A short film or video that accompanies a piece of music is called a music video. The more modern music videos are mostly made for the intention of promoting the sale of music recordings.
The early 1980's brought the term “music video” and prior to that time where known as “filmed insert”, “promotional film”, “promotional clip” or “film clip.”
Many styles of film techniques are used to produce a music video, including; animation, live action filming and non-narrative approaches such as abstract film. A few music videos take different styles and put them together, for example animation and live action.
In the late 1970's Top of the Pops began playing music videos and got many viewers as a good video would mean that the audience would want to see it again the following week. David Bowie got his first UK number with director David Mallet's eye catching promo for “Ashes to Ashes.”
In 1975, Queen and Bruce Growers made a promo video for Bohemian Rhapsody, their new single. It was to be shown on Top of the Pops. The video is also notable for being shot and edited on videotape.
Bohemian Rhapsody was made for the album A Night At The Opera. It was in the style of a constant stream of consciousness nightmare that has an unusual song structure. There is no chorus to the song, but instead disjointed sections which include operatic segments, as with the cappella passage, and also a heavy rock solo.
The video contains filmed singers, experimental arty film techniques, clips of the band on stage and also the band/singer in a darkened room lit from below to create an eerie nightmare effect. Bohemian Rhapsody set the conventions of music videos to come.
With the successful music video of Bohemian Rhapsody it became regular practice for recording companies to produce promo videos for artists and their single releases. These would then be shown on television shows such as Top Of The Pops. This also left the need for the artist to appear in person. The music video also allowed for the artists to have their music broadcast along with their own choice of visuals, this then was no need for dancers.
Brian May said that the video was also made so that they, “could avoid miming on Top Of The Pops” as it did not fit their style.
In 1981, Splitz End and Blondie came together and had major success with “I Got You.” They were one of the first bands in the world to have a complete set of promo clips for each song of their album. These where directed by Noel Crombie and were marketed on video cassette.
Saturday Night Live had short musical films made for them by Michael Nesmith. He released Elephant Parts in 1981, which was the first video to win a Grammy.
The beginning of an era started with MTV launching Video Killed the Radio Star. This began a 24-hour music television. By the mid 1980's music videos would grow to become a central role in music marketing.
Promotional videos were able to be done quickly and cheaply as one of the key innovations in the development of modern music videos were the inexpensive and easy-to-use video recording and editing equipment. Also the development of related effects like chroma-key aided this quick and easiness.
With the music video artists touring would not have to try and be in more than one place at one time. Instead of the artist/bands having to appear on a programme if they where touring, which would leave a tight if impossible schedule, the music video could be shown instead.
In August of 1981 MTV was launched. It was originally broadcasting music videos 24 hours a day. However, the amount of music videos soon decreased when MTV went big and started charging the artists, who were giving their videos to them, for showing their videos.
MTV soon found themselves with less music videos and now still shows music videos, however, a variety of culture and reality TV, which is targeted at the younger audience is shown on the channel aswell.
Over time since the first music video was made technology has changed a lot, making music videos easy to access, on the internet, and see.
Music videos can be seen nearly anywhere and everywhere, whether it is on a TV screen, a computer, a mobile phone or a PSP.
With the internet people can now download their favourite music videos either legally or illegally, from sites such as YouTube, Pirate Bay, Google Videos and a whole array of other websites.
To conclude, music videos where and still are made for the promotion of an artists or bands song or album. Instead of the band or artist having to go in person to a performance, their music video can be seen instead, which helps if they are touring. With the rise of the internet, music videos can be seen by nearly everyone, letting more people know of the band or the artist. Also, with MTV, other music channels and the internet, people do not have to travel to a performance to watch a music video, they will be able to see it if it is scheduled to show.
Bibliography/Websites viewed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_video
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Rhapsody
http://www.songfacts.com/
Chosen Music Genre: Indie/Folk (fig.2)
The music video which we decided to do is Indie/Folk music. We searched for unsigned bands and artists on the internet, but did not find any songs which really matched the Indie/Folk category.
In the end Joel contacted is uncle Phil Russell, a singer/songwriter who is not a signed singer.
This is what he replied to our enquiry about using his song:
Dear Mr. Russell,
We are A level Media students creating a music video for our course work. We would like to use your song "oxford companion" for this work.
Yours sincerely
J. Watkins-Groves
C. Smalley
He replied with this email:
Dear Mr Watkins-Grove and Ms Smalley,
Thanks you for you interest in my song "Oxford Companion". Yes, do please feel free to use this song for your project and let me know if you require any further help. I look forward to seeing the results.
Regards,
Phil Russell
CEO, Hoot
http://www.hootmusic.co.uk/
Camera Shots (fig.3)
The images below show the different camera shots used in music videos:
Analysis of 3 music videos (related to Indie/Folk) (fig.4)
In this analysis of 3 music videos I have choosen to artists; Enya and Kirsty MacColl. I will be analysing two music videos from Enya, these being Anywhere Is and Only Time, and one from Kirsty MacColl, Terry.
Enya is a 'Indie', 'Celtic' and 'Old Irish' singer and has had many hits over the years. Kirsty MacColl does a mixture of songs including folk and like Enya has had many hits.
Anywhere Is – Enya
The overall feely of the song is happy, however, there is a sence of sadness in her voice in some areas of the song like when she sings, 'lose my way.' she sounds sad as if she is lost and cannot find the way back.
There are some parts of the jusic video that relate the lyrics with the visual effects. These are seen when Enay is signing about, 'the moon upon the ocean, is swept around in motion.' The screen is filled with a night sky scene with the camera zooming out very slowly. Half of Enya's face appears on the left side of the screen and then fades out, appearing on the opposite side of the screen. This happens twice in this scene before the camera zooms out completely showing the moon over the ocean as a painting, giving the feel of some kind of dream that is taking place. Another thing that is noticable about the scene that also gives it a dreamy feel is that the half of Enya's face that appears to the sides of the screen are blue in colour, making her look as though she is blending in with the background.
Another visual effect that relates to the music is the clock which appears many times behind Enya. She sings, 'begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish.' This relates to the clock as a clock is never endding, it is continuously going round. These lyrics could also relate to a dream as a dream could begin at a new beginning, but does not neccisarily have an end to it.
The clock also appears as a kind of portal as she steps into it and later on in the video the audience see her touch the face of the clock and it ripples giving a sort of science fiction feel of another world beyond the face of the clock. The lyrics accompaning this are, 'in hopes that I can still find, the way back to the moment,' as if she is trying to return to some place.
The genre of the music video is indie. This being that Enya works alone in her work and she is not in a band. There is no one else about in the video, until near the end when a younger Enya appers along with two friends, who then change to teenage/adolescents of the young children.
The overly tempo of the song is not too fast and not too slow, a kind of easy listening feel. The editing matches this tempo and there are only two fast-cut montages in the whole video, these being ehen she has just sung, 'its either this or that way, its one way or the other.' the camera quickly moves from a door labeled 'This Way' to a door labeled 'That Way' and then cuts to a close up of Enya's face. Behind her there are many fast cuts as if she has a lot of thoughts rushing through her head at the same time, trying to find the answer, as if she was going through all the possible ways of getting to her destination. The overall feel that this scene gives is that she once used to know where the place she is trying to find was, but over 'time' it has faded and she is now trying to find a way to go back. It is as if she is trying to also return to a safe place. This repeats itself a few second later.
The song is a kind of narrative in a way as it is telling the story of how she is trying to find her way back. There are no performance clips, but instead the entire video is a type of art crossed with a narrative video, this breaking the conventions of a music video.
There are many close ups of Enya, showing her blue/green eyes which are shining, again making the video seem unreal and dreamy. Her red lips also stand out in the close ups along with her long earings. Her red lips match her long red hunting coat that she wears through the whole music video. She also wears the rest of the hunting unifrom, this being the black tight fit leggings, the black boots and a white blouse beneath the coat. The hunting coat also gives the feel that she is 'hunting' for a way back to theis world which she is looking for. Her hair is cut to shoulder length, as with all her appearances this is her look.
Half way through the video the camera pans up a painting which is laying on its side and a note reminding not to turn off the light, a round ball light, which is switched off. As the light is extinguised, the camera pans through the darked room which is beginning to change and then and follows Enya through to another room, where a complete change has occurred. The once normal room, now has become like a dream. Tiny lights flash from on the walls, representing stars. As Enya looks up there is a slight up shot of her, the majority of the screen now stars. The lyrics accompaning this scene is, 'I wonder iof the star sign' and 'I look up to the heavens.'
The lyrics relate to the visuals in the next scene. 'But night has clouded over.' As Enya opens a box labeled, 'A Box Of Clouds' stage smoke rises up from the box and obscures the audiences view of Enya. This is the transition to the next scene where Enya is sitting on the shore-line rocks looking out over the sea to a lighthose, the clouds now becoming the fog around her. Again this gives the feel of a dream.
The next scene is of the three young girls/friends. One, who looks like a very young Enya is holding a seashell to her ear whilst the other two are holding on to two umbrellas trying not to get blown away be the wind. Half of Enya's face is layered over the top of the scene to the left hand side. The scene relates to the lyrics of, 'the shells upon the warm sands, have taken from their own lands, the echo of their story..' again giving the feel of a dream or another world in which the shells are telling thir own story.
The three girls change into three adult ladies of the younger children, who are playing violins in time to the music. This is the only time that the audience gets to see an instrument played in the entire video. The women are standing on three boxes, which have giant horns on, with their faces covered by a long piece of fabric which is blowing behind them. The background is of a dreamy colour, giving the scene a scence of unreality.
As the video comes to an end there is a final close up of Enya, using the rule of thirds, with Enya to the right of the screen and the clock taking up the other two thirds of the screen in the background. Enya smiles to the audience and then turns around and walks to the clock as if she has finally found what she was looking for.
The final transition is a circle transition effect, which zooms in black on the clock face. This also looks and gives the feel that the search or dream is finally over.
Only Time – Enya
The feel of the music as it starts is quiet happy, however sa the song progresses and the visual effects start to play the sense of happiness starts to give way to quiet a sad story/narrative. Like the other music video that I analysed of Enya's, Anywhere Is, there is no performance clips in the video, but the overall video is that of art and narrative, again breaking the convenions of a music video.
There is a tilted camera angled used in the first and second shots of Enya, the first an up shot, shows her in the bottom right hand corner of the screen from her shoulders up looking up at a window where the moon shines through. This comes across as if she is looking for something or waiting for something to happen. The next shot is tilted in the opposite direction and is this time a long shot. It shows Enya in a waterlogged road looking up at the same window, however the audience cannot see that window. Again this comes across as if she is looking or something for waiting for something. The lyrics that accompany this shot of Enya in the road is, 'Who can say where the road goes.' These lyrics come across as if she has just had to let someone go and is now asking where the road ahead leads and what it will bring. There are many cuts and overlays in this sequence. However, they are not fast-cut montage, but rather keeping to the tempo of the music, which is not too fast and not too slow. The cuts go from long shot with down shot, to close ups, with overlays of rain running down a window that appears as if Enya is looking out of and a part of a tree to the left hand side of the screen overlaying another down shot. When she is looking through the rain covered window it comes across if she is remembering the past and what it used to be like.
The next sequence sees Enya walking down the road. Again another tilted long down shot is used. The rain that was faling is now replaced by flower pettles as she sings, 'who can say if your love grows, as your heart shows, only time.' Flowers opening up are overlaid to the left and right hand side of the screen as she continues to wall down the road. This comes across along with the lyrics as new love.
On the chorus, the screen fades to black and then a blossuming flower bursts opening filling the screen with bright colours. It then fades to an opening rose flower with a close up of Enya to one side of the screen but in the centre of the opening rose. She is looking sad. This along with the rose and the chorus suggest that she is remebering the past. Her red lips match that of the roses red pettles. The next seen shows a close up of water flowing away from the screen/viewer with pettles of flowers falling onto the surface of the water and being washed away. This could be to do with the past or lost love being washed away. There is a rule of thirds shot of Enya as she walks in front of the camera and it follows her. The rain has now joined the falling pettles and Enya's dress has become wet and it is giving the feel that although she would like to let the past go it is still clinging to her.
She smiles in the next equence and this seems as if she is smiling about the past and what happened.
When she sings, 'only time,' a close up of sand timer fades onto the screen, with the sand running down into the bottom. As she contines to sing the video fdes to a close up of her with sand falling down around her. Her dress has chaged from the wet purple dress to a black one. When she sings, 'when your heart cries, when your love lies,' it is as if the black dress represents the dying love and also could mean that she is sad or depressed, even when she does not show it. The fading of Enya onto the screen with the sand around her is like the sands of time with her fading like a ghost of the past.
The audience sees the first instrument being played, by Enya herself. It is a grand piano and she only plays it for around five seconds before the sequence fades to another shot of her with sand falling around her.
Another sequence is when the sand is blown away and Enya's face is revealed. It is as if the past is finally peeling back to let her go.
The audiences sees Enya pick up a handful of sand which she then blows away as if blowing the way the past. Also the wind starts to pick up as if to give the meaning that 'the winds are changing.'
Another tilted camera angle is used in the transition to the next sequnece where Enya is sitting on a set of stairs with autum leaves blowing around her. Again this signifies change. She is wearing a red dress. Red is associated with danger and also flirting. It is as if she would like to try at love again. However when she rises she has a show of unconfidence about her. This seen in the way that she walks and the way in which unlike before when she was looking up, she is now looking down at the ground. A close up of the sand time fade onto the screen again, as if the past is trying to come back into her life. The sand which once fell around her is now covering up the leaves that surround her, as if the sand is trying to stop her from moving on. There is a down shot on her, making her look vunerable to the falling sand. The wind again starts to pick up and leaves start to fall and the sand stops, again as if change is coming. Her confidence seems to return when she starts to look up again. Close ups of her face show her smiling once again, as if see knows that she can move on.
There is a change in the next sequence as the whole snad and leaves are covered in a white blanket of snow and Enya's black dress chanes to a white one. There is another down shot, showing the piano that she played earlier. Like with the sand, she picks up a handfull of snow and blows it away. However, this time she seems happy.
The final sequence fades between three images. One is a close up of Enya's face, which is smiling asif she can now move on. The other two is a long shot of Enya in the winter scene. As the camera zooms away from her the sand timer fades onto the screen, still keeping the long shot in the background. The timer has nearly run out as the music finishes and the screen goes black.
Terry – Kirtsy MacColl
The music has a beaty yet sad feel about it when it begins as the colour of the video is black and white and the song is beaty. The edits accompaning this beaty music is the same speed as the music. There are no fast-cut montage's, instead the edits are in time with the music.
The opening sequence zooms out from a band playing on a small in club stage until it has the two characters in frame, one is Kirst MacColl and the other is her boyfriend for the video. The sequence is black and white and the audience gets a sense that she is unhappy about their relationship when she asks/sings, 'Why do you never listen to me?' this shows that she is clearly unhappy, the black and white emphasising this even more giving the feel of depression and sadness. He carries on oblivious to her question and continues to dance a mad/silly dance that is not really in time to the music. Another thing that shows that she is unhappy is the way that she herself is dancing. Whereas the rest of the room is dancing in time to the music, she is dancing very slowly and is not really enjoying herself.
'I've met somebody new,' is sung as Terry, dresses in leathers and a tank-top entres the club and pushes the other boyfriend away. This shows that he is dominant over the other guy and Kirsty starts to become a lot moe happy as she is now smiling and singing with a lot more confidence.
The ex-boyfriend still carries on dancing reguardless that he has been pushed out of the way. He does notice this a while later and tries to get her attention, but Kirsty just ignores her and continues to dance with Terry.
When in a new setting of at her house, Kirsty is a lot happier. This is shown be the way that she is now dressed and also by he make up. Her face appears whiter and she is also wearing, eye shadow, lipstick and a black top. Her hair is groomed the same as in the club. This tells the audience that she is now making an impression for someone who actualy cares about her.
The sequence is again black and white. This is because the ex-boyfriend is at her door trying to get her back. She tells/sings that Terry is 'tough'. The camera zooms in on Terry, who is sitting on his motor bike in leather, looking as if he would do damage to the ex-boyfriend. There is a close up of the ex-boyfriends face that show that he is truly sorry for what he has done and that he would like to get her back.
Back in the cluba dn Terry is playing the guitar in the background with three ladies singing in the foreground, one of who is Kirsty. This shows that she is happy as she is now getting back into things and that she is enjoying herslf.
The video changes to colour in a sequence where it is just Kirsty light face on. This shows that she has now found what she was looking for and that she has now become a lot more confident and wanting show herself.
The ex-boyfriend jumps onto the stage and starts to play the guitar, pushing Terry aside to try to regain dominance.
There is a slight fight scene towards the end in which the ex-boyfriend beats Terry. This proves his dominance and Kirsty goes back to dancing with the ex-boyfriend. She accompanies him in his silly dance that again is out of beat to the music.
Ideas For The Final Music Video - Mindmap (fig.5)
The video will be a narrative style with bits of a performance style. The instrumental and chorus pieces will be performance style whilst the verses will have a narrative structure to them. Performances parts will show the singer playing a guitar whilst sinning the song, this as I have previously stated would be mainly used for the courses and instrumental parts. The verses will have a story of a guy on a quest to resolve a matter of the hart we will see him acting out the events of the verses, including reading the Quran and talking to the various people in the song.
Target Audience (fig.6)
The target audience for the music video is around the age of 16 to 45, this being because of the theme and genre of the music. The genre being Indie/Folk and people of around the age of 16 may want to listen to this type of music and also the older listeners may not want to listen to the hip hop, hard-core, head-banging music of today’s charts, but something a little slower and something with less beat.
Lyrics (fig.7)
Oxford companion
I got to talking to my Oxford companion
He was wiser than me, because he told me so
So I asked his opinion on a matter of the heart
But he didn’t seem to know where I was coming from
There you go. What do you know?
Maybe something more mystical would get me out of this fix
Maybe a verse of the Koran, something less familiar
You know the teachings of Lao Tze I’m sure have got a lot to say
But the wisdom of the dead passes me by
I’m not a murderer, I’m not an angel
I’m not a prophet or a priest
I’m only acting like a common human fool does
What else would you want from me?
My best friend told me that people don’t get smarter
Without they take a trip down in the gutter
So I’m down there on my knees and the bastard ups and leaves
Says he likes me better the way I was before
And I’m talking to my doctor and I’m spilling with my shrink
And I’m sucking up my girlfriends and my bleeding wife
And they offer me prescriptions, good advice and things to eat
But when it all goes quiet, you’re on your own in there
What is the music video about? (fig.8)
The music video is about a man who is depressed. His friend (Oxford Companion) does not understand him and so leaves. An Oxford Companion is a book, however, in the music video we refer to the companion as a person. The only help he is getting is drugs and food offered, which he refuses.
Treatment (fig.9)
Here are the images we initially planed to go with the Lyrics:
· I got to talking to my Oxford companion
o People talking in a pub1.
· He was wiser than me, because he told me so
o Shot of the companion – holding a diploma?
· So I asked his opinion on a matter of the heart
o Shot of the Jim. Over OC’s shoulder
o OC shot over Jim’s shoulder
· But he didn’t seem to know where I was coming from
o Oxford companion looking confused
· There you go. What do you know?
o Singer singing2
· Maybe something more mystical would get me out of this fix
o Extreme close up of eyes3
· Maybe a verse of the Koran, something less familiar
o Long short of him on a bench reading in a park piles of books around him
· You know the teachings of Lao Tze I’m sure have got a lot to say
o Close up of book with Chinese characters on the front
· But the wisdom of the dead passes me by
o Long shot again with superimposed people walking in front of him.
· I’m not a murderer, I’m not an angel
· I’m not a prophet or a priest
· I’m only acting like a common human fool does
· What else would you want from me?
o Long shot with Jim walking past a door4 in different costumes to express the different types of characters that are sung about
· My best friend told me that people don’t get smarter
o Walking down a street past the collage
· Without they take a trip down in the gutter
o High angle shot of the two with the gutter in the background
· So I’m down there on my knees and the bastard ups and leaves
o Low angle of Jim sitting on the curb with other one leaving
· Says he likes me better the way I was before
o Travailing shot of friend as he walks away.
· And I’m talking to my doctor and I’m spilling with my shrink
o Scene in a doctor’s room laying on bed
· And I’m sucking up my girlfriends and my bleeding wife
o Shot in living room on a sofa
· And they offer me prescriptions, good advice and things to eat
o Close up of doctors hand handing over a pill bottle quick cut to a plate of food
· But when it all goes quiet, you’re on your own in there
o Main character sitting there all alone fade to the singer in the same position
How to use a digital camera (fig.10)
To begin with the camera must be switched on by turning the dial on the back of the camera to 'camera'. The screen will display an image of whatever the camera is pointed at, indicating that the camera is on.
To film
When filming any shot a tripod must be used to steady the camera, unless the shot is to appear hand-held; for example the camera man/woman is running with a character. The camera can also be steadied by placing it in the palm of the hand and pushing the elbow into the side.
To start filming press the red or green button at the back of the camera. A noise will indicate that it has started to record.
Do not film the actors straight away. Count down from 10 once the record button has been pressed. Signal the rest of the sequence from 4 downwards so that when it comes to editing the shot can be lengthened or so that transitions and other effects can be added without effecting the shot.
Do not zoom in on a subject. If the camera has to be moved closer to a particular area then the camera should be stopped and the camera moved forward and recording continued. Zooming in looks unprofessional unless it is needed in a particular shot.
Do not rewind the tape and watch the film. This will lose the times and there is the risk that the film will be recorded over.
Finishing recording and transferring film onto the computer
Once all the shots have been filmed then it can be transferred onto the computer to be edited. Do not transfer half the film and then try to continue recording the rest of the film. This mucks up times and there is a risk that the first part of the film will be recorded over, losing the data, which can not be retrieved if the data on the computer is lost. Filming again will need to be done, and may not come out how it did before.
To transfer the film it needs to be rewound back to the beginning and the camera will need to be connected to the computer via a fire wire. To begin the transfer the camera must be on and the editing programme, Final Cut Pro, opened. Once the same image appears on both the computer screen and the camera then the transfer can be started. To do this go to File > Log and Capture. Press play on Final Cut Pro and the transfer will start.
Once the whole film is transferred then the fire wire can be unplugged and the camera turned off. Keep the tape just in case the data on the computer is deleted.
Storyboards (fig.11)
These are the storyboards we roughed out. We are hoping to film as close as possible to the images drawn below.
Schedule Sheet (fig.12)
Actors:
Phil Russell - Singer
Adam - Singers character
Allen Watkins-Groves - The Dead
Joel Watkins-Grove - Oxford Companion/The Dead
Caroline Smalley - The Dead
Camera Equipment and Lighting:
Digital camera
Tripod
Spotlights X2
Camera Men/Women:
Caroline Smalley
Joel Watkins-Groves
Props:
Wooden cross
Pill bottle
Thou Shalt Not board
Halo
Prison board
Apple
Tea/Coffee
Book
Costume:
Adam - formal yet slightly scruffy looking - hoody, t-shirt and jeans, white trainers.
Phil Russell - formal, but slightly depressed. Grey t-shirt and grey jeans.
Joel Watkins-Groves - formal. Blue shirt, black coat, black jeans, black shoes.
Allen Watkins-Groves - formal. Blue jacket, blue jeans, black shoes
Caroline Smalley - formal. Brown coat, black bag, blue jeans, white top/shirt.
Drivers:
Allen Watkins-Groves
Liz Watkins-Groves
Lighting:
Joel Watkins-Groves
Caroline Smalley
Allen Watkins-Groves
Filming times:
Friday 20th November 2009 - 5.00pm - travel to Phil’s house 7.00pm
- 10.10 film in Phil’s office
Saturday 21st November 2009 - 8.30am - travel to the Drill hall
- 8.45am - set up lighting and props
- 9.00am - 9.25am - film at the Drill Hall
- 9.30am - travel to park
- 9.40-9.55am - film in park
- 10.00am - tea break
- 10.25am - 10.35am - film at the Stonebow using props
- 10.40am - travel to Cathedral
- 11.00am - 11.30am - film at the Cathedral
- 11.35am - 12.00pm - lunch
- 12.05pm - travel to Joel’s
- 12.20pm - 12.30pm - film down empty street
- 12.40pm - 1.00pm - film in Joel’s house
Editors:
Joel Watkins-Groves
Caroline Smalley
Editing Times:
Monday 23rd November 2009 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - transfer from camera to computer
Monday 30th November 2009 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - Sync film and audio tracks
Monday 07th December 2009 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - first scene/verse edit
Monday 14th December 2009 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - first scene/verse edit
Monday 21st December 2009 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - second scene/verse edit
Monday 28th December 2009 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - third scene/verse edit
Monday 04th January 2010 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - fourth scene/verse edit
Monday 11th January 2010 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - check and final edit
Monday 18th January 2010 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - add black and white filter
Monday 25th January 2010 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - add sepia filter
Monday 01st February 2010 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - add other effects
Monday 01st February 2010 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - check and change any scenes/verses
Thursday 04th February 2020 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - check and change any scenes/verses
Monday 08th February 2010 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - check and change any scenes/verses
Monday 15th February 2010 - 11.50am - 1.00pm - check and change any scenes/verses
Monday 15th March 2010 – 11.50m – 1.00pm – double check video and hand in
Storyboard Artists:
Caroline Smalley
Joel Watkins Groves
Research into Digi-Pac's (fig.13)
Enya – And Winter Came... CD Cover
Use of ICT
Many layers have been used to create the cover, the main programme probably being Photoshop. Each layer was added by creating new layers and placing those layers over one another.
Use of Conventions of layout and page design
The cover has kept to the conventions. The title is bold and eye-catching making the cover stand out more. The album’s title is reflected in the image and the singer can be seen.
Variety in fonts and text size
There are two types of font on the CD cover. The first which reads the singer name is in a font that has been designed for her own name and appears on all her CD albums. The second font, which is placed below the name, is in a completely different font. The letters at the beginning of each word is swirly and ties in with the wintery feel of not only the image but the title as well.
Use of language and register
The language used on the cover is formal and does not use any abbreviated words or phrases.
Integration of illustration and text
The text ‘And Winter Came...’ matches the image as it shows a wintery scene.
Framing of shots, including or excluding elements
The singer is pictures in the rule of thirds down the middle of the image. Her long flowing dress ends in the bottom right of the image. The white horse in the background also uses the rule of thirds as it is placed within the top two thirds. He trees in the far background are placed in the top third and the title in the bottom third.
Use of a variety of shot distances
There are many shot distances in the image. Enya is seen in the foreground with the horse behind her and the ground going off and fading into the trees and sky in the background. The shots all fade into one another and give the image a more realistic look as snow covered objects are hard to differentiate from one another.
Mise-en-scene (colour, figure, lighting, objects)
The whole image relates to the album’s title ‘And Winter Came...’ as it is made up of white objects. Enya is wearing white, the stone horse is white, the ground and the trees in the distance are also white. The only three colours which stand out are Enya’s black hair, the red and black title.
Image manipulation
There are eight different layers to the final cover image. The first layer is the sky, then the trees, the ground, some more trees, the stone horse, the twinkling snowflakes, Enya and then the title.
Enya has been masked onto the image and then the titled layered over her.
The horse has been slightly altered to give it more of a snow appearance rather than that of stone. It has also been given a light effect from the left so that it matches the way the light reflects on to Enya’s dress.
James Blunt – All The Lost Souls CD Cover
Use of ICT
Smaller images make up one larger image. This has probably been done on Photoshop using an existing photo of the singer and layering smaller right coloured images over the top.
Use of Conventions of layout and page design
The cover has kept to the conventions. The title is eye-catching and bright and the singer can be seen in the image. Smaller images of himself make up the larger image of his face.
Variety in fonts and text size
There are many fonts used on the cover to create the different letters of the singers’ name. However they are all related as they are all neon lights just made different by the design/font of each letter. Some of the letters are outlines and stand out a bit more from the rest of the singers’ name. The title of the album ‘All The Lost Souls’ is a complete neon sign not made up of different fonts.
The size of the font differs. The singers’ name is varied from letter to letter, whereas the album name is all the same size.
Use of language and register
The language used on the cover is formal and does not use any abbreviated words or phrases.
Integration of illustration and text
The text and image do not really go together, so are not integrated.
Framing of shots, including or excluding elements
The rule of thirds portrait shot has been used to create the image. The singers head is central in the middle third and his shoulders are taking up the bottom third. The title is in the top third of the image.
Use of a variety of shot distancesThe rule of thirds portrait shot has been used to create the image. The singers head is central in the middle third and his shoulders are taking up the bottom third.
Mise-en-scene (colour, figure, lighting, objects)
There is a variety of bright and dull colours in on the cover. The lighter colours can be seen in many of the small images. The darker colours make up the actual singer. Yellowy orange images have been used to create a studio light effect on the singers face on the right side of the image.
Image manipulation
Many smaller images are used to make up one large image. These images are from the singer music videos and also other CD covers.
Tim Hart and Maddy Prior – Folk Songs of Olde England vol. 2 CD Cover
Use of ICT
There are four different layers used to complete the image; the background, the two singers, the butterflies and the title. These are layered over one another to create the final image/cover.
Use of Conventions of layout and page design
The cover has and has not kept to the conventions. The title is not all that clear against the background, however the two artists are pictured but they are blurry and hard to see. The use of the colourful butterflies is eye-catching and helps to draw the viewer in.
Variety in fonts and text size
One font is used on the cover. The artist’s names are bigger than the album title, which uses the same font and is in italics.
Use of language and register
The language used on the cover is formal and does not use any abbreviated words or phrases.
Integration of illustration and text
The text ‘Olde’ matches the image as the cover is made to look old like an old photo which is fading.
Framing of shots, including or excluding elements
The artists are pictured in the bottom right hand corner of the image, in the rule of thirds. The butterflies go across the image again using the line of thirds and the singers name and title is in the top third.
Use of a variety of shot distancesThe two artists have been shot from a long distance using the rule of thirds so that they can be fully seen. The butterflies have been taking at a close range using a macro lens and placed over the top.
Mise-en-scene (colour, figure, lighting, objects)
The colour of the background is dull. However, the artists are smiling which gives the feel of unhappiness at first glance but a slightly different feel on a second look. The bright colour of the butterflies helps to create a happier look to the cover.
Image manipulation
The images have been edited and then layered over the top of one another to create the final cover.
Research into Magazine Advertisements (fig.14)
Enya – The Very Best Advert
Use of ICT
The image of Enya has been layered over the red blurry area and her name and title of the CD layered over the blurred area and her dress.
Use of Conventions of layout and page design
The advert has kept to the conventions. The singer is clearly seen in the advert so that people know what it was about upon first look. The red and white stand out and are eye-catching and draw the view in. The white writing works on the black background.
Variety in fonts and text size
There are three fonts used in the advert. The first is Enya’s own name in her own font. The second is the album title and the third is the writing which describes the content of the box set CD. The ‘Pre-order The Very Best of Enya now!’ is in bold.
Use of language and register
The whole advert is formal and does not use any slang or abbreviated words or phrases.
Integration of illustration and textthe image of the CD and contents is mentioned in the description.
Framing of shots, including or excluding elements
The image of Enya has been placed in the top left hand corner of the image using rule of thirds. The image of the CD and contents is also shown in the rule of thirds.
Use of a variety of shot distances
The shot of Enya is above and the expression on her face is that of loneliness. Anyone knowing about Enya will know that she is quiet and the image helps to show this.
Mise-en-scene (colour, figure, lighting, objects)The colour of black, red and white go together. Enya’s red dress is associated with danger and any male listeners of her music may be drawn in by the image. The white writing goes well on top of the red. Enya has been lit from many different angles so that the colour of the dress does not appear dull.
Image manipulation
Enya’s photo was taken on a white background and then placed along with the writing, title and photo of the CD and contents on a black background.
James Blunt - All The Lost Souls Advert
Use of ICT
Smaller images make up one larger image. This has probably been done on Photoshop using an existing photo of the singer and layering smaller right coloured images over the top.
Use of Conventions of layout and page design
The cover has kept to the conventions. The title is eye-catching and bright and the singer can be seen in the image. Smaller images of himself make up the larger image of his face. The description is clear.
Variety in fonts and text size
There are many fonts used on the cover to create the different letters of the singers’ name. However they are all related as they are all neon lights just made different by the design/font of each letter. Some of the letters are outlines and stand out a bit more from the rest of the singers’ name. The title of the album ‘All The Lost Souls’ is a complete neon sign not made up of different fonts.
The size of the font differs. The singers’ name is varied from letter to letter, whereas the album name is all the same size.
There are two different fonts used in the description. One of the fonts has been made bold for ‘The New Album’ to grab people’s attention as to the fact that there is a new album out.
Use of language and register
The language used on the cover is informative and formal and does not use any abbreviated words or phrases.
Integration of illustration and textThe white font is layered over the top of the dark area of the singer where it can be clearly read.
Framing of shots, including or excluding elementsThe rule of thirds portrait shot has been used to create the image. The singers head is central in the middle third and his shoulders are taking up the bottom third and he is not crowded by the title or information. The title is in the top third of the image and the information is in the bottom third.
Use of a variety of shot distancesThe rule of thirds portrait shot has been used to create the image. The singers head is central in the middle third and his shoulders are taking up the bottom third.
Mise-en-scene (colour, figure, lighting, objects)There is a variety of bright and dull colours in on the cover. The lighter colours can be seen in many of the small images. The darker colours make up the actual singer. Yellowy orange images have been used to create a studio light effect on the singers face on the right side of the image. The white writing works well on the dark area of the image.
Image manipulation
Many smaller images are used to make up one large image. These images are from the singer music videos and also other CD covers.
James Blunt – Back To Bedlam Advert
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Use of ICT
A photo of the artist was taken and edited. Information was layered on to this image to create the final advert.
Use of Conventions of layout and page design
The conventions have and have not been kept to as although the singer is in the image he is blurry and anyone not knowing the artist may doubt whether or not it is him. The artists name and the title of the album is clear. The yellow names of the well known papers and magazines which have reviewed the CD stand out.
Variety in fonts and text size
There are five different fonts used. The first is the artists name and the CD title which are in the same font. The second is the reviews and the tour dates. The third, fourth and fifth is the ‘Megastores’, the ‘Virgin’ and the Virgin website address. The font gets smaller as it gets nearer the bottom of the page.
Use of language and register
The language is formal and does not use slang or abbreviated words.
Integration of illustration and text
The word ‘bedlam’ which is a state of extreme confusion and disorder is shown in the image. The dull grey colour helps to emphasise this along with the expression on the singers’ face which is unclear but at the same time can still be made out.
Framing of shots, including or excluding elements
The rule of thirds is used. The artist is in the first line of thirds.
Use of a variety of shot distancesThe shot used is a close up of the singers face to show the emotion.
Mise-en-scene (colour, figure, lighting, objects)The dull colour matches the album title and helps to show the meaning a bit more. The red colour of the artists’ name also helps to show disorder.
Image manipulation
The original image has been edited and then the information layered over the top probably using Photoshop.
Planning - Digi pac (fig.15)
Idea 1:
A photograph of a drain gutter with the main props falling down (added in photoshop) and in-between the holes as if everything is going down the drain for the character and singer. The title is at an angle along the curb.
Idea 3:
An extreme close up of an eye, showing the reflection of the character holding a cross and a ‘Thou Shalt Not’ sign, from the 3rd verse. The title will go above the eye across the top of the cover.
Idea 4:
A photograph of one of the character from the song walking along with a plain blurred background behind him. The edges of the character and his face are blurred as well to make it look as if he is coming from a blurry confused area.
Chosen idea:
I was going to do Idea 3 as I would be able to learn how to reflect objects in someone’s eye. However, I think that Idea 4 may be more effective as the character is walking alone. His face is blurred and the background behind him as if he is coming from a confused place. This fits with the song as the character in the end does not know what to do and he becomes a part of the black and white world of the singer. The image may look better in black and white instead of colour.
Planning- Magazine Advertisement (fig.16)
Idea 1:
A photograph of the guitar covered slightly by red fabric with the props scattered around the base of the guitar on a black background. The title will be in the top left hand corner and the description of the Video DVD will be underneath.
Idea 2:
Similar to Idea 2 of the digi pack which shows a gutter and the props falling down through the holes. The title is along the curb and the information about the Video/DVD will be at a slanted angle on the pavement slab.
Idea 3:
Like in idea 1 the guitar will be on red fabric. The props will be scattered around the guitar and a reflection of the character will be seen in the bottom of the guitar.
Chosen idea:
Idea 1 - It is not too overpowering and it is a lot more eye catching than the other two. The image will go round the writing.
