Plan for magazine advert

Magazine advert sketches

Below, I have drawn up several ideas I possess for our magazine advert. These ideas assist in the portrayal of the contents of our piece. The first design highlights the location of our piece which is a dark forest. This is layered behind an image of our actor. This is to convey the idea of the character being in a dream state, as the image will be surrounded by images of stars and space nebula's to enforce the idea of a dream.
The second design is a replication of our music video whereby it meets the narrative, as well as the contents of our piece. This is shown by the character being shown in the woods with a ghostly figure, similar to our story.
Both of my ideas have the text centralized, and at the top of the page. This is because - from my research - I found that the most popular music adverts had met this aspect. This was because it was shown that the most important and fundamental information was located in the center of the picture, and above the rest of the information. Additionally, it was sized slightly larger, therefore more recognizable to the audience of the text.

Plan for digipak

Digipak sketch

Below is my sketch for my idea of the digipak for our piece. For the front panel, I have themed it largely around our video. This is so that the audience can associate the physical products with the video, and feel as if they have purchased what is part of a 'package', rather than an individual album. On the panel, i have included the actor walking away from the camera, deeper into the forest.
On the inside panel, I have included the character that the main character appears to be following. I have drawn him to be far away, to keep him as mysterious and anonymous as possible to enforce the representation of a paranormal entity.
The back frame includes a tracklist, layered above images of the forest. This is to keep the digipak a consistent theme throughout each panel, therefore making it look more professional.
The remaining inside panels are additional images of the forest. This acts in partnership with the front panels in order to form a consistent theme throughout the digipak.

Idea Pitch based on lyrics

The main idea my group and I had thought of was vastly similar.
I firstly decided that the overall theme of the piece should be dark, slow and slightly horror themed. This was because - in relation to the music - the terms of 'ghoulish entities' and 'ghostly enemies' enforces the portrayal of a paranormal and scary theme. I believe we could incorporate this aspect into our piece whereby our character and narrative is mainly set in a dark forest; a stereotypical convention of horror pieces. We could incorporate the ghosts and ghouls with the character, or around him.

Additionally, the part that writes 'pull up your sheets' suggest that the basis of this song is within a bedroom, probably at night time. This leads me on to believe that the idea of ghosts and ghouls in a night time environment revolves around a nightmare that the character is having. From this, I can finalize that I think my video should revolve around the character in a nightmare, walking around a forest surrounded by paranormal entities.

The name of the song Trials of the Past also has an influence on my idea for this music video. My idea also revolves around some sort of history for the character, and how he is suffering consequences for his past actions, hence the word 'trials'. My idea for this part is the character chasing his (ghost) self around the forest. This incorporates an idea of a past, as well as ghosts in the forest.

To summarize, based on the lyrics in this song, my idea is as follows:
I picture a character waking up in the forest, in his nightmare. He is walking around, and is encountered by himself as a ghost. As he walks through, he is lead to different places, and cannot seem to catch up with his ghost. This enourages the idea of disillution, lack of lucidity as well as confusion.

Digipack Analysis: David Guetta

Colours
On this digipak album cover for 'One More Love' by David Guetta, bright, vibrant and eye-catching colours are used for several reasons.  Firstly, the bright colours on the back side and inner cover contradict the front cover; the cover that everyone firstly sees. This adds an element of an unexpected aspect of the album, that could relate to a surprise that is actually located on the CD contents itself.
Secondly, the vibrant colours could be what attracts the audience, due to it's eye-catching nature, and easy visibility from a distance. This will all add to the probability of higher product sales, therefore making the album more successful.

Images
The images used on this digipak contribute to the successful aesthetics of the album. Firstly, on the front cover, we see an image of the artist, David Guetta. This helps the audience associate the name of the artist with the look of the artist. In this image, we see the artist wearing sunglasses. This makes him look both mysterious, as well as prestige, as famous individuals are usually seen wearing sunglasses inside.
Secondly, on the back and inner panel, we see images of numbers and shapes on a white canvas. These add to the mysteriousness of the album cover, and additionally promote the idea of stereotypical ideologies associated with this music genre, due to the resemblance of graffiti.

Text
The text on this digipak is contributory to the aesthetic positives of this album for One More Love. Firstly, on the front cover, we see the artist's name in a simply and bold font. This is a frequent house style of the artist, and could be labelled as his logo. Contrary to this font, below, we see the name of the album One More Love. This suggests that there is more than one style in this album, as well as tending to the ideologies of the targeted demographic of teens to young adults (graffiti).

Representation
This piece has a representation of artists from this genre being party goers, and enjoying the hectic lifestyle of the vibrant contemporary lifestyle. This is shown by the artist wearing sunglasses inside, and enforced by the fonts and images used.

Analysis from genre #2

AlunaGeorge - Attracting Flies

Sound
In this video for Attracting Flies by AlunaGeorge, both diegetic and non-diegetic sound is used to enforce the narrative impression, and therefore relate it to the song. Firstly, during the introduction to the video, diegetic sound is used in the form of ambient street sound, combined with the sound of federal police sirens. These sounds are evident whilst the screen is showing text saying 'Little grey fair tales, little white lies', and then we see an establishing shot of an urban estate of flats and apartments - in what looks like - London.
The non-diegetic sound used in this piece is that of the overlaying song itself. This is to give an initial purpose to the song itself. Whilst this is playing, however, we see the artist lip syncing the words whilst she is in the music video.

Narrative
The narrative of this piece is initially the idea of combining fairy tales with modern day urban life. By this, I mean that they coincide the current life that is lived by urban citizens in London, and applies a real life spin to it - thereby making the main ideas of the fairy tales likely. We see one of the artists (the female), as the main character of each fairy tale. Similarly, we see the other artist (the male), being the antagonist of the fairy tale.
The fairy tales included in this video are Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, Beauty and the Beast and Snow White & The Seven Dwarves.

Settings
There are several minor settings within this piece. However, these minor settings are largely set in an urban estate; a flat and apartment complex. This is seen as somewhat grimy, dirty and lower class. Considering the artists are British, the main setting is likely to be in an urban area of London, such as a council estate. This relates to the narrative in a way that suggests this is the cause of the disruption, whereby this setting is not a safe place to live, and is filled with an array of antagonists.

Representation
The representation of this piece is a negative light on citizens that are based in lower class urban areas. This is enforced by every negative occurrence that corresponds to the fairy tale is due to the antagonists, which are played by residents and associated individuals to the flats.  

Links to theories
This video for Attracting Flies by AlunaGeorge does not necessarily meet the aspects of Todorov's theory. By this, I mean that it does not meet the 5 stages of the narrative, due to the fact it does not have a beginning equilibrium, nor a major disruption. However, there are several disruptions in the form of fairy tales.

Conclusion
To conclude, this video for Attracting Flies firstly does not meet the theory by Todorov, unlike the majority of videos from this genre. Additionally, the general idea of the narrative relates to the lyrics (Little grey fairy tales and little white lies). This helps enforce the lyrics of the song.

Analysis from genre #1

Avicii vs Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One

Sound

In this video for 'I Could Be The One', both diegetic and non-diegetic sound is used to help portray and make the narrative more readable. Firstly, the non-diegetic sound is that of the music itself. This is overlaid above the video, and speech within the video. The diegetic sound used in this piece is that of the main character speaking to both her colleagues, and her psychiatrist. She is saying how she hates her life, her job and that she is not satisfied with her current position. The video shows how she remedies this; by taking a vacation to a paradisaical location.  

Narrative

This video promotes the idea of a middle aged female being severely unsatisfied with her current life. The video begins with her having a conversation with a colleague, to which her colleague announces she believes the main character is putting on weight. This is one of the main reasons she is unsatisfied. Additionally, she believes she has a dead-end job. She then goes home, and goes to bed. She then has a dream of this paradisiacal place, to which she is extremely happy with. However, she then wakes up. She returns to her daily routine, to which we see is so miserable, she then snaps, and books a holiday identical to the one she dreamt.

Settings 

There are several settings in this video. We firstly see the characters at the workplace. This is where the main characters' discomfort lies, as she is surrounded by colleagues she doesn't like, and is doing a job she does not enjoy doing. This is the basis of her discomfort, and therefore one of the fundamental settings in this video. Additionally, we see her in her bed at her home. This is another key setting, as this is where her alarm clock is. This alarm clock is what awakes her from her reoccurring dream of being in her dream place. Finally, we see her in this paradisiacal location that makes the character happy, and remedies her depression and discomfort.

Representation

The representation of this video is a negative light on middle aged individuals. By this, I mean that it suggests that middle aged people working in jobs they don't like are usually miserable and unsatisfied with their life, due to them being surrounded by young and motivated individuals, as well as rude and ignorant people. Therefore, the only way to escape this unsatisfactory life is to transfer to a utopia of their liking.

Links to theories
Todorov's theory
 

 1. A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)

This stage of the theory is very briefly met at the beginning of the video, whereby she is eating lunch with her colleague. This is all as it should be, until the colleague announces she believes the main character is gaining weight.

 

 2. A disruption of that order by an event.

The disruption in this video is met when she is consistently given work that isn't hers, and the additional factors that make her life unbearable. This is what leads to the disruption, and leads on the third stage of the theory.

 

 3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.

This stage is met by the main character noticing how undesirable her life is. This initially occurs after her dream of her paradise - when she wakes up. She then compares her real life to the dream, and decides to take action.

 

 4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.

The main character takes action to repair the disruption by booking a holiday to her paradise location, and quitting her job (in style) by offending her colleagues as she departs.

 

 5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium.

This final stage of the theory, however, is barely met - arguably not met at all. This is due to the main character running out of her workplace, only to be run over. This would suggest the equilibrium is not met. Despite this, we may assume that she died, and is in a happier place - ergo a new equilibrium as it is far away from the dissatisfaction and disruption.

Conclusion
In this video for 'I Could Be The One', the narrative meets the main idea of the song; the idea of being set free from everyday life. This is because everyday working life is seen as a drag, and unsatisfactory for the average person. The lyrics relate in a way that suggests there is a higher power that can 'set you free', and has done so in this video by transported to a paradisiacal island that has remedied her miserable lifestyle.

Analysis of past student music video

'Stuck' by Canopy Climbers

Narrative
In this student music video, the narrative is evident, and adds to the success of the video. We firstly see two youthful males drinking cans of alcohol in public. After this, we see them chasing an individual, to which he later gets beaten up, and is left alone. Throughout the video, we see the character that was beaten up training his boxing maneuvers in the gym, implying that he is trying to 'toughen' himself up. In the latter part of the music video, we see the boxer being confronted by the character that beat him up, only to be given an apology, as throughout the video, this individual has been thinking about what he has done, and has regretted it.

Transitions
The transitions used in this piece are suitable and effective. Throughout the video, cuts are used to show the fast paced occurrences that are apparent in the video, such as the violence, the running and the arguing. However, other transitions could be used, as a variety of them was scarce. As the narrative suggested that time passed a significant amount, cross fades, or fades could have been used to portray this. 

Settings
There are several settings used in this piece. This is effective in this text as it shows a variation, and allows us to see the passing of time in terms of the narrative. We see the characters in a field, an urban street and a house, amongst other places such as a bonfire. This is good because it allows the audience to distinguish the different surroundings the characters are in, and this compares to their behavior in the narrative.

Shots Used
In this text, there is a variety of shots used for different effects. There are low angles used on the antagonists of the piece (the characters that beat up the other individual) to show their dominance in the performance, however when the antagonist is confronted by the victim, an eye-line shot is used to show that he is now equal to the other character, and no longer dominant. 

Representation
The most evident and fundamental representation in this piece is the idea that teenagers and youths are frequently making silly decisions without thinking about them. This is shown by the idea that they beat up and individual, and throughout the video they are seen regretting it, showing their lack of thought process for the consequences. 

Conclusion
To summarize, this student music video uses different shots to portray different characteristics of each individual, as well as a strong narrative to convey a point. In addition, the music video relates somewhat to the lyrics of the song, and includes different settings and costumes, therefore making it look like a professional music video.