Wednesday 4 May 2011



I decided to advertise for a tour that Kate Rusby is actually doing. I got all my information off. WWW.KATERUSBY.COM. I used the same themes as I did in my music video and used ideas and knowledge from the print media analysis I did at the start of the project.
Iv included things such as;
Dates
Times
Venues
Websites
Box-office phone numbers 

CD Cover





This is my CD cover for the back and front, i looked at numerous styles and decided to stick with a natural look incorporating the singer in the same outfit as in the music video, to show a link between the two. studying other CD covers has helped me to create my own using all the techniques i have learnt. 

Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or change forma and conventions of real media products?
My media product is a combination of music video CD cover and back and tour advert. I researched into my genre and looked at the different codes and conventions used in similar products. I then sued these cods and conventions and manipulated them to suit my product.
I looked at things such as CD covers for similar and different artists also advertisements in magazines. I picked out conventions such and featuring the artist within the storyline and used the idea in my own work. I think this adds a emotional attachment to the video and the story within the lyrics.
I looked at music videos such as The Script – For The First Time that had the story acted out by non band members. I think the video represented a sound track to a film rather than a music video. However this song is similar to my song choice as it has a solid story line. Compared to videos such as Rhiannah – Only Girl In The world were the lyrics don’t tell a story in the same way, the music video for this song was focused on the artist and because she was acting it made the song feel more emotional and powerful to an audience. I wanted to combine these two conventions in my own work so that I my music video was telling a story but powerful and moving. I think by having the artist acting the song it helped portray the story in a powerful way.
A convention I studied but rejected from my product was having the whole music video focused on one person. I used a variety of characters breaking up the focus on the singer with shots of a violin player, and the use of the notepad. I think this was effective as it broke the music video up and gave it structure.
An example of a convention that developed during the process of creating my media product was the use of a notepad and still photo images. At the start of my project my idea was to just use the notepad to open the video and close it. However after filming and beginning to edit my video I decided to use more of the notepad to send messages to the audience making the feelings of the young girl more apparent. I then also came up with the idea of using photos that symbolized the journey of the young girl. This convention developed and became a valuable part of my media production.
My ancillary products follow similar conventions we see on the market today. I used the singer wearing the same outfit and using natural scenery keeping all the same themes as in the video as my image for the advert and CD cover. I think this is effective as it links all three together to form a whole production. It also means that audience members can see one product and know exactly what the other products are and what they are about. Artists such as Katy Perry have used the same ideas, using her California dreams video and the image she portrays using candy and a wonderland style costume and set and transferring it to her tour and album.

How effective is the combination of your main products and ancillary texts?
I started by researching into similar products and transferred the ideas I saw into my own work. I also did research into what my target audience wanted to see. I found that a natural vintage look was very popular in today’s society and that helped me a lot with creating my ancillary products.
The folk genre is very natural and traditional; I wanted to reflect this within the image of my products. I wanted to show the audience that folk music is a dying tradition. The idea of combining the vintage ethnical look of today and the natural tradition of folk music fitted together perfectly.
I believe that is could help raise awareness for folk music and that my ancillary products will bring the image of today’s society and traditional folk music together.
I believe the combination of my music video and ancillary products is effective. The image and style of the CD cover and advertisements reflects perfectly to the themes and conventions within the music video.
From an audiences point of view the ancillary products are interesting and unusual. However they do relate to the fashion and style we see today so will catch an audience’s eye.
The fact that my products all links together is also effective as it leads an audience from one product to another.

How did you use new media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?

Through the whole production I have used numerous new media technologies from the very start of my production I have relied on computers and the internet for Research and planning. Using You Tube to analyze similar products and Google images to search and analyze album covers and advertisements.
Blogger the whole journey of my production has been recorded using a blog. 
It also helped me look at my project as a whole to see my progress.
I used web links from my blog to music videos on You Tube. And I also transferred photos from the internet too my blog.
The filming process relied on technologies as I used a hand held camera to film my whole music video. I also used a still camera to take photos of location ect..
Whilst researching into my target audience I used email to contact and question people that I knew would give valuable answers but weren’t accessible to meet face to face.
I also used new computer soft ware such as I movie, and final cut to edit the whole of my music video. I also used Photoshop and fireworks to edit and manipulate my images and create my ancillary products.
What have you learnt from your audience feedback?
I have personally learnt that feedback from an audience should always be taken with a positive attitude. Constructive criticism is a huge part of learning and improving and it has helped me through the whole process of creating a media production. Working on my own has been a challenge as I have had to go off my own judgment and have not had a second opinion an any of my work, therefore my audience feedback has helped me improve my product a lot giving me fresh ideas and improvements through my whole production.
I gained feedback by doing questionnaires and emailing people with ideas to see what they thought and how I could improve. I started by asking people about what they want to see in my video and I then went on to try and meet the requests made. Once my production was finished I asked numerous people what they thought and I could improve and adjust my project to suit. http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNWjK3FLoP4_LwCLhWobLCOoVKxgqqa72lXL0vydfGZ5-4lIpYzghttp://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNWjK3FLoP4_LwCLhWobLCOoVKxgqqa72lXL0vydfGZ5-4lIpYzg

DATES AND PLANS




Costume.

Iv decided to go for a natural vintage look with all of my costumes using clothing that is recognizable to a younger crowd. 


i decided to have the singer wearing white to show innocence and purity. however i want a slight hint of red in the lips and hair to show a dangerous side. this will be the same through the whole video.

during the camber scene the costumes will be casual vintage such as checked shirts.

Props 

Camera
Tripod 
Acoustic guitar 
Bed 
Black box
Violin 
Notepad 
Pen 
Photographs. 





Shot List

·         Opening close up on notepad – spelling out Kate Rusby Cobblers Daughter
·         Introduce band – mid length shot of violin player
·         Mid length shot of singer
·         Flipped mid length shot of the singer
·         Photos
·         Close up of notepad – smiley face
·         Long shot of violin player
·         High angle close up of singer
·         Photos
·         Mid length shot of hands on the bed
·         Close up of boy kissing the girl on the cheek
·         Close up of the girl screaming
·         Shot reverse shot
·         Mid length of boy and girl together
·         Shot reverse shot
·         Photos
·         Long shot of singer
·         Low angle of the violin player
·         High angle of singer
·         Close up of notepad
·         360 degree shot of violin player
·         Extreme  close up of singers lips
·         I80 degree shot of singer
·         Photos
·         Close up of note pad – The End

Story board


My video will open with a close up of a note pad and the words Kate Rusby Cobblers Daughter will appear. I will then have establishing shots to show the audience the band, this will consist of mid length shots of the violin player and the singer
I will then add in photos of my mum. This will reflect upon the story within my lyrics as the photos resemble the stages within the story. I will also use a close up of the notepad and it will show a smiley face. This will help the audience understand the emotional situation the young girl is in. it will also adds a edgy theme to the video.
It will then change into a bedroom scene was we see the boy and girl holding hands and laughing together. He then kisses her on the cheek and she screams.
I will then add more photos this time of my mum and dad together this will show the journey that the young girl in the story is going through. It will then go to another close up of the notepad but this time has a confused face. This will indicate to the audience the young girl’s feelings.
I will then go back to the singer and violin player using a variety of different shots to add variety to the video.
The video will end with a close up of the notepad saying THE END. 

Video Ideas

my initial idea was to have the story within the lyrics acted out with costume location etc all in an old fashioned style. however after researching and analyzing my questionnaire results i decided that it needed to be split up and add a modern twist. 


i have decided to use some old photos of my mum and dad to symbolize different stages within the story. i carefully chose the photos and looked at the composition. i want the images to reflect life today but with a vintage twist


iv decided to use writing and drawing within my video. i think this will break up the video and differentiate between the story and the singer.  
I then decided that the video will have more emotion if the singer telling the story was the character within the story.


i originally wanted the scene were the handsome young man gets killed to be acted out. however with the resources we have it would be impossible to look real on camera. i then decided that i could used the large frosted windows of the dance studio to create the action in shadows. However this did not work as the action looked to fake and i decided that it should be cut.

Lyrics

I am a cobbler's daughter
I'm thought of rude and mean
But a finer and a bonnier lass
You have never seen
I've plagued my father's head
For my life I wouldn't wed
And my mother's in the prison cause of me

There was a handsome young man
Who used to live near me
If I went out, if I went in
He'd always follow me
I'll never rue the day
It happened as I say
I took him to my chamber room to see

I took him to my chamber
So we could be alone
And knowing that my mother
And my father were at home
He kissed me on the cheek
And I screamed till I was weak
My father came a running to the door

He's jumped upon the young man
As I was standing by
But he brought his fist behind his head
And thumped him in the eye
Then my mother heard the din
Up the stairs she did begin
With a broom for a weapon she held high

Out ran the young man
To the stairs straightway
But my mother she was waiting
Like a raging bull I'd say
She's hit him on the head
The young man fell like lead
Quite dead upon the floor he lay

I am a cobbler's daughter
I'm thought of rude and mean
But a finer and a bonnier lass
You have never seen
I've plagued my father's head
For my life I wouldn't wed
And my mother's in the prison cause of me

Charachters

Rosie Rushton 






Rosie is a family friend that i have know since i can remember. she is very reliable and has amazing skills on the violin. however she is at university so inst as flexible as i would like. 
















Jack Bloor 


Jack is one of my close friends. hes a great actor and is easy going. i chose him because hes very reliable and fits in with the image i would like.






















Gwendoline Pritchard. 




I decided that using myself in the video will allow me to get it just right as i can picture and deliver exactly what i want myself. it also means i have not got to chase around after an actor and can stick to dates and times i have set myself. 

Location ideas

Cheddleton Flint mill 


This is the perfect location for portraying the story within my song. 
i like the idea of setting the music video in a traditional setting using old buildings. however the flint mill is closed to the public during the winter and getting in touch with the key holder proved to be very difficult and then after finally getting in touch the hours that the mill could be opened were not suitable for me.








Westwood college Drama Studio


i wanted to show the artist singing the song and playing along. the drama studio is a perfect location for this as its all black. This will allow all the focus to be on the artist and the story that is being told. its also a large open space so it will allow me to do things such as 180 shots etc. its also very easy to book and use as its within the college.




The lyrics of the song tell a story so therefore a lot of the scenes are already set for me.
My bedroom will be used for scenes that involve the two characters being in a chamber room. 





Target Audience 


i have decided that i am going to target my media product at an open audience. the nature of folk music allow's  people of all ages to enjoy, however i have decided to add a modern twist to try and get a younger audience interested in folk music. I also want to appeal to teenagers there is a huge demand for vintage and retro products, this is reflected in the clothing and fashion we see on the streets today. http://www.topshop.com it also fits in very well with the fact that folk music is traditional and passed through generations.
While researching into the folk genre I did a short questionnaire. I asked numerous people from different social groups, and of mixed ages to fill out the questionnaire

Questionnaire template;

Age?

Gender?
  
Do you personally enjoy listening to folk music? Explain your answer

What do you expect to see in a folk music video? Explain your answer

Do you think folk music as a lost tradition? Explain your answer

Do you think we will see folk music in the charts in the future? Explain your answer.



My results were very helpful in understanding how people felt about folk music. I found that a lot of the younger generation were unaware of folk music and unsure about what it is and what it represents. This made me think about ways that I could use my media product, to encourage younger children to listen and enjoy traditional folk music. I also noticed that different social groups within the youth culture looked at folk music in different ways. the 'Indie crowd' enjoyed listening to folk music and had an understanding of the lyrics and stories behind the songs, were as the 'Chavs' were not interested and did not understand the meaning of folk music.
The majority of the questionnaire results came back with very similar answers for the question 'What do you expect to see in a folk music video?'. people want to see a very natural acoustic video, concentrating on the lyrics to the song and the story that it is telling. 

from doing the questionnaire i have got a clear insight into what people want and expect from folk music. it has also helped with decision making and ideas for my final media product.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Folk Genre


Folk music originated in the 19th century, has been passed on in numerous ways such as, passing by mouth through family's this was common in lower classes. and as music with unknown composers. most people , refer to this type of music as traditional music.
Since the 20th century, folk has also been used to describe a
kind of popular music that evolved from traditional music This
type of folk music also includes fusion genres such as folk 
rock, electric folk, folk metal, progressive folk,freak folk and
neofolk
Throughout history, listening to recorded music was not
possible, at this point in history work was very manual. Music was made by common people during both their work and
leisure. manual labor often included singing by the workers, 
which served several practical purposes. It reduced the 
boredom of repetitive tasks, it kept the rhythm 
folk music, folk song,
and folk dance are 
recent expressions.they originate from 
Folk Lore.in 1846 the
English antiquarian
William Thoms to describe 


 "The traditions, customs, and superstitions of the uncultured classes"


Initial ideas

From the very start of the project i had a song in mind for my media production. 
i wanted to use a song that was easy for me to relate to and something that i personally enjoy listening too. this has allowed me to understand the song and know what happens within the song. 
I chose Kate Rusby - The cobblers Daughter
Its a song iv grown up singing with my family at folk festivals. The song tells the journey of a young girl who promises her mother and father that she would not fall in love and get married. However she falls in love with a handsome young man. as most traditional folk music the story ends badly, with the young man being killed her mother in prison and the young girl lives a lonely life.
I have looked at and analysed numerous Cd covers




Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad; Reloaded. 
I think this is a very simple yet effective cover. your eyes get drawn first to the unusual angle of the artist, the angles and lines withing her position lead the viewers eye across the whole cover. the unusual angles will also grab and audiences attention interesting them into buying the product. 
The use of mise-en-scene has been related back to the title of the album 'Good Girl Gone Bad'. We see the artist in a white dress symboling innocence 'Good girl', However the use of lighting on the skintight dress leaves a dark shadow on the artists back symbolizing a dark side. We see the same  technique used in the face as one side is natural and the other side is covered by her thick black hair. 'Gone Bad'
i believe the use of color to be very effective within this cover, the white of the dress is broken up by the bold red ( symbolizing danger) writing these are two symbolically opposite colors and relates back to the title of the CD. it has all been placed on a green/blue background i think this is to make the red of the title stand out more as they are contrasting colors.


Mumford & Son's - 
Sigh No More


I think the content of the album cover reflects the title of the album in an unusual way. 
its a bright happy image using colors such as white that reflects light and catches your eye
the composition of the image is simple using the rule of thirds, this is to focus the center of the image on the band. the image contains many different lines using them to create interesting angles. The album cover reflects more upon the type of band rather than the content of the music, its aimed at a certain audience. from looking at the album cover we can see that its not going to contain upbeat electro dance music, the image is too pure and individual. mise en scene was used effectively to make the image a lot more interesting if you take a closer look, things such as the positioning of the instruments and the band also the sheep in the next shop window, this is an effective way of drawing in audience members.





Analysis of print media

Blood Red Shoes

I have been looking and analyzing an advertisement for Blood Red Shoes in a NME magazine. It uses a black background and white bold writing this catches the readers eye easily. The layout of the advertisement is very simple. It has the Bands title ‘Blood Red Shoes’ in big letters at the top, then followed by the album cover image this gives the audience an idea and incite into the band it suggests to me that they are more rock than pop because of the bold masculine statement they are making with the use of colors and image. The advert then goes on to tell us the album name, this s to sell the album and hopefully encourage the readers and listeners to then go on to buy tickets for the tour. The tour dates and venues are listed at the bottom of the advert alongside the website for the band. The language used through the advertisement is simple and bold. It doesn’t want to bore the audience with little bits of detail, this use of language can say a lot about the band because it is helping to create an image to the people who look at the advertisement but have never heard of the band. I think that the advertisement fits into the convention of rock as is it is bold and in your face.


Marina & The Dimonds

The advertisement for the I AM NOT A ROBOT single is very simple and doesn’t really fit into any genre conventions. It had a blue/grey background witch is a soft colour suggesting the band isn’t hardcore rock and roll. The name of the band is in bold white letters the use of colours and layout is very eyecatching and stands out of the page drawing the readers attention right to it.  The image used is unusual it is of the lead singer upside down. This sets an interesting theme to the band and will make the reader want to find out more. The advertsement isn’t very informatic this might have something to do with the fact that the band has a high status and a lot of peoplr have alredy heard of them and the advertisement is just to promote the new single. 

Sunday 1 May 2011

I have looked at numerous music videos and analysed them looking at how the camerawork, editing, sound, mise-en-scene, narrative, representations, conventions are used and what effects they have on the audience.







Laura Marling – New Romantic
Laura marling is an up and coming folk artist she has released numerous albums but is yet to make it to the main charts. She has a different style to the pop stars we see in the charts today, and this reflects in her Music. The lyrics to the song are telling us a story about how she’s in love with a man but cant live up to the new romantic ways, she taught she was doing everything right but its all ended up wrong, however she will never be able to love another man because 'love and pain go hand in hand'
I have looked at the mise-en-scene of the music video, it is set in a large white empty tiled room, which reflects the innocence and purity of the song, and her voice. It also reflects on her innocence within the character,as she is empty she has lost love and will never find it again. The story is portrayed through shadows on the wall, that back up what the singer is singing I think that this is effective because it puts what the singer is singing into context.The main focus of the music video is the singer who is sat on a chair in the middle of the room playing her guitar. The editing within the music video is slow pace, using close ups to show the emotion and feeling in the singers face and body. A 360 degrees shot is also used to circle the singer in the room to draw the focus right in to the singer in the middle. She is dressed in casual clothes and her hair tied up with not much make up on, this shows the audience the characters style and shows that she’s not trying to be anyone but herself buts sometimes just being yourself isn’t good enough. The fact that she’s dressed this way also suggests to the audience, that the singer is actually the character within the story of the lyrics, this is different from the normal conventions for this type of music video, as we normally see snippets of the singer/band playing, and then actors acting out the story within the lyrics. The fact that the singer is portraying the character strengthens the sound, it brings a greater connection between the singer and the audience because, the singer is feeling the emotions of the character, and this shows in her voice. The whole song is performed on an accustic guitar this is plain and simple and allows the audience to focus on the words and story within the song.



The Script – For The First Time


From researching different genres, I would say that this song fits into the conventions of the pop/rock genre. The song is about two people that are madly in love but going through some rough times and they are finding it very hard to cope. The video opens with narrative; this tells me that the song/video is going to tell a story. The girl we first see is portrayed as being very vulnerable, I know this because of the mise-en-scene, as she is lying in a white bed in a very bright white room, the white is to symbolise her innocence. Also she is in tears witch shows she is unstable, and writing to her parents back home this tells us that she is lost. The first shots we see of the band are in black and white this is to distract us from the narrative and show that they aren’t part of it, they are the story tellers. The editing through the video is fast pase, there is constant cutting between the band the featured girl and the boy, this adds to the temp of the song, and keeps the audience on edge. However the short clips we do see are easy for the audience to relate to as they show the couple doing things together like normal couples do. I think the video sends out a really strong message to its audience through the video, and it is that everyone has ups and downs but don’t give up!