CD Cover Analysis (3)

This CD Cover is very attention grabbing and the intriguing image on the front of the album would make an consumer look at it, and maybe even pick it up. The image is quite fascinating, and although it doesn't have much relation the the album name, or the name of the band itself, its still an impressive picture that would interest an audience. The use of a striking image seems to be key to attracting an audiences attention; i would also say that the bands name has been clearly shown on the front of the album, and the use of white on the black background is an easy and simplistic way of making the bands name stand out. The name of the album is still clearly visible, but is in a smaller sized font and in a different colour; which shows an inconsistency in the colour scheme. I think this band are trying to attract any fans they can with the interesting image on the front of their album, because the cover doesn't necessarily speak, or reach out to a certain audience, so they could be aiming to attract both existing fans and any other people that may take a liking to their music. I would say that the picture suggests their music could be quite 'heavy' or 'rock' because the image is quite violent and destructive, and the fact that the lightbulb is exploding connotes that maybe their music made it explode. I would say that iconography isn't really used at all on this cover, as there isn't really much of a logo, and the font and its size and colour varies on the cover.

CD Cover Anlaysis (2)

This CD cover is similar to the previous one, in the sense that the central image distracts from the name of the band and the title. Although the central image doesn't act as a logo, it is still quite interesting, and would definitely grab a potential consumers attention. Also, the name of the album, and the band has been placed in a strange place-not only is it not at the top, but it is also placed vertically, as opposed to horizontally written across the top of the album. The name of the band and title is also in quite a small font and isn't very attention grabbing or striking. I would say that the colour scheme isn't consistent, and i think the use of a dark, navy blue as the base colour of the album isn't a particularly good choice. Then again, it is a good contrast to the use of numerous colours in the central image. I think that the colour of the font isn't a great choice either, once again, it isn't very striking and is quite dull. If the name of the band and album was to be put in a larger sized font, and maybe in white then it would stand out a lot. I feel that the name of the band and album is the most important convention of a CD Cover, and to put it in a small, and boringly coloured font isn't really emphasising how important this element of a CD Cover is. I think that the CD Cover is unsuccessful in communicating the genre of the music across to the consumers, as there is nothing on the cover that implies what genre of music is. Similar to the Snow Patrol cover, the band may just be aiming to re-attract their existing fans, as opposed to really trying to attract the attention of new fans, and trying to broaden their fan base. This isn't surprising, as Coldplay already have a well-established and committed following, that will support them through all of their albums. I would also say that the use of iconography is non-existent, in the sense that there is no real logo, whether it be through a unique design/picture, or even an instantly recognisable title which is in the same font and colour.

CD Cover Analysis (1)

This CD Cover gives the audience a strong sense of iconography, as there is a striking image on the front; which may be acting as the logo for the band. The use of a snowflake ties in with the bands name, 'Snow Patrol', and obviously associating snow with snowflakes and making that obvious connection. The use of a black background adds to the emphasis being placed on the title of the band, album and logo and makes them stand out all the more. The bands name is in white-yet another connection to snow; but as contrasting as the colour of the title is to the background, i would say that the logo in the centre of the CD holds the majority of my attention as it is quite an interesting image. I think that the colour scheme could be more consistent, as they have 4 different colours on the front cover, which doesn't make it as aesthetically pleasing as it could potentially be, and as a consumer, i would be confused as to what i was supposed to be focussing on on the cover. I think that the genre of music isn't clear through the album cover, and could maybe be a bit more obvious. On the contrary, their target audience for this album could solely be their existing fans, so they don't really feel as if they have to communicate across the genre of their music. But, on the other hand, if they are still trying to expand their number of fans, they need to be able to appeal to new fans also; so putting something on the album cover that would suggest the genre would be beneficial to increasing their fan base.

BLOG UPDATE - 24/11/10

Today we began the editing process and reviewed all of our footage, we feel that we have a sufficient amount of footage to be able to produce a music video of a good quality.

Location Shots

The first image is where we are going to film our final shots of the tramp fitting outside the school as the kids leave through this way and spot her dancing.

The second image is where we film the first few shots in the music video, and establish where the tramp lives.

The third image is where we film our 2nd long section of footage where we intend to use the 'jumpcut' editing technique. This is also near to where we shot the 2nd long section of footage.

17/11/10 - Filming Day

Today we went out and filmed the majority of our music video, and changed our plans to move the last section of filming to tomorrow.
The first hour of the day was spent 'rehearsing' and mapping out our shots including the 'iPod owner' - the shots that we were going to be filming in the next hour properly. We categorized the storyboard into sections for each character and the shots they were in. First of all we compiled a list of all of the 'iPod owners' shots, as he interacted with no other characters, nor did he appear in any of the other characters shots. We then sat and discussed what angle and whereabouts we would be shooting and what we wanted from the shot; discussing what the shot is meant to be showing and how it helps the story move along. After we had finished organizing all the shots involving the 'Ipod owner' we then compiled a list of all the shots that include the tramp; as we were going to be doing them for the next 3 hours after we had completed all the shots with the 'Ipod owner'. We then discussed whereabouts the tramp will begin sitting, and then went outside and mapped out where she would travel to and where we would follow her. We also discussed what we wanted the tramp to be wearing, so that when i went with our actor to get her costume i would know what look we were going for. We then discussed what time we had arranged to have our head teacher for and when he was available for the shots. We then discussed how many shots he was needed for and what shots those were; he is only needed for about 3 shots where we follow him to the window, a shot where we see him looking ( we are outside) out and spotting the tramp outside, and then when we are behind him with the camera inside, and see him spotting her outside (Over the shoulder shot). We then said that after this long day of filming, we should wait until tomorrow to do our final shots including the children coming out of school and seeing the tramp dancing and fitting outside of the school. Also, it was very, very cold outside; so this hindered the amount of time we could stay outside. We had also checked the weather and read that it was forecasted to rain in the afternoon, so as a result of this, weighing up all the possible risks, we decided that we would hold off the last chunk of filming till the day after.
In the second hour we filmed all the shots including the 'iPod owner'. Our first shots went quite well as they were simple; we stuck to the storyboard and decided to film in chronological order. We did around 4 takes for each shot, and we then ran into a slight predicament with our props. There was a shot where we wanted the character to accidentally knock their headphones off of their bag, but we had a challenge trying to find out a way that the headphones could balance on the bag without dropping off straight away. We spent a few minutes sorting this out, and then did quite a few takes trying to get the shot correct; making sure that the character was 'accidentally dropping' them the correct distance away from the camera. We then realised that we had created a shot where the headphones are seen closely with the ipod attached; but we did not want to drop the ipod with the headphones attached, as this could potentially break or damage it. We had to decided whether to try and cheat the shot, and hope that people aren't going to intently look at the headphones when watching the music video-or just attach the ipod to the headphones and risk the ipod being damaged. In the end, we opted to try and cheat the shot, and it didn't look too bad, because in the shot, you are mostly looking at the character as opposed to what is attached to the headphones. Also, the light kind of obscures the headphones in the sense that even if something was attached to the headphones, you probably wouldn't be able to see it anyway. After sorting out this, and completing the takes of this shot until we got the one we wanted, we then did the last shot we needed this character for, which was a POV of the tramp, where we see the 'iPod owner' dropping the headphones and running away inside; which we also did around 3 times so we had a variety of takes to choose from.
After this we then began the shots we wanted to accomplish with the tramp on her own; which was a large bulk of the shots in the music video. Within the time we filmed with the tramp, we also filmed quite a few shots we hadn't planned. And in fact, the first shot we did with the tramp, was a shot that we hadn't put into our storyboard, yet proved to be a very effective, professional looking shot where we played around with the focus; alternating between the foreground being more in focus, and then the background. When shooting the tramps shots we were quite inspired creatively as we found ourselves trying shots from different angles that we hadn't planned, and conjuring up funny shots or little scenes that could heighten the action and comedy in the video. For instance, we were filming the long section of footage that we intend to jump cut, where the tramp fits down the road. Then the tramp landed on the bonnet of a car, and i suggested that she should stay there and we should film a CU and an ECU of her on the bonnet of the car panting. After this i then suggested we should film a little scene where a passer by sees the tramp, and then runs away from her. Our actor then spontaneously did something where she leant on a pole-and it looked very good, so we decided to re-shoot the same shot from a different angle, so we could really capture the tramps exhaustion in the background and the passer by running into the foreground looking terrified. After this we were making many creative decisions as to where we wanted to have the camera for the next jump cut shot we intended to do-we decided to move it over the road, and film the tramp fitting from afar. We felt that this offered some more variety regarding the distance that the camera was away from the tramp. After this we continued on with the last few shots and then completed the shots with our head teacher and finished up.
I feel that today was a very productive day of filming, and i feel really confident that our group has got some high quality and interesting footage that will result in us producing a good quality music video.

Check List For Filming Day: Wednesday 17th November

PROPS;

iPod
Headphones
Phone
Ladder
Cameras *4

CAST;

Charlotte Daly (Tramp)
Mr Smith (Teacher)
Mr Lawes (iPod Owner)

COSTUME;

Tramp; dirty, rag-type clothing.
Mr Smith; Usual teacher suit
Mr Lawes; Casual, Jeans, T-Shirt

Detailed Filming Schedule

9am - 11am - Most shots involving the 'iPod Owner'; ECU's of facial parts, facial expressions, feet, walking, answering the phone etc.

11:30 - 1:30 - Most shots involving both 'The Tramp' and 'iPod owner'; spotting iPod, picking it up, 'inspecting' it, puts headphones on, fits and dances to it, 'panting', fighting with the headphones, fitting again, shots spinning around her, of her fighting with the headphones (connoting insanity).

2:00 - 3:30 - All shots involving Smith inside building; spotting the tramp, rest of the shots involving the students spotting the tramp, tramp running through the kids. The tramp still struggling to get the headphones off; whole group filming at various different angles. The tramp throwing them on the floor, and someone picking them up.

Location Shots

Here are the pictures of the location that we are using to film our project. We are filming on site of our 6th form as it is easier for the idea of our music video.

Below is the pictures of where we are shooting.



This is where the beginning of the music video will take place, where the 'dancing tramp' finds the iPod and begings to dance.



This is a image of the front of the school where the students will be exiting from school to find the main character dacning away.

BLOG UPDATE - 10/11/10

Today my group and I finished storyboarding our music video, and made some consent and release forms for our cast and the surrounding public that will be included in the film maybe unintentionally. We had to take into account the order of our shots and what would be beneficial and complimentary for the music. We also discussed what we wanted the shots to look like, and discussed them being shaky and also at various angles. We also discussed having all of our video shot in the handheld cameras.

Model Release Form: Surrounding Public

Hello,

We have just filmed you for our media A2 coursework for a Music Video. Sorry we could not tell you as we needed to get reaction to the ‘Dancing Tramp’. If you are willing to help us out and let us use you in the footage it would be a great help in helping us obtain a good ALevel grade.

If you are willing to help us out by letting us use the footage of you that we filmed. can you please fill in the details below.

I give Permission for Manic Productions to use footage of me as part of their ALevel Media Project.

Name:…………………………………………………….

Address:……………………………………………….
………………………………………………...
………………………………………………...
………………………………………………...
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………


Signature: ………………………………………………..

Manic Productions: Francesca Batt

www.fbattjrcsmediablog13.blogspot.com
www.chearyjrcsmediablog13.blogspot.com
www.jforbesjrcsmediablog13.blogspot.com

Filming Schedule

PERIOD 1 & 2 - Film all shots involving 'Ipod owner' and maybe some extra shots. Also film the last few shots involving the person picking up the headphones at the end of the video; maybe include some extra shots. Any 'bonus' establishing shots of the school etc.

PERIOD 3 & 4 - Footage involving both the 'Ipod owner' and 'Tramp' with the scenes where the Ipod is dropped and then picked up, also where the 'Tramp' is reacting to the music alone, also where he is approaching the school. Any shots with Mr.Smith seeing him (If he is available at this time)

PERIOD 5 - Any extra shots (maybe unplanned) of the tramp fitting, the manic camera work (shaky, frantic zooming in and out)

AFTER SCHOOL - Kids coming out of school, filming reactions to tramp, asking some of them to pretend to film with their phones, laugh, react to the tramp (ACT!)

Consent Form For Cast Members

Hello



On Wednesday 17th of November, Me (Francesca Batt), Courtney Heary, James Forbes and Connor Barry are filming for our media A2 coursework. Our coursework is a music video that we are making for a Indie Band called ‘The Pigeon Detectives’. To one of their songs called ‘I’m a Liar’. Below is the Idea of our music video.

My group and I have decided that our final idea would defiantly pursue with the dancing tramp. At the beginning of the lesson we were keen to think of the idea of using a dance group in the video who would randomly be dancing outside of the school. But we have changed this and decided that just the 'tramp' on his own would be much more appropriate and more effective. The ideas that we have decided on is having at the beginning the idea of a man who is in a suit who has the headphones on that seem to be making him sing and dance. He receives a phone call where he begins to be very stressed and runs and drops his ipod. The tramp picks it up and can not get the headphones of this is where he begins to sing and dance around. He begins to dance outside of the school and the kids do not have an idea of what is going on. This is where their reaction would be filmed like the 'T-Mobile' advert. He finally begins to get out of breath and starts to walk of and throws his headphones to the floor. Throughout there will be jump shots of live footage such as guitars playing.

We would really like you to be involved in the music video by basically acting like you have no idea who the ‘Tramp’ is outside of school. My group and I will be trying to hide to film this dancer so the cameras do not give it all away. We basically need you to come out of school when all the children are coming out and start pushing this dancer away from the premises. We need you to go along with the whole story so the video works in one shot because it can not be filmed again. We also need you for some shots where you are with another teacher seeing the tramp from inside of school. Also is it possible if you have another teacher you could find just so you can talk to when you see the tramp from inside the school.

If you could help us out with this could you let us know if Wednesday is ok for you, or if it is not ok for you? Can you let me know what day is please.



Thank you
Francesca Batt

Model Release Form

Hello,

We were wondering if you could feature as the main character in our A2 Media Coursework as basically a ‘Dancing Tramp’. Our project is a Music Video on a song by the ‘Pigeon Detectives – I’m a Liar’. In the group it is Francesca Batt, Courtney Heary, James Forbes and Connor Barry. We are aiming to film next Wednesday the 17th but are waiting for confirmation from Mr Smith to see what his schedule is, and to see if he can make filming.

Below is the idea of the Music Video that my group has.

My group and I have decided that our final idea would defiantly pursue with the dancing tramp. At the beginning of the lesson we were keen to think of the idea of using a dance group in the video who would randomly be dancing outside of the school. But we have changed this and decided that just the 'tramp' on his own would be much more appropriate and more effective. The ideas that we have decided on is having at the beginning the idea of a man who is in a suit who has the headphones on that seem to be making him sing and dance. He receives a phone call where he begins to be very stressed and runs and drops his iPod. The tramp picks it up and can not get the headphones of this is where he begins to sing and dance around. He begins to dance outside of the school and the kids do not have an idea of what is going on. This is where their reaction would be filmed like the 'T-Mobile' advert. He finally begins to get out of breath and starts to walk of and throws his headphones to the floor. Throughout there will be jump shots of live footage such as guitars playing.

For more information on the Project you could look at any of our blogs they are listed below.

We need you to be able to dance and basically go crazy like the headphones are taking over your body and you can not stop what the headphones are making you do. The main part of the video is you being outside school doors at 3.20 when the kids are coming out of school and you just carry on dancing with no one knowing what is going on and why you are dancing like this. Mr Smith will come out and push you along to get away from outside of school. No body will know what is going on and we will be trying to hide with the cameras so know one will get the idea. We will have different cameras in different angles filming you in this scene. The Video does not fit the song but this is the ironic crazy part of the video what people will not expect to see.

If you are willing to do this then could you please let us know as soon as possible before Monday 15th November. Then we will choose one of the main characters and will let you know the next day. We really need you to be able to not be bothered about who is around you and who is looking at you. And the Video of the dancing outside of school needs to be filmed in one shot so it needs to be perfect.

IF YOU ARE GIVEN ONE OF THESE LETTERS THE IDEA OF THIS VIDEO IS SECRET SO IT IS NOT RUINED.

Francesca Batt xx

www.fbattjrcsmediablog13.blogspot.com
www.chearyjrcsmediablog13.blogspot.com
www.jforbesjrcsmediablog13.blogspot.com

'The Pigeon Detectives'

The Pigeon Detectives are an English band from Rothwell, West Yorkshire, who formed in 2002. They have been championed by such well known DJs as Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley, and performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2006, where they were tagged "the band most likely to leap to the main stage in 2007" in an NME review. However, the band returned to the festivals in 2007 and again performed on the NME stage.

Tpd pictures

View more presentations from Courtney Heary.

Screen Shot - 'The Pigeon Detectives' Web Page So Far...

'The Pigeon Detectives' Final Webpage Banner

Production Company LOGO

'The Pigeon Detectives' Web Page So Far...

Final Idea MoodBoard

Mood board

View more presentations from Courtney Heary.

FINAL IDEA - Summary

My group and i have decided to pursue the idea of the dancing tramp in our video; at the beginning of the lesson we were more swayed towards the idea of maybe having a dance crew of tramps that then break into a routine, but as the lesson continued and we began to story board, we figured that it would be a bit more simple to have one dancer and an actor that will play a guy who the ipod belongs to. The story begins with a guy walking down the road, listening to the song, miming, then his phone rings, he removes his headphones, and drops his ipod and runs away in shock of what he has just been told on the phone. We then see a tramp hastily making his way towards the ipod, not really knowing what it is or what it does. The tramp then picks up the headphones at a certain point in the music, where the headphones are then made out to be possessed and controlling; and for the duration of the video, we want people to think he is dancing, but infact, he is actually fighting with the headphones, as they are driving him insane. We want to then incorporate some teachers witnessing a random mentalist violently dancing outside of the school, we then see a teacher approaching him and asking him to leave. He continues, the children leave school and see him; we cut in these shots with footage of a guy strumming a guitar; heightening tension, and also with the teachers frantically trying to get rid of him; scared of what he is capable of. The video then ends with the tramp eventually freeing himself, throwing them on the floor.

BLOG UPDATE - 1/11/10

How have you used web page conventions to create brand identity?

I have used logo and banner in order to create my brand identity, and i also used my genre research in order to create my production company logo; using the information i gathered to work out what would best represent the genre of music, and the band. The main image of my logo is primarily the wayfarer sunglasses; sunglasses regularly worn at music festivals, and by people that would class their style as 'indie'. I feel that these sunglasses could become quite iconic for the genre, and are also a simple logo-one that has the potential to be easily recongised. I feel that people would make the connection with the 'type' of people that would wear these particular sunglasses, and the genre of music that they listen to. I feel that the simplistic image of the sunglasses could definately be a brand that people would recognise; due to its non garish, and uncomplicated design. I chose to use black for the colour of the sunglasses because firstly, these particular sunglasses are primarily black, and also, through my research, i found that black is one of the few colours that indie bands use when designing their logo's etc. Instead of trying to place the whole name of the production company onto a small corner in the sunglasses, i decided to instead place a designed 'M' across the right lense of the sunglasses-another piece of the logo that could be instantly recognised; maybe even stand alone and be recognised without the sunglasses. I think that with my logo i have produced '2 logos in one', as both the 'M' design on the sunglasses could be used as a logo on its own, and also the sunglasses design could be used on its own, so by putting the 2 together i therefore have a stronger brand identity.

LOGO Feedback

The feedback i recieved was positive and constructive, i was informed that my logo was good as it represented the appropriate genre. My group could make the connection between the certain style of sunglasses, and the music genre we are choosing to explore. A criticism i would make myself is that it may be too simplistic; i think that the sunglasses could be very iconic, but i feel that i should try and place more emphasis on the name of the production company. I and my group are still pleased with my logo, and feel that it is a clear representative of the music genre.

LOGO Design