Final Storyboard

For more information, please see our Updated Shot Plan.

Ancillary Task Preparation: Website

As part of our project, I have decided to utilise my skills in web design to make a promotional website for our band. As well as enabling me to develop my skills, this will be the ideal way to promote our band's album within our genre, as research has shown that a large proportion of our audience use the internet to discover new bands.

A screenshot of the initial developments of our website can be seen above. The header image features the band's logo, and to depict the house styling portrayed in the logo, a simple black and white theme will be continued throughout the website. The header also features a performance shot that we took when we filmed this part of our music video, which instantly gives website visitors a feel of the style portrayed by the band. The navigation bar can then be seen below, which will be shown on every page, enabling easy navigation by the user. 

As this website will be built as part of my of one of my BTEC ICT units, I will construct my website using raw HTML and CSS coding, and the coding for the website so far can be seen below.

Music Industry 'Stardom'

ISL Week 7

Stars as Constructions

• Constructed, Artificial Images - represented as being 'real people', experiencing real emotions
• Images should contain a Unique Selling Point - can be copied or mocked because of it
• Constructed image can be more consistent than film stars over a period of time
• Not dependent on the creative input of others
• TV programmes such as The X Factor represent the construction process
• Groomed, styled and coached into fulfilling expectations
• Record company are interested only in money

Industry and Audience

• Manufactured to serve a purpose
• Audiences respond to various elements of star persona
• Record companies nurture and shape their stars - this is shown by the processes on TV talent shows
• Tend to manufacture what they think audiences want
• This leads to many stars and groups being similar
• Produce stars with long-lasting appeal
• 'Conveyor belt' approach to new stars means talent isn't developed
• Star's value may be short lived - only two years, or two albums perhaps 
• Increased focus on older pop stars - 'golden oldies' - means younger audiences can't identify with stars
• Healthy music industry develops both younger and older generations - diverse range of stars

Ideology & Culture

• Stars represent shared values and attitudes
• Promote certain ideology
• Audiences have interests in these values, increasing their likeability and quality
• Giving opinions on issues outside of music helps to develop their likeability
• Stars may start fashion trends, with fans copying their styles
• Stars can ignite discussion about topics or issues via social media
• Social networks give pop stars the opportunity to develop their believes and values outside of the industry
• Platforms of institutional support, including radio & TV Shows, are devoted to scrutinizing stars, and the public often crave for more information about stars
• Provide a focal point for cultural thinking

Character & Personality

• Stars have foundation in real life - often link back to their past
• Seen as a product of a particular generation
• Provide audience with a stereotype to associate to
• Many audience members try and conform to this stereotype
• Overall image is constructed
• Pop stars establish their image through their music
• Artist may be unable to sustain their image over a long period of time - this is usually due to money, and being unable to create a consistent account of their character because of their extra wealth
• Personality needs constant nurturing and support

(Notes taken from http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/Music/music.php?pageID=popstar)

Cup Tryout - Version 2

The video above is another attempt at the cup technique that we will be using in our music video. This time, instead of using black paint, food colouring was used and diluted with the water. This technique worked far more effectively, as the water was black enough so that when the cup was full and the letter was written on the side, it could not be seen. 

We will be able to use this adaptation in our music video to improve our results, making the technique more effective

Creativity in our Music Video

Intertextuality:

We will not be using intertextuality in our music video as we feel that it will complicate things and we can produce a successful video without producing intertextual links to other media within the promo.

Disjuncture and why we will not be using it:

Our music promo will concentrate on amplifying the lyrcis of our song rather than being completely random like videos that use disjuncture. One example of a music video that uses disjuncture is 'Lazy Song' by Bruno Mars.



We feel that disjuncture is not the correct type of video to use, especially as it does not follow the typical conventions of the genre that we are looking at.

Amplification:

We are going to use amplification for our music video because we feel this is the appropriate one to use because illustrating the lyrics of our song would be fairly difficult as it would require a lot of love scenes, which is something that Matt and I feel is too cliche so we are going to try to do something a bit different whilst still amplifying the moral of the song.

The song is about a rollercoaster type of relationship, so our idea of going on a journey in an effort to 'get off the ride' is hopefully going to be successful and appeal to its audience.

Narrative/Performance:

We are going to use both narrative and performance in our music video as, in terms of the genre, this follows conventions and we do not want our video to be too much like the pop genre which tends to only use narrative in its music promos. We will have a fairly substantial narrative but will cut to performance scenes every so often throughout our music video so as to maintain interest and give that 'rock' feel to the music video with the shots of the drums, guitar and vocalist singing. We do not really like the original music video for the song as we feel that it is slightly boring because it is completely performance-based, therefore making it look unprofessional and rushed so we hope to produce a video that is quite unlike the original promo.

Shot Plan - Final Version

Jobs to do this Week

• Ring the train station - lesson
• Go through storyboard - lesson
• Sort out filming day - lesson
• Move drum kit - Thursday
• Move 3 mic stands - Thursday
• Move dolly - Thursday