Evaluation of the first day of filming.

After finally getting a date to film when we were all available including the actress, we began filming. I think its fair to say we would of had liked to get more shots than we did but the shots we did get came out really well. We managed to get successful shots of the forest, park and the cafe, we have more to get but we found ourselves experimenting with shots while we were filming, rather than what we had previously planned. I think actually filming, changes the shots you envisioned on a story board, and you look at actually filming the shots in a different perspective. 


More ideas were being thought of when we shot on location, however this wasn't the ideal location we thought about shooting at but none the less I think its really effective now.


As a group we worked well all pitching in with different ideas, actually filming and taking pictures of us working, also actually directing the video. 

Star Image - Arctic Monkeys

It took me a while to decide on my star image as I am not necessarily interested in the typical and obvious icons in the music industry, for example lady Gaga and Cheryl Cole who are clear style icons. I chose the Arctic Monkeys because I am interested in Indie and Rock music and this band has always stuck openly to its image.

Arctic Monkeys currently consist of four members; Alex Turner; Jamie Cook; Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders. This English indie rock band formed in 2002 in a suburb in Sheffield. Their debut album 'Whatever You Say I Am, That's what I'm Not' was released in 2006 and was actually the fastest selling debut album in British music history. The band have released three albums in total the other two being, 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'(2007) and 'Humbug'(2009). The reason for Arctic Monkeys causing such a massive sensation upon their arrival to the music scene was because they were one of the first bands to become noticed due to the internet. Which ultimately changed the way music is promoted today. 

The band have been very likable with their image based on sticking to their roots especially with Alex Turners coming through predominantly when he sings. The band love showing that their down to earth and don't let the fame go to their heads. 

In 2008 the arctic monkeys arrived at the Brits in a sort of shepherds look with flat-caps and tweed. They won the award for Best British Album and came up to accept the award very drunk with pipes in their mouth which epitomises their image. 

Analaysing Album Artwork - The Maccabees - Wall of Arms

As soon as you see this album artwork it is immediately eye-catching. The lead singer of The Maccabees, Orlando Weeks saw an artists work on a front cover of the magazine Art World. The name of this artist was Boo Ritson. She is a very unique and impressive artist, she paint people but not on canvas or a board, she literally coats people in paint. Her pictures are presented as photographs, the portraits in this case a group portrait is a double masquerade. Her subjects are coated in a sticky disguise which reveals the wet skin look. This look creates a statuesque effect and a plastic toy look.


So the band had to all be painted by Boo after discussing costume and composition the lead singer made a blog on the whole experience. As for the aesthetics of the album cover i think the look is exceptionally effective, an original piece of album artwork has been created successfully. The plain white banner with the Bands name and title of the album is clear to read and cohesively fits into the theme of the whole cover. 

The Impact of The Internet on The Music Industry

The internet has had a gargantuan effect on the music industry, ultimately changing so many aspects of how its runs, works and actually distributes records. This change was never really predicted or adapted to quick enough. The whole concept effects record companies the most, they are the people who are worried especially the ones that appeal more to the younger markets, like those with rock bands. Nobody can even predict what the situation will be like even in five years time. 


Record labels and their associations like the RIAA and BPI blamed the internet for basically beginning the destruction of the industry. It began with illegal peer to peer file sharing networks where people downloaded their music for free. Different  organisations began to pursue excessive downloaders and prosecute them with large fines. There was false hope when they believed discouraging would halt the decline and reversal of record labels fortunes. The sales of CD's have decreased each year. 


However an ultimatum came along which revived hope, with the rapid increase of the popularity of the MP3 and personal music players like the ipod, legal downloads have become more popular being led by Apple through their global online music store itunes, although there is other competition. None the less illegal downloads have decreased due to this. 


Although this is all positive CD sales are still declining particularly within the rock music genre which once was the most successful selling genre. Legal music downloads are helping record labels the traditional models are still in decline. People no longer just buy albums they are more enticed to buy the separate songs alone which is another factor thats  changing the industry and affecting the record labels. I believe some sort of system will sort the situation out sooner or later but for now its not working that well. 

Album Cover Design 2

Our Group Lip Sync Video - Beyonce/Halo

This is our groups first lip sync video, in practice for our actual video to come. I think it was very effective doing this, as a group we learnt a few things.
I benefited from this personally by getting to grips with editing, I think I got the hang of it quite quickly and managed to help my other group members into understanding it. This now means when it comes to editing the actual video we shouldn't have too much trouble. 


Overall I think the video was pretty successful for a first attempt, I look forward to making the actual video. 

Music Video Analysis - Rhianna/Only Girl In The World

I have decided to analyse this video as it is similar to our groups chosen song for out own video to be made, Jessie J Casualty of Love. Jessie J being a new artist, i found it slightly more difficult to find an artist that follows the same themes.


The video begins with a mid-shot of Rhianna in a windy field, all we can hear is the sound of the wind and no music which is normally a convention of a narrative video. However this video does not display a narrative. The first few shots reveal a beautiful colour scheme, a soft pink with a mixture of other colours creating a psychedelic effect to the video. Rhianna's costume also backs this up also with her loose 70's styled hippee dress and headband.


This follows onto the use of a series of mid-shots, quick edits in sync with certain layers of the song. The first few edits sync with the drum beats, as the video progresses their some edits in sync with the synths used in the track. There are many effective edits in the video which all break the narrative, they make the audience aware that they are watching a music video.


The video itself is fairly minimalist, never exceeding three main settings. The colour scheme stays the same throughout but is very effective. 


Further more discussing edits, many effects are used throughout the video. There is a moment where flower petals are rising up in front of Rhianna in a reverse falling motion, which clearly it has been edited in reverse, I feel this type of shot would be deemed post modern. One edit speeds up, fast forwarding the action on screen. Another effective edit is where Rhianna jumps like a video has got stuck and then back into normal playtime, this also syncs into the music. A use of zooming and defocusing are noticeable as well. Finally more edits at the end are reversed when the fireworks explode in reverse.