Final Digipak

I have now created my final Digipak for the band as one of my ancillary products. The following four pictures are pictures of exactly what I printed, all to scale. 

The following pictures depict what I did to create the CD case and its linear notes.

I folded the individual sheets for the linear notes along the spine, layed then in the correct place, to construct the right order. I then used spray mount to glue them together. I glued two halves together and then glued the front and back cover sheet onto the remaining two empty faces of the linear notes, to create the finished version. I then used a linear rotary cutter to cut off the excess paper. 

To create the final digipak, I followed a similar process, I backed both images onto a single piece of card, one picture on one side, the other on the opposing side. (I did not use card when sticking the linear notes, as it needed to be a booklet and not as thick and ridged as the Digipak.) Once the pictures were back on the card, I simply folded the edges and glued it together to create this final digipak.

To resolve the issue of the visable tabs, I was unable to find a perfect solution, but what I did worked to a much better standard than the previous version of my digipak. I cut the tabs a lot smaller, and glued them to one side of the sleeve so they were more hidden and discreet. 

Website Issues

I am having a few issues with my website that I can't seem to fix. The left image is of the website while I am in the editor mode and making changes. You can see that all the words lines up and fit the boxes they are backed on. However when I publish the website and view it as if I was a fan entering the site, this is what it looks like(the right hand picture). You can see that the font doesn't fit the boxes and has all moved about. I have tried multiple things to fix this issue, resizing the font, resizing the boxes, changing the font, but nothing seems to work.

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. 

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

Reviews of Zombie discovery scene

During my feedback session, they agreed that the scene where the band stopped playing to listen to the noise outside and investigate was a little awkward and clumsy. The felt like one of the reasons they felt this was because the music completely stopped for the whole scene until the drummer and base player open the door, which is very unconventional for a music video. I agreed that maybe the stop of music for the whole of the scene is unnecessary but it did need to stop at least once as the band stop playing to hear the noise. So what I did was stop the music but only for a few seconds, and ease it back in once the drummer and base player leave to see to the noise. 

Upon further consideration I thought one issue might also be that its just a static shot through the whole scene. In retrospect, it would be ideal if another camera angle of this scene, however turns out this was the only shot I had of the scene, so had to work with what I had.first three changes

As I said, original the shot was static with no change of angle or anything.

second/final change

So what I did was as the music stopped, cropped the image closer to the band, then do  jump cut further back to show a long stop of the band. In all honesty, I am not happy with the outcome of this section, but this is the best I can do at the moment, and will look into other ways of improving it.

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.

Band Photoshoot

Today I am photoshooting the band for images for their website and Digipak. 

I am performing the shoot in a local woods, taking conventions from existing rock band album covers such as Black Stone Cherry; Folklore And Superstition.

This band do however take themselves quite serious, which Black Syndicate do not. So the overall feel of the Photoshoot/digipack cover will not be as serious.





Although they are a pop band, Me First And The Gimmie Gimmies are a parody/cover band from America. Their whole characteristics and personality is similar of that of Black Syndicate;



The overall style of my work will be a combination of the styles of the two bands; Black Stone Cherry and Me First And The Gimmie Gimmies

When looking up digipak case I discovered a number of templates that you can download and use for your own personal use. The standard Digipak case has two sleeves to it, one to store the booklet, the other sleeve for the CD itself. However when researching templates I was unable to find a template with two sleeves, so will adapt a template with a single sleeve to be correct for two sleeves.

http://www.oasiscd.com/graphics/templates-digipak.asp

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.

First rough cut

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

I have recently finished my first rough cut of the music video to show to my media studies class, my band but also the focus group I have put together.

I will add the feedback I received in a following post.

There are issues I am aware off, one of them being that the colour of the footage changes from camera to camera. I don't mind that the quality is different, as I previously stated I feel like it makes it look more grungy. Its just that some of the clips have a different colour to them and have a green tint to them, which I need to either change or make all the other clips like that too. In addition I am aware that I want the whole thing to be a little darker as it would create more of a dystopian feel to the music video, which is the scene I wanted to set for a zombie apocalypse.

I will create a questionaire for my audience who I wont meet face to face to answer. Whereas for my media studies class I will ask them the questions and film their responses.

Here is the link to survery I created that I will give to the band and the focus group, with the questions I will ask my media studies group.

feedback from morrighan humpleby on Vimeo.

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

Below is a Emaze presentation I created analysing the answers that I got from my audiences.

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.

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.

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/

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.

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.

Demographics and Target Audience

We found a website online called YouGov Profiles, its a site that has gathered information from national census and other questionnaires to compile profiles for people. You have the ability to search a band or product or brand, and it will give you information on their age, where they live and social grade but also their lifestyle habits etc.

I searched bands similar to Black Syndicate to see what profile turns up.

As you can see the demographics are male, aged 25-39 and part of the C2DE category, which is correct to the information I gathered during my survey and the target audience I identified through personal experience of gigs and concerts of similar genres, but also what the band said they felt were their audience.

Questionnaire answers

After receiving answers from my questionnaire, I created an Emaze presentation to deconstruct and analysis' the answers I got.