Fonts

I had to consider the fonts for my website and Digipak very carefully. I wanted the font to follow the style of music, hard, grundgy, and rock feel to it. But I needed to be legible to read. I needed a font for the website titles, body text, and then font for the song titles and lyrics in the linear notes and finally a font for the track list. But I also wanted the products to have a link between them and work continuity wise, so wanted to use two or three fonts across the products.

Knife Fight was a font that really took my eye from the start of researching fonts. It looked ideal for a title

Album Cover Requirements

http://www.entertainerlaw.com/pdf/albumnotes_101.pdf

What to include on my CD case and Booklet from Morrighan Humpleby

When considering the product of my digipak I thought back to GCSE graphics where I produced my own cd case. Looking back at it, it looked very basic in terms of what was included on the front and back of the cd. This was due to how little there was. It just didn't include all the things you see on a normal cd case. So this was something I knew I needed to look into to create an effective and aesthetically pleasing, realistic digipak.  I did some research online into the conventional things included on a CD case. I came across a PDF document with a long list of all the things you must/should include and how to write and place them. This PDF proved to be very helpful. So I converted the document into a Powepoint for ease of use and followed that when creating the information on my digipak. 

Website Development

When I inserted the picture into the website, although I thought I had saved it as a transparent picture with no background, it still saved in a white box, so I needed to fix it. So I did some research online to try and find out how to save it transparent. 

http://www.webdesign.org/photoshop/photoshop-basics/saving-a-file-with-transparent-background.6877.html

Following the simple instructions that I found online, I saved the image and uploaded it to my website.  However this time it was in a blue boxed background.

Upon investigating the issue I came across the 'Change Style' box for the photograph, it was selected on no frame but I also tried the 'Default' box and this removed the blue box and created the transparent background. 

CD case mock up

I have recently made
my small mock up of
the CD case I intend
to make.

I was originally making the digipack net I had found online, but while making it I realised that it wasn't the shape that I wanted so I kind of bodged it and made it how I thought it would be made. It did eventually create the shape I was hoping for.

 Below is the net that I created by cutting extra tabs off the net allowing me to create pockets where I wanted them. I then cut the center spine part of the CD case off and stuck it down, creating two flaps to the side

Initial Final Version

Following my colour correction edits on my product, I have recently finished what I see as my first final version of the footage. I have posted a link to my Instagram and added a link on my Facebook asking them to watch the film and fill in my questionnaire of feedback incase there were things about the production they didn't like or felt that needed to be improved.

My initial final version;

morrighan media first final rough cut from morrighan humpleby on Vimeo.


https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7HK578P

Studio/Production/Distribution Logo- Conventional?

Throughout the time of editing my production I have been toying between whether to put these logos into the video, I was just unsure as to whether this was conventional or not. So I decided to do some research into whether is was conventional or not.Using Vimeo as my platform I search a vary of songs, but focused mainly on the music videos in a similar convention to my own client. I searched lots of videos for lots of artists and only came across a few who mentioned any legalities or companies. Two being Biffy Clyro and Slipknot. And even then it wasn't an image just a company name and who the rights are reserved too, 

So for my own work I decided to add a fade out to a black screen with just a line that says 'all rights reserved by Phantascope Studios'. I felt like it was important for the copy right symbol to before the All rights reserved as this is convention and I believe legality if all rights reserved is stated.  To the left is a web page discussion I found on how to insert a copy right symbol into final cut. And below is me inserting the symbol. 














As I said I decided to add a fade into the end of the product, but to make it more interesting, I made the text appear in the last few seconds of the video and it stays on screen as the music video fades to black it stays on the screen. I feel like this made the production look more professional and ends it nicely.

Following my research, I have come to the conclusion that there is sometimes the Studio logo, but not the other logos as these aren't particularly conventional.

Website conventions

I found a Prezi made by another media studies student, about the conventions of a website. Its the conventions shown in this presentation that I must conform to in my final website. Some of which I have already met with my website.

I have recently developed the website further towards the final site. I have inserted all the key points on the website in place, with some basic detail and finish.

I have filled all the links in the 'connect with us' section with their pages, added their music from soundcloud on the right.

I have recently asked the band for information on new tours and news, but they only have one tour coming up which I added to the Dates section, I made up some news to add to the Lastest News section for now. I wanted to create some form of enigma for the audience to keep checking on the band, so added the mystery event on the 10th April.

Style of work

In terms of the style behind the Digipak and Website they said they wanted a particular style, a style like the band Black Stone Cherry; http://www.blackstonecherry.com/

The style of their website is very dark but simple and easy to navigate and follow around the site. I will keep the navigation and appearance of the site very simple too. However they did express that they wanted it to be a little more interactive, so will have links to videos rather than just a play button for the songs. On the home page there will be the more recently videos/songs, latest news and contact details.

The CD will be inspired by that of Black Stone Cherry's Folklore And Superstition album, based in a wood, with no form of special effects or anything. The font will be basic and not 'perfect' looking. I am looking at getting the member of the band to write it in their own hand writing to make it more personal to the band. The back would have the track list written on it, so would get the band members to write that too.

I will keep the template of the digipak simple and traditional. If you look at exciting digipaks from heavy metal/rock bands, their CD cases aren't overly complicated, but stay traditional.

Focus Group

I have recently spoke to my band to see if they have close contact with a few of their fans that they feel would be good for a focus group. They have explained they know a few people that they feel would be happy to submit feedback on the music video and its ancillary products. The band will give me contact details for these people.

Intertextuality

My plot and style for my music video has heavy influences from a range of sources, from bands to films. I have researched and explained these influences and intertexual references in the Prezi below.

Final Location

After deciding that the B2 wouldn't be the best location due to the actors availability, my availability and the B2's availability. So after my friend speaking to his mum about possibly using the scout house in Frettenham, she let me know that it was okay for me to use it. I just needed to tell her roughly when we would be needing the location and she informed the owner  of the farm when I would be using it. I told her between 2-4/5pm as that would take me roughly into dawn to make it darker.

My shift at work on Saturday 20th has now been switched so I'm working on the Monday instead. On the 19th we have a half day so I can stay at my friends as he lives near the scout hut to get things ready.

My next step is to create a Facebook page inviting all the people that said they would be actors for the Zombies and invite other people as well to hopefully get more people. Because it is in Frettenham it could be difficult for some people to get there so I will need more people just incase.

Above is the description I put on the facebook event, inviting people to come to the shoot.

The final location for the shoot was the Scout Hut in Frettenham, this location was almost perfect but did present some difficulties as there were things we could not move or change, such as the drawings on the walls and the posters made by the children and the bench along the back of the hut. So when filming I must to be careful not to include these things in the footage too much. It shouldn't be too hard to keep the bench out of the shot, however it will be more difficult to keep them out of the shot. 

Classification

From October 2014 the new implication of age restrictions on music videos will be set in place and begin. In August David Cameron announced plans to add age restrictions music videos "to help parents protect their children from some of the graphic content in online music videos". However there is some conflicted views as to whether this idea will work or not. Ella On The Run is one artist who has two views to the issue, she explains that the understands why they want to put age restrictions on music videos, as there are many over sexual and violent images that children of particular ages shouldn't see. However she also has concerns that if a restriction is put in place then certain artists will make videos much more sexualised and explicit and just put a higher age rating on it, just because they can. 

The artist FKA Twigs said 'I think that the answer to protecting younger viewers is not to ban things, it's to show an alternative.' He does present a fair argument that we no longer live in Victorian Britain, should we still be having children grow up with an elephant in the room, with anything sexual or graphic hidden behind close doors. Some people argue that it's worse to act like sex and violence is something bad and something we shouldn't discuss, as it then becomes something young people aim to try or see purely because its restricted. 

There is another side to the argument as the majority of record labels are already part of the BPI's parental advisory scheme, so is there any need for the a age restriction on videos. 

They seem to be focusing more on graphic violent content rather than content of a sexual nature to start with; “If it contains racist, or homophobic, or other types of discriminatory content it will now for the first time have to be classified. If it contains suicide or self harm, it will for the first time have to be classified. So the music industry is doing is looking at that level, and linking that to when they will submit content to us."

There is already filter in terms of the Parental Advisory Explicit Content label, however it this isn't a enforces filter, just a suggestion that the parents listen to the music before the child, to ensure it is suitable in the parents eyes. A child of any age can still buy it without an adult present though.


Following a sruvey in 2013 of 10,000 people about the classification laws there was one issue that arose strongly; 'A specific issue highlighted by the consultation is in relation to sexual content, where the public is particularly concerned about the sexualisation of girls, and pornography.  The content of music videos and the ease of accessibility of online porn are special worries.' hence this has become something the BBFC want to tackle. 

Its videos such as Nicki Minaj- Anaconda:  Nicki Minaj - "Anaconda" from > on Vimeo.
(http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2014/10/nicki-minaj-doesnt-get-all-the-talk-about-her-racy-anaconda-video/) That create such complaints. 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/29423817
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/10584304/Age-ratings-for-music-videos-Kids-this-Miley-Cyrus-music-video-isnt-for-you.-The-British-Board-of-Film-Classification-says-so.html
http://parental-advisory.co.uk/advice-for-parents/why-are-certain-songs-or-videos-labelled-explicit/
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-bbfc/media-centre/bbfc-launch-new-classification-guidelines
http://www.factmag.com/2014/01/13/british-board-of-film-classification-working-on-age-rating-for-music-videos/

Filming

Something I will need to consider is the time at which I film the video. I needs to be dark, but as I learnt last year the time I choose to film has to be planned very rigorously, last year we had an issue with the quality of the filming ruined due to how dark the it was when we filmed. This year it should be a little bit better as I will be filming with a camera or better quality but I still need to be careful as to how and when to film.

Todays date is the 30th of December and I intend to film within the next two weeks. Today I checked the sunset times in Norwich;

As you can see the sunsets at 3:44pm, school finishes at 3:25 so if I were to film after school I would be cutting the filming very, very fine as I would have to get all the actors dressed up and with all there make up, set all the cameras up etc. Which probably wouldn't happen, as I will also have to film it before the sunsets as it will be dark and have the same problem as last years filming. However, on Friday December 19th, it is the end of term at school and we have a half day so finish the day at 1:15. This would then give me time to get the actors to the location, do their make up then sort the cameras and lighting out. This means that I could make sure all the actors know what they are doing for the filming outside atleast, then start filming, hopefully before 3:44, so around 3 ideal.

December 21st is the shortest day of the year so the sun will set later and later from that date onwards meaning I can film later as it will get dark later and later.

.

Cinematography

Cinematography nadine from nadine_sccb

Above is a slideshare explaining the principals of cinematography, which is something that will be important for my product even though it does have a parody, comedy theme to it. The use a long shot to start the video will help to establish how empty and alone the characters are in their location. There will also be long shots when the camera views the bushes outside, as it forces the audience to physically look for the noise and the distruption, whereas a close up on the mystery thing in the bushes would simple focus the audience to see it straight away. By making the audience look for it then it ruins the tension the audience feels. The use of close ups to show the confusion, pain, fear and upset of the members faces when encountered by the zombies.

Narrative Structure

The music video will follow a linear narrative, as there is no flash backs, but follows the film in chronological order from start to finish.

However the narrative doesn't follow a narrative code as simply as its follows the linear narrative. The closes code it follows is that of Todorov's enigma code.
Tzevtan Todorov:
He believes that the point of narratives is to solve a problem, and that characters pass through many stages, and all the events caused through these stages unfold chronologically. He also believes that the narratives follow the 'Equilibrium, disruption, resolution to equilibrium' rule. 

There will be slightly disrupted equilibrium at the start of the video due to the radio station and empty surrounds, however this equilibrium will then be completely disrupted when the zombies enter the building and begin to attack and kill the members of the band. There is technically a resolution to equilibrium, but not a conventional one. The members all become zombies and play a concert as zombies, to the zombies that killed them. If it were to be a conventional resolution to equilibrium then the members of the band would have killed the zombies and saved the world from them taking over the world. 

Horror Film Conventions

I have previously mention that I would like the music video to have that 'trashy', conventional horror film feel too it, with all the key buzz lines that are used in all horror films, to help set the scene of the parody, none serious feel to my video.Below is a Slideshare I found explaining that the codes and conventions of horror films.

Horror Genre Conventions from CallumCarmichael

You can see the conventional location for horror films are quiet, excluded abandoned areas of isolation, where no one would hear the characters scream. I do intend to film my music video in a very quiet excluded place as previously stated.

In terms of the low and high camera angles I intend to use them, but mainly mixed in with he POT t camera angles. I will use these shots when giving the feel of seeing the band from the audiences eyes looking at the zombies and visa verse, particularly when the zombies a killing two of the band members. I will not be using the high and low angle shots in the penultimate scene, when the last band member is hiding up high, as the zombies will be looking up at the member, making them look like the weaker characters, however they will be the more powerful characters as they ultimately win, and kill the whole band.

The lighting will represent the whole feel of the location and theme to the music video, it will be low lit and have a dystopian feel to it. If I do decide to film in the pub they normally play in, there are stage lights that we might have access to to help create the right lighting.

There wont really be any conventional props, as the weapons will be the bands musical instruments and like most zombies, they wont have any weapons themselves.

The opening to the film 'Scream' has all the sterotypical conventions of a horror film in terms of everything I previous discussed but also convention lines and buzz dialogue.

Although the narrative of the film is very different to that of what my music video will be, you can see the clear conventions in this opening scheme.



The scene is set very clearly, a teenage girl home alone, a weird guy stalking her and shots like the gas cooker lighting to create tension with the audience, and creates a risky environment, leaving the audience ready for the character to die or get injured. There is a lot of silence in the opening scene, and when there is music, it is tension building string instruments which again builds that tension. After the door bell rings and the character shouts who is there, the stalker on the phone even says, 'you should never say whose there, dont you watch scary movies, its a death wish.  you might as well come out here to investigate a strange noise or something', they are drawing attention to the conventions of horror films. Conventions my film will follow. The memeber of the band does go out to investigate what the noise is, and ask, whose there? so meeting those conventions in such an obvious way it makes it parody-like.

Planning the music video

I recently put together a rough planned list of what I want to happen in the music video. Following the opinions of what the band requests of being cheesy and follow the conventional lines of horror films to set the scene. 

I am very keen on the idea of the radio situation, with the announcement but the member having headphones in so wont hear it. So I will need to also record a radio announcement to then add as non-diegetic sound later in the post editing process. I will also need to record the band professionally in a studio or use a recording they have to add over the record and implied diegetic sound as when recording the music video, I will be directing over the top of the band playing. 

Equipment Update

I have recently bought a new £700 camera, that also has a filming function on it. It is a 20.2 mega pixel camera, with the ability to film in full HD 1080p quality.

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_SLR/EOS_70D/

When it comes to filming my product the main camera I use will be with my own camera due to the high quality. I can also attach a microphone to make the audio quality better. http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Video-Shotgun-Microphone-Pentax/dp/B003TTMFM0
However this isn't massively necessary as I will probably remove the sound from the footage and add the song in later, as they quality won't be perfect, but I will also been directing and probably talking over the filming of the footage.

When I bought the camera it also came with two lens adapters to add to the end; a telephone adapter and a wide angle lens adapter. The wide angle lens is used a lot in music videos, particularly heavy rock or punk music videos where the singer often leads close into the camera.

As you can see from the screenshots of Blink 182's music video First Date. You can see if also adds a small level of distortion to the image, it gives it almost a slight fish eye effect to the video; which is also an effect I can achieve built into my camera. 

The standard shooting setting on my camera gives and image that looks like this, you can see it isn't distorted at all.     

As I said, my camera comes with a fish eye setting and this is a photograph taken on the weakest level of fish eye. As you can see there is some level of distortion but not a huge amount, just has a slight bend on the walls if you look closely. 

The is the camera set to medium fish eye. As you can see it is much stronger and has a fairly high level of distortion. 

The is the camera on the highest fish eye setting and you can see it has a really high level of distortion to the image.

I also got a wide angle lens adapter for my camera. When it is zoomed in the distortion isn't that high, similar to that of the fish eye setting on the lowest setting- there is only a small bend on the edge of the walls and door frames. 

You can see when the camera is zoomed out the distortion is much stronger and adds a kind of fish eye effect to the view. But does also result in a vignette effect over the photograph. 

Catch up with Band

I have recently been considering the style of video I want for my music video, and whether I want it to be serious or more of a glam rock parody. I felt like it was important to ask the band what they wanted, but knowing their personalities I knew what they would say.

I was correct in my thinking that they would want more of a parody, glam rock styled video. Videos from artists such as Alice Cooper, Steel Panther, Slade, Queen, and The Darkness etc. All the members of the band are often very silly, and mess around all the time. In terms of directing, if I decided to make my work a parody it makes easy in some ways to direct as they will need to be silly to some extent.

Animatic

A good way to consider and plan and visualise films is to create an animatic. In year 10 we did a unit in Media Studies where we planned a music video so created an animatic.


VTS_01_1 by morrighanrocks

As you can see it does demonstrate what my intentions for the music video have been very clear in the animatic. Although it doesn't show all the detail in terms of camera angles and lighting etc. But I could have then develop my animatic later to show these details.

Once I consider the story to my music video more, I will create a story board that I then animate later to show the story of my footage better.