Evaluation Question #4

Evaluation Question #3

Evaluation Question #2

Evaluation Question #1

Magazine Advert Audience Feedback

Overall we have received generally quite positive feedback about our magazine advert, these include:

• Many of our target audience really like the overall colour scheme of the advert. They said "the white text on black background really makes it stand out and easy to read."
• A lot of the people we showed also really liked the font that we used for the main title and smaller text. 
• We also received a lot of positive responses about the image in the background as it look very "aesthetic" and has a "very interesting theme".
• When showing them the digipack that goes with it a lot of people really liked the way the 2 products link together. Specially with the fact we used the same image and font in both. 

Magazine Advert Final

DigiPak Vlog

DigiPak Audience Feedback

All in all we got some very positive feedback about our DigiPack, these include:

• Many people really like the overall black and white colour pallet that we decided to use for all the photos within the Digipack. 
• A lot of our target audience have also mentioned how they really like the silhouette theme as it looks very "interesting" and "unique". 
• They also really like the font that we used as "it goes well with the theme of the church that is in the background of the images"
• One of our target audience mentioned that she really liked "the overall simplicity of the design, as it wasn't too cluttered and really let u focus on the images"

DigiPak Final

DigiPak Draft Feedback

• Add and include a list of of songs that are part of the album. 
• Replace black background with something more interesting and appealing.
• A lot of our target audience didn't really like the images that we chose for the inside covers. Think about taking new pictures but with the same theme. 
• Stick to one colour scheme, make the front cover's colour scheme match with the back and inside covers. 
• A lot of our target audience really liked the image for the front cover so possibly use the same concept and idea for the other images. 
• Use a more unique and eye catching font for the title of the album.

DigiPak Draft #1

The image above is our first idea for our DigiPak. The top right image will be the front cover while the top left will be be the back cover with the bottom photos being the inisde cover. We decided to use the silhouette image for the front cover as we really like the idea and theme behind it. It also matches very well with the music video as the video also consists of a lot of silhouette shots. The location of all the images also links to the music video in that it is the same church that we used to film the intro. We decided not to show the artist's face as a way to challenge certain conventions of hip pop DigiPaks as usually hip pop artists like to have the face and image be the main focus while for our one the artist wanted to keep his identity hidden for the cover. Lastly we also decided to use a black and white them for some of the images to add an aesthetic look to our design. 

Analysis Of Magazine Advert #3 | Amani

Analysis Of Magazine Advert #2 | Evan

Analysis Of Magazine Advert #1

Analysis Of Digipak #3 | Amani

Analysis Of Digipak #2 | Evan

Analysis Of Digipak #1

What Is A Digipak?

Final Video Reflections

Overall we got generally quite positive feedback from our primary target audience. Many that we have asked and interviewed about the video have stated that they "like the editing style" and how it "matches along with the beat of the song". Other comments include how they really like the "cinematography of some of the shots, especially the silhouette shots". Although we have received some negative feedback, these include how some of the target audience found the opening to "go on for too long" and how the lip syncing i some areas could be better. Overall though I feel we achieved our primary goal to entertain and present our artist to our target audience. 

Final Video Feedback

Final Video

Second Draft Feedback

Editing Session Day #4

Editing Session Day #3

First Draft Feedback

After showing our first draft of our music video to our target audience and our teacher we were given a variety of feedback:

• Firstly both our target audience and teacher both liked the overall layout of the opening and the chorus. They mentioned it "synced well with the rhythm" and "the visuals matched the audio very well"
• One change that they suggested was to cut to the beat more during the verse. The way we had been syncing to the beat wasn't quite as sophisticated as it could be and instead of cutting to every other beat, cutting every beat would really add more quality to the editing and the overall video.  
• Another point they made was to not show all the locations and shots right at the beginning. Leave some of the shots unknown till the second verse and the chorus, as it would keep the audience interested till the end.
• Lastly some of the target audience have mentioned that the opening is a bit too long and recommend that we shorten it to get to the song much quicker. 

Editing Session Day #2

Editing Session Day #1

Overall Evaluation For Filming Sessions

All in all I feel that all the filming sessions were successful. We managed to film in nearly every location that we planned too and managed to get a large variety of shots. Even with some weather problems and time issues we still managed to get a whole lot done and have a lot of footage that we can use for the final video. It's a shame we couldn't film in Wembley Stadium but I feel that with the amount that we have, it won't really make much of a difference. If there was something that I could go back too it would be to refilm more close up shots of our artist performing. After looking through all the footage I came to realise we lacked quite a few close up shot but generally i think we can work around that. If we had more time to film I would have liked to film in the back alley way that we went too during our reccee but I don't think it would've added too much. 

Filming Vlog - All Days

Filming Day #4 Reflections

On the last day of filming we decided to go out to the top of the car park in Harrow. Here our primary goal was to really get a nice shot and view of the skyline, and our artist performing with the city lights being the background. Overall I feel it was a very successful day as we got a lot of long and mid shots of our artist with the view behind him. This really made for an interesting set of shots and I feel will really add to our music video. On the day there really wasn't any problems and everything ran very smoothly. We took the precautions we needed too, specially since we were up so high. All in all I feel like this was one of the most successful days out of the lot as it provided as with a variety of possible openings for the main verses of the song and generally just went very smoothly. 

Filming Day #4 Location - Harrow Car Park

Filming Day #3 Reflections

For day #3 of filming we went out to "St Mary's Church" where we filmed all the opening shots that we planned to use for our music video. We managed to get a lot of shots of our artist going down the isle, standing at the front, siting by benches, to really capture the religious aspect of what our artist wants to portray in the video. There was only really one complication, that being the travel too and from the location with the heavy equipment. Luckily though we managed, as we were given a lift up the hill to the church. Going down was definitely difficult but overall we got down without any problems. While we were up there we also decided to scout the location for possible photos for our digipack and magazine advert. After looking around for a bit we found several spots that we felt would be perfect to do a photo shoot in when we moved on to the ancillary tasks. All in all I feel that day #3 went really well as we were able to get some very nice long and mid shots of the church and also we managed to scout out a great location for our digipack and advert. 

Filming Day #3 Location - Church

Filming Day #2 Reflections

The other day we finished filming day #2 of our scheduled shoots. For this filming session we primarily used the college studio. Overall I feel it was a very successful day as we managed to get all the different scenes and shots that we wanted and all in all I really like the quality of the shots that we got. There were a few problems here and there, one being that we had some trouble with the lighting but after some help from our teachers we overcame the issue. The main shots that we managed to get were the tied up scenes that we plan to use at the beginning of the video and also the performance shots within the smoke.

Filming Day #2 Location - Studio

Filming Day #1 Reflection

Overall I think the first day of filming went really well, it started off a bit shaky with the fact that we got kicked out of our location due too the fact that we needed a permit to film in front of Wembley Stadium. Although we did plan for this and had a back up so we headed to the top of the car park in Wembley. All in all even with the cold weather and high altitude we did manage to film quite a lot of content and get several shots of our artist performing his song. Our primary goals were really to get performance shots in interesting locations and I feel we accomplished that on the night. 

Filming Day #1 Location - Wembley

Reflection On Feedback

Pitch Feedback

Pitch Video

Pitch Presentation

Risk Assessement

Risk Assessment from JacobMayuga

Production Schedule

• The screenshot above shows our production schedule for our whole music video. As you can see we plan to have up to 7 days where we shoot and film the music video. We decided to spread it across 7 days as firstly we want to film at night and outdoors which means that we'd have to film during a time where the streets are less busy, which is usually around 11 to 2pm. We know this thanks to our recce of the locations when we found out how busy the locations were at certain times.  Because of this it gives us about 4 hours per day to film and due to the amount of locations we have it doesn't give us much time to shoot. Also one of our primary locations is the college studio which is only accessible at specific times so we had to work our whole schedule around this. 

Final Story Board | Evan

Draft Story Board | Evan

Shot List

Ø  Smoke Machine Scene

-          Close Up

-          Overhead Shots

-          Low Angle Shots

-          Mid Shots

-          Tracking Shots

Ø  Tied Up Scene

-          360 shot

-          Close Up Shots

-          Mid Shots

-          Zoom in/out Shots

Ø  Spot Scene

-          360 shots

-          Tracking Shots

Ø  Church Scene

-          Over the shoulder Shots

-          Establishing Shots

-          Close Up Shots

-          Zoom in Shots

-          Tracking Shots

-          Over Head Shots

Ø  Car Park Scene

-          Close Up Shots

-          Long Shots

-          Low Angle Shots

-          Mid Shots

Ø  Alley Way Scene

-          Close Up

-          Long Shots

Ø  Wembley Stadium Balcony Scene

-          Tracking Shots

-          Close Up Shots

-          Long Shots

-          Over The Shoulder Shots

-          360 Shots

-          Mid Shots

Ø  Wembley stadium Ramp

-          Zoom in/out Shots

-          Close Up Shots

-          Tracking Shots

Ø  Brook Avenue Ramp

-          Tracking Shots

-          Over The Shoulder Shots

-          Long Shots

-          Close Up Shots

Ø  Brooks Avenue Road

-          Tracking Shots

-          Over  The Shoulder Shots

-          360 Shots

Influences For Our Final Video

• We feel that Big Sean's "Blessings" music video has a lot of aspects that we would like to implement into our own video. One being the lighting effects. We really like the overall theme and colour scheme of the music video as it looks very aesthetically pleasing and shows off performance shots in a really interesting way. We plan to include the large spotlight pointing at the artist from above in our music video. Another aspect that we really like is the smoke effect that he uses. Specially since we really want to give off the feel of our artist being "lost", we think that by having smoke effects like in his video it could really bring our idea to life.

Final Mis En Scene Decisions | Amani

• All in all we decided that besides costume there aren't many props that we need during the shoot. The only props we realized that we needed was a chair and rope for the tied up scenes that we are planning to film in the studio. As for costume we decided that our artist will have around 4 different sets of clothes. Primarily hoodies and jeans during the performance shots as we are planning on reinforcing the conventions of hip pop music artists and their styles of clothing. As for the tied up scene, we plan on having our artist wear ripped clothing of some sort to really emphasis the idea that he is locked up and alone. 

Testing Out Smoke Machine

• The video above is our vlog during our test for the smoke machine that we are planning to use. Initially we had the idea of trying to keep the smoke low down to create quite a misty floor that our artist can perform on but due to complications and a slight change in plan we decided to go with the idea of just letting the smoke go everywhere, as that in itself made a really interesting effect and generally looked quite aesthetically pleasing. 

Finding Smoke Effects On Final Cut Pro

• After finalising some of the plans for our music video we decided that we wanted to include smoke effects while our artist performs. After some debates on weather we should use a proper smoke machine or just digitally include it through special effects we decided to try and find some smoke effects on the editing software "Final Cut Pro" which is the software which we are planning to use to edit our video. After going through many different kind of smokes with help from one of the teachers we came to the conclusions that it overall looked too fake and that it would ruin the quality of the video if we used special effects. Hence why we came to the decision that we should just use a proper smoke machine during the shoot as it would look way more authentic and real.   

Location Recce

Test Shots For Performer

• The video above is a practice shoot that we decided to film to see how our artists performs in front of the camera. This also allowed everyone in the group to really re familiarise ourselves with all the filming equipment and get used to using the camera and tripod again. Overall though our main goal for doing this shoot was to help us practise with lip syncing and montage editing as we will have to do a lot of it after filming the actual music video. All in all I think it went quite well as the lip syncing is done to a reasonable quality and we were really able to see how well our chosen artist performs.

Target Audience

ThingLink Mood Board For Target Audience

Final Idea

The final idea for our music video has slightly changed due to circumstances we predicted could hinder us but we cant control as its not cost effective . A lot of things still remain the same but here is the break down.
THE CONCEPT:
The video is about the on going social crisis which affects people of ethnic minorities. The crisis involves issues such as racism and increased police brutality, The video is a tool used to depict the mind of the artist and the evils of society which seriously leaves him  and people similar to him in a disadvantaged position as well at risk of dying not just physically but mentally also. It also helps to show how he feels lost in society this is were the lost locations come in.
LOCATION,PROPS AND MISE EN SCENE IN GENERAL:
The location type  still remains  the same as well as the fact it will be shot at night as it helps with the concept. The green screen will not be used rather will be replaced by  a scene in a film studio with the spotlight on the artist this was inspired by the Big Sean multi platinum selling single "Blessing"

Their will be  a car park scene in various car parks, but not just any car parks we will make use of abandoned car parks in order to help depict and emphasise the theme of being lost physically but also emotionally and mentally. This helps to represents the artists mind and the position if people such as him in present day society.

Initial Ideas For Video

Analysis Of Song Lyrics| Evan

FREEDOM

Verse 1

What if I had all the power for a whole day

I wonder what every one of u lot would have to say Taught to accept it's too late
I was supposed to accept my fate 
My foes my world it's my truth. That's u and me
Know the truth pray to God and it’ll set u free
They trying to create another slave in my head 
Knowledge is power that's what the preacher said
Duff duff 3 bullets another one left dead 
We living in a world full of evil and sin 
It's beginning to look like a war we can't win   
You got to preach cause reality is up with thee
Promise of a brighter tomorrow means nothing to we
He's head blown out can't believe what I see
I was made to believe success wasn't for me
When they don't accept u what's the point of life 
We were made to b negative stereotypes 
I opened my eyes guess what I saw
Guns and blood in the streets listen to the people's roar
Reality hit me damn!!!I need a wakeup call 
I hope the lord save me before I perish or I fall
 We live in A city full a death and decay
This division and hate got me losing my ways 
We gradually losing sight of day 
Sorrow and sadness
We pray for better days

HOOK:

You’re profiting from our own division
We’re gathering with a gospel of love
You suffocate with your legislature
Were breaking out with a song of freedom
And it goes like
OO OOO O OOO O [X2]

Verse 2

What sort of power can make a black man fly? 
The sort of power that makes one man live 
So two other niggas die 
My experiences r just the pros and cons of life
A nigga who makes it real good from my ends I can’t find
Cause all the pain they caused us still plays on my mind 
Theft and murder stories all well concealed 
When the light shines trust me all's revealed 
Watched one of my homies gunned down till he's brains blown out 
I can see the blood dripping that's another man's dream flown out 
My mind about to blow up I had to zone out
With all the evil in your eyes I ain't see no good
U be doing the most 
More than u should 
Sometimes I imagine a life without stress 
Where Money and fame doesn’t not define the value of your success 
Life is full of highs and lows 
YOUR experiences r reliant on the paths you chose 

REFRAIN:

Affliction pulls us together
Our love is breaking the fetters
Declaring freedom from all deception
In Christ were all overcomers

ANNOTATION:

FIRST VERSE

The first two lines refer to the lack of power a black person in society possesses ,the artist wants the listeners to imagine a situation where it was the opposite, the second line is directed at racist police officers and what their thoughts would be on this becoming a reality. The second and third line refer to the kind of ideology instilled into people of ethnic minorities.The   twelfth and thirteen line refer to the fact that reality beckons and how people should stop living in a fantasy ,also how promises that politicians make mean nothing to the general public anymore.The fifteenth and sixteenth line refer to the non acceptance of black people and how they are heavily stereotyped.The chorus was about how the constant division within heavily black communities is being taken advantage of by the judiciary and the system as a whole but there is a protest of love from the black communities.

SECOND VERSE:

The first three lines refer to the on going police brutality in parts of society and how the powers in control or pushing for such behind the scenes are the sort of powers that can help a black person prosper in such a society.
The sixth line refers to the popular black slave trade that happened decades ago and how the artist may not have experienced it personally but after hearing of such stories, the thoughts of such incidents occurring still linger in his mind , The seventh and eighth line refer to the atrocities committed within the realms of government and how one day they'll be exposed for all to see.
The refrain refers to how the black community go through these bad times but instead of using it to complain and remain divided they should rather use it to come together as one and stay stronger.

Final Song and Artist Choice | Evan

We chose a local artist named "sheggz" who is a  hip hop artist. We felt he creates the kind of music that interests us as group and we are able to build  visual ideas off such authentic content. We chose a track called "Freedom" from his upcoming album MY TRUTH .

We selected this track as we felt their were so many ideas we could build off the mood , structure and beat of the track. It massively helps to enhance the visual creative process. The music sheggzz makes passes across a social message and incorporate so many other themes into his music at the same time but also manages to sound good ,he balances quality and overall message so it meets hip hop standards lyrically and sonically. Not many artists are capable of matching this feet and remaining as consistent as him. We feel as a group we are able to create the kind of visual content his music needs to pass the message on. The track we chose is the lead single so it only makes sense we make a video for this as this is the tradition even for artists even from outside our genre.

Interviews With Target Audience

UK Tribes Research

Uk Tribes Research from JacobMayuga

Record Label Research | Evan

We have decided as a group that our artist will be signed to a major label, namely Universal Music group. it is a record label made specifically for hip pop and urban music, it has signed mainstream artist such as drake and Kanye west. Who both have experienced considerable amounts of success especially the former.
We chose a major label as they are more likely to put our artist out their and promote and distribute their music adequately.
Independent record labels would promote our artist but not up to the level we desire.
Major labels are usually owned by a massive parent company unlike independents who usually don't have a major corporate backer.
1}A huge difference between major and Independent  labels is the actual contracts they sign with musicians. An independent artist, however, holds a huge benefit a major label artist does not HOLD.  Major labels almost every time won’t let the artists keep ANY rights over anything being recorded or released. Major labels make their artists send 360 degree deals which ensures the label has a share in revenue generated from music as well as touring and merchandise sales.
2}Probably all major signed artists earn 9-16% royalty on their tracks. An independent label is commonly known to offer the artist 40-85% in royalties. This shows how much the major labels get to take in for themselves and what the artist earns. Again showing that independent  labels have an advantage in this area .The difference here is that if a major label artist is taking almost 20 percent in royalties he is most likely to make more than the independent artist who takes double or even triple at times in royalties, this is due to the fact that majority of major labels are more likely to generate more money for their artist than the independents would.

3} control:When you sign a contract with a label not only due you work for someone else, but you also can’t control where you perform. Besides performing you can’t control When you release your album or even music upload online. Being independent is not a bad thing it just means it’s time to start a business from the ground up. Many musicians make a living of iTunes alone now imagine what you can do with over 50 digital selling websites. But this requires a lot of hard work unlike major labels they have a whole team behind you and they are pretty much in control and charge of most things that happen regarding your music ,majority of the time the artist has minimal say.

Major record labels use the best music directors as they have top level music directors, sometimes they never let the artist use their ideas make a video he/she has  to succumb to the labels wishes all in the name of boosting sales unlike independent labels the artist funds the videos and can only rely on the connections they have but are in total control of what happens.