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.