Evaluation Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms

and conventions of real media products?

Mise en sceneI chose to set my music video around the idea of an apocalypse. This meant both costume and most importantly colour had to be dark and gloomy throughout. My inspiration for this look came when I was watching the film “The Road” it has many lonely shots and I wanted to recreate that feeling of a kind of beauty in the desolation. The weather is a key element in this look, the grey skies really help to enforce the feeling of loneliness and depression. I wanted a melancholy feeling in the music video and with a sunny sky and the actors body language smiling it would’ve been too much, for the beginning at least. Colour correction was also used to darken the blacks and remove the whites to create a gloomier feel. A vignette was added in post-production the create a up close and personal feeling getting the audience involved with the characters loneliness.

CostumeThe costume for the lead actor was very dark and gloomy which helped convey the message for the rest of the music video. When the woman comes in later her clothes are slightly brighter giving a sense of hope. The costume also matches the melancholy attitude of the music, in a sense, with it being very dull and plain. “The Road” is a fine example of costumes shown to show someone's situation from a narrative standpoint and it was a basis for my music videos costume.

PropsThe only prop I used in the music video was a guitar. This was used as a narrative element to show to hope in the apocalypse. The actor knew how to play guitar so it makes it more authentic and it being the only prop helps to emphasise the loneliness and abandonment feelings I was going for.

Camera TechniquesThroughout the video no tripods were used because the free handed shakiness helped create a nice effect. I also used some focus in and out shots to give the impression the man was focusing his eyes in a POV shot and just as a nice transition. Establishing shots of just the man walking create a nice nuance for the video the be in. This is of depression and loneliness the key elements I wanted to push across.

Editing TechniquesThe cut pace in the video is very slow this is only for the reason that the song is a slower paced song. I wanted it to match the song because it gives a massive feeling of a dream and being reflective. In post-production I added colour correction which helped cement in the gloomy look of the video. I was lucky the sky was grey on the day because this also helped with the colour correction. A vignette was added to make the audience feel closer to the character and also push across that loneliness and desperation.

NarrativeThe narrative of the music video is about a man travelling alone looking for an answer. He searches a lot in the video and the fact he is in woodland enforces a feeling of him being lost. We see the shrubs, trees and puddles add to the gloomy feeling of the video. He travels around his world and finds a girl which shows you there is hope in the apocalypse. He then wakes up after kissing her so the audience are left with an enigma. Was this all a dream or has he just woken up with her next to him. This enforces the dream-like quality of the video and depressive nature of the song and action on the screen.

Most music videos will have a story, some more developed than others. But there are points in media where bands just have themselves performing and use that as a music video. It has come to the point in this day and age that bands spend a lot of money and time on their videos. This expands the possibility for more just narrative lead music videos.

PerformanceLip syncing and a story driven plot are used in the music video. There are not as many shots of lip syncing as I would like though and a bit more would help it stay further in line with the connotations of a music video. There are two types of lip syncing in music videos: one is where the actor addresses the camera and we are taken out the story and the other is where it is part of the action. Mine is the second.

ActingThe acting in the music video had to be convincing to push across the loneliness and desperation of the man. Also when the woman arrives we need to see the happiness and hope in each of their faces. It helped a lot both the actors were drama students.

In music videos most bands will play a part but some do just perform in them. For example in this music video “Why do you only call me when you’re high?” Alex Turner acts like a drunk man. Interestingly though the band who made the song I am using (JAMES) always play characters in their music videos.

RepresentationI wanted to keep my music video as close to the bands others without being samey. This is so it would be easily recognisable and the audience would feel at home with the video. The videos they have are serious and not very cheerful.

Target AudienceBecause the band are of the Alternate Rock genre their audience come in the age range of late teens to forties. The band formed in the 80s and that has had a massive impact on their audience. The actors are in their teens as well and this would hopefully bring a younger audience in. I tailored my music video to fit a large age range of audience because the serious plot will make the older ones think more creatively than early teens could. This basically puts a restriction on younger audiences coming to the video.

Digipak DesignThe main features of a digipak include:

Cover Artwork - This is usually the bands identity and something the audience will be able to relate to when thinking of the band. It also can be very abstract and artistic allowing artists to have fun with and really make a memorable cover.

Inside Artwork - Shows various pictures of the band and can have lyrics or just photos relating to the art style of the digipak.

Information - Some digipaks include a leaflet or information. This could be all of the albums song lyrics, interesting information about the band and more photos. Copyright information is also displayed on the back to let everyone know who owns the rights to the ablum.

My Digipak DesignI chose to use a four panel design for my digipak. The photos featured on my digipak are straight from the music video so it already ties the two products in with each other making a comfortable surrounding for the audience.

I have included the track list of all the songs on the album, record label logo and copyright information. A barcode is also featured giving the digipak a more professional finish and strongly supporting the conventions of a digipak.

The fonts I used on the digipak I downloaded from Dafont.com this was my main source for any text related graphics I needed.

Website inspirationThe main inspiration for my website design is the Arctic Monekys website. It is very slick and easy to read. Everything is right infront of you and the latest news and media is always displayed first on the Homepage. You can never get lost on the website and its direct style helps the audience navigate. The website is also in the art style of the band which is the main link I have between mine and this website. I strived to link all 3 of my products so they would work in synergy to promote the bands latest album and the band itself.

Website – HomepageOn my website home page I had a short welcome message and then went straight to the dates when JAMES was touring. This was because they had a tour at the time and that would be the most notable news. I also show their most recent images and give a hint to follow them on flickr a good social media website for sharing photos.

Website – HomepageBelow I show the music video and all the social media links you would expect to see. A spotify app link is also used here to play the bands music while you browse the site. An advert for the new album whose picture I used from my digipak is also there.

Website – Media PageThe media page shows all the bands pictures and the music video I made which is great advertising for the band. The social media links are also below so the audience is always reminded to stay in contact.

Website – About PageThis is the about page where I talk about when the band were first formed and some things that have happened in their lifespan. This includes their reforming and how many albums sold worldwide.

Website – Contact Us PageOn the contact us is the final time I show the social media links which are used to keep in contact with the band. I also link their official forums so fans and people interested in JAMES can join in the discussion.

Website – HeaderThe website header keeps with the constant art style of the music video and digipak. It is also very easy to navigate and doesn't render anyone confused.