Friday 26 October 2012

Digipak and Magazine Advert

What is a digipak?

A digipak is the front and back of an album cover and it includes:

  • Name of artist and album
  • Track list
  • Bar code 
  • Record company logo/ information
  • Disk impression and separate disk design
  • Six panels
  • Spine
An example of a digipak

What goes on a magazine advert?
  • Name of artist and album
  • Date of release
  • Where it is available to buy
  • Record company information
  • Quotes/Reviews 





Friday 19 October 2012

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody







This music video was created at the start of the music video era. During the period of when the video was released it was the top of the pops era and because Queen was number 1 on top of the pops for a number of week all four members of the group were included in the video and because it was a  very creative video full of effects people were amazed by this and it became very popular because of this. This also amazed people because it was the first time it was done. 

Michael Jackson- Thriller





Thriller- One of Michael jackson's greatest if not the greatest music video he's ever made, the video is famous for the dance which today is still performed by many at parties etc, the music video was made in 1983 and still today is as famous and popular as then. The video is 13 minutes long and is like a mini movie or a mini thriller. The video has a great use of mise-en-scene as it portrays 'zombies' and the characters who play zombies do pass for zombies throughout the extract. During the period of when the music video was made Channel 4 had a policy of not showing any horror movies until after 9, the airing of the video was was done on at friday at midnight and would always attract a huge amount of views, everyone stayed up to watch this video, and because there were only 4 channels in the 1980s this is why it may have been a huge success, if you had missed the video on a friday night it would be replayed at a later point the following week. 

Friday 5 October 2012

Video selection

BRMC- spread love

Positive:


  • Use of shots (continuity editing)
  • Use of props (mise-en-scene)
  • Setting
  • Body language
  • Extreme close-ups
  • Editing to the beat
  • Camera angle of the guitar 
  • sped up train
  • shpt out of the window
  • trying to tell a story
Negative:

  • Out of sync some times
  • Not a great use of costumes
  • Terrible teeth "choose carefully"
The buttons- Anyone else but you

Positive:
  • Costumes-matches the song
  • Setting food with the music
  • Good use of props
  • Shot of rainbow
  • Intimacy 
Negative:
  • One effect, fade

Conventions of the genre


  • ECU
  • Lip synching (synchronise)
  • Dancing
  • Product placement
  • Instrument (piano, guitar)
  • Story (narrative) 
  • facial expressions e.g. make-up
  • Mise en-scene, lighting, costumes
  • Settings
  • Props
  • Girls

Case-study


  • Director- Jamie Thraves
  • Made short films at university
  • Used award- winning short films as a 'calling card' to get a 'foot in the door' with video production company factory films
  • Began by shooting three very low budget music videos- cost about £5000 each
  • Showed his film to a lot of people to become recognised which got him hired
This is how the process works:

  • A 'commissioner' from a record label sends a track to about 5 to 10 directors, the directors then each submit a treatment (out line what they will ned to do with the track e.g. plan and story board) this whole process is unpaid, the director who submits the 'best' treatment is then commissioned to make the videos and therefore employed, only then is the director now paid.
As it can be seen for many directors in the business it is a precarious existence where their livelihood is dependent on each commission , Jamie Thraves submitted treatments for his two best known videos and each was accepted:
1. Radiohead- Just, £100,000 budget, shot in 3 days.
2. Coldplay- The scientist , £200,000 budget, shot in 3 days.

Jamie Thraves' most recent video was for japanese popstars- song for Lisa.

  • Currently videos cost about £20,000
  • Shooting time, 2 days
  • Jamie has used the music videos to get into the film business, and has so far shot three features:
  • The low dow
  • The cry of the owl
  • Treacle Jr
Jamie's top tip:
  • Use the lyrics but try not to be literal 
  • Most importantly- Go with the emotion on the lyrics

Purpose of a music promo video


  • To Promote the song
  • Change the image of the artist
  • Change the image of the song
  • Advertisement 
  • Draws attention to the music/song
  • Illustrates the song
  • Appeals to a visual audience 
  • Expresses an individual emotion (Sinade O'connor, Stan) 
  • Tells a story (small town boy, I to break free, George Michael)
  • Market an image (Christina Aguilera- Dirty, Madonna- change imagery
  • Promotes the artist/ single/ album
  • Persuades audience to buy -CD/ Download (Stan)
  • Raises the audience awareness of profile of the artist / group. (21 seconds by So solid crew)
  • To make a artistic statement- e.g. talking heads 'once in a lifetime'- Bob Dillen 
  • Product placement e.g. Christina Aguilera + perfume (not my self tonight) 
How might we measure the success criteria of a music promo video?

  • Amount of youtube views
  • Sales
  • Word of mouth
  • Newspaper articles/ TV reports
  • How many times shown on TV
  • Amount of publicity, and example of this is Rebecca Black 
  • Downloads (legal/illegal)
  • Charts
  • CD sales
  • VMA awards 

100 Greatest Music Videos


The list below shows channels 4's 100 greatest music videos. for research purposes I watched channels 4's distribution of this, and there were a lot of good videos which stood out to me personally, my favourite of these from list was 21seconds by So solid crew.


  1. Michael Jackson: Thriller
  2. Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer
  3. A-ha: Take on Me
  4. Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody
  5. Madonna: Like a Prayer
  6. Robbie Williams: Rock DJ
  7. Michael Jackson: Billie Jean
  8. The Verve: Bittersweet Symphony
  9. Madonna: Vogue
  10. Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
  11. Coldplay: The Scientist
  12. Michael & Janet Jackson: Scream
  13. Pink Floyd: Another Brick in the Wall
  14. Christina Aguilera: Dirrty
  15. REM: Everybody Hurts
  16. OutKast: Hey Ya
  17. Blur: Coffee & TV
  18. Beyonce: Crazy in Love
  19. Madonna: Material Girl
  20. Gorillaz: Clint Eastwood
  21. Queen: I Want to Break Free
  22. Justin Timberlake: Cry Me a River
  23. Britney Spears: ...Baby One More Time
  24. Radiohead: No Surprises
  25. Madness: Baggy Trousers
  26. TLC: Waterfalls
  27. David Bowie: Ashes to Ashes
  28. Foo Fighters: Learn to Fly
  29. Electric Six: Gay Bar
  30. Weezer: Buddy Holly
  31. Eminem: Stan
  32. Chris Isaak: Wicked Game
  33. U2: The Sweetest Thing
  34. The White Stripes: Fell in Love with a Girl
  35. Sinead O'Connor: Nothing Compares 2U
  36. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Give It Away
  37. Guns N Roses: November Rain
  38. Fatboy Slim: Weapon of Choice
  39. Pulp: Common People
  40. Missy Elliot: Get Ur Freak On
  41. The Spice Girls: Wannabe
  42. Bjork: It's Oh So Quiet
  43. Dire Straits: Money for Nothing
  44. Kylie Minogue: Can't Get You Out of My Head
  45. Aerosmith: Crazy
  46. Adam & the Ants: Prince Charming
  47. The Prodigy: Firestarter
  48. Johnny Cash: Hurt
  49. Jamiroquai: Virtual Insanity
  50. Paul Simon: You Can Call Me Al
  51. Run DMC & Aerosmith: Walk This Way
  52. Massive Attack: Teardrop
  53. Wham: Club Tropicana
  54. Daft Punk: Around the World
  55. Fatboy Slim: Praise You
  56. Eminem: Without Me
  57. Meatloaf: I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
  58. The Cure: Close to Me
  59. Abba: Knowing Me, Knowing You
  60. Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams
  61. The Prodigy: Smack My Bitch Up
  62. Blur: Parklife
  63. George Michael: Outside
  64. Bjork: Human Behaviour
  65. Aphex Twin: Windowlicker
  66. Bob Dylan: Subterranean Homesick Blues
  67. The Beastie Boys: Sabotage
  68. Madonna: Ray of Light
  69. Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Two Tribes
  70. The Police: Every Breath You Take
  71. Bjork: All Is Full of Love
  72. Robert Palmer: Addicted to Love
  73. Basement Jaxx: Where's Your Head At?
  74. Wu-Tang Clan: Gravel Pit
  75. Duran Duran: Rio
  76. The Beatles: Strawberry Fields
  77. MC Hammer: U Can't Touch This
  78. Godley and Creme: Cry
  79. New Order: True Faith
  80. Radiohead: Just
  81. Ultravox: Vienna
  82. 50 Cent: In Da Club
  83. Shakespear's Sister: Stay
  84. The Boomtown Rats: I Don't Like Mondays
  85. Sid Vicious: My Way
  86. The Streets: Fit But You Know It
  87. Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime
  88. Elton John: I Want Love
  89. Smashing Pumpkins: Tonight Tonight
  90. The Pet Shop Boys: Go West
  91. The Specials: Ghost Town
  92. Herbie Hancock: Rockit
  93. The Rolling Stones: We Love You
  94. Bonnie Tyler: Total Eclipse of the Heart
  95. The Cardigans: My Favourite Game
  96. So Solid Crew: 21 Seconds- This was So Solid Crews most memorable and possibly greatest music video they ever created. The video of this song is found on top of the blog, and the video portrays a dark and evil image, telling us we only have '21 seconds' to go. 
  97. Cornershop: Brimful of Asha
  98. Bronski Beat: Smalltown Boy
  99. Supergrass: Pumping on Your Stereo
  100. Musical Youth: Pass the Dutchie

Advanced Poduction

What I will also need to produce:


  • A 'digipak' for it release on DVD
  • A magazine advertisement for the DVD
  • A digipak example
In addition to my 'promo' video I will also have to produce:

  • a CRITICAL EVALUATION
  • On a BLOG
  • Including Research and Planning