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Website
Friday, November 1, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Post 10: My Production Review
Feedback
Feedback allowed me to improve my products before final deadline.
Website:
When I received feedback on my website I learnt that there were a few minor issues with the current content as well as some more major issues on content missing.
This missing content was discovered when the teacher went over the brief, and discovered content that was suggested for me to include.
Major issues:
Feedback allowed me to improve my products before final deadline.
Website:
When I received feedback on my website I learnt that there were a few minor issues with the current content as well as some more major issues on content missing.
This missing content was discovered when the teacher went over the brief, and discovered content that was suggested for me to include.
Major issues:
- Biography - after creating a persona and profile behind my artist, it is a waste to not include this on my actual website, this information will allow those visiting the website to understand what is best to include.
- Sony Music industry context - there is a lack of reference or links to Sony music UK on my website, adding a link at the bottom of the page would improve this.
- Charity or music industry social context - there is no indication of this. If I do include it, this content would allow my audience to understand my artists values and beliefs.
- Merch - while I do have merchandise, it is centred around the music rather than the artist.
Minor issues:
- Website safety guidelines - there is content that doesn't fit within these parameters, which means that on certain computers, this would not show up. Therefore I will rearrange my content to fit within these guidelines.
- Buttons/Hyperlinks - there are certain links that don't have accurate destinations right now.
- Make merch clickable - I need to make it so that by clicking on the merch, the viewer can see an enlarged version of the image.
- Anchorage and labels - my content needs accurate names so that they can be easily understood. Some images have random names that are just a jumble of letters and numbers. My extra videos need some reference of what the intertextual context behind these are.
- Linked page name - need a more accurate name for my second page.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Post 9: My Website and Social Media Pages
Researching existing website and social media pages and designing my own
My website will have a distinct colour scheme. I will have alternating brown and black stripes with different content and images of my artist. On the first page I will have a tour date page with three different kinds of tickets; ticket, VIP, and Meet and Greet. By having these three tiers I will be able to appeal to an audience who want to spend more to be 'special'. This idea of being special will further my artists fanbase. I also plan to include merchandise. This allows my artist's fans to buy items that show they are part of the artist's fan group, and have a community. In regard to the music that is presented on the website, I will have both links to online streaming of the music, as well as physical copies; both vinyl and cd.
On the second page I will include a behind the scenes video to offer an extra look at how the video was filmed, looking at the professional studio set. This second page will also feature my brand tie in with UNIQLO, which will allow the audience to see my artists style. Not only will my pages possess social media links for the audience to click and navigate to the second page will have an Instagram live feed, this will connect my website to further content for my audience to interact with. I will use my Instagram page as a news page, as presenting news style announcements is very appropriate for instagram. The social media community will also be able to like and comment on the images. This idea of community is also going to be seen through the comment box I put on the website, that allows my artist and the fans to interact with each other. Having all of these features that allow the audience to interact with and buy into my artist and the brand is very important for spreading my artist across the internet. Like Khalid, I also plan to add some extra videos, which will allow the audience to see more of how my artist will act.Post 8: My Music Video
Research for my music video
In order to plan my music video, I first researched existing music videos in order to see the conventions and style of pop music videos. This helped me to come up with ideas for my music video as well as plan some intertextual links to include in my video.
One of the significant videos that I looked at to help with my ideas was Taylor Swift's 'You belong with me'. This music video helped me with the idea creation of my music video, I used a similar love story with the relationship triangle, but from a different perspective.
As for the key features of a pop music video, my research showed me that typical conventions include; fast paced cuts between both narrative and performance, representations of both setting and relatable characters for the audience to associate with. The videos must also have a clear choice in terms of how they want to relate lyrics and video. The two are either supporting each other or disjuncture, therefore either strengthening meanings presented or creating more.
As Vernallis theorised, the music video should have a clear sense of disjuncture, with the video cutting between narrative and performance in a way that is fragmented, offering multiple narratives and perspectives. One example of this is Khalid's 'Young Dumb and Broke' which uses both performance shots of him dancing towards the camera, as well as narrative from different perspectives of the students attending the school. Multiple narratives are therefore shown through the perspectives and the yearbook narrative, creating a disjunctured music video.
I planned out my character profiles with what stereotype they will play as well as outfits that will be needed. This allowed me to both be prepared for the shoot and also prepare a variety of representations for the target audience to associate with.
I included an intertextual link to 90s chick flick movie 'Mean Girls'. My video will possess a character that fits the stereotype of a cool mean girl that is presented in this movie. As well as showing a nerd that transforms into someone cool. While much of the audience won't directly relate to this stereotypical nerd character as the protagonist, they will still be able to relate to the concept of wanting to improve themselves. Therefore the transformation will allow me to create a relatable character. By planning these characters out in the character list I am able to get a clear understanding of both the number of actors and the outfits that I will need in order to film the narrative. By creating this list I am also able to inform the actors before the shoot of what kind of character they play, whether that is a 'cool mean girl' or a 'nerd'. Planning out the actors also allows me to make sure that I am able to represent a range of ethnicities who will be part of the target audience.
My timeline and storyboard allowed me to plan the story with a clear structure. This will make it easier when editing the shots as I already have a clear idea of the order and type of shots I want to include. By also planning certain types of shot movement; such as panning or match on action, I am able to create a narrative that is clear, flows and can easily be cut with the performance bed. For that performance bed, I will both have a professional studio shoot, as well as an off site shot at one of the locations of the narrative. This allows for variety in the video and allows me to cut between the narrative and performance bed for a fast paced, attention grabbing music video that will appeal to the target audience. I have also prepared a shootboard. This will help me with filming on the day and managing my time, as this records the order in which I should film the shots, not based on the shot number chronologically, but rather based on the location or angle of each shot.
My music video will also have an unconventional fourth wall break, where the audio cuts out and the 'mean girl' will speak directly to the camera. While this may not be a common feature of pop music videos, it offers something different and interesting for my video through the impact it adds to the narrative.
In order to plan my music video, I first researched existing music videos in order to see the conventions and style of pop music videos. This helped me to come up with ideas for my music video as well as plan some intertextual links to include in my video.
One of the significant videos that I looked at to help with my ideas was Taylor Swift's 'You belong with me'. This music video helped me with the idea creation of my music video, I used a similar love story with the relationship triangle, but from a different perspective.
As for the key features of a pop music video, my research showed me that typical conventions include; fast paced cuts between both narrative and performance, representations of both setting and relatable characters for the audience to associate with. The videos must also have a clear choice in terms of how they want to relate lyrics and video. The two are either supporting each other or disjuncture, therefore either strengthening meanings presented or creating more.
As Vernallis theorised, the music video should have a clear sense of disjuncture, with the video cutting between narrative and performance in a way that is fragmented, offering multiple narratives and perspectives. One example of this is Khalid's 'Young Dumb and Broke' which uses both performance shots of him dancing towards the camera, as well as narrative from different perspectives of the students attending the school. Multiple narratives are therefore shown through the perspectives and the yearbook narrative, creating a disjunctured music video.
I planned out my character profiles with what stereotype they will play as well as outfits that will be needed. This allowed me to both be prepared for the shoot and also prepare a variety of representations for the target audience to associate with.
I included an intertextual link to 90s chick flick movie 'Mean Girls'. My video will possess a character that fits the stereotype of a cool mean girl that is presented in this movie. As well as showing a nerd that transforms into someone cool. While much of the audience won't directly relate to this stereotypical nerd character as the protagonist, they will still be able to relate to the concept of wanting to improve themselves. Therefore the transformation will allow me to create a relatable character. By planning these characters out in the character list I am able to get a clear understanding of both the number of actors and the outfits that I will need in order to film the narrative. By creating this list I am also able to inform the actors before the shoot of what kind of character they play, whether that is a 'cool mean girl' or a 'nerd'. Planning out the actors also allows me to make sure that I am able to represent a range of ethnicities who will be part of the target audience.
My timeline and storyboard allowed me to plan the story with a clear structure. This will make it easier when editing the shots as I already have a clear idea of the order and type of shots I want to include. By also planning certain types of shot movement; such as panning or match on action, I am able to create a narrative that is clear, flows and can easily be cut with the performance bed. For that performance bed, I will both have a professional studio shoot, as well as an off site shot at one of the locations of the narrative. This allows for variety in the video and allows me to cut between the narrative and performance bed for a fast paced, attention grabbing music video that will appeal to the target audience. I have also prepared a shootboard. This will help me with filming on the day and managing my time, as this records the order in which I should film the shots, not based on the shot number chronologically, but rather based on the location or angle of each shot.
My music video will also have an unconventional fourth wall break, where the audio cuts out and the 'mean girl' will speak directly to the camera. While this may not be a common feature of pop music videos, it offers something different and interesting for my video through the impact it adds to the narrative.
Post 7: My Pop Artist or Band
Bruno Mars or Ed Sheeran?
When creating my artist I considered what modern style pop artists follow, both in terms of outfit and attitude. Therefore I researched existing outfits in pop music video as well as general artist style. One outfit I looked at Bruno Mars's 'Uptown Funk' outfit.
Bruno mars in general can be considered a fashion icon, with his own merchandise included, he wears a large assortment of brightly coloured clothes that are very stylish.
Bruno Mars is one style of pop artist; the clothes he wears are colourful and expensive and he likes to wear jewellery, all showing that he is successful, giving him a look of someone who is famous. Showing off wealth like this presents an artist that audiences will see as inspirational or idealistic, but lacks reliability.
Another style in pop is the casual look, many artists wear a normal style of clothes, that makes them similar to those who view them. One example being Ed Sheeran.
I decided to try and combine the two styles. My artist wears smart casual clothes but also likes to show off his wealth, but this is done more with jewellery rather than the actual clothes. This allowed me to create an artist that looks both relatable but also aspirational.
When researching the outfit, key images that I looked at were Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake and ASAP Rocky. Bruno Mars and ASAP Rocky are two artists that like to show off their wealth, and researching into the two of them helped me decide how to demonstrate this aspect of my artist. In the end I did this by looking at jewellery such as gold earrings. As for Justin Timberlake, he allowed me to see how artists can look stylish even with the casual look, and so I combined this knowledge with inspiration from Bruno's outfit to create mine.
This is the outfit that I chose. I used simple jeans, brown blazer and vans as clothes that are casual but also give a stylish look and added jewellery in order to add the bling factor to the outfit.
Post 6: My Chosen Track
Planning which track to perform
When I was choosing my track I had two main options:
Mike Posner's
Cooler than me
Released 2010 on his album '31 Minutes to take off'
5 Seconds of Summer
Youngblood
Released 2018
In the end I chose Mike Posner's Cooler Than Me as when planning, I had a clearer idea of what I wanted to do for the music video, and how to interpret the lyrics.
I chose to take a more direct interpretation, with me presenting a typical song about relationships and chasing a girl.
I felt that creating a video for this type of song would fit well as a pop song and would appeal to my target audience.
Choosing this song also made it a lot easier when deciding how to create my artist as I interpreted that as an artist Mike is confident, which is an aspect I will reflect in my artist through his enjoyment of fame and bling.
I rejected Youngblood as the song sounded more contemporary and the lyrics gave a less direct meaning than Cooler Than Me. The more abstract style of the song was not something I felt as strongly about as my chosen track. My image also fit better with the voice of Cooler than me than Youngblood.
When I was choosing my track I had two main options:
Mike Posner's
Cooler than me
Released 2010 on his album '31 Minutes to take off'
5 Seconds of Summer
Youngblood
Released 2018
In the end I chose Mike Posner's Cooler Than Me as when planning, I had a clearer idea of what I wanted to do for the music video, and how to interpret the lyrics.
I chose to take a more direct interpretation, with me presenting a typical song about relationships and chasing a girl.
I felt that creating a video for this type of song would fit well as a pop song and would appeal to my target audience.
Choosing this song also made it a lot easier when deciding how to create my artist as I interpreted that as an artist Mike is confident, which is an aspect I will reflect in my artist through his enjoyment of fame and bling.
I rejected Youngblood as the song sounded more contemporary and the lyrics gave a less direct meaning than Cooler Than Me. The more abstract style of the song was not something I felt as strongly about as my chosen track. My image also fit better with the voice of Cooler than me than Youngblood.
Post 5: My Target Audience
Research into my target audience
My target audience is 'fun loving 16-25 year old's'.
By investigating their habits I am able to understand what is the best content of music video for them.
From this pie chart we can see that the most common listening time is 2 hours.
By further developing my understanding of the target audiences habits and preferences, I am better able to plan how best to present my music. By including not only a video, but options to stream, then I can increase the amount of time or amount of views my track will get. As of this 2 hours, not all will be spent watching the music video.
By looking at this graph, I am able to investigate
how the audience views their content. With the largest proportion viewing their content through video streaming, we can see that the music videos are the best way my artist to appeal to them as it is their preferred method of viewing.
There is also a large proportion of those who listen by audio streaming, both paid and unpaid, which indicates that music streaming services like spotify are also essential for appealing to the audience
Also a large part of the audience likes to stay even more up to date and connected to the artist. As such they will buy merchandise and tour tickets. The audience enjoys being able to support the audience either live at a concert or through buying and wearing clothes to associate themselves with their favoured artists.
This idea of wanting to stay up to date is also reflected through how they follow an artists social media, searching for extra content and information about the artists. They are also able to directly show their support or leave statements that the artist may see.
Therefore through my research into the target audience I have created a list of features that I should include in order to make my pop artist suit the target audience. This includes: social media, merchandise, tour dates and music that can be either watched or streamed (music on multiple platforms). The audiences desire for more content via platforms such as social media means that I plan to construct a consistent star identity for my artist; I will make him relatable but also a figure to aspire towards. This will allow me to draw in the target audience to my artist and any products that go with him.
As a large number of the target audience view songs as video streaming, I believe it is very important to create a music video that will appeal to them. Therefore my music video will have relatable characters and a story that talks about a modern context for the audience; I will cover the issue of judgement and popularity on social media.
My target audience is 'fun loving 16-25 year old's'.
By further developing my understanding of the target audiences habits and preferences, I am better able to plan how best to present my music. By including not only a video, but options to stream, then I can increase the amount of time or amount of views my track will get. As of this 2 hours, not all will be spent watching the music video.
By looking at this graph, I am able to investigate
how the audience views their content. With the largest proportion viewing their content through video streaming, we can see that the music videos are the best way my artist to appeal to them as it is their preferred method of viewing.
There is also a large proportion of those who listen by audio streaming, both paid and unpaid, which indicates that music streaming services like spotify are also essential for appealing to the audience
Also a large part of the audience likes to stay even more up to date and connected to the artist. As such they will buy merchandise and tour tickets. The audience enjoys being able to support the audience either live at a concert or through buying and wearing clothes to associate themselves with their favoured artists.This idea of wanting to stay up to date is also reflected through how they follow an artists social media, searching for extra content and information about the artists. They are also able to directly show their support or leave statements that the artist may see.
Therefore through my research into the target audience I have created a list of features that I should include in order to make my pop artist suit the target audience. This includes: social media, merchandise, tour dates and music that can be either watched or streamed (music on multiple platforms). The audiences desire for more content via platforms such as social media means that I plan to construct a consistent star identity for my artist; I will make him relatable but also a figure to aspire towards. This will allow me to draw in the target audience to my artist and any products that go with him.
As a large number of the target audience view songs as video streaming, I believe it is very important to create a music video that will appeal to them. Therefore my music video will have relatable characters and a story that talks about a modern context for the audience; I will cover the issue of judgement and popularity on social media.
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