Completed music video

Music video, click here!

Permission

In order to use the track 'Teen Idle' by Marina And The Diamonds, I have to email the record label that she is signed to, Atlantic Records, to ask for permission. If I get no reply, I will assume that there is no problem with my using the track.

How effective is the combination of your main products and ancillary texts?

I decided to ask Sarah Worral, a 17 year old college student who categories into my primary audience, her opinions on my products in order to discover if they worked well together. As I myself can justify and reason my decisions, given that they were my ideas.

• Do you believe that my music video, digi pack and poster work well together?

Yes as the artist's contrasting appearance against a floral background is given a reason, which is portrayed within the video. The CD shows the artist on a floral back drop even though she does not seem that girly, as she is wearing dark eye makeup and black clothing,this diversity between characteristics is then shown through the video as she applies makeup yet is seen doing more rebellious things such as smoking and drinking alcohol.

• Do you believe that my artist's persona, an alternative teenager who avoids ideologies, is clear? 

Very clear, through the poster / video as they are clearly structured, which highlight the artist's different personas. She seems to do what she wants, for example smoking and drinking. Her boldness may prove to be role model for other teenagers who are listening to the music of this artist as they might gain confidence and not mind about other people's criticism/opinions of them.

• Have you seen any artists who are branded in a similar way, or are my products unique?

I haven't seen many portrayed in the same way, I believe it is unique and changes from the norms of music within the charts. It is different compared to most artists you see now as the usually wear minimal clothing and are overly sexualised, whereas she is more dignified which sets a good message for teenage girls.

• What is your opinion on my artist? 

I believe the artist is good as it will relate to a teenage audience, and create a connection. The artist is expressing the need to stand out and not fit in with the crowd, to just be yourself and do what you want to do, a valuable lesson or message for teenagers nowadays.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products ?

When designing and creating my CD I decided to take a conventional approach as I wanted my product to appear realistic: as if it could appear in the current market. I gained inspiration from researching CD covers from artists of a similar genre, such as: Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding, K$sha and Marina and the Diamonds.

• CD/Poster comparison 
• Click here 

Lana Del Rey: Burning Desire 

My initial idea was to adopt this particular style of editing in order to represent my artists regret for not being a prom queen.  However, after numerous attempts of readjusting the opacity and layer type, I decided to use a split screen instead. Which I personally haven't seen used in a music video before.

Lana Del Rey: Carmen

After watching this particular video of Lana Del Rey, I was inspired to incorporate my own time lapse. Opposed to doing one during the day, I created one which captured a sunset as I believe it had a more interesting visual impact.





Marina And The Diamonds: State Of Dreaming 
Although I didn't adopt the style of the lighting in this music video exactly, I did take inspiration from it. My own interpretation of this video is that the video is black and white to represent the artists ordinary life, which ultimately transitions into colour when she declares that she is now living in a 'make believe land'. I adopted the black and white to colour in order to represent my artists different persona and wishes. When she has dark, 'normal' hair the lighting is in colour to reflect an ordinary life, however when her hair is silver I decided to use a black and white filter to portray her dreams.

Sky Ferreira: Everythings Embarrassing 

Similar to this video I also decided to shoot my artist in a children's park in order to emphasise how she is a teenager. I definitely think that having this scene in black and white also gave my video a weird aura, as happiness is typically associated with a children's park.

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Interests and hobbies of someone who is my target audience

I believe that my target audience would like my artist as she fits into the same category as: K$sha, Ellie Goulding and Lana Del Rey, who all produce music that are of the pop genre. When interviewing three girls in order to get an understanding of my audience, I questioned them on their role models. An example of some of these role models were: Jennifer Lawrence and Hayley Williams:

  

Both of these females are strong willed role models who are incredibly successful. I believe that my target audience will also find 'Dakota Harper' an inspiration as she to is a role model, who like Hayley Williams, dresses however she wishes to express her individuality. Thus, I am definitely pleased that I created an artist with a persona that teenage girls can look up to, as it is apparent that they are always searching for role models who they are able to relate to.

Peer feedback: 

 

I received a lot of critique about my artists pose on my CD cover, as many people suggested that I choose a photograph where my artist was looking directly at the camera. However, I decided not to act upon this feedback as my artists persona is someone who does not follow conventions, thus her pose represents an alternative, laid back character. The feedback I did decided to act upon was the cutting out/outline of my artist, as it appeared unprofessional. Another alternation I made was to sharpen the image, by using a filter on Photoshop, which made my artists eyes brighter and nose more defined.

The most popular critique I received about my poster was the quality of the main image. Thus, I decided to edit the photograph again and sharpen particular elements such as my artists eyes and nose. Given the reccuring matter of my artist's edge appearing too cut out, I completely neglected the idea of having a white outline and instead took more caution when using the 'Magnetic Lasso' tool. Font was also an issue for both me, and my peers. Therefore I completely changed the cursive font used on both my poster and CD  for a more bold, eye catching font which suits my artists alternative persona more. 

I definitely believe that acting upon peer feedback is important, given that the majority of my class can be categorized into my target audience. Their opinions mattered given that they would be the ones to purchase my product, therefore I believe that catering to their preferences will overall make my product more successful.

What I have learnt about technologies

and premier pro , camera and tripod, blogger, prezi, youtube,
I definitely feel as though my technology skills have been developed in this project, being introduced to new software such as premier pro being the most beneficial. However, I have also learnt how to express my work in more exciting, interesting ways by using websites such as Animoto and Prezi, where I was able to express my ideas in a more creative way. Given that I was fairly confident with the editing software Photoshop, I have also learnt new skills by experimenting with diverse tools, which has allowed me to have more freedom when creating my print tasks as incorporating new, different visual techniques was not not impossible, but a challenge.

Photoshop:

I believe that my print tasks definitely would not have been as successful if it weren't for the editing software Photoshop as not only did I edit my photographs using this programme, but also organized the layout of each print task. I used Photoshop mainly to edit my photographs by altering the 'levels' and 'curves' in order to make the lighting more visually appealing.





Prezi: 

Prezi is a website that I used frequently in order to present my ideas in a more interesting way. In my opinion the website is incredibly personal as I was allowed to incorporate my own pictures, particular layout, and a colour scheme.

Here is an example of a Prezi I created.










Animoto: 

Animoto was a website I used to create videos to express ideas. This website allowed me to upload photographs and add captions. I also had the choice to select what soundtrack would be played, and the overall layout of the video.

Premiere Pro: 

Final Digi Pack

Poster

Time managent

At the moment I have currently edited all of the footage I had, having altered every clips frame size and colour balance. The only footage I have edited is of the clips that have been taken indoors as I am yet to shoot a few small scenes that will be outside.

I want to capture the prom dress scene again due to the camera being too shaky and perhaps shoot more scenes for the ending of my video. I want the end to capture the best parts of life, thus I have decided to shoot different scenery rather than only using using London.

Creating and editing my video

The inspiration behind Dakota Harper's persona

Given that my primary audience are teenage girls I want my artist to be both a role model and inspiration. I want the audience to be able to identity with her, and to be able to connect on an emotional level. In order to gain an insight into the minds of artists that were my main inspirations: Marina and the Diamonds and Lana Del Rey, I have read and watched an array of interviews. Researching into this enabled me to discover how they wanted their listeners to respond to the albums.

Marina and the Diamonds, The character 'Electra Heart':
For her album, Marina Diamondis created this character to helped her write songs that "have elements of life experiences, but also elements of imagination." She used the characters persona as a front, an idealistic, strong woman that I believe her fans could look up to as inspiration. "I changed my look so radically. Partly to become someone else and separate myself from being that love-lorn person. Partly because I wanted to see how differently I would be perceived because of it." It is apparent after reading these interviews that appearence is incredibly important in the music industry in order to convey a story and character which the album features. 

Electra heart appearance 

The artist admitted in an interview that she felt like a "walking broken heart for four months" at the beginning of this album. In order to escape this feeling she created the persona Electa Heart, and "channeled the idea of being a person who didn't need anybody. A primadonna who was adored." I believe that this character is definitely both relatable and inspirational to teenage girls as the album ultimately displays how girls don't need to be the centre of someone's affection in order to be important.

I will definitely use the quote, "the power of image - it's what pop stars are built on." when finalising on my artists persona. 

Lizzy Grant & Lana Del Rey: 

If I were to ask anyone who these two people were, it is likely that nobody will have heard of Lizzy Grant. However, Lizzy Grant Lana Del Rey are infact the same person. Lizzy Grant was a shy, timid woman who looked rather awkward when addressing a crowd in a simple green teeshirt and jeans whilst trying to chase her dream as a singer. 

This is a performance before Lana Del Rey was created, click here. 

Lana Del Rey was then created the stage name chosen by Lizzy's record company, "She married her music to a mysterious image, self-styled as a "gangster Nancy Sinatra", that paid homage to 1960s fashions and seedy showbiz glamour."

Before and after: 

Sky Ferreira: 

The inspiration for my artists appearance was the singer, 'Sky Ferreira'. Who has a rather hipster, alternative like appearance. I would say that her oufit choices are incredibly bold, and definitely have a punk vibe. I decided to use her as an inspiration as I want Dakota Harper to have a diverse look, in order to make her seem unique compared to all of the other artists who produce similar music given that they sometimes lack individuality when it comes to costume choices. 

My artists persona: 

My artist persona and storyline is of a teenage girl who refuses to be the pristine young woman that her suburban town are filled with. In order to express her individuality she decided to sway away from this ideology and begun to dress how she wished and followed her dream aspiration to become a singer. 

Mood Board to portray my artist: 

 

Schedule update

Although it looks as though I have not posted recently I have been altering and improving earlier posts. I will spend this lesson going through my checklist and also begin to plan my evaluation.

I am also going to film on Tuesday and Wednesday and spending Thursdays lesson editing.

December schedule

I have also managed to get a working camera and just need to organise a date with my 'artist' to shoot my idea.













I used to social networking website 'Facebook' to organise a day to film with my artist. I will be filming on Monday 20th.

Progress review/time management

Research/Planning:
At the moment I have researched into: CD covers, Posters and music videos, which has aided me when creating, and planning my products. I have tried to incorporate a lot of different media forms to present my ideas in a more interesting way by using Animoto to create videos, creating collages and Prezi presentations. Although I am pleased with my level of research my lecturer has advised me to extend each part in order to add more depth. I also feel that I need to add more about my artists persona, stating what she represents and how my target audience will be able to relate to her. Overall, I simply feel that some of my posts need a little extra information, thus I will add rationals to each flat plans and my target audience's profile's.

Ancillary 1:
I am pleased with both the final version and process of my CD. I feel that I have successfully showed the process and changes I have made to it by using print screens whilst self evaluating in order to explain why I disliked certain aspects.

Ancillary 2:
I am also pleased with the final outcome of my poster. Although I made a few alterations compared to the first outcome, I feel that I have successfully documented these changes and gave reasons as to why. I now feel that both my CD and Poster, come together as a Digi pack and clearly represent my artists persona.

Main task:
Although I have a clear mind set on what I want to capture, I am still yet to film due to difficulties regarding the camera. However, I have created a story board and a Prezi presentation so my idea is clear.

Evaluation:
I have decided to wait until my main task is complete before evaluating this project as a whole.

Story board

Progress update

During the holidays I have began to film however found it rather difficult to arrange times with my artist given her busy schedule. That being said I am making progress and have arranged to meet up with her after todays lesson to film some remaining scenes. Whilst in London I have also taken short point of view shots of the streets and shops in order to capture the busy atmosphere. I will begin to edit my music video tomorrow and will hopefully completed it by Monday

I will spend todays lesson going through my blog checklist to ensure that everything is up to date.