Creative Critical Reflection

Minor and Major Tasks Complete!

" Help Me" Music Video

Check out Nameless's website at: 

namelessds.weebly.com

Nameless Album Cover 

 Nameless Album (Back)

Insert Design

Wrapping Up!

I am excited to say that I am wrapping up my music production package. Both the website and Digipack have been finalized, and the music video and CCR are almost done as well. I will be completing some final edits and touches to both productions. I am excited to see what you guys think!

Day 2 of Shooting: Things to Consider

As Dani, Sophia and I embark on our second day of filming, I have created a list of a few things I would like to focus on to improve my production.

Camera Movement

Producers use camera movement to shape meaning in their productions. Camera movement brings life to music videos, and ensures that the audience will not get easily bored. Techniques such as pans and tilts are appealing to the eye and draw the viewer's attention. The following are some examples of common camera movements and how they can be used to shape meaning in music videos. .

A crane shot is often used to signify the end of a film or scene. The effect is achieved by the camera being put on a crane that can move upwards.

A dolly shot have the same effect. A dolly shot is mounted on a trolley in order to move with a subject.  This camera movement is used in a number of ways but is most commonly used to explore a setting, such as a restaurant. By using a dolly shot the composer of a music video gives the viewer a detailed tour of a situation. It can also be used to follow a character or actor within a piece.

Panning is used to give the viewer a panoramic view of a set or setting, in a horizontal plane. This can be used to establish a scene.

Tilts are used in order to illustrate a scene in a vertical plane. Tilts are commonly used to give an image of a full subject, and can also be used as a transition technique.

Lighting

Lighting is a very important aspect for shaping meaning in videos. It aids in creating a setting for a video, as well as setting the tone of the piece.

High key lighting techniques are usually used to illustrate happier times and tones in music videos. The brightness of the lighting symbolizes the positive events occurring.

Low key lighting is usually used to illustrate dark, and solemn events, and sets a more serious tone to a piece. Since the song “Help Me” is about a break up, I will be utilizing low key lighting techniques and dark colors within my piece.

Possible Digipak Cover Designs

This week I have been working with two artists on the digipak design for Nameless. Once again, the idea is to create something simple but symbolic of the new and upcoming band. The ukulele is the main instrument of the band, and brought Dani and Sophia together as artists. Here are a few sketches we came up with. 

Nameless Digipak Design

For the Nameless digipak design, I want to create something simple, but symbolic of the band. The artists will be presented in a sketch of both musicians in the left and right thirds, with a ukulele in the center third of the album cover in order to establish a connection between the musicians. The ukulele is key to the band’s image, since both musicians express themselves through this instrument. Seeing that the band is called Nameless, I want emphasize the fact that they are a new group who has yet to be significantly established. Therefore, the sketch will be basic and undeveloped.

Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” album cover illustrates the type of aesthetic that I am going for with this design. I will be working with an artist to create the design for the digipak cover, as well as for the inserts and CD design.

Purpose of Digipaks

Digipaks are used as packaging for CD covers. The front of the digipak is used to represent the artist, establishing an artist's image. It also reflects the genre of the music. The digipak is most likely to contain a theme and portray the artist in a certain way. It is important for the digipak to have synergy with its theme and the music. For example, if the digipak has a futuristic theme to it, then the lyrics would have to reflect the futuristic theme.

Importance of a Digipak

-Helps to promote the artist

-Extra outlet to make profit

-Visual image of the artist

-Useful for establishing artist genre

-Builds a fan base

-A momentum for fans to keep

Digipaks are somewhat different from regular CDs. Digipaks offer the buyer a little extra when the purchase them. They offer them more information that a regular CD case and can sometimes come with various extras like posters etc. They are also made to be more environmentally friendly compared to traditional plastic CD cases as they are now usually made out of recycled goods. Some manufacturers are now using recycled egg cartons and sugarcane to create a paper tray for the digipaks instead of a plastic tray, making the digipaks completely recycled.

The Nameless Nation

For any new and upcoming band, it is critical to establish a fan base in order to create a long term market. In order to create a fan base, you must define a target market. Knowing who your target market is will help you to collect information on what they like and what makes them tick. Nameless, for example, targets teens and young adults between the ages of 14-24.Once you understand your target market, start to talk like them, think like them, even act like them. It will help you to project a correct tone - a way of gaining trust. Then, identify which types of engagement are effective. Social media outlets are the most common, and convenient ways to communicate with your fans. Building a relationship takes time. a fan base will not come instantly. It is a growing game. Here's to the start of something new.... #NamelessNation

Music Video Progress

Dani, Sophia and I got together and began filming for the music video to the song “Help Me”. Although we still have some more things to shoot, I have began editing the first scene of the video. Before editing, however, I took the time to research common editing techniques used in narrative music videos.

Common Editing Techniques

Cutting to the Beat

When a music video changes shot according to the beat of the song, it helps to create the rhythm and pace of a song. This techniques creates a nice flow of the video.

Jump Cuts

A jump cut is an editing technique in which two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly if at all. This type of edit gives the effect of a passing of time, as if “jumping” forward into the future.

Cross Dissolve Transitions

Cross-Dissolve transitions represent the passage of time. This technique becomes especially useful when a music video is conveying a story.

Match Cut

A match cut is a cut from one shot to another where the two shots are matched by the action or subject and subject matter. This technique works wonders when transitioning from one scene of a video to an other.

Parallel Editing

This technique is used when illustrating two different events in two different settings occurring at the same time. Parallel editing aids in comparing, contrasting and demonstrating juxtaposition between two different scenes/events.

Visual Effects

Visual effects are a way of adding more of a narrative and can normally include more excitement within the piece. Common examples  of visual effects are animation and the use of a green screen. .

Website Design

Throughout the past week, I have been making a lot of progress on a website for Nameless. The website is definitely a key component of this project, as it encompasses important details about the band, including new music, news updates, an online merchandise store, tour information and ticket sales. The website connects every piece of the promotional campaign together and provides easy access to the band.

The Nameless website will discuss background on the band and how this group came to be. Fans can also earn more about the band’s first album, the track list and the group’s upcoming summer tour. I am in the process of designing a band logo, which will be displayed on t-shirts and hoodies offered for purchase on the band’s online store. Fans also have the opportunity to join the Nameless Nation, the band’s official fan base. These elements are crucial in reaching the ultimate goal of connecting the band and their fans, establishing a relationship between the two.

Here's a sneak peek of a few things I have included within the website:

Picture Perfect

One of the most important elements of a promotional campaign is the band's image. Earlier this week, Dani, Sophia and I met up at my house to practice and record the song "Help Me", which they will be performing in their first music video. Nameless gave me an understanding of how they wanted to portray their image.

A key aspect of the pop indie band's image is the ukulele, the instrument that both musicians began to first play. Sophia and Dani's soft, sweet, crystalline sound work to portray their lively and charming personalities. I decided to take Dani and Sophia on their first photo shoot. Here's a sneak peak!

Story Boarding is Complete!

I am glad to say that I have completed the story boards for my music video! The video will illustrate a narrative, discussing two people who just got out of a relationship and how they are dealing with it. Each character will be shown in two different locations when illustrating the present. The video will also encompass flashbacks, where the characters will reminisce on the good times, and eventually the bad times of their relationship. 

At the beginning of the video, each character is "lost with no direction". The video will take place in two different settings. Dani will be trying to find his way out of the woods where he use to go on nature walks with Sophia. Sophia was the only one who knew the land like the back of her hand, but since Dani no longer has Sophia by his side, he is lost. The video will then cut to Sophia, driving with no particular destination in sight. It is as if she is trying to get away from all of her problems, and the sadness the ending of their relationship has brought her. As the video continues, it will cut back and forth between Dani and Sophia, and characters will continue to reflect on their relationship and how they cope with their loss. 

And the Planning Process Begins...

Hey guys! Now that I have found the music group and chose the song that I will be promoting, it is time to begin the planning process for the music video. Before the story boarding begins, it is important to know common shots, angles, and composition used within music videos.

Establishing Shots

Many music videos incorporate establishing shots at the beginning of their videos in order to emphasize the location of the video. One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful” video begins with establishing shots of the beach.

Close-Ups

Close up shots usually illustrate a strong visual impact on the audience. Close up shots focus on details within the frame. This technique is commonly used to emphasize a person’s emotions, illustrated through their facial expressions and actions.

Long Shots

A long shot is a view of a scene that is shot from a  distance, so that people appear as indistinct shapes. This is most commonly used to illustrate setting, or to make subject seem small in comparison to the surroundings.

Two Shots

A two shot illustrates two distinct subjects, usually one right next to the other. There is usually a balance in the composition, presenting the subjects in the left and right thirds.

Low Angles

Low angles give the impression of the subject possessing strength and dominance through filming the subject from below.

High Angles

When a high angle is used, the camera is angled downward towards the subject, illustrating the subject from above. This angle technique is used to convey the subject as weak or fragile, making them appear less powerful, less significant and or even submissive.

Song Choice: "Help Me"

Below I have attached a link to my personal soundcloud, where you will find me singing an original song I wrote called "Help Me", a track discussing the emotional roller coaster caused by heartbreak after a break up. I hope you like it!

 https://soundcloud.com/user-978390300/help-me

Nameless

I am very excited to say that I will be branding and promoting the new and upcoming group, Nameless, for my final project. Group members Dani Cooke and Sophia Gott will be recording an original song I wrote called “Help Me”, a piece that discusses the effects of a breakup and the emotional turmoil it can cause. The pop indie band’s soft, mellow tone is perfect for performing this poignant song. I will also be creating an official website for this band, social media,and a digipak design for this promotional campaign.

The band and I will be meeting tomorrow to discuss their ideas for the website, including the design, logo, and information displayed on the site, and a merchandise store. We will also discuss the the music video and digipack design. I’m very excited to see what comes next. Stay tuned!

Common Distribution Practices of Music/ Music Videos

Distribution practices are important to consider when creating a music video. It is also crucial to understand the audience of each platform in order to distribute a music video on the proper distribution service.

YouTube

YouTube is one of the most popular mediums for music video distribution. Not only are these videos available on the YouTube website and app, YouTube also runs a video-on-demand service on the Sony PlayStation and Android devices. The site allows users create their own channels, allowing them to upload, view, rate, share, and add videos to favorites. Users can also report and comment on videos, and subscribe to other channels. YouTube has a huge audience, reaching 81.2 percent of Internet users in the U.S. The website is most popular with 18 to 24 year-olds.

Apple Music



Apple Music is a music-streaming service, developed by Apple Inc. Users select music to stream to their device on-demand, or they can listen to existing, curated playlists.

iTunes

iTunes give users the ability to purchase and download music, music videos, television shows, audio books, podcasts, movies, and even conducts movie rentals in some countries, available on all Apple products. iTunes is targeted towards all audiences.

SoundCloud

The online audio distribution platform headquartered in Berlin, Germany, allows its users to upload, record, promote, and share their originally-created sounds. SoundCloud's is not just specifically for music. Users can upload a variety of sounds, including music, podcasts, sound effects, and even folley tracks. This platform is popularly used by young aspiring artists.

Spotify

Spotify is an online streaming service that offers digital rights management-protected content from record labels and media companies to users. Basic features are free with advertisements, while additional features, including improved streaming quality and offline music downloads, are offered via paid subscriptions. Spotify allows users to download music, create personal playlists, and listen to song and mood based radio. 

MTV

When the MTV television network was first created, the channel originally aired music videos as guided by television personalities known as "video jockeys”. However, since music videos can now be easily viewed through mobile devices, the popularity of this network began to decline. MTV has shifted its content to comedy, reality and drama productions. Although the shift was drastic, the network does still show some music videos in between television shows.

Pandora

Pandora Internet Radio is a music streaming and automated music recommendation service powered by the Music Genome Project. The service is operated by Pandora Media, Inc., and can be used in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Listeners can listen to radios based on specific songs, albums, and artists.

It is Important to Think About the Following When Creating a Music Video

-Representation (age, class, gender, religion, etc.)

-Location (setting of video, very important when working with narrative)

-Narrative (plot/ story line of video)

-Performance (choreography, band, set, etc.)

-Style (performance, narrative, parody, etc.)

-Genre of music (pop, indie, alternative, hip hop, etc.)

-Musician’s Image (physical and emotional aspects)

-Shots and Angles

-Composition and Movement

-Misc en Scene (lighting, costume design, set design, etc.)

-Color Scheme (depending on tone of song, ex: dark colors --> sadness, bright/warm colors --> love, happiness)

-Editing ( based on pacing of song)

The Significance of Music

Music fuels the mind and our creativity. With this creative mind, humans have the ability to make discoveries and create innovations.The art form transcends all boundaries of communication by allowing people to speak and share stories with others around the world, even if they don’t speak the same language. It is the only medium that has been around since the beginning of time, and continues to grow and change as time goes on. Music benefits humanity in a number of ways, described in the list below.

• Expression of feelings- Music is a way for one to relate his or her own feelings to the experiences of others. This is an outlet for people to express themselves through the writing of music as well.

• Affects mood- Music can alter one’s state of mind just by listening to a certain song or type of music. 

• Escape from reality- Music can be used as a stress reliever. Many use it as an escape from the real world. 

• Entertainment- Music can be used as a form of entertainment. This brings a sense of excitement to life. 

• Motivation- Music can cause you to be proactive and give you motivation and energy. For instance, music can be used to inspire you at the gym.

• Morality- Music has underlying messages that may give you new perspectives on different ideas.

• Diversity- Music is listened to everywhere in the world by almost everyone. It can be considered as an universal form of communication.

The Importance of Research

Before the production process can occur, copious research must be done in order to create the finest product possible. Today I will begin my research on music videos, including their purpose, and production styles.  


What is the Purpose of a Music Video? Music videos are a way of promoting a certain artist or band in various ways using different styles and techniques to make them interesting and original. The goal of these videos is to increase the popularity of an artist and to further establish their brand. Music videos are also another source of income for these artists. A music video can also be used to reach larger audiences, such as the hit Korean Pop song Gangnam Style, well known for the popular dance, and for being the most viewed video on YouTube.
Popular Music Video Styles
The style of music videos depend greatly on the genre they are created for.
Narrative music videos follow a story line that is usually conveyed through the lyrics of a song or illustrated as an extended metaphor for the song’s underlying message. A linear narrative illustrate a story with a distinct begin, middle and end. Some artists choose a fragmented story line, which does not possess these elements, but depicts the lyrics of the song. Synergy is where a music video is made alongside another product, such as a film. Adele singing the theme song for the film Skyfall is an example of synergy.
Producer strategies allow a music producer wants to change the image of an artist. Miley Cyrus surprised her audience with her music video "Wrecking Ball", changing her image from a sweet, innocent young girl to a promiscuous independent woman.

Performance videos focus mainly on the artist or band performing either on their own or in front of an audience. The video is dependent on a collection of camera angles and movements of the band members rather than following a story line. Performance style music videos are common among the pop and rock genres. The music video for "That's What I Like" by Bruno Mars shows the artist continuously performing the song from primarily one shot as he sings and dances. The graphics bring movement to the video and even some narrative elements too.

A music video can also incorporate a combination of elements. Many artists choose to include both performance and narrative within their productions. Radiohead's music video for "Just" includes both of these elements.

Parody music videos work to mock other productions, usually including comical and absurd elements. Blink 182’s “All the Small Things” music video parodies many of the cliche boy band groups of the time, such as NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

Artistic expansion allows an artist to get creative with their video, and add an aesthetic to their piece. For example, Gotye’s music video for  “Somebody That I Use To Know” is well known for its unique design.