Magazine advert

As well as creating a digipak, I also need to make a magazine advert for my artist as another form of promotion. 

CeeLo Green:

This magazine advert features only CeeLo Green, as he is a solo artist. The colours, mood and style reflect his own personal style and genre of music; the subdued pink and orange tones against the blue is reminiscent of the soul/RnB genre. Likewise, the "glamour" of such genres is represented in his crisp white shirt, bow tie, gold rimmed sunglasses and large gold ring. The colour of the font section matches the colour of the image which creates a sense of flow and consistency. It is visually pleasing to draw a visible connection between the image and font particularly as his genre of music is often very smooth and calming. The pink, feminine font links with the album title "The Lady Killer" as it is evidently about women. Below the eye-catching artist name and album title is the release date and a review of the album. It would be particularly good to include a made-up review from someone reputable like The Guardian with five stars as in reality, this would help the album sell. 

An example of another student's magazine advert:

I find this to be a reasonably effective magazine advert as the sepia colour scheme is consistent throughout making it visually pleasing. However I feel that without some eye catching image or a bold coloured font/section like on CeeLo Green's advert, it may become less noticeable in a magazine where there will be other articles, font styles and colours surrounding it. The album title and image work well together as there appears to be a brighter spotlight shining onto one side of the artists face. Also, the size difference between the artist's name and album title are effective as it is the name of the artist that will attract the audience's attention first. I feel that although they lack the use of a bold title colour, the clear positioning of the artist name makes up for this. Perhaps there is too much writing- audiences won't be reading paragraphs on an advertisement that they are likely to just skim through so it is essential to keep it sharp, informative and clear. Nevertheless I like how the student has included the "available at iTunes" notice with the recognisable logo in bold. This also increases the realism of the advert alongside a "terms and conditions" section in small print at the very bottom.

Some other examples of magazine adverts from current female artists:

Although they all produce different music the adverts all work effectively in the same way. Each advert includes an individual image of the artist with the name in bold which tells the audience that they are a solo artist. I have found that images against a plain background work best as it looks less cluttered. They also give information about singles on the album, reviews and availability. 

 

For my own magazine advert:

1. Do it on A4 or A5
2. Include pictures that I have manipulated/altered in some way and explain how/why I have manipulated it
3. Include the name of the album, artist, release date
4. Refer to availability – e.g. ITunes, HMV, Amazon etc. and import these company images/logos from Google
5. Include positive reviews from magazines/newspapers (possibly 5 stars)
6. Add my own QR code, I could also create my own link

Creating my own digipak

My digipak will need:

1) Original photographs – at least one will be of the artist(s) and another might be of a scene that reflects the mood/genre of the record.

2) Track list including song writing credits

3) One box with a disk impression (perhaps a circle over an innocuous background that shows where the disc will go or alternatively the design on the actual disc).

4) A band/artist information section (names, instruments, additional musicians, Copyright and year of release etc.).

5) Spine – so that each of the six boxes can be easily identified.

6) Barcode and QR and a logo for the record company.

I may also want to include: 

- A membership postcard/flyer and or a free image/poster

This is how it will be structured (inside view):

On the front cover I will use an image of myself (the artist) with the album name (Breathe) and artist name (IYES). 

The back cover of one of Adele's albums shows how logos and barcodes are used. There is a logo for XL Recordings:

I may also use another artist image on the back cover like Adele and Rihanna have previously done.

Editing continues

Today I continued with editing and I've started to go through each clip adding more effects to adjust the colour and contrast. Before decreasing the brightness and increasing the contrast, many of the clips looked slightly colourless. These effects just help the clips look richer in tone and improve the quality and realism of the music video.

Before: no effects added

After: gamma +2 added

Digipak and Magazine Advert

What is a digipak?

The design:

A gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. It means the CD comes in a cardboard flip-out case rather than a standard plastic hinged case.

A digipak

The standard hinged case

The purpose:

Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak (DVDigipak) is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets. 

What is included in digipaks?

1) Photographs/pictures

• Usually at least one will be of the artist(s) and another might be of a scene that reflects the mood / genre of the record

2) Track list including the song writing credits

3) One box with a disk impression (perhaps a circle over an innocuous background that shows where the disc will go or alternatively the design on the actual disc)

4) A band/artist information section including names, instruments, additional musicians, copyright and year of release etc 

5) Barcode and QR and a logo for the record company

There may also be reference to other albums by the same artist(s) and may sometimes include membership postcard/flyer and or a free image/poster.

Analysis of existing digipaks

Editing: Effects

Original shot

After editing

This shot was initially slightly too far to the right which showed any loose wires in the background. I also wanted the hands to be more central in the frame to avoid any of these problems because it was the only shot I managed to get with the smoke machine.

To do this I changed the "scale" and the "position" of the shot. I increased the scale to zoom it in slightly and then shifted it over to the left to balance it out.

I also reused this shot for the montage section but I wanted to slow it down to go with the beat. To do this I changed the "speed".

Last date for filming

Initially I had plans to film on Sunday 18th but it is expected to rain all day so filming outside at a fourth location cannot happen. I could try to improvise and film indoors again but use props to change the look quite dramatically. This will take planning and setting up in advance so I can test what looks good on camera. I need to film something for this section of the song in particular because other whole takes either become tedious as they appear in other places throughout the music video or they are not lip-synced/performed/filmed well.

Verse 2 (0:30-0:52)

Sensual feeling (and a grip and peel???)

And I can’t get control of myself.

Poisonous scenes in my wildest dreams,

So I never kiss and tell.

You drive me crazy,

You make me crazy.

Editing Process

Today I wasn't able to edit as I need the extra footage from tonight/tomorrow's filming. At the moment I mainly only need the male vocalist shots - after importing that footage and inserting it into the gaps, I will decide whether it is necessary to film any other shots without lip syncing. It is all coming together and looking more like a music video with all the footage together, edited to the beat etc. I should also consider adding effects to alter colour, for example some shots in black and white (?), and some fades. Unlike some pop/rock music videos, effects such as split-screen is not really ideal for my music video as the music is mellow, I personally find that split-screen works for showing several band/instrumental shots at once or perhaps to reveal shots of particular members in the groups. Here is an example of the split screen technique used in Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" (1982):

Use of split-screen in Kid Cudi's "Make Her Say"

• Director: Nez
• Also directed Rudimental ft. Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night and Birdy - 1901

"Including cameos from Kanye West and Common who also appear on the single, the promo features over 90 split screen shots including backdrops such as a swimming pool, bleachers, a theatre, staircase and a car cruising along a road.

"The main challenge with this project was to achieve and maintain balance between the juxtaposed images," Andy Bate, our Lead Flame explains. "The intention from the offset was to create strong graphical compositions, so for a number of shots matte paintings were used to extend as well as create backdrops for the artists. This allowed us the freedom to position and fine tune the split screen compositions. " Finally a grade was applied by Colourist, Mick Vincent."

More filming dates and "selling" the artist

On either Wednesday 7th or/and Thursday 8th I intend on filming the male's part of the music video. This should take around half an hour as his part is relatively small in the song. I plan on selling this band as a solo female artist, with the male vocalist featuring on this track therefore he does not need to play a big role in the filming of the music video. As the male only has a small verse in this song there is no need for a whole take as he will only feature in the video at this part. Any extra shots I do of him not lip syncing may be used scattered throughout accordingly or in the run-up to his part.

Location:

I will be filming in my living room again against the same wall because it is a space that I can easily manipulate with lighting and props. Although it is a relatively small space that allows only a mid-shot in the frame to avoid including plug sockets etc. this is fine for music video purposes where I plan on focusing on close ups of the artist. 

Shots:

I want to film many side profiles of the artist and extreme close ups of the features while he is lip-syncing to hide his identity for a short period of time. For other filler shots with the both of us in the frame I will reveal all of his face- this is partially due to confidence on camera and working as a team by compromising. I may also try to include an eye-line shot to conform to Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze and Andrew Goodwin's idea that pop music videos often include this feature.

Details of the various shots to take:

Extreme close-up of female vocalist's hand on male's shoulder, caressingly

Close-up of lips while lip syncing

More close-ups of the girl behind male vocalist

More extreme-close ups of neck/jaw

Extreme close-ups of hands etc

Mid-shot/close up of chest up to reveal girl standing behind

Close-up of lip syncing

Props:

The props needed for this filming will be:

1) A chair or stool where the male vocalist will sit and perform (influenced by The Weeknd's videos)

2) Smoke machine for added effects to ensure to increase realism

3) Various lamps for the lighting, I want the lighting to be dim and gloomy for this section of the music video

Costumes:

Male vocalist

• Preferably dark/black clothing
• Casual but trendy, conforming to the style of the song and music video - must appeal to the target audience
• Dark jeans (slim fit)
• Dark jumper
• Bomber jacket
• Chain
• Hair away from face but keeping the casual/scruffy/young look and appeal

Female vocalist

• Black dress
• Hair concealing face if possible to ensure that attention is mainly on the male vocalist
• Dark makeup
• Some bold jewellery

Equipment:

1) Camera

2) Tripod

If filming does not happen on Wednesday evening it will be rescheduled to Thursday evening. If Wednesday filming goes ahead and is complete I will try to film any extra shots that I need in any location (as long as weather permits).