Website Design

This gave me a rough idea of the layout of our intended website, here i could plan out my ideas i gained from analysing professional websites of other bands

Digipak Design

This our first draft of the digipak we are going to create, ideas taken from the bands previous work and simular artists along with linking it to the ideas for our own music video

Digipak Cover Research



Franz Ferdinand - Tonight

This is an apropriate as it is dark and simple digipak with something unusual happening which is what we expect from an indie genre band.

The mise-en-scene is mainly based on the band wearing suits trying to look posh and professional however in the back ground something is happening that they dont want you to see witch is why the lead singer is trying to stop us looking by putting his hand up and carries onto the back with a hand behind the song titles.

As with the mise-en-scene the layout is also trying to distract your eyes from behind by having the singer set forward in the picture.
Having the picture all in black and white leaves the band as a mysterious people and may make you want to buy this album to find out why they look so suspisious.

The Strokes - Angles

This is apropriateto the indie genre as it uses unusual and impossible images put together witch makes no sence, this was the same for indie bands at the time as this band is from a different era to the band we are doing.
There are no mise-en-scene in this digi pack as it's all been edited together and there are no costumes

or locations apart from the random pictures of the band in the inside cover that looks to have no set image or style.

It looks to have no set layout on the outside covers and the font on the outside is very plain and basic in contrast to the crazy images behind it however on the inside covers the pictures are set in a cross and the words on the other side have been 'piled' up on eachother to form a tower and each look to have a different font but all looking like nightclub neon signs.

The image of the band isn't really clear in this digipak apart from maybe trying to show thier individualuality and to show how much they stand out. In my opinion it doesnt sell the band as well as the previous digipack.

 

Kaiser Chiefs - Employment

This digipak is appropriate to the kaiser chiefs image as they try to make themselves look like common working class people in there videos so they have decided to carry this on to this digipack by making it look like an old, worn out wallet.

I believe ther is no mise-en-scene apart from trying to make the hole album look like worn out, dirty, second hand thing like a wallet.

The title and name of the artist is in the centre of the front and on the back cover the font is very simple so it is easy to read the song title set out under eachother.

This digipack is trying to sell the band the same way as there music videos try to. Trying to make the band seem like 'one of us' and just  normal people.

Kasabian - Veloceraptor

This is an appropriate digipak for a rock indie band as it unusual as it duplicates one of the band members faces in each corner in very dark and dull colours.

This digipak has no clear mise-en-scene as there is no location, costume only the band member screaming or 'roaring' to complement the name of the album 'veloceraptor'.

The C.D and the front cover have a circular layout with all the face looking at eachother with the title centered in the middle in small and clear font so to not distract you from the imagery.

The digipak trys to seel the band as unique idividuals in a sort of 'organised choas'

The Kooks - Inside in Inside out

This is an apropriate digipak as it is very plain simple as it is all black, white and red and doesn't change throughout and all peices of the digipak all have images of the band on them.

The two main images look to be set in a blank white room with keeping the album simple and all the costumes of the band is the same but look just to be casual, what we expect from an indie rock band.

There looks to be not set layout and looks disorganised, the font is small and very plain and simple as though it's there to read but it's not important.

The band is being promoted by being shown all over this digipak, i gives the buyer a look and insight to the band without showing much of the band.

Our Band

We intend to make our digipak appropriate by keeping to genre conventions by having a dark and gloomy cover flowing through the whole digipak, we aim to do this without much mise-en-scene only focusing it it on the balaclava.

The layout of our digipak will be simple with the main image on the front being centered and the the title in a convenient place so it is easily read but not taking the attention away from the image. The font will be simple and easy to read throughout giving the digipak a casual feel in keeping with the bands image.

we intend to sell our band mainly through the image of the lead singer on the front, this and the rest of our ideas are similar to arctic monkeys previous work such as 'whatever people say i am, I'm not.'

Test shots

These test shots allowed us to visualize what our actors would look like, this would make planning easier as we could get everyone looking almost the same and still match the feel of the video.

Detailed Analysis of Artists Websites

Arctic Monkeys                                http://arcticmonkeys.com/

Image and logo

The bands image and logo is presented clearly on the home page of the website, this is so the audience can clearly identify the artist/band. The logo is typically in the top left corner of each webpage and this particular website is no different, it stays locked in the top corner even when the user scrolls down. This can be seen as a corporate image to make the band both memorable and easily identifiable.

Genre

From looking At the colour scheme and layout of the website you can tell that this is not a pop group or rock band, this band aims to emphasise their independence and make themselves original.

New Tech and links

The website shows links to social networking sites such as twitter and face book, here it gives the audience an opportunity to get more involved with the band and find much more specific information about a particular event or just general information about the band. Numerous videos are evident on the webpage showing live performances in venues across the world.

Colour and style

the colour of this particular website is very dull and unappealing however this suits the bands image, where the band likes to present themselves in a dark and unique fashion. This means that the audience will respond to this colour scheme positively because of their experience with the band. The style of the website I personally find very effective, this is because of its simplistic but clear way of presenting information to the audience.

Written Context

The information presented in the website gives a general overview of the bands latest news, upcoming events and gives their audience a chance to post blogs on their website. This is a way for fans to get into contact with the bands directly. The website also gives fans a chance to enter their online shop where they can purchase new merchandise.

Font and Layout

The font for this particular website is very generic and simple, if allows the audience to read it clearly and makes it easy to take in information from the website. The layout is also very effective because it spaces out the information equally, leaving important information like the bands upcoming  concerts towards the centre of the screen making that the first thing that the user sees when entering the website. The navigation bar however is very small and can be unnoticeable to certain users, however the fact that if the user scrolls down the navigation bar stays follows makes up for it. I particularly like the way the website presents their images on their “photos” webpage, they are all shown on one page and gives users the opportunity to enlarge them if requested.

Target Audience

The target audience for this website is clear due to the fact that the band posts videos of their fans at concerts and passed events. Creating links to social networking sites also indicates that this band could be aiming towards young adults as their target audience.

Adverts

There are subtle advertisements in this websites, the most obvious are the logo’s for social networking sites (Twitter and Facebook)

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Foo Fighters                         http://www.foofighters.com/uk/home

Image and Logo

The whole look of their website shows similarities to the bands new album, wasting light which is a effective but subtle way of advertising it. The logo is clearly presented at the top left corner of the webpage which is fairly common for official band websites.

Genre

The genre of the band is fairly obvious from looking at their website, their colour scheme relates to a rock band through the use of images to show their live performances and rehearsals.

New Tech and Links

As soon as you enter the website you notice a large image slideshow across the homepage, here it shows live performances, album covers and exclusive shots of rehearsals. You can also access the bands Twitter page, facebook page etc via a link on the homepage and on a specific webpage from the navigation bar to see even more exclusive information.

Colour and Style

I personally like this colour scheme because the consistent use of dark colours on the navigation bar and background allows the audience to focus on the important and specific information that is shown in colour. The way certain images are presented a distorted and unorganised fashion also reflects the bands genre and style, by following their newest album covers look.

Written Context

In terms of the quality of information, the website is both insightful and interesting showing key pieces of information effectively and clearly. There is also a page where users can post messages to the band via a fan blog.

Font and Layout

The font used in this webpage is very much like the arctic monkeys website where it is easy to read and not formal, the layout however is much more user friendly compared to the Arctic Monkeys website. This is because the navigation bar is at a suitable size so users can find it and access it easily, and multimedia files such as music, images and videos are displayed and also easily accessible. Where you can search for a song relating to its year of release.

Target Audience

The target audience is fairly similar to the Arctic Monkeys however they also appeal to an older generation too (15 – 30) This can be shown through the bands age themselves; the band started out in 1995 so they will still have their fan base from their early career as well as the younger generation too

Adverts

The main source of advertisements are from social networking sites where they encourage users to use their website to contact the band. 

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Fall Out Boy                             http://www.falloutboyrock.com/

Image and logo

The image is very modern and loud, this is present in the website through its bright colour scheme and images. The logo itself breaks normal conventions because much like Two Door Cinema Club's website the lgo is situated in the center of the screen.

Genre

It is very clear that this band's genre is rock through their dress sense shown via images on their website. The colour scheme is also similar to the Foo Fighters by presenting a typical dark approach to the genre

New tech and Links

Links to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are present on this website, it also allows access to music stores such as itunes to purchase new albums.

colour and Style

The colour scheme for this website seems very luxurious due to the use of red and gold throughout the website, The style of the website is very modern and appealing which fits most users capabilities, therefore it is very simple and easy to use / navigate.

Written Context

The information present on this website is very useful, giving details of the bands latest merchandise/albums/news and provides access to Questions and Answers on a separate page. 

Tour information is also present on the website ensuring that the band receives enough money and publicity. 

Font and Layout

The font for this websites is very modern, easy to read and suits the style of the website well. The font is similar to the Arctic Monkeys which would encourage users to explore the website. The layout of the website is also thought through and well designed. The navigation bar is at the center of the screen so that users can explore the website at ease.

Target Audience

The target audience for this band is not as clear due to the lack of images on the website displaying the fans, therefore it is difficult to identify the bands specific target audience. However due to the age of the band it is clear that they appeal to a younger audience. 

Advert

Advertisements are clear on the websites with links to social networking sites, YouTube and online shops 


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The Kooks                                                   http://www.thekooks.com/

Image and Logo

This website looks very modern and fits the band’s image and style, like most official websites from bands their “logo” or band name is situated at the top left corner of the webpage.

Genre

The colour scheme and images used suggest that the genre is a light and more pop style form of rock, more so than bands such as the Killers or Foo Fighters. The modern look of the website suggests that the band appeals to a modern and mainstream audience too. 

New Tech and Links

In the top right corner of the webpage it shows links to other websites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify and iTunes. This website has much more links than the Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters Website.

Colour and Style

I personally think that the style of the website is very appealing both visually and physically due to its easy access around the site. The use of colour is effective because it is able to advertise their new album clearly, because of the rest of the website being in black and white. 

Written Context

The majority of the information shown on the website is spoken to the user through the use of images and videos, where actual written information is very brief telling the user about specific dates and messages from the band. The information provided on the website however is much more desired by me personally and potentially other audiences, what I mean by this is that if a homepage had large paragraphs of writing it would encourage me to either leave the website completely or go onto another webpage.

Font and Layout

The font itself is very modern and professional making it both visually appealing as well as being easy to read. The font is consistent throughout the website and allows it all to flow making it seem like a well rounded website. The layout is very appealing to me personally as it incorporates the images and videos with the information effectively through the use of a slideshow gallery. The bands latest album is also presented to the viewer as soon as they enter the website, this is a very effective advertising tool and would encourage users to look into the bands latest work.

Target Audience

The bands target audience is not clear from just their websites as they have no images or videos from live concerts, however in the images of the band their clothing suggests that they are from a indie rock genre where a high number of young adult males are interested.

Adverts

Other than promoting their new album there is limited amount of advertising on this website, however in the top left hand corner it shows links to social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter then links to other websites and applications such as iTunes, Spotify and YouTube.

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The Killers                                    http://www.thekillersmusic.com/home

Image and Logo

The bands logo is located in the top left hand corner of the website which is common for an artists website. The bands image is presented well through the images presented on the slideshow and the colour scheme on the website. The images show the band members to make them more recognisable to the audience and the colour scheme shows the bands genre of music.

Genre

The dark colours shown on the website emphasise the genre of the band, where the users will instantly realise that this is not a pop band or Dance music. The bands clothing shown on the homepage also shows their genre of music, the leather jackets can be seen as a indication to their style of music.

New Tech and links

The use of a large slideshow works very well with the website where each image is a separate hyperlink to either another part of the website or a online music store, e.g. If I click on the bands latest album it takes me to the iTunes store to purchase it. It also gives me the option to access social networking sites i.e. Twitter or Facebook.

Colour and style

The websites colour scheme is also very effective because of the mixture in dark colours and one vibrant colour to present certain information (Navigation bar, Album Cover etc.) The use of red highlights subheadings and special deals from the online shop. The style of the website is very strange, it is presented as one big calendar which I find confusing and unnecessary. Using this calendar also breaks down the information too much leaving the users to scan through a large amount of the website to find the information they want.

Written Context

The Written information is very brief and in bite sized chunks. This is only effective if the user finds their piece of information straight away, whereas if the user cannot find their information they have to search through the website, causing the users stress.

Font and Layout

The font is very appealing and professional allowing users to read it clearly.

The font is consistent with the bands album title and allows the website to not only look professional but flow too

Target Audience

Judging from the bands clothing they appeal to a very generic and stereotypical rock fan, however their specific age group is uncertain. Due to the bands length of career they have a wide age range due to them picking up new younger fans each year.

Adverts

They present their latest album very clearly on the front of the website and offer users a chance to buy the album straight away. The website also has links to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and other websites such as YouTube and Spotify

written storyboard

This allowed me to break down each shot of our music video into an few seconds, i listed what shot type it needs to be, its duration and what would be shot, this allowed us to follow a strict guideline to make our video good and sticking to plan

recce sheet

This allowed us to plan how we will set up and shoot our music video, we did a risk assessment and how power everything to test how suitable the location is.

Location photographs

These are the photos for planed locations to shoot our music video in, they are suitable because of space and proximity to power outlets, they are also very low budget and sticking with the indie feel

Power point for the pitch

Evidence of permission

We have tried to contact  The Arctic Monkeys  via twitter to ask for permission to use their song for our music video,

 We are yet to get a reply from them.

We have also contacted the record label 'Domino Records' to also ask permission through their contact section on their website

image and target audience - our band

Arctic Monkeys (2007)

Target Audience
The Arctic monkeys main target audience at the time our song was released was:
- late teens to early 20's
- generally a male audience
- no direct influence from the audiences sexuality
- indie sub genre

This is the same audience we wish to attract to our music video.

Image

As you can see from the image above, the arctic monkeys image in 2007 was very smart casual. For example they are all wearing stone washed jeans but also wearing polo shirts and vintage cardigans.

we are looking to keep to this image however we wish to make the clothing darker to fit the song and characters they are portraying



This video is a good example of how the band perform, It is a very casual style even though it is a very fast and up tempo beat song. As we intend to include shots of our band performing we need to recreate this style of performance.

Our chosen song Balaclava - Arctic Monkeys

This is a lyrical video of our chosen song so you can listen to the music and read along to the lyrics.

Textual analysis; Corey

I looked at the existing music video for 'R U Mine' by arctic monkeys to see what the bands conventions on their music videos are and to find aspects to interpret on how we could make our own.

Textual analysis; Ryan

This textual analysis allowed me to see what makes a professional music video great, i was able to pick out the strengths and weaknesses and apply this to my media project.

Summer Homework

Step outline

Comments from the pitch

Very good initial idea but it may be difficult in terms of band syncing (difficult to sing to, you'll need a pretty good drummer!) I'd think about more things you could do with the narrative, rather than just performance. Add humor, like stealing silly things etc, and think about the lyrics, you need a woman!

the narrative could get a bit boring so you need to expand your idea because it could get boring, you should follow the narrative of the song a bit more and get some girl involved. where are you gonna get a flashing light and a policeman from? eh?

good initial thoughts, need a few more ideas for the narrative as it could get a bit dull. Make it a bit more funny possibly stealing pointless things e.g. cheese cake

Like the idea, think it fits Arctic Monkeys genre possibly look at the narrative more!


Review Comments:
-We needed to be clear about our narrative
- make the narrative vary with shots
-talk about the varying shots for performance
-we want to have a female police officer but failed to mention it in the pitch
-we have ideas of what we want to do we need to re-do our step outline with more detail

Summer Homework - Corey

Chosen Band - Biffy Clyro

Biffy Clyro's music videos all have performance based clips within them whether it is clips from live shows edited together or as part of the narrative of the paticitular video, this is the normal secnario for rock bands as the convention for rock music video's are performance and sometimes a mix of performance and  narrative. Two examples of these types of music videos by Biffy Clyro are 'stingin' belle' and 'the captian'

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Evn9MiIuqM - the captain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DafkHhzbXB4 - stingin belle

Comparisons Over Time



This is the music video for 'who's got a match' from thier third album 'puzzle' released in 2007 this is a
performance video in black and white combining clips of different live performances showing clips of the band themselves and of the audiance enjoying the show making you want to go and see them yourself.





The video above is for 'god and satan' from the album 'Only Revolutions' released in 2010, this video differs from the earlier music videos by biffy clyro as this is a sole narrative video based around the band members, this video makes it clear to see the difference in audiance changing to rock to a more maintstream pop audiance by changing the style of video, however as this is a one of video it may just be a experiment by the band that didn't work out as in the newest video 'stinging belle' they have gone back to mainly live performance clips.

The main generic convention for rock videos you see is the main focus on the band performance and i belive this works for the band as they have kept with this same idea of mainly performing in nearly every music video they have made, and also i feel the band haven't changed there filming stlye either.

Camerawork, Editing and Mise-en-scene
 The camerawork and editing is consitant and inkeeping with the song and as most of the songs are fast and upbeat the shots are quick and fast cut between mainly close ups of  the instuments or simon neil singing, to long shots showing the whole band performing together. This is also same of the mise-en-scene however this changes a lot from song to song but they all make sense to the individual song, the best example for this is the song 'the captain' uses good mis-en-scene as the band and everyone else are all in what we'd expect old sailors or pirates and the whole music video is set on a old style ship.

Album Covers Activity one

 Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

Tracklist - 1. The Captain 2. That Golden Rule 3. Bubbles 4. God and Satan 5. Born on a Hourse 6. Mountains 7. Shock Shock 8. Many of Horror 9. Boom, Blast and Ruin 10. Know You Quarry 11. Whores

No institutional logos or iconography

Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High

1. Thriller 2. The take over, the breaks over 3. This ain't a scene 4. I'm like a lawyer 5. Hum hallelujah 6. Golden 7. Thnks fr th Mmrs 8. Don't you know whi i think i am 9. The (after) life of the party 10. The carpel tunnel of love 11. Bang on the doldrums 12. Fame<infamy 13. You're crashing, but you're no wave 14. I've Got All This Ringing in My Ears and None on My Fingers

No institutional logos
Dreamland iconography

Weezer - Make belive
1. Beverly Hills 2. Perfect Situation 3. This is such a pity 4. Hold me 5. Peace 6. We are all on drugs 7. The damage in your heart 8. Pardon me 9. My best friend 10. The other way 11. Freak me out 12. Haunt You Every Day

No institutional logos
iconography of the whole band

Green Day - American Idiot

1. American idiot 2. Jesus of suburbia 3. Holiday 4. Boulevard of Broken Dreams 5. Are We the Waiting 6. St. Jimmy 7. Give Me Novacaine 8. She's a Rebel 9. Extraordinary Girl 10. Letterbomb 11. Wake Me Up When September Ends 12. Homecoming 13. Whatsername

Parental advisodry logo

heart grenade iconography

textual analysis

This is my textual analysis to allow me to find strengths and weaknesses of professional music videos, it will help me to plan my music video and make it look great

Summer homework- Theory of a deadman

image and target audince

blur - theres no other way
Uk video



US demo video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRYAi2rO0bQ

Blur have made two music videos to appeal to two different audiences the first is aimed at a british audience as it a stereotype of british life so this type of audience can relate to it

The second is aimed at an audience of americans as they don't relate to the first one as well as the band not being as well known so they use a performance based music video


kaiser chiefs
everyday i love you less and less



the bands image in this video are trying to portray a working class type of band and are trying to fit in to the norm of society

never miss a beat

This music video also shows the society has the wrong view on different social class and puts the band in the same class as the audience in he video however shows we have the wrong idea of them as instead of rioting they start dancing.