Drew Anderson A2 Media studies

This digi pack is very dark overall and most of the panels have a black background, however the front cover is quite simple which works quite well the triangle with the night sky in stands out well and the nights sky is a constant thorough out the digi pack., I think although this is simple it would attract an audience because the front does stand out so well, however the dark does mean it could potentially be missed by potential customers

to the first example this digi pack is completely different it is bright and colourful and has a lot going on in it, I like that the flower moving across all 3 covers this is very effective and gives a central theme, the tree on the front cover similar to the first one is a outline with colour in it and again ahs the rose in which is a nice tie in to the rest of the digi pack, I think this would attract audiences as it in intriguing and nice to look at and so people are more likely to busy it.

This digi pack is set up differently to the others where as they had the same thing in each one flowing through like the night sky or the rose this one has individual snapshots going through although there does seem to be a slight London theme, however I like that this combines the musicians as well with close up's of their instruments. however I don't think this would attract audiences that well because the pictures aren't that interesting and have too much going on in them.

Initial thoughts on our own ancillary task 1?
for our own ancillary task 1 I think it would be better to go simple and not overcomplicate the cover like the third research one did because sometimes the simple covers are better such as the second one would also help us attract audiences better.

How will your ancillary 1 and 2 have common themes?
The main thing that the two ancillary tasks will have in common is the colour scheme they are going to be either black and white or very very colourful because I think this will make them stand out a lot better and having them the same colours will link them very well

For our idea we have decided on 3 main areas for the locations, a forest scene a city scene and a beach scene, the beach scene is particularly important because we are going to film it at sunrise.

Forest - Theatford forest

This location is perfect because it is easy for us to get to and it doesn't look like a built up area at all there are no buildings in the backdrop and there is a mixture of thin and thick forest areas that will give us ample opportunity to film in .

Beach - Southwald beach

This location is good because it had the long beaches stretching out as well as nothing blocking the view across the sea this means that we will easily be able to see the sun in the sunrise as well as being easily accessible.

City - Norwich City

These locations are good because the city is normally fairly busy and combines the old part of the city which is quite bright and colo0urful and the new part which is modern and stylish the combination of these two should make a great location to film at

Have you thought about weather conditions?
we would like the city and forest scenes to be filmed in the daytime and if possible on a clear sunny day because this would mean more people out in the places and will make it look more natural, but the beach scene we would like to be filmed at sunset and quite desolate as this will look quite good and add to the cinematography.

Do you have a back up?
we don't currently have back ups for these locations because the only thing that should stop us using them is bad weather and this is easy for us to sort out as when we plan our shooting schedule; we are going to make sure that we check the weather and also if needs be we can always wait until another day to film with better weather, since they are all public places we cant be stopped form filming apart from Theatford forest which we have permission to film at .

Can all your cast get there?
we are providing the transport for our cast so them getting to the location only depends on us which shouldn't be a problem.

are you using exterior interior locations?
we are planning to use nearly all exterior locations however we are using an interior for the bedroom scene the reason that we are using mainly exterior locations is because the idea is that these are his memories of time with her on dates and things like that which involve the going out.

FIRE
Through class discussions and developments we have decided to slightly change our idea. We thought that the original storyline was a little hard to follow from the audiences perspective and didn't really have an immersive narrative.

The idea:
Intro option 1:

The music video begins with a short introduction film. In this scene we see our lead protagonist (aged around 17/18) walking along a normal suburban street - he is holding colourful flowers in his hand and looks confident. Making use of a tracking shot and pan, he walks up and knocks on the door of a house. When the door opens we see a girl open the door. They immediately start arguing and we gradually lose hearing of the audio as the song then starts with a sound bridge over the couple arguing and the screen dips to black.

Intro option 2:

A slow pan is used to show a couple in bed together. A couple of quick cuts will be shown here as well. We then see the girl get out of the bed and change get dressed (she is still wearing the boys over sized check shirt). We follow her as she walks through the house and out of the door. A closeup of her hand on the door handle trying to shut the door quietly. We then cut to the boy still in bed - he opens his eyes and realizes she is gone finding a letter on the pillow. As he reads it is clear that she has ended their relationship and the song is heard gradually getting louder and the narrative follows:

Main Plot line:
We then cut to what looks like a boys bedroom. There will be a short pan of the room so the audience are aware of what it looks like and the objects within it - this important to the plot line of the story.
An extreme close up will then be used to film the boy as he uses a lighter to burn a Polaroid picture of the couple together. It is clear from this point that the two have split up due to their argument at the beginning. We then see the boy opening a draw or meeting someone handing him drugs. Close ups will be used to show the boy consuming the drugs (pull focus of the burnt Polaroid burning to him smoking in the background. He then lies on the bed and an aerial shot will be used to film the boy lying in the middle of the bed could be holding something of hers. POV shot of his eyes closing or smoke blowing into camera and we are cut into memories of the couple together. The drugs have taken effect and make him feel happy as he tries to escape from the reality of this situation. There will be three memory sequences - a beach (Yarmouth/Southold), City (Norwich on bench looking over city?), and field (them lying in the grass together? Stars in the sky?). In between each memory shot we will cut back to the boy lying on the bed in the room. This is to remind viewers that he is still dreaming and this is not actually happening. Also, every time we cut back to him in the room something noticeable is missing to mirror the idea that he is slowly loosing everything even his own personality and possessions. In the final shot we are left with the boy lying in a completely empty room, lying simply on a mattress. This is to show that he has actually lost everything and the drugs have worn off - there is no escape. This is where then film ends and the screen cuts to black. Although this is a tragic end we think it will be mot engaging to the audience but it also fits entirely with the lyrics and melancholic feel of the song - London Grammar, Wasting my young years.

protagonist will be lying on the bed/floor on his own.

To help add a sense of realism to the narrative that we are trying to go for we have decided to conduct a short case study into drug overdose and the harsh reality of taking them. I think this will significantly help with our idea and make it easier to film.

After some research, we have come across a range of data revealing the negative impacts of recreational drugs. In 2014 there were 2,248 deaths which were related to drug misuse. This is an increase of 15% on 2013 and 44% higher than 2004. This is quite shocking especially because those that take drugs take them as a form of escape from reality, A way avoiding judgement or any issues within their life. Drugs are also used as a form of social interaction, with many young people (mainly males) forming drug gangs and groups.

Another reason why so many people overdose within todays society is also due to the fact drugs are so easily accessible to people. Younger people are most vulnerable to this concept as they are often under pressure to fit in with others and the idea of "keeping up appearances". Drugs are also more accepted with many countries such as Amsterdam legalising some drug consumption and allowing the market of drug sales.

Drug use is also a problem within large institutions and schools where a large member of young people have access to them. In fact, in 2014, 15% of pupils had ever taken drugs, 10% had taken drugs in the last year and 6% had taken drugs in the last month.

To conclude, drug use throughout the world has become an increasing problem with many more people consuming them in today's society. This is a message we want to portray within the music video. We must be clear and get to the point within the narrative that drug use is a problem and is why the couple end their relationship. The idea of the man being alone by the end of the video is to reveal the idea that, as a result of taking drugs he is now isolated from reality and from a relationship he so desperately wants. By cutting it here I believe that the message will be more impacting on the audience and will therefore make it more memorable.

Who are you looking to cast in the performer roles?

What is it about these people that makes them the ideal cast?

Although we still need to make a decision on who we would like to cast there where a few that stood out in these auditions compare4s to others, the ideal thing about these people is that they had a good personality, the answers to the questions are important however elaborating on them enjoying it and being comfortable being filmed are also important because we want the cast to enjoy filming as this will be reflected in there performance and because of this there are a few in the auditions that's seemed too nervous and we are unlikely to use. we are also considering doing further auditions for people that we thought where good to make a final decision, to do this we are going to pair up the actors and audition them together again to see how they work together, this should make it clear for us if they can work together and if they are the people that we would like to have in our roles.

1. How will your ancillary tasks help attract your target audience?

The ancillary task such as the CD digi- pack as well as posters will significantly help attract our target audience. The design of the case should be original and showcase bright and vibrant colours which will catch the audiences attention. Within the Cd case a small insert will be made which will list song names, related imagery and lyrics. We could also create a poster to help further promote the band and music video. The poster will be either A4 or A3 in size and will be printed onto glossy paper for a premium finish. All the products made should be consistent in colours schemes and font types. This is to keep everything recognisable across the different media platforms.

Furthermore, we could set up social media accounts to further promote the brand. Social media is perhaps the best platform to showcase the music video as it is instant and effective, being accessible for everyone. This could also be set up quickly and easily meaning we could update the pages and posts to advertise the final product and gain audience feedback.

By creating these ancillary products we will be able to extend the marketing of the music video and reach out to a wider range of people. The ultimate goal for the ancillary task is to mirror the media industry process from creating the idea, filming the video to selling the product to the consumer. If these products are made well will be able to gain more profit which would realistically go to the band. This is part of synergy, where each marketing campaign and process promotes another leading to more awareness of the band and its identity.

What constitutes 'success' for a particular media text in your chosen media area?

With the variety of music videos that we are graced by today, there isn't a set area of success that constitutes a good music video. However. if we were to dissect specific areas of researched music videos, we can clearly see that they share similar aspects that make them a success.

1. Inclusion of a linear narrative:

This has been involved in many- if not all- the music videos that we have witnessed. Ultimately, in a music video you need a short film to be constructed and intertwined within. This gives the audience an understanding to the meaning of the song and also gain an emotional attachment. If these all occur, the song will then become more memorable to the audience. The linear narrative normally works best when it is coincided with the live band performance.

2. Inclusion of a band performance:

This is normally coincided with the linear narrative. It is mostly used for filling in gaps in the narrative, however for an audience to see who is singing the song can be critical. By having a live band performance, it places them on the same level of the audience. Overall, it creates a triangle of success, this being between the narrative, live performance and audience engagement. Furthermore, sometimes with this engagement it can seem like a live performance with the inclusion of a band. As a result of this it can be used in many concepts; such as a marketing ploy.

3. The length/duration of a music video:

This may be another underlying factor to the success of a music video. For a normal time, the music video lasts around 2-4 minutes- this being the adequate time to keep the audience engaged and share the enjoyment of the music video. If the music video was to be longer than this duration the audience may then get bored, whereas if it was too short then they may not feel fully engaged or grasp the understanding of the music video, rendering it useless.

Consumption of music video

Music consumption is the way within which the general public are able to take in music produced, especially within the modern era. The basic principle that surrounds all of this is: music is important to people, no matter if its any shape or form.
The way we have been able to consume music as a society has been developing and changing. From the days of the use of a classic gramophone to nowadays not being able to walk down the street without seeing a teenager with wireless iPhone headphones put into them. Here is a quick history timeline of how we have been able to consume music since the development of technology.

1877- Thomas Edison introduced the first machine that could both record music and play it back, the phonograph, which initially used a metal foil covered cylinder as the media.

1889-Pre-recorded wax cylinders hit the market, initially running at about 120 rpm, holding 2 – 3 minutes of music.

1890- Shellac flat-disc records introduced, initially 5” diameter, then 7”, 10” and 12”. At 78 rpm, the 10” records held about 3 minutes of music and the 12” records held 4 – 5 minutes of music. The 10” 78
rpm disc became an industry standard in the early 1900s.

1912-17 First amateur broadcasts of music radio at a college radio station in San Jose, CA.

1919 First commercial radio station 1XE, Medford MA, broadcast music

1927- First selective jukebox, capable of selecting and playing more than one record, introduced by Automated Musical Instrument Company, later known as AMI.

1930's- Vinyl records introduced, primarily for use by music radio stations. Shellac remained the standard media for retail record albums.

Late 1930's- First analog FM radio stations begin broadcasting, including W8HK (Buffalo, NY); W1XOJ/WGTR (Paxton, MA).

1963- Phillips introduced the compact cassette tape, which they licensed free of charge.

1979- Sony introduced the Walkman compact portable compact cassette tape player.

1980- CD format is standardized.

1981- MTV (first music channel) is launched in the U.S.

1991- MP3 introduced for digital audio files.

1993- First band to perform live on the internet.

1995- DVD and ROM introduced.

1996-1997- First portable Mp3 players are introduced.

2001- Apple introduce the iPod and iTunes, the same year that the first 3G phones are introduced.

2006- Spotify is created in Sweden.

2007- Apple introduce the iPhone and iTunes in earnest.

2009- 4G cellular phones are introduced.

2017- Norway plan to end production of the FM analog radio.

Overall, we can clearly see that with the development of digital technology, the access to consume music has become a lot easier for the mass public. However, with this development in specified devices, the way in which we are able to consume music video will become niche once again with technological dominance of specified products. For example, the use of FM digital radio is clearly on the decline, while the use of free streaming sites such as Spotify on iPhone are on the rapid incline. As a result of this, if we were to focus on an area of consumption, we would primarily focus on the release on the internet and popular apps such as Spotify and YouTube to receive as much attention as we can to our video.

For our music video idea that we have attained, we will need the use of many locations to achieve the idea that we have discussed. This means that we could be going far afield to achieve the shots that we want, costing a significant amount of money in the process. Here are some of the locations that we are considering to use:

The beach: SOUTHWOLD BEACH

This has always been considered one of our locations as we want stark contrasts between each locations. The beach has become a popular use of setting in music videos, it resembles a theme of isolation away from society, which we feel is a potent message behind the use of drugs and the consequences of its use. In addition to this, we will be having scenes of a hustle and bustle urban area and also inner countryside, thus the beach is complete change of resemblance to the other locations.

The countryside: NORFOLK

This location is once again used as another contrast between the land and the sea. The countryside once again will resemble isolation. However, we will want the countryside to resemble a contrast of happy memories for our character. This will be aimed to be completed by the weather, where we will use a contrast of sunlight weather to the grey used at the beach. The access to this type of location should be easy as we are surrounded by vast expanse of countryside in Norfolk.

The urban city: NORWICH/LONDON

This is an upcoming yet undecided location, we have the idea of using the urban city for shots, but for which city we use it is yet undecided. We wanted to use this location once again as a contrast and the opaqueness from his inclusion/exclusion from society, however it will subscribe the viewers and protagonist characters to an uncomfortable situation, thus being unique from any other location and portraying the escapism one would feel if they had been completing the drugs process.

The urban city: LONDON SKYLINE

This we feel will be used as one of our final locations. It will be the literal escapist location directly in the city. However, it will also tease with the idea of suicide and death, thus unexpectedly hinting at the final part of our linear narrative. As he is chasing his 'love', we feel like this common location within music videos will bring our protagonist character to his downfall from the use of drugs. The problem we may encounter with this location will be the access as it will be quite difficult to get transport down to London and gain access to the top of a building.

Existing settings

What is setting?

Setting in media is the place where something is positioned or where an event takes place. It also contains sub-settings of where the time, place and circumstances within a narrative all take place. Setting can very in a vast area, such as a field or a beach or from minimal space such as a single room/door. Props are also classed within the setting bracket. Setting is primarily used within a music video and films to establish a place alongside a based meaning throughout. For example, in many films they use a sunset to portray the ending is near in a movie.

What are the conventional settings we expect to see used in the music video sequences?

Music videos normally all have a similar aspect of setting that is linked together. Normally the music video will compromise of two or more main settings that significantly contrast each other. For example, one location would be a dark room inside, whereas the other would include bright sunlight and green fields. These all aim to reflect the emotions and act as a clue towards the character, thus allowing them to blend in with the setting. Other conventional scenes we will normally see is the contrast between an urban city lifestyle (normally lower class associated with gangs), to a higher class, more sparse setting such as a beach. Once again, the weather will be used in the setting to reflect the mood.

How much is genre an important factor in the setting?

Genre has to be to considered as an extremely important factor within the choice of settings within a music video for its suitability. For example, a dark sombre place would not suit the target audience to a cheerful indie song. As a result of this, the genre allows the setting to be fully adaptable and suitable to the specified target audience and enables a flowing link between the song and the audience. Overall, genre would be able to narrow down not only song choice, but also the location choice that is needed in music videos as well. We will take this into significant account when making our music video based around a particular genre.

How important is setting in the construction of mise-en-scene and creating an understanding for the viewer?

As reiterated above, setting is once again crucial for the construction of mise-en-scene and for creating an understanding for the viewer/target audience. Mise-en-scene is the arrangement of performers, props on stage, lighting etc. As a result of this, setting is vastly used, examples could be: natural lighting used for a mood effect, the placement of specified props such as a chair and the use of either minimal or a vast amount of performers. As stated previously, the setting can create a mood construction for the viewer, leading to an understanding via the genre of the song once again. In addition to this, the setting can be used as a natural or manual construction for the mise en scene once again. Without the aspect of setting, no mise en scene can be constructed; promoting the causal link between video and viewer. Without these pivotal aspects, a successful music video cannot be created- even with a band performance- as no meanings and connotations cannot be established to the viewers, leaving it as merely nothing but confusion.

Ancillary task 1 reasearch (Digi - Pack)

Location research

updated plot synopsis

Drug use: case study

casting

target audience continued

success of music video

consumption of music videos

location ideas

Existing settings

Existing settings

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