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This is the outcome of my advertisement for the release of my digi pack. I like the results and i agree with the way this image sell the package as a whole, with the lead singer of the band, the setting and the emotions of the 'Seaside' reflected into one. However what i liked about the other images that could have also potentially been used for advertisement is the fact the Blackpool tower was familiar, and would have caught the attention of many more people because they would recognise the setting where the band had been. The wheel and peer could be found at any seaside location, however at least it still sells this setting.  I chose this image manly because of the composition, but in particular the emotion and narrative upon Astons face. To stand out against this recurring theme of black and white i chose to do the titles and writing in bright colours so that they really caught the attention of passers by who happened to glance at the poster. It was also key to include the name of the album in the advertisement as i didn't do on the front cover. And i really like the way i incorporated the bands name and title of the album as one. This was created using the inspiration of the Kooks album 'Inside in, Inside Out' Where they fitted it in-between 'The Kooks' I kept the location of the bands name, and used a theme of bright blue, bright pink, and white throughout the poster so the colourscheme was agreeable. I fitted 'Seaside' slightly smaller than the title used for 'The Kooks' fittingly in blue and next to the 'The' the colour makes the writing stand out, and makes people pay attention to the title as your eyes move from the 'The' to the 'Seaside' so you may think the title is 'The Seaside'. In pink i wrote 'Out Now' this was in the same size font as the band title, however the pink justifiably grabs your attention. This information is particularly important that people notice it, because it will increase the sales of the album as audiences know that the album is out, i included logos of the places where people can buy the album such as 'Amazon'm, 'I-tunes' and 'HMV' so people know where to look for it, and the copy and paste of the front cover of the album means people will know what to look for when their in the shops. All these things are vital in informing potential customer as much as possible so sales increase. For the image of the album i made the sides stand out more in black so that it stood out in the poster. I then included quotes that are often used to increase the sales of an album or any DVD. As always the quotes are promising, and the more amazing they are, the more people think that this must be an album to buy, which also increases sales in media. What also buys the quotes is the fact that they are also written by other forms of the industry which the public trust in such as 'NME' and the 'Independent' However amongst the big names, there are some quotes that are left unknown. Following the quotes also come the chosen stars that those who gave the quotes specialised with the album or Dvd. The more stars, the more they back up the quotes, and the album, and sells to the buyer even more. Each quote has been done in different colours of the blue, pink and white, so that each quote commands attention and expresses that there from different people. It also helped them to stand out more against the background. Finally i included the labels that the kooks are with 'Virgin records', and 'EMI'  as this is information that must always be giving in some shape or form when it comes to print products. I really like the outcome of this advertisement, however once again I feel like i could have done more thumbnail examples before coming to the conclusion of this one. 

Feedback for A2 Music Video

We showed our videos for our A2 music videos in class so that we could receive some feedback about whats good about the video, as-well as what we could do to improve it. Here are my reviews.

'Donkeys <3 I liked the video it worked with the music and looked like a video the Kooks would do'

'Good camera angles, fitting with music and constructed well'

'really good acting, only thing i can think of are contrast issues in one bit, as it's too bright.

'Good use of different shots, Why all black and white?'

'Really good! Good angles'

'Blackpool/seaside. Settings good, fits the kooks video themes, nothing bad to say really, really enjoyed it <3'

'Really good, good shots, and timing with lyrics'

'AWESOME', I don't think anything needs to be changed'

'Love the black and white effect, it works well! The various shots are great- keeps up with the speed of the song. To be honest i really can't think of anything you could improve. Amazing-well done'

'Great video!! Shots really went with the kook. Love the black and white. Shots of different things and Blackpool worked really well! Looked like a real music video! No improvement needed'

In conclusion i got really good feedback from the class, telling me that i needed little or no improvement at all. I am really pleased with my feedback and music video overall.

Digi Pack Layout

Front cover of Digi Pack

Left side in the centre of the digi pack,
where booklet would go. 

Right side in the centre of the digi
pack, where the CD Will be.

Back of the CD case.

I'm really happy with the outcome of the digipack and actually developing my ideas and creating them on photoshop. I love the simplicity of the front cover, which captures your attention and curiosity and the tones are very fitting. I think that the fact the front cover is so simple, and doesn't give much away other than a striking image will also draw people in more. The inside of the digi pack, where the booklet will be works great, and none of the images out shadow the other which is exactly what i wanted, as i feel they all command attention because of tone and emotion. I also think the effect of this 4 photo composition makes a perfect booklet cover too. The seagull background and CD disk work effectively and i like how the background of the sea will create a simple but textured background behind the disk, whilst the disk makes the seagull stand out even more as it makes the seagull jump out from the flat image of the background one. I feel this effect of the seagull, also makes beautiful decoration for the CD cover and is a nice portrayal and representation of the key song that the album is names after. It was hard to place the circles evenly, and in the right place as it's hard to judge exactly where the middle is, particularly the circle where the teeth would be to hold the CD in place, and you can tell it's slightly out, which is something i would improve. Last but not least is the back of the digi pack case. I think this works great and that colour of pink particularly stands out against the black and white and gives the dimension so that they stand out against a background that does demand attention. To create a theme and incorporate the pink writing so it doesn't look out of place on the back of the album, i did one side of the Digi pack in black writing which is fitting for the writing on the front cover, and the other side in the same pink writing as that on the back of the case. I think this works effectively. I then included the labels that the Kooks are with which is EMI and Virgin records, as-well as all the other labels that are found on the back of a CD digi pack. The barcode was a must on the back of the CD case, and all these extras were easily copied and pasted on the   image, however i tried to place them so they blended into the tones of the background and didn't look out of place. I then wrote something about the official website of the Kooks and joining them on Facebook and Twitter as this is commonly found on the back of an album in small print. I do really like my digi pack and i feel that my ideas came together nicely, however things that i would improve is the fact that i could have produced more full digi packs onto my blog before deciding the one i would actually use. Another small improvement i could have done is the fact i could have blended the barcode into the background, however many DVDs and CVs tend to keep these white anyway so that they stand out for scanning.

Edit of Original images into Digi Pack Covers

These images have been edited in i-photo by enhancing and boosting the image and colour, the titles were then included in photoshop. In the image above i think the white title of 'The Kooks' stands out effectively against the dark tones of the image. These dark tones also reflect on the sadness and depression of the emotions of the song and that on Astons face.

I really do like this overlay. I think the tones are perfect, and the way shadows forms of the other image behind the front image creates shape and dimension. It also shows the significant of Aston being lead singer, as-well as the key member to the narrative, however it doesn't forget the other members. 

I think this image would make a really good front image for the digi pack. This is because it represents the song as a whole. The seaside with the waves, the forlorn stand of Aston looking out to sea expresses the mood of the song which is also expressed with the strong black and white tones. As a whole the image captures my attention, and reflects on the mood. It's also my favourite clip of the music video as it goes great with the music at that time. The guitar which Aston is holding also represents their identity of the band. The simplicity of text on the front album image also works perfectly and represents my research of the band. 

This image is also a strong contender in making it into my digi pack. I like this shot because its artistic, and represents movement in blurred forms. This goes nicely with the line 'do you want to go to the seaside?' I also like the reflection in the puddles which gives the image two dimensions. As a result i think this image would be rather suitable on the back of the digi pack case. As this also needs a dramatic image. i also find the image is quite indie, particularly as it expresses the theme of black and white and Indy clothes, of converse and skinny jeans. As it's quite a artistic shot this also represents the Indie feel. I also think this shot will go great with the titles of the song. 

I think if this image was anything, it would be an advertisement poster. This is because the poster establishes the performance, the lead singer, the Indie characteristics of clothing, performance, and black and white. However i also like the way it's rather establishing and definitely sets the scene of Blackpool with the tower and wheel. As a result many people will recognise these icons which will build even more interest towards the poster and the album simply because their familiar with the setting. I also like the family on the beach, who show the fun side of the seaside and being with loved ones, to the contrast and narrative of Astons loneliness, and isolation. 

I love the tones and emotion in this image, and i feel that this has to make it's way into the digi pack. I also think that the white title of 'The Kooks' is very affective against the very dark tones of black in this image. I do think that this image could actually be used as a front cover, but of the strong emotion of it. However i feel that the image with Aston standing out to sea is a lot more artistic and tells a narrative in just one image, that it just has to be that one. 

What I like about this image is the texture. This is produced by the edit, however its also their because the poor quality of the pixels. Non the less, it's effective, and creates an almost noise effect on the image. It also gives the waves texture and movement, but also has the feel and contrast of looking quite flat at the same time. The tones of the seagull makes it stand out really well against what would be a rather dull background. As a result the seagull is what produces strength in the photo but it's not overpowering. With a larger amount of background in the photo is also makes room for more interesting things without ruining the image. As a result i will use this image where the actual CD will go. It will make an interesting shot on the page, and also reverts back to this source of simpleness, but also being effective. Where the seagull is, this will also be printed onto the CD, so that this is also decorated. And as the album is called 'Seaside' nothing could be better to represent this than a seagull in the seaside. 

I don't think this image quite has the potential to be an eye-catching establishing shot for a front cover. Where i could use this image is where the CD will actually be positioned, but i think that the seagull is a lot more effective.

I don't like this overlay image as much as the donkey one, however i think it's the sepia feel that doesn't make this image as affective for me. 

This image would also make a good front cover, however i personally think it would make a better advertisement for the album, particularly because its a strong shot which grabs your attention. I like the tones of black and white, the strong expression within the facial features reflect the mood of the song and the lead singer. I particularly love the way Astons jumper stands out in the photo with every line in strong focus which is even more effective because of the various tones of black and white. The pier and ferrace wheel set the scene of the seaside, and also builds another dimension of interest to the photo. It's a strong shot which makes sure the focal point is poised on Aston and the wheel because of the positioning in composition. This is great because it sells the band, the emotions, and the scene all in one, making it the perfect advertisement. 

What I like about this shot is the fact that it shots the whole band. This is important for many band digipack, that they all make an appearance, however because i didn't take my camera, and i'm just relying on print screen shots from my music video, i don't think this image is strong enough which is a shame. If i had my camera i could of had a go at arranging them, like they are arranged by professionals, at different levels and doing different things but still having the strength of a unit. I suppose this does appear in the image above, as all poses and facial expressions are different, however it doesn't have the strength and emotion as the one of just Chesh and Aston which is the sixth image down.

In this photo i experimented with including the title of the album into the front image. It looks okay, but it doesn't quite strike me as much as the others, where the only writing on the image is the bands name. As a result i think i will stick to this simplicity from my research of 'The Kooks' because it looks just as dramatic on their album.

Because theres so many images that i like, i will select four of my favourite ones, and make a 4 way collage of the images showing different aspects of the music video, weather it focuses on Aston, the setting and the rest of the bands. I feel this will look effective, and also means images won't go to waste, it also makes the part of the Digi Pack where the Booklet will go. My intentions would be to also make this four way image shot the front image of the booklet as-well. All images will have to be strong enough so the viewers look at all of them eagerly. Images that i think i will choose is the one above, the overview of the donkeys, Aston and band members in the background, Aston and Chesh on the bench, because i love the tones and emotion i their faces, and the one of Aston with the pier in the background which will also go on to become an advertisement for the release of the CD.

Potential Digi Pack photographs - original images

Unfortunately when i went to Blackpool i forgot my camera, as a result it meant we couldn't do a photo shoot. And we wouldn't be able to do a photo shoot back at home, because then nothing would relate to the music video. As a result i chose to take print screen samples from the music video. This worked because of the composition of some of the angles within the music video, which i could actually transform into a digi pack image, the only downside would be the fact that their not original, however some images are really strong. These are just the potential and original ideas of digi pack images. I will later choose my favourite compositions, edit them, and include titles as if they were an outcome for a digi pack and then go on from there.  The image for the digi pack are black and white, not just because they're print screens from the music video, but i also like the effect black and white has on a picture. Enhancing the power, and emotions that the image has to offer.

Simple shot of the Blackpool tower. This wouldn't work for my digi pack because i don't find it very dramatic or interesting. The image isn't straight either, so therefore the effect of the image is even less in quality. A good think about this image, is the fact it's a good establishing shot of the setting of Blackpool.





I really like this angle of Aston sat on the beach playing the guitar. It's a strong image due to the angle and composition, and is a strong potential for the digi pack. What could improve this image is adjusting the light creating more contrast in the tones of black and white.

This image could also make a good cover, however i think it could do with cropping, as theres a lot of space thats quite boring. As a result i could centre more on the tram. What i like about this image is the fact it represents the old fashioned trams at Blackpool, it also has the traditional seaside shops, as-well as the traditional English take-away, fish and chips, which is always popular at seaside resorts. The Black and white also gives the image depth, however my only problem is, it doesn't necessarily express the seaside.

This shot would aslo work rather well for the digi pack cover. Seeing as the songs about wanting to go to the seaside, then this shot works incredibly well, with the idea of running on the beach. I really like the reflection in the photo of the puddles of water, and the movement of the legs, bringing the movement of the image to life. I think this image is quite alternative, and expresses quite a lot of thought.

This print screen was done on the overlay in the music video, and i really like the effect. It instantly makes the photograph appear like its had lots of thought and consideration about the image and edit. What i like about the image is the fact it's two dimensional, expressing two different images in one. Aston and the donkeys are most prominent in the image and this represents the sea-side and reference to the storyline, the other image is under the pier, which shows another aspect to the seaside, as-well as Macaulay and Chesh who interpret other band members into the image as-well. This is important, as the Kooks tend to incorporate the entire band, or no-one at all, so i need to take this into consideration.

This shot shows a portrait of Aston and the donkeys on their own, without the overlay. I like this image, and it's quite artistic, as the donkeys bring character to the image. With the setting being on the beach this definitely relates with the whole idea of the seaside, and i like the sea in the horizon of the photographs. I think this image could work rather well with the digi pack.

This image is another establishing shot, and incorporates both the big wheel on the pier and the Blackpool tower in the distance. Bother show the attractions to the seaside, and make it look like an interesting place. I generally like the composition, and feel like it could be effective as a digi pack image, however it may not possibly be the strongest.

The simplicity of this image is what actually makes this image a strong contendant for the digi pack image. It clearly expresses the seaside, with the texture of the sea, and the seagull walking amongst it. As no seaside is without it's seagulls. The texture gives this image life, and the seagull brings characteristics into the image, to make the thought behind the photo rather artistic.

This was also used for an establishing shot. I find the shot really characteristic with the horse and carriage, however i don't really think it's the best image to incorporate with the meaning of the song and the seaside. As a result i will probably discard this image as a potential image for the digi pack.

I love this image because it clearly expresses the isolation of the lead singer, and completely relates to the title and meaning of the song lyrics of being lonely, reminiscing of the time they had, and also portrays the deep longing of wanting to see her again. I definitely think this could be a good image to use on the digi pack.

I also like this photo, because Astons face is really meaningful in the image, and really expresses the emotion of the song. The image also shows the frontman of the band playing the guitar, and he also shows considerable emotion and sympathy within his face. The fact that both faces show strong emotion, which is also impacted by the black and white, is what makes this a potential for consideration.

This image shows all four of the band members. Which delivers the band as a unit, and reflects on what the Kooks would do for their digi pack cover, as they do tend to express the whole band. This is another overlay image, and you can just about see Aston and Chesh from the previous image above the rest, this shows their importance to the band,  but could also express the emotion at a closer scale.

This image incorporates both band members, as-well the sea-side front of Blackpool with the vast amount of houses, hotels, and shops. The fact that Aston is placed in front of the band members and at a higher level shows us that he's the lead singer and he's expressing his story. however this print screen almost looks like Aston has been stuck onto the image, which ruins the effect a little.

This is a similar image to the previous one, however it's a lot more cropped making the band members looks even more important, so this would make the better cover if it were to be used on the digi pack. Aston is on a higher position once again, however this time he doesn't look like i've cropped him onto the page.

I really like the composition of the image. Aston once again stands out looking at the sea deep in thought with all the emotions of the song lyrics. The pier and the big wheel is in the background which is what makes this image so successful.





This image is another overlay, focussed purely on Aston but shows the previous image, and the close up to another frame. There is nothing different about the images other than the fact one is closer up, as a result the image is repeated in different positions, however it's effective because it means we get a close up of the facial expressions.

This image shows the other shot from previous in the overlay, but on it's own. Its rather dramatic individually, and i really like the tones of monochrome. The position within the composition could make a rather successful digi pack cover.

This is the same image as before, however i chose to print screen it as it went to fade to black. As a result the image is a lot more heavy with emotions being darker, as a result its a lot more depressive, and strong.

This shot is from the beginning of the music video in the hotel room before Aston ventures out and reminisces about Blackpool and what he's lost. I like the frame of this image, and it shows an introduction to the story. I also like the tones, and would consider having this as a album cover.

This is an overlay from the establishing shot of the Blackpool tower from the first example, to the introduction of Aston walking on the beach. I like the image because it looks rather effective and busy. And i like the way Aston is stood with the guitar next to the Blackpool tower, and then the pier and the tower appearing once again at the top of the image.

This is a straight forward show of Aston on the beach with the pier and tower in the background. I really like this image however theres lots of empty space on the left of the image, which makes me think that this should be cropped. But then again it's a good simple area for the title of 'The Kooks' for it to clearly stand out agains the simple sky, which would be successful.

This is more of a close up frame, and i think it works well, as everywhere you look in the photograph theres something interesting going on, and Aston gets the most attention because he's close to the camera.

This is another angle that i really like within the music video, and it would also appeal for a subtle image relating with the digi pack. The lead singer, performance, and the seaside come together to form the narrative of the lyrics captured within one image.

I really do like this image of the casinos, and i particularly think the black and white contrat particularly with the casino lights works well. However the shot doesn't particularly relate to anything with the music video or narrative. It's simple an establishing shot that doesn't hold much meaning to the sea side as you can find casinos anywhere. As a result i don't think this image would be suitable to the meaning of the song, nor does it capture the interest of the band. 



This is another overlay image which captures Aston under the pier of Blackpool which relates to the setting of the seaside, and the faint image of the famous Blackpool tram. I do like this image, because i feel that it creates a good narrative within a single shot, where you can create your own impression, however i don't think i will use this image for the digi pack.

Review of the trip to Blackpool and up to date with editing.

Thankfully, the trip to Blackpool went ahead as scheduled on Thursday 27th October. Filming was going rather successfully with all the shots planned in the storyboard available and on hand to interpret into my music video. Unfortunately as we were about to film shot no20 the camcorders battery ran out, which meant filming had to run into the next day too. However the good thing is most of the music video had pretty much been completed. Seeing as we travelled for the location, it meant we had to get the shots as perfectly as possible as there was no going back. This meant we had to be particularly careful and make sure nothing was going to ruin the correlation of the music video. This means everyone had to wear exactly the same clothes on the morning of Friday 28th October, and despite being in Blackpool, it was vital to make sure filming came first, but also having fun at the same time. As the day grew on, on the 27th October, the weather obviously changed and became darker as-well as growing a rather lovely sunset. This meant that we had to be careful that this didn't become too apparent in the music video with the change of day reflecting in the music video. Particularly as we had to film the next day too, and the weather wasn't as overcast as the previous day. However this problem wasn't very significant, and with the music being in black and white anyway, it meant that you couldn't really tell the difference anyway.


During our trip to Blackpool some of our shots had to be changed, which means our storyboard doesn't perfectly reflect that of the music video shot by shot. The beginning of the music video is most significant, as originally it was meant to be filmed in the tram. However we thought, as the trams were particularly busy in Blackpool, getting this shot may be hard, as there would be no guarantee that we would be able to get the shots we wanted, and it wouldn't be fair on the other passengers. Therefore shot 1 and 2 of the storyboard was changed, and we decided to interpret our hotel room into the music video, with Aston appearing on his own, and depressed, creating a perfectly good introduction to the music video before we take a tour along Blackpool with the storyline of the music video in place. Every other shot is pretty much how it was originally planned, however shot 5, the shot of the Pepsi Max was missed out, as we forgot to film it when we went down to the pleasure beach on the 28th. This wasn't a problem and it just meant that Aston was on screen a little longer lip synching then planned. However this works fine, as the song is quite short, but goes at a good pase. Rather than having band members run into Pigeons for shot 14 during an introduction to the next verse, it was a lot more subtle and on hand to get a great shot of a lone seagull in the sea. Extra shots came to us as we were actually in the location which means i could bring this into the music video as there were a few gaps in which i wrote down ideas that i could film, or weren't a strong fixture within the music video. As a result extra shots which appear in the music video such as the horse and carriage and Aston standing on his own in the sea were able to make an appearance, and are shots that i really like.

I really enjoyed the trip we made to Blackpool, and it was great to see my music video that i planned come to life on screen, as-well as being able to achieve exactly what i wanted to capture, and more. Making it a fantastic experience that i could share with friends, as-well as celebrating my 18th birthday whilst over there. I thing filming couldn't have gone any better, with some fantastic shots within the music video.

To bring my blog up to date, i have edited my music video, and it is nearly finished; im just adding final touches to make it run smoother. At the moment i'm having a little difficulty getting the lip-synch and music perfect. As when i move the video, in parts the lip synch appears perfect, but at the other end of the music video, it doesn't work quite as well. This makes me feel that lip-synching may not be perfect within the video at all. However I don't feel the difference is as substantial as it could be and at the moment i'm really happy with the way my music video has developed. Editing was rather smooth and wasn't too difficult to put together as all, because of the strong planning of the storyboard, which is something i didn't have when editing my thriller film. Right now im concentrating on getting the lip-synching as perfect as i can, as-well as making certain straight cuts in the video running a little smoothly. However sometimes i feel insertingvideo transitions, sometimes take the timing slightly out of the video.

How my video will look and feel with screenshots and music

This is a combination of the screenshots with the music of 'Seaside' so i can show an example of a preview of what it would look like and the timing of shots of what my storyboard would look like if everything was to be recorded exactly as it is at the moment.  I am really happy with it, and it helps to bring it more to life than the still images on a storyboard. As a result i can help to see what works really well and what could be changed and improved. 

Production, Characters, and Blackpool

In order for the production to go ahead as expected, it needs a lot of arrangement. Hopefully there are going to be 4 people within the music video. Aston will be the main character because i feel he has a good sense of the Indie feel, as-well as the fact that he also likes the kooks and listens to them a lot. As a result he knows all the words so miming the words shouldn't be hard as Aston has lots of expierence listening to the song and singing along. Knowing it off by heart will be a hugh help in getting the miming as professional as possible. I also think Aston will fit the character of the lead singer extremly well with the storyline, as well as the Indie dress sense. As a result of Aston being the main character, it is vital that Aston can get to Blackpool, otherwise the whole plan will fail, or i will need to get a replacement pretty fast for the production schedule to go ahead as planned and not fall behind. A group of friends are going up to blackpool, to make the most of the blackpool experience, and have fun aswell as make sure filming is completed.  As a result these friends will also particiapte within the music video as the other three bandmembers who become characters in the music video, just like the kooks. These characters will be Macauley, Chesh, and Jack or Luke. As they only have a small role, there not as important as Aston but are still vital for the production of the music video.

As a result everything needs to go ahead as planned, especially with so much relying on other people. Therefore i need to make sure that blackpool is actually booked, and i have limited time to sort everything out as i go on holiday for 2 weeks on the 10th October. This is unfortunate however i am trying not to let this get in the way of my development and production within media. The problem is weather at the end of the day they will be able to afford it so we can book it. I will get in contact with everyone starring in the music video and see what is happening, so far everyone is aware about blackpool and have agreed and want to go, so it's just the booking of train tickets e.t.c

Production schedule and deadlines.

Thursday 20th October- deadline for all research and planning.

Friday 21st October- Monday 31st October Half term- filming must commence.

Thursday 27th- if all goes to plan, this will be the day we go to blackpool and film. As blackpool is quite far away, we need to be extremly prepared for this day and makes sure we get all the shots we need and they are at a deceant quality as i doubt we will be able to go back.

Tuesday 1st November- upload footage from blackpool and start editing and putting everything together as it is on the storyboard. Once editing is complete, start concentrating on digi pack and magazine article

Thursday 15th December- final deadline for all 3 practical pieces.

Theorists of music videos

Goodwin:

Goodwin was an established media theorist who carried out his own analysis of music videos. Below is the number of key features which distinguish music videos according to Andrew Goodwins writing in 'Dancing in the Distraction Factory'. (Routledge 1992)

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics- for example stage performance in a metal video, or adance routine for boy/girl band music video

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals- it's either illusive, amplifying, or contradicting.

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals- this is also either illusive, amplifying or contradicting.

4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist, may develop motifs which recur across their work- a visual style.

5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking- scenes within screens, telescopes e.t.c and particularly vouyeuristic treatment of the female body.

6. There is often intertextual reference- to films, tv programmes, other music videos e.t.c

Andrew Goodwin believes that music videos are often constructed by a link between the visuals of a music videos, the song and the artist. A relationship between the viewer and the artist is built with the use of close ups of the artists. This gives them the representation and the publicity that they require with an intimate effect. The use of vouyeurism was used mainly in the shape of a males fantasy and to develop the atrraction in the videos, and the use of intertextuality is added in humourours music videos. Intertextual references provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewer of fans within a film, tv programme and other music videos.

Use of Camera- The one shot which dominates music videos are close ups. Close ups are used to predominantely reflect the face of the artist, which is the biggest commodity for their representation. The use of close ups also help to create intamacy with the viewer, and having eye to eye contact with the artist helps to relate to the viewer and artist together, and feel they can relate to one another through eye contact. Editing in a montage way is really important for a music videos. The use of fast cuts will encourage repeat viewings, whereas long clips of the same thing will get really tedious, and viewers will be board of the music video after the first appearance. If this is the case, the video for the song will not sell very well and this may effect the artists sales for their music. Editing should also reflect the mood of the song and artists.

Narrative and Performance- The narrative within music videos are often non-linear, which means it may not be set in a straight forward line, with clips jumping backwards and forwards to tell a story or visual. As a result this will encourage multiple viewings, with bits of performace mixed among a narrative building interest within a music video. Often if the music video is full on performance it can get a bit boring just watching a band play their instruments, this happens a lot within the metal genre. However including a narrative within a performance help to kepp the video fresh and gain interest for longer. However what performance does shoe is credibility of their key skills to success being believable. Mise en scene within a music video also represents authenticy, expressing the band members that they are, who they say they are, and what they stand to represent. For example each genre of music have their own style, which is consisitant throughout. For example with the kooks and the indie genre, the lighting is constantly used to set the mood, and used for expresions, this is also used alongside black and white, and the style of clothing that they wear.

Voyeurism and star appeal- The theory of voyeurism was developed by Freud, and means the desire to look and stare. As a result it refers to the pleasure gained through looking. One particular example is the 'male gaze' in which woman are obtified on screen, and develop a mans fantasy. However it also means the pleasure of just being able to see people through objects. For example, apparantly humans recieve pleasure within the darkness of the cinema, whilst watching people on the screen. Motifs of voyeurism include fragmented body parts, such as close ups of the female form, another motif is the use of mirrors or filming through webcams and CCTV's. This use of camera style builds the pleasure of being able to see people whilst giving the idea that they don't know your seeing.

Intertextuality- This refers to another media text within a text. and draws on the influences from films, games, and even other music videos which is then intepretated into another source of media.

Within my music video the two types of theories that would be included and intepretated into my music video is the use of camera, and narrative and performance. The use of camera and close ups is used within my music video with the close up of Astons face, as he reached the saddest climax of the music video in which the depth of the lyrics and the way it's sung reaches it's most emotional. This will work because the close up of the face, and the saddness will be captured by the audience and will make them connect and relate on that emotion level.

The use of narrative and performance is very clear within my music video. The narrative overwhelms the perforance slightly however this is because the narrative and the way the lyrics connect is vital, and the storyline is more important than the performance. The performance is used alongside the narrative to make the emotions deeper, and to define the storyline.

General Music Video Theory

Music Video General Theory
1. The lyrics tend to express the general mood of the video, the shots used deliver meaning. This meaning will either relate or contradict the lyrics, or use a vague concept related to the style of music.
2. The tempo of the music tends to match the way the music video is edited. For example if the music video is fast pased, then so is the editing.
3. Genre is frequently reflected in the types of mise-en-scene used, common themes, style of performance, use of the camera and the way in which it’s edited.
4. Depending on how the camera is used, will impact the connotations associated with the band. More often than not, close up’s will dominate the majority of the video.
5. Editing is generally done in fast successions, to try and make it difficult for the audience to grasp what is fully going on in the video, meaning they will have to watch the video multiple times.
6. Digital effects will be used to enhance the editing, to either add to style or the audience’s experience.
7. Intertextuality is often present. This is to create pleasure in the audience, as they will be able to connect to the video and feel a sense of fulfillment at the ability to pick up on the references. An example of this is Lady Gaga- Telephone that has clear references to Kill Bill through the scene in the diner and the car used, other references include Chicago as she is walking into the prison and the style of dancing used.
8. Exhibitionism is the exposure of some form of nudity, this is common in music videos, more often than not, they show some form a nudity,(even if it’s mild) to make the artist more desirable. Either through showing the female artist themselves, or male artists surrounded by half naked women to imply that if you buy into their image and style you will be like them. This stems from the Male Gaze Theory

analysis of kooks research

The album theme of the Kooks very first album 'Inside in Inside out' sticks to this recurring theme of black and white, which is rather fitting for the contents of the album, style of band, and refers to the Indie genre. The image is very studio in my opinion with just a simple white background, as if the Kooks are in for practise or recording, and represents the band with a message of who they are and what they stand for due to their instruments and how they position themselves. As a result this exaggerates the focus of the introduction of the entire band, being relatively new they need to appeal in the front cover to catch the viewers attention. The contrast in colour is a diverse contrast from the pure white background, as a result this makes the band members look bold. The image also suggests the ranks of the band. For example with Luke and his frontman at the front of the image this shows that they are vital for the band, particularly Luke, being the lead singer. His frontman also gets slightly more screen time within the music videos due to his position. In the middle is the other guitarist and at the very back is the drummer. Not that he gets lost in the background due to the dramatic contrast of black and white which also shows he may be the person that is most likely more in the background due to being a drummer but not forgotten. I love the way they've done the title in this album cover. With 'The Kooks' bold in black in between the title of the album 'Inside in, the Inside out' which is striking in red against the black and white image which is really dramatic.

The photograph used for their second album 'Konk' is a lot more serious and dramatic. I think this is because the Kooks are now aware of their popularity and success from their previous album. A spotlight of light comes from the Neon light of the album title 'Konk' is used to highlight the band members in the image. This technique makes sure that the band members are the focal point in the photo, as the rest of the album is framed in blackness. I really like the originality of incorporating the title of the album within the photographs, as usually it's just stamped on afterwards. The band as a whole look very together in this photograph, and the roles don't seem to matter as much. However i still think their is more focus on Luke and his frontman, as is the case in any band, because you can see more of their faces, especially Lukes. The clothes in the photograph represent the Indie genre and their characteristics. The leather jackets, shirts and the hat that the frontman commonly wears all represent their identity as individuals and as a group. The font of the band name 'The Kooks' is in a really simple, but bold manner. The use of capitals emphasise their name, and the colour white really helps it stand out against the pitch black surface of the photograph. I really like the effect of this simplistic technique. The fact that his album cover is more dramatic also instates the bands movement from the first album and the fact that this album has been focussed on a different meaning, than the first, and their may even be a slight difference in the music. This is because albums are never the same completely, as bands constantly have to keep developing to stay in the change of the music industry.

This is the album cover of the Kooks third album 'Junk of the Heart'. The cover is very different to the last two albums, and shows the bands development and already suggests the change of the band and the music inside. Bands always like the experiment with different styles and how they can make their music different. Luke himself describes the songs in this album as 'louder'.  This is always a risk as bands love them for their previous music, and the Kooks were already very distinct and different from the rest which made them so popular. The fact that the album cover is a lot more experimental, and the band have moved away from using themselves in the photo shows this development, and i also find it more alternative to coincide with the Indie genre. Another difference to the album cover is how colourful it actually is, and i love the way paint has been smeared over the photographs, i feel this really incorporates the meaning of the title 'Junk of the Heart'. Whats also important is the fact that the title doesn't appear on the front of the cover. This is because the band is so secure from their previous success that they don't really need to sell themselves on the front cover, or even include a title because their fans would already know. This is why they can be more original. The one thing that is kept the same is the font and style used for the band name 'The Kooks' exactly the same as it was in the last album. This provides some sort of structure, and resembles that the Kooks still have the same values as before. I also like how the white not only works brilliantly against a black background like in the last album, but also stands out and works just as good against lots of colour too.

From analysing these album covers it helps me to develop and incorporate the ideas of the Kooks into my front cover of my digi pack. I think i will definitely stick to the simplicity of the band name, and may not include a title to make it look cleaner, just as the Kooks have in their third album. I can choose to include band members, or have something that represents the image of the title, aslong as it's strong, bold and meaningful. And it could either be simple, like the shot in the first album, but strong because of the contrast of monotone colours, or a lot more edited such as that of the second album 'Konk'.

Story board

This is my storyboard for my potential music video. I feel the structure of this will really help me to film everything perfectly without any worries. There are areas of the storyboard that are really important, for the storyline to make sense. However there are parts which can be developed and changed such as establishing shots because i can use my surroundings when i'm actually there rather than what i have just by memory.