Music Video, Digipack and Posters Research,

Music Videos

The Strokes - Reptilia

The Beautiful Girls - Thought About You

John Butler Trio - Close To You

The Strokes-Reptilia 

John Butler - Revolution

I especially like this music video due to the uniqueness of the narrative. From watching it, it appears that it is an audition taking place with a variety of very different people from different cultures singing the lyrics of the song being heard.
This screenshot is an example of the culture of people - monk.

Another technique which I'm likely to use in my final project is a shallow depth of field combined with a pull focus to emphasize significant aspects of my final project, such as with this screenshot of the bass being played, as the baseline is heard.
I feel that the use of B&W is actually very effective with this music video as I think that it complements the location with the different contrasts.

Throughout the video, there are sequences made up of close ups of shoes and faces which I think is effective but it means that mise-en-scene becomes a larger aspect as the type of clothing and accessories show part of the artist's character and therefore allows the viewers to relate. These screenshot is an example, showing his style of shoes and 

types of accessories such as the hat, scarf and earring.

These screenshots are examples on how a sequence of someone auditioning with a mix of close ups and medium shots.

I feel the close ups are effective such as shots of the hands as it shows physical behaviour such as nervous twitching or rubbing them together.

I also like the fact that in the medium shot, only the person auditioning is seen, putting 100% focus on him/her.

There clothes are mostly black/white as well due to the B&W and creating at better contrast.

If the video is a band performance, in my opinion, it is essential to have shots to show the instruments being used such as this close up screenshot of the drum-kit/snare. Again I feel that the B&W works well with the contrast of shades from the drums and cymbals.

I like this close up as it is another example of the diversity of characters and it also illustrates again the effectiveness of B&W which makes me contemplate on using it in my project as well.














Bliss'N'Eso - Sea Is Rising

My favourite aspect of this music video is the way that it is edited, which is the reason why I have chosen to analyze it. The technique of creating a sequence within the same sentence of a verse by changing locations and angles is extremely effective as it immediately makes the video more interesting. This technique is especially effective if the pace of the cuts in the sequence complement the tempo of the song being heard. 

This screenshot is an example of how a sequence of this music video is created with a low angle and having the artist looking down at the camera.

This shot also shows that there is a lighting effect to emphasize what's in the shot, most likely 'mojo'. This makes the video appear to be more proffessional and therefore it is something that I am to use in my own product if it suits and works with other factors in my production.

These two screenshots are parts of the same sequence and show how the change of the locations create more of a narrative for the video as from watching it,

it appears that the man sitting on the sofa is watching himself on the television. I also like the randomness of the bright red sofa on a beach. 

This screenshot is an example of the idea that the narrative of this video is in fact, the artist singing is watching himself as well as other screens showing world issues relating to the lyrics of the song.

A large aspect of this video is the effect of the 'flash' and 'blur' between cuts which emphasizes the cuts in the sequence therefore complementing the tempo and locations of the video.

Ed Sheeran - Small Bumps

I like video for Ed Sheeran's 'Small Bump' due to the camerawork. Although simple, I feel that the lower number of cuts within the sequence complement the tempo and ambiance of the song. I also really like the fact that the artist himself is hardly moving, and it is the vehicle which he is sitting that transports him through the surrounding environment. The fill shots used, taken of the surroundings also add to creating the ambiance by illustrating the simpleness and normality of the video by showing footage of people doing their 'daily routine' such as jogging next to the river in which the artist is moving down.

I like the technique of the artist on a moving vehicle however I feel that this video needs to have more different types of angles for example a close up of his fingers playing the guitar which is something which I would like to include in my final piece.

 

Birdy - Skinny Love

I chose to analyse this video because, in my opinion, this video is very artistic with its use of lighting, location and then technique in which it is filmed. 

This screen shot is an example of the unique angles used in order to show that the woman is playing the piano, just by showing her feet on the pedals of the instrument. 

These two screenshots are examples of the effective lighting which creates a certain ambiance. I feel the atmosphere created from the lighting as well as the location and what she is wearing all complement the tone, tempo and genre of this  fairly romantic song.

The reason for choosing this shot was again for the lighting. I like the contrast created from the strong light coming through the windows of the house even though the entirety of the location itself has a fade to it, which is most likely an effect created when the video was edited. 

The silhouette is also a technique which I think works well and would be something that I will use in my final piece if it is relevant and complements other factors of my work.

I feel the pull focus technique looks great and definitely works with this type of video as it gives it a professional style.  

Close ups are used throughout this video which I think, for this style of song is essential as it allows the viewer to see the full emotion of the woman which also allows the viewer to relate.

The dark lighting contains connotations of sadness which, with the lyrics complement each other and create a darker ambiance.

This is another shot which I think makes this video artistic.

The fade effect is again used which creates the correct atmosphere for the genre of music.

I like the shallow depth of field as I think this technique contributes to the professional look of the video. I think that I could achieve this effect by using a 50mm lens 1.4 as it creates the shallow depth. I also like the use of macro (most likely) to gain the detail of the moss and wood.

This shot is also an important factor to this video as it illustrates the girl actually playing the piano which is an essential shot for a music video that looks professional. I will choose musicians for my project as it will allow me to use a lot more different shots and hopefully make my music video seem more professional and stand out.

Natty - Badman

I chose to analyse Natty - Badman as I like the way in which the editing works with the tempo and genre of music. I feel the lighting and location is also effective as they add to create a positive ambiance which the viewer perceives while watching this music video.

I think this shot of the artist strumming the guitar works well, especially with the fast pan (shot below) up to his face as I think it complements the style of song.

What I also like about this video is that it contains simplistic factors making it easy to watch as well as being enjoyable which in my opinion is an important factor for a music video.

Throughout this video, the sequences of close ups to medium shots to shots of the other band members, I think work extremely well as they contribute to the ambiance as it complements the tempo of the music, as well as illustrating the other members of the band. The medium and close ups also show the artist's  body language, behavior and emotion also illustrating the fun of the video. 

This shot is an example of the medium shots of other band members. 

I like this shot because although it is fairly simple 

I think that it is effective. The fact that it is only the drummer in the shot and nothing else, he is the immediate and only subject that the viewers eye gets drawn to. 

I like the location also due to the wooden walls as I feel that it complements the lighting.

A major factor of this music video is the technique of using 'strangers' (not the singer) to mime the lyrics of the song, making it seem that they are singing themselves.

This shot (and shot above) is an example of the diversity and range of ages used by the characters miming the lyrics of the song.

This screenshot is an example of the types of angles used. I think this is important in a music video as it mixes up and makes the sequences more interesting. This is also the case of the screenshot below.

Although these angles and shots are not necessarily needed, they just make the video a bit more interesting and more aesthetically pleasing.

This shot keeping the other band members in the background and Natty in the foreground I feel is very effective.

It is from analyzing videos such as this that will inspire me to experiment with more interesting angles which will essentially give my project a more professional outcome.

Jack Johnson - If I Had Eyes

This is another music video that caught my eye as it is also shot in B&W which I think is effective in the video due to the lighting and the heavy contrasts that result from it, such as this screenshot.

I like this shot because of the white background creating the strong contrast with his black shirt.

It also illustrates well the detail of the microphone which I think is an effective technique.

Again, the contrast in this shot makes it a lot more interesting immediately, simply from using B&W.

This angle is effective as it illustrates the artist actually playing the instrument showing his ability.

This is a factor that I am definitely going to include into my final project as I am going to choose someone who can play the guitar and therefore be able to learn the actual guitar tab of the song that I choose.

I think that it is important to include shots that are not just medium shots of the guitarist such as this screenshot. I like this shot as it can act as a fill shot but it also allows the viewer to see the style of the artist. In this sense, he is wearing flip flops which work well with the genre of the song. This means that when creating my video, I shall need to think about the clothing (mise-en-scene) of my character. This technique also allows the viewer to relate to the character in my project.

It is important to include shots such as these as they show detail of the location as well as making the viewer feel present. It also shows other members of the band in the same shot which is also more efficient/

It is shots like these that allow me to use techniques such as depth of field to give my project a more professional look. I could achieve this by using a 50mm lens that gives a shallow depth effect.  

I like this shot as the transitions used and the pull focus contribute to an effective fill shot between angles of the artist playing guitar and singing.

This screenshot also gives the video some colour as the rest of the video is filmed in B&W.

This shot is different as well as it shows an old school camera, which is followed by as shot with a grain effect, illustrating this cameras point of view (shot below).

This close is another essential asset of the music video as it again illustrates that the artist is actually playing the instrument in time with the music which therefore makes the video more believable and aesthetically pleasing.

This angle is also different and makes the video easy to follow in the sequence that this shot is seen in.

I feel that these types of shots are extremely effective in the type of genre that this music video fits, as this is showing Johnson in his 'natural' environment, therefore making this sequence of the video relatable and enjoyable to watch. 

Ben Howard - The Wolves

I like the way in which this music video starts as it is a low angle shot of the band walking towards the camera. The lighting in this shot is effective as it creates a strong contrast and silhouette.

I also like the shapes of objects being carried such as the instruments and chairs as they create an interesting silhouette creating the idea that this band are about to set up their equipment.

These screenshots illustrate the sequence of the band walking.

There are cuts in the shot which create the skipping effect. It has been edited in a way which complements the tempo of the music being heard.

What I especially like about this music video is the lighting effect used throughout which creates a similar effect to sepia but less intense making the video easy to watch as there is not abrasive range of colours.

I like this type of shot where Howard is being filmed, behind a wall, as it is part of a sequence with multiple shots of this kind of technique at different angles, which makes it different as it does not conform to the steriotypical techniques of a music video.

This is a screenshot is an example of the use of a shallow depth of field which I feel is extremely effective, especially in this case where the path in the foreground is in focus but the silhouette of the two figures walking away is blurred. The strong light is another factor to this shot which makes it effective in this music video, as this creates a strong contrast due to the B&W effect.

I like these types of fill shots showing Howard listening to what is most likely his recordings which illustrates the effort that he himself is putting into his music career.

The facial expression also illustrates part of his personality which viewers like to see therefore making this sequence relatable.

This is the following shot of the sequence. These shots are different which I think is the reason why I like it. It shows the behavior and mannerisms of Howard which again makes the sequence relatable. 

These are my preferred shots of this music video as they show the the best location which is used. 

The disintegrating building and the lighting combine together to create an excellent location which works with the genre of the song.

The low-angle used here allows the viewer to see a lot more of the location compared to just a medium shot or close up. However, I would use at least one long shot in order to give the viewer a more generalized idea of the location being seen, but this technique actually quite suspicious as it makes it a secret location as there are no obvious landmarks to show where this place is. There is an area in Jersey similar to this which I could use as one of my locations if I wanted to create something like this.

These screenshots of the instruments being used are essential in any video as the there needs to be footage of this whist hearing non-diegetic sound of these instruments before the shots are seen.
There are two ways that music videos can be shot; with a strong narrative\story-line or in this sense, a band performance.

I think that for my final project, I shall create a video based on a performance rather than a narrative as I can make it more artistic with the angles that I am planning to use as well as the locations that I am contemplating on using, and the techniques of shallow depths of field and uses of lighting to create clever contrasts.

I do not think that I will use too bolder colours as for the genre of song that I am choosing, they shall distract the viewer from what is being heard such as important lyrics or other factors such as lighting.

DigiPacks

Jack Johnson - In between Dreamsv

A large aspect to this digipak is the colour and the colour contrast. They make the digipak stand out which is an effective technique.

The strong contrast between the yellow casing and the black colour of the tree, which acts as a silhouette. I can could do something like this by editing the saturation, contrast and shadows on the  photo I take of my artist. This technique is simple but works well as it fits in with the genre of the music, being alternative. The black font is also another aspect which complements the strong yellow colour. The inside cover contains an important factor for a digipak as there is a photo of the artist himself which in my opinion is essential and is an aspect which I shall involve in my own project.

John Butler Trio - April Uprising

I feel this digipak is extremely effective. The use of a lion on the cover contains connotations of ferocity, courage and power which are three elements which are shown in the bands music. I like the fact that the lions eyes are drawn to appear as if they are looking at you as it makes the digipak intimidating as well as being intriguing.
The fonts are used cleverly, in the sense that they do not take away from the main subject, the lion as they are fairly small and positioned well. This is a conventional aspect for a digipak. The white and red colours create strong contrasts with the black background which is also a typical aspect.
The rest of the digipak follows the pattern of black backgrounds, the use of red and white colours and the use of small and stylish fonts. The band logo on the back of the digipak is well used as it is the only aspect. There is not too much contrast with the colours and the background which makes it easy to take in.

I like this technique used for the CD itself. It is simple and unlike many other discs which conventionally have an image relating to the theme of the album. Rather than the name of the band, only the logo is used to illustrate to CD. This is quite an effective technique which I could use in my final piece as long as I find an image/logo relating to the genre of the album.

Incubus - Light Grenades

I chose to analyse this digipak as it is a prime example of what a band's album would look with the images of the band members being used on the back cover and inside case. A large factor to this album is colour. Its design and use of colour resemble a sun rise. The layout puts emphasis on the members.
This digipak is fairly artistic with its inside cover (top left) and CD design and cover. I think that this is a more effective technique than using photos. The inside cover has connotations of love and pain which relates to the type of music that the album contains such as the song 'Love Hurts'.
Symbolism plays a large part in this digipak due to its connotations.
The grenade has connotations of (self) destruction and the fact that a heart is drawn in the grenade again illustrates love and the problems (destruction) it can cause.
I feel the fonts do not stand out the way they should do, especially for the 'Light Grenades'. The red on red creates problems when reading.

Donovan Frankenreiter 

This digipak is something similar to what I feel my final project shall turn out as it is a album based on a solo artist, which is what my music video will most likely be of. 

I like the use of the slow shutterspeed to create the blurred effect on the man walking, however the background is in focus. The artistic effect also makes this digipak very cool, as, although simple, it  makes the album stand out as the colours complement each other such as the blue stain effect. 

I especially like the fonts used, with the technique of having the artists first name in bigger writing than the last name. 

The inside cover of this digipak illustrates the artist playing a set which appears very natural which i think is an important aspect of this digipak.  For the CD, the same font is used which also works. His first name is more readable than his last because it is a fairly uncommon name and it is only his first name that needs to be read to know who the artist of the album is. This illustrates his popularity.

The white background creates the contrast for the blue stain effect as well as for the brown fonts.

Red Hot Chilis Peppers - Greatest Hits

The reason that I like this digipak is its randomness. It is very different from anything else and it illustrates the bands mind set as well as how they are unpredictable. 

The parental advisory also shows that their style of music is not necessarily suitable for everyone.

The font style and size does not subtract from the album cover, and follows conventions of a album cover. The colours between this font and background create the good contrast putting more emphasis on the band name, however keeping in subtle. 

The back cover for this digipak is effective as it shows the band members, but it is suspicious because of the clothing that they are wearing.
The black and white photo works well with the white fonts creating a good contrast which puts emphasis on the names of the songs which is essential information for an album.

The CD itself is another factor which shows the peculiar choices and mannerisms of the band and its members.
This CD cover is simple and easy to create but its effective without needing an explanation.

The inside covers are important in this digipak. The logo is simple and effective and is, in my opinion, in the right position for this album.










Posters

Blink-182

I like the simplistic features of this poster. The use of the white background allows the colours of the of the clothing and accessories to stand out more, which illustrates their style as well as what type of music they play. The background being bland also makes sure that the viewers eye is immediately attracted to the band. It is interesting how the props and clothing used in a photo-shoot can give so much information, even though this could still be given off by them wearing clothes that are ironic such as putting all the band members in suits and top hats, which in my opinion would be quite effect. 
I also feel that the band members only being in the bottom of the poster is effective. It means that only the top half of the band are in shot. This shows a strong posture which gives off a sense of aggression which contributes to the stereotype of this band and what they play.
The font used is effective in its own way as well as the lack of use of capital letters which makes it informal which is also an idea given off by what they are wearing. This illustrates the importance of clothing in a shot like this as it is the main factor of the photo.

John Butler Trio

I chose to analyze this poster as in my opinion, it appears very natural, shown by the facial expressions which is the reason why I like it. The B&W effect I think works well in tone with the rest of the poster, complementing the red and grey colours. 
The band members all seem to be wearing normal clothing which is a factor which again makes a music poster relatable. 
The fonts are a large factor as it is strong and bold which clearly stands out. The title of the band is larger than that of the song names which again makes it stand out more.
The grain effect is subtle, however I feel it is very effect and is something which I may include in my final project.

Gwen Stefani

This is an example of a music poster which a complete opposite of what I feel the outcome of my final project shall be.
The behaviour of the artist is provocative as well as the clothing that she is wearing. The black and white clothing aid in creating the contrast as well as the dark material of the throne she is sitting in. Her hair is also an aspect which illustrates a rebellious side of the artists personality which for some people may be relatable.
She is sitting in a throne which has connotations of royalty, however this is ironic because of the mockery of provocative mannerisms. This therefore illustrates that she sings most likely punk/rebellious genre. This is also shown by the 'parental advisory' note.
The font follows the idea of the poster in the sense that it is 'old england' style. Its size and boldness makes it stand out as well as the contrast of colours from red to light blue.

Two Door Cinema Club

I like this poster as it would be very relatable for people in sense that in this photo, it appears that the band members are sitting waiting for public transport such as a train or bus stop.
For this poster, colour is an important factor. The brightness of the red bench creates a good contrast with the turquoise background.
Another important factor like the other music posters is the clothing of the band members. In this case, it is very natural, the band members wear clothes that seem casual which fit the genre of the music that they play which is very stereotypical for a music poster.
I especially like the fonts used in this poster. The white colour complements the background and the size I feel works with the different style for the 'O' and 'C'. Analyzing these posters helps me in choosing the most important aspect for my final project.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

I chose to analyze this poster as I like  a lot of the aspects which are also similar to those of the Blink-182 poster.
The background, I think is effective being a photo of stars, as the black creates a strong contrast against the yellow font.
The font is not too big which is important as otherwise it would take away from the other features of the poster. 
I like the technique of dressing up the band members. Their football outfits contain connotations of of a team much like a band is.
The facial expressions which are the main subjects of the poster, give off the idea that these band members are slightly insane which shows in their music which is the genre of rock although some of their music does not match this genre.