Final Ancillary Products

Final Ancillary Products

DigiPak Screenshot (Final)

Magazine Advert Screenshot (Final)

Audience Feedback: Facebook Post

Audience Feedback

In hopes to gain insight into how I could improve my music video, I took to Facebook and addressed my friends and peers, hoping to receive an adequate amount of responses so that I could use them to influence my final edit for my music video. 

I have compiled together the comments that I received on my Facebook post and I can infer that there is a general consensus regarding the timing of a couple of frames within the music video. Looking over the music video, I agree with the comments regarding the timing of the frame of my mother and will edit it down accordingly. I also noticed that a couple of my friends suggested that I edited the car journey frames so that it was in time with the music. 

Now that I have all of this information, and I do believe that it is enough to further inspire my music video in the final editing process, I will go back into Final Cut Pro X and edit the footage according to what my friends have suggested. 

Using Facebook as a way to gain feedback was a useful and quick way of doing so. However, as evidenced, it is always a little risky as I cannot control the content of what people have to say about the music video. I tried to emphasise that this was a professional task and I needed genuine feedback. I believe that I got genuine feedback, despite the "silliness" of some of the comments.

As is evident, I have received a number of comments from my friends around the world: in Bangkok, Dubai and in England. This goes to show how powerful social media is (despite time differences!) and how Facebook truly is a platform that will continue on into the future - connecting people from all around the world. 

I am glad that I have received feedback from my friends around the world as I know that there would be different cultural influences and the way in which they would view the media text. However, it is evident that the majority of them share the same opinions regarding the video. My music video has officially reached a worldwide audience - in respect to my friends in different countries. This mass audience engagement will surely influence the way in which I edit and continue to develop my ancillary products. 

Magazine Advert: Continued Exploration and Development 2

Continued Exploration and Development

Now that I have completed the alternative features for the magazine advert (inclusive of the QR Code and logos detailing where audiences can purchase the album), I have now moved onto one of the final steps of the design: music reviews. Scouring the Internet for reviews on the band was particularly challenging as Cigarettes After Sex aren't really a "well-known" band and are only just starting to branch out into the music industry.

I found reviews from Rolling Stone, Brighton's Finest, "Noisey" and Independent Music News (IMN). All of the reviews that I have compiled together reflect the success of the band and highlights the further success that they will encounter as they branch out further into the music industry.

On magazine adverts, especially for music and film releases, the reviews that are included on the advert are nearly always positive and reflect the opinions of renowned establishments such as NME and Empire. Renowned and well-known establishments such as the aforementioned persuade audiences to watch films, listen to music and engage with the product that is being advertised. Audiences know that reviews from well-known companies are going to be reliable which in turn, makes mass audiences more likely to engage with the text.


The reviews that I have included are snippets from longer reviews and I chose them because I felt like they would urge audiences to listen to their music. As I started to experiment with the text, I originally had it in the font 'Helvetica', but after gathering opinions from peers and friends, I decided to maintain the original font used by the band and throughout my ancillary products. The 'Helvetica' font was "too soft" and detracted from the 'edginess' that I want translated to audiences. Placement of the reviews is important as I don't want them to be too big as to distract from what I am actually advertising, so I kept them small and isolated in the black background to the left of the image of the hands. I have also decided to keep the colour scheme monochromatic, so the font is all in white and contrasts nicely with the dark background and image. I considered having the font in the baby blue colour that I experimented with on the other ancillary product, but I felt like it would look disjointed and completely random - this is because I am no longer using the baby blue font on the DigiPak design, ergo, the relationship between all of my products wouldn't be strong.

I am pleased with the placement of the reviews and I feel like they add cohesion to the advert without distracting from my intention. As I continue with my exploration, I am going to consider italicising the font and continue to document the different placements of the reviews - as this was a first attempt and believe that there is still room to make changes. 

As a side note, I have noticed that the bottom end of the advert looks a little cramped with the QR code and the record label feature - thus, I am going to go back into Illustrator and play around with the placement of those features so that it looks professional and effective. I have also noticed that I could potentially move the hand image up slightly, as to offer more space for the features and links at the bottom of the advert. However, this means that the image won't be central and it may look off-set - but I am eager to experiment with this. 

Reviews:

https://independentmusicnews.com/review-cigarettes-after-sex-affection/

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-january-2016-20160125/cigarettes-after-sex-20160124

https://noisey.vice.com/en_dk/article/the-diehard-romanticism-of-cigarettes-after-sex

http://www.petrieinventory.com/cigarettes-after-sex-review/

https://brightonsfinest.com/html/index.php/9-articles/1973-cigarettes-after-sex-interview-2016

(Credits to all of the above).

Magazine Advert: Continued Development 1

Magazine Advert: Continued Development

As I continue my development for my magazine advert, I have now started to consider inserting features that make the audiences aware of the platforms that the music is available on, such as iTunes and Soundcloud. To start this process, I took to the Internet to find vector images of logos of Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify. Once I had found a suitable vector image to place onto the advert, I opened it in Illustrator and adjusted the image accordingly.

Through my exploration of these icons, I realised that coloured vector images didn't look good at all and considering that the rest of the advert is monochromatic and grayscale, the colour was the immediate focal point on the magazine and distracted from the main image of the hand.

In order to maintain my aesthetic, I changed the coloured vectors to transparent vector images - all of which are devoid of colour. I have included a simple iTunes logo, the record label (Partisan Records) and a QR Code. As well as these features, I have also included the websites of which audiences can utilise in order to find out more information about the band, as well as the purchasing information on iTunes. Editing these vectors was simple. Initially, the record label feature was black writing on a white background, but in order to maintain the aesthetic, I inverted the colours and removed the white background and made the feature transparent.

The rest of the editing was relatively simple, as the other vectors that I had chosen all had transparent backgrounds and white text, so the iTunes and the QR Code feature were able to be kept the same. Through my own evaluation, if I could change anything about the placement of the features that would be evidenced through my further exploration of the magazine design, it would be to perhaps change the position of the QR Code and remove it from above the record label feature; as this looks quite congested and messy.

After much deliberation and consideration surrounding my chosen and intended aesthetic appeal, I am going to refrain from using colours on the magazine advert as I don't believe that for this chosen band, genre and the message of my music video, the use of overbearing and vibrant colours detract from the message that I am trying to convey to audiences and doesn't fit well with my intention. The message of my music video isn't entirely happy, but is a reflection on a very real and contemporary relationship, devoid of all of the stigmas that are reflected in Hollywood blockbusters, for example, relationships in major Hollywood films are more than likely to be depicted as "picture perfect".

My music video focuses on the ups and downs of a relationship and what couples do to cope when faced with nostalgia and times of trouble, hence the reason why I have decided that in order to emphasise this message, the use of monochrome detailing on all of my ancillary products, instead of vibrant colours, would be the most appropriate choice of design.

Generated QR Code

QR Code

Linked QR Code to blog

As my aforementioned post stated, I took the initiative to generate a QR code that directly links to my blog so that when I place it on the magazine advert, audiences will be able to scan and interact with the code and it will take them directly to the blog where I have extensive research about the band. 

As well as this, I have also generated and included a linked QR Code to the band's actual website: cigarettesaftersex.com

Cigarettes After Sex QR Code

I will insert one of these QR Codes and will determine which one to insert based on the opinions of my peers. Although, with this being said, it would seem appropriate to include the band's actual website, but on the other hand, the QR code that links to my blog could also be considered relevant as it would provide the audiences with the extra research surrounding the artist. 

Having a QR Code on a magazine advert ties the product together and with the advancing technology in today's society, this feature allows audiences to interact with the band easily and quickly. 

The only issue that I could see is that if the QR Code is too big, it could ruin the slick aesthetic of the ancillary product and look distracting for mass audiences - thus, during the editing process, I must ensure that each element of the advert is cohesive and works well together, with links, barcodes etc. being of an appropriate size as to not distract from the promotion of the band.

Magazine Advert: First Stages

Magazine Advert: First Stages

For my second ancillary product, I have to create a magazine advert that demonstrates my ability to sustain links between all elements of my coursework, as well as my creative flair. After conducting research that would later help with me constructing my own advert, I took to Illustrator again to start the process of producing my final ancillary product. 

I started with a blank, black canvas so that I could start the process and evidence my development. Firstly, I added a border vector to ensure maximum clarity and resolution to use as a frame for the main images and text that would feature on the poster. Using a clipping mask, I eliminated the white background that came with the original image of the frame. I then proceeded to place the image of the hands on top of the edited border image. This process was easy as I had already eliminated the background of the image in Photoshop so it already had a transparent background and was used as a successful overlay. I used the image of the hands as it reflects my intention of providing an advert that is minimalistic and monochromatic, yet effective and successful. Symbolically, the hands tie all elements of my coursework pieces together, as they feature on the DigiPak, as well as being a repeated motif in the music video. 

Through further editing, and to ensure that I was inspired from the original artwork for Cigarettes After Sex, I changed the opacity of the image to 80% which then provided a softer aesthetic for the advert and maintained links with my original inspiration. The next stage focused on bringing in the text that I would use for the final advert and throughout all of my exploration. To mirror the design for the DigiPak, I have also decided to use the same font: ITC Mendoza Roman Book SC - again, this ensures that all ancillary products are an accurate reflection of each other and shows that I am constantly considering links between the products. 

Aside from this, the first stages of editing were rounded up with a QR code that I generated from a website. This was simply a test QR code and for the final advert, I will make the code linkable to my blog. 

25 Marker Response: Narrative

Apply the concept of Narrative to one of your coursework productions. (25 Marks)

For my AS coursework, I produced a three minute moving image sequence that was to be representative of a segment from a potential film. I can apply the concept of narrative to this particular product through various interpretations echoed by theorists and their respective theories. Narrative is defined by the way that a story is told and the way that meaning is constructed to enhance and achieve the understanding of relevant audiences.

Tzvetan Todorov (1969) theorised that all narratives have a three-part structure: equilibrium in the state of normality, disequilibrium and a resolution or a new equilibrium. The way in which I can apply this theory to my short film opening is that through a tilted camera shot, I established serene equilibrium or what would be perceived as a “normal” environment of my protagonist daintily walking through a street. A slow tilt camera angle creates an atmosphere of calmness and reiterates to the audience that equilibrium has been established. As my sequence progressed, I focused on creating a disruption in the narrative that subsequently added the element of suspense and concluded with a dramatic climax. This was captured through quick-cut editing in an environment that had low-key lighting, which in turn maintained and sustained a level of intense suspense.

Aside from following the three-part structure of Todorov, Vladimir Propp (1928) coined the theory of ‘Character Functions’ within a set narrative. He observed that narratives are almost entirely shaped and developed by certain characters and specific actions that unfold in order to pursue a narrative. Within my AS coursework, I adopted two of Propp’s character roles: the villain and the “damsel”. Personally, my protagonist who, according to Propp’s theory, assumes the role of the “Princess” doesn’t entirely conform to specific characteristics as outlined by an archetypal Princess character – she is more of a character who, based on the storyline, is someone that is randomly selected. My overarching storyline within my AS opening is that a seemingly innocent girl is attacked by a supernatural entity, only to find out that her family and her heritage holds a certain gene that makes it impossible for her to ever become mortal again. Thus, I can’t really apply the label of “Princess” to her character, as I have constructed my film opening so that it is riddled with narrative enigmas.

On the other hand, the antagonist (the supernatural entity), successfully acts as a villain; satisfying Propp’s character function. However, even though I had Propp’s Theory in mind when creating my film opening, I wanted to subvert an element of the theory by deconstructing any previously existing stereotypes of a villain, and eventually transformed the antagonist into a sympathetic character. The sincerity and change of character was evidenced through extreme close up camera shots that were edited slowly, which then captured a notable change of tone in the antagonists voice – therefore deconstructing any negatively held views about the supernatural. To further justify and to provide a visual contrast, the opening shots of the antagonist were shot with the intention to build up a malevolent and ruthless character; done by an establishing shot and a transition into rapid quick-cut shots that showed the gruesome transformation of the antagonist’s physicality. In accordance to one of Propp’s 31 Character Functions, the villain injures and attacks the protagonist, however, this would be the only distinctive link that I could make to the theory, as Propp’s Theory follows suit to the “Folk Tales” that he studied during 1928, whereas my AS sequence follows suit to that of a modernised text and doesn’t fully include the other Character Functions.

My AS opening sequence is also based on the principle of Levi-Strauss’ Binary Opposites Theory. To put it simply, the sequence is heavily based upon the conflict between the notions of “Good versus Evil”. As the aforementioned states, there are two sole characters within my coursework: the protagonist and the antagonist. I have constructed the antagonist to embody the archetypal features and characteristics associated with ruthless supernatural entities. This was executed through wide angled camera shots that were compiled together in a quickly edited fashion as to emphasise the unrelenting determination to attack the female protagonist. Ergo, the antagonist is the embodiment of what audiences would consider being an “evil” character. In comparison, the female protagonist is depicted as the innocent, lone wanderer in the streets. Her nonchalance and general “aesthetic” was constructed with the intention to convey her to audiences as being “pure” and an “unlikely target”. This is evidenced through various wide angled camera shots, as well as a camera tilt that unintentionally objectifies her (this is in accordance with Laura Mulvey’s ‘Male Gaze Theory’). These camera angles capture what the protagonist wears and in order to emphasise her purity and innocence, I dressed her in white clothing, which typically connotes “the pure” and the “divine”.

To surmise, my moving image sequence entails theories that conform to the general ideologies of different narratives. Whilst I considered narratives, I also focused on subverting traditional expectations that audiences would typically expect as outlined by a rigid narrative structure – hence my deviation from typical characteristics that stock characters would usually embody.

Finalising DigiPak: #3

Finalising DigiPak: #3

With this third DigiPak design, I have changed the inside image to that of a picture that I actually took instead of taking it from the music video. The reason I have decided to use an image of flames is that symbolically, in my music video, it represents the everlasting desire and passion in the relationship between the two characters within my music video. However, I find that the colouring of the inside image doesn't really go well or fit with the other images that are clearly either monochromatic, or are dull in tone. 

As evidenced, I experimented with the placement and the mirroring of the inside image to see if it would work a different way, but to no real avail. The image itself was constructed using the clipping mask and the appropriate resizing without altering the resolution, but overall, it didn't really work as the image looked incomplete and cropped due to a harsh black line that almost "cuts the image off" - making the aesthetic look messy and incomplete. As well as this, the harsh orange and yellow colours contrasted too much with the cool hues on the front and back images - as well as the blue text. 

I have decided that by exhausting my options with this image, I will leave it be and finalise the exploration as I believe that I can't do anything else with the image so that it marries with the front and back aesthetic. By keeping the blue text evident, I wanted to see if the image of the flames would enhance the aesthetic, but now knowing that it doesn't work, in my final design I will remove the alternating colour and just keep the text white.

The exploration with the flame image was for the sole purpose of experimenting with symbolic images that emphasised the message of my music video.

Finalising DigiPak: #2

Finalising DigiPaks: #2

Having an idea of what my final DigiPak is going to look like, I experimented with different stills from my music video so that I could explore various designs and identify which ones worked the most successfully. I chose an image that exhibited a low-angled camera shot of my parents as they embraced - an image that would later become symbolic of the love that they have for each other. Opening Illustrator, I went in with the same process as the other times that I have edited images into the DigiPak design.

Using the 'Shift' button to accurately resize the image without altering the resolution and also making a clipping mask using the rectangular shape tool. After completing these steps, I then repositioned the image manually so that it would fit to the bleed line and end before it reached the spine. For this design, I decided to keep the inside image the same, as I know that I want to keep it in the final design and I needed to know how well it would flow with the new image of my parents - in case it didn't work. Having the two images (front and back) side by side enabled me to see how well the aesthetic worked and proved to me that the two images married up and highlighted a continuous relationship between the images on my DigiPak.

The new image worked well as there was a clear link between the hands that are displayed on the back image, and the images of the hands with the wedding bands on the front cover. After deciding upon this image, I then went into altering the position of the text and publishing/copyrighting information; as they had been forced behind the image.

Once I had rearranged the placement of the text, I then went in by recolouring the text - making the track list alternate in colour. This choice of alternating the text colour was inspired from the magazine advert research that I had undertaken. I used baby blue and white as the colours that I would use to provide alternating text colours. After I had finished this, I realised that with the new image, it didn't look quite right as it looked amateur and misplaced. Another problem that I discovered was that the numbers on the track list were not in line with the names of the songs. In order to provide a clean and professional look, I then went in and altered the alignment of the numbers and the tracks by copying and pasting a duplicate text layer over the original text and then manually moving the numbers whilst aligning them to the left (seen on the final DigiPak design).

Looking at the final design with this new image, the text was in the right place but the alternating colour didn't fit well and didn't add anything to the design - but instead detracted from the overall cohesive and professional aesthetic that I was going for. The new image itself works really well and ties together the strong relationship between all elements of my design, it was just a shame that the inspiration from the original magazine advert didn't work well over the top.

However, I am happy with the secondary image and I believe I will carry this over into the final design - this is because the inclusion of two hand images might be overbearing and could emphasise a "clumpy" or forced design that doesn't really have much aesthetic appeal. With my third and final design, I will consider a new inside image but leave the back and front images the same.

Finalised second design