Experimenting With Instagram

For this post, I will be explaining and uploading the photos in which we have taken as a group. The photos have been edited with Instagram; and stylistically we like the different effects in which are available; therefore we are definitely considering implementing Instagram shots within our music video.

Google Calendar For The Month Of December

The image above is a screenshot of the Google Calendar in which I personally have created for the benefit of my group.

What does the calendar include?

The calendar in which I have created has specific dates in the month of December in which my group will be utilising.
As it is aware on the calendar, this month we will be doing and completing the following:

• Wednesday 5th December 2012 -  This day has now passed; however my group and I completed blog work on Wednesday during our Media lesson. I in particular posted information about our record label 'Rough Trade'.
• Monday 10th December 2012 - On this coming Monday, I particularly will be addng to my blog, but most importantly at 15:00, as a group we will be contacting the Music department and requesting perimission for use of instruments.
• Wednesday 12th December 2012 - This is an important date for us as a group, simply because we have agreed that this day shall be our first rehearsal in regards to the performanvce based element of our music video project.
• Friday 14th December 2012 - On this Friday, at 10:30 we would like to start shooting for our digi pack part of our project. In order for this to go ahead, we will need to arrange resources, like camera equipment, lighting, costume and make-up.
• Friday 21st December 2012 - On Friday 21st December, we would like to do another rehearsal for our music video; however with this rehearsal, a dress rehearsal is in progression.

Changes to our Calendar - Monday 17th December 2012:

As a group, we have all agreed that changes are needed to our scheduled calendar, so that everyone in the group is able to attend and that everything is convenient for us.

Wednesday 5th December:

This date was successful as we all worked on blog work and the planning and preparation for our music video.

Monday 10th December:

It has been exactly one week since this date has passed; and as a group we did not get in touch with the music department as everyone was busy; however I feel that this isn't crucially important as the music department have previously said that loaning out the instruments isn' a problem; therefore when it comes to rehearsals, we will contact the music department in advance on this occasion.

Wednesday 12th December:

As a group, we all felt that this day to rehearse was rather tricky simply because group members had other commitments and the location and instruments were not taken out due to this.

Friday 14th December:

On Friday, as a group we were not prepared to shoot for our digi packs simply because costumes were not ready for Friday.

Record Label Information

The record label in which our band 'Dragonfly' are a part of is Rough Trade Records. 

Who are Rough Trade Records?
Rough Trade Records are a record label company based in London. They in particular are a label, in who are affiliated and associated with artists of the POP/Soft Rock Genre. At current, Cerys Matthews & Duffy are signed to Rough Trade Records. Both of these artists, again fit in with the genre of Pop/Soft Rock; which is specifically why Rough Trade are of relevance back to our band.

Animatics Video

Above is our animatics video in which we have created and uploaded to Youtube. Creating this animatics video was a fairly long process; therefore as a group we are pleased and relieved that we have managed to complete this video successfully.

What I like about this video?

• The music fits in with the timings of each shot
• Each shot has been ordered precisely
• Each shot has been carefully drawn and coloured
• All of the shots have been photographed well

How could we of improved our animatics video:

• The Youtube video seems to of gone on too much as for example, the video length is 8 minutes long; therefore we could've cut down on the number of shots we had
• We could've added much more specific shots which could of made our animatics video look very realistic, however I still feel that our animatics video is of good standard

Linking our animatics video back to the Andrew Goodwin theory:

Whilst brainstorming ideas for our storyboards, we discussed as a group; how we would like to link our Music Video back to Music Video theorist Andrew Goodwin.

Just to remind ourselves, here is the 'Codes and Conventions' in which Andrew Goodwin expressed:

1. The record company demands for exposure of the artist. This will mean a lot of close-up shots of the singer/band.
2. There will be a relationship to music and visuals.
3. There will be a relationship to lyrics and visuals
4. There will be genre characteristics. For example; Rock Videos, will traditionally show Live performances; whilst Hip-Hop Videos will normally show a wealthy, gangster looking lifestyle.
5. There willl be references to the notion of looking. For example Television Screens, Mirros, people looking at each other or at the audience.
6. There will be some method of intertextual referencing.

How have we linked our animatics video back to Goodwin's theory?

• We have a considerable amount of close-up shots of the band which we intend to film. Therefore with these close-up shots we will be able to tie in with the first 'Code and Convention' which Andrew Goodwin has said.

• The music in the song of our Music Video is very fast paced which sets off the connotation that in order to create a relationship between the music and the visuals we will need to have fast paced editing; and we have expressed this as we have a lot of shots which we will be filming.

• Our animatics video shows a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals as the lyrics are rather meaningful; and we have expressed this in our video through the use of matching what is being said; to what is shown on screen.

• As it is shown through our animatics video, there will be genre characteristics through our Music Video. For instance as our track is Pop/Soft Rock genre song, we will have  narrative based scenes and in addition to this we will have live performance based scenes.

• We have agreed that in a particular shot, we will have references to the notion of looking, as what we intend to do is to show the band members reading a newspaper which actually shows the girls; and as the camera gets gradually closer, the following scene will be a live action shot of what we have seen in the previous shot with the girls in the newspaper.

Production Plan

For this post, I'll be looking into our Production Plan in which we have discussed within our group.

We have discussed the following:

• Permission for using instruments - Fortunately two members of our group have visited the Music department in the school; and they have kindly agreed for us to use instruments as long as we fill out and complete a 'Health & Safety' sheet, which is certainly not a problem. Therefore, borrowing instruments for the shooting of our Music video is arranged.

• Location Checks (Photos for blogs) - As a group, we have discussed this; and we have all agreed on the fact that we will be visiting our locations in which we will be shooting prior to when we have to film. The locations in which we will be shooting at are: A street in Greenwich; and a Studio like room which we intend to use for our performance part of our video

• Plan Outfits (Sort out costume ideas) - Sorting out outfits in which the girls will be wearing in our Music Video is of importance simply because we need to fit in with a particular theme and so that the genre of the song matches on screen. I personally will not be arranging costume ideas out; as I have other independent roles; but then again we will all be working within a team to discuss and decide.

• Arrange Make-Up - We will be deciding out Make-Up in due course. Before we shoot our music video, we shall be experimenting; and the girls will be aiming to express the genre of our song through the way in which they will wear the Make-up.

• Filming Dates - As a group, we will deciding what days we are all free and available for the filming of our Music Video. At the moment, we have all agreed on the fact that one day after school will be convenient..

• Design and create posters and T-Shirts - We have all decided that we would like to use posters and T-Shirts during the filming of our Music Video; therefore, before we begin shooting, we will be creating and organising this to all be consistent and near perfect.

• Arrange photo shoot as part of our Digi-Pack work - As a group, we are needed to have a photo shoot of our band in which we will be producing. Joely, Megan & Charlotte will all be starring in the photo shoot as of course they all make the band. The role in which I will have will be Photographer & Director.

• Experiment with Instagram - During our Storyboard process, we all agreed that we would like to implement with the popular photo app Instagram in the beginning of our Music Video. All of us have access to the app; which therefore means we will not have an issue with using and accessing this app.

Journal - Week 4

Over the past week, we as a group have made significant and positive progress in regards to our music video project.

For example we have completed the following:

• We have completed our storyboard sheets; after putting a lot of time and effort within them.
•  We have continued and completed our animatics video which is a good sign, as it shows that we have fulfilled our aim in the previous journal, which consequently was to finish our animatics video. I will now be uploading the video to Youtube and then embedding it to my blog to show evidence
• We have discussed as a group what we feel is appopriate to do over the next week
• We have brainstormed locations

As a group, I feel that the past week has been a successful week as we have put a lot of time and effort into our music video project; and this has been demonstrated by me posting up our storyboard sheets and our animatics video being completed.

Below are some close-up shots of our animatics video; and these have been extracted from the photos in which have been added in our final finished animatics video.

Explanation of the shots above:
The shots above are a few carefully selcted shots in which I have uploaded in which will feature from our final finished animatics video.

The purpose of uploading these specific shots is to show the different shots I have in my storyboard from a close-up angle; and also to give an indication of what to expect within our completed animatics video.


What will we be doing over the next week:


Over the next week, as a group I feel that we may need to sit down and discuss thing sfurther and see how we can implement things into our music video. In addition to this, I feel tha I should take the responsibility of uploading our animatics video; and following this, we will all be able to enbed the video into our blogs. This therefore will provide signs of progression with our music video project

Completed Storyboards

For this post, I will be providing shots of our storyboard sheets in which we have completed.

Explanation of the above storyboards:

As you can see above, my group and I have carefully took our time in designing and creating the above storyboards. The storyboards in which we have completed are of importance simply because the structure we have within these storyboards are of the same structure in which we would like to follow within our music video.

In total, we have 95 storyboard shots; and each of these 95 shots have carefully been created realistically and with our music video in mind. As it is aware, we have coloured the shots on our storyboard sheets; and I feel that colouring the shots in, is of importance mainly because we can make our audience aware what our vision for our music video is.

When it came to designing our storyboard sheets, we took particular consideration into the framing in which we will use, the shot types which we will include and the shot lenghts of each particular shot.

What do I think went well within the storyboard process?

• The framing of each shot has been carefully organises
• The stoyboards are clear, consistent and concise
• They are easy to navigate and look around
• The shot length of each individual shot has been taken into relevant consideration

Instruments needed for the filming of our Music Video

As we will be creating a music video for a band who fit in the genre of Pop/Rock, we of course need to be utilising instruments.

What instruments will we be having and who will be playing them?

Joely - Drums

Megan -  Electric Guitar

Charlotte - Bass Guitar


Below I will now be providing screenshot images of the instruments we will be utilising in our music video. These images have been extracted from the Internet.

Joely

The image above is an instrument, this particular instrument being the Drums in which group member Joely will be playing. Joely will be needed to play these drums during the performance element of our music video. The performance element of our music video will include solos.

Megan

The image screenshot in which I have added above, is of an electric guitar in which is similar to the one which we will be utilising in our music video. Group member, Megan will be playing this instrument. Megan is also the lead singer, so as well as performing with this instrument, she will be singing and lip syncing.

Charlotte

This is the final and 3rd instrument which will be included in our music video. This is a bass guitar and Charlotte will be playing this instrument. Charlotte will be shown playing this instrument during the performance part of our music video. She will also have solo performances during our music video.

Journal - Week 3

As it has been a while since I have posted a weekly journal, I feel that it is necessary to post; so that i can provide signs of progression; and in general, how I am getting on within the music video project.

As a group what have we completed over the last week:

• We have started, finished and completed our storyboards, in which I will be uploading in due course.
• As a group, we have started our animatics video in which we are in the process of completing at current.
• We have finalised location ideas; and we will again be visiting different locations in order to allow reassurance for filming purposes

What is next for us as a group?

• To finalise location ideas
• To complete our animatics video
• To upload our completed storyboards
• To document and present what we will need during the filming of our music video

Feedback sheets and detailed explanation

Above are our groups feedback sheet's in which were received before half term and in relation to our music video pitch. These feedback sheets were completed and handed out after presentation of our created music video pitch.

What points have been made within these feedback sheets?

Positive Points:

• The signature look of the band is great
• A very good, detailed representation of the background story of the band
• Very good record label information
• A great and clear idea
• Appropriate narrative ideas
• Excellent location ideas

Point to improve upon:

• Some of the location ideas may be a difficult issue, simply because of travel and health & safety purposes
• The vision for the music video could be a bit more clearer
• The narrative needs further tweaking

Reflective Analysis:

Overall after receiving these feedback sheets, a lot of consideration has been taken on board; and we as a group have decided that we will be needing to make some changes and adjustments in order to develop our ideas; and over the coming weeks, we will be improving our initial ideas by developing within our particular thought processes.

Judging from the feedback sheets completed, the vision for our music video will need to be clearer and I feel that we as a group will be able to improve this simply by making ourselves clearer with what we aim to achieve after completion of the music video.

We received a lot of positive notes which is great; and again with the positive points we shall be developing upon these to improve even further.

Overall however, the feedback sheets have provided some good analysis and details with how our project is commencing, which is great for us as we are able to show sings of progression.

Music Video Pitch for Dragonfly

This post shall be dedicated to the pitch for the band of our music video.

Here is our music video pitch, in which was created a few weeks ago; however I thought it would be suitable for me to post this simply because now that I have changed groups, I will be solely focusing on creating a music video with the girls for the band named Dragonfly.

What does this Music Video Pitch include:

• Title Page
• Detailed, clear and concise information in regard to the background information of the band
• The main details and information about the music video and the band 'Dragonfly'
• Image and costume ideas in which will feature within the music video
• Location ideas
• Explanation of varied different location ideas
• The vision of the music video
• The primary and secondary target audience for the music video
• A sound clip of the song being: Republica - Ready To Go
• Detailed information about the record label which is 'Rough Trade'
• Inspirations and similarities
• Sound clips of different songs which are classed as an inspiration
• Thank you ending page

As our music video project continues, we will of course having different ideas and thought processes; therefore in order to improve out music video further, we shall be contemplating how we can develop our idea.

Change of Group

This week I have come to the decsion to change groups for my music video project. Instead of working on my own, I will now be working in a group with Charlotte, Megan and Joely.

The song in which we will be creating a music video for is: Republica - Ready To Go. The artist band name is Dragonfly.

Here is the song:

Why have I decided to cancel my initial idea?
I have decided to work with Charlotte, Megan & Joely simply because I felt that the four of us combined would make a good team and a good visual music video through all of our ideas and intelligence which will all be merged.

My Music Video Pitch

For this post, I will be looking into my music video pitch and the feedback in which I received

Above is my Powerpoint presentation for my music video pitch in which I have created and pitched to the class as part of my music video pitch.



Below are my feedback sheets in which I have received from the class. I will now be looking into each feedback sheet and seeing what I can do to improve and develop upon my current ideas.

Research into Digi-Packs in Music

A digi pack in music is a particular style and design of a CD/Album packaging within an artist's material they release.

Within my music video project, I will be creating a digi pack online and then printing it off professionally within the weeks to come.

For this post, I will be looking into current digi-packs which are available on the market at current and which are available to purchase.

Below I will be now looking into digi-packs through the use of screenshots and detailed explanation:

Above is an example of a digipack which is a traditional digi-pack in which are available. As it is asware, with this digi pack the contents are: A CD, bonus tracks, images of the artist and a hand-out booklet which contains further information about the artist.

Above is the second digi pack in which I have included within this post. As you can see with this example, this digi-pack is rather simple and basic. It has an inside flap which features a bokklet of the artist's. In addtion, the back of this digi pack, has the track listing and again bonus tracks which are included within the bonus deluxe edition of the album; and finally the fron of this digi pack example has a colour and vibrant look towards it with a 3D image. The benefit of digi-packs with cool features like these, is that the digi-pack albums become limited edition, rare and a collectors item.

Here is another digi pack which is available to purchase. This particular digi-pack is a prime example of why they are rare, special and limited edition. As for example, this digi-pack album is deluxe and this is shown through the use of the colour gold. The use of th ecolour gold, is beneficial as it adds the digi-pack t have a vibrant and special feel towards it. This digi pack again is a collectors item as it is rare and very hard ot find one which is covered in shiny gold. Within this digi pack, there are two CD'S which add even further significance and importance as it conntes that there are twice as many songs as a regular album. Also, to the left of this example, there is a gold plated booklet which is thick which sets oof the connotation there is a lot of information in regards ot the artist and their lifestyle, which is what the fans love and adore.

The digi-pack above is a special and rare example of a digi-pack as marketing has been used to make this album digi-pack limited edition and special. As you can see, this example has been strructured to look like a DVD which is what fans and an audience love; simply because this design is unique and rather appealing towards the audience in which the digi-pack is aimed at.

Contents of a digi-pack:

Overall how can a Digi-Pack stand out?

• The thickness of card-stock is essential as they make the digi-packs heavier which is why they are special and a rarity
• Pockets - Usually with a digi-pack there are pockets to the side which contains information such as booklets within the digi-pack
• Inside spine printing - This is essential as well, simply because most albums have a white spine but with a digi-pack if there is a different colour, it is aware that the album is limited edition and a collectors item.