Actor Profiles

Making my actor profiles and has been useful for me as it gave me a clear idea of who was performing whar role and their part within the music video. By writing a 'bio' type paragraph on them, I am assigning them personalities which I hope to reflect within my editing and how I make them appear on screen. It's important that you have a clear idea of how to piece your video together and that starts with having characters who can complete the desired affect. I feel happy that my characters have given me the look that I intended to go for.

The Making of Our Digipak

Our first idea for our digipak was to use a leaf linking with our band name 'Autumn of the Jolly'. I suggested using the leaf on the back of the album placing the track titles within the leaf. Whilst we were out taking potential photos for the front we tried to see if we could attempt the leaf idea. Kerry with her steady hand placed her camera towards a tree which hosted a lonely leaf. Looking from the underside she managed to take a blur free photo of the leaf which also happened to be of good shape and colour. We then started to photoshop. We started by taking out some of the unwanted branches and leaves in the background. We took out most leaving just the corner as we felt we didn't want the image to be too plain or over manipulated by at the same time we wanted to attention to be on the main leaf not what surrounds it. Therefore we also changed the contrast of the sky making it lighter and intensified some of the colours of the leaf. Strangely enough we found by taking some of the contrast down on the leaf that the colours separated themselves more clearly and the red part was very diminished from the rest of the colours. Now with the back image complete it is just the case of adding the song titles and adding bar codes, copyright terms etc. However we also prepared to change parts of the back cover considering an idea for the front cover hasn't yet been finalised.

The leaf before manipulation:

The leaf after manipulation:

'with the tracks added'

We now looked at making our front cover. We wanted the main image to be pure and simple. Therefore we took a few shots of the main artist with our favourite shown below. The face is neutral and the hair, in particular the fringe, sits well. However my favourite thing about the photo is how the guitar is pictured. It's close to the camera with all the detailing and is at an angle which extends the neck of the guitar. The hand positions are also believable and importantly are not blurred. The girl you see in the background is holding a light. My partner who is more of an expert in photography than myself informed me that by taking the picture in a dark room with a light will eliminate myself and will help to darken the background in editing; hence the girl with the light.

Now with our image we began to darken the background to just leave myself and the guitar as the main picture and the give us the opportunity to change the background. Through photoshop we eliminated parts of the background and turned them black and used the burn tool closer to the image. We also used the spot healing tool to remove any dust particles from the camera lens. This stage is represented below:

Now with our darkened image we had to create something that would stand and be different. We looked at various filters until we came to one we liked called 'charcoal'. With our leaf on the back surrounding by a blue sky we used blue as the background with an orange outline. However, we felt that it generally looked tacky and unprofessional but both agreed that we liked the orange outline which had a drawing effect. This image is represented on the left hand side:







Not particularly keen on our blue background we tried white instead. This looked much, much better in our opinion. It really highlighted the detail of the picture and picked up on my favourite part of the image originally which was the guitar. For example, you can clearly see the frets and neck markings. To finish it off we thickened the strokes to fill out my hair and facial features but also 'rubbed out' a few 'stradely' hairs. We then added our 'Autumn of the Jolly' band logo which was originally created for the website.

'completed front cover'

Above is our finished front cover. You'll notice that the band logo is now in a light blue colour described as 'duck egg' blue. We felt the black was a bit bland and that the blue colour had a lovely contrast with the orange. It also felt 'edgier' and modern. To finish we resized the image to 12.2cm x 14cm so that it would represent an actual sized CD cover.

With both our front and back covers now complete it became apparent how they may not match that well in terms of them theoretically being put together. Therefore we used the same 'charcoal' filter on our back cover as we felt we liked the idea of the front cover more than the back. After changing the filter we thickened the lines and changed the text colour to maroon. We felt the maroon complemented the leaf well and although we would have liked to have used the duck egg blue, it failed to show up as well as the colour chosen. At the bottom of the album we have added the compact-disc logo, a barcode, the website address and the record company copyright 'signature'.

However after finishing the back cover we realised that the hinge of the album would sit on the right hand side of the image therefore we reversed the cover to rectify this. We are very happy with the front and back covers and are glad we have tried to match them. Admittedly they seem simple but yet they both seem extremely effective and we really love the filter we've used.

'completed back cover'

With the back and front covers completed we know need to work on other areas of the digipak. Below shows our spine of the CD case. The background is a block orange colour to complement the white areas around the edge of the front and back covers. It also features small white flowers to continue to theme of Autumn. Placed on top is the band name clearly shown in the middle. Alongside that is the record company name and the serial code.

Next is the CD itself. From my textual analysis it shown me how the CD can be very much based on all your other features from the design. With orange and white being our common theme it made sense to make one of them the base colour. As the base colour for the front and back covers is white we opted for the orange. We then used a custom brush downloaded off myphotoshopbrushes.com, to make the white 'splodges'. The first reason was to make it look as quirky as the rest of the album but we felt it also represented the rawness of releasing a first album and shown the band as real people who have made it, as the paint could represent a labouring job etc. We then added the band name and album title to the side of the hole. Noticeably the heart next to the album title is the same colour as the tracks are in on the back cover. We then added the copyright notice and serial codes at the bottom of the disk in that same brown colour. Here is the finished design:

'The Disc'

Next we had to design the two inside covers. Firstly we started with the disc side (inlay) where the CD sits. Going with our autumn theme we decided to use a photo that my partner had taken recently; a beautiful shot of the trees in the sunset. We made the image look brighter with a warming filter and by increasing the saturation. We then added the two inner circles and middle binder to make the inlay look effective and a full product design.

'the inlay'

Finally we needed an inside cover. Because the faces are obscured on the front cover we felt we needed a clear image of the entire band to give them a firm identity. After taking a few photos we selected our favourite. It was taken on an attractive wooden bench which sits infront of a multi-coloured wall which had been painted. We also used props such as the guitar and drum sticks to reitterate the group as a band, possibly interupting a rehearsal to take the shot. It was then the case of brightening the image followed by cropping the top to cut out the high windows. Finally we added text at the top of the cover to introduce the band on their debut album.

'inside cover'

The text reads:

"Autumn of the Jolly were formed in early 2010. Since then they have gone from strength to strength. This is their first album on sale in the UK and they have a tour planned for Summer 2012"

With all the parts now finished we had our work viewed by Brendan Way who gave us professional feedback. He advised that we added the other two band members to the front cover to avoid people viewing it as a solo album. There is more detail of this in my evaluation. We also added an album title which we intended to add after realising it was a major part missing from the cover.

The Making of Our Website

The screen shot below shows us testing using dreamweaver. This was how we designed the buttons etc. It gave us a small grip on using the web designer.

Having already worked with dreamweaver we've started work on our website design. And so far so good. We're both really happy with the progress we've made with it and this is the website as it stand at the moment:

So far we've included some of the main features that we were positive we wanted to use. To start with we've added a wide selection of tabs at the top. This makes them noticable and makes the site accessible for users. It gives them gateways to different areas of the band and gives options for them to follow and support the band in their own ways. The tabs are in a bold, black font and are seperated with a modern dash effect (//) also with a space inbetween. This easily shows what's what and makes it clear for the user. Just below the tabs are orange stands. Whilst this also helps with the overall look it also acts as a barrier to seperate the rest of the webpage.  We've also got a clear title where the name of the band is displayed. It again uses modern techniques of reversing the text and using scattered boxes as the background colour. It's noticeable both for it's unusual and individual qualities but also for it's size and how it sits on the page; i.e towards the top. Just below it are links to social networking sites. This is a feature on almost all band websites and is crucial for gaining fans and followers and boosting your profile as a band. It's a great way to talk to your fans and give them information and it gets them excited about having various formats of being able to follow you. Furthermore we have a news feed on the left hand side. It displays the bands latest news and is clearly outlined by the coloured box. It also uses the theme of the stands this time in the opposite colours (the box is orange and the stands are dark). There are hyperlinks within the news feed to offer users to access greater depth about the story on another page.

Whilst making this webpage we were also considering how the webpage and album should link. Band websites often adapt in accordance with their latest album to create a recognisable theme for the fans. Therefore we plan to use the band title in the same font on our album cover and then also use the image of the album itself on the home page. We also plan to put the finished music video on the website. This is a great way of cross advertising our product in different media forms.

Update:

We have now finished our website homepage. Here it is:

(official final website post will be in greater quality)

We have no added three new main areas; the album cover advert, the music video flashplayer and the photo gallery below. To do this we had to shuffle a few things around such as the social networking tabs and news bar. Firstly we originally tried to embed the actual music video. However, the video wouldn't work with our schools flashplayer so we decided that using a screenshot with the play button and options still available would be just as affective. We also added the album cover advert with information on where it is available. Finally the gallery is added for fans to gain an insight into the bands life of stage and out of the studio.

The two images below were made on Microsoft word. The orange dotted line is used as a divider at the top of the page and the arrow is used on the gallery to give it an interactive effect as if you can view it as a slideshow.

Textual Analysis of a Music Video

I am going to my Textual Analysis of 'The Script - For the First Time'

The genre of music is similar to the one we are using in our text and the video shows similar qualities such as hosting the band in a tranquil, dark setting using three band members. There is also a narrative to do with love and the highs and lows of being in love.

The meaning behind the song

The song is to do with the finicial crisis Britain had seen a few years back; "tryin' make it work but man these times are hard" and how it has affected a young relationship. The video shows how two people have decided to move to America. Possibly to fulfil the so called 'American Dream'. "she needs me now but I cant seem to find the time, I got a new job now in the unemployment line" this refers to the struggle to be together while they're trying to make 'ends meat' with the money and looking for work. It shows darker times with "drinking old, cheap bottles of wine". However the couple are determined to go through bad times "sitting up all night, saying things we haven't for a while". They appear to be relighting their relationship until bad times strike again and they get "kicked to the dirt". The song is meant to show how even through hard times you can stick together. The biggest difference in our storyline and this one is the main characters life goes in decline all the way to end with no happy ending. This one goes in the other direction where the end is positive.

Editing Style

The length of shots are varied. The band shots are reletively long duration during slow parts of up to 5-6 second. These cuts are made shorter during higher tempo sections to around 2-3 seconds. The shots are varied between long shots and close-ups. Blurred effects are used and handheld appears to be a used technique from time to time. The shots are also in black and white to start with but become colour after the storyline picks up and again return to black and white as the storyline dips (this a running theme throughout). The narrative shots are again extremely varied, possibly to set the general tone. The happier times appear to be quicker cuts, occasionally at 1 second long. The shots where dismay is expressed, the cuts seem to have a longer proximity; although not always true. One shot shows how time is passing the male character by as he joins the 'rat race' with images of an American highway. There is evidence of blurs and overlays. The lighting is also efficient as it sets the overall tone nicely.

Below I am now going to show how the video was constructed using screen grabs. I will section these to show how every shot adds to the video and how it tells the storyline in a way the audience can clearly understand. It will also show the diversity of shots used.

Vocals & Instruments

 Lots and lots of close intimate shots. Instrument shots are very, very short and often have an added effect. This could be because the band members themselves are more important opposed to the instrument they play. Their instrument is merely their identification within the band. The genre of music which is similar to mine uses a full drum kit and focuses a lot on the cymbals as the key figure. A microphone is also evident for the vocalist and the shots of him are predominently close-ups. The guitarist is often split into two with either the focus on his face or on the guitar itself; the two images are rarely seen in one shot.

Band Members

 These shots show how again the close-up is utilised. Interestingly the non-vocalist band members are still singing along such as the drummer in the top shot and the singer is spinning whilst not singing in another. This could be a signature move he performs on stage.... At the bottom there is a shot where the singers bottom half of his body is a shadow in the light which is layered over a close-up of the drummer. strong stereotype such as wearing black in heavy metal or wearing skimpy tops in female pop songs. ThThe clothes worn are typical to the type of band. It's nothing over the top;everything is casual. It's not a e characters themselves are not involved in the narrative and their setting is different to the setting of the story.

Positive Narrative Shots

These shots all show positivity in different ways. The ones where they are physically interacting show how they have a close relationship. The money signifies the man bringing home money for him and his girlfriend to live off and survive. The two shots of them in sunlight show how there is always a little bit of hope and how they both feel the same and finally overlayed two-shot shows how even when they are in different places they are always thinking about eachother and working for eachother.

Negative Narrative Shots

These images show lots of emotions. Some of is simple such as her crying signifying her sadness and others such as where she is standing by the wire fence signifies how she feels she can't reach her goal as the sunlight is there but out of reach. Anger is also portrayed, possibly out of frustration and sadness again portrayed through writing the letter; possibly a more female characteristic. The shots of them whilst American highways and streets are in the background show how life is moving around them so fast and how they are now part of the 'rat race'. They want to slow time down so they can have more time together but he has to work to earn money for them.

Through this extensive textual analysis it's clear to see how the video has been constructed. Like ours it's split into the band shots and a narrative. It then goes even deeper the split the narrative into two with a negative and positive. We plan to do this to but with outcome resulting in a negative opposed to a positive. Seeing it in images deffinately shows me how a music video structure should be comprised and I'm glad I spent time going thoroughly through the clips.