Evaluation Question 4 Planning - How did you use media technologies in the construction and research and evaluation stages?

Using the Bamboo pen and touch tablet I've started to draw out the different technologies I've used throughout the creation of my media products. For example different websites such as Youtube and Twitter or technology like camera's and computers which have been essential. With this I am also preparing a voice over to describe how these technologies have helped me to create my media products.

Evaluation Question 3: Planning

I've arranged for a small group of people to watch the premier of my music video tonight at 7:30pm. I've set up my video to be played on a large screen infront of this audience. This select group are aged around 17-18 and are all male, this is the target audience my band are aiming their music at and therefore are appropriate for the feedback I need to see whether my music video was effective at meeting their demands. I will be recording the session and also will have 5 questions afterwards to help anaylise their thoughts about it.

Which artist does this music video remind you of?
What channel or radio station would you expect to see/hear this song on?
What audience would you expect this to be aimed at?
What music video's does it remind you of?
How could it be improved?

Evaluation 2 Question Developed DRAFT

Evaluation Question 2 - Planning/Development

For Evaluation Question 2 I thought it would be appropriate to try and incorporate a real life website magazine in NME. This magazine is known for covering the Indie/Rock genre's and was one of my preliminary choices for reviews on my poster. With this I have started to edit an article in which has written "Director & Designer explains the planning behind The Sparrows introduction to the music world". This leaves the rest of article to be displayed like an interview, with the director explaining his reasons for different conventions across the media products produced by the band and Counter Records.

Changes To Digipak

After receiving some feedback about my digipak and finding that most of this mentioned that it represented the punk genre instead of Indie Rock I thought that when developing the image and style of font needed to be changed. Also with my own photo shoot needing to be organised I found that none of my actors were available together and if they were it was for a short period of time, for this reason I've attempted to design some new front covers for my digipak influenced by minimalism and word orientated front covers. I think the First design looks far to Gothic and out of character with the genre whereas the second design looks much more like something associated with it. It still looks dark and emotional however which doesn't really relate to the track listing but maybe with colour it could look effective. I particularly like my third design which is very similar to that of Paramore's "RIOT" album but instead of being colour based to make certain words stand out it uses Size, I think this could be an effective album cover because the font relates to the genre, look and age of my band whilst it also has the potential to be extended for a Poster. The third design does however need more development with the placement of the album name and smaller font sized words.

Filming Session Conclusion

Today I filmed the whole of my music video at Stay Free Rooms. Overall I think the filming went okay but looking back at some footage and how some shots went there were some issues. For example the costume set up was almost all fine, but one shirt worn was particularly inappropriate to the bands genre and image and this unfortunately was visible on most shots throughout the session. Also when trying to re-create shots I had drawn and planned for my animatic there wasn't enough space for the camera or the camera couldn't be positioned at the correct height/angle to make it successful.There were also some props that didn't suit the music video like tables and such which were in shot and therefore took away the professionalism of the music video. Another problem was once there I didn't know how to use the sound system to play the song really loud and this therefore perhaps made the performance less believable and the actors more cautious of what they were doing. Things that went well were the lead singers shots in which he looked very appropriate for the genre and conveyed the story and style of band correctly. Also almost all close up shots of instruments looked very realistic which was essential for my video to reach a certain high standard. To conclude I think I will need to re-shoot my music video and plan out how I'm going to resolve the issues raised at the last shoot. I will also need to plan more accurately which shots I'm going to do and in which order to make the session run more smoothly. 

Before My Filming Session

Today I will be filming the whole of my music video at StayFree Rooms, Leicester. I have arranged the band to arrive at 10 to 5 so we can set up the scene and equipment so we can maximise the amount of time I can film. I have also arranged the instruments that need to be taken, the room I'm using is the Target Room which has already the main drum kit, microphones and amplifiers so 1 guitar, 1 bass guitar and symbols I will be taking. With having the room booked till 7 if I have filmed all my planned footage taking I will then record extra, this being from different angles and types of shots which could be put into the music video if need be. I have also synced the track I'm using onto my iPhone, iPod and onto CD so I have backup if one if these devices doesn't work or malfunctions. I have also decided to take my docking station for if any reason I can't set up the sound system. 

Filming Equipment

I have successfully loaned out a camera and tripod from college to use when filming tomorrow, this Canon camera will allow me to film in HD to get the best quality possible. When film clips are edited to change colour e.g. Black and White, they loose quality, so its important that the quality is very good to begin with.

Digipak Primary Planning

I've decided that I will be designing a 6 panel digipak instead of a 4 panel. This is because I think the 6 panel can have much more interesting images that convey what the band are about instead of a booklet which simply give lyrics to each song. Even though this is a convention I particularly like about digipaks and album booklets it has become increasingly easy for this information to be found on the Internet whereas private or rare images of the band (e.g. studio location type photo's) would be much more interesting and appropriate for the target audience. This is the template I will use to create my digipak displaying the critical sizes I need to take into account.

This Week

This week I will be analysing 3 digipak front covers and extra content, whilst also analysing 3 album posters. This research will give me the foundations to start creating the draft versions of my digipak and poster which will also be completed by the end of this week. Whilst this is happening I will also be preparing for filming, which is most likely to take place on the 21st of October which means I need to plan timing of shots, order of filming etc.

Tracklist

1. Down n' Dirty
2. Filthy Rotten Scoundrel
3. Out Of Dreams
4. Stockings To Suit
5. Why Do You Want Him?
6. Piledriver Waltz
7. This House Is a Circus
8. Makeout Party
9. You Won't Get Better
10. C.O.D.E.S
11. Falling Out

These song titles come from bands and lyrics of similar genre's of music and are targeted at similar audiences e.g. Young Alts. These track names really relate to the way I want to convey my band, this being a laid back, energetic, and fun 3 piece band, and the song titles relate to that party atmosphere whilst also explaining the emotions in relationships with women that the genre is known for. The album starts with the song entitled "Down n' Dirty", this is placed first on the album because it promotes what the album is about and gives the impression of quick, indie rock, sex driven track in which will particularly interest the larger percentage of target audience, young male adults. The second track name I took from Deaf Havana's latest album in which the genre is quite different from mine, but the lyrics and track name describe the thoughts of the artist about a particular female, and the track name also again gives that impression of a fast paced song. Out Of Dreams is the song I've chosen for the debut single and music video. This is because it shows strongly the indie rock style I want to create whilst also meeting the points I want to convey. This song isn't just typically the same or similar to Down n' Dirty but instead has more meaning and emotion in the lyrics, this is one of the reasons I have put it third in the track list so as we move through the album more emotion is brought through the songs. Stocking To Suit is a song I took from the artist The Rascals. I've used this because its another song that relates to the matter of women, and their opinions about different people. Why do you want him? is another track that makes the band give out their opinion about certain people, and the lyrics would relate to allot of the target audience, this was taken from Green's Day debut album when they were of similar age to my Band and therefore I think is appropriate for its placement in this track list. The 6th track was taken from Arctic Monkeys Suck It And See album, I choose this because Arctic Monkeys is of a very similar sound and genre to my band and therefore share the same target audience. This is the same scenario with the 7th track, and this song keeps up with the theme of fast paced fun party's. Makeout Party is a soon to be released song by Green Day which will be track listed on their upcoming album DOS! which has be stated as the party album of the trilogy they are releasing, which is the reason why its really appropriate for my bands album. C.O.D.E.S and Falling Out are the Ballard and slow songs of the album, researching into track listings bands generally finish with large statement songs, which have much bigger meanings to the artist. Both these songs are taken from Muse, who are known for creating extreme metaphorical lyrics in songs which carry deep meanings, even though the style is very different compared to both bands, the title correctly gives the impression of a difference between them and the rest of the album.

Planning Catchup

I will be going away now for a week trip on behalf of my Geography A2 course, so its essential I plan what is needed to be done when I get back to make sure I can catch up and keep to my deadline. When I return I need to start analysing 3 digipak front covers and along with 3 album posters so I can gain influence and understanding of conventions and elements so I can make too, a successful Digipak and Poster. I will hopefully be able to finish my analysis of Digipak's by the first week i return and the poster analysis's the following week, this will allow me time to mock up and create those products ready for the draft internal deadline.

Draft Animatic

  This is my first attempt at storyboarding my music video, I think I may make some changes, introducing different camera angles being the main, but allot of my ideas of shots and such I can't quite create, so I will produce a voiceover (much like a directors cut) of my main ideas.

Getting Ready To Storyboard

Before storyboarding its essential that I know what camera angles and different scenes I'm interested in doing. As I want to do a purely performance based video I won't have any scene changes, but the use of many different camera shot, angles and movements are essential. Therefore I've started listing all the different shots (of different objects/people etc) which I could use throughout my video, these being rough ideas so when storyboarding I have a main idea of what the shot needs to look like.

Close up of microphone
Close up of lead singer (microphone in shot)
Close up of guitar neck
Close up of guitar body
Close up of base neck
Close up of base body
Close up of amplifier (straight on)
Close up of drum pedal (from side)
Close up of drum symbol
Close up of guitarist foot on pedal (side shot)
Mid shot of drummer (straight on/side, behind)
Mid shot of lead singer/guitarist (straight on/side)
Mid shot of bassist (straight on/from side, high angle (from floor))
Wide shot (showing all of the band from front)
Wide shot (showing all of the band from side)

Risk Assesment

Lyrics

This post shows the lyrics throughout the song and the timing of each line, this is important when starting to storyboard as I can therefore see the moments in which new lines start/end, the seperation from verse and chorus etc. I've also made some brief annotations about different instumental parts e.g. guitar and drums and they may therfore need visual emphasis.

Clothing Moodboard

Pitch Preperation

When preparing for my pitch I needed to decide on how my product would connect to the target audience and which elements of existing products I needed to take forward into mine. One of the possible elements is the use of a black and white or sepia colour scheme which fits the usual style of similar genre music video's, also deciding on what style of editing would be appropriate and what effect this will have on my overall product.