Digipak - test shots

After sketching up ideas of the digipak, we set up our gear in the drama studio space, most suitable because of the variation of light; darkness, ambient and artificial lighting too. We used various material to create the rainbow affect, first off using acetate which was unsuccessful because of the opacity. We then used a CD to reflect the light onto the wall which successfully worked. As these were test shots we were just playing around with how it looks on camera, such as getting the aperture and shutter speed right, as this affects the chiaroscuro feel. 

We then used the colour spot lights to highlight the back of myself. This created the M83 'Steve Mcqueen' feel of the backlight, creating quite a powerful look. I really liked this look as well as the rainbow, and we could use both the rainbow and the backlit look as there are 3 separate photographs that we will be using for our digipak.

Digipak

SPCTRM's USP would be this idea of the identity of the teenage Girl. As digipaks must some how sell to the target audience, they must having a unique selling point, seeing as digipaks can be full of artwork, bonus tracks, CD, DVD etc. For our artist, we have decided that the digipak's USP will be based on the Girl; the front cover will be of the back of her, as she reaches her hand out and a rainbow is reflected onto it, this acts as a metaphor as she is reaching out to a spectrum of light. Once you open up the digipak, both sides next to the CD in the middle will be side profiles of the girl, revealing who she is (in a way). We don't want to focus on SPCTRM image in a way, but his music, keeping it minimal and still have his theme of 80s, colour, and emotion in it. 

                                 

 

Ideas

The theme for our Digipak will be based around colour and the 'Girl' which, at the moment, will be me.

Looking at other Digipaks, Albums and music videos, we felt heavily influenced by M83's album 'Hurry Up We're Dreaming'. 

The colouration of the album is what we wish to explore with our digipak, using low key lighting in the background and the two-tone lighting illuminating the Girl, as the artist SPCTRM will not be seem on the Digipak. 

The song 'Steve Mcqueen' by M83, featured in Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, has it's own artwork, using the technique of coloured lighting and portrays chiaroscuro. This is exactly how we want to represent the girl in the music video through the use of a Digipak, and will link to our USP of which I will later discuss. 

The music video 'Steve Mcqueen' is a representation of the artists life, and is themed around the 80s, including the use of iconography of records players, costume, colouration, and general technology. In the same way we want to present an 80s feel to our music video, and carrying this theme throughout from the video, to the digipak and to the artist himself. 

Social media

                  

 



Music artists can use social media as a tool for gaining more of an audience and advertise their products or themselves. Looking at artists with similar a genre to the music video I would like to produce, I could use social media research as a way to use these technologies to relate my music artist to his/her audience. 

Artist profile

Audience Profile

Ideas and Concepts

The music video which I will be making for Girl will be a representation of Youth and will explore the themes of which young people face at this particular age range; 17-20 such as gender, sex, relationships, identification and illegal behaviour. The purpose of this is because it will act as an iconic material for the demographic of the audience of this genre; 17-20 year olds, as the Girl will act as symbolism of the youth culture. The performance of the Girl includes the before-said, of which micro-features will be greatly considered to give off the right vibes, seeing as the genre is electronic and is generally upbeat and 'positive'. Despite the actual concept of the music video may have negative features, the idea of a fantasy-like lifestyle is to be portrayed of the 'teen-life'. I will further research and plan features of Mise-en-scene in order to represent the Girl accurately, and will use social media such as Tumblr as a source for making conscious decisions as the demographics would use these kind of social media too, of which this entire fantasy of 'coolness' is desired. With demographics in mind, the music video is most applicable as the Girl will be an iconic part of growing up, and young girls who use Tumblr for example to appreciate other icons would react well to our music video because of this.

The idea of youth culture pin points a few things to mind; grittiness, urban-London and art. All of which will be considered in the music video. The grittiness, unfortunately will not be able to be done through filming, but used in post-production, for example VHS effect, as this holds connotations of crime. This effect could also be used before even the introduction of the music video, to create the urban feel from the start, and as the song begins with talking, it could be a subtle intro. The girl will be based in Hackney, as the song lyrics include this,  although the filming may vary around London, as the girl will represent a care-free lifestyle, including travelling on her own.

The Girl (actor) will be around 17/18; the demographic, and should be effortlessly beautiful to show the care-free lifestyle, yet being this idea of perfection despite her not for example the gif below of 

Poison Ivy. Furthermore, features of the film Trainspotting have influenced some conceptual ideas of our music video, for example the relationships, drug abuse and youth, as well as micro-features such as the use of neon lights and cinematography, where a lot of close ups and panning is used to make the audience feel as if they are with the girl - personal.