Digipak Remake

J Cole 4 Your Eyez Only DIGIPAK from Tom Cornock

Technique/Tool checklist
Magic Eraser
Magnetic Lasso
Noise Filter
Black and White Filter
Block/Brush Eraser
Da Font (Website download)
Paint Bucket
Opacity
Contrast
Blur
Eyedropper
Fill
Crop

Learning Comment

This task reminded me of how to use Photoshop efficiently. As we were remaking a cover, we had a slightly simpler task than our final product but it helped me consider which tools I can use and the capabilities of the program and my own ability. The most useful tool I found was the magic eraser and lasso tool, making editing images very fast but also accurate. Adjusting the tolerance helped improve the quality even further. Ever since first seeing the J Cole cover I had appreciated the style and the worn effect. This was very difficult to emulate as the images downloaded are often pristine as the need to be of high resolution. To combat this issue, for the first time I used filters which worked very well, something I will consider using when creating my own digipak. I feel that the images used are very basic and could have been improved. For example I could have changed the positioning of the character for a unique take on the remake. Another minor issue was the reliance on Google for images. Next time I create a Digipak I will find the materials myself (For example the scrap paper) so I can have more control of the final product. However, in the time we had to complete the task I believe that the product is more than reasonable. The website Da Font is incredibly useful, being available to choose from a variety of fonts, knowing that you have permission as they are uploaded by users without copyright. These fonts can directly be accessed from the programme which is another huge positive and advantage. Lastly, this experience on Photoshop has developed an understanding in the different conventions of genres, for example the rap digipaks often use worn stylistic features.

Creative Task One- Lip Sync

1st Cut- We decided to chose and well known song of a steady pace as it was our first attempt. The song 'Mr Brightside' was known by the majority of the group which made the task even simpler as it gave us more confidence in our ability to lip sync.

ISSUES-

After uploading the clip we noticed a variety of problems. While editing iMovie was lagging which may have helped these mistakes as the uploading files slowed down the software, something to take into consideration next time we edit. The first issue was the clips themselves. We found that we filmed from stationary positions which greatly affected the pace and added an awkward inconsistency. To stop this we need to start movements a few seconds earlier, which we did our best in iMovie but the issue is still notable. The most blatant issue was the timing of the visuals and music. They were out of sync. This completely ruined the clip and it was essential to change otherwise the production was going to be of a very low quality

Improved 2nd Cut-

Learning Comment-

This was our first attempt at ever lip syncing and we soon understood the difficulties of performing and editing the footage. We struggled initially to think of an idea and appropriate song but now see that planning a music video using a storyboard is needed for a good quality video. However, after taking editing we are happy with our first try I have targets to achieve next time we film and for our final product. The clip was filmed over a couple of days and missing certain people, which greatly restricted what we could do and may have affected the quality. For example, I will pick students that have more of an ability to lip sync and the confidence in front of a camera. I will also aim to take as much footage as possible as we noticed that some of our planned clips affected the lip syncing and maybe should try to work out the length of shots and passage of music we want to cover. As a group, we lacked the ability to perform well in front of a camera, hopefully this task will improve this. Lastly, next time will film we will try to edit on the beat of the music as it gives a more professional look and a real music video sound/look.

Task Two- Analysis of Music Websites

Codes and Conventions found-

• Social Media links- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc
• YouTube videos embedded from VEVO channel (especially mainstream genre)
• Albums/newest releases centrally placed on the site
• 4 Major music site/streaming service links (Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon)
• Two tone colour scheme used- often black and white for modern look
• Navigation Bar- Home. Shows, News, Music, Video (Larger Artists may have a merchandise store)
• Use of Hashtags on the home screen to promote new albums
• Sign In/Sign Up options for fans to receive newsletters
• Symmetrical structure
• Artist Logo/album font used throughout the page
• Record company copyrights
• Two part home page e.g. an advertisement to close and then the default page
• Slide show style for image variation or presenting the elements of site

Learning Comment

After completing the task, I now have a knowledge of the composition of webpages for music artists. I have noticed that their are a set amount of conventions used on a site such as social media links for users to explore further into the artists music or personal pages. The music itself is usually pivotal to the home page, with iTunes and Spotify the main sources of advertisement, alongside the store which sells the album. The varying style of sites often depend on the genre. For example, mainstream artists try to promote their bands image a lot more than alternative genres such as indie which seems to place a focus on the bands music more. The sites contain special features to keep each one engaging or offer further reading for those interested like Hashtags and moving images. There is a clear brand identity through the pages, with consistent colour schemes to the album covers etc, so recognition of these artists are simpler, increasing the likelihood of buying the product. My research has also helped me reach the conclusion that 'less is more'. Little text or columns of information are used on the homepage as it is not needed. There is slightly more information under specific pages such as news but the websites are hardly a wikipedia page. The purpose of the websites are to engage audiences, hence the variety displayed, so artists are shown as unique or with individuality.

Creative Task Two- 30 Cut Chorus

30 Shot Chorus from Tom Cornock on Vimeo.

The song used is Justin Bieber 'What do you mean'. Despite not being a fan of his music, our group believed that the instrumental of the song was at the correct pace to allow us to compress lots of shots in such a short sequence. It is also very repetitive and consistent throughout which gave us a chance to development our editing skills by beginning on a simpler song to incorporate with the visuals. 

Learning Comment-

The task enabled us to try 30 shots in almost as many seconds. We used previously learned techniques such as match on action and shot reverse shot in the clip to add pace and use a variety of angles at shorter lengths. A few minor issues found after editing such as a thumb covering the camera and the reflection on the car showing the camera man. The task furthered our knowledge of music videos, beside from lip syncing, as it shown the narrative side of a video which is often shown. We can now incorporate both elements of the video into a clip, which will be needed in our final product. The task has shown that to add professionalism to our video, we need to try and edit on the beat of the music. This may be challenging, but it will drastically improve the overall quality that this video may be lacking. To achieve this a detailed plan, including lengths of shots to fit the beat, will need to be used so we can shoot correct lengths. Overall, I think that the task was a success, working well with the song and even using a bit of lip syncing learnt from the previous task.


Here is the storyboard we tried to follow. Unfortunately, we slightly adapted due to conditions such as  filming in a public place which some of the shots would have been damaged by continuity. Therefore, we decided that to increase the quality of the video it would be better to avoid using parts the the proposed clip and focus on what would look best as a sequence. Next time I would consider using a shot list as it is easier to follow while shooting, as well as the duration of shots so we are more organised.

Task One- History Of Music Videos

The History Of Music Videos timeline.

The History Of Music Videos, a timeline made with Timetoast's free interactive timeline making software.

Click link above to view interactive timeline

Learning Comment-

This task has established an understanding of the development of music videos throughout the years. In the early years, music videos were known as 'talkies' or 'sounds', adding visuals to songs in a narrative fashion. This period extended from 1930s to 1950s, before full albums were made into an almost musicals, going through the album song by song. The past has shaped the importance of the videos today. For example, ever since bands like The Beatles first used the technique, it has become a crucial part of promoting music. Nowadays, it is a rarity for a single not to have a music video placed on the platform YouTube which has millions of users. This helps the industry spread the knowledge of music, also offering another form of consumption as some may be more engaged via a video. The significance of the music video is clear, with huge budgets being invested in a 3-5 minute clip such as Michael Jacksons 'Scream'. It has increased since the 1980s as music video channels like MTV air music videos all day long. I have further noticed that the quality and success of a song can depend on the video, with gangnam style reaching huge heights despite being a foreign language song. The multi purpose of a music video cannot be underestimated, as a form of promotion but expression also as the development in technology has lifted restrictions of what a music video can contain. When I make my video, I will take what I have learnt into account to make a modern and up to date styled video.