Drafting and Planning: Fonts

I have looked at some different fonts to see which I think I'd like to use for my album cover. The fonts I have picked out are the ones below. 

The first font is freestyle script. I like this font as it flows nicely and the way in which it slants makes it seem quite pretty. 
The second font is californian FB. I like this font also as it looks quite formal and the same applies for the fifth font too (Simsun-Extb)
The third font is felix titling and I like this one as it is again, quite formal but I like how all the lettering is in capitals and the ways in which the 'R' flicks up, making it look less strict. 
The fourth is rockwell. I like this one because of the boldness and how the letters are quite rounded. 
The final font is calibri and this one is nice because it is quite simple and rounded.    

Research Into Similar Products: Album Back Covers

The back of albums tend to be formatted in three different ways. One way is to have a completely blank back cover, similar to that of Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division. The second is to have the track listing only on the back and the third is to have a photo accompany the track listing. I prefer the final way myself, as it shows a nice link between the whole art of the album. I have been researching different ways in which artists have encorporated their photos with their track listings. The album 'Music For Films' by Brian Eno includes a photo on the back of the album, however the photograph is in it's own separate frame. I enjoy this layout as it uses the effects used on the photo for the whole back cover and makes the photo stand out as it's own artwork rather than blended. I also like how the album name and artist name is used on the top of the tracklisting to keep it consistent. For my own back cover, I plan to place the album name and title in a similar way to this.

The second back cover that intrigued me is the one used for Pixies 'Doolittle.' The artwork is central to the cover and the tracks are placed around it in a circle. I like this idea as it is unconventional and interesting. Personally, I think it really makes you think about where each track is on the album, in terms of the albums structure and how it fits with the rest of the tracks, as you are searching for the track you would like and end up looking at the tracks that surround it. 

The back of Smashing Pumpkins greatest hits album 'Rotten Apples,' particularly stood out to me. The use of two different colours for the album title on the side of the album and on the back is something I quite like as it breaks up the blea, black and white look and also links to red apples. I also like how the band photo is placed in the middle of the two track listings as it shows the band are central to the music (obviously) and shows them in a fun light. I plan to use colour in a similar way on my own back cover as I feel it will be able to link to nature if I were to use a green colour. 

 

Drafting and Planning / Organisation: Cameras and Webcams

To make the flashbacks at the end of my music video seem realistic and lively, I have been trying to think of ideas as to how I can go about this. After watching the movie Once again, I had the idea to get the actress of my video to film some videos of her and Ben at their homes doing romantic and cute things, but with her laptops webcam. By using a camera of a lower quality, I feel this will produce a nostalgic feel, similarly to that created in the song Lies from the movie. It would also be more realistic as previously, I planned to only shoot the flashback scenes in the park, but my adding more locations, it makes it seem as though there is more history between the two characters. 
 

Richard Ayoade also achieves a nostalgic feel in the movie submarine with the use of a Super 8 camera. The way in which the old camera is used helps to create a romantic feel and the shaky camera adds to the nostalgia.

Organisation: Album Cover

I have decided that for my album art, I shall take a photograph of the two actors I will use for my music video underneath a football goal. I will then use a green filter over the top of it, similar to that used for the album If You're Feeling Sinister that I explored in my previous post. I have chosen the green filter as it will match with the album name, which is sinister to how the red matches to the album name of the Belle and Sebastian album. I have chosen to take the photo underneath a football goal because football goals are usually planted in grass, and so I thought that the juxtaposition of nature with something man-made could provide 'The Truth About Nature,' which is that it's being ruined by mankind.

Organisation: Call List

I have prepared a call list for the actors and myself so that we all know what must be brought to the shooting and when it will be happening. I will give each actor a copy so that they can be completely sure of what they will need and so everything can run smoothly when the day of filming arrives. 

Research Into Similar Products: Album Art

I have been looking at various different types of album art and have realised that quite a few are animated or look drawn by hand. This is evident for The Cure's album 'Boys Don't Cry.' I enjoy this idea a lot as it seems very child-like and natural. This is also more interesting than have a photo as well because it's something unique and is memorable. 

There are other album covers that use filters, such as Belle and Sebastian's 'If You're Feeling Sinister.' There is a red filter used which links to the album name as red connotes violence, anger and lust and also links to the woman looking stressed on the cover.

These albums have really inspired me as their uses of colour and the layout of the actual band name and title are quite unique and can be adapted to my own cover in terms of linking it to nature. 

Organisation: Casting

For my video, I have chosen my two friends Megan and Ben. I have chose these people because I feel they would be able to film the more romantic scenes together without there being any awkwardness as they are a couple in real life. They also already own the costumes I would like to use in my video too so is an added bonus.