Research Into Similar Products: Camera Angles For Digipak

Most albums feature the common angle of the medium close up. One of my particular favourites of this is the photo featured on the album Meat Is Murder by The Smiths, as it captures the importance of the message of the album as the photo is copied four times. In general, using a medium close up is good for showing the faces of the model/actor/actress and this can be important for setting the tone to an album. 

Another shot, that's not used as commonly as the medium close up, is the wide shot as used by The Last Shadow Puppets album The Age Of The Understatement. The use of this shot shows the body language and costume of the subject of the photo and show can reflect a certain attitude about an album. 

A shot that shows the full body in a long shot is also a shot that I quite enjoy. Bob Dylan's album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan uses this and it shows the happy awkwardness of the two. The slight low angle is also good as it makes their faces very clear. This shot, I feel, could be a useful shot as it does a good job in showing the surroundings of the subjects rather than just focusing on the people.(This specific camera angle could also link to the blocking post I did as it could be a good way of incorporating the two subjects together in a nice way) 

These shots are all possible shots that I could use for my own digipak as they each have the potential to show a couple together and capture the facial expressions I would like. 

Research Into Similar Products / Organisation: Effects For Digipak

For my digipak, I'm considering using a black and white effect to create a sad but classic feel. Another way in which I could use this effect is by using the black and white effect but having only one colour showing which is inspired by the effects that are used in Sin City. This would make my digipak look quite unique.

To incorporate the bands ethos and to help reach their target audience, I could use simple black and white or take the photo with low key lighting to create the effect similar to that in Bombay Bicycle Club's video 'Leave It'. 

Research Into Similar Products: Editing For Music Video

Although it is a pop music video, I find the editing in Taylor Swift's video for 'Wildest Dreams' very inspiring. The opening of the video features text that states the name of the song, director and singer herself. I like the idea of this because it makes it seem movie-like and also makes it clear who directed the video so you can search for his other works. The video also uses a slow motion effect at the start as well as a lot of fades. These effects are something I would like to include in my own video as I like how dramatic it looks and creates a slow pace. 



The video for Undertow by Warpaint uses a vignette effect at various points in the video. I like this effect as it gives a nostalgic feeling and this has inspired me for my own video as I think that it'd be a good way to show the past. 

Research Into Similar Products: Branding

When an album is released, the designs of the cover, inner tray and back cover tend to have something similar about them that creates a sense of branding with the album. One example I have found of this is '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' as all the components of the album have similar images. I like this design in particular because there is nothing to special about it; it's a very simple picture and is an image that we can see in everyday life whilst walking down the road. This album is extremely well-known so highlights the fact that an album design doesn't need to be too detailed to be famous. 

Front Cover

 Inner Tray

 Back Cover

Another album I found that follows this trend is 'Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not' as all the components are of a man smoking a cigarette. I like this design in particular because of the black and white effect used throughout, and has inspired me to use a black and white for my own digipak. Although I could not find a photo for the inner cover of the album, the CD itself follows the same design as it features used cigarettes so it's very clear that each component is part of the same album.

 Front Cover  Back Cover

  CD

Research Into Similar Products: Camerawork For Music Video

I would like to include some varied camera shots throughout my video. Richard Ayoade uses a 360 degree spin around Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige in the movie Submarine, and I would like to incorporate this into my own music video as I think it is a good way to show the characters facial expressions and is an interesting way to do it. 

I would also like to use a Birdseye view shot in my video. The way that Mark Webb uses Birdseye view shots throughout the movie is inspiring to me because I feel that it shows an overview of the relationship in the movie and I would like to use this in my own video as I feel it would give an overview of the couples troubles and could be interpreted as a 'God-like' point of view when linked to the song itself. 

Research Into Similar Products: Artist Video Styles

Bombay Bicycle Club have released quite a few videos over the years. From their first album, the videos released have seem quite raw and the camera work seems rather home made. In the video for 'Always Like This', the settings are quite simple and the band are simply wearing T-shirts and jeans. I plan to incorporate this simplicity into my own video by setting it in a field and getting my male actor to wear a jumper and jeans, this way I can keep the video similar to the bands actual image and keep the aesthetic value there too. 



The bands later videos seem to be more aesthetically pleasing. They hone in on a specific colour scheme which is present throughout the whole video. I plan to attempt to use filters to achieve a similar visual effect so therefore uniting both styles of music video the band produce. 

Target Audience: Artist Demographic

Bombay Bicycle Club mostly aim their music at people who are in their late teens and early 20's. However, due to the variety of genres explored in their albums, the demographic that is being targeted can be difficult to pin point. This means that when producing my video, I need to think of a way to incorporate the uniqueness that their music carries into my work.