Shooting weekend 1

This session was really good.

• much better direction on shoot
• the lighting may need to be improved
• the team were fast
• the acting was really good
• most of the footage could be used
• i still think there could be some different shots
• we should start earlier next week to ensure we get all the footage needed.

MySpace Analysis: Bloc Party

I chose to look at this band as they remind me of the artist that we could create. They compose music of a similar genre. To Continue...

http://www.myspace.com/blocparty
-simple black background which maintains the focus on the content itself and is clean and a generic colour for indie/rock.

-the layout is clean, non-linear and simple to navigate around with only a scroll up and down option. All audience age groups can use this page.


At the top of the myspace page is an advertisement, 'bloc party.//intimacy- the new album'. This is a bold staement across the top of the page acting like a banner to promote their new album and the band as a whole to all browsing audiences.

Underneath this in order:

• a music preview function: this plays their most recent single automatically when the page is opened, 'signs'. There is also the option to listen to 3 of the bands other songs such as 'mercury' 'trojan horse' 'one month off''.


• on the left there is a bloc party profile picture of the band with links to more exclusive pictures and videos of the band and their lifestyle and personality.


• there is a contacting section, where members of myspace can add the band as a friend, send them a messsage, rank them, add them to a group, etc. This is an exmple of band and consumer interaction.


• a general info. function. this gives details such as ...
  -band website: blocparty.com
  -band members
  -record label: wichita/atlantic recordings
  -influences: 'Pinkerton' by Weezer. New Order. Dungen. Prince. Sebadoh ('Bakesale' not 'Bubble and Scrape'). Broken Social Scene. Warp Records. Shanks And Bigfoot. Yukio Mishima. Husker Du. Stanley Kubrick.'

-This 'influence' info. is of particular interest as this shows who the band my have learnt their craft from and who they have aspired to be from an early age. We as consumers get a greater idea of how our icons have developed over time.

• upcoming shows feature: over 15 Bloc party gigs which are coming up including time, location and date. This is instant for the more loyal fanbase to obtain vital information in terms of keeping up to datee with the band shows and live tours.


• latest blog entry section: e.g. 'Bloc party webchat tomorrow'. This section is not as interactive as Razorlight's blog entry as there is no direct address from the band members to the audience. In this case it is purely for information to be advertised to the audience and exclusive events to be revealled in which audiences are able to participate in. It seems all geared towards commenting and responses almost creating an online community who share the taste in music-specifically this band.


• about Bloc Party feature:

Target Audience:'I kissed a boy'

The main target audience:

• Our main target audience would be both genders between the ages of 15-25years as this reach would understand the depth and complexity of the music video and artist.


• specific fans of the musical genre , alternative/punk rock.


• the artist is attractive stylish and iconic and provides an image which young girls would adore and due to the nature of the song, homosexual males.

also...

• The SHOCK VALUE and the fact the song is CATCHY and recognisable means that it would be constantly sung (the hook lyrics 'i kissed a boy..' ) by a wide spectrum of ages.


• issues and action codes in the music video gives light to many interpretations and so many people will have an opiniion about it.

Therefore audience is very large due to high public interest in song!!!!!

Consumption profile:

• likely to consume similar generic artists:
  Fallout boy, Good charlotte, blink 182, elliot minor, razorlight, linken park, franz ferdinand, etc.

- i think it is important to realise that the artist is not actually homosexual and so to appeal more directly to this core audience the branding of this artist would really need to be appealing to females (i.e. he is masculinised)

In terms of males, i think this debut song would generate a secondary audience of homosexual males. This is clearly due to the nature/themes of the song especially the hook lyrics.

Uses and gratifications:

The audience would use our song to reflect more on issues in their lives. Due to the past tense lyrics, direct adress and other Brechtian techniques used in our Music Video this allows the audience to almost get an insight into the life of the performer. Therefore not only do they get to look at issues which affect others' lives but they are encouraged to actively look into the issues within their own lives.

Fans:

I think fans of the artist would see his costume, tattooes, and accessories and from this generate a similar identity from this. For example fans may get fake/real tatooes or use eyeliner or start to wear wrist accessories. ALso fans would possibly get teh same hair cut and have similar styles of clothing, paticularly the younger ages in the 15-25main target audience who may idolise the artist.

Music Consumption:

this song may be consumed with a groups of friends due to the lyrics and a light hearted outlook on the words. However it may be consumed on a more perosnal level where the audience is invited to reflect on other peoples lives and their own situation. public and personal consmption

Artist Image and marketing inspirations: Linkin Park

Here is more the identity i think the lyrics and song and artist should reflect. I think looking at how they have adapted their image and branding over the years will help us to promote a really current and original artist.

Identity:

• Genre(s): Combination of 'alternative rock', 'nu metal', ' rap rock' and 'alternative metal', with influences of 'electronica' and 'hip-hop', utilising programming and synthesizers.
• Album 'Minutes to Midnight' the band experimented with their established sound and they drawing influences from a varied range of genres and styles.
• They are compared to "U2's" work.
• Linkin Park's use of two separate vocalists has become a large part of their music.
• Known for using growling and screaming vocals common in various forms of metal, while also using more melodic singing.
• The band got their name from California's Lincoln Park named after president Lincoln.
• The band started off with the name Xero, then Hybrid Theory, and finally Linkin Park.
• Linkin Park's influences include 'Nine Inch Nails', 'Deftones', 'The Roots' and 'Aphex Twin'.

note: We share more similarities in terms of themes and generic inspirations/backgrounding. Also we use similar instruments and our music is open to interpretation due to its multi layering. -i.e singing, growling, screaming, etc. which are seen in our debut single.

Marketing:

• Their very first show was at L.A.'s famed rock showcase spot, 'The Whisky'.
• Linkin Park's first headlining tour was called Projekt Revolution.
• Won "Favorite Artist - Alternative Music" at the 31st Annual American Music Awards. Chester and Phoenix also introduced Metallica's performance.
• Best friends with the Backstreet Boys and even did a song with them called 'Points of Authority'.
• Linkin Park collaborated with Jay-Z because they were requested to do so by MTV.
• Donated $100,000 to the Tsunami Trust Fund.
• Established Music for Relief. It's an organization that helped people affected by the Indian Ocean earthquake on Boxing Day (December 26th).
• Played a Live 8 concert.
• Linkin Park Underground is a fan club for Linkin Park.
  

Band Image:

This is very much the image i think we should create for our artist. As it links with the conventional look of the genre, as well as reflecting the personality of the artist. i.e. his rebelliousness, abstract views, unique style and behaviour which maybe questioned by members of society, etc.

Wikipedia

iamfan.com/~linkin_park/

'Bertolt Brecht'

One of my/the ideas of leaving the studio lighting in the background whilst the performance continued, gives connotations that the performance is not reality itself. Instead it is almost an insight into the artists mind and more like a visual representation of reality. Also this is helped by the constant performance to the audience in the performance shots.

• After looking at some of these shots, it arose that infact such performance shots are an example of BERTOLT BRECHT's 'Verfremdungseffekt' theory. -(translated as distancing effect, estrangement effect, or alienation effect).

'Brecht thought the audience required an emotional distance to reflect on what is being presented in critical and objective ways, rather than being taken out of themselves as conventional entertainment attempts to do'.

A summary of this theory:

• a play (mv in our case) should not cause the spectator to emotionally identify with the action before him or her, but should instead provoke rational self-reflection and a critical view of the actions on the stage. - i.e. in our MV we are trying to make the audience look at the issue which arises from the lyrics not just have an emotional attachment to the artist. to clarify we do not want to the audience to think the artist is homosexual or has kissed a boy literally, instead they should be listening to the lyrics and the issue within the song. -JUST AS KATY PERRY'S version does not imply that she is homosexual or has kissed a girl in real life.


• Brecht employed the use of techniques that remind the audience that the play is a representation of reality and not reality itself and hence provides a distance between the artist and the audience, including: the direct address by actors to the audience, transposition of text to third person or past tense, speaking the stage direction out loud, exaggerated, unnatural stage lighting, the use of song, and explanatory placards.
  

-in our MV we are using purposeful unnatural lighting and the fact the audience can see some of the lighting creates the impression that this is not narrative performance (i.e. not part of the narrative/'storyline'). Instead this intentionally draws the audience to become more active viewers and think of the process and issues more critically.
-past tense lyrics (execpt for initial lyrics) which are also like stage direction in the sense he is stating 'he kissed a boy'
-exaggerated action/ gesture codes - which adds to the artists personailty
-direct address

Bertolt Brecht:

Born: 10 February 1898(1898-02-10)Augsburg, Germany
Died: 14 August 1956 (aged 58) East Berlin, Germany

occupation: poet, playwright and theatre director

Notable theatre work: Life of Galileo, Mother Courage and Her Children, Caucasian Chalk Circle

key to my Music Video: The Verfremdungseffekt theory

developed ideas/initial shot list

since getting a great idea for our performance shots, i have now developed these ideas for the more abstract cutaway shots throughout:

1. close- closer- closerer shots of the actor/artist or an object of significance
2. XCU of hand gripping a bat
3. xcu of smashing a glass against the wall
4. xcu of smashing a car window with a bat- 2shots- 1 big close up outside against the window pane, 1 close up from inside the car at a low angle of the window smashing
5. xcu of a hand feeling the side of a males cheek
6. in the dark (poss a club atmosphere) - close low level handheld track through lots of people/males. -camera winds through people.
7. then close high level track HANDHELD through lots of males.- panning side to side (poss fades) of men all staring at the camera.
8. XXcu of male body climbing out of pool. low angle- cant really make out who it is
9. XCU of touching bare body or gripping arm
10. close ups of tattoos- strobing through shots in black and white
11. close up track up tattooed arm ?
12. the first few performance shots in night vision
13. studio lights in performance background turn on with the beat one at a time ( 2 different shots) as they come on the night vision changes. - similar affect on the audience to that given in Justin Timberlake's 'my love' whereby black and white colour contrasts alternate via lighting and costume.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeNzKWDZtfs
14. once the studio lighting illuminates the wall the artist walks back and shot changes to close up against the wall (side on) as he begins to spray paint
15. slow-mo: shots of artist not singing but brands his image. e.g. shots sitting on floor with arms in legs staring at camera, or offscreen. -basically POSING LIKE A MODEL
16. slow-mo side on: XCU of 'dusty' punch bag and as it is hit the dust (powder) surrounds the glove.
17. instead of water coming out of mouth ( as this looked quite poor on camera during the test shoot 13/9/08) i thought CU of the shower head turning on would have the same phallic connotations.
18. CU of gold chain dropping from a males neck- connotations of emasculating the males.
19. MCU of two men arguing facing each other and one grab the other by the scuff of the neck
20. then XCU of the scruff of the neck as this suggests a sexualised gesture code. - a shot with multiple interpretations
21. handprints on a steamy window/ shower screen.
22. close up of liam taking a male's belt off
23. MCU-CU of liam grabbing male pushing him against wall, with facial contact (KISS NOT NEEDED!)
24. possibly shots of male or liam's are being forced/pinned to the wall.

BLK feedback

love all the graffiti ideas and the words on the screen - i think that would be wicked
great blogging matt

Test Shoot Weekend

This weekend was brilliant!

• The iconography really worked and looks amazing when played back!
• The over exposed lighting is superb and really suits the style we are after.
• The tattoos are awesome, but take very long to do.
• We need to be faster next week on shoot and be better prepared to draw the tattoos
• The baseball bat looks really good
• Some of the insert shots such as, water coming out of mouth, hitting the punch bag etc. dont work at all. The direction of the narative shots needs to be asssessed by the group in a meeting.

Marketing inspirations: NME

To tie in with the genre of our artists debut single, alternative rock, ive looked on the NME website for some inspirational fashion tips in how we can produce a current idolised image....

Looking at this i think we should use some of these conventions but tend more towards the more radical rock side as this will give us a more unique image. However baring in mind the wide audience reaction to the shock of the song and music video, our artist needs to show slight mainstream qualities.

Inspirational ideas-On screen lyrics:

I really like the idea of words a..p..p..e..a..r..i..n..g on-screen.

• This looks effective when in time with the music giving it rhythm, energy and fluidity across. This may help as our shots are disjunctive.
• can give energy to more static shots
• Allows the audience to rememeber and sing the lyrics
• In the actual song there is some abusive language so once we edit this and change it to more appropriate language it might help the audience to be certain of the words by visually seeing them appear
• This may add colour or contrast to the background producing a virbrancy in the MV

Successful example which has inspired me...

Ne-Yo - Closer:

- I think this is really enhanced by the contrast in colour and colour scheme throughout.

less successful...
Basement Jaxx- Do your thing:

- I think this is less successful as it does not have such striking visual impact on the audience, however it does move the audience's eye within the frame producing a continual fluid movement.
-I think the impact of Ne-Yo's is greater as it appears in a singular style which is matches the beat and actual lyric in the song and so the audience are more actively involved at keeping pace with the lyrics.
-In this MV the audience is given a choice- and as we know the pace of the song means that audiences may not participate. (however is this tactile in the sense that the audience may only read some lyrics and are invited to focus their mind to listening to the music and lyrics in the song instead?)

location reccie:

The main location for our Music Video is in a bedroom- so i decided to clear my room out and takes pictures of the room to see if this would be a suitable location:

Positives:

• it can be tailored for our video easily, e.g. light cna be a single bulb etc.
• empty
• clean
• white/cream walls
• (can chuck out the huge cupboard)
• light
• can put dust sheets all around and graffiti on them
• can move everything around
• we can use it as just a room-doesnt have to be a bedroom

Negatives:

• possibly too small to shoot in (but will it be bigger on camera)
• too clean maybe we could do with a dirtier, messier room to be more realistic
• would it be better if we used a room with a more accessible window? - because you cant climb or even act as if you have climbed into mine.

Band Name:

I like the band name idea... (and logo)

H.R.H - His/Her Royal Highness....(with a crown tilted over the last H)

positives:

• catchy
• iconic
• extremely controversial!

Negatives:

• offensive?
• tacky
• the band would be seen too political

Last shot:

For the last shot i think the graffiti should be revealled.

This may be done by the 'kissed boy' returning to his bedroom and finding the huge graffiti across the wall.
therefore the last and fading to black shot would be the graffiti.

I think the graffiti could spell the band's name however i'm not sure if this will fit in with the narrative that has built up during the performance shots. - a work in progress

In this case the last fade to black would be of the band name and could have lights illuminating this on the wall and possibly a camera running alongside it.

This is also a good way to end the music video in terms of branding as the bands name will be the last image uptaken by the audience.

Inspiration:

The Human League: One man in my heart


In this video i like the symbolic shots which sexualise the video eg. the coffee machine. Also i like the fact that some shots subtely symbolise the main vocalist losing her femininity. i..e when she drops her handbag and all of her feminine accessories fall to the floor, and the following shots of the accessories hitting the ground and breaking.

I would like to emmasculate a male through shots which use this symbolic subtelty.
Possibilities:

• could be a dissolving shot of shaving a chin which then merges to a shot which turns out to be shaving his leg!?!
• a chain or watch falling off a male's neck/wrist
• vibrant or camp looking clothes. -skinny, multi-coloured boxers, ??
• ...

Shot Inspiration and Ideas:

I like the idea that rather than having a narrative or a few scenarios between the performance shots, i would rather have disjointed shots with relevance.

I think it would be really in keeping with the song 'i kissed a boy' to have shots of males acting masculine yet shot tightly and edited correctly in the edit suite to make the shots seem posey, voyeuristic and over-exaggerated. i.e to SEXUALISE really ordinary shots. It is important that the content can be interpretted in different ways i.e. normal actions which are symbolic.

Inspirations for these ideas are...

Benny Benassi - satisfaction:




Alex Gaudino- Destination unknown:




Shots that i would like to include: (shots open to interpretation but are sexualised. e.g. phallic symbolism)

• guy coming out of the swimming pool- squirting/spraying water from his mouth
• guy running hands through hair in the shower
• guy drinking from a water fountain
• guy with sweat running down his forehead
• guy rolling up his sleeves
• raining giving him a wet shirt

- the key thing here is clearly fluids/water (hahaha)

possibles:

• guy eating/peeling a banana
• egg and soldiers
• lollipop in side of mouth
  
  

Shot ideas:

Creative shots that i would like to encorporate in my music video:

1. I would like to break the 30 degree rule during the MV. This would give the effect of the camera jumping however i would use this almost to profile the singer and to brand the stars image. Also this impacts the audience in the sense that if it is cut to the beat a rhythm will be sustained.

possible note:

throughout these jump cuts i would have a white flash in between the shots to almost look like each individual shot is being given extra significant and the audience notice what is being highlighed. Almost like a camera flash giving an unusual branding style. This can happen either vertically or horizontally.

-almost like the effect of a slow strobe light which is seen in some dance music videos.

2. I had the idea of a two way motion shot of the singer when performing or just a semim circular track around the artist. This would surround him giving him a performance space in the room where he is graffiti-ing. Hence the focus for this performance shot is taken from what he is doing and moved purely to the branding of himself as an artist.- A shot necessary for a new artist and single.

-in this shot the significant graffiti he is writing would not come into shot

Marketing inspiration: 'Good Charlotte'

'GOOD CHARLOTTE' case study on marketing strategies, band image and identity:
I have looked into the history, brand identity and marking strategies of this band as i think they are very similar in their generic direction as a band, to our debuting artist. Therefore i think seeing how they became so sucessful would influence decisions on how we should market our artist.

• Genre(s):' Power pop', 'Alternative rock', and 'Pop punk'.

Good Charlotte started out by playing at small venues.

Good Charlotte played some dates with the band 'Blink-182', who had just experienced mainstream success with their album, 'Enema of the State'. All of this caught the attention of major music labels, and Good Charlotte eventually signed with 'Epic Records' in 1999.

Debut album-"Good Charlotte":

• In 2000, they released this self-titled album
• Band influences for their albums; 'Blink 182', 'Sum 41', 'NOFX' and 'Green Day'.
  

Second album-"The young and the hopeless's":

• success meant Good Charlotte landed appearances on....'Saturday Night Live', 'CNN', and 'The Today Show'
• Featured on the covers of 'Rolling Stone' and 'Alternative Press' magazine, and were also featured in 'The New York Times'.
• They became popular on 'MTV', where their music videos were played in heavy rotation on both 'MTV' and 'MTV2'.
  

Third album-"The chronicles of life and death":

• Received mixed reactions from both the music press and Good Charlotte's fanbase. The album was widely considered a departure from their previous two albums.
• Mixes new elements: strings, synths, and more mature lyrical themes unlike previous youthful 'power pop' sound.

Forth album- "Good morning revival"

• The music video for "The River" was added to UK music channels 'Kerrang!' and 'Scuzz'
• Multiple U.S. and international TV appearances : 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'
  

Promotions and identity:

• Good Charlotte's lead singer and guitarist co-hosted the 'Australian MTV Video Music Awards'
• In August 2007, the band embarked on 'Justin Timberlake's-FutureSex/LoveShow' tour, as Timberlake's opening act.
• Two members are vegetarians and support animal rights campaigns. Therefore appeared at 'PETA's 25th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Awards Show.'
• Members deemonstrated against 'KFC's' treatment of chickens.
• Supported punk and youth activist group- 'Positive Force D.C.'
• posed for the YouthAIDS Aldo- "Aldo Fights AIDS" dog tag campaign.
• supported 'H&M Fashion Against AIDS' campaign.
  

Band image:

I really like the image of this band, with their generic dark colours, extreme styles (make up and excessive tattooing), wacky hair, etc. They have a real alternative appeal which i feel is essential for our artist. However i do think this band are sometimes too radical in their approach. As our artist would be much more widely promoted due to its 'response to i kissed a grl' status, i think a tamer version would be more successful. Although i can see that this band would have a huge audience within its niche genre.

Inspirational videos:

These videos are inspirational as i think that the shots between our performance should not really tell a narrative. I would rather they were creative shots which are disjunctive yet a theme of voyuerism is felt. Also this puts the emphasis more on camera work, mise en scene within the shot and editing which are key components of the music video.



As 'Carol Vernallis' states in her article 'The kindest cut: functions and meanings of music video editing',

• music video editing is responsive to the music


• continuity techniques are not as strict as in films. They can be incomplete and lead to unusual paths- i.e. a disjunctive shot order.


• reative visual disjunctive shots put emphasis on the music, lyrics, and themes rather than the narrative in the visuals of the music video.


• MV's (music videos) are about the composition of the shot rather than the content.


• conventional film shot order and distancing is much more relaxed in MV's. It is more about the music forms and patterns.

These inspirational videos are examples of disjunctive shots which still provide connotations of the theme in the song and lyrics and are cut to the beat giving the editing an rhymic function :

Benny Benassi- Satisfaction:

Faithless- Insomnia:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZhxGIbRYY



These adverts below are examples of disjunctive shots which i think would work well with our song. They are CU's an give connotations of : intensity, emtional, passionate and voyeuristic. -Themes which will run throughout our music video.

Herbal essences advert:



Jean Paul Gaultier 'le male':

Inspirations and ideas:

I had the idea that it may be good if the performance takes place in the 'boy who was kissed's' bedroom. i..e before the boy returns home and into his bedroom.

As a group we thought that we would like the singer to be obsessing over this other male. I thought it would be good if we had 3 main perfromance/key shots which we kept coming back to throughout the video.

1. I like teh idea of the obsessing male to be wrriting obsessively possibly at a desk in the room and giving lots of emotion etc. The hook/ main perfromance area in Eminem's Stan video is very similar to what i had in mind....

Eminem feat Dido- Stan:

2. I thought another creative performance hook shot would be as if the camera was on/ part of the wall. In this shot the main singer would be graffiti-ing on the wall which the camera is on, yet we are hidden from what he is writing throughout (until the end) yet we get close beauty shots of the star which will help promote his image and will get meaning across in the video. i.e. the camera is placed behind the graffiti

• note: i think it would be very visually appealing if the perfromance ie the visual hooks of the star were in black and white whilst the narrative shots are in colour. This would also add layers to the piece and alow the audience to interpret the video in different dimensions- hence more widely appealing and therefore successful.

• Leading on from this .....i think it would look nice if at near the end of the video; in this shot where teh writing is hidden i think we could use an almost transitional shot where the star graffitis across the 'lens' of the camera before the cut and change of shot. Also this would create a bigger impact if this graffiti spray was actually in colour- preferably RED for its connotations of danger, passion, etc.

(can't find a video which uses a similar shot- therefore i will experiment with this on our test shoot to see if it will be successful)

New idea summary:

The NEW and FINAL idea is going to be the male version of the song 'i kissed a girl' by Katie Perry which is currently no.1 in the charts. The was a group decision which came about by listen to a friend's ipod during a group meeting. Instantly we were up for the challenge of producing a controversial music video.

Katie Perry- I kissed a girl :




we will be doing a take on this song by using...

Cobra Starship-I kissed a boy:



Negatives:

• we will have to remove or sing over the abusive lyrics yet this is also gives us/me an opportunity to voice my idea of putting lyrics on screen.
• some of the audience may be put off by the nature of the controversy that may arise from the song and video.
• there may be some shooting issues if the ideas develop a bit too far. i.e. there may be a fuss made if the group decide that it is crucial to have a kiss in the video at some stage.

Positives:

• i want to produce something which is hard hitting
• this allows us to be more edgey and controversial in our Music video
• acting wise- the media group have 2 actors and all of the group are male so there is less acting restrictions and reliabilities to worry about
• it will allow us to be very creative in ideas, camera work, mise en scene, characters, branding etc!!!!!!!
• i like it as it will allow us to produce a unique music video which is very enigmatic in the sense that audiences will want to watch it to see how far the video takes this issue.
• it is a perfect song in terms of our video mission- to produce a video for a debut single!- this is a bold song with hard hitting lyrics (excluding the abusive language which we are going to edit out). It will be a widely talked about song and video amongst the audience.
• In terms of narrative the issue of 'kissing a boy'- i.e. homosexuality, at the moment this is a very controversial topic with many debates evolving from its nature. i.e. The advert which was taken off air due to the homosexual connotations.....BELOW! - is it humourous? should be taken lightly with a pinch of salt? is it an advertising statement? is it a political statement? etc
• Therefore all of this press- whether it is 'good or bad press'- will still make our music video and artist extremely well publicised and in the audiences/ public eye. Surely this is only helping promote our artist and would increase sales and record plays on tv and radio.

Heinz Deli Mayo- TV Advert:

This is an example of the controvery that our video may cause and so publicity will be absolutely rocketing:

THR Feedback Individual Blog Progress

Hi Matt
reflective and detailed posts matt - well done. Mrs T ;-)

Razorlight MySpace analysis:

http://www.myspace.com/razorlight

Top:

• Razorlight 'wire to wire' advertisment. This is their latest record which is about to be released on oct 5 (download) and oct 27 (available in stores).

Underneath this advertisement (in order):

• 60 second preview to advertise/promote this new song to the audience. (only this song- forces the audience to listen to what is current and what is the best profitable opportunity for the comapny)
• A profile picture of the band with links to other pictures and 3 videos of the band giving the audience an insight to the band lifestyle and image. -priveleged audience expereience
• A contacting function so that audiences can interact with the band oon a personal level. e.g. 'add to friends' or 'send message'
• A general/institutional info. section about the band with a link to their official websites...wearerazorlight.com and razorlight.co.uk. Also the Record Label- 'Vertigo Records' etc.
• An 'upcoming shows' section with dates, times and locations of their next gigs. -instant gratification for the fanbase who want to pay to watch and listen to the band live. -an important factor to the success of the band.
• A 'razorlight's latest blog entry' drop down where the audience can subscribe to their blog and view an insight to the band's life and personal details. e.g. 'razorlight play BBC Electric Proms' This function my be used purely as a promotional tool e.g. 'OUR NEW WEBSITE' yet at the same time the audience are gaining more information about the band and have a more intimate level of interactivity with the band. Blogs are chatty and brief as if the band are really communicating with their audience 'hi check out...' yet others are advertisements by the label e.g. 'click here to hear Razorlight's...'
• An 'about razorlight' function, where there is further promotion of the new single and there is a youtube video link about how the band search for their new sound.- purely a jokey and light hearted promotional stunt so that audiences can understand the bands humour and individual characters. This is exculsive and shows the band in a different light to what the mainstream media would usually promote.- usually extremely good press or bad press. i.e. this is for the fans who are loyal and interested in more than just their music but also their image and identity as a whole.
• A 'Razorlight's friend space' where the top 16 are clearly visible without clicking on any links. This includes fans as well as other current artists. This is good symbiosis between labels, and a promotional opportunity for the band via below the line marketing, because bands/record labels can promote each others band with the knowledge that they will appear as 'top friends' on each others' main page. Therefore audience reach is maximised.
• A 'razorlight's Friends comments' function whereby the latest comments from 'friends' are shown.-note Razorlight are able to delete comments which they may find distasteful or offensive to the band or their audience.

note:

• the layout is very simple and easy to navigate. just a scroll up and down tool, not side to side. This makes it easy and fast for audiences to use the webpage to gratify their needs.
• the background is black and white which is reflective colours of the indie genre in the sense that the songs are deeper in meaning and that these are the colours that the band promote in their image.

Flight of the Conchords- Inner city pressure (2008 album ‘Flight of the Conchords’)

-Further initial idea:



Breakdown of the song into a current music video:

-An old granny or an imposter old granny- similar to Basement Jaxx video…

• Walls closing in on the main character similar Train spotting?
• Idea that an old granny can’t cope with the expensive lifestyle that comes with living in the inner city. – For example she is in a terraced house and is rather small and dingy. She has spent all of her benefits and pension on buying a brand new motorised buggy which is completely pimped up- pink with tassels etc.
• ‘You pawned everything’…. Shots of handing over goods to a shop keeping: Granny brushes her tongue then hands over the toothbrush; jar with false teeth inside and splashes water over the counter; disposable camera sticky taped to a phone and she takes a picture of under her long old dress before handing it over. Hahahaha.
• ‘don’t know where your going’ – she crosses the road in a wheelchair/ motorised buggy and realises her false teeth are missing and does a U-turn
• ‘standing in the sitting room’ – knitting, ironing, trying to sit on ironing board which is too high,
• ‘Counting coins…’- she counts the coins in her purse and realises she is going to have to steal because she is skint. This is similar to an advert which I have seen …
  
• … the shopkeeper starts to chase her with a French stick.
• ‘underpants bit’- she can’t find any underpants in her drawer so she goes to the drawer below which is empty with only 1 pair!- a luminous thong or French knickers
• ‘Have you paid your rent yet’- starts to consider using those pants, implying prostitution.
• Chorus can be shots of her indoors looking out of the windows with the singers appearing as silhouettes through the window. –straight cuts
• ‘har-har-har-har-har’ – she is on her buggy down the street with passers by making eye contact and ‘har’ing’ and possibly pointing, then the last HARRR she stands up from her buggy like she is elevated from her chair-good angles needed etc.
• ‘So you think maybe you’ll be a prostitute…’- she is standing at the front door with an unattractive male at the door- she is trying to woo him.
• ‘Doesn’t measure up’- she is repulsive and they end up sitting on the floor or something.
• Synthesizers- shots of the artists playing their instruments and possibly the granny joining in with a kiddie’s keyboard on top of her ironing board.
  
• Last shots?