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: