From our questionnaire responses, our audiences claimed that they would prefer the text to be small and subtle, we plan to take this information and use it for the production as it means that just like the video, we can focus more on the main image than any other distracting details, however we should still ensure that the text is readable and noticeable.
Colours:
We are likely to shoot the images in black and white however, worst case scenario would be issues with lighting in which we should possible consider using the original colour scheme if this makes the image look more bright and professional.
Layout:
It is likely that our image will be centered and a close up image, from both the questionnaire results and our own opinions, this is as Bella has strong features and is very photogenic.
Connotations:
Our images should connote beauty, style and extravagant fashion to match our target audiences requests and also the genre of the music.
The above video shows examples of footage (taken from edit decision list) which are not going to be used in our final production. The reasons for this are within the video.
Today, filming of the additional footage commenced as planned. We had to plan carefully due to the restricted hours of daylight, but we were able to capture all of the footage we planned to, and the weather and lighting was good. Both characters turned up as planned, and style and image wise were consistent with previous footage. We shot the footage with a cannon EOS 7D and made sure we had additional equipment that was necessary such as the tripod, and also the white screen we filmed in front of. We will now begin to sort this footage and decide which clips we will use, then we can start editing the footage and adding it into the storyboard alongside the footage we have already edited in final cut pro.
From analysis our questionnaire results, again we looked at the examples of advertisements for tour posters which we included on the questionnaire. The image which fitted the highest number of categories requested by the audience is the image below:
This image fitted the following categories:
The image is the main focus rather than the text.
There is information on where to buy the tickets.
The artist name is included in the image.
This is a full page advertisement.
Similar image colour scheme to album cover.
However, this advertisement did not meet the following criteria requested therefore we should also consider the following in our own production:
Either album artwork or a general image on the front (50/50 results)
Consistent font used through album and advertisement.
From our questionnaire, we collected results from people whom are our target audience (young adults), from the images presented on the questionnaire, we looked at which of these images fitted the criteria that the target audience said they had preferred. The results are shown below:
Hover mouse over images to view results:
From this analysis, it is clear that image 1 (top left) and image 3 (top right) were the most fitting to the criteria which the audience preferred. Image 3 was also classed as having the best font, therefore whilst fitting 5 criteria and being chosen for best text this should be the album text and image which we should consider being influenced by in our production. However the best image chosen by the audience was image 5 (bottom middle), this fitted 4 criteria therefore was not far behind image 1 therefore this image should be considered when shooting our album artwork, however we should also look at image 1, luckily these images are very similar in style so we should please our target audience either way if we chose to shoot an image similar to this.
The above image is of Iggy Azaleas album cover and two examples of images within the insert of her album. The back of the album cover is simply a white background with black text. The image on the front cover relies highly on contrasting colours to attract the eye. The black and white contrast instantly gets attention from the eye and the hair movement in the artist is not only significant of her as an artist but also the dance-rap genre she performs in. The insert images are set-up, studio like images in which there are again contrasting colours for example black and white or white on white, this is effective despite being simple because it focuses on the artist and the glamorous nature of their facial expressions and style.
The above image is of Sky Ferreira's album, back cover and an example of an insert image. The front cover of this album is again dominant by the use of contrasting black and white colours. As with the Iggy Azalea cover, eye contact is made which engages the listener and shows more involvement from the artist. Although the image is relatively plan and posed, the artists unique style and appearance helps fit her dance music genre along with the unusual font which makes the image instantly appear more interesting and suggests more of an upbeat nature rather than slow or calm music. The back of the album is simple yet again has contracting colours of strong reds and whites. This is through both the use of make up and costume. As with our own model, this artist has strong facial features which are used in most images eg. large lips. We could possibly consider this is our planning. The insert image is again simple however still relevant to the album and still is concentrated on the glamour of the artist herself and again focussing on her strong and unusual facial features.
The above image is of the Zebra Katz album cover, back and an example of an image from the insert, although this album features a male artist and model, the genre and style of the artist is still relevant to my own production. The front image, as with the two above images focuses on strong black and white colours, the eye contact is again seen in this image and the image has been edited to make the skin and clothing dark and the eyes to stand out to look somewhat serious and intimidating. The genre of music (dance) is conveyed through the clothing and style of the male, within the insert image we also see heavy jewellery. We should consider both of these things in our own production as Bella has a fur coat worn as well as a bold necklace. The back image of this album is again quite simple but this is important as it ideally should not be as strong of an image as the main cover. Another thing to consider in this album is the fluidity, the images are all very similar and the theme is consistent which makes the album image as a whole very strong and eye catching.
The above image is the album cover for Faarrow and two examples of images within the album insert. As with the Iggy Azalea album, the back is plain white with black text. The front cover of this album again is black and white which we should consider as it is a consistent theme within dance music album covers that i have analyzed. The image portrays the style and alternative nature of the women and also is framed with a strong pattern similar to the artists clothing. Although this is a relatively plain cover, again it is enhanced through facial expression, jewellery and costume which we should definitely consider in our production. The two image inserts are both quite simple however all make eye contact with the camera which is also repetitive within the albums i have analyzed so should be considered. They also rely heavily upon unique and individual outfits and styles which i should consider in my photography as this is relevant in my music video.
This mood board is an example of our initial ideas for the type of photography we may include within our insert for our digpack. We are likely to stick to a glamorous but natural theme, for example we will avoid fakery such as heavy make up and fake tan however we should make the photo shoot glamorous through clothing such as fur coats, glitter and patterns. Again, we are likely to use shots which are at least a mid shot as we do not want the photographs to be too busy or distracting.
We also like the kaleidoscope theme which we could also include in our inserts as it fits into the abstract music genre such as dance and house music as this effect is often used in dance videos. It would also bring variety to our production.
The photos in the mood board could also be used for the back of the CD cover, as this image needs to be professional yet less impressive than the main cover.
This is a mood board of initial ideas for photography we would see appropriate for our digi-pack. We will most likely have a posed close-up facial shot of Bella for our production however this is something we should clarify when collecting audience feedback. In the above images, styles and facial features similar to Bella have been chosen, as well as this they are all female artists who produce dance music which is key to our production as it has to fit the theme and vibe of our music video.
From audience feedback, we should decide whether or not to have a set-up image, eg. white screen for background, or to have an outside image such as the image top left.
When starting to cut our footage and put into order, we began to show others our footage to ask of their opinion on what is good and also what we could improve, here is what we recieved which includes feedback from our tutorials:
(Good, Bad)
The footage looks very professional
The lighting is strong and impressive
Some shots are slightly shaking
The shots are framed very well
The story line is easily understood
The actors look stunning and professional
Some of the miming shots are somewhat out of time
The male actor is squinting slightly in some shots
The actors are believable
From this feedback, i can mainly take positive comments which i should only make sure are consistent with the rest of my footage. However for some of the negative comments i should ensure i do the following:
Ensure i use the tripod for as many shots as possible to avoid the shot being shakey and ensure it is more still
Ensure i take multiple shots of the actress miming to ensure i gain at least one shot which is in time and also edit more accurately
Ensure the actor is in a position where no light is affecting his vision or facial appearance.
The above video shows evidence of Savanna and Myself filming the footage (the first two clips), the two clips after this are examples of footage which we were unable to use, the first includes a tripod in the shot which therefore means we cannot use it due to it looking unrealistic and staged.
The second clip of the Brighton sign has many extras in the background which are not even blurred therefore we could not use the footage as it is not relevant to our target audience (character wise) as well as being distracting and we would have to gain permission from each individual within the shot.
On the day of the filming, all of the actors and those who were filming were able to travel together and were all available for the day without alterations.
On the day of the filming, we took two cameras, a Nikon DSLR camera to film the main footage on, and a Sony video camera for any extra footage or incase the first camera had run out of charge. We also took two camera bags, chargers and a tripod.
Along with this, the shot list, storyboard and music was taken with us. To fit the wants and needs of the target audience, the characters were dressed slightly alternative but also presentable and classy. Our female actor wore attractive make up with straight hair and an outfit which complemented her figure. The male actor wore more casual clothing e.g. sports t-shirt and jeans however his hair was styled neatly for a more classical look.
We also took a sheet with us for any permission we would have to possibly gain from any extras who were in the background of the footage, or in case we had any spontaneous decisions or issues in which we would need further or unplanned permission for.
We also asked the female actress to learn all of the lyrics to the song to save time on the actual day.
On the (below) Magazine advertisement for La Roux's tour for her album 'La Roux' which was releasing a 'gold edition', there is a selection of information along with her artwork for the album. The main design and background for this advertisement is the image used on the front cover of the album which was recently released, using this as the background allows audiences to recognise the artist easily along with promoting the album alongside the tour. The left half of the advertisement is the space which is used for the tour dates and venues however beneath this is a lot more information. Information on the venues and websites which a person could purchase these tickets are provided. Furthermore, underneath this there is information on the label and production of the advertisement which i should consider putting into my production.
The second advertisement (below) is for a tour date of AlunaGeorge's 'Body Music' tour which is promoting the new album buy the duo which is also called 'Body Music'. Again the album artwork is pictured on the advertisement along with the artist name in bold font with a complementary colour, this is something to consider in my own piece. The style of this advert is modern and has high contrast of colours which draws the audiences attention instantly. the name of the tour, venue and date are also in large bold fonts as these are the most important pieces of information, however there is other text included. In smaller print, the AlunaGeorge website is provided at the bottom of the page, as well as this there is a mention of the concert company and record label in very small print at the top of the page. Adding to this, the poster includes information on how to book by phone, how to book online and how to book in person. As well as the small print at the top of the page, an image is provided for the logo of the concert company. Although some of these elements are not included inside of the actual image, i should consider these when creating my image.
The third advertisement which i had found was for a Bondax tour, this was not necessarily in order to promote an album, however it was an artist whom is most similar to the artist i have chosen within my own production. An image of the artist is however still used in this advertisement, it also contrasts highly with the rest of the poster as is demonstrated with the above images. The main focus of the advertisement is the name of the artist in the centre of the page in a very large font. The white-on-black text is used throughout the poster and the second largest text size is used for the date of the event along with the venue name, in this case 'Rotture'. As with the other posters, the less important information and details are in much smaller fonts. This information includes the company holding the event, the time of the event, age restrictions and ticket prices. It also provides a single website for where people can purchase their tickets.
Another similar artist to Cyril Hahn, is Dislosure. The tour advertisement which they used also contrasted with their album cover but this was due to the tour being before the release of the album. However, along with all of the advertisements i have found, the font colour is of high contrast to the main image however it also matches some of the colours within the image. This advert again has the largest font for the title of the artist and smaller fonts for the less important information. The main image is of the artist and has the consistent pencil-effect outline of the faces which is incorporated into each of their adverts, videos and album covers. This is an idea which i could use in my own productions, it would be effective to have a single repetitive theme or idea which i could use within each of my tasks. As expected, the tour dates and locations are provided and a website is given, these are things i will definitely include in my own production.
When we film our production we need to ensure we consider and take the following:
Camera's
Tripods
Chargers
Spare Camera
Music of song we are using
Shot list and storyboards
Appropriate costume and make-up for actors
Weather appropriate material e.g. umbrellas or sunglasses
Permission sheet
The above items are necessary to ensure that all of our filming is guaranteed to be successful and so that we are prepared for anything which may happen eg, extra permission we may need or extras for unexpected weather conditions.
From checking forecasts, it is expected to be good weather e.g. 20 degrees and sunny so hopefully this will be true and our production will not be affected by things such as rain.
However we should ensure that we are cautious of the lighting when filming as we would need to ensure sun rays or bright lights would not effect the filming.
Cultural appropriation in video is something which is important as producers would wish for videos to appeal to as many people as possible worldwide and to avoid offense at all costs. An example of a music video with accusations of cultural offense is Miley Cyrus: We Cant Stop (below)
Many of the scenes in this video caused controversy, however in terms of culture, Miley caused offense with her references to lower-class black americans. Miley has been criticized for picking certain aspects of black american culture and using them for a mock-style by playing them as a wealthy white female. It is suggested that in her attempt to achieve a certain image she has indeed caused offence, an example of this is her use of a gold grill for her teeth alone with her gan-style hand gestures. She has allegedly used a way of life for some people with much less than her and an oppositional lifestyle, as a stylish and somewhat admirable way of life which in fact contradicts her entire image and past career. Those whom have been supposedly offended by the video are NYC upcoming rappers whom lived a lifestyle similar to what Miley is proposing, but as a struggle with others alike themselves rather than her idea of fashion or success.
In my own music video is will be important for me to make no links or references to other cultures of life styles if they will cause effect, the plan for my video does not in fact have many if at all any references to other races therefore it should be safe to assume i shall not cause offense; however when filming i should ensure that even if non-deliberate, no gestures which may relate to other cultures should be used in case they are negatively interpreted.
I will also be sure not to glorify the actors in comparison to any of other cultures, for example i will not make my white actors appear superior to any others nor inferior.
So far using Blogger, i have found it easy to use and beneficial within my work.
It is simple to edit any essay or analysis work so that it is presented in the fonts and format in which i would prefer, as well as this, the design of the blogs are appealing and i can make it a relevant design to my work if i wished to, such as images of characters for the background.
Adding pictures and videos is also simple on Blogger, i upload all of my photos firstly to Photo-bucket so that they are saved on the internet rather than the school computers which hold a risk of being misplaced. I can then add them using the icon at the top of the blog entry page from a simple link and Blogger will insert the image and give me options of what size or placement i would prefer.
This is also beneficial for adding videos, i use blogger and YouTube for any videos i upload, as they are both products of Google, i can upload a video to YouTube whether it be the main production, a preliminary video or voice recording and link it immediately to my blog. It is also easy to use as i am able to search for YouTube videos within the Blogger page and add them to any relevant post.
My aim is to make my blog as interactive as possible therefore this is why i have added features such as voice recordings, final cut pro videos and word-collages. Blogger is a positive site to use for such things as well as being very easy to navigate and for others to read.
It will be important to consider how people are going to respond to my music video, feminism is often relevant through the release of music videos and i should consider how a feminist may respond to my production.
A recent music video which caused a mass of feminist responses was Robin Thicke: Blurred Lines (shown below)
This video has been claimed to over-sexualize women, remove their personality and also their intelligence. In this video the men are free to roam around the women, touch and stare at them in ways in which are considered both perverted and inappropriate. This undermines women and suggests that males are superior as they seem in control of the women in the video.
As well as this, feminists and Thicke himself have argued that the intention of this video was to degrade women as much as possible. This is also suggested by the songs lack of relevance to comedy, society or any current issues. Each women in the video walk around with vacant expressions as if they were dolls whom are there for the sole purpose of amusement for the men. They are celebrated only as sexual objects as they have no clothes, no script and no part in the video other than to be objectified.
In my own music video, it is important that none of our shots are degrading nor are they focused on either sex being superior to the other. I believe that we have succeeded in this in our planning as both the male and female characters have the upper hand in the music video. Although the male may seem more powerful and the girl may be more vulnerable, she is seen as more of the positive character whilst he plays more of a villainous role.
We have however, intended on using shots which are in use of the male gaze, although this may be argued to be against feministic views, it is used to be clear within the story-line so the audience have a good understanding of what is going on rather than to degrade the female character.
The male gaze is a concept initially created by Laura Mulvey (shown below) this is where the camera often lingers on the sexual or attractive features (usually body) of a female and is often presented in the contexts of a mans reactions to such shots. This often objectifies women and the women experiences the naritive by firstly identifying with how the male is seeing the women.
