest memories of music, At the time when the song was out it was always being played and was stuck in my head. I remember always dancing and singing along with it. I also had the album 'Confessions' which the song was on, and the main reason it is always in my memory is because whenever i was in the car it was always on. This video has an instant impact as the beat is very quick and it is a song with lots of dancing and flashing lights to draw the audience in. also there is no slow introduction with a soft melody etc. it is straight in with the beat. The editing is non linear as there is many jump cuts from the club scene to a single a shot of Usher where it is just him in a room with lots of flashing lights etc. to focus on his dancing. This video uses lots of repetitions as it is Usher alone then him in the club with lots of people, The video fluctuates between these two scenes. The artist identity is typical of Usher and his genre with the rapping, dancing and the whole Mise en scene. Also it is very current and the song is kind of timeless as it is still listened to today. Visual pleasure is provided with this video as it is very bright and the flashing lights draw you in, as well as the dancing which is a big part of this video and usher as an artist. The club scene also provides the audience with that wow factor as it has an impact on the audience and makes you want to dance along with the track.

• Los Del Rio - Macarena. This song is one that everyone remembers it is significant to an event in my life because it is played at every party I go to. Everyone always gets up and dance's to it, I can remember the first time i heard the song I was on holiday when i was young and every year since then it always seems to get played weather I am on holiday or at a party.

• Ne-Yo - Closer. This is one of my favourite songs, although it is not a relatively new song it never seems to get old in my eyes. Ne-Yo is also one of my favourite artists and i have been familiar with his music since I was young. As you can see my childhood song 'Usher Yeah!' is the same genre as this. This shows that my taste of music has not changed and this could be due to the fact that Usher is one of the earliest memories of music i have.

What makes an effective Music Video

Foo Fighters - Walk

1. Instant Impact!

Because of the humour throughout the video it is instantly memorable and recognisable by the audience. Also the fact that video is a story and it begins instantly at the start of the video of him in the car looking frustrated then continues on from there. The lead singer of the band is playing the main character in this story which makes it more appealing to the audience as he is recognisable.

2. Non-Linear Editing

This video challenges this concept as it uses linear editing as everything is in sync. This is because it is telling a story and it would not make sense to tell the story in a different order.

3. Repetitions

In this video certain camera shots are repeated, however they are shown in different angles. As shown above when he is in  his car at the beginning of the video this is sown several times in different angles, (Medium Shot, Extreme Close Up, Close Up). This was to show the different expressions/reactions to the things that where annoying him, giving the audience a better insight to how he is feeling.

4. Strong sense of artist identity

This is establishing by the performance in the building at the end as well as throughout. In the beginning where he is looking around in his car and seeing his reaction and expression to his surroundings "Punk is Dead" shows that he is obviously a "Punk" artist. Also when he is walking around the whole time with his guitar, then when the thieves try to steal the guitar of him he is not willing to give it up, this shows how important it is to him. 

5. A Performance

The characters appear to be Punk/Rockstar's there clothing also appears to be stereotypical of a punk artist. Also the facial expressions they are using during the performance at the end in the building is also what you would expect to see from a punk artist. Clothing is a sort off "Messy look" e.g. shirt untucked etc. Looking as if they are not too bothered about there appearance. The mise en scene features amps and cables aswell as all their instruments to establish there genre of music which is Punk/Alliterative Rock.

6. Visual Pleasures 

The video looks like a short movie and has a cinematic quality to it. It also reefers to the day to life of a average person. Like at the start where the main character is in his car and he looks depressed and tired from work, and the the video then goes on to him just doing what he wants which is music.

7. Wow Factor! 

The video definitely is memorable as it has lots of humour and it is unique to most music videos as it is more of a story/movie. it does however (8. Provoke a reaction) As it is quite a controversial video and promotes crime to an extent as, the main character/singer assaults a show worker and a worker in the fast food restaurant. However provoking a reaction is key to the success of the video.

9. Works on different levels

The idea that there is no revolution anymore and the main character is annoyed at life and the changes in society. The lyrics are a reflection of this and so is the music video. 

10. Pop Culture

There is pop culture references in the video, first there is a bumper sticker of "Coldplay" this is a reference to what is current now and how society has changed. This video is relavent to fans of the Foo Fighters but it has not got a place in pop culture.

Camera Shots & Movements

Camera shots are a very important part of music videos and films as they make them what they are. For my research I have been looking into camera shots and movements:


Zoom In:

Zooming in to a shot does not require the camera to move at all, It is all about the focusing of the lens giving the illusion that the camera is moving closer to the subject whether it is a scene, object or person. You may use zooming in to show a facial expression, Zooming into a close up shot. Zooming out of a shot is basically the opposite of zoom in shot.

Tracking Shot:

The term tracking shot is widely considered to be synonymous with dolly shot; that is, a shot in which the camera is mounted on a cart which travels along tracks. However there are a few variations of both definitions. Tracking is often morenarrowly defined as movement parallel to the action, or at least at a constant distance (e.g. the camera which travels alongside the race track in track & field events). Dollying is often defined as moving closer to or further away from the action.

Arc Shot

Arc Shot:

An arc shot is a camera move around the subject, somewhat like a tracking shot. In mathematics, an arc is a segment of the circumference of a circle. A camera arc is similar - the camera moves in a rough semi-circle around the subject.


Crab Shot: 

The term crabbing shot is a less-common version of tracking, trucking and/or dollying. These terms are more or less interchangeable, although dollying tends to mean in-and-out movement whereas the others tend to mean side-to-side movement at a constant distance from the action.

Whip Pan

Pan Shot:

A pan is a horizontal camera movement in which the camera moves left and right about a central axis. This is a swiveling movement, i.e. mounted in a fixed location on a tripod or shoulder, rather than a dolly-like movement in which the entire mounting system moves.

Crane Shot

Whip Pan:

A whip pan is a type of pan shot in which the camera moves sideways so quickly that the picture blurs into indistinct streaks. It is commonly used as a transition between shots, and can indicate the passage of time and/or a frenetic pace of action.

Unlike other transitions, such as dissolves and fades, whip pans stand out because of their abrupt style, and are often seen in 1970s martial arts movies. The technique is used liberally by directors Sam Raimi, Wes Anderson and Edgar Wright. It is also used frequently in the Saw movies whenever someone is struggling in a trap.

Crane Shot:

a crane shot is a shot taken by a camera on a crane or jib. The most obvious uses are to view the actors from above or to move up and away from them, a common way of ending a movie. Camera cranes go back to the dawn of movie-making, and were frequently used in silent films to enhance the epic nature of large sets and massive crowds.

Steadicam:

Steadicam is a brand of camera stabilizer mount for motion picture cameras that mechanically isolates it from the operator's movement. It allows for a smooth shot, even when moving quickly over an uneven surface. The Steadicam was invented by cameraman Garrett Brown and was introduced in 1975.

Steadicam

Aerial Shot:

Aerial

Aerial shots are usually done with a crane or with a camera attached to a special helicopter to view large landscapes. This sort of shot would be restricted to exterior locations. A good area to do this shot would be a scene that takes place on a building. If the aerial shot is of a character it can make them seem insignificant. Circular shots are also possible.

HandHeld

Hand Held:

Hand held shots serve to create a more home made or dramatic feel to a shot. There is a difference between hand held shots and steadycam shots. An example of this is blair witch project which was filmed entirely using a hand held camera, This produced a sense of realism and added a unique element to the movie.

Lip Sync Music Videos

Lip Sync

I Will be choosing four videos to lip sync, i have different reasons for why i have chosen these songs.

Song One

• Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly

Single Cover Learn to Fly

This song is from the 1999 album Nothing left to lose. The video begins with a scene on an airplane, the reason i like this video and why i have chosen it is because it has narrative and the visuals don't represent the lyrics. it makes a connection with me as it is also very unique and has a humorous narrative and is very different. Also the lyrics are not to fast and would not be difficult to lip sync. With this being the first time i have done anything like this i do not want to chose songs which would be difficult.

Song Two

• Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer

Livin' On A Prayer

Released in 1986. This song i have chosen because as this is a song i remember from my childhood also the video is unique as it shows the band on tour and is not your typical music video. Also this would be challenging to lip sync as it is such a difficult song. i like the style of the video and the narrative and would take ideas from this for my video.

Song Three

• Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal 

Smooth Criminal Cover

The third video i have chosen is Michael Jacksons "Smooth Criminal". It was the seventh single from the artists 'Bad Album'. The reason I chose this video is because i like the fact that it is a very long and clever video and the director has took a movie styled approach to this video. It makes a connection with me as it was one of my favourite songs when i was young as i always loved the dancing in the video and the gangster like narrative to the video, As it reminded me of films such as Goodfella's which is one of my favourite films and also the reason why this music video and character relates to me as it uses this old school gangster theme. The misen scene in the video shows low lighting and smokey atmosphere to show the style of the 'Smooth Criminal' the seedy criminal lifestyle of the character. The mode of address for this video is quite personal as there is an interplay between the character and the audience through use of camera shots and the narrative of the song lyrics. "You've been hit by You've been struck by A smooth criminal" is a line from the chorus and it explains what is happening and the narrative for the video which is about a character who is a smooth criminal. Spotlight is always on Michael Jackson and all the other characters are in the shadows to show the importance of Michael. This video conforms the conventions of the genre and also the artist as it is a typical Michael Jackson song with the dancing and dramatic scenes, also the movie like approach to the video. This is good for my research as for our groups video we may look at different approaches to filming and taking a movie scene is something we could look at. In this video i like the sort of "Classic Gangster" theme that is going on and the video plays Reference to the Crime film genre in general. narrative of the performance interwinds with the video throughout. All in all looking at this video has helped my research as it gives us another angle to look at during filming our own music video. this song will be very difficult to lip sync as it is very quick and upbeat however it will be a challenge I will enjoy.

Song Four

• R.Kelly & Usher - Same Girl

Still Image from 'Same Girl Music Video

This video is Usher & R.kelly from the 2007 Album 'Double up' , The concept of the video is very simple but very effective. It is alot like a story. It simply begins with a phone call between R.Kelly & Usher, The video is in sync with lyrics of the song and goes along simioultaneaous with the video. Then Video is very chilled and relaxed which suits the genre well. The camera angles throughout the video are mainly medium shot's/close up's this shows the facial expressions and reations of the artists which is a big part of the video as it gives the phone call during the video a sense of realism. The video changes between Usher and R.Kelly when they are talking. When the girls come into the video there are a lot of panning shots to show the girls off. In the video the girls are displayed as objects. I like the 'story' style of this video and it is something I will take into account when making my music video. I think this song will be very easy to lip sync as it is very slow and the lyrics are more spoken than sang. Out of all my choices i think this is the one i will be able to do most effective.

Introduction

This is an introduction to my blog, here you will find information on what I will have to produce for my media A2 coursework. Below you can find the things I will have to complete:

• A Music Video 
• A CD cover 
• A Promotional Poster
• Website/Advert 
• Research
• Evaluation

Album Cover

This blog will contain examples of videos I will take ideas from and will apply their techniques to my own. For this I will look at different genres of music and the music videos that go with them to see which I am best suited to. I will have to research and look at what makes music videos effective and what makes them stand out from the others and have that Wow factor. My video will have to represent the genre I choose correctly as well as my CD cover and poster. For my AS coursework I produced a Front cover, Double page spread and Contents page for a magazine, Therefore I am familiar with the software I will be using and have a better understanding of how to use it. Also I am aware of the standard of work i need to produce, also meeting the demands of the blog to get top grades. I think I will find this work challenging, I believe that I should be able to create a very successful music video, with regular blog posts that include all of the essential posts as well as my own personal posts regarding my thoughts on what how everything is going.

Promotional Poster

I think I will find this work challenging, I believe that I should be able to create a very successful music video, with up to date blog posts that include all of the key posts needed as well as my own personal posts. I will do my best to get the best mark available and  do my own, research based on what the examiner finds nessacery such as looking as key blogs that have achieved full marks.

Below is an example of other students and their finished product (Music Video).