Photo Shoot Chosen Location (Original Images)

For the photographs which will be featured on the front cover and inside sleeve of our CD digipak, after discussing with the other members in my group, we would like to use an outdoor environment for the location of the photographs, specifically so we can use either a fence or a brick wall as our backdrop. Below are images of the two possible locations we would like to use:

CD Digipak Photo Shoot Location 1

CD Digipak Photo Shoot Location 2

We have chose these as the locations for our photo shoot, as they will allow us to create the candid style photos we are hoping to achieve, in order to allow us to relate to our target audience, who may identify themselves with the images that appear like every day ordinary photographs. These plain and block coloured backgrounds, will also contrast with the busy and bright use of colour, allowing us to enhance the personnel and props used within the images and allowing them to stand out. This is necessary, as we want to draw as much attention to the personnel and props as possible to emphasise the shocking behaviour. 

Magazine Advertisement Flat Plan

Before we create the design for our magazine advertisement, on Photoshop, we have first drawn an initial rough draft as an idea of how we wish the magazine advertisement to appear, which will provide us with a guideline for our creation. This initial rough draft can be displayed below.

Magazine Advertisement Flat Plan Initial Design

Rationale Questions

Colour
On our magazine advertisement, we will be using a large variety of bright colours. We have chose this particularly, as it will allow the advertisement to catch the readers eye, whilst they are looking through the a magazine. We also feel it is important to use a large variety of bright colours as we will also be using them on front cover of the CD digipak, and therefore this will allow the printed tasks to be consistent with one another and allow the audience to identify the CD digipak with the magazine advertisement for it. The use of bright colours, will also help the advertisement to be consistent and reflect the party and chaotic nature of the theme.

Image

The images which will be displayed on the magazine advertisement, will mainly be animated/photo shopped or computer generated imagery. As our theme is based highly on our target audience, we want to create an advert which is highly relatable to our audience, whilst also ensuring the image is very in keeping with the overall theme. Therefore we will be including items and props on the advertisement, such as iPods, earphones, playing cards, party streamer ect, which display items that reflect the party theme of the overall project and the lifestyles of the teenager/young adult target audience. We will also be placing information onto these props,  which by incorporating all the information onto the props which tie in with the theme, will help to keep the design of the advertisement and the entire package, consistent. For the background of the magazine advertisement, we will be using a wooden textured background with a large variety of bright coloured paint splats, placed on top. This will help to reflect the messy and chaotic nature of all the aspects of the project, ensuring it looks consistent and professional. We will also be placing the image of our CD front cover, onto a CD case which will be slightly tilted to the side. This again will help to tie in the reckless and party theme of the music promo video. In contrast to being neat and orderly, the layout and image is seems somewhat messy.

Text

The first item of text which we will add too the magazine advertisement, will feature the words 'Out Now'. Although magazine advertisements for CD, conventionally feature a release date in the near future, we feel it would be more benefitial to add 'Out Now' as it will add more of a sense of excitement and urgency, somewhat saying you 'must buy it now' to the reader.  We will also be featuring a review rating from a well known music magazine, on the playing card which is located at the top of the page. We feel this would be very suitable as it displays the reader a critics opinion on whether the CD would be a good purchase or not, which can be very influential on the reader. For example, if a magazine which is very popular with our chosen target audience, such as NME, which is trusted to provide good reviews by its readers, were to give a good review of the CD, this may encourage our target audience to listen to and purchase the CD. As it is an advertisement for a CD, will also be featuring 'available on iTunes' and 'available in stores at HMV'. We feel this would be very appropriate as not only are these two of the most popular methods for purchasing music, therefore they will be easily accessible to the reader, but are also very common within the lives of our target audience who often purchase items on iTunes and in HMV stores and therefore allow our magazine advertisement to relate to our target audience.

Font
For the text featured on our magazine advertisement we will be using a font called Nova Solid, we have chose this font simply as it is a solid, bold font, which will allow the text to be seen clearly and read easily by the reader. We will also be using the same font for the band name on our CD cover. Therefore we have also chose this font as it is quite unusual, therefore if viewers were to be reading through a magazine, they could notice the font used and easily recognise that it is to promote our CD. We will also be placing the text, in a white coloured font. This ensures the text will contrast with the busy bright colours which are featured on all the areas of the magazine advertisement, allowing the text to stand out and be easily read by the reader. If the text were to be in colour, it may blend in with the background and be too confusing on the page, to be seen or read.

Layout

As the magazine advertisement is indeed advertising the CD digipak we have created, we feel it would be necessary to place the image of the CD front cover in the centre focal point of the advert, to ensure this is what the the readers notice first. This will allow the readers to memorise the image of the CD digipak front cover and identify the magazine advertisement with the CD digipak in stores. We will be placing the words 'Out Now' around the outside of CD digipack, away from any other items, which we feel would be appropriate to ensure the text could be seen and read clearly, which is important to inform the reader of when they can obtain the CD digipak. All the other items which will be located on the page, will be located around the outer edge, to ensure they can be seen yet they are not inflicting with the CD front cover and the text, which could cause the magazine advertisement to seem busy and uneasy on the eye and difficult to read.  

CD Digipak Back Cover Flat Plan

Before we create the design for our CD digipak back cover, on Photoshop, we have first drawn an initial rough draft as an idea of how we wish the back cover to appear, which will provide us with a guideline for our creation. This initial rough draft can be displayed below.

CD Digipak Back Cover Flat Plan Initial Design

Rationale Questions

Colour
Within the back cover of our CD digipak, we will be featuring a large number of bright colours, specifically on the background, in the form of paint splats which will be placed onto a wooden background texture. This allows the back cover to reflect the 'party' and chaotic theme and be consistent with the other aspects of the CD digipack and the overall project. Furthermore creating the background to consist of bright colours, will also allow the cigarettes to stand out, which will be featured in more pastel colours like white and grey, which is particularly important as we want the cigarettes to stand out as they will contain the name of each song title.

Image

For the back cover of our CD digipak, we won't be featuring any photographic images, we will simply be using photo shopped/animated images. This will mainly consist of the use of cigarettes. We feel this would be appropriate as it, not only provides areas in which the song titles can be placed, but allows the back cover to reflect the theme of reckless behaviour. 

Text
The first item of text, we will be featuring on the back cover of our CD digipak, will be the names of the tracks featured on the CD. This is simply for conventional and convenience purposes, as it allows the audience to identify which tracks are on the CD. This also allows the viewers to identify that the song featured on the music promo video is also available on the CD, identifying the CD digipack and the artist with the music promo video, that they will have viewed. We will be featuring links to the websites of  both the artist and the record company, which is beneficial and relatable to our target audience, as the internet is very common part of the lifestyle of teenager and young adults. We will also be featuring a copyright disclaimer onto the back cover. This was simply as it is a very conventional aspect and is featured on all the back covers of CD digipaks, therefore this will ensure our back cover is too professional standards. 

Font

For the song titles which will be featured on the back cover, the font we will be using will be Nova Solid. We have chose to use this font simply as its solid and bold, and will allow the track numbers and the information to be read easily. We will also be featuring this font, as we will be using it on the other aspects of the CD digipak and the magazine advertisement, therefore allowing the overall project to be consistent. We will also be placing the song title text in a dark coloured font, to ensure the text stands out against the white grainy effect of the cigarettes. For both the website links and the copyright information, as the text will be featured quite small, we will use a thinner and more simpler font such as Cambria, to ensure the text can be read easily. We will also be placing this text in a white font, to ensure the text stands out against the bright colourful background. 

Layout
For the layout of our back cover, we will be featuring the names of each song track, almost centralised down the centre of the page. This allows the reader to identify the track names and numbers easily, which is particularly important for when the audience maybe trying to find the a specific song they may want to play. However we feel if were to place the song titles in a neat centralised layout, it would seem inconsistent with the chaotic theme of the CD digipak and the overall project. Therefore we will be slightly placing the track names apart from each other at various angles, to create a messy appearance, whilst still allowing the text to be readable. We will be placing the barcode in the bottom right hand corner and the copyright text in the bottom left hand corner, simply as this is conventional and therefore will ensure our back cover looks professional. 

CD Digipak Inside Sleeve Flat Plan

Before we create the design for our CD digipak inside sleeve, on Photoshop, we have first drawn an initial rough draft as an idea of how we wish the inside sleeve to appear, which will provide us with a guideline for our creation. This initial rough draft can be displayed below.

CD Digipak Inside Sleeve Flat Plan Initial Design

Rationale Questions

Colour
Within the inside sleeve of CD digipak, we will be using a number of bright colours, which will be mainly featured on the items which are placed around the polaroid photographs. Unlike both the front cover and back cover, we don't want to place as many bright colours, specifically in the form of paint splats, as we feel the entire CD digipak may become too busy and uneasy on the eye of the audience. However we still want the inside sleeve to remain consistent, reflecting the chaotic and messy theme throughout the use of bright colours, therefore we will be placing the bright colours on the items such as the lighter and gig wristband. 

Image
Within the inside sleeve of our CD digipak, we will be placing four polaroid type photographs, featuring each of the band members. For the location and backdrop of the photographs, we will be a fence or a break wall, the same as the backdrop we will be using for the photograph featured on the front cover, which will allow the inside sleeve to be consistent with the front cover. We have also chose to use an everyday, outdoor backdrop as we want the images to appear very candid, as if they are just regular photographs, in comparison to if a stylised studio backdrop were to be used. This will heighten the uses and gratification of personal identification, relating the photographs taken at a party, to the lifestyles of our target audience, who may have taken similar photographs. The props we will be using, will be consistent with those in the front cover photographs, with items such as cigarettes and alcohol. This will emphasis the deviancy and controversial behaviour, helping to provoke shock from the audience, like we had intended. However, this will also again allow the images to be relatable to the lifestyles of our target audience, who often engage in similar controversial behaviour. For the camera angles, we are hoping to use quite close up of each band member and to place the camera at tilted, unusual angles, which will allow the photographs to look more candid and spontaneous. Lastly we will also be added a vintage and scratched effect to the photographs and lower the saturation and increasing the contrast. This will allow the photographs to be consistent, by reflecting the destructive and chaotic nature of the overall theme of the project. 

Text
The main text which we will be featuring on the inside sleeve of our CD digipak, will be the names of each of the band members which we will be placing onto the polaroid photographs. We feel this would be suitable, as the band would be relatively unknown, this would allow us to somewhat introduce the band members to the audience and add more of a personal and relatable touch. We will also be featuring the title of the album. Although this is conventionally placed on the front cover, we want to keep the main focus on the name and image of the band, therefore  we will be placing this on the inside sleeve, to allow the audience to still be aware of the name of the album. 

Font

For the names of each band member we will be featuring on our inside sleeve, we will be using the font HammerKeys. We have chose this as the font has a typewriter text appearance, and we want the text to appear like a label has been placed on the polaroid photograph, which will emphasise the overall realistic desk appearance, we are hoping to achieve. We will also be placing this text in a white coloured font to allow the text to stand out against the polaroid photographs. For the album title text, we will be using the font Myriad Pro. We have chose to use this font, as we want the text to appear like it is printed on wrist band, and this font is simple and bold, and will appear like printed text. We will place this text in a black font, to allow it to stand out against the bright yellow background of the wristband. 

Layout
For the layout of our inside sleeve, we will firstly be placing the polaroid photographs, horizontally along the centre of the page. Specifically as we want the photographs of the band members to be the main focus, and the first thing the audience will notice, therefore it is more appropriate to place in them in the centre focal point of the page. However, we will also be surrounding the photographs, with items such as money, cigarettes and gig tickets, very effortlessly to create a somewhat messy and carefree layout. We will be doing this to create the appearance of a desktop, specifically one which belongs to someone of our target audience age group, which will appeal to our target audience and allow them to relate to the inside sleeve effectively.

CD Digipak Front Cover Flat Plan

Before we create the design for our CD digipak front cover, on Photoshop, we have first drawn an initial rough draft as an idea of how we wish the front cover to appear, which will provide us with a guideline for our creation. This initial rough draft can be displayed below.

CD Digipak Front Cover Flat Plan Initial Design

Rationale Questions

Colour

Within the front cover image, we will be using a large variety of bright colours, specifically on the clothing of the band members and the props. This we feel will be very effective in emphasising the chaotic and wild party atmosphere, we hope to create with a chaotic use of bright colours. We will also be using the large variety of bright colours, to allow the front cover to be befitting with the other aspects of the CD digipak, the magazine advertisement and the music promo video, to allow our overall package to appear consistent and professional. For the background, behind the models that are featured in the image, we will be using very vintage and faded colours such as light blue, brown or grey. We have chosen to apply this, as the worn out colours will contrast greatly with the bright colours used and as we would like the band members and props used to catch the majority of the readers attention, this will allow them to stand out to the audience, ultimately creating more emphasis on the party atmosphere.

Image

The image which we we will be using on our front cover, will be located outdoors, with a fence backdrop. We feel this would be appropriate, as rather then having a very stylised image with a studio backdrop, the image will appear much more candid and realistic, similar to a average photograph taken at a party with a regular camera. This will allow our target audience to relate to the front cover of our CD digipak, which is a very important factor, in order attract our target audience and encourage the purchase of the CD. We also felt the use of an ordinary and rather plain background would be more effective, as this will allow the colourful props and band members to stand out more, as they are very significant to the overall cover. The props which we will be using, will consist of items such as alcohol, cigarettes, party poppers, balloons etc. After various research we found many of these props were evident, specifically cigarettes and alcohol, in the everyday lives of our target audience, therefore this will increase the use and gratification of personal identity, allowing our target audience to relate and identify themselves with the band members and the overall image. We have also selected these specific props as they are consistent with the 'party' theme we have chosen, ensuring the overall theme is identifiable and creating a professional and consistent package. The costumes which will be featured in the image, as mentioned in the costume planning, will be highly influenced by the type of music, specifically indie and rock and also the current fashion trends with teenagers and young adults. Therefore not only will this allow the band members clothing to appear consistent with the genre of music and the overall theme, furthermore this will allow our target audience to identify themselves with the band members featured. For the image we will be using a medium long shot type. This will provide a sufficient amount of clear space around the band members featured in the image, to allow us to place the text without distracting or inflicting with the models or props featured. The camera angle we will use is eye line, as keeping the band members on eye level will help to ensure they are the centre and key focal point of the overall CD cover. After both the text and images have been placed onto the front cover, we will then add a vintage overlay,  which will fade out the edges of the image, lower the saturation of the colours and overall add a grainy effect. This will be used to help emphasise the destructive party atmosphere, creating an old, worn out and dishevelled look, to the image. 

Text

The text which we will be using on the front cover will simply consist of the bands name. Although there are many artists who do not place there name on the front cover of their CD digipak, we felt it would be appropriate, as the band would be relatively unknown and therefore unlike famous artists, of whom could be simply recognised by their face, audiences may not be aware of the appearance of the band members, therefore the name of the band will allow them to identify who the CD digipak belongs to easily and clearly. 

Font

The font which we will be using for the text featured, will be Nova Solid. We felt this was an appropriate font, as although it is simple, which will allow the text to be read easily, it is also quite unique and as we will also be using the same font on our magazine advertisement, this will allow our audience to associate this specific font to this band. The font of the text, will also appear in the colour white. Although this may seem like an inappropriate choice of colour, as it will not allow the text to stand out greatly, we would like the image used on the front cover to be the main focus, with the band, the props and the party atmosphere catching the viewers eye, in order to emphasise the atmosphere we would like to generate. Therefore the choice of white, will allow the text to stand out enough for it to be readable but not to much that it would be distracting.

Layout

Initially we would like the image we will be using to consume the overall front cover of our CD digipak, specifically as the image will play a vital role in reflecting the theme of our package and creating the choatic and controverisal atomsphere we intend to generate. The text, the band name, will be placed at both the top and bottom of the front cover, in order to allow the text to  not distract from the central focal point of the cover, which will be the members of the band. It is very important that the band members are seen clearly on the front cover, to allow audiences to recognise them and identify them with both the magazine advertisement and the music promo video.

Music Copyright Permission / Email To Music Company

As we will be using an already recorded piece of music, to create our music promo video along to, it is important that we gain permission to use this song in our media project, in order to not infringe any copyright laws, within the music industry. Therefore, we have gained contact with the record company of the band, we would like to use, which can be displayed in the image below.

E-mail to Cooking Vinyl Publishing Record Label Company

Here we have gained contact with Cooking Vinyl Publishing, the record label company for the band Does It Offend You, Yeah?, of who's song we wish to use, via the contact page on their website. We felt this would be the easiest and most effective way to gain contact with the company, as the email would go straight to them and not through any other third party companies. In the email, we simply stated that we will be producing a music promo video an aspect of  our A2 Media Studies coursework, and that we would like to use the song We Are Rockstars, by the band Does It Offend You, Yeah? of whom they represent. This simply ensures, we have gained the rights to use this song for our music promo video, and we will not be breaking any copyright or infringement laws if we were to publish it on any social networking websites, such as YouTube. 

Music Promo Video Soundtrack

For our music promo video, we felt that writing and recording our own piece of music would be too complicated and time taking, for the limited time we have to produce our coursework. Therefore for our music promo video, we will using a already recorded piece of music, that is of the electronic, grime and indie rock genre, the genre of music we chose when producing our initial research. 

After listening to a variety of songs, the song we have chosen to use and to create our music promo video to is We Are Rockstars by the band Does It Offend You, Yeah?, which is displayed below. 

We chose this song, as we felt it was very in keeping with the theme we would like to portray within the music video. This consists of a teenage out of control party, therefore using a electronic indie tone we felt would be the most appropriate for that plot. Our music promo video, will also be aimed at a teenage and young adult audience and after producing target audience research we found that this genre of music today, is increasingly popular with that particular audience, which would allow us to reach and relate to our target audience in all aspects and gain the popularity we would need when promoting a music video.

Music Promo Video Initial Ideas & Synopsis

As we have produced extensive research and planned the initial ideas for all aspects of our project, including the theme, the designs for the printed aspects, the genre, the target audience, the costume and make-up, the characters and the photo shoots, we felt we had an efficient basis to create the overall plot for our music promo video.

Music Promo Video Plot Ideas

The plot or synopsis of our music promo video, will focus and revolve around a group of teenagers partying in a derelict location. However the video will begin, displaying the aftermath of a party and will be played in reverse, right back to the beginning, before the party has taken place. We liked the idea of showing the aftermath of the party first, as it evokes more curiosity from the viewer, encouraging them to want to know what events which lead up to this happening, leading them to watch the entire music promo video. Within the video, we will also be using a variety of shot types and video editing such as a zoom and motion blur, which will be used to emphasise the intoxication of the teenagers whilst drinking and various camera movements and techniques, such as fixing the camera to various people or objects to emphasise the realism of the events. The words 'We Are Rockstars' the title of the song, which we will be using, will also be shown spray painted throughout the video. 

Media Coursework Blog Feedback So Far...

To determine whether the work I had completed so far was sufficient and I was on time with my production and planning, I took part in a peer assessment within my media lesson, in which I looked at the blogs produced by my classmates and gave feedback on them anonymously, along with every other class mate. 

Blog Peer Feedback

After reading the feedback which was given on my blog I am rather pleased. The majority of people felt I had analysed and explained my sources and inspirations very well. They also felt I had displayed a sufficient amount of research into all aspects of my groups project, for example characters, costume and make-up, photo ideas etc and displayed efficiently what myself and my group intend to produce for our overall project.

Photo Shoot Ideas

For our CD digipak, one of the printed aspects of our project, we have chosen to produce photographs that we will place on both the front cover and in the inside sleeve. For both the front cover and inside sleeve photos, we would like to feature the members of the band we have created, taking part in inappropriate behaviour such as drinking or smoking, not only to relate to our target audience but to allow all aspects of the project, the music promo video, the CD digipak and the magazine advertisement to stay consistent with one another. 

For the front cover of our CD digipak, we would like to feature a group image of the band members, which will allow audiences to recognise the band members and of whom the album belongs to easily. 

CD Digipak Front Cover Photo Shoot Ideas

Displayed above is a collection of images, which we like as inspiration for our image which will be displayed on the front cover. As the theme of both our overall project and music promo video, is focused on a party, we would like to incorporate that into the cover image, to allow the audience to identify with the theme, allowing the overall project package to maintain consistency. Therefore like the images above, we would like to incorporate aspects of a party, such as balloons, drink , dancing etc. 

For the inside sleeve of our CD digipak, we would like to feature single images of each member of the band on their own. As you open the CD digipak, this provides more of an intimate feel. It allows the viewer to connect on a more one to one or personal level with each member of the band, gaining aspects of each individuals personality. 

CD Digipak Inside Sleeve Photo Shoot Ideas

Displayed above is a collection of images, which we particularly like as inspiration for our images with will be displayed in our inside sleeve.  The behaviour displayed in each image, appears to be very consistent with the overall theme of our project and specifically the music promo video. The images also seem very candid, an effect I especially like and would like to replicate in the images displayed in our inside sleeve, as we would like to give these images a polaroid like appearance, this candid style would look more realistic.