Tuesday, 1 December 2009
CD Case Design
On the inner left of the sleeve, I placed a slit to hold a free copy of the promotional poster (above)
EVALUATION: Task 1
1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products ?
I'd say my product goes pretty far out of the realms of normal products. For starters, the name of the collective who made the track - Fukkk Offf. I dont understand the choice of name, it's probably for controversy and therefore recognition, just like a band called "Fuckbuttons" or "Tits n Clits" - neither are good... They're managed by Coco Machete (Sean Holland) and this track (more than friends) has incorporated various artists from the label, allowing them to publicise the DJ, the rapper and the singer via any promotions made (posters, magazine articles, web banners, pop ups, music vids, etc.)
I'd say my product goes pretty far out of the realms of normal products. For starters, the name of the collective who made the track - Fukkk Offf. I dont understand the choice of name, it's probably for controversy and therefore recognition, just like a band called "Fuckbuttons" or "Tits n Clits" - neither are good... They're managed by Coco Machete (Sean Holland) and this track (more than friends) has incorporated various artists from the label, allowing them to publicise the DJ, the rapper and the singer via any promotions made (posters, magazine articles, web banners, pop ups, music vids, etc.)
It challenges the idea of using personally filmed footage by using footage taken from youtube and royalty free websites - this could be a good example of "bricolage", the concept within post-modernism were you utilize the things around you exactly in your product while keeping originality e.g. the modern Psycho shot by shot remake of Alfred Hitchcock's version, OR, Alien Versus Predator's mimicked shots/scenes from both films. My bricolage uses the fact that the things around me were Youtube videos.
This form of mash-up video was inspired by Daniel Swan, a video editor/artist who only uses footage from Youtube, trawling through for ages to find aesthetically suitable bits of footage:
You can see, he has taken highly generic footage of someone filming out the window of their car on a high exposure (making the sky white), keying the sky out and then finding footage of space which he has stuck rotation on for the background. It's created a simple illusion of a spinning planet - It was a very big inspiration for me.
You can see, he has taken highly generic footage of someone filming out the window of their car on a high exposure (making the sky white), keying the sky out and then finding footage of space which he has stuck rotation on for the background. It's created a simple illusion of a spinning planet - It was a very big inspiration for me.
I developed this mash-up technique by using far more footage, some of which I filmed myself and had rendered on 3D software for me (the spinning planet and me walking). It was mostly sourced from suitable clips though. A video post I posted before this one of The Proxy's "8000" video has a practically identical idea, but instead of internet sourced footage, they'd used archive sourced footage, from Russia.
My Digipack did'nt push anything in terms of boundaries. It was just a simple sleeve holding a CD and poster with simple imagery. My inspiration came from other promo packs I've had before from Mixmag, Q and Mojo - produced cheaply but neatly, attracting mainly with words and imagery rather than dynamics. Besides, dynamics cost a lot of money to produce in large numbers. Realistically, for a label this size, simplicity would be ideal, price wise and aesthetically - not coming across too fancy for an audience demographic typically attracted to simplicity and DIY/"vintage" designs.
The Magazine and Poster add follow the same code as the Digipack. They keep themselves simply made. I'd have them gloss printed for a little poshness. But really, magazine pages and posters almost always done this way, it'd just add to the official-ness rather than having look like ink jet prints.
They both keep the triangle imagery consistent with the rest of the digipack, making a uniform look for the whole range, again harnessing an overall LOOK for the promo, attracting as much of it's electronica crazed demographic as possible.
My inspirations for the poster were all created by simply analyzing the posts Pete put up on the blog dashboard.
My Digipack V Another:
VS
VS
Note the similar triangle imagery, suiting the genre.
Evaluation Task 1: 9 Frames
(FROM RIGHT TO LEFT):
1. a shot that shows a link between lyrics and/or music and visuals:
The Lyrics say: "In the club, shakin' shakin'. I decided to link the imagery with this by inserting footage of old-school 1990's acid house ravers as they suit the scene of the music and demographi. It also just fitted perfectly, creating an apocalyptic rave theme like the world is ending and everyone is celebrating their last seconds on earth - come to think of it, maybe this is how we'll end on 2012.
2. a shot that typifies the way a record company would want their artist to be represented:
I thought this shot would identify the label as a geek-sheek, indy, electro, retro-mad collective (which they are) by showing this kid in glasses going crazy to the beat - a similar example would be:
The kids in this video (of the same genre and scene) are all just as speccy and nerdy.
3. a shot that illustrates how your video uses music genre:
1. a shot that shows a link between lyrics and/or music and visuals:
The Lyrics say: "In the club, shakin' shakin'. I decided to link the imagery with this by inserting footage of old-school 1990's acid house ravers as they suit the scene of the music and demographi. It also just fitted perfectly, creating an apocalyptic rave theme like the world is ending and everyone is celebrating their last seconds on earth - come to think of it, maybe this is how we'll end on 2012.
2. a shot that typifies the way a record company would want their artist to be represented:
I thought this shot would identify the label as a geek-sheek, indy, electro, retro-mad collective (which they are) by showing this kid in glasses going crazy to the beat - a similar example would be:
The kids in this video (of the same genre and scene) are all just as speccy and nerdy.
3. a shot that illustrates how your video uses music genre:
The 3rd image work in a similar way to the first, using acid house dancers and artwork to demonstrate the genre. The reason is because nowadays, unlike older electro music inspired by 1980's synths is now going for 1990's instead (drum loops/samples/art work and more).
4. a shot that shows an intertextual reference:
The Intertextual reference is from Romain Gavras' video for The Last Shadow Puppets' "Age of the Understatement" Video, demonstrating a dystopic soviet russia - I turned it slightly to a dystopic planet, because the walking has destroyed so much and the armies need to retaliate.
5. a shot that demonstrates your use of camera:
Not many shots (created by myself) have much camera work - for the scenes with me green screened, I just had a static, tripod mounted camera.
6. a shot that demonstrates your use of lighting:
The Shots in in the clubs and the sparks n explosions were all used instead of strobes - the clubs had dancers which synced to the beat. The explosion flourishewd across the screen for transitions when solid cutting would'nt do.
7. a shot that demonstrates your use of mise-en-scene:
My mise-en-scene is simply the world constantly being destroyed, both by the giant and the people trying to retaliate with nukes against him. I wanted the youth of the planet to be celebrating their fates by raving in a club, being blown up in the process. Overall, the apocalyptic themes were inspired by the viral concept of judgment day on 2012.
8/9. Two shots which you feel demonstrate something which shows you have watched other music videos:
I have inspirations from Godzilla and Beastie Boys when it comes to the stepping/giant business. Armageddon, 2012 and old disaster movies gave me the inspirations for the tidal waves n volcanoes - they all feature a lot of pyro to create nice transitions.
Evaluation Task 1: Others 9 Frames
(FROM RIGHT TO LEFT):
1. a shot that shows a link between lyrics and/or music and visuals:
In this video for Coldplay's "The Scientist", I found that I challenged Lip-syching by not using it all, instead I wanted to generate the same effct via explosions and linking imagery (when she raps about the club).
2. a shot that typifies the way a record company would want their artist to be represented:
This shot is from a video by The Bloody Beetroots called "Cornelius" and shows the artists, at their decks, with lighting and with their fans, showing off imagery and intended demographics. I challenged and developed this by just keeping FUKKK OFFF's demographic as their representation... Eventually being blown up in an ironic/cool way.
3. a shot that illustrates how your video uses music genre:
1. a shot that shows a link between lyrics and/or music and visuals:
In this video for Coldplay's "The Scientist", I found that I challenged Lip-syching by not using it all, instead I wanted to generate the same effct via explosions and linking imagery (when she raps about the club).
2. a shot that typifies the way a record company would want their artist to be represented:
This shot is from a video by The Bloody Beetroots called "Cornelius" and shows the artists, at their decks, with lighting and with their fans, showing off imagery and intended demographics. I challenged and developed this by just keeping FUKKK OFFF's demographic as their representation... Eventually being blown up in an ironic/cool way.
3. a shot that illustrates how your video uses music genre:
Again, I used the same Bloody Beetroots video posted earlier, this shot features the album manager, wearing a t-shirt with one of his bands names printed across it (Boys Noize) who are in the same genre and have the same fanbase as Bloody Beetroots. My vid has taken inspiration from this by using the club invironment supposedly for a set by my artist - it's more subtle but I think just as effective.
4. a shot that shows an intertextual reference:
The Last Shadow Puppets' "Age of the Understatement" Video, demonstraties a dystopic soviet russia - I turned it into a dystopic planet for my vid, because the walking has destroyed so much and the armies need to retaliate.
5. a shot that demonstrates your use of camera:
Pens' vid "High in the Cinema" is a static shot against greenscreen. It inspired me to use a static shot of myself walking - nothing special really, just to have some divbersity, mixing static and moving.
6. a shot that demonstrates your use of lighting:
Simian Mobile Disco made a vid called "Synthesise" which was filmed in a warehouse using projectors agaist brick walls for imagery - this flickering, jittering graphic imagery inspired my use of sparks and explosions to highlight beats.
7. a shot that demonstrates your use of mise-en-scene:
Beastie Boys vid "Intergalactic" had a similr feel of robots, giant creatures, fleeing pedestrians and armies - It had a big inspiration on my work, i just made it a lot darker.
8/9. This clip was from youtube, demonstarting the end of the world via asteroid impact:
Evaluation task 3: Audience Feedback
3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?
a. rough cut- class feedback and teacher feedback:
My class feedback was all positive, no ngatives were raised (by the students that is). Everyone laved the pace and editing - after I explained the subtle story and reference they seemed to like it more - I realised I should have put more emphasis on this throughout the film as I should'nt have had to explain it afterwards.
b. near finished version- Junction feedback:
The teachers and other adults at Junction all liked it a lot too but realised the hold up with stock footage, giving me trouble as found footage dosn't show of your camera shooting skills... This could be a problem with examination depending on how they look at it. I'd just like to argue that even though the footage WAS mostly found, I DID edit how it looked entirely, often layering many shots over each other to create cool effects like tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, marching armies - the stuff without many effects were ALL taken from royalty free websites without any illegalities. Explosion footage was from free explosion websites. If you think about it, the angles chosen from stock footage emulate my intentional but impossible camera angles I would've used in real life - It was ALL story boarded like that and when angles didnt fit nicely I'd look until I found ones that did.
c. feedback on your digipack roughs
I had only a little feedback on my digipack roughs as I already knew exactly how to do my imagery and design so it fits nicely with the rest of the themes. Instead of feedback, I had like a running commentary from Nick and Pete, advising as I go along for ideas like actual package design instead of just imagery.
d. final version of everything- facebook feedback
My Facebook feedback was all good - everyone who saw it said how much they liked it - this is probably because they didnt know the criteria it is going to be marked for like the teachers. They didnt know that the source footage was a tough thing to mark. I suppose I should've given them the criterias, that way I'd have a broader response than "WOW THIS IS AMAZING" and "lol cool".
Facebook feedback:
The question was: "Hi guys. this is a new vid i created in the CMDiploma I'm taking - it's meant to be like an apocalyptic, early 1990's disaster/rave film... feel me? anyway, watch this and give me your feedback - just let me know what you like (or don't). Your replies are vital to make my evaluation. THANKS! x
BTW stick to awnswering these questions:
In what ways does my video remind you of other music videos?
What do you think are the strengths of my music video?
What do you think are the weaknesses?"
Their feedback wasn't at all enlightening (LAZY teens) - I mean at least they got the story but honestly, they didnt awnswer my questions at all which didnt help, all I can do is know they liked it. It was the Junction feedback next up that gives me the most intel...
Junction Feedback:
The guys at the Junction just wanted more explosions which was fine - I agreed, besides they hide poor walking loops well. When I did use more though, as I was rushed for time, they didnt look as neat as they could - hopefully I'll be able to rework them a little in my spare time...
I also applied a warming video filter to add an overall overtone of heat - making very different coloured source footage merge together more naturally. If I had more time I would've applied more colour corrections to give a more monotonous feel.
(BEFORE + AFTER):
Story-board Info:
My storyboard is very different to my actual film, you can see an animatic with shots from my storyboard posted earlier on the blog. I abandoned many of the shots used because when putting it together my moods changed for the theme - the animatic was positiv, jokey - I thought of it more as a comedy thing. When I actually began it was like that, but further in, a darker mood evolved, featuring the lightning and weaponry a lot more... The comedic values I suppose returned when the clubbing shots came in. But to be honest even that apocalyptic rave was pretty dark in itself, especially when the dancers are effectively blown into the next shot via explosions.
a. rough cut- class feedback and teacher feedback:
My class feedback was all positive, no ngatives were raised (by the students that is). Everyone laved the pace and editing - after I explained the subtle story and reference they seemed to like it more - I realised I should have put more emphasis on this throughout the film as I should'nt have had to explain it afterwards.
b. near finished version- Junction feedback:
The teachers and other adults at Junction all liked it a lot too but realised the hold up with stock footage, giving me trouble as found footage dosn't show of your camera shooting skills... This could be a problem with examination depending on how they look at it. I'd just like to argue that even though the footage WAS mostly found, I DID edit how it looked entirely, often layering many shots over each other to create cool effects like tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, marching armies - the stuff without many effects were ALL taken from royalty free websites without any illegalities. Explosion footage was from free explosion websites. If you think about it, the angles chosen from stock footage emulate my intentional but impossible camera angles I would've used in real life - It was ALL story boarded like that and when angles didnt fit nicely I'd look until I found ones that did.
c. feedback on your digipack roughs
I had only a little feedback on my digipack roughs as I already knew exactly how to do my imagery and design so it fits nicely with the rest of the themes. Instead of feedback, I had like a running commentary from Nick and Pete, advising as I go along for ideas like actual package design instead of just imagery.
d. final version of everything- facebook feedback
My Facebook feedback was all good - everyone who saw it said how much they liked it - this is probably because they didnt know the criteria it is going to be marked for like the teachers. They didnt know that the source footage was a tough thing to mark. I suppose I should've given them the criterias, that way I'd have a broader response than "WOW THIS IS AMAZING" and "lol cool".
Facebook feedback:
The question was: "Hi guys. this is a new vid i created in the CMDiploma I'm taking - it's meant to be like an apocalyptic, early 1990's disaster/rave film... feel me? anyway, watch this and give me your feedback - just let me know what you like (or don't). Your replies are vital to make my evaluation. THANKS! x
BTW stick to awnswering these questions:
In what ways does my video remind you of other music videos?
What do you think are the strengths of my music video?
What do you think are the weaknesses?"
Their feedback wasn't at all enlightening (LAZY teens) - I mean at least they got the story but honestly, they didnt awnswer my questions at all which didnt help, all I can do is know they liked it. It was the Junction feedback next up that gives me the most intel...
Junction Feedback:
The guys at the Junction just wanted more explosions which was fine - I agreed, besides they hide poor walking loops well. When I did use more though, as I was rushed for time, they didnt look as neat as they could - hopefully I'll be able to rework them a little in my spare time...
I also applied a warming video filter to add an overall overtone of heat - making very different coloured source footage merge together more naturally. If I had more time I would've applied more colour corrections to give a more monotonous feel.
(BEFORE + AFTER):
Story-board Info:
My storyboard is very different to my actual film, you can see an animatic with shots from my storyboard posted earlier on the blog. I abandoned many of the shots used because when putting it together my moods changed for the theme - the animatic was positiv, jokey - I thought of it more as a comedy thing. When I actually began it was like that, but further in, a darker mood evolved, featuring the lightning and weaponry a lot more... The comedic values I suppose returned when the clubbing shots came in. But to be honest even that apocalyptic rave was pretty dark in itself, especially when the dancers are effectively blown into the next shot via explosions.
Evaluation Task 4: How I Used New Media Tech.
4.How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
Annotation of the image:
-Sony HD Cam: Versatile HDV camera - adjustable exposures and framerates as well as long battery life and many add ons (wide lens, etc). This peice of kit proved very useful but considering the majority of my vid is stock footage, I probably could've made it look just as good without real film... That would cause loss of marks though.
-Advanced Studio Lighting: Absolutely neccasary for lighting a green screen and character for that matter - very handy for additional effects too (strobing, pulsing, etc) although I did'nt use those.
-Green Screen: Vital again for "keying" myself of the background to apply special effect in the back and foreground. Very easy to use too (if the lighting works well of course. Mine was'nt perfect - would've used additional lights).
-Sketching Pencils + Pad: Needed to make storyboard and therefor animatic. Also important for concept art and rough designs for digipack.
-Macbook: Main peice of editing hardware for me. I borrowed this for the whole holiday and literally didnt stop working with it - great help being able to borrow. Seemingly impressive edit speeds for such a tiny thing - sounds like it's gonna take off when rendering though s-:
-Image G5: Used this mainly for colour keying my final cut of the video. They're extremely powerful and I kinda wished I could've somehow used them instead of the Macbooks. Unfortunately the whole film in Final Cut was stored on the Macbook and transferring would've been disastrous as if footage was lost or destroyed, 2 whole weeks of my life would have gone with it.
-Final Cut: Only editing software I used - semi-pro kit with dynamic effects and transitions. Easily allows creation of excellent scenes, allowing your imaginations to literally happen before you.
-Detonation Films: Royalty free explosion stock footage.
-Facebook: My way of getting feedback and researching inspirational practicioner's uploaded video.
-Myspace: Used similarly to Facebook exept only for research, not feedback.
-Vimeo: Uploaded final video to vimeo because copyright music infringement dos'nt apply, allowing me to put my music vid up without sound being muted out. It also has superior HD and a more artistic, comment freindly crowd.
-Youtube: Used purely for ripping footage off and clumping it into others - allowed me to create scenes that were brand new and unrecognisable to the original - copyright no longer an issue..
-Keepvid: The site used to convert Youtube FLV video files to MPEG4. Very efficient and quick.
-Blogger: Researched classmates work and vital for these pages.
-Safari: Browser used at home for searching videos and downloading their source codes.
-Firefox: Browser used at college - only one on the systems.
-Creative Cow: Excellent video making tutorial guide website - shows tutorials for editing, filming and sound design as well as special effects in prod. or post-prod.
Annotation of the image:
-Sony HD Cam: Versatile HDV camera - adjustable exposures and framerates as well as long battery life and many add ons (wide lens, etc). This peice of kit proved very useful but considering the majority of my vid is stock footage, I probably could've made it look just as good without real film... That would cause loss of marks though.
-Advanced Studio Lighting: Absolutely neccasary for lighting a green screen and character for that matter - very handy for additional effects too (strobing, pulsing, etc) although I did'nt use those.
-Green Screen: Vital again for "keying" myself of the background to apply special effect in the back and foreground. Very easy to use too (if the lighting works well of course. Mine was'nt perfect - would've used additional lights).
-Sketching Pencils + Pad: Needed to make storyboard and therefor animatic. Also important for concept art and rough designs for digipack.
-Macbook: Main peice of editing hardware for me. I borrowed this for the whole holiday and literally didnt stop working with it - great help being able to borrow. Seemingly impressive edit speeds for such a tiny thing - sounds like it's gonna take off when rendering though s-:
-Image G5: Used this mainly for colour keying my final cut of the video. They're extremely powerful and I kinda wished I could've somehow used them instead of the Macbooks. Unfortunately the whole film in Final Cut was stored on the Macbook and transferring would've been disastrous as if footage was lost or destroyed, 2 whole weeks of my life would have gone with it.
-Final Cut: Only editing software I used - semi-pro kit with dynamic effects and transitions. Easily allows creation of excellent scenes, allowing your imaginations to literally happen before you.
-Detonation Films: Royalty free explosion stock footage.
-Facebook: My way of getting feedback and researching inspirational practicioner's uploaded video.
-Myspace: Used similarly to Facebook exept only for research, not feedback.
-Vimeo: Uploaded final video to vimeo because copyright music infringement dos'nt apply, allowing me to put my music vid up without sound being muted out. It also has superior HD and a more artistic, comment freindly crowd.
-Youtube: Used purely for ripping footage off and clumping it into others - allowed me to create scenes that were brand new and unrecognisable to the original - copyright no longer an issue..
-Keepvid: The site used to convert Youtube FLV video files to MPEG4. Very efficient and quick.
-Blogger: Researched classmates work and vital for these pages.
-Safari: Browser used at home for searching videos and downloading their source codes.
-Firefox: Browser used at college - only one on the systems.
-Creative Cow: Excellent video making tutorial guide website - shows tutorials for editing, filming and sound design as well as special effects in prod. or post-prod.
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