Some more digpak inspiration

I came across the Nelly Furtado album, 'Whoa. Nelly!'

I really like the natural approach, the simple use of natural colours and a simple colour palette of yellows, greens and the contrast with the apricot. All of these colours and the natural theme carries all the way through with location and artist's choice of clothing. Also the locations used are similar to mine, the natural outdoors. The simplistic pattern on the CD design is simple yet very effective, contrasting with the other busier aspects of the digipak. 

The booklet back is interesting that it doesn't feature the artist, but instead carries through the natural outdoor summer theme. The font is young and fun and although probably not what I would chose is well matched to the imagery portrayed.

However, there is a danger that if I go too far down the 'natural' route my song could potentially be mistaken for a 'country and western' style rather than reggae.

Magazine Advert Inspiration

I spent some time looking at new album advertising material that is used to launch new music to their target audience.

• Image of artist as main focus - launching latest imagery, style, hair, makeup etc
• Artist name also heavily featured to associate with the image - sometimes artist signatures are used
• Album name that is being released 
• Date of release and where to buy or download
• Website for further information about the artist
• Highlights any successful tracks that have already been hits for the artist
• Striking, bold and eye catching to stand out among the other music magazine colourful pages
• Images link strongly with the album design for easy recognition at point of sale, but not necessarily identical
• Clever use of typography and fonts

Digipak Inspiration

I have researched a number of digipaks to look at the styles used by female artists. This has given me some ideas that I'd like to include in my own digipak.

Album cover

• The solo artist is usually the main focus, image not always centred, leaving space for text
• Simple or on location backgrounds used in photography
• Very posed shots to portray dominance in the industry
• Little text used, just artist name and album title - sometimes using the artist signature
• Limited colour palette used - for example, duo-tones, black and white photography with contrasting text 

Album back - tracklist

• More artist photography - sometimes showing the artist from the back
• Track listing, often text wrapped around the artist image
• Barcode to help at point of sales - no standard positioning 
• Record label logo and date of issue
• Limited colour palletes to match album cover
• No standard on whether text is featured on the right, left or centred

Booklet back

• More stylised photography, often closeup shots of artist
• Limited or no text included, more space for creating imagery
• Same limited colour palettes to blend with album cover
• Simplistic designs, focus on the artist

 CD design

• More simple designs than the booklets
• Patterns and graphics used rather than photography
• Limited text - artist name, album title and sometimes track listing
• Limited colour palettes consistent with rest of the digipak

Story Board

I have devised a mock up of how I would like my music video to look, using still images along with the background music. I have given an indication to the scenery, shots and angle I plan to include, also trying to show where the editing will differ.

Shot Break Down

LOCATION: MAR DE CRISTAL BEACH
1. Long slow pan, long shot showing low evening sunset behind sillouette of palm trees

LOCATION: ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
1. Mid-shots of artist sitting on rusty trailer lip syncing to chorus
2. Long pans, medium shot of artist walking through corn field

LOCATION: DARK RECORDING STUDIO
1. Close-up on face lit up in dark room singing chorus - showing headphones & microphone
2. Extreme close-up on lips to show lip syncing

LOCATIONS: SWIMMING POOL
1. Mid-shot of artist swimming underwater
2. Mid-shot of artist flicking hair out of water
3. Long shot of artist laying on sunlounger, foot tapping in time with music
4. Mid-shot of artist diving into the pool

LOCATION: MAR DE CRISTAL BEACH
1. Slow pans, long shot of artist walking along beach front
2. Slow pans, long shots of beach scenery & holiday resort

LOCATION: PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO
1. Mid-shot of artist lip syncing to chorus with flashing lights to represent camera flash

LOCATION: LA CALA BEACH
1. Close-up of feet/ footprints in the sand
2. mid-shot of waves crashing against sand & rocks

LOCATION: LA MANGA CLUB GARDENS
1. Mid-shot of palm trees, clouds moving quickly in the background - fast motion
2. Photoshop still of clouds in shape of '9'

Script

Before filming my music video I have made a plan of my video structure and how that fits with the different sections of lyrics.

Videos	Audio Lyrics / Narration / Music / FX
1.  EXT. MAR DE CRISTAL BEACH, SPAIN, EVENING Waiting for music to build. Pan of beach at sunset – low sun and silhouette of palm trees.	No lyrics [0:00-0:06] No narration No FX
2.  EXT. ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE. LATE AFTERNOON SUN. Vocals begin calmly, relaxed feel. Medium shots sitting on old rusty farm trailer lip syncing to song, cross cutting to walking through corn fields. Lazy summer feel.	So high so high, I don't wanna come down I don't wanna come down so high so high, I don't wanna come down I don't wanna come down  [0:06-00:29] No narration No FX
3.  INT. DARK RECORDING STUDIO. More professional artist shots - Cuts to recording studio, as if single being recorded live, close up on face, focusing on lips – lip syncing. From different angles with different lights. Face lit with spotlight for focal attention.	you get me high high high so high that I don't wanna come down you get me high high high so high that I don't wanna come down [00:29-0:51] No narration No FX
4.  EXT. LA MANGA CLUB, SPAIN. SWIMMING POOL, AFTERNOON SUN. Music is faster tempo reflected in faster paced editing, cross cutting between shots of artist swimming under water, flicking hair in pool, laying by pool tapping feet to music beat and entering pool.	it’s our game, after all this time baby, I have no doubts our game, I’m only yours, I keep running out no no no no you got it and you make me feel, make me fly, make me fall so you've got it with that love so real you make me cry, you make me crawl you've got it with the sweetest touch the sweetest lips, the sweetest tone you've got it with the.. you got it you got it you got it [0:51-1:33] No narration No FX
5.  EXT. MAR DE CRISTAL, SPAIN. BEACH. EVENING SUN. Sound track back to a more relaxed tempo. Walking along beach front, pans of beach scenery, holiday resort, establishing shots to emphasise aspirational locations	you get me high high high so high that I don't wanna come down you get me high high high so high that I don't wanna come down [1:33-1:55] No narration No FX
6.  INT. PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO More professional scenes of artist at work. Mid shots of lip-syncing in photo studio, flashing in the background to represent cameras.	so high so high, I don't wanna come down I don't wanna come down so high so high, I don't wanna come down I don't wanna come down [1:55-2:15] No narration No FX
7.  EXT. ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE. LATE AFTERNOON SUN.   Vocals begin calmly, relaxed feel. Medium shots sitting on old rusty farm trailer lip syncing to song, cross cutting to walking through corn fields. Lazy summer feel.	you, you got to know you're my everything and it’s another thing to do, to make me wear your ring, you're my king oh yeah yeah yeaaaaaaah ay you got it and you make me feel, make me fly, make me fall so you've got it with that love so real make me cry, make me crawl you've got it with the sweetest touch the sweetest lips, the sweetest tone you've got it with the.. you got it you got it you got it [2:15-2:59] No narration No FX
8.  INT. DARK RECORDING STUDIO. In studio, recording single, close up on face, focusing on lips – lip syncing. From different angles with different lights. Face lit with spotlight for focal attention.	you get me high high high so high that I dont wanna come down you get me high high high so high that I dont wanna come down [2:59-3:21] No narration No FX
9.  EXT. LA CALA BEACH, SPAIN. AFTERNOON SUN Music tempo calming down again. close up of feet walking along beach front, mid shots of crashing waves against sand and rocks.	So gimme gimme that gravity  Set my soul on fire Now gimme gimme that gravity  You're making me higher Now gimme gimme that gravity  Set my soul on fire  Now gimme gimme that Cos you got it you got it you got it [3:21-3:44] No narration No FX
10.  EXT. LA MANGA CLUB, SPAIN GARDENS. MORNING SUN & CLOUDS. As music fades. Fast moving clouds behind palm trees ending in a ‘9’ shaped cloud.	Instrumental fade [3:44-4:00] No narration Fast motion

Just seen the official video for Cloud 9!

Was looking on YouTube earlier and saw that the official video went live on 7th October! 

Luckily the ideas I have for my music video are very different to what I have just seen, however a few aspects are similar- summer sunshine, water and nature!

But with such simple lyrics there is scope for many different creative treatments. 

Costumes & Props

Costumes 
I'd like my actress to wear different costumes for each location:
- Summery loose clothing that move and blow in the wind
- Shorts & crop tops for a summery feel running through the corn fields
- Swimwear for use in the pool shots
- Summer dresses on the beach
- More casual clothes for recording studio footage
- Something more dressy for the photographic studio shots

Makeup & Hair
In beach shots and running through corn fields I'd like my actress to have a natural look with minimal makeup and long flowing hair. However during the photographic scene I would like her to be more heavily made up in a smokey eyes, accentuated lips and hair more obviously styled.

Props
- Ipod/Phone/Music device
- Sunglasses for the reggae feel
- Headphones and microphone for use in the recording studio
- Flash photography for use in the photographic studio

Actors

My star persona is important because I need my target audience to connect with them, therefore they will have to carry certain characteristics, some that are similar to my target audiences. I have thought about some ideas which I'd ideally like my star actor to portray:
- Female
- Age 16 - 21
- Laid back, party girl
- Fun, energised
- Fashionista, dresses to make an impression
- Photogenic slim build
- Long hair and clear skin

After considering these aspects I needed someone who is willing to act confidently in front of the camera, as well as be available at the appropriate times. I figured my sister would be easily accessible to me, and as she is studying drama and dance is a confident actor who I feel will be comfortable around a camera. She is photogenic, happy, smiley, fun and a willing actress!
She represents my target audience well with her gender, age and characteristics. My target audience can easily relate to her, being a typical student herself.

Video Shoot Locations

I would like to include a variety of both aspirational locations and some more simple, scenic, countryside views to tie in the typical conventions of a music video but also include aspects that relate to my target audience such as locations that they would be familiar with. I would ideally like my locations to capture a sense of summer, warmth, holiday and happiness.

I would like to be able to incorporate the following:
- Walking along beach front - sun, sand & sea; aspirational locations; this will highlight the summery theme to my video, reggae vibe incorporating the relaxed holiday feel.
- Swimming pool - underwater swimming, floating on lilo, sunbathing outside pool; relaxed and tranquil, almost therapeutic spa affect.
- Striding through corn fields; in touch with nature and summer crops.
- Photography studio; emphasis on being an established artist, the media demanding promo pictures.
- Recording studio; as if the artist is being filmed whilst recording this song.

Potential problems with my chosen locations:
- Weather - Ideally I need clear sunny days to portray the summer feel I'm going for and not too cold for my actress wearing summer clothes.
- Harvest - I will have to film quickly before summer crops have been harvested and where they are next to public right of way.
- Timing - I will have to find days that my actors can make, as well as good weather and not too cold.
- Permission - I will have to gain permission to use a photography studio when they are not busy, and use a swimming pool when there aren't other swimmers in the pool or mess and debris around the poolside.


My chosen locations will include:
- Beach location is La Manga Club in South East Spain, this is a place I regularly visit and offers sunny beach scenes, quiet swimming pool and plenty of blue skies and palm trees!
- Behind where I live is still a field full of corn with public footpaths surrounding, giving easy access and beautiful backdrops.
- I work part-time at a photography studio so should be able to get access during lunch break to film some footage. If this isn't possible when my actor is available, I have a backup location in mind. I have access to an empty room which could be set up to look like a studio.
- My backup photography studio can also double as a recording studio with clever lighting!